The other night I watched (and recommend) the new Brooke Shields documentary, Pretty Baby. I have really enjoyed so many documentaries the past couple years, telling the stories of muscians and the occasional actor. Maybe I'll do a post on ones I recommend. I was interested in Brooke's, as I always liked her, there is that life-long familiarity as she became popular during my teenage years as well as hers.
I had opened YouTube that night after watching the documentary, as I looked to view a few of Brooke's interviews promoting the documentary. The tab was still open last night, so I scrolled the "related" videos that populate below the one you're watching, one random led to another and then this one popped up.
The title, "Rosie O'Donnell And Why Leif Garrett Was Banned From Her Show", of course piqued my interest. The interview is with Andy Cohen and can be viewed here:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WsZWpccK1m8
I watched and was like, Wow! Why would she go there? Rosie alleged that Leif came out onstage with a burn mark down the side of his face, from a crack pipe he used in her green-room before his appearance.
There are so many things wrong with this. I immediately short off a comment on the video. I stand by these first thoughts.
Not only because I watched that appearance on her show, but it was Leif's first tv appeareance in a very long time, I would have been paying close attention. Also, I am not someone who wears rose-colored glasses, and considering Leif's history at the time, I would have been sensitive to noticing something like that. That said, I re-watched it, just to see.
There is no visual of what Rosie describes. Therefore it is my opinion that her tale seems surmised possibly by other random influences, maybe by her staff or even in the twenty+ years since that show. Her words at this time are not only unnecessary, but unfounded (she was not in the green-room or present anywhere else this alleged burn mark happened), and are then most likely slanderous.
Since I'm still editing my book, and thinking about how to promote it, I haven't really gave any teasers about my stories. I will say this now, Leif Garrett plays huge in my book. Many adventures spanning thirty years. My connection to him during those years was unique and special to me.
Like with anything else I've been passionate about in my life, which mostly involves Animals, I am very vocal. My words are honest and blunt. At nearing sixty years old, I'm so fed-up with bullshit, and I call it out when it enters my space. So, those who expanded the photo, will have gotten a taste of my reaction and opinion vocabulary. While that style of expression is who I am, those who might be offended, please know that my book writing for the most part does not reflect the same.
