http://variety.com/2017/tv/news/erin-moran-dead-scott-baio-god-happy-days-1202393831/

Monday morning, the Harrison County Coroner’s Office and Sheriff’s Department issued a joint statement saying Moran passed due to complications with her stage 4 cancer. The statement added there were no illegal narcotics found at the scene, but Baio thinks her lifetime of drugs and alcohol abuse may have had something to do with her untimely death.

“I’m OK, a little shocked but not completely shocked that this happened. My thing is, I feel bad because her whole life, she was troubled, could never find what made her happy and content. For me, you do drugs or drink, you’re gonna die. I’m sorry if that’s cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself.”

“I’m saddened by what happened. I don’t know if it was drugs that killed her, I read one report said it might have been and I hope it… I don’t know what I hope. It’s what it is. What can you do?”

“I knew Erin well, over the last many years I have not spoken with her. She was just an insecure human being and fell into this world of drugs and alcohol. Again, I don’t know if that’s what killed her, I’m sure it was a culmination of years and years of doing it that might have had something to do with it. She just never found her way.”

“How do you help somebody that doesn’t want to help themselves? You try a couple of times and if they don’t want the help, I gotta go, sorry.”

“I never did drugs. I never was interested in drugs, it never intrigued me. I had parents and a brother and sister who were straight arrows and my father, God rest his soul, said to me, ‘You do drugs, I’ll kill you.’ Aside from Erin, everybody on that show, as far as I know, I never saw drugs or alcohol. I just, there was no reason for me to do it. My parents set me right, that’s the best thing you could have.”

____________________________________________________________

I'm guessing Scott Baio was never raped by a member of his family.

Having no idea what that might do to a person, I will not judge her.




























____________________________________________________________

Yep, I love these people who encounter a tragedy in somebody else's life and yet can't stop talking about themselves. Totally narcissistic.

Also, he was wrong. She died of cancer. So does he go back and apologize for continually implying she died of drugs?

And where is his genuine feeling about losing a co-worker (and if I am not mistaken, lover at some point)? He never talks about Erin at all, except to say she was into drugs and lost her way. Never a second about how she made him feel or what impact she had on the world.

And as far as his comments about her "never finding her way", what was his way? Charles in Charge? I don't see him burning up the silver (or small) screen.

Sorry, this just totally puts me off this guy.

With "friends" like Scott Baio, who needs enemies?

With "friends" like Scott Baio, who needs enemies?

:tiphat:

Scott Baio Responds to Criticism Over Comments on Erin Moran’s Death
by Denise Petski
April 24, 2017


Scott Baio’s comments earlier today on a WABC radio show about the death of his former "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi" co-star Erin Moran sparked a sharp reaction on Twitter, and Baio has responded.

His comments were made before coroner and sheriff’s officials announced her death was the result of complications from Stage 4 cancer. When asked if he regretted his comments, he responded, “I said IF.”

http://deadline.com/2017/04/scott-baio-erin-moran-death-comments-criticism-1202076615/

I generally like Scott Baio but in regard to his ungracious comments about the late Erin Moran both before and after her death, I definitely need to say that he needs to sit on it. :(

Scott Baio Responds to Criticism Over Comments on Erin Moran’s Death
by Denise Petski
April 24, 2017


Scott Baio’s comments earlier today on a WABC radio show about the death of his former "Happy Days" and "Joanie Loves Chachi" co-star Erin Moran sparked a sharp reaction on Twitter, and Baio has responded.

His comments were made before coroner and sheriff’s officials announced her death was the result of complications from Stage 4 cancer. When asked if he regretted his comments, he responded, “I said IF.”

http://deadline.com/2017/04/scott-baio-erin-moran-death-comments-criticism-1202076615/

Yep, that makes it all better. :rolleyes:

Still no expression of hurt or affection for Erin, you notice. He needs to stop by the compassion store; I think his tank is running pretty low.

