Haley Joel Osment - latest child star to face difficult adulthood?

[Buried Alien]

Seven years ago, when THE SIXTH SENSE became a hit movie with both audiences and critics, Haley Joel Osment was celebrated as one of Hollywood's best emerging new child actors. This news story (http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Movies/08/17/osmont.DUI.ap/index.html), sadly, suggests that Osment might be joining a long list of former child actors who faced difficulties during adulthood.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ontir]

It's unfortunate, but not quite the end of the world for him. Thankfully, he was the only one hurt.

[Josh S]

I agree with Ontir. It's a sad situation, but far from hopeless. I'm not sure what I think should happen, though. On the one hand I think jail is a bit extreme, but I also think it might do him some good.

[SnowTrooper]

If I was seeing dead people I'd drive drunk and smoke pot too.

[drwho]

I think he even has a new movie coming out soon anyway. Plus if I did one movie and got paid a few million id be done.

[kmeyers]

Difficult? I doubt this will end up being a big deal. Drunk driving is bad, but our president has done it...and everyone in California smokes weed.

The most hilarious part of the article..."Authorities said Osment was driving home alone about 1 a.m. when his 1995 Saturn hit a mailbox and flipped over."

He flipped his Saturn on a mailbox.

[Josh S]

If I was seeing dead people I'd drive drunk and smoke pot too.

Now that's funny.

[Patman]

Maybe he was just mad for still driving a 1995 Saturn nowadays...

[the film freak]

I think he's just doing dumbass teenager stuff. I mean if he keeps getting drunk and stoned and crashing cars I think he has a problem but I wouldn't reserve a room for him at Betty Ford yet.

[Toreador]

I wonder if he's going to get raked over the coals like everyone did with Mel Gibson? It'd be hypocritical of those people if they didn't.

Has Nancy Grace done a whole show on this yet?

[StoneGold]

I wonder if he's going to get raked over the coals like everyone did with Mel Gibson? It'd be hypocritical of those people if they didn't.

Has Nancy Grace done a whole show on this yet?
Not really, as he neither made racist comments, nor possibly tried to use influence to make the crime go away. Which probably wouldn't happen, unless the cops were big Kingdom Hearts fans.

[Royal]

I wonder if he's going to get raked over the coals like everyone did with Mel Gibson? It'd be hypocritical of those people if they didn't.

Has Nancy Grace done a whole show on this yet?

Please don't give her ideas.

Please.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I wonder if he's going to get raked over the coals like everyone did with Mel Gibson? It'd be hypocritical of those people if they didn't.

Has Nancy Grace done a whole show on this yet?


Yeah wheres the negative coverage for him ? I mean wheres the posters claiming that this is the ultimate evil ? Guess Mel Gibson had that special place for that .

And its not like his career is over. He has another movie coming out soon so , if it flops then he's gonna have a hard road to be an adult in Hollywood.

[Joe Rice]

Toreador and Super, do you really not see the difference between what Mel did and what Osmet did?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Toreador and Super, do you really not see the difference between what Mel did and what Osmet did?


Yeah one let loose in a drunken rage and the other flipped his car on a mailbox in a drunken stupor. As well as had pot on him. Odds are Osmet may have said some silly awful crap but we'll never know.

Wheres Nancy Grace putting Haley Joe Osmet to the damn wall for being drunk and high ? ;)

[Michael P]

Not really, as he neither made racist comments, nor possibly tried to use influence to make the crime go away. Which probably wouldn't happen, unless the cops were big Kingdom Hearts fans.
I know I wouldn't arrest a dude who could kick Cloud and Sephiroth's asses.

[Joe Rice]

Yeah one let loose in a drunken rage and the other flipped his car on a mailbox in a drunken stupor. As well as had pot on him. Odds are Osmet may have said some silly awful crap but we'll never know.

Wheres Nancy Grace putting Haley Joe Osmet to the damn wall for being drunk and high ? ;)

Making anti-semetic comments isn't "letting loose." The reason people got on Mel was not the drunk driving, really. It's the racism.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Making anti-semetic comments isn't "letting loose." The reason people got on Mel was not the drunk driving, really. It's the racism.


