DEMAND WRITTEN & ON AIR APOLOGIES
New Exonerating Information Has Been Released
March 03, 2008


In the weeks after Heath's passing, we all were hit in the gut over and over with the misrepresentations and libelous insinuations that the news media were pushing. We were helpless, sitting achingly by while they continued to drag our beloved Heath through the worst kind of mud.

But ABC news just did a story that quoted excerpts from the NY medical examiner's records. In these records, it clearly states that Heath only "took 'prescribed therapeutic doses...or less' of each medication he ingested."

I have not written to any news media before about this subject, but this revelation is irrefutable exoneration, clearly indicting that Heath was not abusing these prescriptions. He was not taking them to "get high".

Fans are now armed with the documentation needed to confront the news media, tabloid entertainment shows, magazines, etc . . . that tried to insinuate that Heath was abusing when he passed.

Below is the letter I am writing to these outlets. If you would also like to write, feel free to use a version of it or write your own. BUT MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH IN BOLD:

To help you contact the appropriate people, here are some contact Email addresses:

• Entertainment Tonight: et@pde.paramount.com
  CBS Paramount Television
  5555 Melrose Avenue
  Los Angeles, CA 90038
  
• Access Hollywood: www.accesshollywood.com/special/contact/
  
• The Insider:
  CBS Paramount Television
  5555 Melrose Avenue
  Los Angeles, CA 90038
  
• Inside Edition: iemail@cbs.com
  Call us at: (212) 817-5555
  Write to us at:
  Inside Edition
  VIEWER COMMENTS
  PO Box 1323
  Radio City Station
  New York, NY 10101
  
• Extra: comments or Complaints: customerservice@wb.com
  EXTRA TV
  a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company,
  4000 Warner Blvd., Bldg. 505,
  Burbank, CA 91505.
  phone number (818) 977-9653.
  
• CNN: www.cnn.com/feedback/forms/form1.html?40
  
• Today Show: Today@NBCUNI.com
  NBC News
  30 Rockefeller Plaza
  New York, N.Y. 10112
  
• CBS Morning Show: www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml
  
• CBS Nightly News: www.cbs.com/info/user_services/fb_global_form.shtml
  
• ABC Good Morning America: www.abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346& (Choose Good Morning America from the pull down menu)
  ABCNews
  Good Morning America
  7 WEST 66th Street
  New York, NY 10023
  
• ABC News: www.abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&
  ABCNews
  7 WEST 66th Street
  New York, NY 10023
  
• Fox News: Feedback@foxnews.com
  1-888-369-4762
  yourcomments@foxnews.com
  
• US Weekly: suggestionbox@usmagazine.com
  Us Weekly Magazine
  Attention: Customer Relations, Usmagazine.com
  1290 Avenue of the Americas
  New York, NY 10104
  
• People Magazine: editor@people.com
  1-212-522-6699
  
• In Touch Magazine: contactintouch@intouchweekly.com
  
• NY Post: letters@nypost.com
  www.nypost.com/contact/comments.htm

(If you think of any others, or can find better contact info, please post that information, as well. Thank you.)






In the days, even first few weeks after Heath Ledger's passing, entertainment news media, tabloid magazines, and "legitimate" news media alike all jumped on a huge bandwagon in an attempt to find scandal and garner ratings by slandering and libeling a man who in life, had a good reputation. The attempt to destroy his legacy may well have been successful, but what it was not was truthful and honest.

Most news media chose to use gossip, sources that lacked credibility, past indescretions and old news to try to insinuate wrongdoing on the part of Mr. Ledger. However, they could not find any current evidence to back that up. Instead, they used inuendo to leave an impression with viewers or readers that was both unfair and untrue.

Once it was found out that Ledger had no alcohol in his system or in his apartment, and that his passing was ruled an accident, media tried to shift it's storyline to insinuate that he was abusing his prescriptions.

However, on February 27th, 2008, ABC News investigative reporterrs noted in a story, that

"according to the NY medical examiner's records, Ledger took 'prescribed therapeutic doses...or less' of each medication he ingested. The medications, however, were not meant to be taken together. The cumulative effect was that the actor's brain stem function that controls breathing was impaired, and Ledger 'fell asleep and never woke up.' "

This statement found in the medical examiner's records makes it clear that Heath Ledger was not MIS-USING his prescriptions, or trying to "get high".