He sounds like he's been hanging around Trump too much.

Well, any at all is too much, but you catch my drift.

People really need to stop judging Scott Baio......I bet Erin wishes she had not gotten mixed up with illegal drugs and alcohol....To those that do judge Baio, I say to them...judge not...lest you be judged!!!

People really need to stop judging Scott Baio......I bet Erin wishes she had not gotten mixed up with illegal drugs and alcohol....To those that do judge Baio, I say to them...judge not...lest you be judged!!!

Would you give the same advice to Scott Baio, whose comments were dripping with judgement against someone he should have felt compassion for? Or to yourself, for your comments about what Erin did in her life, or how she should feel about it?

Would you give the same advice to Scott Baio, whose comments were dripping with judgement against someone he should have felt compassion for? Or to yourself, for your comments about what Erin did in her life, or how she should feel about it?

Exactamundo. And I'll repeat what I wrote earlier: I'm guessing that Scott Baio was never raped by a member of his family. He talks about what a great family he has, that they all stayed away from drugs. By referencing his own family, he seems to understand the importance of family. And he obviously has a family he can turn to. It's very possible Erin didn't have that for herself. We don't know everything that happened in Erin's life and with her family, but I'm guessing having been raped by one of them, there was some serious psychological damage done to her from the trauma of that event that never healed. And perhaps she felt she lost that family connection that we all need (like Mackenzie Phillips). Who knows? How can any of us judge someone in those tragic circumstances? And before someone jumps on me, no, I did not see her raped. But I saw real tears in her eyes and real pain on her face when she revealed that. That was no act. I believe her.

Jeez what a cold statement to make right after a friend and former co worker has just passed away!! :eek: Wow, what a jerk!!!:( :mad:

He sounds like he's been hanging around Trump too much.

Well, any at all is too much, but you catch my drift.


I was going to say something on this earlier after the first few posts, but I thought I'd wait until it was more obvious.

This is the real hatred here for Scott Baio, not what he said about Erin Moran.

This is the real hatred here for Scott Baio, not what he said about Erin Moran.

Nope, it's about the things he says, and repeats, that lack empathy. I don't get that he cannot understand that rape can bring serious trauma that can be with a person for life and lead them to bad places. She needed kindness in her life, not constant scorn from tabloids, and certainly not from those closest to her.

With "friends" like Scott Baio, who needs enemies?


I agree, his comment about her death was insensitive:rolleyes:

I can't say I am surprised by Scott Baio's insensitive and hateful comments. This is who is is. He is a worthless jerk and I can see why he supports Trump. They are alike.

As for Erin, she was a wonderful person and sorry that her life was so unhappy. She was a very good actress. RIP!!

He goes on and on tearing her down and then his only apology is saying, "I said IF?" Such a worthless scumbag.

First, at the same time that the other cast members spoke on social media, Baio put out his own message:

"May people remember Erin for her contagious smile, warm heart, and animal loving soul. I always hoped she could find peace in her life. God has you now, Erin."

The people in this thread who are pretending he didn't say this should be ashamed.

It's very seldom that the deaths of drug abusers are officially attributed to drug abuse. The people at the scene will attribute the death to whatever stopped the person's heart. Wikipedia right now is saying throat cancer - that's heavily associated with both abuse of alcohol and with smoking of any kind. Drug abuse undermines a person's health, stops them from seeking medical attention, and cuts them of from people who would try to get them back to normal lives.

It is normal to be angry at someone who you were close to, even after they die. There's frustration, there's guilt over not doing more, there's resentment if the person chose a destructive path and wouldn't leave it. In such circumstances, it's possible that the person who died would not have wanted their death to be romanticized - they might actually have wanted to tell people in plain language, "Don't follow me down this path," but couldn't get straight enough to do it.

People have to be given the opportunity to grieve in their own ways, and they especially have to be given that opportunity by people who don't know either of the people involved.

