People enter into rehab to resolve personal issues. These issues can include, but aren't limited to, drug and alcohol problems and psychological demons. Anyone who keeps track of the latest Hollywood gossip knows that many celebrities frequently undergo rehabilitation treatments, checking in and out of them like it's their job. But is rehabilitation just part of being a star?
In the past six months, a few male stars have ended up in rehab after making negative racial and homophobic remarks. These three men have all sought similar treatments to figure out where their inner anger came from.
Since the Golden Globes, Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington hasn't been making headlines for being part of an award winning show, but for his homophobic remarks against a cast member. At a press conference celebrating Grey's Anatomy's Golden Globe win, Washington brought attention to himself when he denied using a homophobic slur last fall to describe costar T.R. Knight.
The incident originated in an on set argument last fall. Washington, who was also reportedly in a dispute with co-star Patrick Dempsey, called Knight the anti-gay remark. Shortly after the incident, Knight publicly acknowledged he was gay.
On Wednesday, Washington publicly announced his entrance into a rehab facility.
"I regard this as a necessary step toward understanding why I did what I did and making sure it never happens again," he said in a statement. "I appreciate the fact that I have been given this opportunity and I remain committed to transforming my negative actions into positive results, personally and professionally."
Similarly, funnyman Michael Richards was caught on tape making derogatory remarks against African-Americans in November. After Richards was heckled by two African-Americans in the audience, he blew up into a tirade of racial slurs directed towards the men.
In an attempt to show that he is not a racist, Richards met with African-American community leaders and entered into rehabilitation for anger management.
Mel Gibson, a man familiar with "inner anger," said to Entertainment Weekly: "I felt like sending Michael Richards a note. I feel really badly for the guy. He was obviously in a state of stress. You don't need to be inebriated to be bent out of shape. But my heart went out to the guy. They [media] will probably torture him for a while and then let him go. I like him."
Gibson can sympathize with Richard's attempts because in July 2006, while being arrested on drunken driving charges, he burst into a rant full of anti-Semitic remarks. Gibson admitted that he had alcohol problems in the past and apologized to the community.
"I acted like a person completely out of control when I was arrested, and said things that I do not believe to be true and which are despicable," he said in an official statement.
Gibson pleaded for forgiveness from Jewish community leaders and sought their help in aiding his healing.
So do these men really need to become rehabilitated or do they just do so as a publicity stunt?
These stars might be public figures who finally shared their true feelings, or it really could have been just a slip of the tongue. Either way, what they did harmed their careers, and once again rehab is thrown into the mess as a last resort to make everything better.
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