Haters Use Social Media to Bash Amy Winehouse

Not surprising, I first learned of Amy Winehouse‘s passing via Twitter. As the rest of the world caught on, she became a trending topic and an outpour of comments flooded her Facebook fan page, where some paid homage, shared memories and expressed their condolences – others bashed the late Grammy award-winning singer and her life-style.

Days later, it continues to be a place to vent about drug and alcohol abuse, addiction and to defend Amy’s legacy. The words “junkie,” “waste,” and “ugly” thrown around in between personal stories of victory and demise.

 

Posts from people who wanted their money back from her now infamous show in Belgrade, Serbia (her last public performance) where she was booed off stage. Even though their comments came prior to her death, people still felt the need to respond.

Tour requests (obviously directed at Amy) have since been answered by both fans and “haters”— and when her unfinished tour dates remained listed several hours after her death was announced, people used the opportunity to poke fun.

• Fan or possibly hater: “Good luck getting your money back now.” “She’s dead.”
• Fan: “Please come to Argentina, Amy!”
• Fan or possibly Hater: “She will never make it to Argentina.”
• Hater: “1 upcoming tour date? Doubt it now lmao.”

…and it didn’t stop there…

In the Twittershphere, an outburst of rage; her passing somewhat overshadowed the tragic events unfolding in Oslo, Norway. Sides were taken. Which event was more tragic, more deserving of media attention and what did this say about “us” for choosing this side?

It’s not that what happened in Oslo is less tragic, less deserving of attention, it’s that people felt they knew Amy; she was somehow woven into their lives. Her death literally hit closer to home. The mere fact these two newsworthy events unfolded together is coincidence. Had her death happened days later, might people be less angry?

Water cooler discussions: True or false. Amy had a choice? Addiction is a disease? We watched her demise and did nothing? Amy didn’t get the help she desperately needed? Amy’s death also linked her to the 27 Club; a group of influential rock music artists, all age 27 when they died.

Let us not forget, all death is tragic. Discuss. Please post a comment below or Tweet me at @LeslieRichin