When last we dedicated a post to James Blunt, it was in 2020 and he was talking about how he went on an all-meat diet in college for a few weeks in protest to being outnumbered by girls in his Sociology course — who he says were vegetarians, all of them! He’s been busy in the intervening years. Last week he released a studio album, Who We Used to Be, and a “memoir” called Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story. I put memoir in quotes because this is the first description of the book on its own page from publisher Little, Brown UK: “The truth is My Truth is not The Truth, and that’s as honest as I can be. It’s partially true, rather than painfully true, and I have possibly been economical with the truth, Your Honour.” Yeah, so bear that in mind when considering what he writes about Carrie Fisher — they were close friends and she was godmother to his son — and how her daughter Billie Lourd blames James for Carrie’s death:
James Blunt says Carrie Fisher’s daughter blames him for her mom’s 2016 death.
The singer unpacks his close relationship with Fisher in his memoir “Loosely Based On A Made-Up Story,” where he says using drugs with the “Star Wars” actor led to his falling out with Fisher’s daughter, Billie Lourd.
Blunt was with Fisher the night before she was found unresponsive during a flight from London to Los Angeles. She passed away days later, and a toxicology report later found she had cocaine, heroin, MDMA and methadone in her system.
The report did not state a definitive cause of death, but the actor and author had been open about her struggles with substance abuse for years.
In the book, the “You’re Beautiful” singer remembers taking a “different approach” than friends who tried to convince Fisher to quit using drugs once and for all.
“Charlie, her best friend, confronted her more directly and told her she needed to quit drugs…” he recalls. “I took a different approach and did them with her, pretending to myself that I would guide her to redemption one day — just not today. As a result, her daughter Billie blames me in part for her death, and no longer speaks to me.”
Lourd previously said her mother’s mental health is what ultimately caused her death.
“My mom battled drug addiction and mental illness her entire life,” Lourd told People in 2017. “She ultimately died of it. She was purposefully open in all her work about the social stigmas surrounding these diseases.”
I realize we’re getting these quotes completely out of context, but I still feel confident in saying that James is exceedingly grating here. Am I being too harsh, or does it feel like he’s completely centering himself in Carrie’s death? Also, calling the choice to do drugs with a friend who’s had a lifelong struggle with them a “different approach” is such a gross, English understatement. If we take James at his word (which is questionable, considering his truth disclaimer to the book), then his approach was at best misguided, and at worst, lethal. In all of this, Billie Lourd remains the class act. Earlier this year she called out Carrie Fisher’s siblings for capitalizing on her death, but only after being drawn in to comment by their public complaints. James Blunt must be ringing similar alarm bells for her, but I bet Billie will follow the same approach and comment only if/when she feels it’s absolutely necessary.
Carrie Fisher was no stranger to personal writing. She left a legacy of unflinchingly honest and wickedly funny books and performances. Each one offered sharp, raw commentary on the world at large, and ruthless takes on Carrie’s own idiosyncratic struggles and flaws in particular. With his book, it seems James Blunt has taken a “different approach.”
Photos credit: Sarah Tsang / Avalon, Cover Images and Getty
I always thought he was such a goody two shoes kind of guy so I am shocked to hear that he does drugs and did them with a heavy drug user.
Some people never really listened to his lyrics. He been telling us since the start of his career.
Yknow…. I hated this guy for a long time. I often thinnk “man what is wrong with me, hating on so many people-” and then I find out the truth about them, and its like “oh thats why”.
Apparently- the vast majority of poepl (famous or not) are exceedingly seedy.
I just pick up on it fast…
Yeah, Tiffany, the lyrics for You’re Beautiful, the ones not censored for radio….
He’s infamously known to be an unapologetically pretentious 1-st class idiot, a flying hot balloon who thinks to be blunt (no pun intended) and honest instead of an a**twat on an epic scale.
He thinks Boris Johnson is great and apparently went to the Kosovo war for laughs. He’s plain rubbish.
@alpinewitch
Jep thanks, he IS just rubbish!!
I’ve never followed him closely,
But celebrities I do follow, who seem like okay people from what I’ve seen, the projects and charities they choose to be involved with, their interviews, the interactions I’ve heard of with colleagues, BTS support staff, audiences and fans, seem to either steer clear of him, are chilly towards him, roll their eyes when he’s mentioned, or may have punched him for being a glassbowl at some point.