In light of these recent revalations, I am writing to demand that your organization make an apology to the family and friends of Heath Ledger, and make your best effort to restore his good reputation and lasting legacy.

Since the behavior of your tv show/magazine/morning show after Mr. Ledger's passing, I have refused to watch/read/purchase anything done by you or your parent company. Ledger deserved better. He had earned it.

Sincerely,

Great letter Phyllis!! And I am grateful that specific statements from the medical examiner's report were brought to light to allow demands for apologies to be written. I can see I have my work cut out for me.

I am also drafting letters to the media that wrote/aired unbiased articles like the Unfinished Life one.

Debbie

Phyllis,

Thanks for giving us this information. I was waiting and hoping that something like this would be reported. It was all a horrible accident and Heath was not abusing those drugs.

It is so easy for those tabloid news shows to exploit someone. And even worse when that person can no longer defend themselves!

I will write those shows you listed. I like how you worded your letter

thanks
Linda

Phyllis,

Thank you so much for the updated information.It still hurts a little to

to read the specifics,like the "falling asleep" part, it chills me to the

bone....May God Bless and Keep Him....

You're welcome. It does hurt.

Knowing he was doing nothing wrong brings some comfort. But it also hurts so badly that something like this could happen when he was following the directions. Taking them as prescribed (OR LESS!!). He was being responsible. Tragedies like this are not supposed to happen when you are doing things right. When you're being responsible. Oh Heathy!!! It's just not supposed to happen.

It also makes me angry at the press for making me doubt the man I thought I had a small handle on. The man I spoke with, the man that friends met . . . he was (in the words of one friend of mine) "very present." I knew that in my heart. I knew what I felt from him. Yet after weeks of being inundated with insinuations . . . I faltered. I began to wonder . . . "was I wrong? Could I have mis-read him?"

I floundered around trying to remember the gut instinctual feelings I had had when he was here. Trying to remember the person I had felt. And all I could feel was what the media was throwing at me. . . Where was the Heath I remembered?

I'd keep telling myself that I knew what I knew . . . and I should not let gossip cause me to doubt my instincts about him. I clung desperately to that; telling myself over and over that after time passes, I'll remember Heath the way I thought of him when he was alive.

But if someone who loves him as much as I do could be caused to waver, how can people who were not familiar with him be expected give him the benefit of the doubt?

I'm angry at myself for forgetting who he was, even for a second. And I'm angry at the media for making me doubt.

Most of all, the media owes his family an apology.
They owe his friends an apology.

But they also owe his peers an apology.
His fans an apology.
His legacy an apology.

And dammit, they owe me an apology.

good on ya phyllis, you are taking active steps to ensure that (even though we cant bring heath back) that his death hasnt been in vain. as kim had mentioned in his statement (not sure the actual quote) but along the lines of it being a warning to people about mixing medications etc.

it really hurts to know that he was being responsible and even doing the right thing sometimes can end in sadness

i agree that whenever i read about him 'falling asleep' and not waking up, it upsets me. i often think 'what if this or what if that'.

Kate, I spend a LOT of my time thinking . . . "It could have been prevented IF this. . . or IF that . . . "

So I know exactly what you mean.

Phyllis, Do not ever take on that burden,you know that in the deepest wells of your heart, you knew he had done nothing wrong...you always believed only the best of him



Straight up they do! The press should be completley accountable for all the crap they have dished around for the last 6 weeks...

*hugs* Phyllis, it's perfectly understandable that this whole ordeal made you question what you knew, you wouldn't be human if you didn't. The one thing we can take some comfort from is that the truth did come out eventually. Of course, the tabloid version of things will never be truly erased but if one of them can just stand up and say 'we're sorry, we messed up,' than that will be a victory for common sense and for Heath's family, friends and fans like ourselves.

Thank you Phyllis for posting all of the websites/email for these 'news' outlets. I've already written some of them. I will continue writing and bashing them...as long as they keep telling lies about Heath.

Thanks BB.

I forgot to add the unscrupulous Dr. Drew Pinsky to the list.

Please make sure he gets a dose, as well . . .

Yes, Dr. Drew needs to hear from us too. His comments bothered me the most for some reason. He seemed to take such delight in spreading the lies and misinterpreting the truth. Plus, being a doctor, I feel he used his authority to further misguide people for what, fame?

Thanks for posting the contact information.

Opportunism? Self-promotion?

