Leave Lindsay Lohan Alone! Her Career Is Not Over

By Amber James Posted Jul 7th 2010 01:10PM

Pop-Ed: The courtroom walls seemed to cave in on Lindsay Lohan when the judge sentenced her to 90 days in jail for violating her probation in a three-year-old drug and drunk driving case. The young woman, who just minutes earlier was anxiously fidgeting in her seat, was now broken and bawling. At that moment, I was heartbroken. She was being thrown under the bus and made an example of.

I am not denying that she's had some low points (from her drug and alcohol abuse to her stints in rehab), but she doesn't deserve to be turned into a Hollywood scapegoat. No one is perfect. I'm a firm believer in second chances, and believe Lohan will pull it together and people will start taking her seriously again. Yes, I am rooting for Team Lohan.

The gripping reality of her past reared its ugly head in court yesterday, exposing a young and vulnerable woman who just needs help. Imagine being 24 years old and having your every move critiqued. Honestly, if paparazzi followed most twentysomethings, they would probably make Lohan look like a saint. (There's a reason why college franchises like 'Animal House' and 'Van Wilder' are so popular -- most people can relate to it.) Yet the world is so fixated on her missteps that they refuse to forgive and move on. What are we waiting for?

Lohan optimistically tweeted on January 2 that she wouldn't let people bring her down. "My New Years resolution is to stop letting the lucky few that have my heart try to constantly tear me down." She continued, "2010 is about moving forward, not backwards. Leaving the bad (people, habits, and negative energy behind) time to make changes-right!?!?"

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Lindsay in Court

Lindsay Lohan reacts to a judges sentence at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010 in Los Angeles. More Photos >>

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Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 06: (EDITORS NOTE: THIS IMAGE CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE ON THE SUBJECT'S FINGERNAIL) Actress Lindsay Lohan attends her probation revocation hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Lindsay Lohan was found in violation of her probation for the August 2007 no-contest plea to drug and alcohol charges stemming from two separate traffic accidents, she is scheduled to surrender on July 20, 2010 to serve her 90 day jail sentence. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan cries as she is sentenced to 90 days jail by Judge Marsha Revel during her hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010. The star had apparently painted the nail of her middle finger with the words 'Fuck U'. Troubled Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan broke down in tears after she was sentenced to 90 days in jail for violating her probation in two 2007 drunk driving cases. The actress, once a red-headed Disney films star and promising A-lister whose career since has spun off course, also was ordered to participate in a 90-day inpatient substance abuse program. After Beverly Hills Superior Court Judge Marsha Revel sentenced Lohan, 24, the actress and fashion muse wept in court. AFP PHOTO/POOL/David McNew (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 06: Actress Lindsay Lohan attends her probation revocation hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Lindsay Lohan was found in violation of her probation for the August 2007 no-contest plea to drug and alcohol charges stemming from two separate traffic accidents, she is scheduled to surrender on July 20, 2010 to serve her 90 day jail sentence. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

Lindsay Lohan cries as she is sentenced to 90 days jail by Judge Marsha Revel during her hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010. She sobbed and pleaded in court not to be thrown in jail, but troubled Hollywood starlet Lindsay Lohan had another, far less plaintive message for the judge, written on the fingernail of her middle finger. Photographers using telephoto lenses captured photos showing that Lohan, hand pressed against her mouth, had the words "fuck u" carefully written over a multicolored pastiche of pastel nail polish(Middle Finger-R). The judge ordered Lohan, 24, to spend 90 days in jail for violating probation in two 2007 drunken driving cases. She also was ordered to take part in a 90-day in-patient substance abuse program. AFP PHOTO/POOL/David McNew (Photo credit should read DAVID MCNEW/AFP/Getty Images)

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 06: Actress Lindsay Lohan (L) and lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley attend a probation revocation hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Lindsay Lohan was found in violation of her probation for the August 2007 no-contest plea to drug and alcohol charges stemming from two separate traffic accidents, she is scheduled to surrender on July 20, 2010 to serve her 90 day jail sentence. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lindsay Lohan;Shawn Chapman Holley

