Is Suicide Funny? Bow Wow’s Haters Think So
When I read Bow Wow‘s tweets this past weekend, I took them seriously. His rambling thoughts appeared heartfelt and seemed to come from a dangerously lonely place. We’re all aware of how annoying celebrities are when Twitter becomes their therapist, but this particular 23-year-old has spent most of his life—including his most vulnerable teenage years—in the public eye, and it looks to have done more damage than good.
Judging by the overwhelmingly negative comments people have been so willing to share on other sites, I’m clearly in the minority of those willing to give Bow, born Shad Moss, the benefit of the doubt. Take a look at a few examples:
In today’s saturated media age where famous people’s issues play out in nauseous news headlines, it’s understandable fans’ patience with artists can be short. But Bow Wow, who released his debut album at 13 (2000′s Beware Of Dog), has in recent years seemed in need of real help—and who can blame him? Between ongoing child molestation talk involving B2K founder Chris Stokes and Marques Houston, and scandalous taunts of an intimate relationship between Bow and Omarion since their 2007 collaborative set Face Off, the poisonous gossip would take its toll on even the strongest-minded young man.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, suicide is currently the seventh leading cause of death for males (compared to the fifteenth leading cause of death for females). HealthyPlace.com reports the suicide rate among black men has doubled since 1980, making it the third leading cause of death for black men between the ages 15 and 24. There is no shame in seeking help when suicidal thoughts take hold of you and the The National Hopeline Network 1-800-SUICIDE provides access to trained telephone counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
As for Bow Wow, we wish him the power of courage, self-love and belief in himself. You may never know a person’s trials and tribulations till you walk in their shoes, but you can always reach out and be there for them in their time of need.
well when you got men like kanye flowin about suicide like its a joke or game people are gonna think its the easy thing to do to escape their problems.. controllin the mind of the masses isnt easy and sometimes itll bite you in the ass.. i wish bow wow luck, rich or poor hes still our brother and we suppose to stand by him in his time of need or heartache. our society has become so demonic, heartless and stoic its sickening!!!!
Is suicide a joke? Hell no. Are depression & other mental health issues in the Black community a joke? Absolutely not. The issue is that Shad Moss is an entertainer. One that has a history of saying that he was one of the best in the game or that he was a legend even though it was publicly known that he was mentored by others (Snoop Dogg & Jermaine Dupri) molded in their image & he even had ghostwriters his entire career (Jermaine Dupri, R.O.C., T.I., etc.) so his self importance always turned people off and his arrogance has cost him fans for years.
When his “Face/Off” album sold much less than he’d hoped, Bow Wow was crushed although most critics & fans couldn’t understand what made him think that his popularity from the old “Scream” tours & his “106 & Park” domination days would stay the same now that he was older and there were new artists on the scene. Bow Wow has never been very humble and his attitude coupled with the cynicism of the modern fan resulted in the response he got to his Twitter comments ultimately.
Fans are so used to entertainers begging for attention (even by threatening suicide or wishing they were dead *cough!* Tila Tequila *cough!*) that it’s created a “Boy Who Cried Wolf” mentality with them. That being said, suicide and the threat of committing it are NOT funny. Coming from Shad Moss? I took it as a frustrated artist with limited talent & future prospects realizing that his career has a visible ceiling.
One.
Ok seriously, are we going from skinny jean/bubble gum/dance craze rap into emo rap/rappers? He’s rich. He needs to elevate his company he’s around. If he wants a regular job then get one. He’s 23 he can easily reinvent his life.
I kind of agree with stardel. But I’d say the internet has made a majority of people critics. Actually people who aren’t willing to deal with negative consequences of their actions. They see others get away with it.
Heartless is when you can look someone in the face as they’re f’n them over. Being biotch is hiding when that person is in the vicinity. That being said, guess which type society really has? How good is your “too short” impersonation?