On Saturday 11th of February singer and actress Whitney Houston was found dead in a bath at a hotel in Beverly Hills. With an array of number 1 singles Whitney has been cited as the most –awarded female act of all time, however in recent years it has not been her voice that has resulted in mass media attention but rather her relationship with cocaine and marijuana. On a downward spiral some may her say premature death like that of stars Michael Jackson and Amy Whitehouse came as a shock, but not as a surprise.
Coroners are yet to report on the actual cause of Whitney’s death saying it will take up to eight weeks for toxicology reports to be analysed.
Bearing this fact in mind, OnePoll surveyed 1200 UK Adults and asked them what they thought about the singer, what caused her death and whether it is appropriate for celebrities whose deaths are suspected to be self-inflicted through drug or alcohol abuse to receive worldwide media coverage.
The Results
- ~ 80% of respondents were fans of Whitney’s work with her well known song ‘I will always love you’ being voted as her best track.
- Participants appeared saddened by her death but unfortunately not surprised; when asked what one word they would use to describe her passing common expressions included ‘inevitable’ and ‘predictable’ along with ‘tragic’ and ‘upsetting’.
- ~38% of respondents believe illegal drugs are to blame for Whitney Houston’s death – despite the fact her cause of death is yet to be announced!!
So is it right for stars whose deaths are suspected to self-inflicted through the use of drugs or alcohol to receive so many tributes and media headlines…
Whilst it is fair to say any death is sad and when a death may be an outcome of self-inflicted addictions it does shine a light on a key problem in today’s society, but was Whitney’s death worth all the hype, the numerous headlines and tributes at the Grammys….
~ 32% of adults who answered this survey say NO and believe such deaths should not receive so much coverage.
Doug Thompson from Capitol Hill Blue* highlights how rather than acting as a platform for drug awareness Whitney’s death has just given the chance for other celebrities to get in front of the camera. He says ‘the attention shows how shallow our celebrity-infected culture has become’. Thomson goes on to state how ‘Capitol Hill Blue searched “Whitney Houston” on Google news and got 28,300 results. Search “Barack Obama” and you get 23,400… The Afghan war brings just 11,300’.
Perhaps if Whitney is remembered for her relationship with drugs, then all the media attention may be worthwhile demonstrating just how devastating their effects can be. However our results suggest this may not even be the case.
- ~70% of the adults who took part in our survey believe the one thing she will be remembered for is her singing, ~18% her relationship with drugs/alcohol.
Thompson states, Whitney Houston isn’t the first celebrity whose death is suspected to be self-inflicted through drug abuse, and sadly most likely will not be the last; this is a fact but should it the biggest story of the week? …Probably not!
Have your say below….
*Doug Thompson, 13th Feb, 2012, from Capitol Hill Blue: The oldest political news site on the Internet — Established October 1, 1994.
Many people are always ready to write about the bad of others we should remember the good about people who have sadly passed away at a young age and remember the family they have left behind who have to read and listen to nasty comments.
Whitney you will always be remember for the good music you gave us in your time with us RIP.
I had never heard of her before last week. I don’t expect I will ever hear of her again after next week. The media circus will move on.