ok a real comment. I think anytime someone of a certain fame dies, it’s unbelievable. People already hold these people to higher standards, because of the wealth, and that any problems they have can be treated with money. We don’t know what really happened to him, will we ever? I think our nation has become star obsessed! We have to know who’s dating who, why they broke up, what they ate at the Ivy, it’s this world alot of us will never belong to.

Do the casualties of war deserve more time and respect? Definitely. I would like more than the closing credits of ABC News with quick flashes of photos to pay respect to these men and women who died fighting for our freedom to sit on this blog and dog and thumbs up these celebs everyday. Our values as a country just don’t lie there, and thats the reality of it.

I FEEL MONTEL ON THAT. WITH ME BEING A PRIOR SEVICE ARMY WOMAN WHO SPENT 6 YEARS IN AND BEEN TO IRAQ, YOU SEE ALOT OF STUFF AND DEATHS I SEEN ALOT OF MY FRIENDS BE HURT EVEN KILLED IN IRAQ AND AFAGAN. SO WE AS FORMER MILITARY PEOPLE CAN SEE HOW AND WHY HE SAID AND FELT WHAT HE SAID.

Go head Montel!!!!

WOW HE HAS A POINT! THE MEDIA IS OBSESSED WHEN A CELEBRITY DIES …. THEY MAKE MONEY OFF OF CELEBRITY DEATHS WHICH IS VERY SAD

That what I’m talking about Montell, let’s talk about something with substance.. Keith or Heath Ledger has been getting way too much coverage in the media.. Same goes for a hand full of Hollywood celebs that I have never supported or heard of.. Brittney Spears gets coverage on CNN almost everyday.. Why… That’s not world news or news of relavence at all.. It’s about time the media starts talking and covering real news..

I totally agree with Montell. My heart does go out to Heath Legder but if i see his face on tv one more time with that Brokeback Mountain theme song

hmmmm….what’s montel done for the troops lately? and who voted bush in?

it’s possible to have two thoughts in your head at the same time.

i still think heath ledger’s death is tragic. i also wish the war in iraq would end.

oh plz montel is just jealous. He will probably kill him self just for some publicity, cuz lord knows he doesnt get any now.

Montel is on point with that statement because some children don’t even have a tv so which is important to those kids our soliders that are fighting
for their country or someone they’ve never seen before? but that’s America for ya

Amen Montell!! He literally took the words right out of my mouth. When I first heard about the passing of Heath Ledger all I was seeing was speculation of drug abuse and linking him to negativity when he was one of those you hardly heard about and just living life. Sure people have a past and no one is perfect but dammit he’s a human being. At least they could of said was rest in peace and left it alone. All of those peope should be ashamed of themselves. Keep speaking that truth Montell. Report sum ish that actually affect our people. They will learn to do unto others as others will do unto them….

Yeah I feel where Montell is coming from.

The media, and fans alike are obsessed with celebrities and hold them to a higher standard than others. Just like at the comments that’s posted on this site. It don’t make no sense.

I agree with Montel on this one. People need to get their priorities straight.

This isn’t going to sound right…. but….

We’ve been hearing about Iraq since 2003. After awhile it feels like it’s the same sad and depressing news over and over and over again…after awhile, unfortunately, nothing is really shocking anymore when it comes to the war. As much as I hate to say it, it’s almost predictable. Heath Ledger’s death is something no one really saw coming…so the fact that it was broadcast everywhere kind of made sense.

I definitely agree that the media needs to get it’s priorities in order when it comes to reporting on entertainment news versus real (”real” as in stuff that matters) news. It’s almost disgusting how Paris and Britney (look! they don’t even need last names!) have seemed to take over news within the past year and how they just soak up the news with, um, shit. We - the newscasters, journalists, magazine readers, television audiences - all know it’s ridiculous and what we should really be focusing on…we just aren’t.

