Whitney Houston Latest Victim Of Hollywood’s Dark Side
Whitney Houston The Latest To Fall On The Dark Side of Hollywood
Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson just the latest and most famous among the many casualties of the unique Hollywood version of addiction. Don’t get me wrong, I know addiction is addiction. I, your Conservative Everyman, am an alcoholic. I’m sober seven years. My entire drinking journey took place in L.A. during my previous career as a comedian and actor. Again, all addicts are just that, but Hollywood is a special kind of meat grinder to be sure.
You see, most every drunk or drug addict has an enabler or two. Usually these people think they are helping the addict, when in fact they are exacerbating the situation. In civilian life, it’s pretty straightforward; a family member or friend will offerrides, or cash or second chances to, or explain the misdeeds or absences of the addict. Enablers basically help the addict to meet the bare necessities of life, freeing them up to purse booze, pills or dope.
In Hollywood -truly an awful industry populated by many awful people- the enablers are “yes people” they are “handlers”. Those who enable the addictions of celebrities are not just family and friends, indeed very often those loved ones can’t get past the handlers. They are members of the star’s team: their security, their representatives, personal assistants and as we’ve seen recently their MEDICAL STAFF. All of these hangers on benefit in some material way from their boss getting their “candy”. They know full well, that very often, the quickest way to get fired would be to forget the bottle or suggest the star cut back. These people make good money and enjoy the perks found on the coattails of the famous: travel, premieres, parties etc.
Hollywood enablers are also very often people outside the immediate orbit of the celebrity. They are the people in the corner offices of the studios, networks and record labels. These are the Darth Vaders, the true leeches of Hollywood. Most every one of them is the type who would sell their own mother down the river to close a syndication deal. This evil lot are the ones who control the contracts and the purse strings. These are the vultures who turn a blind eye to the very obvious destruction of celeb addicts as long as they can get the job done. If Johnny Heartthrob can show up, hit his mark and deliver his line, all is well. Cut the check, cash your own. Only when Johnny’s implosion becomes a public spectacle and he fails to show and cost the production millions in union overtime does the executive release a statement feigning concern and love for Johnny which gives the studio no choice but to let him go in order to seek help…which they’ll pay for NOW, as there is no production to delay.
Whitney Houston’s demise was the worst kept non-secret in town. Heck, we all saw this woman fall from diva to trainwreck on television in the most uncomfortable reality series in history! What Whitney needed was someone like my wife. Someone to step in like my Andrea did with me and tell her NO! I’m not going to participate in your destruction. I’m not buying it, I’m not hiring you, I’m not working for you, I’m not making excuses for you. She needed someone to be WILLING TO BE FIRED. She needed someone to once and for all stop yessing her -literally- to death, and walk away from her! My wife kicked me out and was willing to walk away from me and our marriage. Thank God, because today we’re still together with two beautiful daughters. I am so blessed.
This is all my opinion, based upon years of experience working and recovering in Los Angeles. Do I know all the details about Whitney? No one does. Do I know addiction? Like every beautiful centimeter of my wife’s beautiful face. Are there good people in Hollywood? Sure, and most of them are in recovery and I miss them as I live a sober life in New York now. Sure I’m painting with a mighty broad brush above, but Hollywood is absolutely a slaughterhouse, and it takes a certain kind of narcissistic detachment to run such an operation. Show business gets fat off the successful and abandons the fallen. On a daily basis, Hollywood rewards bad behavior.
The Grammy broadcast touted the Music Cares program which helps addicts in the industry seek help through rehab. I know people who have recovered with the help of Music Cares. Fabulous. But on the very same broadcast, Rihanna had to share the stage with Chris Brown, the artist who pleaded guilty to beating the living heck out of her just a few years ago. Actually, he got to perform twice, and then was literally rewarded with a Grammy.
Another day, another dollar. And the meat grinder churns…
