I wanted to start a thread about this, as it's something I feel strongly about. Within days of a famous person dying, I hear jokes about it. I personally thing that it is disrespectful and quite disgusting.

There have been several famous people that I've liked and admired that have died while I've been alive - to give two examples, George Harrison in 2001, and Maurice Gibb in 2003.

Whenever a famous person dies, it's usually only a matter of days before people are making jokes about them dying. I personally think these sort of jokes are in extremely bad taste and I intensely dislike them. I know that most of the time, people who make these jokes probably don't mean any harm, but I don't think it's right, or necessary, to joke about someone dying.

For instance, when Maurice Gibb died, in January 2003, I was 14 years old. I was already a huge fan of the Bee Gees (I've liked them since 2001) and I admit to being shocked and upset by his death. I did cry a bit over it, and for about a week after his death, a miserable feeling lingered around me.

Anyway, he died on Sunday the 12th, and as soon as I went back to school on Monday the 13th, there were students there who approached me and started joking and laughing about his death. Someone told me a joke about the other two Bee Gees releasing a new song called "How Deep is Your Bruv" - a reference to the fact that their brother was now dead, and a spin on the title of one of their most famous songs, How Deep is Your Love.

I didn't say anything to the people, but I thought what they were doing was rude and disrespectful. I don't know why they chose to come and joke about it to me, since they were all aware that I was a big fan of the Bee Gees. I can only assume that their intention was to try to get a rise out of me, or to wind me up.

Sadly, it seems that it's only a matter of hours after a famous person dies before some insensitive blockhead is making a joke about it.

I feel the same way. I saw a few jokes about Steve Irwin and I was like... dude.

Michelle, I was pretty sad when both George Harrison and Maurice Gibb died as well. They were two talented men who were taken from us at too young an age. However, their deaths and the death of Steve Irwin are totally different. Irwin was someone who put his life in danger on a regular basis and he had to realize that when you play with fire sometimes you get burned. I'm not saying that I find Irwin's death funny, not at all, I find the death of any human being a tragedy, but when a person does the things that this guy did, you have to expect that they could be seriously hurt or even killed. George and Maurice on the other hand did nothing to cause their deaths, it was totally out of their hands and in the hands of fate. If Irwin had lead a more resposible life, he would still be here.

Michelle, I was pretty sad when both George Harrison and Maurice Gibb died as well. They were two talented men who were taken from us at too young an age. However, their deaths and the death of Steve Irwin are totally different. Irwin was someone who put his life in danger on a regular basis and he had to realize that when you play with fire sometimes you get burned. I'm not saying that I find Irwin's death funny, not at all, I find the death of any human being a tragedy, but when a person does the things that this guy did, you have to expect that they could be seriously hurt or even killed. George and Maurice on the other hand did nothing to cause their deaths, it was totally out of their hands and in the hands of fate. If Irwin had lead a more resposible life, he would still be here.

I see what you mean, but I just want to make it clear that this thread was not inspired by Steve Irwin's death at all. I'd been thinking of making this thread before he died.

On that matter, though, I have heard a couple of jokes about his death, and I think it's in poor taste. I don't mean to nitpick, DAX, but I just wondered how you got the idea that this thread had anything to do with Steve Irwin. I didn't mention him in my post. It wasn't inspired by his death at all. It was really inspired by the people at school who laughed about Maurice dying and made jokes about it to me.

But I think jokes made about any celebrity's death are disgusting.

I never liked jokes about celebrities' death. It's in poor taste and very disrespectful. And for the record, George Harrison smoked for decades and died from lung cancer.

Yeah it's sad, but what can ya do? People are *******s, and if I say that its offensive they'll just go "Oh stop being so uptight" :rolleyes:

I guess I'm in the minority here, and please don't think any less of me for this, but I think humor in those situations can be helpful.
I'm not talking about the Maurice Gibb joke Sharop mentioned in the fisrt post: that's an infantile joke, but using humor to work through a tough time helps people get through it better.

I see what you mean, but I just want to make it clear that this thread was not inspired by Steve Irwin's death at all. I'd been thinking of making this thread before he died.

