Despite what you might have heard, Michael Clarke Duncan's crypt at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills has not been vandalized, defaced or desecrated, but one website/TV show continues to tell that story, even though they know it's not true. But they'd rather stir up hate and racism where they know it doesn't exist, on purpose, just for the sake of more page views and ratings.
Very early today, TMZ posted a story on its website with the blaring headline: "Michael Clarke Duncan's Tomb VANDALIZED BY RACIST ... family says."
According to the story, which doesn't cite any sources by name, "a family friend stopped by Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills to deliver flowers to the spot where MCD was interred in Sept. 2012 ... when she noticed a figure of a cartoonish black face had been attached to the center of MCD's tomb. The friend believes the black face is an image of "Sambo" -- a character that has long been considered an offensive and racist depiction of a black person.
TMZ further reported that Forest Lawn officials were notified, as was the LAPD, which "could be" investigating the incident as a hate crime.
TMZ even posted a photo of the "figure" -- a small, smooth, dark-bluish rock with purple eyes, a white nose and a smiling orange mouth. (See below.)
At this point, it could be a story. In fact, a few other websites picked it up, including LAist.com. If it's actually vandalism of a grave, or racism, or anything else like that, it would be a horrible, terrible thing.
But it's not.
As anyone who has spent any time in any cemeteries around Los Angeles knows, the "rock smileys" are fairly common, especially around celebrity graves. They're placed there by artist Lisa Albanese, and here's
her story about them.
But most people don't hang around in cemeteries, so they might now know that. If they have a mind that goes in that direction, they might actually think the "rock smiley" was a racist image.
LAist.com was told the story behind the "rock smileys," and they updated their report. They even contacted Lisa Albanese, who told them, "As soon as this was brought to my attention I reached out to Forest Lawn, because the last thing I want to do is offend anyone.
Good for you, LAist.com. And good for you, reporter Sharon Knolle. That's fair, honest and accurate reporting.
TMZ was also told the whole story of the "rock smileys," in numerous emails, phone calls and posts on their webpage. But TMZ is sticking with their original story, without even a mention of the "rock smileys." And why not?
They're getting hundreds of comments on the story, and attracting even more people to their website. They even mentioned it on their TV show today. A story about grave vandalism and racism, especially when the apparent target is a beloved and recently deceased actor, is going to get a lot more attention.
It's a choice between stirring up fear, hate and racism, even when you know it's not true, just for page views and ratings. Or reporting the whole story, fairly and accurately. TMZ picked the first option.
Actually, I wouldn't be a bit surprised if there is no "family friend." I wouldn't be surprised if someone from TMZ, or someone who wanted to sell a story to TMZ, saw the "rock smiley" and came up with the racism story.
Of course, TMZ can do whatever they want. But now the story has taken on a life of its own, and it's being reported by news sites and bloggers all over the world, with many of them enhancing the story, or just making stuff up. And they took what TMZ reported as something said by an anonymous family friend, and presented it as absolute fact.
BET reported that MCD's grave "has been vandalized with racist graffiti."
The Chicago Defender reported that his grave was "desecrated by racists."
The San Francisco Chronicle reported that " 'a cartoonish black face' had been drawn on "The Green Mile" star's final resting place."
The Celebrity Cafe reported, "An anonymous vandal desecrated the grave of late actor, Michael Clarke Duncan,
The U.K.'s Daily Mail reported, "an offensive cariacture of a black man had been etched on the centre of the tomb."
UPI reported that the crypt "was spray-painted with racist graffiti."
Headlines & Global News reported, "Actor's Tomb Desecrated With Racist Cartoon, Officials Calling it a Hate Crime."
The Inquisitr reported, "The tombstone of Michael Clarke Duncan has been vandalized by an unknown racist."
And on and on and on. And none of it true. There was no desecration, there was no vandalism, nothing was drawn on anything, nothing was etched on anything, there was no spray paint, and there were no officials calling it a hate crime,
But, really, none of that matters. All of those website will get additional traffic, and lots of reader interest and comments on this horrible, terrible, vile -- and totally false -- story.
I don't know Lisa Albanese, but I've certainly seen her work, in cemeteries all over Los Angeles. Her "rock smileys" are intended to bring joy and happiness, and they succeed. Seeing one is like finding a happy bit of hidden treasure. However, after this, I wouldn't be surprised if she stops doing it.
I think we can agree that vandalism and racism are terrible, horrible, awful, disgusting and deplorable things.
And so is sticking to a story that you know is false, just to stir up fear and hate for your own benefit.