According to ABC News, at least four different celebrities pressured Entertainment Tonight not to air the video of Heath Ledger at a party where drugs were being used. An email was circulated by Heath’s publicist alerting people to the video and asking for their support. Natalie Portman, Josh Brolin, Sarah Jessica Parker and Ellen Page called producers of Entertainment Tonight and The Insider and expressed their wishes that the video not be aired. It is thought that they were joined by other unnamed publicists and celebrities.

Ledger’s publicist confirmed to ABC News that an e-mail was written to ask for support against the video, but says there was no boycott of the shows requested. The video was filmed at a party at the Chateau Marmot in January, 2006 and reportedly purchased for $200,000. It did not show Heath doing any drugs and he is heard on the tape referring to his wife girlfriend and three month old baby upstairs at the hotel.

ET and The Insider issued a statement this morning that they would not air the footage, which was much less sensational than their TV spots suggested, out of respect for Heath’s family. They seem to have had a more compelling reason for pulling it if the celebrities they depend on for coverage could possibly refuse to appear on the show in the future.

The article notes that Entertainment Tonight has aired more questionable footage after a celebrity has died, including a video of a pregnant Anna Nicole drugged-out while wearing clown makeup, in which she seemed to confuse a doll for her real baby.

Websites that have posted the video today include Splash News and A Socialite’s Life. Both have since taken the video down and replaced it with just a photo. The comments were overwhelmingly negative on those posts, with many people saying that they would no longer visit sites that chose to publish the video.