I didn't know Erin was raped. But the thing is while Baio's comments were wrong we don't know what happened behind the scenes. Didn't her cast members try to help her and she didn't want it?

I didn't know Erin was raped. But the thing is while Baio's comments were wrong we don't know what happened behind the scenes. Didn't her cast members try to help her and she didn't want it?

I just watched a brand-new interview with Marion Ross, who said Erin began abusing drugs the final year of Happy Days. Erin was 23 at that point. She said she was raped by a family member when she was 23. There seems to be cause and effect.

I was going to say something on this earlier after the first few posts, but I thought I'd wait until it was more obvious.

This is the real hatred here for Scott Baio, not what he said about Erin Moran.
Well, it does fit into the stereotype about how many of his supporters are heartless and arrogant.

I have relatives and friends who voted for Trump, but they don't act like Scott Baio. Baio to me is at the point where Kirk Cameron is tolerable in comparison.

In comparison. Here's what Cathy Silvers had to say. And I believe she is 100% genuine. She is a FB friend and even long before Saturday, she would post photos of her and Erin and talk about how much she loved her and thought of her as a sister. While Baio is being pompous, Cathy is heartbroken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvTAxdYbmE

In comparison. Here's what Cathy Silvers had to say. And I believe she is 100% genuine. She is a FB friend and even long before Saturday, she would post photos of her and Erin and talk about how much she loved her and thought of her as a sister. While Baio is being pompous, Cathy is heartbroken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEvTAxdYbmE

Thank you for posting that. It brought a tear to my eye. Cathy seems like a sweet person and a genuine friend.

While Scott Baio tried (unsuccessfully IMO) to backtrack his comments yesterday, the insensitive nature of what he said fits a pattern. I posted the following back in July when he spoke at the Republican convention:


After [Baio] spoke, a reporter asked him if Joanie would approve of his speech. He snidely responded, with a scowl on his face, that the only Joanie that matters is Joni Ernst [referring to the Iowa senator]. A couple years ago when Erin Moran was in the news for her personal crisis, he was asked about her and he responded something to the effect that he "has his own family to worry about." In other words, to hell with Erin and her problems. Granted, she probably brought on most of her woes, but is it necessary to be so publicly cold? I've heard (though I don't know if it's true) that Henry Winkler has reached out to help Erin. You don't want to be an enabler, but at the same time you don't want someone to fall off the cliff.

I will add that when I wrote this, I don't think I was not aware of her having been raped by a family member. At least I hadn't put all the pieces together at that point. Knowing that now, I blame the family rapist for leading her down a dark path. People need to understand that rape isn't a one-time event. It affects a person's entire life and psychological health. Baio said he reached out to Erin "a couple times" in the past then gave up. A couple times with someone deeply traumatized who may have lost her family doesn't cut it. It sounds like Cathy was there for her all along, and Henry Winkler, Anson Williams, Marion Ross, and a few others. I hope she felt their sincere love.

Scott Baio's New Facebook Post


"Saturday, April 22nd around 3:30 PM my wife received a text message saying Erin Moran had died. I couldn't believe it. NO PRESS OR MEDIA HAD REPORTED THIS. I thought it may be a hoax. Shortly after that TMZ reported this to be true, along with every other news outlet to follow. I was sad, in disbelief, sick to my stomach, and in complete shock.

Sunday, April 23rd I sat in my office, collected my thoughts to post a statement. I wanted to remember all the best, my most fondest times with Erin. I was still trying to process this loss. Later that evening, the Internet and television stations were blasting headlines 'Erin Moran died due to a heroine overdose.' This made me very upset and angry. This is one of my worse fears for her, or anyone else. Especially in this business. I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I hadn't slept well since the news of her passing.

Monday, April 24th at 6AM Pacific time I did a live radio interview. I was asked ONLY about Erin's troubled past due to drug & alcohol abuse. I was still upset and said I felt that living that kind of a lifestyle will catch up with you and nothing good would come of it. THIS WAS BEFORE THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS ANNOUNCED STATING STAGE 4 CANCER.