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

LOS ANGELES, CA - JULY 06: Actress Lindsay Lohan (C) and lawyer Shawn Chapman Holley attend a probation revocation hearing at the Beverly Hills Courthouse on July 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. Lindsay Lohan was found in violation of her probation for the August 2007 no-contest plea to drug and alcohol charges stemming from two separate traffic accidents, she is scheduled to surrender on July 20, 2010 to serve her 90 day jail sentence. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lindsay Lohan;Shawn Chapman Holley

Lindsay Lohan Snapshots

In December, Lohan traveled across India to film a BBC documentary to raise awareness and find a solution to stop child trafficking. Although we think her trip was done out of the the kindness of her heart, the public seemed to think it was simply a PR stunt to tweak her "party girl" image. Either way, it was obvious that even her humanitarian efforts failed to positively change her career ... even a little bit.

The backlash continued after the BBC released a trailer of her documentary. Gossip blogs tore the clip apart: Lindsay Lohan Pretends To Care; Lindsay Lohan Does Good, Looks Awkward; Samaritan LiLo's Comic Relief Skit. The public was skeptical of her sincerity, even though she was trying to shine a light on a serious issue that desperately needs more attention. What do you want from her? She never said she was going to change the world in one day.

Public perception of the starlet started to go downhill during the summer of 2007 when she was arrested twice for driving under the influence. Aside from driving drunk, police involved in her July arrest found cocaine in Lohan's pocket. Weeks later, Lohan checked herself into Cirque Lodge Treatment Center, a high-class rehabilitation center frequented by many stars. It was her second rehab stint, having gone once before in January of 2007.

She seems to be face-to-face with the same reality Britney Spears had when the pop princess shaved her hair in an effort to tell the world to leave her alone. With celebrities so overexposed today, their public and private personas get blurred. People seem to associate "Lindsay Lohan" with the scandals and gossip and don't give her the opportunity to be accepted as a real person with feelings. She's not plastic, folks.

No one can deny the talent she had in 'The Parent Trap' and 'Mean Girls,' but few can get past her hard-partying ways. I'm not saying her recent films like 'Herbie Fully Loaded,' 'I Know Who Killed Me' and 'Labor Pains' (which went straight to cable) were blockbusters, but she was pretty much blamed for bringing each film to the ground. That's a lot of pressure. Could you perform at your best if everyone used you like a punching bag?

Her upcoming films are said to be make or break career moves and are proof that her career is getting a reboot. She is due to portray 1970s porn star Linda Lovelace, star of 'Deep Throat,' in the biopic film 'Inferno,' and she's already filmed Robert Rodriguez's 'Machete,' which is scheduled for release on Sept. 3, 2010. 'Inferno' writer-director Matthew Wilder told the AP after the ruling that he and his crew remain "100 percent behind Lindsay" and "proud to have this remarkable artist work on our film," he said.

Even Kerry Wallum, a producer with Lucky Films, said Lohan was in negotiations for a role in the upcoming Willie Nelson movie 'The Dry Gulch Kid,' and that the production would wait for her if she wanted the part. "We're behind her," he said Tuesday. "We'll wait until all of this blows over."

Even though she's made a few mistakes, give her a break. She's human. The actress must begin serving her sentence on July 20, however, she likely won't serve the entire 90 days. Immediately after leaving jail, Lohan will spend another 90 days at an inpatient rehab facility. If Lindsay has made it this far, she'll persevere. The actress will again make headlines for her acting and not her acting out if she just puts her mind to it. This could mark the beginning of a new decade for Lindsay, as people begin to accept her as a serious actress and entrepreneur.

Here's to you, Lindsay. Now show us what you've got.

Should the world leave Lindsay alone?

Tags: lindsay lohan

Comments

(101)

Wednesday 07 July

By dee

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Amber James, you are joking right? I don't care who you are if you break the law you pay the price. Or maybe you would like to do her time for her since you feel so sorry. Please!!!!!!

By Mike

Vote down Vote up Report this

Leave her alone? Guys like her would be called arrogant little punks.

By mikerat42

What career????

By Ricky

It is because of idiots like you in the press who give her all this coverage that makes her think she answers to nobody. Please will you go write something worthwhile. This girl is trash and she gets what she deserves and now they should work on her mother and father because they are the skankiest of them all!!!