And he was drunk and called a female cop " Suger T*ts " as well. Don't forget that or when he tried to run off. Of course he said things while drunk ( which I've said people do ) that was wrong. Thats life...of course he was Mel Gibson and deserves a Nancy Grace special proclaiming his EVIL. :p

[Joe Rice]

And he was drunk and called a female cop " Suger T*ts " as well. Don't forget that or when he tried to run off. Of course he said things while drunk ( which I've said people do ) that was wrong. Thats life...of course he was Mel Gibson and deserves a Nancy Grace special proclaiming his EVIL. :p

A man with a past indicative of anti-semitism lashed out with anti-semetic nonsense and tried to influence the law with his money.

He deserves the contempt and scorn he's earned.

Osmet did something stupid, but Gibson did something heinous. To equate them baffles me.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

A man with a past indicative of anti-semitism lashed out with anti-semetic nonsense and tried to influence the law with his money.

He deserves the contempt and scorn he's earned.

Osmet did something stupid, but Gibson did something heinous. To equate them baffles me.

I really haven't seen Gibson's past anti-semitism other than a religious movie that went huge that made people question him. Of course we all know his father's history ect ect....

Hell its been said he gave the local police a $ 10,000 gift in 2002. Odds are in his drunken condition he felt he did have influence.

[Buzz Dixon]

Joe, what's your take on Gunther Grass, Nobel literature prized winner for "The Tin Drum" et al, who recently admited he'd been part of the Waffen SS?

You know, those guys that ran the death camps?

Gibson may have thought some heinous stuff, but he at least had enough common sense not to act on his thoughts, and if he could have controlled his drinking we would have never known what was in his head; by all accounts he got along well with Jewish people in Hollywood.

Grass, on the other hand, spent a lifetime hiding what he had done, not by merely denying it, but by actively crafting a public image that would not lead people to suspect him of having been in Hitler's elite.

[Joe Rice]

I really haven't seen Gibson's past anti-semitism other than a religious movie that went huge that made people question him. Of course we all know his father's history ect ect....

Hell its been said he gave the local police a $ 10,000 gift in 2002. Odds are in his drunken condition he felt he did have influence.

Which makes it almost more disgusting.

Question: Do you really think these two offenses are equal?

[Joe Rice]

Joe, what's your take on Gunther Grass, Nobel literature prized winner for "The Tin Drum" et al, who recently admited he'd been part of the Waffen SS?

You know, those guys that ran the death camps?

Gibson may have thought some heinous stuff, but he at least had enough common sense not to act on his thoughts, and if he could have controlled his drinking we would have never known what was in his head; by all accounts he got along well with Jewish people in Hollywood.

Grass, on the other hand, spent a lifetime hiding what he had done, not by merely denying it, but by actively crafting a public image that would not lead people to suspect him of having been in Hitler's elite.

I'd be pretty disgusted by an SS member, too. I believe they both can be forgiven and can be penitent, it's a part of my religion. I don't mean to say that Gibson's offense is permanent and FORVER MAKES HIM THE WORST MAN EVER or anything, but I do think what he did goes a bit beyond a teenager toking and drunk driving. Does that make sense?

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Which makes it almost more disgusting.

Question: Do you really think these two offenses are equal?


Yep....because both were caught breaking the laws of driving safe. Osment was driving drunk and had drugs on him. Hell he could have been seriously hurt when he flipped his car on a mailbox.

I've seen people say Mel Gibson could have hurt someone with how he drove. Haley Joe Osment may have hurt someone with how he drove as well.

You ever watch those Highway Patrol , Cops or shows where an idiot gets drunk and goes insane ? I watched awhile back and this guy is swearing , saying racial comments to a black officer at the top of his lungs in the back of a cruiser. Finally when he spit on the guy , is when the cop pulled his shirt up over his head and made him ride like that.

[Matt Algren]

And he was drunk and called a female cop " Suger T*ts " as well. Don't forget that or when he tried to run off. Of course he said things while drunk ( which I've said people do ) that was wrong. Thats life...of course he was Mel Gibson and deserves a Nancy Grace special proclaiming his EVIL.From the great comedian Auggie Smith (http://www.tvdepot.com/auggie/), long before Mel Gibson:

"It's just a way of getting around being responsible for your own behavior, that's all it is. Quit blaming the booze. You know what? If you're a jackass when your drinking, it's because you're a jackass. There ain't no magical equation, 'add liquid, make jackass'. No, this is what they call, in the insurance game, a pre-existing condition."

[Joe Rice]

Yep....because both were caught breaking the laws of driving safe. Osment was driving drunk and had drugs on him. Hell he could have been seriously hurt when he flipped his car on a mailbox.

I've seen people say Mel Gibson could have hurt someone with how he drove. Haley Joe Osment may have hurt someone with how he drove as well.




