…I guess.
Stumbled upon a pair of articles regarding two individuals in the entertainment biz and the troubles they are currently embroiled in.
First up, Austin Russell, aka “Chumlee” from the A & E TV show Pawn Stars was arrested…
Pawn Stars regular Austin “Chumlee” Russell arrested on gun and drug charges
For a few years I watched and enjoyed the Pawn Stars show. It was fascinating to see what people brought in and find out its history and what it was worth. That show, in direct and indirect ways, spawned a series of other shows, many of them featuring Pawn Stars’ central conceit: Finding potential value -or not- in oddball items.
As my family and I watched more and more episodes of the show it became all too clear the show was as far from “reality” as could be. It was obvious even from the beginning that many of the “humorous” asides were scripted. After a while, however, I began suspecting (I have no proof of this but it just seemed this way) people were sometimes bringing in items the store already possessed for evaluation.
Still, I couldn’t deny the show’s main foursome, consisting of three generations of the Harrison family (Grandfather, father, and son) and “Chumlee” were pleasant enough to watch.
Now, with the above article, we’re offered a decidedly darker view of the “lovable goof” Chumlee represented in the show. Granted, one shouldn’t view what you see -even on supposed “reality” fare- as truly representing the people in their individual series’ in real life, yet it is nonetheless depressing to hear the incidentals of this case, especially for one who has seen plenty of Chumlee on the tube.
From the article it states Mr. Russell was already under investigation for sexual assault. As bad as this was, it wasn’t the reason he was arrested. Again, and from the article, police served a warrant at Mr. Russell’s home and searched it. When they did, they found guns (which apparently he’s not supposed to have…though I’m not clear on this) as well as methamphetamine and pot.
According to the article, Mr. Russell remains in jail as of today. A sad state of affairs.
And speaking of sad state of affairs…
Sony Music to Drop Dr. Luke Amid Public Pressure Over Kesha, Internal Headaches
As someone very much on the outside, especially when it comes to all things related to modern music, I found the whole Kesha vs. Lukasz “Dr. Luke” Gottwald story both sordid and depressing.
For those who, like me, are perhaps not as (ahem) in tune with modern music, Kesha is a singer who now refuses to work with her longtime producer Dr. Luke. While Dr. Luke took her in and helped her create some of her most famous music and she signed a very long term contract with Sony which forces her to continue working with Dr. Luke, Kesha claims he also drugged and raped her.
While it is my understanding at one point Ms. Kesha did deny any impropriety on Dr. Luke’s part, she now vociferously claims he is a predator and will not work for him. Unfortunately, and because of the longterm contract she signed, she is effectively barred from creating any new music because it will be under Dr. Luke’s umbrella.
A tense court battle ensued and a judge ordered the contract between the parties enforced even in light of the highly salacious details of her supposed violation evident.
Again, I -and pretty much everyone outside the circles of both Ms. Kesha and Dr. Luke- don’t know what really happened here but it is telling how so many high profile female artists have come to Kesha’s defense…and I’m hearing virtually no such spirited defense for Dr. Luke…other than his own.
The above article, which states Dr. Luke will be dropped by Sony, has been denied by Dr. Luke’s representatives so the story may well be a non-story.
Still, if even a portion of Ms. Kesha’s claims are true, it is monstrous, regardless of the contract signed by her many years before, to force this still very young lady to work with a person she considers a predator. It is even worse that her only alternative to fight this is to not create any new music, something that could very well kill her career.