Let Them Mourn In Peace
Filed under: Australiastic > Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger's family will arrive in New York City on Friday from Australia.
Out of respect for their privacy, we won't name the funeral home the service will take place in. It'd be nice if the media left his family alone on that day, but we don't think that will happen.
Ledger's ex, Michelle Williams, and daughter, Matilda, arrived at their Brooklyn home on Wednesday. They were greeted by hordes of paparazzi. So wrong.
We didn't use those pics. Nor did we use the pics of Ledger's body being taken out of his apartment.
And we won't use pics from outside the funeral parlor.
Hopefully others will follow suit.
[Image via WENN.]
Posted: January 24, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Thank you for not covering this…. people in mourning need respect and i thank you for giving it to them… i appreaciate you even more and respect you more for this… thank you (my family recently went through a similar event and the local news was ruthless)
I think that's real cool of you. Can't say I won't buy the next issue of People to get all the good pics, but I think you are doing the right thing.
I think that it is great that you are not using those pictures, I hope others will follow you example, I feel so bad for his family at this time
Perez drawing a line?
Will miracles never cease?
I think it's wonderful you are showing respect for the family. I hope others follow! They should be allowed to greive in peace.
Yea for Perez and crew for having the class and common courtesy to allow Heath's friends and family to greive in peace - I'm quit impressed and pleased to hear their distance will be kept during this private and personal time.
good for you!! they deserve to have some privacy right now. I was afraid that I'd have to stop visiting you sight. I say when your an outrageous celebrity you have made the choice to live your life in the spotlight, but it's just a little macabre to see pictures of his dead body being wheeled out on tv I'd rather see more of Britney than that. at least she asks for it. Go Perez you've made the right decision!!
Thank you!!!
thank you perez, what a kind gesture that, in all hopes, the rest of the media will copy.
The funeral is going to be in Australia, get your facts right Perez!!!
This website helped create this society of celebrity obsession — the paparazzi standing outside of Michelle Williams home, the paparazzi following Britney to take a shit. Why stop now? You helped create all this… the good and bad.
thank you so much Perez. You are so decent when you want to be and trust me, your Karma points will definitely go up for this one.
kisses!
Perez and lemmings,
You're so valiantly preaching respect for the family of the dead. What about respect for the living? Britney Spears may be "entertaining" to the pathetic dolts who read your pathetic, doltish blog, but she is a human being, and she is ALIVE. She is clearly sick and completely addicted to paparazzi. Show some respect for a LIVING person and back off of her.
HYPOCRITE. All or nothing, Perez. You're either a gossip blogger with no self-respect, or you're not. I guess the hypocrisies suits you.
Yes, very classy, Perez…
Is that to make up for this?
Illegal Drugs Found In Ledger's Apartment!!! Not Just Pills!!!!!!
Dude, reporting something you heard on the news as fact (and then saying it in later postings) with glee and exclamation points is not only shabby journalism (and I know you don't claim to be a journalist) but, along with the don't do drugs kids message kind of implies that heck, he deserved it. For a second HL was in the same boat as Britney or Rumor or Winehouse… somebody whose serious problems are entertaining. So now you're taking the high horse. Time top show some balls and apologize, buddy.
Thank you Perez for being a decent human being. Now all we need is to stop those lame entertainment tonight shows from exploiting him with thier old ass anchors stalking outside his home. It's sad because the general public doesn't want the details to be obtained in disturbing and sick ways. We'd rather all the paps and reporters leave the family alone! Get souls!
Kudos on your decision to allow the family the privacy to mourn. Very decent of you.
I live a block away from their home in Brooklyn…as of yesterday, there were four tv vans, a police barricade, several policemen, and hordes of paparazzi and lame hangers-on. Most of us Brooklynites are disgusted with the invasiveness of the coverage, and I am proud to say I have heard hardly a gossipy word while out and about in the neighborhood. Most people here understand that support can come in the form of quiet thoughts or prayers.
Respect to you perez!!
though ur a gossip queen you repected heath's death…
I want to know the happenings of health and his family, he is a great actor….
