Last night, I read this thoughtful, moving post on Salon’s Broadsheet about Jade Goody, a 27-year old U.K. reality show star and tabloid celebrity who’s dying of cervical cancer. I confess I hadn’t heard of Goody before. Still, her story is unbelievable: She was on a popular Brit version of Big Brother, wrote an autobiography, launched a perfume, and starred on another, celebrity version of Big Brother where she insulted a Bollywood star and consequently got chastised by future prime minister Gordon Brown. Salon describes her as a "a love-her or hate-her working-class hero, combining the brashness of Roseanne Barr, the intellect of Jessica Simpson and the shameless self-promotion of Paris Hilton, all in the body of a female wrestler."
Last year, Goody found out she had cervical cancer — she got the news on air while appearing on an Indian version of Big Brother. Since then, she’s starred in a series of reality specials about her treatment and become a different kind of tabloid fixture. The latest news has been grim: Goody’s cancer is terminal and she announced that she’d be marrying her boyfriend in a ceremony on Sunday that will be televised, of course. She’s been quoted as saying she’s trying to make as much money as possible for her two young sons. American audiences can only really see the Goody saga through endless YouTube clips (one is embedded below). But how many of you out there have been following her story? What do you think: Is she being exploitative? Brave? Or both?
I’ve been following Jade’s story and I think it’s incredibly sad. She’s so young and has two young boys who will never really remember her. I think it’s brave, what she’s doing. It brings awareness to her disease. The number on screenings for cervical cancer in the UK has gone up 20% since the news of her diagnosis broke. Let’s face it, in today’s media culture there is an interest in stories like this. Just look what we Americans have done to the (ridiculous) Octomom. I applaud Jade for wanting to provide for her sons by doing what she knows best. She’ll marry her long-time boyfriend this weekend as well. I wish her all the best.
Ignorant, racist chav. Good riddance.
I definitely think she’s doing both (being brave AND explotative), and I actually admire her for it. Not because she’s being noble (that people can argue till, sadly, long after she’s gone), but rather because right up to the end, she is being herself. As you said, she has always been polarizing — love her or hate her — but she’s always been Jade. Doing what she can and using what she’s got to make something of herself and her life, whatever you think of it. Personally, whatever I’ve thought of Jade before, I find this all unbearably sad for her, Jack and her sons, and though I don’t consider myself religious at all, I’ll be….thinking supportive thoughts for them as they deal with this nightmare and try to grab as much joy, money, whatever while they can.
I hadn’t heard of this woman until this week – a very tragic story and it seems that she’s doing her best to make lemonade out of the big ol’ pile of lemons life has handed to her, especially with getting the word out about cervical cancer. I’m reminded of Katie Couric’s televised colonoscopy that greatly increased the number of people getting that test, too. I’m terribly sorry especially for her two sons that will be left without a mother and hope that they will be comforted that she’s doing what she can for them in her final days.
I would do the same if I were her. She’s just trying to bank as much $ as she can for her sons. I think it’s so sad. She’s managed a lot with a little for herself.
As a Brit now living in the US I remember Jade when she first appeared on UK screens. She’s definitely had a rollercoaster time in the public eye – when she first appeared on Big Brother (which is huge in the UK) she was hated. Late night comics lampooned her and the tabloids were awful to her. And then midway through the series people started to come round to her. She had been bullied so badly by the tabloids that she became the underdog. Since then she’s gone on to become the only real stand out star from Big Brother.
Yes, she is badly educated, prone to anger and over-emotional but what won the public in the end was that underneath it all she was always genuine and there is a sweetness and warmth to her. She had a really rough upbringing but somehow still kept smiling.
She will be very sadly missed by a lot of Brits.
And Cleetus – show some compassion. She’s only 27.
I really detest these people who are famous for being famous, and especially those who go on every single television show that will have them because they want to be famous. Jady Goody is really the epitome of that. However, it is sad what she’s going through, and while she is broadcasting her misery in the tradition of just wanting to be on tv, it’s putting a real face on cancer, and if she helps even one person, it’s well worth it.
As an anglophille, I’ve known about Jade since Big Brother. I think that the tabloids in the UK are extremly harsh, even by American standards and that she was made in a pariah because she was an easy target. I admire her for using what she can to make money for her children and for living her life to the fullest for the brief period she has left.
anytime a child loses a parent it is a tragedy, and she is providing a financially secure future for her boys the only way she knows how by exploiting herself. I only hope that she finds peace before she loses her battle and that the public and media extend to her kindness and respect as she nears the end of her battle.
It is sad and I hope she is able to provide for her sons. I’m not going to judge her previous actions – I’m just going to wish that maybe all these folks who are morally against the HPV vaccine see this suffering and reconsider.
To show how old I am….
It reminds me of the anti-smoking commercial Yul Brynner (think The King & I) made to be broadcast after he died of lung cancer. http://www.headandneck.org/psaflash.htm It was soundly ridiculed & people thought it was the worst thing to do. But if Jane gets just one woman to go for an gyn exam, it is worth it.
Reality show STAR. I never heard of her before. Anyway, best of luck.
She is missing a fabulous opportunity. She should be on American Idol. I think her story tops Danny Gorkey’s!
Huh? She didn’t “smoke”. What is it she did to get cervical cancer??? Bad comparison.
Life p1ssed on Jade and she’s tried to make lemonade out of it. Good for her and I wish her all the best.