The hate directed towards actress, producer and mum-of-two Katherine Heigl is one of the most ubiquitous and stable trends in Hollywood.
And it’s particularly pertinent today because she’s shared some exciting news, and some outlets would not like us to forget that despite her happiness, we’re all still meant to hate her.
Following Heigl’s baby announcement, most major media publications shared the story – typically with straightforward headlines.
‘Katherine Heigl Is Pregnant, Expecting Baby No. 3 With Josh Kelley,’ wrote E! Online.
‘Paging Addison Montgomery: Katherine Heigl Expecting Baby No. 3,’ wrote the Huffington Post.
But publication Page Six, the gossip section of the New York Post, chose to share the news in a very different way.
The GIF, from Heigl’s popular (and friggin hilarious) film Knocked Up, shows her announcing she’s pregnant, and is accompanied by the headline ‘This has-been diva is having a baby.’
From where we’re sitting, it’s just plain cruel.
Several users on Twitter picked up on the mean-spirited story, and jumped in to defend Heigl.
But, unsurprisingly, there were just as many who thought Page Six‘s headline was the funniest thing they’d ever read.
Or simply found it shocking.
The sentiment towards the 37-year-old has been overwhelmingly negative since Shonda Rhimes – the creator, head writer and executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy – made a reference to Heigl having a bad attitude after she rescinded her Emmy nomination for her work on the popular TV show.
“I don’t put up with bullshit or nasty people,” Rhimes said referring to her time on the set of Grey’s Anatomy. “There are no Heigls in this situation.”
Perhaps Rhimes couldn’t have predicted how far reaching that comment would be, and how it would irreversibly taint Heigl’s image. (Post continues after gallery.)
Katherine Heigl's family on Instagram.
Speaking with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM radio show last year, the actress admitted she was “embarrassed” by her actions and never meant to cause offence.
“I went in to Shonda and said, ‘I’m so sorry. That wasn’t cool, and I should not have said that.’ And I shouldn’t have said anything publicly. But at the time, I didn’t think anyone would notice… I just quietly didn’t submit, and then it became a story, and I felt I was obligated to make my statement.”
Perhaps Katherine Heigl has been a nasty diva behind the scenes in the past. Perhaps that will continue into the future. But each and every one of us have probably behaved in a way that comes across as deplorable at one time or another. It doesn’t make us bad people – it just makes us human.
Even if Heigl has behaved questionably in the past, does she deserve to be publicly mocked and criticised when she announces what is surely some of the happiest news of her life; that she’s pregnant for the first time? Personally, I don’t think so.
Nobody deserves that.
Watch: The pregnancy questions you were too afraid to ask.
Top Comments
Surprised a "tabloid" would post such a nasty headline. I would think whoever is in charge of posting on their twitter account was possibly fired.
You're right. My initial reaction was to think that if she does behave in such a deplorable way towards others then she can't be surprised by a negative reaction. Then... Of course everyone deserves a chance to redeem themselves. If she has grown as a person and is able to have more compassion, be inclusive and understanding towards others and do good then we should congratulate her and embrace the great changes she has made. We should not and cannot be defined by our past. If we were, there would be no hope or incentive for positive change for people overcoming drug addictions and criminal pasts etc.