I agree with him on alot of points.We as a society,have become celebrity obsessed, news programming and even some news papers have taken on the tabloid angle,that’s why many of us are ill informed on the issues. I don’t agree that there is a hunger for tabloid TV,alot of it is being forced down our throats. When a celebrity passes on in the manner of that Heath did,i expect coverage because he was in the public eye,but to speculate on the causes of death and trying sensationlize a tragic story is utterly disgusting. We need more coverage and emphasis on real news,that affects us a a nation

My brother is in the army. Mad Respect for Montel! He is telling the truth!

montel needs to calm down. people in here are agreeing with him, knowing they don’t keep up the Iraq war, and they still won’t keep up with the number of deaths even though “he has a point”. A week from now I want someone in here to post how many people died during the week. go ahead i’ll wait

I feel Mr. Williams the media uses anything to distract us from the war and the real issues of the world.

A death is a death. Although, I understand were Montell is coming from….i don’t know if that was the right time voice his opinion.

lol simone….i think everyone agrees that heath ledgers death was tragic and of course he has “superiority” because he was a celebrity but people need to wake up!

i know i care about troops being killed and would like to know what is going on. it is ridiculous that the news and paparrazzi are stalking michelle and gossipping about how he died and what went on. NOBODY was there but him when he died….its between him and God…we should respect him and his family enough to not feed the rumors and let them grieve.

i wish ppl were more compassionate

CORTNEY i will be waiting for someone to post that too.

@ cortney #16….ur right…i think concreteloop should participate in this informing of the war in iraq…instead of posting pictures of gabrielle union, meaghan good, and kim kardashian…

Totally agree with Montel! I’m from Michigan and I’m disgusted with how much coverage the “text message scandal” regarding Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick is getting from the local media.

Poster # 7, I am totally with you. I understand what he is trying to say but at the same time, no one has forgotten we are at war and every story that is reported should not be about the war. Heath Ledger got a lot of attention because of the nature of today’s media beast, wrong or not. He was a talented actor who’s work a lot of people enjoyed and he died unexpectedly. There is going to be a lot of coverage.

Now at the end of each of Montell’s show’s from now on, I expect to see something regarding the casualites of war.

All right and thank you Montell! I agree and it’s so sad that our troops have been dying for 4 years and the vast majority could care less.

I agree with #13. the war in Iraq is ongoing and there is still coverage on the casualities on every news station everyday. we should never stop covering the way because that is information that is important to us all. however, the reason why Heath’s death is getting all the coverage is because he was a famous, young, handsome actor who died under questionable circumstances. that is news. that is why we have an entertainment segment with each news broadcast or the magazines that report celebrity news. there is a market for it. supply and demand is the name of the game. it has only been a week. Montel acting like this coverage has been going on for months. anyway when the SAG awards came on Sunday, guess what the talk of Hollywood was then? every story has its cycle …

They dont talk about who died in Iraq as much as they have been talking about HEATH. I mean if you didint know who he was, you probaly do now. I mean its alll over the news. The talk more about that, than real stuff.

I was watching the news this morning and they spent two seconds talking about a lady that was shot in the stomach and her ONE YEAR OLD was shot in the face. The baby died and the mother is in Critical Condition. THen they go straight to Entertainment and spent 10 minutes talking about Heath, and the Sag awards, and blah blah blah.

Its gotten crazy!

I bet Montell wouldnt be bitching about the coverage of Heath Ledgers death if it was his Beloved Sylvia brown who had died.

if montel really gave a damn about the war in iraq or the troops, he would have lots and lots of episodes of his show talkin about them and exposing the things they have to deal with during and or after their time in iraq.

instead he chooses to show episodes about ghosts, sylvia brown,cooks and all this other bullshit. so montel cut the crap. if u dont feel the troops are getting enough attention from the media..then USE UR TLAK SHOW TO GIVE IT TO THEM.

Being a former serviceman himself, I am sure Montel has a higher sensitivity than most people on this matter. He is definitely on point. I can understand the celebrity news shows being focused on this, that’s what they do. I think his issue is the world and national news is overblown with Heath Ledger’s death. He could probably say the same about all the stories about Britney too, but since it has been all about Heath, that’s where he directed his comment.

And I’m repulsed by the frequency of his butting in…who would go on his show? You never actually get to tell your story… For someone who smokes weed, he’s awful hyper!

