Renee Zellweger is promoting “Leatherheads,” and in a recent interview with Parade Magazine she revealed that she majored in journalism in college and originally wanted to be a reporter. According to Wikipedia, Zellweger graduated with a BA in English in 1991 from the University of Texas at Austin and was a good student who often made the Dean’s list. She ended up acting after she took a drama class to fulfill a fine arts credit requirement.
Renee plays a journalist in the football comedy “Leatherheads,” and the interviewer asked her if she could ever write for TMZ. She was really gracious in her response, but you can tell she thinks they’re mean:
You play a reporter who’s trying to uncover the unpleasant past of a pro-star. Did you feel a little like you were working for TMZ?
“I don’t know that I’d want that kind of responsibility of having the power to hurt someone with a public disclosure. But, ironically, I intended to be a reporter before I got into acting. I majored in journalism, so it was kind of fun to explore that. But I could never write a story that would have a big, negative impact on somebody’s life. I don’t think I’d sit well with that.”
[From Parade.com via E-Online’s The Buzz]
TMZ recently covered former American Idol contestant Elliott Yamin’s mother’s death at 65 by concluding:
Yamin finished in 3rd place in 2006 on “Idol,” begind Katherine McPhee and Taylor Hicks – who, like Mrs. Yamin, will never be heard from again. (emphasis added)
[From TMZ]
TMZ eventually removed that super offensive last sentence after an enormous outcry from commentors. I’ve said some rude stuff too, you get kind of jaded with this job, but that’s just beyond mean.
The post on TMZ has over 500 comments now, with people saying things like “TMZ’s bizare and cruel response is inexcusable.” [Vivian]
Another commentor, jillkatz, said she met Elliot’s mom and that she was a great person. “I met Eliot’s mom two years ago when he was a contestant on IDOL. She appeared at every performance, and was so very proud of her son. We stood in line outside the IDOL studios after the show, where she introduced herself to me and my sister. Then she pulled us up front so she could introduce us to her son. He was so kind and so dear to his mom. We will miss such a lovely lady.”
When someone dies you’re supposed to say “our thoughts are with their family at this difficult time,” not try to come up with some clever snark. What is the gossip coming to? No wonder people like Renee equate it with knocking people down, it really does. Sorry Teri Hatcher, we suck too!
Renee Zellweger is shown looking fierce at the “Leatherheads” premiere, thanks to PRPhotos.
Good for Renee, she’s always very gracious and you know she means this too, about not wanting to be responsible for hurting other people. As for TMZ and journalism in the same sentence? Polar opposites. No remote connection between the two. Scum.
So Botoxed
I’v seen TMZ there is a pap there who is the spitting image of Lindsay Lohan, cute red haired Lindsay.
What an absolutely despicable comment.
I can’t even comprehend someone thinking that was acceptable to post.
They’re worse than scum for doing that.
I hope Harvey Levin personally takes the heat.
I’m not a big fan of Renee Zellweger as an actress, but she sounds like a person who knows how to be gracious. What a grown-up way to respond! Really, it’s refreshing.
My own mother passed away a few years ago, and I can’t imagine how I’d have reacted to a comment like that made on TMZ. It probably wouldn’t have been a gracious response, though. What a heinous, malicious thing to say.
TMZ annoys me with their disdain for anyone over 30 or over 100 pounds. I do believe this gives me incentive to just stay away from there forever.
TMZ does this on a regular basis, insult innocent people who have done nothing. For instance they made cruel remarks about actress Kathleen Turner with comments about her weight and saying she looked like a linebacker. Meanwhile she suffers from Rheumatoid arthritis and her medication causes puffiness. They removed the post after a lot of people complained. They particularly like to insult seniors.
I like to be snarky, and I enjoy the gossip, but there is/needs to be a line, and TMZ crosses it constantly. We should all boycott that stupid site and its hateful show, anything related to Mr. Levin. Bastards!
Wow. I rarely ever visit TMZ (Celebitchy is my fave!), and I certainly never will now. That is just horrible.
Kate, I am very sorry for your loss. I can relate because my Mother passed away just a few years ago too. The pain of losing your mother is indescribable and it never goes away. I can’t believe someone could be so cruel. My heart goes out to Eliot and anyone else suffering a loss like that.
Good for Renee for not being a big a-hole like the ones at TMZ.
daisy, that was lindsay. she was making fun of herself as an april fools thing or something like that.
GirlyGirl, you have my sympathies, too–and you’re absolutely right about the pain persisting long past the immediacy of the loss.
I don’t read TMZ’s website, and their TV show (at least, the 90 seconds I’ve seen of it) is asinine. But this cements my inclination to stay away.
Yeah, I lost my mom almost 5 years ago. It’s not easy. Following her death, there were plenty of times that I said, “God, I wonder what mom would say about this “.
And to have someone rub your face in the fact that she will never be heard from again is just unbelievable.
Blech to TMZ.