NEW YORK — After an aggressive lobby from powerful film industry figures, “Entertainment Tonight” decided against airing a video that shows the late Heath Ledger hanging out at a party where drugs were being taken.
The show said it pulled the story “out of respect for Heath Ledger’s family.” But the video was also the subject of a lightning-fast campaign launched by a public relations firm that represents many of the stars “Entertainment Tonight” depends upon for stories.
Even some celebrities themselves — Natalie Portman and Sarah Jessica Parker, to name two — called to urge “ET” to pull the plug.
Ledger, 28, died in his Manhattan apartment Jan. 22. Authorities suspect a possible drug overdose, but the cause of his death is still pending the outcome of toxicology tests. Police said several prescription drugs — but nothing illegal — were found in the Manhattan apartment where the “Brokeback Mountain” actor’s body was found.
“Entertainment Tonight” is hardly the lone news organization to broach the topic of potential drug abuse by the star. But the video it acquired, reportedly taken two years ago at a party at the Chateau Marmont Hotel, drew the fiercest attention.
The syndicated magazine’s sister show, “The Insider,” aired a “preview” of the story that it had planned to run Thursday that actually showed segments of the video. Following the protest, “The Insider” yanked the segment from its West Coast telecast.
Ledger is seen standing in the doorway of a room where the party was taking place, swigging from a beer bottle. The show made clear that there was nothing on the video showing Ledger taking any drug. At one point, however, the then-26-year-old said he “used to smoke five joints a day.”
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