There’s little debate that Jade Goody had a hugely positive impact on cervical cancer screening rates in the UK (up in the region of 25 per cent), but on whether hers was a life and a success to aspire to and to celebrate, there’s strong disagreement. Her untimely death has brought that debate to the front of many of your minds.
Is making a living from fame something that should be celebrated? Many children see being famous as being preferable to being a doctor or teacher? Does that worry you? Or should the fact that Jade made a huge amount of money off the back of a disrupted childhood and poor education be an inspiration?
Is fame offering a new route out of poverty, or just a dream which only the smallest of minorities will fulfil?
And should we be putting as much emphasis as possible on people succeeding because of a genuine talent they have, rather than the fame they’ve achieved with the help of the media?
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BBC World Have Your Say 
Yes, i think that Jade Goody’s fame and success is something that we should not celebrated in the orthodox since….But, in quiet reflection….
~Dennis Junior~
Is fame offering a new route out of poverty, or just a dream which only the smallest of minorities will fulfill?
Unfortunate, yes. The simple reality is that we live in a culture that idealized fame, it’s the ultimate something for “nothing” scheme. Celebrity status seen as living large with parties and money in exchange for, in most cases, little to no talent. The sad aspect to this truth is that it doesn’t matter how the celebrity status was reached; Remember, there is no such thing as bad media or PR.
Is making a living from fame something that should be celebrated?
While I have no respect for people willingness to make fools of themselves or some people’s propensity for bad TV shows, I do respect people who do something positive with their for 15 minutes of fame. Jade redeemed her absurd youthful behavior, in my eyes, and died a very respectable person. She brought attention to a cancer that is affects young women, that feel invincible in their youth and do not get the necessary testing for prevent it, while securing her children future.
Jade who….? I only found out about her after her passing away, i just think this sad occurence should be used to highlight the need to fight global incurable diseases such as cancer and hiv.
Ms. Goody did not make herself the object of fame, WE did… or those who bought the tabloids and watched the shows and interviews. The responsibility for fame is vested in the audience, not the “star”, and as such, presents society the choice of what and who it wants to read about or see on TV or watch in a sports match or listen to on a CD. One could take the point of view that society used Ms. Goody as a vicarious experience, or take the view that Ms. Goody used the silliness of society to make money… in either case it is weakness or need that is highlighted, not lofty and aspiring values.
Are Ms. Goody’s fame and success worth celebrating? Of course, since she was celebrated. Is her life an experience we want to celebrate? That depends on the parents who model buying the tabloids and watching the shows, AND do not discuss the deeper issues of shallow fame and poor life choices with their children. Ms. Goody is NOT the issue… WE ARE.
Re: Jade Goody
>>Is fame offering a new route out of poverty, or just a dream which only the smallest of minorities will fulfil?
Yes, It is often the vehicle out of poverty for most people…Being offered to persons who are often destined for a life of poverty!!!!
~Dennis Junior~
I worry that children and young people believe that being famous is the best way to achieve goals in life. The media -the part focusing in enterteinment- has become so shallow and superflous, and this has an impact in the way the young generations try to achive things… You only have to appear naked in a reality show or tape a sex video and broadcast it in the web, and instant fame and money come to your doorstep. Some of them don´t believe anymore in studying and working to achieve goals and dreams.
It is very sad that this young woman have died of cancer. Just like any other of the aproximatelly 288,000 women in the world that die of this disease.
It was Andy Warhol who famously said that everyone should have 15 minutes of fame. Jane Goody managed to extend her Warholian moment from 15 minutes to several years.
I do not think “celebrate” is the correct word; rather, I suggest that we might learn much if we analyze why she became and remained famous—famous for being famous.
In our inter-connected world of mass communications, phenomena such as Jane Goody will surely become more common. We need to explore if we really want to pay so much attention to someone who had so little talent, and if we do, why?
There is good and bad aspect to most everything in life, same thought applies to Jade’s death. Her death from cervical cancer bought about an awarness that would encourage many women of her age to get the smear test done, that’s the good part.
In this superfast connected world of ours we are desperately running out of options of keeping ourselves entertained, especially those of us who love to stare into a monitor be it computer, TV or mobile phone. So we have found entertainment in someone dying a horrible death from cancer.
Jade did it because of money she wanted for her kids, Media outlets loved it because they would not have to work hard to figure out what to write about next. We the people took interest as we got something to talk about in pubs, office and at home.
I do not know her one bit. You see I live “across the pond”, and if I ever had access to UK Big Brother I doubt I’d watch it. It is too bad that someone so young has died and my condolences are with her family; but that being said, hundreds of thousands of people die each day on this Earth! She had no talent “worth celebrating” per say. That is unless being comfortable appearing on television is now counted as a “talent”!
