Expert: Roger Ebert's Own Ailments May Have Desensitized Him

By Jo Piazza Posted Jun 21st 2011 10:34PM

Roger Ebert's own battle with a life-threatening disease may have desensitized him to the pain of others, psychologists tell PopEater a day after the famed film critic came under fire for a comment about the death of 'Jackass' star Ryan Dunn.

"People who have survived numerous hardships and tragedies as Roger has, often times are either extremely sensitive to the pain and tragedy of others, or can become hardened to the pain of life including the pain of others," explains clinical psychologist Dr. Jeffrey Gardere. "Roger Ebert has stared down death and pain and may now have a more tough-as-nails, survivor approach to life."

In his battle with cancer, Ebert has been through a series of surgeries, first to remove his malignant thyroid in 2002, then his salivary glands in 2003 and his jaw in 2006. He is clearly no stranger to adversity and he has looked death in the face on numerous occasions. That, Gardere tells us, could be the reason he lacked a sensitivity switch this week when discussing the death of Ryan Dunn.

Hours after Dunn was killed in a car accident, Ebert posted the news of his death, followed by "Friends don't let jackasses drink and drive."

The Internet responded with a collective "Ouch!" and reaction from fans and critics was immediate and harsh.

Dunn's 'Jackass' co-star Bam Margera called Ebert a "piece of sh*t" and the blogger Perez Hilton lambasted his insensitivity. One comment on his Facebook page read: "Mr. Ebert, your comments yesterday showed a true lack of tact and your inability to relate with the human race. I cannot believe you would, within 24 hours of the incident and before an autopsy, make such a deep and hurtful remark."

Celebrity expert Cooper Lawrence of the Scott & Todd show on PLJ told us that Ebert's remarks were positively shameful.

"Completely insensitive! Even if he feels that way, where is his compassion? Why would you do that moments after the person dies? He's had his own personal tragedy you would think he would know to use discretion before saying anything that would further hurt those who loved Ryan Dunn," Lawrence told us. "More importantly, it was NOT his place to weigh in. Just because you critique someone's work does not give you the right to publicly critique their death."

Many other reactions were unprintable, even by 'Jackass' standards.

The film critic backpedaled on Tuesday afternoon, writing on his Chicago Sun-Times blog: "I have no way of knowing if Ryan Dunn was drunk at the time of his death. I don't know what happened in this case, and I was probably too quick to Tweet."

Crisis managers say that Ebert is doing the right thing, but there is more to be done.

"He seems to be backing away from it already by saying he tweeted to soon. Ebert should apologize for being flip and insensitive about the breaking news. It was a terrible accident and this didn't make it any better," Public Relations executive and crisis guru Scott Tangney of Makovsky and Company tells us. "There is a time and a place for delivering a message. Thoughtfulness counts in these matters."

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Tags: Roger Ebert, Ryan Dunn, Twitter

Comments

(91)

Tuesday 21 June

By glen

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One man suffers for reasons beyond his doing. The other one died and killed his friend because he chose to do stupid things.

By noprfilevr

Absolutely. This Ebert has faced the worst things and survived it. He didn't do it to himself like this nimrod did.

By Donna

Bam and and Knoxville and all of then live on the edge...this is what happens...sorry it went down this way...but very STUPID!!!

Wednesday 22 June

By the truth

Bam is just upset that the courts took Don Vito away and stupidity took Dunn away. Now Bam is left being exposed with having no talent himself to carry on.

By mickey

Everyone has a right to their own opinion. He had a bunch of drinks and then drove his Porsche 130 miles per hour and you want sympathy?? Ok. Did the tree survive?

By mark

I'm not insensitive - "At least he died doing what he loved to do" - There, see?

By sakura

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Instant Karma will get him - John Lennon sang it and he knew what he was telling all of us.

By Jo

Insensitive or not people have a right to say what they want. Everyone should get over it and move on.

Agree.

By l*l

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only insenstive, abusive people use the phrase "get over it".

By What?!

Agree with you. He is entitled to his opinion that had many people agreeing with him. Don't drink and drive.

By hoededo

Bitter, Irrelevant, Liberal Film Critic Makes Yet Another Tactless Remark. Film at 11.

By lk

Liberal, what has that got to do with his statement? Your type thinks everything in life is about liberals.

By JoGo

All he said was "friends don't let friends drive drunk"..although it is sad that this man and another person died, he chose to drink and that bad choice cost him his life and his friends and family grief...so Roger Ebert didn't say anything so horrible..the guy was in the movie by that name..I would say what is the point of all this talk..it didn't cause harm and may actually stop someone from making the same terrible mistake.

By alshasoto

Want me to feel bad, I do. I feel bad for the family he left behind to grieve over such a stupid death. I feel bad for all the families who have grieved over someone they lost to a senseless death because someone was drinking and driving.

By auramac

What a disgusting, hateful thing to say! You're so desensitized it's a wonder that you still know how to breathe!

By Mike

Ebert's liberalism has nothing to do with 99.9% of the movies he reviews, but he always finds a way to inject it anyway. Everything in life is about liberalism to him.

By john

you should be so irrelevant. he is still by far the best movie critic on planet earth.

By Mama Chi

What crahp! Now no one can have an opinion that's deemed un-PC. Well, sorry but I agree with Ebert. I'm truly sorry that both men died but they were apparently drinking heavily, and one was driving drunk and driving at excessive speeds. What are we supposed to do, pretend it didn't happen? The media needs to get real and stop playing these little footsie games of pleasing everyone - you DON'T drink and drive or you COULD end up just like this...or put someone else there.

By know it all

How do you know the driver was drunk? Did you handle the autopsy? You're an idiot.

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