Atleast I get a gossip blog that doesnt disrespect the death of heath, but let us know without the pictures of his body taken out of his apartment like the other celeb blogs…..
Perez your doing the right thing here, and I repect you for this!!
I hope heath's family would be left in peace!!! unlike johnathan rhyes myer's mom's funeral…papz were actully taking pictures during the funeral!!
Finally a celeb site with a little respect and class. Through all the craziness these are still human beings who deserve to have a life or death for that matter outside of the media eye. His poor family, imagine that was your parents or sidnificant other trying to hold their shit together while dying inside. Would you want your family to have to deal with people screaming questions like what about the drugs or is was it suicide. Honestly people if you want to see pictures of someone in a body bag or a funeral home, you got some issues. Shame on you for you insensitivity, shame on us for really caring about these usually idiodic people ( Britney) ! Perez you have made people proud. Thank you for seeing more than fame and dollar signs. Finally someone with self restraint, morals, common decency and sense. Now just quit reporting on people like britney and paris who everyone hates so maybe they will go away and get the help they need. If their is no lime light to feed them they will have to find it else where, preferably in a dark hole in a far away from any civilaztion. I think the majority would like not to hear about them!
You are doing the right thing Perez. Stay blessed
thank you
Thank you Perez, I wish this act of class would be followed by other media sources. Having lost my own brother when he was 24, I unfortunately understand what this family is going through and they should be allowed to grieve and support each other in peace and privacy.
proud of you perez!!!
Good call, Perez. I like the turnaround you've had since that post that got everyone crazy and pissed. You seem to have done a little soul-searching and you deserve kudos for that. Your change of heart sets a fine example I hope other media outlets follow.
Re: Shell – EXACTLY! Well said!
And Perez - Thank You
God bless you for showing respect to this young man and his family. We loved his movies and will remember that he gave it all in each one of them. May he find peace where he is. Thank you Perez for this kind act.
thank you, Perez for having respect!!!!
Thank you so much, Perez for this show of respect. I appreciate your choice to not exploit this family during their sorrow.
Way to raise the bar. Well done.
Thank you Perez for having some damn integrity…much Edinburgh love xox
Losing Heath is sad for the world as well as a loss in Bklyn, NY.
See guys? Perez does have a soul!
Thank you for showing respect to the family by giving them space, and not splattering your pages with heart breaking photo's.
It's sad enough that his family found out via the media, now it's time for the media to step back and give the family what they deserve, respect.
Heath, may you rest in peace and may your adorable young daughter know what kinda of incredible father you were.
You are really doing the right thing. Think of him as your son, brother or loved one. You wouldnt want that.
Good job Perez. I always come to you for my entertainment needs….you get the job done right.
Chrissy - Toronto
thank you perez. I also wish others will follow that notiong but sadly, we all know what is happening.
Love to everyone mourning and everyone who has had to endure loss like this
xoxo
Good on you. x
well done perez! anyway everything is so sad! i am crying when i am reading all this posts. i feel like heath was a very close friend of mine. i really can't explain.
i work for an airline at newark airport. Michelle Williams and her daughter arrived on my airline on wednesday and the sad thing of it all is that even with everything that they are going through the media and the paparazzi were in the terminal since 10 am waiting for them to arrive… how sad is that…. heath ledger was a great guy… i just want to tell his family and other fans that i will truly miss him…. and to the media and paparazzi i just want to say leave them alone…
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
WELL DONE PEREZ. SO PROUD OF YOU!
Class is given where class is deserved. Heath deserved class. He did not parade himself or prostitute himself out to the media. Thank you Perez for realizing this. I wish the media would find class and respect this enormous loss.
you really think the media will care about using photos? i mean really think about it all they want is their story they dont give a toss about the family that are suffering what kim and the rest of heaths family are going through.
all they are after is a story.
