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Original poster

Comparing the way the deaths of Robin Williams and Lauren Bacall are being reported

29 replies

weatherall · 13/08/2014 09:22

Has anyone else noticed how the reporting of Lauren Bacall's death has focused on her looks and her relationship with a man (bogart)?

Her marriages were mentioned whereas Williams's weren't.

It is only today I've heard about RW's children whilst hers have been mentioned this morning.

Also generally there has been less focus on her death but this is probably because of the additional element of suicide in Williams' case.

Not being disrespectful to either.

It is the media I am making comment about.

OP posts:
tribpot · 13/08/2014 10:00

I agree, it's hard to make a direct comparison. Hard to say to what extent it is based on a recognition factor - macabre though it is to comment, the obituary of Eric Roberts is likely to start 'ER, brother of Julia Roberts ... ' and go from there. More about relative fame/power than necessarily gender.

AICM · 13/08/2014 10:00

allisgood1 do you mean my point or the OPs?

allisgood1 · 13/08/2014 09:58

They did mention RW was married and slept in a different room the night before he was found. Not quite sure what your point is?

AICM · 13/08/2014 09:53

I'm not sure what to make of this.

It's very hard to compare because of the obvious difference in their deaths.

The news reporting of both would focus on very different aspects of the story. With RW the suicide would be the major element of the story whereas with LB it would be a review of her life.

In relation to her looks it's hard to get away from the fact that she did make a career based on her looks - that is what she was partly famous for so it would be difficult not to mention it in an obituary.

As far as being defined by a man is concerned she did marry one of the most famous actors of all time - again it's hard to get away from that in an obituary. I Googled Bogart and the first obituary I saw mentioned Bacall in the first sentence.

Williams wasn't married to anybody famous (as far as I can see) Bacall was married to Bogart and Jason Robbards and had a relationship with Sinatra. So it's more likely her marriages would be mentioned. The BBC website does mention Williams' current wife.

I'll watch out for this in future but for the reasons I don't see an issue at the moment.