Or is it something that should wait until after he's been dead, say, a year? I ask that not to be a smart-ass, but as a serious question. For those who have been living under a rock, Walker died 18 days ago in a fiery car-crash, as a passenger in his best friend's car. Walker was leaving a benefit for a foundation he created, Reach Out World, for victims of natural disasters in third world countries. His charity supplied a number of first responders to those places, people trained specifically in providing care in disaster relief. Walker's death wasn't the case of drinking and driving, drugs, or an overdose. While I have sympathy for those who die of those things, I understand those who don't.
No, Walker wasn't the typical celebrity who died young, and is easy to throw barbs at. He was considered humble, and was seemingly universally beloved by those he worked with. While we all hear sentiments of "How Sad" from other celebrities when one of their own died, you can tell the grief was heartfelt and sincere. Walker truly seemed to be one of the good guys, and his death is far too young.
However, in case you've been living under a smaller rock, Walker, who died at age 40, had a girlfriend, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, who was 23 years old at the time of his death. The couple had been together for 7 years, meaning Walker was 33, while Pilchard-Gosnall was only 16. Walker, who, in his defense, can't really fight back, has been under plenty of scrutiny since his death due to the vast age difference, and that when he started dating her, she was underage.
I've read article after article, on both sides of the equation here. What troubles me here is that few people have actually defended Walker for dating a woman so young, and at one time, underage. The argument against chastising Walker has been that he just recently died, so let's remember him for the good man he seemingly was. The articles that have criticized Walker have been much more sensible. The age difference was too great, he was taking advantage of her, and she was underage. Flat-out, the arguments have been, it doesn't matter when Walker died. What he did was wrong, and he deserves criticism for it. If people are going to praise him for the good that he did, the things he did "wrong" should also be examined.
The biggest factor here for me, or anytime a celebrity dies, is to think of the family. He left behind a 15 year old daughter, parents, and siblings, not to mention Pilsard-Gosnall herself. The last thing they need to hear right now is how Walker was a "statatory rapist" who "preyed on younger women." I'm not saying to paint him a saint and hang it in the Vatican. I'm simply saying just leave it be.
Walker was human, just like the rest of us. Does it bother me he dated someone so young, at his age? Sure, it does. But it bothers me just as much that every other Paul Walker story I see online is criticizing him for it. I understand it's a hot news story, but how is it relevant to his death?
I don't see how, and thus, shouldn't be fodder for gossip right now. So yeah, with regards to his family and loved ones, it is insensitive. No matter how many hits one can gain from it for their blog, or magazines they can sell.
No, Walker wasn't the typical celebrity who died young, and is easy to throw barbs at. He was considered humble, and was seemingly universally beloved by those he worked with. While we all hear sentiments of "How Sad" from other celebrities when one of their own died, you can tell the grief was heartfelt and sincere. Walker truly seemed to be one of the good guys, and his death is far too young.
However, in case you've been living under a smaller rock, Walker, who died at age 40, had a girlfriend, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, who was 23 years old at the time of his death. The couple had been together for 7 years, meaning Walker was 33, while Pilchard-Gosnall was only 16. Walker, who, in his defense, can't really fight back, has been under plenty of scrutiny since his death due to the vast age difference, and that when he started dating her, she was underage.
I've read article after article, on both sides of the equation here. What troubles me here is that few people have actually defended Walker for dating a woman so young, and at one time, underage. The argument against chastising Walker has been that he just recently died, so let's remember him for the good man he seemingly was. The articles that have criticized Walker have been much more sensible. The age difference was too great, he was taking advantage of her, and she was underage. Flat-out, the arguments have been, it doesn't matter when Walker died. What he did was wrong, and he deserves criticism for it. If people are going to praise him for the good that he did, the things he did "wrong" should also be examined.
The biggest factor here for me, or anytime a celebrity dies, is to think of the family. He left behind a 15 year old daughter, parents, and siblings, not to mention Pilsard-Gosnall herself. The last thing they need to hear right now is how Walker was a "statatory rapist" who "preyed on younger women." I'm not saying to paint him a saint and hang it in the Vatican. I'm simply saying just leave it be.
Walker was human, just like the rest of us. Does it bother me he dated someone so young, at his age? Sure, it does. But it bothers me just as much that every other Paul Walker story I see online is criticizing him for it. I understand it's a hot news story, but how is it relevant to his death?
I don't see how, and thus, shouldn't be fodder for gossip right now. So yeah, with regards to his family and loved ones, it is insensitive. No matter how many hits one can gain from it for their blog, or magazines they can sell.
