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Media swarm Britney, Amy, but leave Heath, Kiefer in peace

By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 17, 2008 8:39 AM CST

(Newser) – There's a clear gender disparity in the obsessive media coverage of celebrity meltdowns, writes the New York Times. Just compare the relative restraint Entertainment Tonight exercised in holding back a video of Heath Ledger doing drugs with the news outlet gusto that greets the latest Amy Winehouse or Lindsay Lohan misbehavior. Or compare Kiefer Sutherland's jail stint to Paris Hilton's.

When Owen Wilson had a breakdown, the media pounced and then moved on; the death grip the paparazzi has on the Britney Spears saga has prompted fears for the singer's safety. Why the focus on women? Market research: 90% of People's readership is female, and women like to compare misfortunes with other gals, but feel protective for struggling bad boys.

In this image released by Entertainment Tonight, Britney Spears is wheeled out of the ambulance on a gurney at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in this Jan. 3, 2008, file photo in Los Angeles. Spears is one of a handful of top-tier stars who drive the growing multibillion dollar industry in celebrity...
In this image released by "Entertainment Tonight", Britney Spears is wheeled out of the ambulance on a gurney at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in this Jan. 3, 2008, file photo in Los Angeles. Spears is...   (Associated Press)
In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2006 file picture, actor Heath Ledger arrives for the premiere of his film Candy in New York. The NYC medical examiner reports that Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication by the combined effects of oxycodone, hydrocodone, diazepam, temazepam, alprazolam, and doxylamine. In contrast...
In this Monday, Nov. 6, 2006 file picture, actor Heath Ledger arrives for the premiere of his film "Candy" in New York. The NYC medical examiner reports that Ledger died as the result of acute intoxication...   (Associated Press)
Actor Owen Wilson appears on MTV's Total Request Live in this July 12, 2006, file photo in New York. Wilson returned to the public eye Thursday night, Oct. 4, 2007, making an appearance at the Los Angeles premiere of his new film, The Darjeeling Limited.  Media coverage of his apparent...
Actor Owen Wilson appears on MTV's "Total Request Live" in this July 12, 2006, file photo in New York. Wilson returned to the public eye Thursday night, Oct. 4, 2007, making an appearance at the Los Angeles...   (Associated Press)
This booking photo provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows  Lindsay Lohan. A Sheriff's spokesman said Lohan surrendered to the Los Angeles County women's detention center in Lynwood on Nov. 15, 2007, to serve a one-day sentence for drunken driving. While photographers came out in droves for her...
This booking photo provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department shows Lindsay Lohan. A Sheriff's spokesman said Lohan surrendered to the Los Angeles County women's detention center in Lynwood...   (Associated Press)
British singer Amy Winehouse leaves Snaresbrook Crown Court in London after the hearing of her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. Although both of them have had their share of troubles, it's Winehouse who gets most of the media attention.
British singer Amy Winehouse leaves Snaresbrook Crown Court in London after the hearing of her husband Blake Fielder-Civil, Friday, Jan. 18, 2008. Although both of them have had their share of troubles,...   (Associated Press)
Actor Keifer Sutherland arrives at the Fox Fall Eco-Casino party in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Sutherland was arrested early Tuesday morning, Sept. 25 on misdemeanor drunk driving charges. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)
Actor Keifer Sutherland arrives at the Fox Fall Eco-Casino party in Los Angeles on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007. Sutherland was arrested early Tuesday morning, Sept. 25 on misdemeanor drunk driving charges....   (Associated Press)
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