About 2 or 3 weeks afterward, his new television reality show premiered about celebrity's in his own personal rehab.

What do you think?

I am merely a guest on this website and the primary reason I have continued to visit is that I am literally haunted by how the media has left a biased, untrue portrait of this man for his daughter to read when she is older. I contacted some of these people about a month ago and did receive an acknowledgement that they had received my concern. If we, the masses, let them know that our society is disgusted by their gross mishandling of this tragedy (frankly I consider it liablous slander and would be calling an attorney if I were his family), they might be moved to change their greedy ways. I truly believe that the most valuable and important gift we can give Heath is, in some small way, to make the world a better place for his daughter. I believe demanding an apology, even a retraction, is a start to giving her a "happy ever after." The media will most likely not respond to Heath's family or his agent-I saw how well they respected Michelle William's appeal to privacy. However, they will listen to their consumers, which is you and me. Contacting these execs may be the single, most important act we can do. If we sit in silence, we are giving them permission to continue this speculation and irresponsible reporting for eternity.

William's mom, hear hear.

It's a good idea to hit them where their heart is, i.e. their pocketbook, esp. in the case of magazines...Money is the only thing that truly matters to these heartless scum, and I have found from past experience that letting them know you don't plan on purchasing their skanky rag anymore because of their handling of this terrible event speaks louder to them than speaking of journalistic integrity or the feelings of real people, of which they could care less.

Thank you, William's mom.

I have felt so hurt and helpless over how Heath, his family, his reputation and his legacy have been treated. Part of me wanted to leave it alone and hope that it went away. Is confronting these media outlets really going to make it better, or make it worse? Heath would not want so much focus. He'd probably let it go and try to ignore it.

But I have been sickened, and have never seen anything like this . . . ripping apart a good man and his reputation. This is his legacy! His good name! His child's memory of him! How can we sit by and let them continue unabated, all the while reaping the benefits with no consequences, and in doing so, decide that it's ok to continue escalating this kind of slander and libel?

Honestly . . . I'm old enough to remember Elvis's passing, John Lennon's passing, and am aware of how the tabloid media acts toward celebrities, but I have NEVER seen anything like this. This was shameful, and I think that even the media knows they went too far.

But will they learn and change? . . . Not unless they're forced to. I don't know if we can make any difference, but I am hoping that they will hear from enough people that it might.

I loved this man. Yes, I know our contact was minimal, but I did. He was amazing. And kind and gentle. I know that his family cannot take up this fight. But please, we cannot let his memory and reputation be distroyed.

He deserves so much better. He earned better.

I don't know which gets more attention, the magazines or Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, and the morning and evening national news shows. I'm inclined to think the tv shows, they're what people consider news, and those are where people who spout the crap they've heard seem to say they "heard it". On the news, or Entertainment Tonight said . . . blah blah blah.

Ignorant masses following like sheep the ignorant tabloid journalism written solely for money and ratings. It's made me hate the ignorant who believe the crap almost as much as the vultures who call themselves journalists.

While we're on that subject,
Here is the IMDb Pro info for Dr. Drew Pinsky's representatives.

William Morris Agency (WMA)
One William Morris Pl.
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
USA
Phone: 310-859-4000
Fax: 310-859-4462
http://www.wma.com/

Valerie Allen PR
Valerie Allen Publicist
Phone: 310-264-1888
Fax: 310-264-1886
http://www.valerieallenpr.com
valerieallen@earthlink.net

You've addressed something I was wondering about myself, Phyllis. My memories of Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix's deaths are sadly pretty vague but I don't remember anything like this either. In fact, I still have a newspaper cutting my sister kept about River and it just discussed how he achieved his cult status. Contrast that to the headlines about Heath, in which both his good character and talent were pretty much non-existant.

I've actually been toying with the idea of writing a sarcastic article detailing how I think the media would handle James Dean's death today. Because I am pissed off and bitter. I just can't see any reason or justification for this crap. None.

/rant

There hasn't been. Not even close. Not in the far past or even with more recent history. Not once.

They couldn't wait to get their claws into him and rip him to shreds, because he was good, loved, and had a good reputation. It's boring to do yet another story on someone that everyone knows is always in trouble. But nothing is more juicy than to tear a good man apart.

I felt gutted daily, and still do . . .

I have not watched an entertainment news show, read a magazine, or opened an email article alert since.
I can't stand to see Mary Hart's fake smiling face (or any of her ilk); I want to spit at her. Her kind make me wanna throw up. I detest and loathe them.