I agree with the poster that said we can hold 2 things in our heads at one time. Montel needs to get off his high horse because the fact is that on any given day if I were to turn to his show, what would I see? Something on the troops in Iraq? No — it would be that old long-fingernailed hag Sylvia Browne giving more failed predictions.

If you want to say something about the coverage of Ledger’s death, Montel, so be it, but don’t drag the troops into it. Fake ass faker. Same as people saying that CL shouldn’t post on Gabrielle Union or Megan Good when celebrity gossip is what you came here for in the first place. LOL!

The thing I do hate that the media does is ask all these unrelated celebrities stuff about other celebrities. I don’t really want to hear Donny Osmond’s opinion on Jamie Lynn Spear’s pregnancy. They do it with such fake concern it gets on my nerves. But anyhoo….

I feel Montel to the upmost. I get tired of hearing about Heath and Brittany.

If Brittany were any normal blk woman walking the street, driving the same kind of car and speaking in a “British” accent, she would be locked up by now. It’s funny how the media keeps saying that its “bizarre” that Brittany is speaking with a British accent now.

They ain’t said shit about Tina Turner speaking the same way and she’s from Nutbush, Tennessee.

Way to go Montel.

The only thing people want to hear about the war is that: IT’S OVER!

The media is obsessed with celebs and it helps ratings. They will get more ratings over a death of a celeb or Britney Spears (if i see her one more time I will scream). Plus they repeat the same thing every hour on the hour. It’s like if you don’t have any new development then move on to another story. No need to keep repeating the same thing over and over and over again

Oh gosh?!!!

#13-
Heaths death is something that we saw coming. He tried to commit suicide last year when him and Michelle Williams first broke up. That’s why folks are speculating that he committed suicide this time.

The sad part is, that I even know all this. But trust, I didn’t get this information from MTV or CL. I got it from CNN!!! I kind of feel what you’re saying. We have been hearing about dead soldiers since 2003. But there has to be some other news more relevant than a celebrities death. It should get some coverage, but it really shouldn’t be a top story for 4 days straight. The media is celebrity obsessed. Just think about all the attention Britany Spears got with her divorce from K Fed and the kids being taken away and whatnot. And then what about her sister? I mean, people get a divorce every day. 16 year old girls get pregnant all the time. So why do you have to substitute real news for this crap? That’s just not right.

Yes, it was sad to see this young talented actor die so suddenly and tragically.

The media really needs to just leave this Heath’s Family, Michelle and his daughter alone, by respecting his memory and pull the plug on the story. Its not like they are honoring him anyway….villanizing him as a drug addict, interviewing women he messed with after he and Michelle split…what type of Bulls**t is that??? Just so all these stupid gossip shows can fill up their half hour slots in the primetime line up.

Leave that to the stupid industry limelight hoggers with their DUI’s and other offenses to society!!!

As for Montell …..I agree with him….but I also have a question about the real reason why the war should be ended…

Because our troops are dying??? Or because the troops are killing thousands of innocent civilians out there????

I dont think the next generation should go off to die based off Our Asshole of a President’s lies…

But why should innocent Men, Women and Children of Iraq be killed in the process, when probably most of the people have nothing to do with any “Weapons of Mass destruction”….

In the words of Lauryn Hill: Know Your Motives and Thoughts!!!!

whether you agree, disagree, keep up with the war, or dont, montel made an excellent point…..at least he made a point that will challenge celebrity obsessors to entertain a different perspective

they don’t talk extensively about every casualty in Iraq simply because there are too many… I’m sure for every reported death, there are thirty mangled and detached limbs…seriously…people they can’t put together… I was told once by a Professor who was in Vietnam that I’d never know the truth about war…that it was a reality I simply couldn’t know…
This is probably because we would panic if we knew exactly what sort of danger we live in as citizens of a nation at war with another…

