Young Hollywood, Old Problems
Posted by
Cheryl BuchananDecember 29, 2007 12:50 PM For whatever reason, 2007 is the year that mug shots became the new head shots and rehab became the second best way to get headlines for Young Hollywood. Unfortunately for any of the rest of you who may also be on the roads between midnight and 6 a.m., DUIs seem to have become the best way to get headlines in an industry where almost all publicity is still good publicity.
When Mischa Barton was arrested on Thursday morning for a DUI, she simply became the latest of Hollywood's elite, including Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, and Lindsay Lohan to be arrested for the same infraction in 2007. While this may indicate a positive trend that the current LAPD is actuallly showing less deference towards Tinsletown and encouraging more accountability, its the focus of the media attention that is more disturbing.
The story that the public has been less exposed to is that of Lane Garrison, star of FOX's Prison Break. On December 2, 2006, Garrison's vehicle struck a tree while he was driving with twice the legal limit of alcohol in his system, as well as cocaine. He also had three teenagers in the car with him, and a seventen year olld boy, Vahagn Setian, was killed. Paul Kiesel represents the Setian family who lost their son last year in this completely preventable tragedy. Alongside the red carpet footage of Paris, Lindsay, Nicole, and Mischa which is broadcast when each of them is arrested, and the constant paparazzi waiting to see who comes stumbling outside of Privilege and Les Deux.... The message of Lane Garrison has not been omnipresent on the E Channel.
The District Attorney's office released a statement to People Magazine on March 13 of 2007 saying that that the Setian family "hope this is a message to other public figures not to abuse drugs and alcohol and the public trust afforded to them by their fame.' Unfortunately, I don't think the message is loud enough yet.