My news, entertainment and otherwise, comes exclusively from the Associated Press now. No commentary. Period.



Ditto on the pissed off and bitter. (See above statements.)

And here we go again with Heath's will.

I am just going to vent here for a moment .
I don't like the headline that read Heath LEFT Matilda out of his will.
She wasn't born yet so therefore he LEFT her out of nothing.

Don't most people with alot of money put money in a trust for their children ot loved ones ? As far as I know a trust is not public record like a will and can not be contested.

I also feel that this is none of the publics business ...

This is so sickening to the point that Kim Ledger had to make a statement regareding money for his granddaughter .
It's just disgusting !!!!!!

Kitten,
I am really glad you brought up the whole will thing. Once again the press has made a complete big deal out of something less than nothing. Heaths passing was a surprise to all of us. He was a young, healthy male... I think him passing was the furtherest thing from his mind. it just completley pisses me off that once again the press has handled it wrong.

I just want the media to leave him alone, and to remember that he was a human, a father, a son, a brother, and a friend...not just a face...and to treat the situation with respect, dignity, and grace, and maybe truth (what a concept)!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone who knew Heath knows how much that little girl meant to him, and it kills me to think about what the press is implying due to his older will...Please God protect his family...and all will be better in time...

Heath would have felt invaded by strangers discussing his will, net worth, or other finances, and I never discussed them when he was here.

That has not changed.

The media, once again is making a big to-do over a non-issue. Heath was a brilliant and responsible money manager, who loved his daughter. Kitten is right, Heath handled his business through trusts.

And yes, a trust cannot be contested. It was the smartest thing for him to do.

I would like to veer us OFF any further discussion of his assets and where they will be going. I have addressed it ( HERE ), and that should handle it.

Please, everyone. If you see something in the news like this that is private, scandalous, or that would bother you if it were strangers talking about your business . . . and you notice that I do not have it on the site . . . there's probably a pretty good reason.

If any of you hear of any retractions or apologies will you please post them ?
I don't wanna be rippin a new one to a news agency that has righted (writed) their wrong so to speak .. Not that they still don't deserve it . Tee Hee .

XOXO

Oh that would be wonderful, wouldn't it?

Although, I'm afraid what we'll probably get is the standard, "We stand by our story." . . . cover their *ss b-sht.

At least unless they get hit with enough complaints. . .

That's my goal . I'm going to e-mail everyday until I get what I want or blocked .

Wait, has nobody actually responded yet? The one time I actually tried to get something corrected in a newspaper they did at least acknowledge recieving my correction, even though they ultimately left the story as it was.

i just wanted to jump in here and say that if anyone is unsure about talking about a certain topic or has a story they have read somewhere they wanted to share but arent sure if it is appropriate then check with phyllis. i sometimes forward to her articles i have read or things i have heard and check what is appropriate and what isnt. the fact that i make myself check with her first makes me think NO THATS NOT APPROPRIATE KATHARINE! but its always good to have that reassurance. members of some forums can be quite sensitive to some things so its best to double check. hope you dont mind phyllis?

No, I don't mind, thanks. I am very sensitive about Heath, because I know how sensitive he was. I know the promises I made, and still want to keep. You don't dump loyalty and drop promises because someone passes. If anything, you cling to them all the more.

There are things I would not want strangers to discuss about me; I'd consider it none of their business. I am an extremely sensitive and private person (this board notwithstanding). . . but I am beginning to realize that Heath was actually far more sensitive than I am. That has been a real eye-opener, especially when I look back at some things about our crossed paths. I thought I understood how private and sensitive he was, and why . . . but I had only realized the smallest level. He was brilliant at compensating . . . and always seemed relaxed and free.

I don't want HH to hurt him, his legacy, or perpetuate unsubstantiated inuendo. I do not have, nor have I had, any contact with his family, but I can only assume that they are similarly sensitive. So I am also considering them.

Basically, if I wouldn't have put it when he was here, I won't even MORE now.

I will never lose this sensitivity to him, and will always operate HH (as long as it's here) the same way. So these standards are unlikely to relax, even as time passes.


Miranda, I don't know if media outlets will respond to everyone. If they're getting hundreds, they just might not. . . but it doesn't mean they're not getting the message. Also, these aren't local papers we're talking about. These are national and international news media . . . a whole different level of playing field.