Now it seems every news outlet & tabloid wants to paint a different picture of me and of what really happened. They're stating that I'm saying drugs caused her to die after it was reported stage 4 cancer. This is so wrong! Now I truly understand the meaning of 'Fake News.' This is crazy.

I'm also trying to process this loss. Erin was my very first real girlfriend. My wife and Erin contacted each other and spoke often for over a decade. I even had her on my reality show years ago. I DID reach out to her over a span of 30 years.

Please stop assuming the worse in me. I'm a compassionate person. I'm very heartbroken over her passing, especially since it was cancer. I don't see people going after or attacking every network that said it was a drug overdose. I've openly stated my truths. I'm done."


http://perezhilton.com/2017-04-25-scott-baio-did-not-know-erin-moran-had-cancer-apology-facebook

Even if Erin did die from drugs, it's still a jerk-move on Scott's part to be so cold about her death. He was spouting off before he even knew what the truth was.

And even if Scott did have a point that Erin for all her turmoil still held the responsibility of her well being to her own choices (and no you can't help someone who doesn't (not can't) help themselves) his overall statement comes off superior and condescending. He simply seems to lack empathy for people who did not come up under the same "positive" circumstances that he seems to think he did.

Scott Baio's New Facebook Post





http://perezhilton.com/2017-04-25-scott-baio-did-not-know-erin-moran-had-cancer-apology-facebook
And really he didn't say that much different than Paul Peterson did a few days ago. Most people assumed it was drugs.

Repeating what I said: Scott Baio has been insensitive towards Erin Moran for a LONG time. This did not just begin yesterday. He's trying to backtrack those remarks, but I've heard the things he's said previously. He was a jerk before, he was a jerk again yesterday. And once more, I ask, has Mr. Baio ever been raped by a member of his family? Maybe if he had some empathy and understanding of sexual assault victims he would have been more patient with her and understanding of her ordeal.

Erin Moran's brother and cousin are extremely upset and angry with Scott Baio. Not only for his insensitive comments, but also the fact that his apology was from a phone call by his wife. He didn't even make it himself! He is a coward.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/erin-morans-family-unleashes-holy-hell-on-fcking-coward-scott-baio/

Baio deserves it.

I love that he blames not being able to get work on the fact he's a Trumpster.... outside of former co-stars like Howard (getting him Bob Loblaw on Arrested Development), what was his excuse for not being a star for the previous 25 years before the election after Charles In Charge went off the air? He is precisely the type of person that shows why I rarely get along with Trump supporters to begin with.

Erin Moran's brother and cousin are extremely upset and angry with Scott Baio. Not only for his insensitive comments, but also the fact that his apology was from a phone call by his wife. He didn't even make it himself! He is a coward.

http://www.rawstory.com/2017/04/erin-morans-family-unleashes-holy-hell-on-fcking-coward-scott-baio/

Wow, He should have made that phone call himself, if he can say those ugly remarks, then he should be man enough to apologize and take ownership of what he said to her family. I normally like Scott just fine, but this was a bad idea on his part.. :/.

I also didn't know EM was raped.

I was going to ask posters comments (those who remember) back in about the early 90's on a reunion show about EM making accusations against both Ron Howard and especially Henry Winker about sexual harassment.

Sorry if that upsets some, but this was a real incident which I'm confused about what really happened. Like I said, until a few minutes ago I didn't know EM was raped.

Anyway, I am shocked & saddened to hear about EM's passing.

I also didn't know EM was raped....

Sorry if that upsets some, but this was a real incident which I'm confused about what really happened. Like I said, until a few minutes ago I didn't know EM was raped.



I think that the person who has repeatedly raised this charge should say when it was uttered, to who, and under what circumstances.