Perez, thank you for not using those photos. I met Heath a few times here in Sydney and although I was not his friend as such, I have been extremely sad these past fews days. Thank you for taking the lead and doing the right thing, you are a GEM!! xx
Perez, I'm torn! Half of me wants to yell "You hypocrite!" — at you and at me. Everyone enjoying this site (including me) is part of the sick culture that leads to paparazzi pickets outside of funerals. We can't claim any kind of high ground here. But… even if it is inconsistent with your whole career… good on you for at least doing the right thing in this case.
But does this mean you'll close down your site? How is any part of what you do consistent with the values you're claiming to believe in now?
Never commented before. You almost lost me as a reader for a second when you were going on the "how will Britney top this" angle. However, you are redeemed. I sent my first ever complaint e-mail to all of the Fox News e-mails you provided to complain about the Gibson show. Thanks- and hey remember the nice side of you looks good!
Perez,
I respect you for the stance you have made on this, I hope others follow suit.
It's called, There's a difference between poking fun at people and haveing RESPECT for a mourning family, do we have absolutly NO ethics anymore in this country?? Posting pics of his dead body in a body bag is FUCKING WRONG!!!
It's called, There's a difference between poking fun at people and haveing RESPECT for a mourning family, do we have absolutly NO ethics anymore in this country?? Posting pics of his dead body in a body bag is FUCKING WRONG!!!
Thank you Perez, thats a really thing to do, and i hope others will follow suit, really! Bravo to you and, may God be with Heath and his family.
And THAT is why i visit perez hilton. Heath Ledger will be missed. May his soul R.I.P~
I'm proud of you Perez & C/O. You should do that more often. Let's hope the others follow your example.
Thank you so much for not using these images and respecting Heath's family. I have been genuinely shocked and saddened to the confronted with images I did not wish to see when I read the initial story of Heath's death. Some people have said the paparazzi would not be there if there was not a market for it but I didn't chose to look at the pictures - there was no warning and no choice and I cannot see what it added to the story.
It is refreshing to see someone from the media acting responsibly and kindly and chosing not to provide a market for these pictures and I really appreciate it.
i respect your position and wish you'd do the same for britney spears. i know the two are not comparable but affording heath ledger and his family this privacy is what they deserve… as is not tormenting and revelling in a woman's downward spiral. media has so much power.. its hard to draw the line sometimes. i wish this site would draw the line more often.
That's why you rock! Perez!! You're crazy but classy! Unlike those other assholes! I love you!
Perez
Excellent executive decision!
I love your webiste. I know many people say it's really horrible and of very bad taste, but truly, compared to several other sites out there, I think your site IS tasteful - just a bit of fun. I take it as an online 'satyrical comedy'.
Keep going. It makes me laugh a lot, your comments are very witty!
Love to all from England & France
XXX
Well done Perez for showing the proper respect that not only Heath Ledger deserves but his family too. If only other media outlets would take a moral stand like yours. Siobhan, Liverpool, England.
I really respect your decision. I could not believe that people are publishing images of his dead body.
Oh please Perez. Stop trying to make points on this issue, you are NO BETTER than the paparazzi or the media that use those pictures. You are one of the WORST when it comes to these issues and not using some pics doesn´t make you any better.
DECENT. RESPECRFUL. CARING. YOU GO GIRL! WHO CARES WHAT THEY SAY. AT LEAST YOU ARE SHOWING HIM/HIS FAMILY WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT!
Thank-you perez for choosing to do so, Here in Australia we can't believe the disgusting and immoral things that are being said about heath and the lack of respect the media have in America , let his family and friends mourn in peace.
Thats fantastic the stand you are taking. I applaud you for it. You make your mother proud. And all the rest of us readers too. Good job. Stand tall, you did good today.
You won't print details of a funeral home out of respect yet you feel the need to speculate over who Heath Ledger was dating when he died and insinuate that he was an alcoholic? WTF?!
good work Perez, I respect that!
I just wanted to say I highly appreciate and respect the fact that you openly state (and hopefully then honor your promises) that you won't be using any of the mentioned photos. Good, respectful, and come on, isn't it so obvious that's the right thing to do that other's shouldn't even consider it? But no… Still though, thank you for honoring their privacy.