I admit it, I am a snob so I really have to wonder are we as a society so desperate to escape the dreary reality of our lives and place such a focus on people like the Goody’s of the world or have we simply given up on ever finding any joy within ourselves and what we do in our lives that we need to indulge in such a mass transference onto other people. Had Goody not come to such an end she would probably still be disliked as she had been (though there is always a grotesque pleasure in secretly adulating these types).
Mostly those who are celebrated these days never live up to any expectations of them as they are only human and those many idolise really do little that is of any consequence. Just one example of someone who we should be celebrating, people like Professor Graeme Clark who worked towards developing the bionic ear. A man who sought to improve the quality of life for many people and enable the deaf to hear again. That is a hero, that is a remarkable person.
I visited England at the beginning of March and was dismayed, no disgusted, by the amount of coverage of the Jade Goody case. Elevating her – and allowing her boyfriend time off from jail so they could get married (privileges not generally accorded those who are incarcerated for assault) – is a pathetic attempt to sell more newspapers by trading on someone else’s misery. Unfortunately British media have followed the US in glorifying what can only be described as ‘white trash’ (thanks Mr Murdoch). Nobody should ever aspire to be like Jade Goody or her (now) husband. They are a national embarrassment and have been milking the British public for anything they can gain in the name of personal suffering as well as contributing to the general dumbing-down of British society. Who cares about such offensive people anyway – her husband beats people up for fun, for goodness’ sake, and she’s a money-grabbing racist? She can hardly be considered as a contributor to culture in any way. I am ashamed to British sometimes – and this is one of those times.
Are you really going to discuss this “on air”? Another dead talentless bimbo/ ditz famous only for being famous? It is shows such as this that emphasize the lowest common denominator in our culture.
A couple of years ago I had a very good friend die of brain cancer. He was brilliant engineer who was a responsible and compassionate father and husband. He lit any room up that he walked into and had a way of explaining things in a way the rest of us cold understand. He was an intricate part in a process that makes Styrofoam cups cheaper, stronger, and more environmentally friendly. An attribute that all of us enjoy in some sense or another everyday. Yet nobody is holding a national radio show in his honor. Long remember Steve Hopper.
If a kid in the projects grow up only seeing success in the local drug dealers and pimps in his neighborhood, what do you think he will strive to be. If children across western nations all see popular approval of only athletes, actors, and heinous killers, what do you think they will want to become?
It’s kind of like why is Paris Hilton famous? Is it because she’s an heiress or from her sex video? At least Jade Goody raised awareness of cervical cancer. In a society where every young person dreams of being famous and getting constant attention, you’re going to have people like Paris Hilton and Jade Goody being “famous”. In the past, people were famous for inventing a cure for Rabies (Pasteur), now people are famous for being on reality TV shows or for having your ex boyfriend sell your sex video. Boy have times changed, and not for the better.
Children aspire to be a doctor, teacher, something that helps others. Aspiring to be a reality TV star is NOT an avenue out of poverty. While I am truly saddened by her passing, I wonder if she would have been so public with her final days and her struggling if she WASN’T seen on TV?
Plenty of good people die everyday from cancer. The difference is Jade was on TV so of course she had a soap box. I’m glad she brought attention to cervical cancer but I see no reason to celebrate her life above someone else’s.
Is making a living from fame something that should be celebrated?
It shouldn’t be celebrated, but I’d rather children see that as an option than selling drugs or engaging in other criminal behavior.
This is one of those cases where the silver lining doesn’t make the cloud less cloudy. We’ve got to acknowledge the cloud for what it is — a miasma of narcissism. Sometimes good things can rise in spite of it all.
lol, leave it to Ross to only read the portion that would be considered the “teaser line” and not the meat of my point that there are millions of other people out there changing our world for the better and die with out a single mention. Or the point that on one hand we celebrate people like Anna Nicole, Paris Hilton, leave our children at home to raise themselves while we work, and wonder why they end up shooting up their school or work place later in life.
It is a matter of what subject line we choose to stress.
Why is this woman being celebrated at all? I’d never heard of her until yesterday, and from what I can gauge from this conversation, it seems her only claim to fame was being a part of a voyeuristic, sensational, so called REALITY show. What did this young woman really do? Just by having cancer and making it public is enough to raise awareness. Had she not been on Big Brother she wouldn’t have had the mouthpiece that her “fame” allowed her. She had a difficult childhood and overcame it. So have thousands and thousands of others who did not get a leg-up by having a lucky break on T.V. I say, SO WHAT.
