'Inside Edition' ambushes stars about Ledger's death

An "Inside Edition" TV reporter gleefully broke the news about Heath Ledger's death to Nick Stahl, Charlize Theron and Dennis Hopper at the premiere of their new film, "Sleepwalking," at the Eccles Theater this afternoon.

I was frankly surprised that the reporter didn't ask their co-star, child actress AnnaSophia Robb, how she felt about the "Brokeback Mountain" star's death.

Stahl, Theron and Hopper were visibly stunned and said on camera how shocked and sorry they were.

Publicists for the film placed calls to the show's producers to express disapproval and disgust about the ambush interviews. And one cameraman for another outlet who had stood next to IE's crew, said afterward: "I feel like I need to go back to my hotel room and take a bath."

Alice Zou of mPRm Public Relations, who was on the "Sleepwalking" red carpet with Stahl, Theron and Hopper, would not confirm which outlet asked the questions.

"Sundance is now handling the situation," Zou said.

"Inside Edition's" Los Angeles bureau chief Tony Coghlan called the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday morning to refute the above account of events. Coghlan said staff at "Inside Edition" had reviewed the field tape and found the producer's line of questioning to be "respectful and in no way 'gleeful.'"

Brooks Addicott, Sundance director of media relations, said organizers were "shocked" and "disappointed" that the show "did not exercise any judgment whatsoever." Addicott noted that Sundance considered pulling "Inside Edition's" media credentials.

"After thinking about it, our response is to educate filmmakers and casts who might be walking one of our lines that this can happen and we do not condone this sort of thing," Addicott told the Los Angeles Times. "Our hope is that outlets will police themselves. Otherwise we will have to look at whether or not we will continue to do press lines in the future. We're just really disappointed. It was awful."

Meanwhile, a Fox News reporter had to obey orders to cancel her return flight to L.A. in order to stay at the festival and milk it for reactions to Ledger's death, which so closely follows last week's death of actor Brad Renfro.

And so it goes.

During the carpet press sessions, one Canadian TV crew asked Felicity Huffman if she had any words for Ledger's family and she responded: "I wouldn't presume...."

- Elizabeth Snead

[Ed. note -- This post was updated at 3:04PM on Wednesday to include on-the-record reactions from mPRm Public Relations, Inside Edition and the Sundance Film Festival. At 4:34PM Inside Edition's Coghlan requested that we add to his quote that Inside Edition's line of questioning was "in no way gleeful." Check back here for more updates. -- Sheigh Crabtree]

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Comments

[Carlos M]

I didn't see the report and maybe the reporter was insensitive in some fashion, but asking such a question about a celebrity's death doesn't seem out of line. Ignoring it would have been. Plus, as a publicist, I've seen many, many stars be insensitive to press and others on a daily basis so I don't have much sympathy for them in this case.

[Tatami]

Does it matter whether it was gleeful or not? The reporter and the network and everyone or anyone associated with doing this should all apologize to Heath Ledger's family. The man has just died and so the reporter decides to ask people at the premiere of their new film? How disgusting! How sacrilegious! Talk about raining on someone's parade -- and at the same time disrespecting the dead! The American media should all be fired! Every single one of them, but starting with the SOBs from IE, followed by FOX. Absolutely reprehensible! I'm with Felicity: "I wouldn't presume..." Ditto!

[Laurie]

I am shocked at how the media is responding to this tragedy. His family is trying to cope with the news and the devastation that they are having to go through. The innuendo that Mr Ledger had drug problems and trying to make this the center of the story is appalling to me. Leave this man and his family alone shame on Inside Edition and all the other tabloid television shows that are trying to sensationalize his untimely passing.

[erik]

this is common.. not a fan of the show in question.. but, most entertainment shows and news outlets are doing similar this week.. as they always do. as long as the project or movie is mentioned, its not out of line to simply ask for thoughts or memories or reaction from celebs on such things. always has and will be done.. but should be with respect of course.. and with judgement on case by case basis

[jo]

Reporters will be reporters.

And news gets broken in different ways. With this kind of news, it is a shock anywhere.