I think that the person who has repeatedly raised this charge should say when it was uttered, to who, and under what circumstances.
She said it on Howard Stern in the 90s, someone posted the YouTube clip in the other thread about her death. She said she was raped at the age of 23 by someone close to her, and Stern kept trying to pry more out but she didn't get too into specifics. But it came from her own mouth.

She said it on Howard Stern in the 90s, someone posted the YouTube clip in the other thread about her death. She said she was raped at the age of 23 by someone close to her, and Stern kept trying to pry more out but she didn't get too into specifics. But it came from her own mouth.

So are you saying she was just being interviewed, just Howard and she conversing?

So are you saying she was just being interviewed, just Howard and she conversing?


xXeZzVdIw6U

xXeZzVdIw6U
I don't know why she went on that show. Same as Dana Plato. All he does is exploit people.

Zoneboy: I appreciate your posting the link, but I think it's important that the people making this accusation actually say what's going there. The original poster seems to have an absolute faith in its truthfulness, and others are repeating that without question.

whatever his actual feelings may be, Scott Baio definitely comes across as cold, uncaring and unsympathetic. Regardless of the cause or any contributing factors in her passing, Erin was a human being; someone that he had a close personal relationship with and his choice of words seemed callous and incongruent with that.

I don't really care about his politics, but he seems to use that as an excuse for a lot of things and he causes a lot of problems for himself every time he opens his mouth. He seems to prefer the confrontational stance rather than using any tact, reserve or reason. Maybe that's what happens when you grow up being treated like a celebrity constantly surrounded by sycophants only there to exploit or use you. As for the "fake news" - Chachi has been around the block long enough to know how the media can selectively use words out of context against you; however, in this case weren't his comments in an interview setting and a twitter response respectively - both venues he had a certain amount of control over how he came across?

Here's a link to Baio's actual radio comments. His interview starts around 2:30 and runs to about 10:00.

https://audioboom.com/posts/5849339-scott-baio-on-erin-moran-drugs-will-kill-you

In hindsight, my post earlier may be confusing.
I was more talking about a breakdown EM had not long after a reunion show (20th?).

As for Scott Baio, hard to believe he is 56. Not that it is acceptable to act a certain way at any age, but you certainly don't expect it at age 56.

Zoneboy: I appreciate your posting the link, but I think it's important that the people making this accusation actually say what's going there. The original poster seems to have an absolute faith in its truthfulness, and others are repeating that without question.

No confusion intended. When I wrote about the rape in this thread, I had already posted the link to the video in the other thread (http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=359198&page=2 ), The other thread was more widely read, so I assumed everyone was following that initial thread and knew what I was talking about here. As far as the credibility of Erin's claims (claims out of HER mouth, no one else's), I explained already in this thread my position:

And before someone jumps on me, no, I did not see her raped. But I saw real tears in her eyes and real pain on her face when she revealed that. That was no act. I believe her.

Regarding the venue she chose to make that revelation (Howard Stern Show), this is what I wrote:

Yes, she and others chose to go on his show. Erin even chose to make that horrible revelation about rape on his show. I can only assume mental illness played a role in her decision. None of us can understand the mental impact of growing up a celebrity, then having that yanked away from you. And the abuse she apparently experienced WHILE at the height of her fame. Rape by a family member, OMG! In her world she needed her family more than anything to navigate her fame, and at least this one member of her family failed her.

As for her choosing to do Stern's show, she may have been at a point where there was no one she could trust anyway, and also needing some kind of public exposure (no matter how negative) in hopes of jump-starting her career. And Stern exploited her weakness and desperation, just as he did with Dana Plato. Dana Plato also went on the Stern show and was abused horribly by people calling in, which some people believe may have been set up by Stern's staff. Even if they were not plants, Stern's people did nothing to filter out those callers and Dana ended up in tears and the very next day she was dead. (That tragic show is also on Youtube.) Perhaps Howard Stern has some remorse over these decisions, but if so I've never heard about it.