Kudos to you Mr Hilton
I respect that decision immensely. This internet-fueled frenzy has become beyond absurd, particularly in such a private moment as this. Heath's family and friends deserve the utmost respect in celebrating their son, brother, friend and father's life with dignity. That absolutely does not include dodging some paparrazzo camped out in the bushes or running down the sidewalk adjacent to the funeral home. This country needs to seriously re-evaluate its priorities.
I just wanted to agree with Kelly. You act so self-righteous stating you won't use those pictures, and basically condemning those who will, yet you and all the other gossip blogs print so many pictures of Britney and other dysfunctional stars, without a second thought. Have you ever wondered what it must feel like to be called "Unfitley" all the time or have terrible things written about you on a daily basis. Just because she is still living doesn't give you the right to harass her, does it? Stop being such a hypocrite. I used to be a big fan… but lately your pompous attitude has hypocritical remarks are turning me off in a major way. What makes you the authority on everyone else's lives.
Thank you for not posting pictures of Heath's body or of his family. Your respect means a lot.
pppp-lease perez .. ur job is to slag and slander and use paparazzi pics throughout the yearsssssssss .. don't go all prim and proper and *u can't do this* on us now .. u use pics & stuff about unfitney that is just as bad as a body bag !!!! i read ur blog, but ur either in or out on the celebrity juice !!!
))
Good on you, Perez.
Good for you, P, that's right.
Good for you Perez!
Good for you Perez- thanks from (a small bit of) London.
PEREZ YOU HYPOCRITE…I REMEMBER YOU POSTED A LINK TO A PICTURE OF ANNA NICOLE SMITH'S SON IN HIS COFFIN! IT SEEMS YOU'RE ONLY RESPECTFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE "IMPORTANT" OR CAN HELP YOU….ANNA NICOLE WASN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO BE TREATED WITH DIGNITY BY YOU…SHE HAD TO KNOW YOU POSTED A PICTURE OF HER DEAD SON…YOU ARE A COCKROACH.
Wow I am pleasantly surprised by this move. Hopefully others will follow. Good job Perez!
I respect your decision Perez. thank you for not posting pictures of Michelle Williams and Matilda ,or him being taken out in a body bag (and many more to come i'm sure). I bet lots of people are requesting you post them but I say stick to your guns. If everyone had the same convictions you did his family might be able to mourn in peace without being harrassed by the paparazzi during this tragic time.
Thank you Perez, for being so respectful for heath and his family
I still can't believe he's gone, I don't know him
But from what I could see, he was a wonderful person
who was in love with live and his daughter Matilda
I know what it is like to lose someone you love, so please let Heath's family grieve in privat
It is sad that the good and young people have to go
This was a horrible mistake, I believe it was an accident and that he accidently took an overdose. He really didn't look like a person who didn't enjoyed life anymore. He loved live
Heath we will always remember you and keep you in our hearts
We miss U and it hurts that we will never see you again
I hope you're in peace
All my love to your family and friends
To Michelle and your beautiful baby girl Matilda
Your dad was the best !
Love Isabelle from Belgium
It's nice to see that someone is trying to set an example and show some respect. The pictures and the photogs hoarded outside of his apartment when the ME came to remove his body made me nauseous. It's one thing to mourn loss, its another to be more concerned with hocking pictures for cash.
also- to the morons giving perez shit because he'll "post pictures of other people insult their children"…Get over it! Its all in jest, thats the whole point- why are you even on this site if youre going to complain about that!?