I’m so with MONTELL..this whole thing is getting outragous (sp). They have been talking nonstop about this man who die like a week ago. Yeah sure enough its sad and i hate to hear of someone passing. But they don’t focus that much to the real HEROS whose overseas. Giving their lives up over SENSELESS WAR!!!! THAT THEY SHOULDN’T EVEN BE FIGHTING!!!! aaagh IT REALLY MAKES MY HEAD HURT FOR THE SIMPLE FACT THAT SO MANY MEN AND WOMEN I WON’T BE ABLE TO SEE THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN GROW UP. BECAUSE THEY HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES FIGHTING IN THIS WAR.
SO YEAH I’M WITH MONTELL LET THAT MEN LIVE AND PEACE AND STOP BRING UP HIS DEATH. HELL THEY DIDN’T HAVE CORETTA SCOTT KING ON THE NEWS COVERING HER DEATH. THE WAY THEIR COVERING HIS AND SHE DID MORE…NOW SHE WAS AN ICON!

Good for Montell, this country is more concerned about stupid BS, than whats really going on, and that’s a fight for our freedom daily.

Anyone who agrees with Montell shouldnt even be on this website then…

i was listening to steve harvey’s closing remarks the other day and he was like instead of going to the blogs to see what celebrities are doing, use that time to invest in bettering yourself…………celebrities, bums, and the working class all have one thing in common, they all have 24hrs in a day to work with…………the difference is what each person decided to do with that time………….PREEEEAACH!!!

Turn on CNN, you see Britany. Turn on ABC world coverage news you see Paris. Turn on your local news channel, you see Amy Winhouse. These stars are tired. Why do we care about such people more than our troops whom are fighting for us the people? Those troops care about us the people, more than Brittanys or Paris’ who don’t care about putting underwear. It’s ridiculous. Maybe it was wrong timing for Montel to voice his opinion on the Heath Leathger segment, but when will someone open their mouths to voice the truth about the media?

montel, sit your uppity self down. if society wants to mourn the loss of an actor, let them. it would be same way if you were to die. this is just crazy

I’m sorry but I may be alone on this one but I feel like Montel was a little tacky in his execution of this particular topic…The topic was about Heath and that’s where the conversation should have stayed just out of respect for the man. I wouldn’t venture to call anyones death “BS”…

I totally agree with Montel but again he could have been a little more tactful.

#21 this is a blog website dumb ass, tune in to fox news or 60 minutes if you want real informative shit, these web sites are for strictly entertainment. Yet you have the time to google concreteloop and post your comment and talk shit. what sense does that make

Awww that dude Montel!!!
Finally reppin hardcore.

LMAO @ #16 I Agree! Montel is just saying this to get his name in the news! Heath’s death was very surprising so how do you expect people to respond? If you saw his death on the news one day you would be like “Damn, That’s It?” He was a VERY talented person that died young. With a young daughter so it touched alot of people.

MAY LEDGER AND THE MANY SOLDIERS WE LOSE EVERYDAY REST IN PEACE

STEVE HARVEY MAD CAUSE BLOGS PUT “HIS” BUSINESS OUT THERE!!! PLEASE BELIEVE IF THAT WASN’T THE CASE HE WOULDN’T EVEN TALK ABOUT BLOGS!

@ #21 - backingbarack

What do you take this thing for?? smh what do you think concreteloop is ?? its an entertainment website if you wanna know about all that political stuff go on the cnn website. And if you even cared that much you wouldn’t even be on here in the first place.

I for the most part agree with Montell…The main reason Heath is still in the news besides being a celebrity is the fact that it was possibly drug related, and his lab report isn’t back yet…like someone else said a death is a death no one person life is more important then another, at the end of the day we are all someones child, father, mother, cousin, uncle etc…they should have at least some kind of minute tribute to the troops, but they need to honor the innocent people who get caught up in the cross fire as well

Sad but True!!!

R.I.P…Heath Ledger

Montel is real…….different.

Thank God somebody is saying it…I bet Fox won’t have him back on for a long time.

One of the responsibilties of the media is not only to provide entertainment, but to also provide the population with important information so that this democratic republic can function.

I get my news from various internet news site, so i consider myself pretty well informed.

But there is still a larger and in most cases older part of the population that gets all of there news from T. V.

If you are looking at the dummy box and all you see is 24 hour celebrity death and Shitney Spears, how in hell are you supposed to be able to make informed decisions, especially with an election coming.

