Brittany Murphy 1977-2009

Brittany Murphy died yesterday morning at the tragically young age of 32.

Many news sources have attributed her death to drug use. I would not wish to comment on the possible causes behind Murphy's death, as the coroner has not yet given a report. Perez Hilton has placed a ticker across the top of his gossip blog, reading 'BRITTANY MURPHY DIES! DID DRUGS LEAD TO HER DEMISE????' You would think that Hilton, who so recently called for Jan Moir's resignation after her awful commentary on Stephen Gately's untimely passing, would be a bit more sensitive and appropriate. The Guardian have run a piece on Brittany Murphy and referred to her many film roles as disturbed young women as mirroring her own 'troubled life', indicating her personal life to be full of struggle, instead of commending her talents. The press reaction to the discovery of events surrounding Murphy's last few days, weeks, years, perhaps, will be very interesting. As a talented young actor, who took herself away from the paparazzi-teasing lifestyle she could have easily resided within, will she be afforded much privacy or respect, like Heath Ledger was? Or, as a woman, will her body be commoditised, every detail of her passing meticulously pored over and publicised? 2009 has not been a pleasant year for many, and the coverage of celebrity deaths has been revolutionised since the media frenzy of Jade Goody's passing.

I have always respected Brittany Murphy's work, her giggle was infectious and so charming, and her beauty was true, but different. Her roles were of utmost importance to so many girls who found themselves looking to relate to someone with some substance, someone who is kooky, but not ethereal. Someone funny, but still sexy. Unfortunately, YouTube is all too clogged up with people of no importance babbling on about Brittany's passing. Hm. So here I've collated the clips I can get of Brittany's best works. Some news sites are showing clips of her work, but the following are my favourite performances of hers. Some clips may seem distasteful, considering the rumours surrounding her passing, but this shows how true an actress she was, how she had the passion and the soul of someone pursuing a career as an artist as opposed to seeking fame for fame's sake. May it be appreciated that she committed so many great performances to celluloid.

Clueless, 1997.

Girl Interrupted, 1999.

(brilliant film all the way through, but get to 5.47 on here)

Drop Dead Gorgeous, 1999.

Riding in Cars with Boys, 2001.

Sin City, 2005.

let's get this straight

In the wake of Jan Moir's badly-researched, popularly (and at times, inadequately) lambasted article about Stephen Gately's death, Tweeters went apeshit. There was a flurry of personal attacks. The PCC was contacted. Celebrity Tweeters waded in to the argument, even, somewhat controversially, Jonathan Ross. Also, tags were created. One, which I found as irrevocably offensive as the article in question, was '#thedailymailisgay'. This grated me. Jan Moir's homophobia, as detailed by an article that has now received almost 22,000 complaints, was, at the very least, articulate. And it was brought into question by every single publication going. People are now talking about gay hatred, and how horrible it is. And how....and how...'gay' it is. Confused much?

The BBC gave Chris Moyles a little ticking off for describing a ring-tone as 'gay' a while back. But, of course, 'gay' is still used by many as a pejorative. I have friends who regularly use it this way, and they are otherwise not homophobic, as far as I know. 'My phone's not working. Gay.'

As much as some of my closest friends use it as such, 'gay' is only chosen as a pejorative by someone who is too lazy to use their vocabulary to its deserved capacity. By teaming 'gay' with the meaning 'shit', there is inevitable crossover that 'gay' to mean 'homosexual' means 'shit' as well. Confused? Again? Here's the etymology of this poor slang: 'Shit' is the stuff that comes out of our pooper, stuff that no-one wants, stuff that is immeasurably useless to us (eco-warriors, fuck off. Shit is shit). By transposing this, 'gay' to mean 'shit' gives us: people who come out of our pooper [LOL], people who no-one wants, people who are immeasurably useless to us.

But surely no-one thinks any of that?! My cousin's friend is gay, and we get on really well! And I think Danyl Johnson is so brilliant! And I got so pissed off at that fat bitch Jan Moir for that horrible article about Stephen Gately!

Well, the sad case is that some people do think gay people are shit. Homophobes exist in Britain, and I'm not just talking about yobs tackling a civil servant and kicking him to death for being 'gay'. I'm not just talking about the cretin who stabbed a man on his doorstop for being 'gay'. I'm not just talking about the hundreds of people across this country who, year upon year, verbally abuse, beat, rape or murder people for being 'gay'. I'm talking about intelligent, non-violent people who do nothing to tarnish the misconceptions, stereotypes and insults directed at gays, because they can't be bothered to use an appropriate word when pissed off, disappointed or let down. Jan Moir did not say anything that a lot of people weren't thinking, but she validated many narrow-minded opinions. In the same way, 'gay' to mean 'shit' validates many opinions that 'homosexual' means 'shit'

As long as there is under-representation, hatred and persecution of people who identify as 'gay', using 'gay' as a pejorative is not going to fly with me. Accept this as a friendly warning. I'm not out to whip the backs of your legs, Tatchell style, or to start fundraisers for Stonewall. Alas, I'm too busy looking after my own selfish needs to do that. But next time you say 'Oh, that club is so gay', please do expect me to ask how much Kylie they'll be playing.