The racism means nothing, then?

[Buzz Dixon]

Joe --

Yeah, that makes sense. Both Gibson and Osment endangered other people by driving under the influence, Osment actually caused property damage. Gibson, on the other hand, said things that because of his position were widely reported; if he indeed had used his celebrity as influence to avoid the consequences of drunk driving in the past, then that same celebrity whipped around to bite him on the tushie with his drunken rantings.

[Joe Rice]

Joe --

Yeah, that makes sense. Both Gibson and Osment endangered other people by driving under the influence, Osment actually caused property damage. Gibson, on the other hand, said things that because of his position were widely reported; if he indeed had used his celebrity as influence to avoid the consequences of drunk driving in the past, then that same celebrity whipped around to bite him on the tushie with his drunken rantings.

Agreed completely.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

From the great comedian Auggie Smith (http://www.tvdepot.com/auggie/), long before Mel Gibson:

"It's just a way of getting around being responsible for your own behavior, that's all it is. Quit blaming the booze. You know what? If you're a jackass when your drinking, it's because you're a jackass. There ain't no magical equation, 'add liquid, make jackass'. No, this is what they call, in the insurance game, a pre-existing condition."

Good for him I suppose. Of course I'm a Ron White fan and his drunken stories.... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUZc5G3S8Zw

[Matt Algren]

Good for him I suppose. Of course I'm a Ron White fan and his drunken stories.... :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gUZc5G3S8Zw
My point is that his blood alcohol level didn't suddenly change his views, it just changed how vocal he was about them. I just don't buy the "he was drunk, so he didn't mean it" excuse.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

My point is that his blood alcohol level didn't suddenly change his views, it just changed how vocal he was about them. I just don't buy the "he was drunk, so he didn't mean it" excuse.


I've had drunken friends tell me they love me. Of course I doubt I'm gonna think they had homosexual feelings towards me while sober. Since 1 is married & all and for the record we've never really went into details of his drunken ramblings of love for me and wanting to do an ugly teacher we had. . ;)

[Joe Rice]

I've had drunken friends tell me they love me. Of course I doubt I'm gonna think they had homosexual feelings towards me while sober. Since 1 is married & all and for the record we've never really went into details of his drunken ramblings of love for me and wanting to do an ugly teacher we had. . ;)

But loving you doesn't equate with homosexual attraction to you. If he's your friend, he probably does love you. This doesn't disprove anything Necktie said.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The racism means nothing, then?

I'm not saying Gibson shouldn't get blame for being drunk. I say he deserves the DUI and so does Osment . He deserves the same blame Haley Joe is gonna get for doing it.

Had he said the comments while sober and not drunk I could look and say he was. But besides a movie where Gibson beat down Jesus , I can't go and proclaim him a racist and all now.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

But loving you doesn't equate with homosexual attraction to you. If he's your friend, he probably does love you. This doesn't disprove anything Necktie said.


LOL thats what I think as well. But again I just see the 2 cases as the same except for the drunken rambling Gibson did.

[Joe Rice]

I'm not saying Gibson shouldn't get blame for being drunk. I say he deserves the DUI and so does Osment . He deserves the same blame Haley Joe is gonna get for doing it.

Had he said the comments while sober and not drunk I could look and say he was. But besides a movie where Gibson beat down Jesus , I can't go and proclaim him a racist and all now.

But he said very racist things.

[Jared]

Yep....because both were caught breaking the laws of driving safe. Osment was driving drunk and had drugs on him. Hell he could have been seriously hurt when he flipped his car on a mailbox.

I've seen people say Mel Gibson could have hurt someone with how he drove. Haley Joe Osment may have hurt someone with how he drove as well.

You ever watch those Highway Patrol , Cops or shows where an idiot gets drunk and goes insane ? I watched awhile back and this guy is swearing , saying racial comments to a black officer at the top of his lungs in the back of a cruiser. Finally when he spit on the guy , is when the cop pulled his shirt up over his head and made him ride like that.

Gibson has had prior driving infractions, and was apparently much more drunk, was going over 80 *and* of course he's not a dumb teenager anymore. Oh, and he apparently tried to flee from the police at one point. So even setting aside the racism stuff completly (which isn't a crime, after all), what Gibson did is still worse than what Osment did. Both were wrong, and neither hurt anybody but themselves thankfully, but Gibson's actions were more irresponsible.