Zoneboy already reposted the link here, but I'll do it once more so all my comments and the video are together in this post. Her rape confession starts at 6:00:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXeZzVdIw6U

Since you won't say it: she agreed to go on The Howard Stern Show and be in a Queen for a Day skit in which she competed with two other child stars for which one had had the worst life as an adult. The only less reliable accusation would be if she were literally being tortured when she uttered it.

Since you won't say it: she agreed to go on The Howard Stern Show and be in a Queen for a Day skit in which she competed with two other child stars for which one had had the worst life as an adult. The only less reliable accusation would be if she were literally being tortured when she uttered it.

Good grief, how much more can I spell this out? YES, I SAID IT. Sheesh. Here's my comment for the THIRD time:

Yes, she and others chose to go on his show. Erin even chose to make that horrible revelation about rape on his show. I can only assume mental illness played a role in her decision. None of us can understand the mental impact of growing up a celebrity, then having that yanked away from you. And the abuse she apparently experienced WHILE at the height of her fame. Rape by a family member, OMG! In her world she needed her family more than anything to navigate her fame, and at least this one member of her family failed her.

As for her choosing to do Stern's show, she may have been at a point where there was no one she could trust anyway, and also needing some kind of public exposure (no matter how negative) in hopes of jump-starting her career. And Stern exploited her weakness and desperation, just as he did with Dana Plato. Dana Plato also went on the Stern show and was abused horribly by people calling in, which some people believe may have been set up by Stern's staff. Even if they were not plants, Stern's people did nothing to filter out those callers and Dana ended up in tears and the very next day she was dead. (That tragic show is also on Youtube.) Perhaps Howard Stern has some remorse over these decisions, but if so I've never heard about it.

And again, MY POSITION as to her credibility:

And before someone jumps on me, no, I did not see her raped. But I saw real tears in her eyes and real pain on her face when she revealed that. That was no act. I believe her.

I'm usually very skeptical of claims from people who have been known to have issues. In her case, I believe her. I explained why I believe her. I explained (for the third time now) why I believe her, even though she was made this revelation on Howard Stern's show (who else was calling her to talk)? If you don't believe her, fine, you don't have to believe her. I believe her. And I believe Lauren Chapin, too. Do you doubt her as well?

This is off the topic, but LRII could you briefly explain what happened to Lauren Chapin? Hadn't heard.

This is off the topic, but LRII could you briefly explain what happened to Lauren Chapin? Hadn't heard.

Oh gosh, I don't think I can briefly explain that, but I'll try. I'm going by memory here, so I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out. But she had all kinds of abuse as a child, emotional and sexual. And this was going on during the years of FKB. Some of the emotional trauma happened on the set with the show's director. Sexual abuse was going on at home. The day Father Knows Best ended, she found herself suddenly unwelcome at the studio, which is something a child can't quite understand: treated like a star one day, then a nobody the next. Then through the '60s and 70s she got heavily involved in drugs, and that led to prostitution, and I think even jail. She eventually turned to religion. I think she addresses most of this on the Stern show. You hear lots of horrible stories about what happens to child stars. Lauren Chapin's story is one of the absolute worst. It's amazing she didn't die.

Good grief, how much more can I spell this out? YES, I SAID IT.

You actually still haven't said that their purpose in being on the show was to compete about who has the most pathetic post-acting life. But I did say it, so we're past that. It just takes us deeper below the usual nonexistent line of credibility you'd attach to the Stern show.


In her case, I believe her. I explained why I believe her. I explained (for the third time now) why I believe her, even though she was made this revelation on Howard Stern's show (who else was calling her to talk)? If you don't believe her, fine, you don't have to believe her. I believe her. And I believe Lauren Chapin, too. Do you doubt her as well?

I didn't pay any attention to the other two people. I have no doubt that Howard Stern wouldn't have her on the show unless she agreed to say something horrendous. I have no expectation that Stern would have any preference whether what she said was true or not.