Usually Montell annoys the hell out of me with all his crying, but he was right on point with this one… and I think he turned the tables on them in a very respectful, but unapologetic manner.

Thanks Angel!

I don’t know that i would have heard about this story today had i not visited this site. I appreciate the fact that while i want to know what new music is out or what celebs are wearing, I can also come here and learn whats happening in polititricks and the world at large. (Great reporting on the Election Btw)

Mind you, if I REALLY wanted to know the precise number of war casualites (both troops and civilians alike) than I know i can do my research…listen to NPR…or WBAI…go online or read publications that speak to this issue and the NOT their own agendas…ya know, pumping salacious stories to get viewers or ratings or promote their policitical views…like the “news” and media outlets who are owned by people with specific interests. CORPORATE INTERESTS! I would expect FOX to report the interests of the owners, NOT that of the general public. If its owned by a conservative, then why would they express the real number of deaths when Ruport Murdoch backed a president who signed off on this war to begin with?

The sad part is, we are but a pawn in the game. They (Corporate owned media entities) know that most folk won’t demand a truly FAIR AND BALANCED reporting of the news because we are more concerned with who wore what on the red carpet. I’m no Montel fan. And i dont know if it was in the best taste and time. (THEN WHEN WOULD BE, I ASK?) But atleast someone watching the Heath story in that moment was reminded about the war. Because lets face it, it is NOT the leading story anymore even though thousands of people have died and are STILL dying over there. RIP Heath but his life is of the same value as the last little girl in Iraq who got blown to bits…or the old lady who died in her project apartment because of lack of heat…or the man who got sideswiped on the highway.

@40:”i was listening to steve harvey’s closing remarks the other day and he was like instead of going to the blogs to see what celebrities are doing, use that time to invest in bettering yourself…………celebrities, bums, and the working class all have one thing in common, they all have 24hrs in a day to work with…………the difference is what each person decided to do with that time………….PREEEEAACH!!!”

*************************************************************************************************
Hmm, I wonder if Steve Harvey should have used the time he schemed with his lawyer to trick his ex-wife to “better himself”? Anyway.

If anything about Heath Ledger comes on t.v. now, I turn immediately. The thing with the media is that they don’t know when enough is enough. They have gotten downright disrespectful with the HLedger coverage. They are doing the same thing with the whole “race” issue with this election. They keep saying race shouldn’t matter, but everynight CNN is doing some “special” report on how race and gender are affecting the campaign.

The public gets blamed for being “celebrity obsessed”, but I think it’s the media that’s obsessed. If they stopped talking about celebrities all together, I wouldn’t shed a tear. IMO

I can’t stand Montel but he has a point.

I agree, its been way to much coverage. People die everyday whether its in iraq, Afgan or locally. Its sad how the media play into a persons death because of their status. I myself served in the Army and was deployed to Iraq back in 04 and it wasnt all pretty, theres stuff goes on over there that dont even get coverage and its like innocent lies just being taken away in vain? I think the media need to stop focusing on someone status, the main point is where someone is going to spend eternity, thats what we all should focus on.

I have to agree with the Montel Williams on this issue. We have become more star obssessed but why is that? Gossip has become the money making resource for a very long time. Magazines such as Star, US Weekly, and The National Inquire get paid because people buy their magazine to hear about Celebrity gossip. The answer is WE the consumers are star struck. Concreteloop is one of the media outlets to celebrity gossip that gets Angel paid because people love to comment on here and are so obssessed. Come on now look at the Rihanna, Kim K., and of course Beyonce get the most hits on gossip blogs because the people love to comment on them even if you hate them you still keep the gossip blogs and other media outlets that broadcast celebrity gossip relevant. I’m sure if Angel didn’t get that much views and responses or people in general not responding to gossip blog, they will diminish because the consumers taste have shifted to something else. This is business folks they base everything off of our likes and dislikes. So what that said quit complaining and do something about it. If you don’t like it, then start by not going on gossip blogs or forums

Oh yeah Angel added a politics section to balance it out

While I totally agree with Montell’s point, I hardly think he’d have the same sentiments if a young white starlet passed away. The man worships white women, plain and simple.

if you want legit news, not partisan politics then you don’t watch TV. listen to the radio, research the internet. everyone know that the media controls the news and we see what they want us to see.