Osment did cause property damage, but I would think that messing up a mail box isn't as serious as resisting arrest and attempting bribery.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Gibson has had prior driving infractions, and was apparently much more drunk, was going over 80 *and* of course he's not a dumb teenager anymore. Oh, and he apparently tried to flee from the police at one point. So even setting aside the racism stuff completly (which isn't a crime, after all), what Gibson did is still worse than what Osment did. Both were wrong, and neither hurt anybody but themselves thankfully, but Gibson's actions were more irresponsible.

But ya know what...Gibson finally realized he had a problem and went into treatment finally. Odds are he may even at his court date thank the police odds are for saving his life and for God giving him this chance to finally beat his problem.

Robin Williams last week went into treatment as well. I never knew Williams had a problem but he went. I think that shows that Mel Gibson is gonna try and get help finally.

Osment is facing a tough time. He'll eithor grow up and let this be his typical dumb teen-age moment or he'll be a Gibson and have a few more infractions til he decides to get help.

[Joe Rice]

But ya know what...Gibson finally realized he had a problem and went into treatment finally. Odds are he may even at his court date thank the police odds are for saving his life and for God giving him this chance to finally beat his problem.

Robin Williams last week went into treatment as well. I never knew Williams had a problem but he went. I think that shows that Mel Gibson is gonna try and get help finally.

Osment is facing a tough time. He'll eithor grow up and let this be his typical dumb teen-age moment or he'll be a Gibson and have a few more infractions til he decides to get help.

Gibson's done rehab before. Didn't work.

Maybe this time it will.

[Matt Algren]

But ya know what...Gibson finally realized he had a problem and went into treatment finally. Odds are he may even at his court date thank the police odds are for saving his life and for God giving him this chance to finally beat his problem.If by "realized he had a problem and went into treatment" you mean "was caught driving drunk and went into strategicly announced treatment", then yes, you're right.

But then, I'm a cynic.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

But he said very racist things.


Yes he did. I'm not gonna say he wasn't an ass while drunk because he was.


A few years back for a trip down to Charlotte NC with my dad , he brought along his pal he nicknamed : Super-Dave. Now Super-Dave got the name because he would go and get totally f-cked up wasted on a weekend and transform.

He was a sweet guy and explained that whenever he'd get drunk , he'd become someone else. I thought he was joking with me and all. My dad swore to it that Super-Dave was like the Incredible Hulk on alcohol if he drank a lot.

You wouldn't think this little average guy would become a monster. I mean for the few days down there looking at equipment and all , he seemed very relaxed. Like Bruce Banner as a WV guy.

Then one night he asked my dad if he could go to this club. He wanted to take our ride but my dad knew him well enough to say " No."

My dad to his credit tried talking him from going. But Super-Dave saw this club he wanted to hit and promised he wouldn't get wasted. My dad called him a taxi and told him to please call us if he wanted to come home.

Off he went and we fell asleep. At 6am we awoke and no Super-Dave. He was gone , dissapeared from us. We drove to the club and asked around as the cleaning crew were in there. The manager claimed that the bouncers tossed a billigerant asshole from the club at 1am. The guy fell in a ditch , tried to pull his pants down to piss , screamed some obcenties as a cop arrested him lol.

My dad shook his head and muttered it was him. We drove downtown to get him out as he was asleep inside. My dad chuckled as he said a female cop claimed : " That asshole wanted to know how much I charged a knight to wear the costume and cuff him to the bed. "

My father as sweet as he was begged her to not file a charge of Super-Dave propisitioning her. She agreed finally and he paid his bail and got him out by 10am.

Super-Dave awoke that day with little memory of what he had done. My dad teased him claiming the " Hulk " had came out again as usual. To his credit SD did finally move away and last I heard wasn't drinking anymore.

Yes it doesn't really mean anything but my dad saw me typing stuff about drunk Mel Gibson and he remembered Super-Dave's antics. So I typed it for him pretty much. ;)

[Joe Rice]

If you're an asshole when you drink, you're an asshole who's too much of a pussy to be one otherwise.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Gibson's done rehab before. Didn't work.

Maybe this time it will.


I wish him luck. It is tough to stop. How many times has Ozzie Osborn fell off the wagon ? He was sober for awhile and heard about Sharon's cancer scare and he started to drink again.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

If you're an asshole when you drink, you're an asshole who's too much of a pussy to be one otherwise.


I really didn't see this gigantic asshole in Super-Dave. He was a nice guy from the time I knew him from the Charlotte experince and later before he moved.