Oh gosh, I don't think I can briefly explain that, but I'll try. I'm going by memory here, so I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out. But she had all kinds of abuse as a child, emotional and sexual. And this was going on during the years of FKB. Some of the emotional trauma happened on the set with the show's director. Sexual abuse was going on at home. The day Father Knows Best ended, she found herself suddenly unwelcome at the studio, which is something a child can't quite understand: treated like a star one day, then a nobody the next. Then through the '60s and 70s she got heavily involved in drugs, and that led to prostitution, and I think even jail. She eventually turned to religion. I think she addresses most of this on the Stern show. You hear lots of horrible stories about what happens to child stars. Lauren Chapin's story is one of the absolute worst. It's amazing she didn't die.

Yes, it is. Such a cute kid on FKB. Heartbreaking. She and Elinor Donahue did features on the season 1 and 2 DVD sets, and she seems to have gotten past it all. Testament to her fortitude. Yes, it is amazing she is still with us. On the DVD I think she mentions she had a "crush" on director Peter Tewksbury. I know Billy Gray had lots of problems, post FKB. I think I saw him on TV, with a panel talking about kid actor problems...Patty Duke (RIP) was on, also.

While I agree Scott Baio may have misspoke, he was attacked unmercifully for publicly stating what we all initially assumed.

Actually, I didn't believe it when I read that EM died of a drug overdose.
The reason is that you don't hear too much about women 50 plus dying that way. I thought it must be something else.

As for Scott, even if he initially thought EM died from drugs, he should have kept his mouth shut. He is 56, not 12.

Even though I just learned about it, I also believe EM's rape story. It's because I remember a public breakdown EM had not long after a reunion show back in the 90's. I must be the only one on here who remembers this.

I think Scott meant well.

While I agree Scott Baio may have misspoke, he was attacked unmercifully for publicly stating what we all initially assumed.

I didn't criticize him for assuming drugs; I criticized him because of his tone. Your immediate response to a death isn't usually (and shouldn't be) an occasion to point fingers and make an anti-drug speech; it should simply be about love and loss and compassion. He chose to get his little social commentary in there, and of course, forget that drug abuse (even though Erin didn't die from it) is a disease not a moral failing.

"For me, you do drugs or drink, you’re gonna die, and I’m sorry if that’s cold, but God gave you a brain, gave you the will to live and thrive and you gotta take care of yourself. I'm sorry. You just have to"

And then his clumsy attempts to clarify made it worse.

"Please stop assuming the worse (sic) in me," he continued. "I'm a compassionate person. I'm very heartbroken over her passing, especially since it was cancer."

So, what, if she had died of drugs he wouldn't have felt quite so bad? I"ve had a close family member die of dependency, and I can assure you that NOBODY at the funeral was thinking, "well, we would have been MORE heartbroken if it had been something else!"

THAT is why I criticized him; the implications nested inside his comments, his lack of compassion and understanding for the deceased, and his attempt to get on a soapbox at a terribly inappropriate time. Are drugs bad for you? OF COURSE they are. Personally, I've never done them; I have never even drank a can of beer. But does dying of them make you somehow less deserving of sympathy? No, it doesn't.

You actually still haven't said that their purpose in being on the show was to compete about who has the most pathetic post-acting life. But I did say it, so we're past that. It just takes us deeper below the usual nonexistent line of credibility you'd attach to the Stern show.

Really? That's all you've got? Okay, their purpose in being on the show was to compete about who has the most pathetic post-acting life. Feel better? And for the FOURTH time now, my explanation of that:

As for her choosing to do Stern's show, she may have been at a point where there was no one she could trust anyway, and also needing some kind of public exposure (no matter how negative) in hopes of jump-starting her career.

Yes, she and others chose to go on his show. Erin even chose to make that horrible revelation about rape on his show. I can only assume mental illness played a role in her decision.