UPDATE:

I just accidentally clicked on a link and got the good ol' Ted Casablanca treatment from E! Online's The Awful TRuth. . . . I am feeling absolutely beat up.

So I can't bring myself to go back over there, but . . . could some one please get and post contact information for both

Ted Casablanca
and
E! Online management.

I'd like us to not only send letters to Ted complaining, but also to his bosses . . . so maybe they'll reign him in some.

I'd go find the contact info, but I simply can't face it right now.

Which link??

It's E! Online: www.eonline.com

The management and Ted Casablanca.
I don't have any fight in me right now. I feel completely deflated and beaten. I've felt like that since he passed, but sometimes I just can't fight anymore. So I'm hoping y'all can find the information.

Thx.

I am not having any luck finding contact info. Do you have an IMDB Pro account? If so his contact info is supposedly there.

Ooooh an idea! LOL . . . I canceled it this month, so I only have it for another 2 weeks. LOL

I suppose I should use it for that while I still have the account open.

Oh thanks so much for sending me to IMDb!

I avoid that place like the plague, but while I was there, thought I'd read a couple of threads. Ended up in a huge fight in which I personally was attacked, as being psycho, a fascist and a liar. . . This site (which I did not even mention because I was posting just as a fan, not a site owner) was called fascist and anti-free speech because "phyllismc won't let the fans talk about anything they want."

Those people see Heath as a Hollywood perception, a thing that they own a piece of . . . and when I react because I see him as a person who was good and deserved respect . . . I'm a fascist.

And I did not find any contact information for Ted Casablanca.

If anyone does find any contact info for Ted and Eonline.com . . please post it.

Last time I was at IMDB, there was a troll there constantly posting loads of crap about Heath and Michelle. Ah, some things never change.

If you check Ted's bio page, it has an e-mail form there. I would've looked more thoroughly but I saw some of the crap he was saying and didn't feel like bursting anymore blood vessels over it.

BTW, I'm contacting a British tabloid today about a blurb that appeared in their paper. I'll post details if you want.

Don't let it get to you Phyllis. The people over there are obviously not true Heath fans or they would understand the things you don't allow on this board. True fans don't wanna trash Heath and say or read those awful things about him. That's one of the things I enjoy so much about this board. I don't have to worry about getting into a fight with someone because they are trashing our boy. I say keep up the good work and we don't want them on this board if they are going to act like that anyway!

Once again, I am so extremely disgusted and sickened about the numbers of people out there that want to focus on the negative and if they can't find the negative, they will fabricate. I cannot fathom someone who would find this site to be fascist or prohibitive to free speech or thought. I sincerely appreciate the spirit of this site. I am probably the least likely person to be here..Caucasian, conservative, middle aged mom. I continue to be drawn here to celebrate the "good" and acknowledging a person who strived to be his best, had a beautiful spirit and who truly left this world a better place. Phyllis, thank you for keeping your promises NOT to show pics of his daughter, NOT to speculate on drug issues and NOT to discuss private matters of his estate. I am disturbed that our society does not acknowledge that your actions are simply the right and decent thing to do, not only in relation to persons of celebrity but for anyone.

Now, on to "dick ted"..oops, don't mean to be unkosher. The only info I have is :
E Entertainment
5750 Wilshire Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90036,
phone (323) 954-2400,
fax (323) 954-2661,
President and CEO -
Ted Harbert, Original Programming and Series Development-Lisa Berger


Strangely enough, Ted Casablanca does not have any fansites. Hummm. I am still looking to see if there is an alternate contact for him.

Keep your chin up...you are taking the high road on this one (and I just know that it would make Heath smile:)

Thank you so much, William's mom.

I wanted to say to one girl . . . I believe in free speech. As much as I talk, how could I not??? But free speech must be tempered with the wisdom to know when to shut the h*ll up. (sorry. ) And I'll admit, that wisdom is not always easy, and I can lack it, too.

So maybe what free speech should be tempered with is compassion.
Sometimes my passion overrides wisdom, but it never overrides my compassion.

Oh btw: if you're the least likely to be here, I guess I'm least likely to run a fansite. LOL . . . I'm a Caucasian, conservative woman of 40.

But Heath drew women and men of every age, and truly did not see the number. Just the person.

