Blog #3- This Is the End...

For the last and final blog of CM 503, the cases I chose to study are Case 8-A and Case 10-E, both which deal directly with celebrity, media, and the ethical decisions that they are faced with on an everyday basis. Oddly and interestingly enough, both of the cases have a link to actor Tom Cruise, which is a never good situation. I will start with 8-A from Chapter 8: “The Case of the Well-Documented Suicide” by Philip Patterson (Oklahoma Christian University).

On August 19^th, 2012, a very well-known filmmaker took to the Vincent Thomas Bridge in San Pedro, California and caused a spectacle. No, he was not hanging out at the bridge taking in the scenery but was rather planning to commit suicide. Tony Scott, brother of Riidley, successfully achieved his goal, which had been pre-meditated, yet onlookers had no idea what they were about to be witness to.

 

Scott, who brought us “Top Gun” and “Taking of Pelham 123,” left suicide notes in all of his main hang-outs and was ultimately filmed crouching down then leaping to his death. According onlooker, Eric Brill: “I could very, very clearly see his (Scott) face. He was very determined. He was not crying, he didn’t look upset, he didn’t look sad. He just looked very resolute.” (pg. 199)

Others were taking both photos and with the advancements of smart phones, had the ability to capture video footage of the jump happening. These videos were then shopped around to media outlets and it was TMZ that revealed this news. They have both a website and a very popular TV show that is nothing but gossip. TMZ said they declined to purchase the videos but did not say how high the price was.

 

There are many ethical questions that come from this case such as whether or not photos and/or videos of a suicide should be newsworthy and sold. If Scott had not had some prominence in Hollywood society, would that change the importance? One could argue that this falls under Bok’s Model as “we must have empathy for the people involved in ethical decisions and that maintaining social trust in a fundamental goal.” (pg. 5)

The fact that Tony Scott was so troubled in his life that he felt the need to end it is something that I believe we should empathize with. However, the fact that he jumped off of a popular bridge during a crowded time, it is bound to make headlines regardless of who he was. In the end, those who witnessed the act will want to know what happened to this mystery jumper. Did he die? Why did he kill himself? Did he have a family? He was removed from the water after someone called 911 and emergency relief came to the scene.

It was not just the drivers who captured the suicide; there were surveillance cameras from a local business that captured the event as well. As to whether or not their people were ones to attempt to sell the footage, that has not been shared. I believe that there is a big difference between a photo which captures one particular moment versus a video, which brings the entire event to life from beginning to the bitter end, in this situation.

We know that the news is gritty and that nothing is off-limits but when do we cross the line to exploitation? I think that is still being examined but when it comes to suicide and matters that are so powerful and heart-wrenching, we need to consider the time and the place. If the video of Scott jumping to his death was posted on YouTube, it could be beneficial for use in a psychology class or rehab center but just because society is nosy and feels a sense of entitlement, the video should never have been shopped for personal gain.

Film what you want, watch what you want, do what you want but when you risk hurting those who have already been in pain just to earn a quick dollar, that is crossing an ethical and moral line. TMZ may have had enough morals to not buy the footage but they had no problem alerting the world that it was out there. Them taking this “high road” is just their underhanded way of saying that they are not as bad as they appear…but they are still creeps (my opinion).