TMZ staff and commenters combined in a disturbing way when reporting on kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart’s recent marriage.
First, TMZ posted that Elizabeth Smart “flaunted her brand new wedding ring” the day after her wedding. Huh? She is wearing her wedding ring the day after she got married. Not sure that qualifies as flaunt: verb. Display (something) ostentatiously, esp. in order to provoke envy or admiration.
Then these comments went up about an hour ago.
In our book, when a 14-year-old girl is abducted from her bedroom, kidnapped for nine months, and is raped repeatedly… you don’t accuse her of flaunting her wedding ring the day after her wedding day. And if you’re a commenter, you don’t suggest that she “likely went willingly” with her kidnapper/rapist.
Thankfully other commenters were there to set things straight:
* “The comments border on freaky here … She went willingly? She was an innocent 14 year old girl and held down and raped. Who are you to judge her willingness to do so? Were they both virgins? She was raped repeatedly you moron. Go get your facts straight. I wish them much happiness.” – Sherri
* “Is no one else a little disturbed that the paparazzi are covering this girl after all she has been through? With celebs who hire publicists to call the TMZ’s, etc… it’s one thing, but this just seems creepy to me. If anyone deserves privacy in this world, Elizabeth Smart has earned it.” – John
We couldn’t agree more. Elizabeth, we wish the very best for you and your husband! May you have a lifetime of happiness together!
daisy / 617 posts
People are disgusting. Like you, I think we should just leave her alone. Hasn’t her life been a tabloid hell for long enough? The kidnapping and repeated rape of a CHILD is never cool. People just piss me off so much, they should just let her be happy.
guest
That is fucked up, but yay for her and her new hubby.
guest
I don’t have anything nice to say, so I won’t say anything. Just wonder what these idiots are smoking or if there is any space left for an actual brain in their heads. Ooops. Said it anyway, haha.
magnolia / 1066 posts
I wish people would leave her alone. She doesn’t want to be famous. She’s famous for being kidnapped and raped. Who the fuck wants to be famous for that? God, I wish the media would just let her live her life in peace now.
dahlia / 2747 posts
what the fuck. what dicks.
guest
Why is the media still following this poor woman?! She was kidnapped – she didn’t choose to be in the public eye. We can debate where lines are drawn in terms of actors’ and musicians’ privacy, but damn, following someone around and picking at their personal life for 10 years because they were the victim of a horrible crime? That’s just bizarre.
guest
i read this title with the “leave britney alone” video voice. Though I actually agree with this title.
guest
you can’t take anything on TMZ seriously. if you do it just makes you lose hope in humanity.
guest
I agree! She has much dignity and patience with these photo stalkers trying to steal her happiness from her. A pox on them!
guest
A super un-clear zoom of a hand with something that shows the vague shape of a ring while she’s going for a walk looking rather normal =”flaunting”? That made me laugh. How jealous and low can people get. And what a bitch/troll that Bellaca.
guest
my stomach turned reading those comments… people can be so vile and disgusting.
guest
Boycott TMZ. They’re vultures.
guest
@WaitingToShrug@xanga - What do you have against vultures? Seriously. They are great fleet boosters and their shield defenses are incredibly powerf- ohhhhhh wait wrong kind of vulture.
guest
- it takes work to keep a clean house and a clean head. I fail at the first, and the human race is full of the breed who make sure we all fail at the second. What is their motivation? The same as anybody; to be rich and famous. For the tabloid industry, one would assume there’s enough creepy stuff going on for real that they would be satisfied. But it’s a craving. And they want to get us all hooked on creepyiness and be our supplier.
@msbrownstone@xanga alas. vile is the new vogue.