Based on this post here, I’m understanding why.
He owes Graham Norton a shit ton. James Blunt looks extremely likable, but only when on Graham Norton, apparently.
JFC. The child of your friend who died because of her addiction is pissed that you did massive amounts of drugs with her the day before she died? FFS, I even liked James Blunt, in the 90s, but this is too much. He’s acting like the victim.
Whether it’s actually true or not, he’s a piece of sh*t. Not only centering himself but talking about doing drugs with someone who had a life-long struggle like it’s no big deal.
Garbage person.
He’s always been like that. Unfortunately his rubbish memoir will likely be successful due to his connections with the HW scene.
So true. Completely unsurprising.
Yup. When he said he took a “different approach,” I thought he was going to say he sat with her when she did them or something. He did them with her. Sure, this was your approach to getting her to quit. It was alllllll about her, no doubt!
I mean, it’s not unusual for people who use drugs to turn a blind eye to a friend who may suffer from addiction. There’s a lot of denial that needs to exist for someone who isn’t addicted but maybe relies on an addict for their supply or at least to procure drugs for them form time to time. Now, if he had genuinely expressed shame and regret for deliberately ignoring the depth of her addiction because he wanted his drugs, people would be more understanding. But nah, asshole is here saying that repeatedly doing drugs with her was all part of a plan to eventually intervene and save her. Just so gross and completely unbelievable…. pathetic way of justifying his actions.
Maybe outta respect for Billy he should shut his giant big-toothed arrogant pretentious British mouth
Gross. Poor Billie. She can’t get away from all of the people trading on her mother’s death.
These terrible people just won’t let her mother rest in peace.
Used to really like James Blunt, until that hugging luncheon a la Princess Beatrice, Piers Morgan et al.
If he’s a mate of Morgan and it appears that he is, well, BARF.
He went to the Kosovo war for laughs, he always showed us who he was. Not surprised he’s friends with Pi$$ Morgan (and, I’d bet, Jeremy Clarkson too).
I’ve been around a fair share of people who sound like him: they selfishly don’t want to lose their drinking/drug/party buddy because–in their minds–they’re having too much fun with them and they choose not to accept the danger that partying puts the other person in.
It’s incredibly selfish and not the actions of a true friend.
Also I think he just wanted everyone to how “cool” he was by association because Carrie Fisher was his bestie.
Not a fan.
EXACTLY. Tons of enablers out there.
Can’t stand him or his bland music. How “you’re beautiful” ever made him so much money, I will never know, but he is and always has been a total d*ck.
X1000
Plus yes, this pretentious knob is making himself the story. Loathsome in all respects
So we’re clear, what he said was just junkie speak for- we’re both addicts and if we are together, trust that we are doing drugs. Painting it, even with the slightest- i hoped i might get her to stop- just not today- is just shitty.
The reason her only child believes you are part of what killed her mother- is that you ARE part of what killed her mother.
I mean, obviously addicts get high on their own. But, what a yuck he is.
Yeah, that was what I got from this. He’s an addict, he’s in denial about his own problem even after his friend died, he’s self censored enough to make her death all about him, and no one in his life is in a position to convince him how awful all of this makes him look and convince him to phrase it differently in his memoir.
Because really, if getting high with someone in late stage addiction is fun for you rather than scary or at least irritating, you need to take a long, hard look at your own relationship with substances.
I also doubt Billie ever had much to say to him in the first place. Why would she? You don’t inherit all of your parents’ friends, especially not their party friends.
OMG. What a horrible man. I have the CD with “You’re Beautiful” on it and I am immediately annoyed that I gave him money. Ewww.
I grew up under a rock. If it’s an appropriate ask can some Celebitchies share their favorite Carrie Fisher work so I can deep dive?
She was an actor and writer (not only of books, but was an adept “punch up” writer behind the scenes for others).
Became famous for role as Princess Leia in “Star Wars” movies. But “Postcards from the Edge” is a favorite (she wrote the semi-autobiographical novel before acting in the movie— she is the daughter of Debbie Reynolds’s and Eddie Fisher, who were both WILDLY famous for their careers ).
Absolutely loved Postcards from the Edge too.