By J

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Whats wrong with the author of this article, she sounds as lost and pathetic as Lindsey Lowbrow... By the way dummy, Buttany Sprouts shaved her head because she is psychologically disturbed, pathetic, mindless waste - direct result of you and other media outlets overhyping some idiot and then excpecting the world to accept them as heros instead of what they really are - lost, pathetic nothings that really don't deserve their fame or fortune. Let the Looseleg Lowbrow be herself (isn't that what she has been doing for many years, what got her in this mess to begin with???) and we can all laugh when she disintegrates... she should never have been made into the 'star' that she 'was', this end result is directly attributable to morons like Amber James and others that contiually try to tell us what is cool and ok. Let the world laugh at your ridiculous product and realize that you yourself have some soul-searching to do as well, fool...

By GetReal

Amber, for the record Lohan was not made an example. She was treated as ANY average person with multiple DUI's and probation violations would be treated. Drunk drivers KILL as do stupid young women who don't GET IT. She has spent most of her life with money and people kissing her butt, it shows. The arrogance of youth is bad enough, add these other factors and it can be fatal. She needs to grow up, really grow up. You are not helping in fact you are endangering her. So write fluff pieces and keep your idiotic advice to yourself.

By drea

you cant really believe what your writing amber? it really seems this article was just a sad attempt to rebuttle the ongoing chastising of LiLo for the sake of argument. unfortunatley there really isnt much you can say about this girl to change the majority's opinion. she's a druggy and a drunk and if she wants to live this vip lifestyle then she should earn it.

By Melanie

I hope she gets back on her feet, she is a young girl with a problem, that has the entitlement factor on top of that. Maybe this is what she needs, Keifer Sutherland seemed to benefit from being in the clink, he seems to have turned his life around.

By AntiKa

At 24 Lindsay, you are a young adult woman, you know what you're doing, as well that your attitude, and general behavior is not OK. Doing drugs is bad, baby, very bad. While you're having fun snorting or whatever, innocent people are getting killed, kids and journalists, in Juarez and other Mexican cities, and those dealer thugs are getting richer and richer and more violent. But you don't care, hon, because it's cool. However, I believe you're a great actress. You are born with talent unlike many other starlettes who just pretend. Just take care of your acting with more seriousness. Don't go GaGa, it's fun no more. Be a good girl.

By JA

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Amber, i think you are right everyone say what they want about her even if they are wrong shes human, human make mistakes so give her a chance shes really talented and beautiful

By Sam

Mel Gibson and Gary Coleman's ex must be thanking the good Lord for the Lindsay mess that took them off the front page.

Until Mama Skank Dina grows up and gains some maturity, LiLo will resume her losing ways after jail and rehab time. Mama Skank Dina will drag her to bars until she ends up back in trouble. Monkey Skank See - Monkey Skank Do

By armin

You have to admit, she was never accused of having many brains. If she is really as dumb as she acts, she really got the short end of the smart stick

By mimsysc

SHe has a career??????? Who knew?

By Vaniity.com

Team Recovery-Lohan! Blessings and LoveOnYa Lindsay!

By Dean

So many people on here jealous of Lindslay Lohan.Look in the mirrow,what do you see? Get a life.

By Munkie

Oh, please. she drunk drove while high on drugs and served like 83 minutes. I did that, I'd be in jail for months, at least. Then she consistently didn't keep up with the terms of her probation, lied about it, came up dirty on her SCRAM bracelet, and you think it's unfair that she's going to jail?

God, why do I bother reading this site?

By Freida DeMaino

Lindsay is without a doubt a very talented young woman. I've been watching her films with my grandchildren since she did Parent trap. I'm routing for her and also praying for her that she cleans up her act. This jail sentence might just be what she needed to save her life or someone elses. She definately needs alot of help and support to get there though. Everyone does deserve another chance. None of us are perfect. Lets hope for her sake that her own life is worth saving to her.I'm hoping she wants that for herself. I'm PRAYING for you Lindsay. We all need a little pray sometimes

By Robert D

celebrities put themselves were they are because most of the time they get away with it. In other words they ask for it know there getting it.

By Teresa Gennett

SHE DO DESERVES THAT TO GO JAIL FOR WHAT SHE DID NOT OBEYED TO JUSTICE!! SHE IS REALLY BADLY SPOILED BRAT!!! NOW SHE SHOULD WAKE UP AND ACT MATURELY!!

By Pam

She's done; fried; cooked.

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