You may not have heard of British reality TV star Jade Goody, best known for her appearances on the UK Big Brother series, but she is now inspiring writers from Time Magazine to the New York Times to pick up their pens. The former dental assistant with a big mouth–and even bigger ambition–is dying and doing it rather publicly.
A poor man’s Paris Hilton, someone who is famous for merely being famous, the 27-year-old daughter of drug addicts has been the beloved object of the UK media’s derision and the British public’s fascination. Initially, the tabloids ridiculed her for having astounding gaps in her basic knowledge of Britain and its history, but then they took her to task for using racially offensive language while harassing Indian actress Shilpa Shetty, a fellow housemate on Celebrity Big Brother.
Hoping to shed her reputation of being a racist, Goody appeared on India’s version of Big Brother, only to be told three days after filming that she had late-stage cervical cancer. Since then, Goody has continued to film a series of reality shows with Living TV. Even though the shows began filming prior to her diagnosis, the shows now follow the progress of her cancer treatment. Sadly, the self-made star was told the day before Valentine’s Day that she had only weeks to live the day.
“I’ve lived in front of the cameras. And maybe I’ll die in front of them,” Goody told the News of the World after hearing the crushing news. “And I know some people don’t like what I’m doing, but at this point I really don’t care what other people think.” Goody’s publicist has confirmed that her actual death would not be filmed. At least one report says that the filming will stop with her star-studded wedding, which happened this past weekend.
“London Journal” columnist Sarah Lyall, who writes the New York Times, didn’t appreciate Goody’s comment. “This is reality television carried out to its most extreme, grotesque conclusion, one not even envisioned in the film “The Truman Show” all those years ago,” Lyall said.
Personally, I disagree. How is the Goody reality TV coverage any different from PBS documentaries on palliative care of terminally ill individuals? Even the fabulous Tammy Faye had a documentary, “Tammy Faye: Death Defying,” chronicle her recurrence of colon cancer. By following families as they deal with the impending demise of loved ones until the moment of death, Goody’s shows educate viewers about the reality of death and dying, a reality that is often hidden in the hospital.
Perhaps Goody’s shows are being ridiculed because they’re airing on the wrong type of networks, and they are being called reality shows instead of a documentaries. Or, is there money involved? I have a sneaking suspicion it’s the latter. Many can’t help but see the hypocrisy of a press who made money deriding the reality star but who are now cashing in on sympathetic coverage of her dying. Yet Goody has also said to the press that she is securing her sons’ futures with her reality show contracts. She also has entrepreneurial projects such as perfume, exercise videos, and autobiographies. So, perhaps there is mutual exploitation.
Coverage of Goody’s plight has also been educational to British women, spurring a dramatic uptick of women being screened for cervical cancer. Doctors have dubbed this the “Jade Goody effect.”
“Jade will certainly be earning hundreds of thousands of pounds over the next few weeks,” her publicist Max Clifford tells the Daily Mail. “But she is arranging her affairs to make sure her sons get the best possible start in life. And she is genuinely thrilled to hear that, because of her, the numbers of women being tested for cervical cancer have gone up by 21 per cent.”
Sarah Lyall also wrote that critics want Goody to “reclaim some of the dignity she sold years ago by doing her dying at home, alone.” In her own way, I think, Jade is reclaiming her dignity–for a woman so ridiculed for her lack of education, she certainly is educating a nation.
posted February 27, 2009 at 2:25 pm
How on earth is she educating people? She hasn’t donated one penny to a cancer charity. She has pocketed every lst drop.
A lady caled Jane Tomlinson had terminal cancer and spent three years raising over £1,000,0000 for cancer charities. She died with dignity.
posted February 27, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Well said. Whatever Jade’s perceived shortcomings she has humour, energy and resilience in abundance. Sod the British media. It is a tribute to her that cervical screenings have gone up in the UK and I wish her strength and love in these difficult times. Shine on, Jade.
posted February 28, 2009 at 10:52 am
i really feel sad,im grateful she’s dying with dignity.
posted February 28, 2009 at 11:54 am
I totally agree with KT. This woman may have brought awareness to women of the world, but in her quest to get as much money as she can for her sons’ future, what has she actually given to the cancer charities for women who are going through the same thing, and have nothing? Very very selfish.
posted February 28, 2009 at 4:07 pm
The poor girl is dying, I don’t think she has really has time to raise money for charities! No one knows how they would react in this situation until they were actually experiencing for themselves, she only wants what is best for her children and there’s nothing wrong with that. I think she is being braver than I feel I would be at this time and I’m saddened that she is in this situation. My Mother died from ovarian cancer which had spread by the time it was diagnosed and it was too late to do very much. Through Jade making her illness public she is helping save lives because of the increase in screenings taking place.I am thinking of her and praying for her. God bless her.
posted February 28, 2009 at 4:33 pm
well said mag. why on earth should anyone expect this poor young girl to devote any of her remaining time to anything other than her beautiful sons. i only hope that when my time comes to shake off this mortal coil, i have a fraction of the courage shown by her. bless you dear Jade.
posted March 1, 2009 at 5:27 am
Can anyone remember what this woman was like over a year ago, and she was not well received due to her foul bad mouth antics in the big brother house against a fellow human being? That now all seems to be in the past. What a fickle world we have become. From hating this woman for the shame she brought on the nation, to her becoming the “darling” that she is known as now??? I don’t want anyone to have this terrible disease, but I am entitled to me thoughts, just as much as the next person, and for all thouse that say “poor jade”, there will always be people who share the same thoughts as myself, wont speak out. Freedom of speech, be that good or bad, judged on the reader, that is what it is all about.
posted March 1, 2009 at 4:06 pm
No one is perfect.
posted March 3, 2009 at 4:10 pm
Remember that Jesus said: ye who is without sin, cast the first stone! None of us are free from imperfections such as pride, greed, prejudice, hate, jelousy and much more…be honest to yourself and you will see that. We are on this earth to try to learn, progress, forgive and better ourselves! When our journey is over we transcend..
posted March 3, 2009 at 4:15 pm
i dont belive in jesus.
i believe in freedom of speech.
you believe in what you want to think is true, then so be it, I believe in evolution…not immaculate conception!!
posted March 4, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Who said anything about immaculate conception..?? Whether or not u believe in Jesus is irrelevant..it doesn’t bother me either way if you choose to believe you come from a monkey! The only point I was trying to make by quoting that scripture is that none of us are perfect. Those basic christian principals make a lot of sense. If more of us chose to remember them this world would be a nicer place…whether you are a believer or not.
posted March 5, 2009 at 7:10 am
None of us are perfect, but you quoting scripture means nothing.
People should be nicer regardless whatever they choose to believe or not believe in. But thats not the world that we live in. The world is a hard and sometimes an ugly place. And not everybody likes everybody else. Thats just life, the world over.
posted March 7, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Interesting article
posted March 22, 2009 at 9:37 am
Dying With Dignity?
Who Would Want To Do A Silly Thing Like That.
I’m Surprised Her Death Wasn’t Film Really,
Just When You’ve Been Framed Thought They Were Onto A Winner………
posted March 22, 2009 at 9:39 am
Oh, As For The Christian In Here,
Jade Thinking She Will Go To Heaven?
Seems Cancer’s Not Going To Be Her Last Bit of Bad News
posted May 10, 2011 at 7:59 am
Reallly good stuff Thanxs for this beautiful information …Love to see your blog.