On that matter, though, I have heard a couple of jokes about his death, and I think it's in poor taste. I don't mean to nitpick, DAX, but I just wondered how you got the idea that this thread had anything to do with Steve Irwin. I didn't mention him in my post. It wasn't inspired by his death at all. It was really inspired by the people at school who laughed about Maurice dying and made jokes about it to me.

But I think jokes made about any celebrity's death are disgusting.

I'm sorry, Michelle. I misunderstood. There has been a lot of debate around here concerning Steve Irwin's death. So I just thought that this thread was in response to that. I'm sorry.

People at your school really laughed at Maurice's death? That is terrible. And really sad. :(

I just don't find anything funny about death. For anyone that's died, they more than likely left somebody that loved them. I wouldn't wish that sort of pain on anybody.

Cracking jokes about peoples' death isn't funny. Several deaths have upset ne over the years:


Owen Hart- died from the rafters at the Kemper Arena in St. Louis in May 1999. Vince McMahone forced him into it. I don't know how McMahon looks at himself in the mirror in the morning.


Bobby Phills- died drag racing with teammate David Wesley after a team practice for the Charlotte Hornets. When I attended a Hornets playoff game against the Nets 2 years later, some people were chanting "You killed Bobby". How can you do that to someone? Espeically when it was an accidental death.


Malik Sealy- killed by a drunk driver after attending a birthday party for teammate Kevin Garnett.


Princess Diana- everyone blames the driver but the ones at fault were the Paparazzi. Had they tried to save her instead of taking pictures, perhaps she may have lived. No guarantee she would have lived but to watch someone die instead of helping them is just flat out wrong.

If someone tells a joke about a celebrity who has just died, I usually tell them, "Would you enjoy hearing people telling jokes about your mother or father or some other family member after they have just died?"... That usually shuts them up...

Cracking jokes about peoples' death isn't funny. Several deaths have upset ne over the years...

...Princess Diana- everyone blames the driver but the ones at fault were the Paparazzi. Had they tried to save her instead of taking pictures, perhaps she may have lived. No guarantee she would have lived but to watch someone die instead of helping them is just flat out wrong.


Actually, the Paparzzi wasn't at fault there... and I'm sure the driver was probably only following orders by going at that speed...

The ultimate cause of that accident is the idiots who buy publications like "People" magazine, "US", and all of the tabloids sold at supermarket check out lines... I've never understood people's fascination with celebreties... I'll watch a show that stars someone I like, but I've never purchased a single publication like those in my entire life. The Paparazzi took pictures of Diana instead of trying to help because that's what they get paid for...

Plus, vehicles are so much safer now than they used to be...even though the crash was horrific, people still survive things like that these days... these people are photographers, not doctors....there's really no way they could have known she was dying, especially since she was apparently somewhat conscious after the crash...

But of course, they also probably figured, if she IS dying, the thought of how much some sleazy publisher would pay for the "last" photo of Diane while she was alive was just too much for them to think of anything else.

The Paparazzi was created by idiots who buy magazines like "People" and "The National Enquirer". If those publications didn't sell, the Publishers couldn't afford to pay the prices they do for 'exclusive' photos.

And it still continues to this day...it's never going to stop. The main difference is, that Diane probably just wanted to be left alone for once, while people like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes contantly want the spotlight on them, and so they make a baby to keep it there.

If someone tells a joke about a celebrity who has just died, I usually tell them, "Would you enjoy hearing people telling jokes about your mother or father or some other family member after they have just died?"... That usually shuts them up...
That sounds like something I would say to people. It's true. I mean, it seems that people love to poke fun more at celebrities because they are not usually as physically available around us as often as other people we know in real life. I think people demean celebrities so much. However, joking about anyone's death isn't funny. It's rude. Period.

Jokes about anyone dying are sick and cruel.

I totally agree. I remember the day Sandra Dee's death became public, people were posting things like "Look at me, I'm Sandra Dead!" on message boards and stuff. That's just sick and disrespectful and not called for at all.

I also hate it when people do nothing but badmouth someone when they're alive, but when they die, the victim of an accident or some other tragedy, the person immediately becomes a fan or that particular celebrity. Imagine if Britney Spears or Paris Hilton died tomorrow. Just imagine how many "sincere" people would be saying how "horrible" it is. It pisses me off because those people don't give a damn about anything but their reputations it seems.

