By Colby Carrington
Amanda Bynes has a friend in Nick Cannon, who penned an open letter to the embattled actress today.
In the letter, Cannon gives some background on life as a celebrity, citing ‘access to excess’ and the unique troubles that child stars face as being the breadwinners in their families.
Related: What Went Wrong – 7 Child Stars Turned Criminals
Imagine being the breadwinner in your household before you can even drive. Imagine you parents, teachers, and employers NEVER telling you NO. Anything you ask for or want, the world gives you, at some point you are bound to self-destruct. I call this “access to excess”.
While at times he admits that it sounds ridiculous to imply one should actually feel sorry for famous people, the takeaway is that one should. And in Bynes case, I’m pretty sure that most people with any type of soul are more disturbed than amused by her most recent caper. (Those of us with a certain number of years remember Richard Pryor’s downward spiral that ended with a human fireball. Well-adjusted people don’t set themselves, driveways or pets aflame for sport. It’s an indicator of a much deeper issue.) While today’s media has a habit of creating headlines off celebrity trainwrecks, Cannon makes a valid point – reminding people to be less judgy in general:
We say things like, ” I’m glad I’m not famous “, “Celebrities are Crazy”, “See what fame and money does to people”. And most of the time your assumptions and accusations maybe accurate but also inappropriate. No one on this planet needs to be judged or even has the right to judge. We are all equal and we all have our downfalls, fame or no fame. Money or no money. Life is hard for everyone in some since. And we need each other to in times of despair. No one can make it through anything alone. So I ask people who are quick to judge, tweet, report, or comment to ask yourself; what if that person was my sister? My brother? My Mother? Or me? What then would I say? In the words of the great poet and artist Bill Withers, “Sometimes in our lives We all have pain, we all have sorrow”. We all end up alone in that dark hole at some point in our lives and if you don’t have a foundation of friends and family to help bring you up and out it makes that journey long and detrimental. So I say to my sister Amanda Bynes you’re not alone. I’m here for you. I understand. I care and I appreciate you, because that’s what family does and that’s what family is for. I also extend this to anyone else in my life, past or present that may find themselves in hard times. I’m here! Call me!
Read the full letter here.
