Several people have asked me what I think of the whole Lindsey Lohan mess. Frankly I have thought little about it as Lindsey has been a mess for such a long time. None of her current travails surprise me in the least. What I do find surprising is the amount of sympathy she seems to have rounded up by people who I think might take a stronger stance.
LINDSAY: LOVE OR LOCK DOWN?
Several people have asked me what I think of the whole Lindsay Lohan mess.
Frankly I have thought little about it as Lindsay has been a mess for such a long time. None of her current travails surprise me in the least. What I do find surprising is the amount of sympathy she seems to have rounded up by people who I think might take a stronger stance.
And then I wonder why are people asking me what I think. I suppose between Lucky Ducks, parenting and the hard line position I took with Cameron Douglas, the Lindsay case somehow falls into my territory.
My feelings are fairly simple: I think she should serve her time. She has been careening out of control for so long I doubt there is little one can do to wake her up other than make her do what anyone else who put themselves in the same situation would have to do– go to jail.
I truly hate celebrities getting off for bad behavior based on their fame status. I also think there comes a time when people hit rock bottom and it’s either go right or take a hard left. This may be the time for her, and perhaps going to jail will be the wakeup call she needs.
It doesn’t work every time, as Paris Hilton’s recent exploits in South Africa heave shown us. But there is always hope and Lindsay is young; she can do a stint in the can, go through rehab and nab an Oscar for portraying Linda Lovelace before she is twenty-six. Look how long it took Mickey Rourke. I say get it over with now while she is still an ingénue and has a chance to save her career and her life.
Many articles and people I have spoken to blame her parents. And in this case I would have to say much of the fault for her ramshackle life does lie with them. Her father came out last week and in what I found to be one of the more absurd sound bites of the story said, “Lindsay is a victim of the system.” My first response is what system is he referring to? The judicial system, the same system that put him away? I would say that Michael Lohan needs to take a long look in the mirror, as she is far more a victim of his neglect, own substance abuse and freeloading than she is of the court system that she has repeatedly thumbed her nose at. Maybe had he been around and sober and followed the rules himself she would not be the emotional catastrophe she is. Maybe had her mother not been so competitive and enabling and the whole family so needy for her paycheck she might have had some decent parenting and most of this would have stopped years ago.
It’s very hard to parent a teen, and even harder a young adult. I imagine it’s virtually impossible when the parent is on their payroll. Lindsay had all the control and at the same time none.
Today the Star (OK, I read it from time to time) said “All she needs is love.” They didn’t sing it, they just stated it. Well, all we all need is love but with love comes boundaries and rules and a safe place to return to when you veer off course.
My guess is with the Lohans an off course, drug addled, miserable Lindsay was much easier to manipulate than and a clear headed, focused, independent, self-confident Lindsay. I think that Lindsay would have told them all to go fuck themselves several years ago and she might then have a had a shot at cleaning up her act and not self-destructing before everyone’s eyes. But the people who were supposed to be looking out for her enabled her and I think perhaps if not encouraged at least sat back and watched the show while they cashed the checks.
It’s hard to be a child star and so many have crashed and burned. Peaking at eleven is a terrible way to start life. But being a star at ten does not always mean you will end up holding up a 7-11 or overdosing in a Motel Six; or even that your best years are behind you. For every Gary Coleman is Ron Howard and for every Lindsay Lohan there is a Jodie Foster.
What separates Lindsay is she has the acting chops to be if not be a Jodie Foster at least an Ann Margaret.
If she can sober up and drink the coffee she has the chance to turn her life around a la Robert Downey and not end up a la Britney Murphy.
I don’t think any of that can happen if she is not allowed to bottom out and find her way back to the surface. She will not grow by being coddled and saved from the scenario she has created.
I think she does need love and I doubt her parents or hangers on are capable of giving it. How do you love your child or friend properly when you are reliant on them for your own financial survival and identity?
The love she needs now is tough love and the judge seems to be giving her that.
A few months locked up will not do her in, but being given a get out of jail free card and collect two hundred dollars on the way to her dealers and the next party at the Roosevelt Hotel might.
