Irwin video may be made public

Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

STEVE Irwin's grieving wife Terri will have the final say on whether footage of his last moments alive is made public.

The head of the US TV company that broadcasts his show said today the film had already been handed to Queensland police preparing a report for the Coroner as fans worldwide come to grips with the freak death.

Billy Campbell, the president of Discovery Networks, which owns the Animal Planet channel, said it was far too early to decide what footage viewers would see from Irwin's fatal trip on the Great Barrier Reef.

Talks would take place with Terri at a suitable time, he said.

"It's still too early," Mr Campbell said. "We'll have to take a look at it."

Irwin suffered a deadly blow from a stingray yesterday while shooting footage for a new show he was doing with his eight-year-old daughter, Bindi.

Mr Campbell, who will fly to Australia for Irwin's funeral, said he would also ask Terri whether she would like Bindi's show to go ahead.

"In terms of the Bindi show, a lot of that will depend on the conversations I have with Terri in a couple of days," he said.

"I want to give her a few days to mourn and think through things. "We'll talk about that in due time.

[Dianna]

I don't think that's long enough for someone like Steve Irwin to believe he's dying. He knew he got hit, he reacted, and it didn't matter.

You are probably right. And I am glad about that.

[Rte66]

More ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695100/posts
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead
News.com.au ^ | September 4, 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695105/posts
Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin dead - Locked Thread
Courier Mail ^ | September 04, 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695133/posts
The Crocodile Hunter
Herald Sun ^ | 4 September 2006 | Matthew Schulz

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695139/posts
Flowers laid in honour of Irwin
news.com.au ^ | 4 September 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695142/posts
Irwin brought joy to millions: PM (John Howard)
news.com.au ^ | 4 September 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695144/posts
Passive stingrays can be deadly
news.com.au ^ | September 04, 2006 05:04pm | Danny Rose and Jane Williams

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695160/posts
Steve Irwin, Croc hunter, dead, killed by stingray
AP Wire ^ | September 4, 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695171/posts
Crocodile Hunter; Steve Irwin killed by stingray
MSNBC ^ | September 4, 2006 | Associated Press

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695174/posts
Witnesses tell of freak death of Steve Irwin
News.com.AU via Drudge ^ | September 4, 2006 | By staff writers and wires

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695216/posts
Crocodile Hunter Irwin: Passionate Showman in the Wild (AP Obit)
Associated Press ^ | Sept 4, 2006 | Marc Lavine

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695281/posts
Croc Hunter's stingray death caught on film
news.com.au ^ | Sept 4, 2006 | Ian Gerard and Tony Koch

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695308/posts
Crocodile hunter was victim of 'voyeuristic wildlife TV'
This is London ^ | 09-04-06 | Staff

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695411/posts
Steve Irwin's freak death filmed
TheAustralian.com ^ | 9/5/06 | Ian Gerard and Tony Koch

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695501/posts
World mourns our adventurer
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695524/posts
Irwin death footage 'shocking'
Herald Sun ^ | 5 September 2006 | Dave Donaghy

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695540/posts
Irwin family offered state funeral (Australia Honours the Crocodile Hunter)
The Australian ^ | 9/5/2006 | n/a

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1695557/posts
Statement by marie claire [Bindi & Steve featured in current issue]
marie claire Australia ^

[HiTech RedNeck]

As a cautionary tale... a HECKUVA cautionary tale....

[Stonewall Jackson]

Thanks, but I'll stick to him jumping onto the backs of crocs, climbing trees to snag a frog, or jumping into a mud pit to tackle a wild pig.

[Quix]

My reading of Steve's personality, values and inclinations is that

Steve would want it shown--it's REAL--and, as he said in one clip on the Animal Channel--he'd want such a thing shown to show that the animal was not at fault.

[Aussie Dasher]

Maybe but it still makes me very uneasy...

[Quix]

I wouldn't label it a young kids' Sunday School video.

It's likely a horrible scene.

But if I understand Steve and his values . . . HIS PREFERENCE would be to show it for all the raw truth educational value that might be in it.

Can we honor and love him more than to follow his preferences in his death?

I don't have an easy answer. I just have a sense about what Steve would say and I have so much respect for him that I'm inclined to say, why not.

I often wondered about his wound-up tone and theatrics but I understand now and began to some time ago--that THAT WAS JUST STEVE. What you saw was what you got. I respect that a great lot.

Apart from all that and maybe congruent with it--I think there's something realllllly screwy about our media and culture when we glorify phoney chain saw massacre and FRIDAY 13 movies to the max . . . and then get squeamish about the realities of life that folks REALLY NEED MORE blunt awareness of and far less denial of--including drunk driving results; spousal abuse facts and results; gang war results etc.

AS a shrink, I'd bet that showing the last moments of Steve's life would do a LOT toward protecting more lives around sting rays as well as respecting rays more. I think Steve would feel very proud of those results of showing the video.

[Sam Cree]

Yes, if his wife is OK with showing it, or if it helps people respect wild animals and their capabilities, I guess that's alright, but I'll probably still do my best to personally avoid it...I don't wish to see his death.

[Chunga]

On the one hand, the urge to produce this video is no different from any other snuff porno.

This video isn't "snuff porno." It's raw documentary footage of a fatal accident in the wild.

"Snuff porno" involves murder.

[mom4kittys]

Even though I don't think I could watch (it would be like watching a family member die) I DO understand how Steve would think about it and if that is what he wants, it is OK with me if shown in the right context.

[al_c]

I think the tapes ought to be destroyed. There's no reason to grandstand his death.

[sam_paine]

This video isn't "snuff porno."

Technically, maybe not.

That wasn't my point.

I said, "...the urge to produce this video is no different..."

Innocent "raw documentary footage" or not, the motivation to want to broadcast such a meritless display of death is the same base, low level motivation. It's "Faces of Death: Australia."

That it's an accidental death by an animal doesn't say anything about the people that are eager to get the widow's approval "in a few days" after her "grievin" is all done. Don Henley lyrics come to mind.

[Charlespg]

apparently he stated if he was killed,he wanted the video shown,a bit over the top if you ask me

[mom4kittys]

Steve's producer and friend just said on Larry King Live that he wants the tape destroyed.

[Quix]

Perhaps to some sensibilities.

But, it was his life. Ought he not have some say in such a video?