Its just he couldn't handle his booze and I think he realized it finally. :)

[Slam_Bradley]

If by "realized he had a problem and went into treatment" you mean "was caught driving drunk and went into strategicly announced treatment", then yes, you're right.

But then, I'm a cynic.


This is appropriate cynicism. It is hardly unusual for folks who are facing criminal penalties to "see the light" and seek help. It is an effort at mitigation. The first thing I tell my DUI clients is to get an alcohol evaluation (before the court orders one) and to start some kind of treatment. It's all about presenting the right and penitent face to the sentencer.

[BigBoss]

it's a shame this is what happens to child stars.

[Ed Cunard]

If you're an asshole when you drink, you're an asshole who's too much of a pussy to be one otherwise.

That's pretty much what I'd say, word for word.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

it's a shame this is what happens to child stars.


It happens....least Osment didn't try and steal a boat like one former drunken child star tried. He couldn't make his get away due to it bein tied to the harbor . ;)

[SMKSPY]

This is a funny thread. Best I've read in a long time. People do stupid things when their drunk its just a fact of life. They do even stupider things when their drunk and stoned. And all of us have done this. We've said things we meant. Said things we didn't mean. Said things we wish we could take back. The only difference between us, Osment, and Gibson is that they are famous while we are not famous.

[kalorama]

People, drunk or sober, rarely say things they don't mean. They often say things they wish they hadn't. But that's not quite the same thing.

[kalorama]

it's a shame this is what happens to child stars.

Getting drunk and stoned and making bad decisions is something that happens to plenty of 18 year olds, famous or not. I'm sure on the day Osment had his crash, scores of other teenagers across the country were involved in similar incidents. They were just lucky enough no to have them reported on the front page of the entertainment section.

[Buzz Dixon]

it's a shame this is what happens to child stars.It doesn't happen to all of them but, alas, it happens to too many of them.

Relatively few children are performers because they want to be performers but because their parents want them to be performers (and, yes, this includes sports). The really sad cases are the ones who never make it, never even come close, but their parents warp their childhoods nonetheless.

If I were king of the forest, I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 25 appear professionally in front of a camera or on a stage.

[Matt Algren]

If I were king of the forest, I wouldn't let anyone under the age of 25 appear professionally in front of a camera or on a stage.It is interesting how many child actors grow up and say their kids won't be allowed to do it.

And not that it has anything to do with punishment for drunk driving, but holy crap does Haley Joel Osment have some chops. He really held his own with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine in Secondhand Lions.

[kalorama]

It is interesting how many child actors grow up and say their kids won't be allowed to do it.

But, by the same token, many entertainers have kids who enter show business and appear to be relatively well adjusted. It's not an either/or thing.

[Matt Algren]

But, by the same token, many entertainers have kids who enter show business and appear to be relatively well adjusted. It's not an either/or thing.
I agree.

___

[Grazzt]

But, by the same token, many entertainers have kids who enter show business and appear to be relatively well adjusted. It's not an either/or thing.

Yes, but don't those kids normally enter into show business as adults? Maybe what the child actors are saying is that their kids won't be performing while they're still minors, instead of not acting period.

[kalorama]

Yes, but don't those kids normally enter into show business as adults?

Some do. Some don't. There really isn't an easy formula to apply to it. Some child stars grow up to be well-adjusted adults in or out of show biz. Some grow up to be out of control head cases (if they manage to grow up at all). But to blame show business for everything that ruins them is too easy and pat.

[Grazzt]

Some do. Some don't. There really isn't an easy formula to apply to it. Some child stars grow up to be well-adjusted adults in or out of show biz. Some grow up to be out of control head cases 9if they manage to grow up at all). But to blame show business for everything that ruins them is too easy and pat.

Well, yes, but that doesn't change the fact that a parent shouldn't want to inflict adult responsibility on a child. That's probably what those former child actors are saying: we went through way too much, way too young, and we want our kids to have a chance to be kids.

[Tish-the-Scorpion]

If I was seeing dead people I'd drive drunk and smoke pot too.
lmao...no doubt,hell i do it and i don't even see dead people.

[Matt Algren]

Well, yes, but that doesn't change the fact that a parent shouldn't want to inflict adult responsibility on a child. That's probably what those former child actors are saying: we went through way too much, way too young, and we want our kids to have a chance to be kids.
I think the key, as always, is parental involvement. I remember reading an interview with Ronnie Howard, one of the more successful post-child actors. He said that his parents made sure he was grounded in reality and that his life wasn't completely defined by the popularity of a show.

