Protesters gathered outside of Angelina Jolie’s hospital in Nice Monday night to decry the intense media focus on the couple and their new babies. They were incensed by mayor Christian Estrosi’s effusive praise for Brad and Angelina in light of his lack of response to the recent murder of a young man. The family is trying to get the remains of the victim released in time to have a traditional Islamic funeral, which dictates that burial rites take place as soon as possible.
It’s a conflict as old as the media – why do we give so much coverage to celebrities when there are people dying and starving in the world? It’s particularly painful for this young man’s family, who have to see the story of their murdered son, brother and cousin quickly fade from the headlines and aren’t even given his body to bury while it’s big news that Angelina gave birth there.
They probably can’t even get a meeting with the mayor and while they were desperately trying to plead for their dead relative’s body Estrosi went on TV holding Knox’s birth certificate and talking about how proud he was that Brangelina picked Nice. As someone who works to bring attention to the plight of refugees and children of war, Angelina probably empathizes with the protesters. She thought she picked a nice safe place to give birth, but there’s no escaping controversy when you’re that famous. Maybe the mayor will think twice about snubbing victim’s families now that these people were able to get some attention for their cause.
Update: I have no idea if the mayor specifically snubbed this family or didn’t meet with them, and I overstated that in order to make the title short and make a point. From the Access Hollywood report above, and on reports from X17 photographers, the protesters wanted attention to their cause which received little or no media coverage especially compared to the Brangelina twins. They were especially incensed that the mayor put so much focus on the celebrity story while they were anxiously trying to get the stabbing victim’s body released for burial.
Thanks to BreitBart for the video and to Megan for the tip.
Bodies in murders are part of evidence. Sadly sometimes ceremonies have to be done at later dates. Do you want to bury them or find out as much as possible to get the person who killed the person.
It’s just a shame he was murdered and I guess going in front of international media was a shot but it’s a local murder. It is what it is. They will release the body when they are done with it. Religion or no religion.
it probably wasnt at the exact same moment that he was holding the birth certificates that the family wanted a meeting. I also doubt the mayor sets aside a substantial portion of his day dealing with all matters brad and angelina, so its kind of weird to say that the family isnt getting any attention from the mayor because of the celebrities. its probably more of an issue of muslim minorities having access to their policy makers in general, but I do agree the media should pay more attention to reall issues than celebrity births…then again, they cover what sells.
Yeah, I think it’s sickening. A celebrity gives birth and it’s SUCH a big deal, but some poor guy gets murdered and nobody gives a shiz. I actually found the picture of the mayor holding up the birth certificate completely ridiculous. Like really quite stupid. I’m not surprised this family are outraged.
Just wait, people are gonna blame AJ for the whole mess. I’m sure she would rather the attention be on the victim & his family than on the Jolie-Pitts
Oh God, here we go. Outside ‘Angelina’s hospital’ indeed. This is a really sad story and outrageous for the family concerned, but that’s just provocative. There’s a genuine story here but it’s nothing to do with them.
How am I supposed to phrase the title though? I am at the word limit for the titles. And this article isn’t biased against Angelina at all. Read what I wrote.
Remember, people, she’s responsible for EVERYTHING: the fall of Troy, the assassination of Lincoln (she has a time machine), gas prices, and the fact that you found a pube in your cereal this morning. EVERYTHING.
😆
Shame on the French media and government for neglecting its own citizens while pandering to the celebrity hungry people. A gossip site, show, columnist talking about it is one thing. That’s its purpose. But when you’re a political figure, and have chosen to ignore the duty that you were elected to perform, that’s just abhorrent.
Did you people bitching about the title happen to read the second half of it? “Due to Mayor’s snub.”
I’d say that places the blame squarely on his shoulders, and that her name is mentioned only to help us identify which hospital. Defensive much?
Saying ‘family protests about body outside random French hospital’, would hardly qualify for a topic on a CELEBRITY blog now would it?
Okay so Angelina and Brad aren’t responsible for everything, this isn’t THEIR fault. But it is the fault of the media, in general, and the priorities of the media and government. The fact that Angelina Jolie, an actress, giving birth, is world news, is slightly stupid, just on it’s own. But the whole OMG celebrities gave birth in our town!! wow hold up the birth certificate like the twins are the second coming of Jesus in two halves! Stupid. These people are just showing that the priorities are wrong.
Megan left a comment on the Nicole Kidman thread asking CB why she didn’t report on the rioting going on at the hospital in Nice because of Angelina.
I did Google it and found the same thing CB found.
People, get your facts straight, before trying to spread hate. 😐
CB, did read it and it’s fine, no bias whatsoever, but people will jump on the headline. Witness Megan here and her initial post on the Kidman thread regarding the so-called ‘Ang riots’. 🙄
Edit: Never mind. Just so sick of these threads turning into hate-fests like the Kidman one did. Sorry CB, ignore me. And it is a tricky headline to phrase, you’re right.
Damn, there can’t be two Megan’s on this site! Am I going to have to change my name? This Megan you’re all talking about isn’t me.
Is it really necessary to pick apart the title, article and the (gasp) mention of Brangelina? I, for one, was quite interested in the article when I read the request on the other thread, but was too lazy to look it up right now. Thank you CB, for taking the time to put this together.
Btw… the header title is just fine – I got where you were going with it and can’t think of any other way to word it.
I think the headline is fine, I’m not twitching for my red biro which is a good sign 😆 (sometimes when my posts don’t flow quite right, it’s usually down to me editing and reediting before submitting :oops:)
This whole story is sad and probably has more to do with the endemic marginalisation of the Algerian community in France, than any snub by the mayor.