And TurbanMa Carrie Fisher s most famous for playing Princess Leia in the StarWars films.
In addition to Star Wars my favourite role of hers is probably her supporting turn in When Harry Met Sally. Delightful.
Book-wise her autobiographical stuff (Wishful Drinking, Shockoholic, The Princess Diarist). Oh and the HBO special of the Wishful Drinking one woman stage show. Fabulous.
I like this thread. Let’s centre Carrie’s work.
Look for “Soapdish” where Carrie Fisher is excellent. I think it also stars Meg Ryan. It’s about a soap opera and the duelling stars and stuff. One of my faves.
Yes, yes, yes. Loved her in When Harry Met Sally. That’s how I picture her whenever her name comes up.
Because it’s Halloween, I have to go with The Burbs. She doesn’t have a huge role, but it’s still a fun movie.
I forgot she was even in that! Such a fun movie.
She came up with the descriptive “anal retentive” and for that I am eternally grateful. She was also in the movie “Shampoo” with an outstanding cast including Warren Beatty, Julie Christie, and Goldie Hawn. It’s one of my favourite movies!
I can’t believe he’s admitting this so casually. Any normal person would be deeply ashamed to have had any part in the death of a friend – particularly a friend who had struggled for years to stay sober. He was no friend to her, he was an enabler.
I was shocked reading this (in a few different ways and agree – he is blithely despicable here…and apparently elsewhere.
I have the same response. What he says is shocking and horrifying. I would never forgive myself, if I were in this situation. The fact that he sounds so flippant about it is just awful.
Yeah…..I didn’t realize know any of this about him, but he sounds like an awful person here. Billie blames you for her mother’s death because you did play a part in it. He wasn’t being a friend to Carrie by doing drugs with her, he was a part of the problem.
Wtf I didn’t know about any of this. What an arrogant, self centered wanker. The audacity of even mentioning Billie…ugh assh0le.
I also did not know how horrible he is. Suspect that is part of the reason why we haven’t heard more from him beyond that one hit. The UK seems to have a rule of anybody who gets famous gets to stay that way. Learning more about their right to a good reputation laws may be a bit reason why. Garbage humans island. (#notAllBrits)
If my Father’s friend came out with a book saying they used to do drugs with my Father who battled lifelong addiction …I would PROBABLY catch a case…SEVERAL OF THEM🤬 Blunt is gross AF…and I feel SO bad for Billie having to deal with ALL these public Judases!
If it is true that he supplied ( and used drugs with her ) then isn’t that against the law. If Billie Lourd knows this for a fact he could be in trouble for shooting off his mouth. If Carrie Fisher had gone through customs with nothing in her possession apparently, the drugs had to be supplied to her while in his country and in his company, imo.
It sounds like they are/were both addicts. I don’t see how this guy Blunt (I don’t actually know who he is) is any more at “fault” than Carrie herself? She couldn’t make good decisions because of addiction, but wouldn’t that be true about Blunt too? They were both adults, both not making good decisions, both unable to stop doing the drugs, I just don’t think he’s responsible, any more than Carrie would have been responsible for HIS death if Blunt had died from drugs.
He is trying to be clever and deep. Instead of simply saying “I’m just as bad as her and her daughter blames me because we did them the night before” he did that pretentious, maybe and maybe. If there is anytime to be plain it’s when discussing a hard death.
If I was Billie it would take me forever to forgive this.
A friend of mine used to be his neighbor… The guy’s a complete asshole. (Not my friend; James Blunt. ;))
In all fairness, he does admit that he was pretending to himself that he was going to get her to stop sometime, just not then, so he doesn’t believe that now and doesn’t expect anyone else to. Whatever else he is, he knows he screwed up big time
Quote for JB regarding his Lyrics to You’re So Beautiful
“Everyone goes, ‘Ah, he’s so romantic. I want You’re Beautiful as my wedding song.’ These people are fucked up,” said Blunt. “You get labelled with these things like, ‘Oh, James Blunt. Isn’t he just a soft romantic?’ Well, fuck that. No, I’m not,” he said.
“You’re Beautiful is not this soft romantic fucking song. It’s about a guy who’s high as a fucking kite on drugs in the subway stalking someone else’s girlfriend when that guy is there in front of him, and he should be locked up or put in prison for being some kind of perv,” the singer added
Whoa…