Celebrity on the cheap…
Ross,
You keep saying that this is the most read story. But at the same time at 8am local time this AM, worldhaveyoursay.com had it as its main talking point. Is it the most read story because the media outlets have made it that way by leading it or is really because people are interested. Do people feel the need to be informed about public figures like Jade because they see the media making them feel they should? IS this a self fulfilling prophecy?
If you were to compare Goody with Hilton, at least Goody had to work for where she got. She had to audition, and be on the show, and do something, rather than Hilton, who was handed her position by who she was born to.
Muhammed on e-mail
We admit or not she succeeded in becoming famous. Now the question of celebration. Celebration takes place for noble deeds. Has she any? I guess, she surely contributed noticeably for inventing remedy for cancer. What…? She didn’t! Then, she certainly did some notable contributions for mankind! What…? She hadn’t any such contribution?
I wonder! Fame for success in personal life & beneficiary is specific individual; but celebration should be nationwide or worldwide, why?
What else you are delivering sir/madam…? Oh yes I’ve got it! She made something new by dying in public! So, she should be celebrated.
Good an idea! We should then have to celebrate thousands of innocent people who often most reluctantly have to die publicly every year, better to say every now & then, due to bushfire, flood, famine, terrorist attack; they at least have succeeded in becoming famous general victims, unwillingly though! Then it will be a celebration which along with its worth never ends!
Steve Sherwood on e-mail
Both Jade & Paris Hilton represent the inequities of their countries.
Hilton, famous because she’s rich & does nothing worthy, Jade, rich because she’s famous.
The most important legacy of this woman’s death should be to urge all women to get a yearly gynecological exam with a PAP Test. Caught in a precancerous stage, cervical cancer is totally preventable! Cervical cancer arises in stages with several stages of cellular changes occurring in cervical cells before they become malignant. These changes can be detected with a Pap Test. Further, most cervical cancers are caused by certain strains of the HPV virus for which they now have a protective vaccine. No one should have to die of cervical cancer!
I have not heard any discussion about how frequently this woman had gynecological exams before she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. This is the most important fact that should be broadcast about Ms. Goody’s life.
Jade Goody’s fame ????????????????????????????????
Sorry, who do you talking to?
To ‘down under’ South America or to Europe ?
I’m just simply losing it – time like this ?
I do not expect you to print this.
I hope you will look at your ‘Nelson – Rating’.
bjay
Beth listening on OPB in Portland :
I think that people are not giving today’s young people enough credit. Yes, there will be young people who grow up wanting to be like Jade Goody or Paris Hilton, but there are also teens that see the reality stars for what they are. They watch for the entertainment aspect and then go about their lives aspiring to be doctors or teachers. Most of the teenagers I come in contact with watch those reality shows for entertainment purposes, not as a way to get ideas for their future!
Thank You,
Beth
Portland, OR
I think Jade Goody represents that culture relevant personality who soars to the top.
They appear throughout hisory.
However, their “reign” seems short lived for many reasons ; the culture changes, they burn out, they die etc. JamesDean ,Anna Nicole Smith.
They become prominent because their personalities match the existing cultural
explorations.
Their effect on the massses is minimal.
We only delight in these ‘celebrities’ and their rise to fame because we anticipate their fall. Nobody remembers CelebReals beyond their appearance on their respective shows unless they embarrass themselves in public or befall some tragedy. One in a million actually lives on due to having any real talent. Just as the BBC covers this story because of listener/viewer/reader demand, so too the media shoves their images down our throats to satiate the masses. Tabloid readers are the culprit here: gossip hungry and fame hungry, it is this slice of society that breeds children who want to be famous. I am pleased to find so many people that want to celebrate her ‘success’. It will only make them easier to control.
Jade’s death is the story. She was 27. Who knows where she would have gone on to in life.
The new vaccine Gardisal could possibly have prevented this cancer. Her death is a spotlight on the need for young women to get vaccinated.
How she handled her illness in the limelight and doing so to maximize the financial security of her two sons—who can quibble with that?…The woman grousing that Jade was not a good role model for her 14 year old! What rot! Should Jade have cared one whit for that woman’s disapproval? She had every right to earn the best possible living she could muster. She had a shot. That was luck. But she had something that continued to sell. She didn’t create a false front to do so. She had a very thick skin. Possibly this is what allows many such women survive their communities. You can’t be sensitive in that community.
Jade was an entertainer. She was paid for being entertaining. She died in the limelight. This maximized her income so she could better provide for her children. Who can quibble with that?