Cant believe you are bothering even pretending to be 'caring'. You have no problems milking all stars darkest and worst moments with glee and certainly had no problems speculating Heath killed himself, was snorting cocaine etc etc all of which is unproven so DO NOT EVEN TRY TO ACT ALL NICE AND CONCERNED. You AND the media and maggotorazzi are all scumbags so why bother to try to pretend otherwise???? Stop being a hypocrite and if you really feel so bad why dont you try being nicer to Britney and Co before this happens again.
thank you perez. everyone needs to let his family greive alone
Stop bothering pretending to be nice. We ALL know you are nothing more than a nasty hypocrite - you have posted abouit 20 pics of him since he died and have been milking it for all its worth. You then speculated he had killed himself, that he had been snorting cocaine etc etc YOU ARE JUST AN ASSHOLE so dont pretend otherwise. Why dont you stop advocating Britney to kill herself and stop being so evil ?? Oh because you get more HITS - you must be creaming your jeans over this latest celeb death - how maybe extra hits you get for a death?????????????????????????????????????
Re: holly –
1. Good luck in your life if you are such a b**ch.
2. I think its great that people are sensitive to this matter, it shows that we are human (unlike you in this matter)
3. are you an english teacher? if not, stop correcting people's grammer and spelling mistakes.
4. Why is it so bad if people are curious about the death of Heath Ledger? It's horrible when anyone dies, its even worse when it's someone young who still had so much more to live for.
5. The fact that Heath was famous only makes more people touched by what has happened to his short lived life.
Conclusion: You think you are so moral by bringing people down because they are sad by a death. Give me a break, get over yourself.
This is why I like reading Perez… I think it's very classy of him to respect the privacy of the families of Heath.
I was disgusted when I saw the body being rolled out of the apartment. How can people film that?
thanks perez. I love reading you!!!
So good to see you taking the high road and not posting the disgusting pictures of the crowds in front of Mr. Ledger's apartment and trying to get pictures of his body bag. May his family have some privacy in his time of grief.
Thats nice of you, but your still a scum bag that uses people misfourtune for a few laughs. i think you are a douche and the only reason you want to "respect" this amazing actor that we lost, is cuz you wanted to fuck him. someone should RESPECT the privacy of other celebs that I need not mention
I think their are certain limits in ones life where privacy should be respected. YOU obviously know these limits!
There is a fine line between having a breakdown or poking fun of a celebrities child. FOLLOWING A FAMILY AROUND AFTER LOOSING A LOVED ONE IS JUST WRONG….
I heart you PerEZ
Thank-you Perez!! This shows that you can still reprot on this tragedy without stalking his mourning family and friends. Hopefully other media outlets will do the same. Thanks for being the 1st with some class!
Hello Perez =)
I read your page everyday, it's like addicting. Anyway I just want to say that I think it's really respectful of you to not follow suit of everyone else and exploit those pictures and the Ledger family.Hopefully others will do the same, we can only hope. Keep up the amazing work =)
Gaaahhh… This is so horrible!
Thanks Perez… at least someone gets it…
Perez– I am happy to see that you are indeed not going to stoop as low as the other shows and magazines and subject a family that is devasted to that kind of pain. Not only have they lost their son, brother, father, and companion, but they are being stalked too. As we are all interested in the story, I can not believe that these people would stand outside of Michelle and Matilda's apartment. It's sickening and rediculous. They can't even leave bc they will be hurdled with questions. Please continue to respect them.
Bold move and I respect you for it. It's disgusting to see the paps not respecting Heath's family during this ordeal. Its so sad
It's nice to know you are still respectable and have a soul unlike major newtwork media outlets!
Love you perez!
I've always loved you Perez, but now I love you even more. It's about time someone shows some respect to this family. The fact that you guys aren't going to post any of the funeral parlor pics or when they brought his body out is respectable. The media has no shame…and shame on them for that.
Happy to see someone take the respectful route
Thats so awesome Perez, im glad to see you have a heart unlike many of the Papps out there. I do hope many follow your example out of respect for Heath and him family.
AND JG - GO F#CK YOUR SELF.
Commendable of Perez??? You must be f'ing kidding right? He is the first to BASH
Good for you Perez!!!
thank you
Good for you for doing the right thing. The videos/pictures of Michelle Williams arriving home, as well as the stalkerazzi following other friends/family members around their Brooklyn apartment, are DISGUSTING.
Thank you Perez for doing this, I am shocked and so sad… R.I.P. Heath you will be missed!