For being conservative, one of my closest friends is far left liberal and once asked me, "you believe so differently. how can you be a fan of Heath's?" . . . I loved and respected Heath. How could one not? I truly believe that everyone (with the exception of paparazzi) who ever came across him loved him. He and I did not agree on either politics or religion . . . but he was good and kind. And thoughtful, intelligent and well spoken. If he had an opinion, even one I didn't agree with, it came from a place of deep commitment and morality. I could respect that. And even with our differing on those two very big issues, I felt that we had similar hearts . . .

Sorry to be so sappy.



Wow! The President and CEO! Now THAT'S who we want to go to. And let him know we have stopped watching E Entertainment because of the actions of their corresponding website and Mr. Casablanca.



Well, who'd've thunk it. LOL . . . where are Ted's fans? *rolls eyes*

More E! Info. The number for the E! Online offices is 323-692-4742, fax is 323-692-4700 and they list mailing address as the same as E! Entertainment (if one wants to call that garbage entertainment). I did find a web address as hostmaster@eonline.com. Truthfully, I had just about given up hope of a public apology, until...I saw the British papers had issued a formal apology to the missing girl's parents..so anything is possible. On a different note, I saw an online copy of the upcoming Elle interview piece with Michelle Williams, completed the day before Heath's passing, completely eerie, yet very moving and well done. I can't even begin to link it or do anything fancy but it is well worth looking at for you tech savvy people that can find it online. (She talks about a poem from one of her and Heath's fav. poets and my heart skipped a beat .) To you Phyllis, (since you've been emotional the past few days) I strongly recommend you fire up your IPOD and download the Japan live version of "Here comes the sun." I have to believe this is the version played at Heath's memorial service. The instruments as they build almost sound heavenly and I promise between the lyrics and the music, you will feel better. The winter is over (well, literally today) and the sun is coming. (You know he would want it that way!) Blessings to you.

Thank you WM for looking so hard and your kind words. I don't really think they're going to apologize. But they might think twice about how they report the next one if they know it's not appreciated and they went too far. Heath deserved better. No one who has passed before or since (have you noticed?) has gotten the same treatment he did.

I do have to look at that ELLE interview. They sent me the link 2 or 3 weeks ago, and I also promised a member I'd check it out and see if I wanted to post part of it. . .

I would love to know the poetry and Heath's favorite poets.

Oooh nice recommendation on the song. I hope I can find it. I do not have an iPod; I use a generic MP3 player, made in China to look like an iPod. (Fifi's cheap. ) And true free mp3's are really hard to find.

But I want to hear that version.

It's funny. I wonder what the significance of it was to Heath? Because I cannot recall him ever mentioning Here Comes the Sun in any of his interviews. I don't know if it was a favorite, or if it was just a nice symbolic choice for the funeral. But part of me really believes that each song was chosen because he liked it. . . so I'd love to know.

Ted C is simply wasted space, plain and simple. Other than sheer greed and spitefulness I really can't comprehend how a human being can stoop to the crassness he has, repeatedly. In the day or two following our beloved Heath's passing he wasted no time in spewing filth and I wanted to write him then but was too consumed with horror to form a complete sentence. Since then I have been trying to just ignore him along with the other garbage, figuring that when it comes Ted's day to pass on, I can't imagine such a person being mourned, not in the least; what will his legacy be, other than putrid parasite?

But thank you for the info, for now I will most certainly be writing E Entertainment, tonight no less. I can't believe the nerve of that guy. He must be stopped.

Thank you, Ruth. I used to be so full of spit and vinegar when it came to defending him.
Since He passed . . . I am so tender and devasted I can barely face it. I need all of you, because I don't have enough fight left to go it alone.

Yes, Ted C is the vilest human being on the planet. Truly. . . I think he must have had a personal issue with Heath. No one could be that spiteful unless it's personal.

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! THANKS FOR THE ADDRESS INFO PHYLLIS !!!!!

I got a response from Access Hollywood today regarding a scathing email I sent them after Heath's passing. Here it is:

Thank you very much for taking the time to write and please know that
we
are very sorry to hear that you were unhappy with what we put on the
air.

Believe it or not, we really do pay attention to what our viewers have
to say about Access Hollywood. We take every single email to heart and
use them every day to make the show better.

Thanks again for letting us know your opinion and please don't hesitate
to write whenever you have something to say.