Jokes about anyone dying are sick and cruel.

I agree, but the reason I singled celebrities out is because I've never heard someone make a joke about an ordinary person's death, whereas with famous people, it seems it's the norm to make a joke about their death within days, or sometimes even hours, of their passing.

I think it is disgusting and cruel, they should learn to be nice. Death is a very sad time, there have been numerous personal favorite actors that have died in the fast few years that i have fealt very sad about their passing.

I agree, but the reason I singled celebrities out is because I've never heard someone make a joke about an ordinary person's death, whereas with famous people, it seems it's the norm to make a joke about their death within days, or sometimes even hours, of their passing.
Oh, I've hear stuff about an ordinary persons' death before. It's really mean. I used to not think twice about it, but after the accident I realized that death is something that shouldn't be a joke.

I saw some of the jokes about Steve Irwin too and they were absolutely sickening and disrespectful.

I agree, but the reason I singled celebrities out is because I've never heard someone make a joke about an ordinary person's death, whereas with famous people, it seems it's the norm to make a joke about their death within days, or sometimes even hours, of their passing.

You needn't explain yourself, and I agree, not only with you, but also with others who have made supportive posts (especially within this thread). In other threads dealing with this subject, this is what I've observed: there are some posters who, either 1) miss the whole point of the thread, by playing devil's advocate; in other words, disagreeing for the sake of disagreeing, and 2) those who are insensitive to others' feelings by making some flippant remark, which was clearly not the intent of the thread at all. Why do they do that?

I, like you, and many others felt sad at Steve Irwin's tragic death. That is what these Steve Irwin threads were supposed to be about, but instead, some individuals immediately misinterpreted this sadness and grief and started 'driving' the threads in different directions. Right now people are dealing with his loss, the reality of his loss, and the loss to fans and his family, and getting over the initial shock of the news. To bring in the hows, the whys and wherefores at this stage is not the point and is just plain callousness, to offend people in that way.

Bottom line: You were right to ask people to show respect.

Oh, I've hear stuff about an ordinary persons' death before. It's really mean. I used to not think twice about it, but after the accident I realized that death is something that shouldn't be a joke.

Well, of course, that was disgusting as well. I think it's more common to hear jokes about famous people's deaths, though, because they're well-known, and more people know of their deaths.

But like you said, I think it's wrong to joke about anyone dying - famous or unfamous.

Bottom line: You were right to ask people to show respect.

Thanks, Yooch. :) That's the whole reason I started the "Respect for Steve Irwin" thread. And yes, the purpose of this thread was because I've heard numerous jokes about a number of celebrities' deaths over the years, and I just think it's rude and I don't see the necessity for them.

Like other people have pointed out, I'm sure, two days after a family member has died, someone wouldn't like it if somebody else came up to them and joked about their death (especially in a really mocking way.) Sometimes, people who are close to the person who has died joke about their death as a way to help them cope, but in this case, it's done with a measure of love and respect for the deceased.

Michelle, I want to apolagize again if I offended you. That was certainly never my intention. :(

Good topic Sharop! I 100% agree with you! It's disgraceful. I can kind of excuse young kids. They are just trying to be cute. But jokes made about someone's death by his peers is tasteless. :eek:

"Chuckles Bites The Dust" (Mary Tyler Moore Show episode) comes to mind.

Michelle, I want to apolagize again if I offended you. That was certainly never my intention. :(

Oh, you didn't! Don't worry about it. :)

I was just puzzled as to why you thought the thread was specifically about Steve Irwin, when it's about all celebrity deaths in general. But looking back, I suppose the fact that I did like Steve Irwin, and also the fact that I made the thread just a week after he died, would have led you to think that it might be about him specifically.

Oh, you didn't! Don't worry about it. :)

I was just puzzled as to why you thought the thread was specifically about Steve Irwin, when it's about all celebrity deaths in general. But looking back, I suppose the fact that I did like Steve Irwin, and also the fact that I made the thread just a week after he died, would have led you to think that it might be about him specifically.


Did you not see my new avatar, Michelle? :D ;)

Did you not see my new avatar, Michelle? :D ;)

Barry, Robin and Maurice in your avatar, and little Andy in mine! All four Gibb brothers together! :)