During their Golden Globes broadcast, E! Entertainment ran a graphic over their live stream of guests entering the Beverly Hills Hilton. It accurately noted that “MICHAEL J. FOX WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PARKINSON’S DISEASE IN 1991” and inaccurately labeled this in big red and white letters: “FUN FACT”.
I suppose some mindless minion inserted the statement into a template without stopping to think about the meaning of “fun.” I doubt E! even has a template for “GRIM FACT”.
They’ve apologized, telling the Hollywood Reporter, “We regret the insensitive classification of Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s diagnosis during our Eonline [sic] live stream. We understand the serious nature of the disease and sincerely apologize.”
That’s okay. They take responsibility, and are precise about what was wrong: “insensitive classification.”
Naturally, high-spirited viewers came up with their own Fun Facts:
“37 Cats Died During the Making of Inside Llewyn Davis”
“ROBERT DOWNEY JR. STARTED USING DRUGS AT AGE SIX.”
“Life is a meaningless facade. You will die cold and hungry and alone.”
Those are good, and make us hungrier for more FUN FACTS:
Hilarious but True: Cameron Diaz has leprosy!
Fun Fact: George Clooney refuses to shoot films in Australia, because he’s wanted for murder in New South Wales!
Fun Fact: Michael J. Fox borrowed this bow tie from a homeless guy. (Photo by Alan Light.)
Enjoyable Datum: Meryl Streep is in the third week of court-ordered singing lessons!
The Wacky Skinny: Shaun White is his own grandpa!
Fun Fact: While in his teens, now-Governor Chris Christie and his tween girlfriend bore foul-mouthed twins and gave them up for adoption!
The Real Four-One-One: Polar bears are actually green!
Fun Fact: Jennifer Lawrence has three weeks to live!
Really? Invented leprosy, murder, unwanted children, fatal diseases? I’d think the apology police would know to walk more carefully in the name of humor.
It’s only funny if it’s not true!
Some of these would be funny even if they were true. 😉
But sumac wasn’t making fun of leprosy, unwanted children and fatal diseases. She was making fun of perky media treatment of leprosy, unwanted children and fatal diseases. Also polar bears.
It has been pointed out that polar bears sometimes ARE green. Or get green. When green algae grows inside their hairs.
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/26591321/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/green-polar-bears-puzzle-zoo-visitors/#.UtV8jfaE5gQ
Damn. I even knew that, but I was so focused on not saying they were purple that I overlooked it.
I take refuge in the word “actually.” They can become transiently green, but they are not actually green… does that work? Or should I apologize?
I should. Sorry! That Fun Fact was ENTIRELY TOO FACTUAL. I will try to do better in future. Thanks for spotting that, you know who you are.