They didn't do what I asked-make an on air apology to his family and highlight some of the charities he was involved with-but frankly at least somebody gave me a response. I actually have hope that someone might have read my complaint. I can't do anything for Heath personally, but I can complain my head off when someone tries to ruin his legacy.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part- in the subject line they put
re: inaccurate report
(Hum, admission of something

Good for you for going the extra mile. It does sound like a bit of a generic response, but someone had to have read it to know what kind of a response to send, so you got through to somebody.

Sweet little Matilda should never have to see or hear any of these degrading things the media has put out there in the weeks since Heath's tragic death. The only thing this little girl should see are those adorable pics of her on her Daddy's shoulders and all she should hear is how much her Daddy adored her. That is the whole truth and nothing but.

I just wanted to tell you all that I wrote the follwing letter to People Magazine and I know they read it because I have my e-mail tracker on and and have a READ response . They haven't answered me but at least I know the e-mail was read .

People Magazine should be ashamed for acknowledging and printing the recent Heath Ledger story.
That is disrespectful to the memory of Heath Ledger.
Matilda should never ever have to see this kind of garbage when she grows up looking for information about her Dad.
Heath Ledger was a good man and his memory and reputation should not be tarnished with trash like this AND SHAME ON YOU FOR PRINTING IT.
I use to think of People Magazine as a reputable magazine but no more . I have officially put People Magazine in the same class as the other trash gossip magazine.

I think People Magazine owes a public apology to Heath's family, fans, and the other family involved in this story.

I think People Magazine owes a public apology to Heath's family, fans, and the other family involved in this story .

A. Wilkinson
St Louis, MO.

Well said!

Perhaps someone could also send them a link to where the child's own family denied this story as well. They should apologise to both families involved, IMO.

Thank you so much, William's Mom. I'm so glad to hear Access Hollywood paid attention. Did you perhaps point out that the medical examiner's report showed that Heath had taken the "prescribed therapeutic doses or LESS."*? *ABC News

I'm so glad you got a response. And thank you so much for writing them.

The PEOPLE Magazine article actually, and I can't believe I'm saying this, was much more fair than I thought it would be. I read it on the plane back from NY, and was fully prepared to be terribly upset. What I found was an article that clearly pointed out the flaws in the story and the denials from the people involved, and that painted Haydn as a disgruntled family member who was not in contact with Heath or his immediate family for years. It ends by saying that the story may not be true.

PEOPLE slanted the story more toward discounting it. At least according to my impression.

After reading it, my immediate thought was . . . People Magazine learned their lesson after getting slammed for their previous Heath reporting, and is now trying to straddle the line between writing a story (that they probably shouldn't) and not upsetting their readership by over-sensationalizing it.

I will admit, I read it also, and I agree with Phyllis. It didn't really lean in one direction or the other. It told both sides of the story. Not that I am defending them either. They wrote some very intrusive and degrading things about him in the weeks immediately following his death, and probably took a lashing for it, I'm sure.

I actually did use the info about the "prescribed doses" of medication...used a lot of what you had posted on a board. I also included some personal info. and some facts on addiction verses therapeutic use. As a former director of a treatment center for teens, I think it is neglient and irresponsible that they are not being truthful about the side effects and possible outcomes of these medications. From my research, Heath was not the first and I don't think he will be the last, and they are all still being described on a daily basis. I did not expect them to officially issue an apology in public. I hope that maybe they sent something through Heath's publicist or agent to the family. Surely all these people know they need to be careful, particularly with Michelle Williams talent, I assume they will be wanting to interview her over the years. She strikes me as definately having the "hutzpah" to tell them where to stick it, or at least Heath's beautifully famous middle finger rubbed off on her I'm glad the People article was fair. Now it appears that his uncle may have perhaps been a victim of the media as well. Those OZ reporters are a crafty bunch! I have empathy for anyone trying to work with them in an interview situation. I am so grateful Kim Ledger and the family came out with short, prepared family statements to squash any speculation and avoid any further pain by the media.

Oh, Haydn is not a victim. He brought everything on himself. Trying to cause trouble in his vendetta against Kim, and not caring who he hurt in the process . . . Haydn deserves any of the bad press he gets.


Oh, Kim was very smart in how he handled this. The police, medical examiner, etc all gave the information directly to him first, and gave him time to prepare statements before they released it publicly. Then, once the authorities released it publicly, Kim made a family statement IMMEDIATELY afterward.

I'm grateful to the authorities for allowing the family the info ahead of time so they could brace for the onslaught and prepare their response.

It was well choreographed and well handled.