And real tears were coming out of her eyes when she brought up the rape issue. That's the part YOU keep leaving out. You also miss the point that she said she was 23 when this happened. Marion Ross said last week that her drug use began the last season of Happy Days. Guess how old she was then? 23.

And I believe Lauren Chapin, too. Do you doubt her as well?

I didn't pay any attention to the other two people. I have no doubt that Howard Stern wouldn't have her on the show unless she agreed to say something horrendous. I have no expectation that Stern would have any preference whether what she said was true or not.

Cop out. I'll give you a hint: Lauren Chapin has been on many shows bravely recounting the trauma she experienced. So going on Howard Stern and telling the same story in a Queen for the Day scenario makes Lauren Chapin's story suddenly untrue?

I'm not sure what Scott Baio's response really was, even though he apparently misspoke. I'm sure that she said things before the facts were all in, everyone seems to have made all the same assessments as to her passing. It's just that when you have a person of such noteriety saying such things, it's "there for posterity" and you can do little to change it. The "controversy" remains in spite of one's attempts to clarify it.

Okay, looking back, I'm noticing some things here that he most likely shouldn't have said....

Sorry, I was traveling last weekend and missed this:

Really? That's all you've got? Okay, their purpose in being on the show was to compete about who has the most pathetic post-acting life. Feel better?

Yes, that's all I've got: she said what she said in the least credible interview forum on television, in a skit where they were lowering their usual non-existent standards. That's all.

And real tears were coming out of her eyes when she brought up the rape issue. That's the part YOU keep leaving out. You also miss the point that she said she was 23 when this happened. Marion Ross said last week that her drug use began the last season of Happy Days. Guess how old she was then? 23.

It's also possible that she started crying because she realized that at that moment she had crossed the line from an actress into a sideshow freak. It would be a credit to her at that point to feel ashamed, and natural to cry.

She was also about 23 when she got a show, lost a show, and probably had a pretty good bump in income. There might also be legal reasons to say something like that happened as an adult rather than as a minor.

Cop out. I'll give you a hint: Lauren Chapin has been on many shows bravely recounting the trauma she experienced. So going on Howard Stern and telling the same story in a Queen for the Day scenario makes Lauren Chapin's story suddenly untrue?

I have absolutely no interest in these other people. What they said in that skit carries no weight of evidence unless it's corroborated by other sources.

Bottom line: as I said in my first post, people have to be given the opportunity to grieve in their own ways, and they especially have to be given that opportunity by people who don't know either of the people involved.

Radio Interviewer SID ROSENBERG defended his interview with SCOTT BAIO :

"IN DEFENSE OF SCOTT, I DID ASK HIM WHY HE THOUGHT CHILDHOOD ACTORS OF THE 1970S STRUGGLED SO MUCH WITH DRUGS AND ALCOHOL.
AND HE INCLUDED ERIN MORAN IN THE CONVERSATION.

TRUTH IS THE WHOLE MEDIA HAD HER DYING FROM AN O.D. AND THAT IS WHAT WE ALL THOUGHT WAS THE CAUSE WHEN SCOTT CAME ON.

TOO EASY TO JUMP ON HIM AFTER WE FOUND OUT WHY SHE HAD PASSED. I KNOW HE CARED FOR HER AND WAS BOTH FRUSTRATED AND UPSET."

The most important quoted statement from SCOTT BAIO's radio interview concerning the tragic death of ERIN MORAN is the following :

"I AM SADDENED BY WHAT HAPPENED AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS DRUGS THAT KILLED HER."

SCOTT BAIO NEVER SAID THAT ERIN MORAN DIED FROM DRUGS.

SID ROSENBERG DID NOT ASK SCOTT WHAT WAS THE CAUSE OF ERIN MORAN'S DEATH.

He sounds like he's been hanging around Trump too much.

Well, any at all is too much, but you catch my drift.

I totally agree

Very sad that this message board thread has been negatively tainted by angry Trump haters.