A terrible tragedy happened to this family. It got buried under hysteria about the birth of the twins. They also feel let down by officialdom as the mayor is concentrating on the “feel good story” rather than striving for this potential constituent and the police and hospital by not releasing the body as soon as possible to allow them to grieve in accordance with their beliefs.
So they force the hand of officialdom by going to where the cameras are and protesting. And if the French know how to do one thing – it’s protest.
I think the headline is fine too, CB. And I read the whole piece & thought it was well written. I wasn’t bitching about it at all & I’m sorry if my comment came of that way. I, like Geronimo, was thinking about people who would jump all over it because of the headline.
Guys I am the one who wrote the comment on another thread. I guess then we are two Megans and I will have to add something to my name for differentiating.
I found this story sad and disturbing. Sorry for those who interpreted it the wrong way.
Lets face it, Brangelina do not exactly try to fade into the background when they are doing their thing. Not that they are to blame but may be this is a wake up call for them to realise that much as they think they bring attention to causes, they actually bring more attention to themselves than anyone else and take away attention from worthy causes. Like that economic conference in Davos in 2005. Just like many of their efforts, they achieved nothing but got more attention for themselves.
It’s incredibly wrongheaded to blame Angelina or Brad for this. The MAYOR chose his actions. No one put a gun to his head either way. Sounds like A&B probably knew nothing about this.
Whatever. Us in the media are damned if we do and damned if we don’t. Usually we’re criticised for reporting too much blood, gore, and guts… murders, sex scandals, and other bad news. Now the media in Nice is focusing on Brange and the birth of their babies instead of said gore, and still getting criticed.
What people din’t realize in other countries is that Brange are like our American royalty. If Prince William and Kate Middleton were to have a baby, it would be all over the place in English media. Same for whoever the French equivalent is.
I’m sorry, I have a huge problem with Brangelina either way. Their combined net worth could have stopped the spread of AIDS by now. I am therefore quick to give them the – what’s the opposite of “benefit of the doubt”? – disadvantage of the conviction. They could have refused the honorary citizenship, boycotted the media endorsements and refused to hand over their son’s birth certificate.
Let me, here and now, make a pledge. If I ever become famous and there are rags bidding over my baby pictures, I’ll sell them to the highest bidder. I will then take that money – every cent! – and go directly to the UN. I will say, “Use it wisely.” And then I will monitor it to make sure it’s being used wisely. You can count on it. You’ll know it’s me because during my oscar speech I’ll mention celebitchy and go, “I wasn’t kidding.”
Oh, and I forgot: Thank you for publishing the story, cb. I love this site because of the occasional entertainment/issues overlap, so thanks for upholding it.
Ling wrote: “Their combined net worth could have stopped the spread of AIDS by now.”
With 33 million people who have HIV/AIDS, I highly doubt that. 🙄
Brangie, you are so not to blame. In my dreams you would issue a press release against this mayor idiot!
Must of been an algerian that was killed…..the french treat them like dogs!
angaline “spread my legs” jolie doesnt deserve piblicity at all. boo to the press, u guys should know better
Elisha, do you know you just insulted the whole world saying we think Brangelina are like American royalty? We don’t, maybe you Americans think they are that but let me tell you, if these two did not make a freak show out of their private lives giving press conferences, no one would care if they had Siamese twins. Even Katie Middleton and Prince William would not actively seek attention like these two.
Any actor or actress can decide to turn their lives into a freak show and get as much attention as they want. George Clooney can marry Britney Spears and adopt an African child every year with all pomp and show and will be the new Brangelina. All it takes is manipulation of the media.
Someone wrote an apt article here. It is very enlightening.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1035756/Brad-Angelinas-rainbow-family-idyllic-children-REALLY-happy.html
I agree with Laila and I am from America!! The word royality and those two should never ever be in the same sentence!! I find it sickening the way people worship and bow down to them!! I’ll bow down to them but only for them to kiss my rosy ass!!!
PS: Laila I just read that article you posted and it’s spot on! Thanks!!!
That article was an opinion, not news.
Interesting article Laila, thanks for sharing. Does anyone know if the protests staged in NICE have garnered any results for the family of the murder victim?
Ling, you said:
Let me, here and now, make a pledge. If I ever become famous and there are rags bidding over my baby pictures, I’ll sell them to the highest bidder. I will then take that money – every cent! – and go directly to the UN. I will say, “Use it wisely.” And then I will monitor it to make sure it’s being used wisely. You can count on it. You’ll know it’s me because during my oscar speech I’ll mention celebitchy and go, “I wasn’t kidding.”
Um, you might want to look into what they did with the money from selling the first pics of Shiloh two years ago.
And once again, my comment was eaten, like with Sienna Miller’s yesterday. CB, does the world not want to know what I think about “HOMEWRECKERS”?!?!?!
Meh, I wouldn’t donate that money to the UN, wouldn’t get to anyone who could really use it, I suggest finding an other NGO yanno that wont take their cut.
And the body is evidence as someone has already stated before; you have to follow whatever Govt regs there are. laws are laws, but I can see where the family is coming from, Mayor to busy basking in the light of the fame to actually do his job.
Oh so now they are calling it ANGELINA’S hospital. Please people get off her clitoris damn! 😡
Interesting article, Laila. I think she makes a very convincing arguement.
Are there ANY freakin articles in this blog anymore than the Angelina haters don’t turn into ranting and raving about her?
This article ISN’T ABOUT ANGELINA JOLIE, stfu about her and talk about what the article is ABOUT for once.