Gem, i think what that professor told you about never understanding the truth and realty about war is so profound and deeply saddening. obviously, we’re not in iraq everyday, experiencing the devastating toll that war takes on a country. some of us are so far removed from the war since it is not on our soil that we’d rather focus all of our attention on news coverage of the death of a celeb, britney, brad and angelina, beyonce, etc etc, you get the point. i do not think that the media necessarily reflects the ideals and politics of the average american; the media is run by a few privileged people.

on my behalf, i had great admiration and respect for Heath. i am deeply saddened by his passing. a life lost so young and a child left behind is very sad. however, that doesn’t mean that i don’t write to my cousin frequently who is serving his 3rd tour in Iraq. Heath hasn’t taken over my life lol i know what’s going on…i think Montel has a point to a certain degree. we should all do what we can for the troops…writing letters, showing support somehow. just because people are mourning the loss of a public figure (even if he was a celeb, a human being after all, and wasn’t out there fighting for our country)..doesn’t mean that the death of our soldiers aren’t heavy on our minds. my cousin is on my mind 24/7.

@ 60

Colorism=ignorance=disease

Stop spreading that shit! He had the same sentiments when Aaliyah died. SMH

yay Montel!

He laid it out there and they were thrown off game. That is funny. It’s the truth though. I just saw one show saying that it was breaking news that the body was being shipped somewhere. Why is that BREAKING news? I

Thats right boy!!! Get em monteee!

#62–I’m just calling it as I see it. It’s merely MY opinion.
By the way– my OPINION isn’t considered colorism. Colorism a whole different entity.

@ 64

lol Every time there is a Heath Ledger story I turn it off because they won’t let the man rest in peace. This is like any other death of a publi figure it gets annoying lol

MONTELL IS RIGHT.
MY BROTHER CAME BACK FROM IRAQ, THANKFULLY.
HE SAW PEOPLE DIE, THAT DON’T GET NAMED.
HEATH LEDGER IS GONE, AND MY CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY, BUT PLEASE DON’T OVER-BROADCAST IT.
SUPPORT THE TROOPS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN!

@ 66

I respect your opinion but why are you bringing up something that is so trivial? What does his opinion on the news being obssessed about Heath ledger’s shortcomings got anything to do with him loving white women or praising white women? Come on now you can do better than that.

SPEAK THE TRUTH MONTEL. HEATH IS DEAD, AND FOR THE NEWSMAN TO SAY SO TROOPS HAVE BEEN DYING SINCE MARCH 2003 SUCKS, IF ONE OF THEM HAD A CHILD OVERTHERE THEY WOULD BE MORE CONCERNED. I’M SORRY THE MAN IS DEAD BUT HE OVERDOSED ON PILLS, IT’S NOT LIKE HE HAD A CHOICE HE COULD HAVE CHOSE TO SAY NO AND GET HELP INSTEAD OF SWALLOWING A HAND FULL OF PILLS. THE PEOPLE IN IRAQ HAVE NO CHOICE.

@ Blackisbeautiful, whats Aaliayh got to do with it???

*Aaliyah*

I don’t think Brotha Montell was trying to disrespect the life lost as much as he was trying to say that there has been 28 deaths of U.S. troops this month alone that most of us have not heard about,and five more since yesterday.Fox News from day one has been a low rent source for news,I’m a former vet too,so I can’t be mad at what he said,because they should have come home a long time ago.

Okay, 69 aka CL police– Seriously– it was just an opinion, lol.
I’ve read a few of the comments/opinions here and again, I do agree w/ what Montell is saying.
This is a gossip blog– Am I obligated to be politically correct or guard my posts 100% of the time? Why are you even wasting time by attacking my opinion, however superficial or foolish you think they are?

@ 71

lol the person said that Montel Williams wouldn’t have send the same sentiments if it was a white women because he/she thinks that Montell praises white women plain and simple. He/she is entitled to that opinion but however Aaliyah is a black young women that passed and he had the same sentiments for her when she passed just as much as anyone else. So I was referencing Aaliyah to that. As you were…