Ulysses S. Grant penned his autobiography while dying from cancer in order to give his family something to live on after his death. The composer Bela Bartok composed his Third Piano Concerto for his pianist wife to give her some way of earning a living after his death. Who can blame Jade for doing what any normal person would do? She turned her bald head and pained body to the world. That was her greatest gift. Cervical cancer is now on the radar screen of millions of young women. There is a connection between sexual activity and cervical cancer. Possibly Jade’s cancer was the result of her sexual practices, practices no different from million of women of all classes. The need for the Gardisal vaccination is highlighted by her death. That she did it so publically was her greatest contribution.
RIP Jade.
The Mother of another Jade.
I became interested in Ms Goody when she had the row on Big Brother and teh racism charges. Our culture promotes fame as a virtue. With the rise of reality tv show there is very little original thought or shows . The reality stardom feeds on this and the press reports it and the people read the web sites and buy the papers and watch the shows.
One thing about Jade Goody is she always seemed to be honest and from the heart. There was a movie called the Truman show about a man living his life and it
was all a reality show. Jade lived a reality show for 7 years. She did some good things and some bad. But she was a fighter and tried to be a good mother . Her choices in life were her own and shouldn’t really be a role model for any one but the
culture we live in now sets her ups as one.
I think she did the best she could and the world is a dimmer place without her.
Geoff Burgess
USA
I don’t really know anything about Jade, having never seen the show or heard of her until now. Even if the show was aired in the US, I probably wouldn’t have seen it, not liking reality shows very much (I get enough reality from reality, thanks.)
I may be wrong, but from what is being said, I get the impression that she said some fairly unpleasant and shameful things for ratings and to become famous. I don’t think there is much to celebrate in that; however, when faced with the offer of that much money, I can’t say that I wouldn’t have done the same, but I wouldn’t be very proud of it.
Lauren(Catherine Tate),The Slobs(Harry Enfield),Vicky Pollard(Little Britain),reality TV in general and in particular Jade Goody are examples of the entertaining side of social deprivation in the UK.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/nov/30/housing.uknews
A permanent underclass has developed in the UK and this is because social equality and child poverty have not been tackled.
In 1995 I remember a statistic that 95% of people born working class would die working class,the situation has become worse in the intervening years.
The labour government assumed that economic growth by itself would eleviate and iradicate child poverty,however social engineering and conditioning are needed to change peoples thinking and behaviour
celebrity fame is increasing in many cultures in the world. This has come with both positive and negative aspects. The african culture have largely been hit by the negative aspects. The case here in Kenya is such that those with talents in etertainment are so innoculated with western culture such that they have totaly lost touch with their audience.
In Kenya, celebrity fame has not really chnaged the focus of the young and many youths since we have not yet seen the tangible fruits of being a celebrity here in kenya unless you come from the rich minority families.
I also don’t think that this topic is worthy discussing in a radio progromme consumed globally and especially for us in the developing world.
LOL, the UK.
I can’t believe some twit on air is excusing her atrocious behavior because “she had a difficult life”. Not feeling sorry for a racist attention whore means we lack empathy?
“She should be a role model?” For whom? The National Front? Give me a break.
The best response to her death is: “And nothing of value was lost.”
I think that the issue is choosing between celebrating life, and not celebrating it. Goody is one of the few people in this world who have succeeded to bring herself into the spotlight. There are several others who do great things, but go unnoticed, hence kudos to those who manage to get this level of coverage.For those criticizing, Goody, I would like to say that we all make mistakes, and in typical African fashion we should get over the controversies, and celebrate miss Goody’s achievements in life, while lamenting for those things she should have, but couldn’t achieve due to her untimely death.
Ternenge on e-mail
I so much admire Jade’s courage and determination because agianst all odds she made the best out of her few days on earth.I sincerely hope we all that have the previlage to live will make the best out of our lives and always be known for doing things for the right reasons.
Bliggs in Atlanta on e-mail
The fact that we celebrate individuals who happen to make it onto reality gameshows is an utter disgrace to the human culture. I understand that she publicly fought through cancer, but millions of other people do that everyday. With no extraordinary talent contributed to mankind, I can’t see the allure the general public now has with that woman.
– Bliggs
Atlanta
Why bother with this question? The western world has adopted a policy to help develop our society by encouraging people try try many things in all aspects of our lives, it is called Capitalism. The beauty of it, is that it allows individuals with insight and ability to succeed in areas that others have overlooked. The validation of their success is judged by others giving them money and or attention. Ideally this is used to further develop their project.
