Do you remember back in the day when Robert Downey Jr actually went to jail? Do you remember what happened to him when he got out? Yep, he went clean and sober and had his career take off again. If some judge had just let Robert slide the guy would probably be dead right now and we would be talking about missed opportunities. It seems now though if you have any kind of name you never go to jail. Paris went for a few weeks a few years ago, but a few weeks is nothing. I am talking about getting serious time. Robert is the last one in California I can think of who really got serious time. Even further back in the day Sean Penn got like a month or maybe more when he assaulted a photographer.
In New York they put celebrities in jail. Lil'Wayne, Ja Rule, and others and it appears to work. I am not a throw everyone in jail kind of guy, but I am a treat everyone the same kind of guy. Redmond O'Neal was sentenced to probation yesterday after pleading guilty to drug and gun charges. Those same charges would have got him a year in New York, especially with his past record. Instead, he is free to keep on keeping on. I think it is just a matter of time before he dies either by overdose or suicide. He has no parental supervision, his friends are the ones who enable him and siblings who could help, are more interested in their own careers. Redmond is like at drug arrest 10 or something. I have a hard time believing that one of us would be given the same kind of breaks.
I feel sad for him. As someone who still has their mother I cannot imagine how I would be without her. Still it doesn't completely excuse his behavior, but drug addiction is a tricky (and sad) thing.
ReplyDeleteI cannot believe he is only 26 he looks so much older.
ANY attorney practicing in Los Angeles County knows why drug offenders are getting probation instead of doing time. Even the gun pop is not enough to lock him up, provided he didn't actually shoot someone. The jails are packed beyond Federally-mandated limits with serious violent offenders.
ReplyDeleteThat is very true Enty. Imagine what good ol' fashioned jail time could've done to Lindsay Lohan. She might have dropped her loser parents for one!
ReplyDeleteB.Profane is right, my state doesn't have the room or $$$ to take care of Redmond. I have a friend who works parole and it's crazy what California pays to rehabilitate drug addicts.
ReplyDeleteI thought he was sentenced to mandatory rehab - again.
ReplyDeleteI was really rooting for him this time. He did spend a lot of time at his previous rehab location. He needs to go to a halfway house after leaving rehab - or at least find some decent relatives.
I will be very callous here, but whoda ever thunk FF's and RO's child would be so homely? Maybe that was why he turned to drugs--maybe shallow LA people made fun of him growing up, looking so homely with two of the hottest-looking parents on the planet.
ReplyDeleteThis kid has been trouble from day one, I wonder if it's a physical issue. I know he was a low birth weight baby and that Farrah barely gained weight, and then of course he could be predisposed to addictions.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's having Ryan for father....
Too much time and too much money, dangerous combo.
selenakyle,
ReplyDeletethere's no guarantee because the parents are good looking that the kids will be...Elizabeth Taylors kids are very ordinary...me I'm waiting to see how the Jolie-pitts turn out...I have this odd feeling Zahara is going to be the beauty in that family.
I feel so bad for Redmond. Mom is gone, Dad is a Grade A Abusive/Addict Scumbag. Siblings are all F'd up. What chance did he have? Not one. : (
ReplyDeleteI have a pic that says, "your honor, my client would like to plead famous"
ReplyDeleteMisch, I always thought Elizabeth's kids had her beautiful eyes. Maria was adopted, so of course, she didn't.
ReplyDeletecalifblondy...
ReplyDeleteNot sure on the eyes but Liza looks like Mike Todd, and the boys no great shakes...
But it sure must be a burden knowing people look at you and think how did that happen..
I always thought not only does he not look like his parents but he always looked like he was not quite right. Perhaps fetal alcohol or just mildly slow or something.
ReplyDeleteEnty - as a lawyer, you would think you know that just a couple of months ago the United States Supreme Court made the state of California release 50% of the prisoners it already had due to overcrowding. If the US Supreme Court won't let them keep the people in jail they already have, I can't see them adding to the population....
ReplyDeleteBut did RDJ not go to jail in California?? Or was it some other state? If it WAS California, those jails filled up quick after he was released.
ReplyDelete@Kara -- This is another one of those "You're not really a lawyer, are you?" clues. Or that someone writing for the blog today doesn't practice law in Cali. Not that I care.
ReplyDelete@RQ -- RDJ did his stretch a while ago. Mandatory sentencing has swollen prison pops while cheapskating in Sacto has cut aid to counties to the bone. I know a couple of public interest attys who have lobbied and worked plaintiff-side on exactly this issue. The sheriff has no say in the matter.
Maybe if we didnt have constant budget cuts here in Cali and the rich people were taxed more, we could afford to help rehab people on their last legs like poor Redmond here.
ReplyDelete@selena -
ReplyDeleteI so agree. My first thought every time I see a pic of this kid is "God, he's fug." Evil of me, but jeez. He looks like Deliverance.
I don't feel sorry for Redman. He is an adult and he knows what he does is wrong but keeps doing it. No excuse.
ReplyDeleteselenakyle, I have always thought the same thing! (And I've always been kind of ashamed of thinking it, but still.) Throw in losing his mother and no supervision from his loser father -- and addiction issues from said father -- and it all ties together. Sad all the way around.
ReplyDeleteI am going to defend his siblings. Enty, I have a brother who is a functioning alcoholic. My husband and I tried to help him, had him in our house. He started off great then went downhill. I would never have him in the house again. You don't know what they have tried to do. He may have knocked back all offers of help. The addict chooses the enabling friends because the family won't put up with BS and try to get them clean and sober. Ultimately it is Redmond's responsibility to get help. Until he wants to get healthy, no-one can help him.
ReplyDeleteI feel bad for Redmond, true it is his fault but he has no one in his corner.
ReplyDeleteBye the Bye - I think Liza Todd is beautiful, she just hasn't cashed in on it. If she had make up and hair people and all those other posse people she'd be right up there with her mom.
I have to agree with a few of the above comments about this not sounding like it was written by a lawyer, let alone an entertainment lawyer in LA.
ReplyDeletewhite ppl dont go to jail... ask linds, paris, estella
ReplyDeleteblack ppl do, ask Wesley, OJ and Foxy
No, it's not that New York puts celebrities in jail. You do realize everyone you named is Black right? Yeah, the American justice system really has never thought twice about locking up people of color for shit white celebs might view the inside of a cell for 45 minutes if that. Just saying.
ReplyDeleteBubbles, I have to ask...is your name a tribute to my fav character on The Wire? (Also, great point)
ReplyDeleteFor the record, Nope, OMAR is the best character on the Wire ;)
ReplyDelete