Usually when I sit down to write my article for the week, I search news sites for any events that catch my eye and seem to be subjects about which I can record my genuine feelings. Frequently, one story pops out at me, and I go on my way with the composing. This week, however, two stories popped out. Each has one thing in common: failing celebrities.
They are names that have been in the news numerous times during their days of stardom, and each person has his or her own opinions about them. They are Frankie Muniz and Billy Ray Cyrus.
I have found myself, even in the last few weeks, asking myself what ever happened to Frankie Muniz? I went on a trip with my family and girlfriend, during which we decided to watch the old movie “Big Fat Liar.” This film was made during the days when Muniz was a common name in television and film, and he seemed to be a very promising talent.
Questions of his presence in the world were answered as I read a recent news headline: “‘Malcolm in the Middle’ Star Frankie Muniz Held Gun to His Head, Report Says.” It sure is good to hear he’s doing well.
I found out the childhood star of the Mississippi-based movie “My Dog Skip” is actually drumming for a band called You Hang Up. Yeah, I’ve never heard of them either. This new rock image must be getting to his head (as did the gun) because the police report involved an argument gone wrong with his girlfriend.
The girlfriend contacted the police and reported Muniz had grabbed the gun and placed it up to his head with the possible intent of suicide. He was taken to the hospital only to tell a completely different story upon his discharge; he claimed to grab the gun case, not the gun. According to him, the gun wasn’t even loaded, so his girlfriend’s story was all wrong. However, police found the gun, which was loaded. I wonder whose story was whack after all.
Once back at home, Muniz and his girlfriend got into it all over again. This time, not at all different from the last, the stories from the two were completely different. The girlfriend claimed to have been punched and thrown into a wall while Muniz claimed to have been hit in the face while asleep.
Everyone knows when there is a confrontation, the person telling the story is the angel and his or her enemy is the bad guy.  But let’s remember this one point: Who was the actor of the two?
Billy Ray Cyrus has recently had his achy breaky heart broken more than he can handle. It has gotten so bad he has publicly claimed the Disney Channel show “Hannah Montana” “destroyed [his] family.”
Let’s face it, if not for this show, nobody would know who Miley Cyrus is. The crazed Billy Ray fan might know her as “Billy Ray’s daughter,” but that would be the extent of all knowledge of her.
Until recently, Billy Ray Cyrus has almost obliviously played the role of best friend to Miley rather than father, of which he openly admits. He now realizes, though, he was being used. Each time a controversy would arise, he would have been close in the picture and would take all the blame. He finally got smart when Miley had her 18th birthday party at a bar by not even attending. This shows he is not the one allowing all of this, but it is instead her “people.”
This point is made even more clear upon inspection of Miley’s recent excursion. She was photographed smoking from a bong (a legal drug, but not approved by her father). When asked in an interview about this, Cyrus stated Miley’s handlers told him it was none of his business.
What has the world come to these days? A child’s actions aren’t her father’s business? Cyrus is now beginning to realize that he should have played the role of the father much sooner in his daughter’s life, but it is a rather late revelation.
Everyone dreams as a child of having his or her name in lights and performing for sold-out crowds in live theater, concerts and movies alike. To be famous and then disappear only to be reintroduced for considering suicide would be a terrible way to stay in the headlines. To have your family destroyed because your daughter decides to grow up too quickly would be miserable. Thank you, but I think I’ll stay in Mississippi and be happy.
Jay Ballard is a freshman majoring in chemistry. He can be contacted at [email protected].