Efforts to suppress success in this system is simply propaganda and often has the opposite effect. Always, there will be people that dislike what is produced for an infinite variety of reasons. If you don’t like what is there, ignore it. If it lacks popular support, it will die. If it has value to you, promote it by money or by talking about. Talk is after all advertising and advertising does work.
Many people should stop and think about how Jane Goody was treated when she was alive. She was on Big Brother and got treated like rubbish. She got terminal cancer and was treated like rubbish. Then a “tribute” is published before she passes away (which is the worst thing of all)?
How would you feel if this happened to you?
Tom
Dave on e-mail
I think that the reason why many people disliked Jade is snobbery – they hated her because of her commonness. That was also the reason why so many people love her – an open hearted attitude, with very little affectation.
Jade Goody can be celebrated, but the majority of those i know perceived as celebrities should not. The majority of youth in this age have made being a celebrity a goal in life rather than focusing on making positive contribution to the society. Personally i must say, i am very choosy when appreciating celebrities.
Nairobi, Kenya
Linda on e-mail in France
I had to turn the radio of after listening to the verbose man at about 2043 going on and on, the one that Ros asked if he was being snobbish, I think it was jealousy this man suffered from. I will listen tomorrow.
Linda France
I think all this fuss is about awareness on cervical cancer and selling more Gardasil… She has done nothing worth mentioning on BBC World Service.
Hat’s off to the Rabbi. He hit the nail right in the head
I think it’s sad that we hold up these reality stars as heroes and celebrate them, but we so often overlook real heroes like scientists who are working to make our world a better place. Living in the US (particularly during the Bush years) science was frequently portrayed as evil and ungodly and vilified by many in this society, and yet we are told that we should glorify these people who put themselves on TV and act annoying or stupid to generate higher ratings. Why? What have they done, besides try to earn money for doing nothing noteworthy. The idea is that we should delight in them because they are like us. I have never understood or agreed with this sentiment, perhaps because I am a snob or perhaps because I would rather celebrate those who work hard to bring us real accomplishments.
I am glad that Jade’s death has done so much for cervical cancer awareness, but this martyrdom is ridiculous.
I may be dating myself but I have never heard of Jade Goody!
I am rather worried about the justification given on air by the BBC World Service for focusing on the Jade Goody story. The thrust of the argument, put several times by the presenter, was the number of “hits” the issue was getting around the world’s websites. This is a poor way of making editorial decisions. The websites with the most hits on the ‘net tend to be pornographic; the newspapers with the most sales tend to be tabloid. And – by the way – the number of internet “comments” left on a website are no guide either. These are usually in three figures, or lower, and are therefore statistically insignificant when compared with your massive (and today poorly served) audience. Come on guys. Get a grip. Before it’s too late.
I don’t waste time watching a show that humors shallow people screaming for their 15 minutes of fame for the amusement of shallow viewers who are bored (but not bored enough to spend their time constructively).
The world is on the brink of anarchy. Who gives a damn about a “celebrity” whose only claim to fame was allowing everybody to snoop in on her daily life?
It is sad she is dead at age 27. But this celebrity / pop corn culture is rubbish. This person was an acute embarrasment to the UK. She was the poster child for all that is wrong young people in the UK today. she was an uneducated, foul mouthed person.The only good thing to come out of this whole sordid affair and her short silly life is the awarness of this kind of cancer. lets bury her and end this fascination with this person once and for all. My concern is for the poor children..what kind of llife are they going to have with “jail bait” dad..they need to be adopted into a “normal” loving family a long way away from this idiotic celebrity culture. it pains me to see England go down the same road the USA has gone down…the dumbibg down of our society / culture and education system.
Now I am really going to become unpopular, but I put Jade g. at about the same level as all of the men who get killed in these wars that I have to pay for but as a pacifist do not believe in.
With Jade, I could just not watch the program and listening to her rant at the Indian woman embarassed me.
It is harder to pretend to respect people who have died in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that I do not believe should have been fought.
I can see that the Danish Prime Minister, Anders Fogh Rasmussen always says he is sorry, but he does not change his programme to honor the soldiers who have died inthese wars. And if he is chosen to be the Secretary General of NATO, I guess that I will be able to say that he is a bigger hypocrite than I am.
Sorry for lives wasted, always. And sorry that working class people with little education have to use reality tv or the military in order to provide for thier offspring.
The people who were emotionally closest to Jade should celebrate her life. A national celebration or TV celebration would be pointless because her celebrity was only out of keeping herself in the “spotlight” where she could get paid well, travel, and be treated well for doing very little. It’s probably fortunate for her that she died when she did with her public loving her instead of fading into obscurity.