[kalorama]

I think the key, as always, is parental involvement. I remember reading an interview with Ronnie Howard, one of the more successful post-child actors. He said that his parents made sure he was grounded in reality and that his life wasn't completely defined by the popularity of a show.

Exactly.

Well, yes, but that doesn't change the fact that a parent shouldn't want to inflict adult responsibility on a child. That's probably what those former child actors are saying: we went through way too much, way too young, and we want our kids to have a chance to be kids.

Unless the parents are dragging them to auditions against their will, nothing's being "inflicted" on them And there aren't a whole lot of "adult responsibilites" thrust upon child actors. It's not like they have to book gigs and keep records. Most kids get into it because they enjoy it. Now, if it becomes a situation where the parents are using the kids as meal tickets and hanging them with the responsibility of supporting the entire family, then it's a problem. But it's not a show business problem. It's a lousy parent problem.

[Grazzt]

I think the key, as always, is parental involvement. I remember reading an interview with Ronnie Howard, one of the more successful post-child actors. He said that his parents made sure he was grounded in reality and that his life wasn't completely defined by the popularity of a show.

Of course, not all parental involvement is good. Corey Feldman's father threatened to disown his kid if the father wasn't made into Corey's agent. There are parents out there who see a talented child as a meal ticket.

[Buzz Dixon]

Unless the parents are dragging them to auditions against their will, nothing's being "inflicted" on them.There is, alas, far too much of that. I speak from direct obersvation.

[SnowTrooper]

As long as those child stars arent Maculy Culkin I'd say that they have it pretty good. His parents spent all of his money and I think he sued them for it(not sure though, im getting this from a True Hollywood Story from like 3 years ago). Maculy is fine now, hes engaged to Mila Kunis and is getting work again. The child star curse dosent affect all child stars, I dont think that Haley Joel is going to have a hard time finding work again once he gets out of prison.

[DDM]

I think every child star should watch out or he'll turn into Michael Jackson.

[Grazzt]

And there aren't a whole lot of "adult responsibilites" thrust upon child actors.

But they do have to work all day on a set, then also do normal schoolwork. They have private tutors to help them, but that's still a lot on your plate. Especially for a ten or twelve year old.

[SnowTrooper]

I think every child star should watch out or he'll turn into Michael Jackson.
If you serious then im going to go kill Dakota Fanning right now.

[Ed Cunard]

Getting drunk and stoned and making bad decisions is something that happens to plenty of 18 year olds, famous or not. I'm sure on the day Osment had his crash, scores of other teenagers across the country were involved in similar incidents. They were just lucky enough no to have them reported on the front page of the entertainment section.

That's something else different (aside from the bigotry thing, which is another thing added on top of the drunk driving bit)--how old is Mel Gibson? He's in his 50s, right? I mean, while this kid (even if he's legally an adult) can still look back and call this "youthful indiscretion," the best Gibson can say is "Midlife crisis?", shrug his shoulders, and hope.

[DDM]

If you serious then im going to go kill Dakota Fanning right now.

Michael Jackson has lost touch with reality. Most child stars usually lose their careers when they become adults & must start over from scratch. Most child stars have alrady lost touch with reality at this point. Hence, the Michael Jackson comparison.

[kalorama]

That's something else different (aside from the bigotry thing, which is another thing added on top of the drunk driving bit)--how old is Mel Gibson? He's in his 50s, right? I mean, while this kid (even if he's legally an adult) can still look back and call this "youthful indiscretion," the best Gibson can say is "Midlife crisis?", shrug his shoulders, and hope.

I wasn't talking about Mel Gibson. I've no quarrel with what you said, but it's a completely different issue than what I was addressing. I was only speaking of child stars.

[kalorama]

But they do have to work all day on a set, then also do normal schoolwork. They have private tutors to help them, but that's still a lot on your plate. Especially for a ten or twelve year old.

But that's still not "adult responsibilities." Plenty of kids who aren't in show business are educated at home or by tutors and/or have jobs/activities outside of school.

[kalorama]

There is, alas, far too much of that. I speak from direct obersvation.

I don't doubt it. But it's unfair to assume it's true in all cases. The number of showbiz kids who grow up screwed for life is really a small percentage of the total number of kids working in show business.

[Ed Cunard]

I wasn't talking about Mel Gibson. I've no quarrel with what you said, but it's a completely different issue than what I was addressing. I was only speaking of child stars.

Oh, no, I know--your comment was just the easiest, most recent jumping on point for something I thought of.