Lindsay Lohan: In her own voice

Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson at New York's Fashion Week, September 2008. (Photo credit: AP Photo/Peter Kramer)

A guest post from television editor Kate Aurthur:

In an article I wrote in July about the media coverage of Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson's romantic relationship, I posed the question of whether Lohan would parlay the novelty of her lady liaison into a payday from one of the big gossip magazines. They were all approaching her, after all, so it appeared that Lohan would be the latest to profit. Like Jamie Lynn Spears did with her pregnancy and Brangelina has done with their babies.

Back then, I asked -- in the context of her calling in to Ryan Seacrest's radio show and using only gender-neutral words to describe her current partner, such as "the person I care about" -- "Is Lohan getting closer to more specific nouns and pronouns, particularly if one of the celebrity magazines will pay her a big check to do so, as has been rumored?"

But that so has not happened! Not only has Lohan eschewed capitalizing on an interesting story that people (not to mention People) might be willing to pay for, but she has actually done the opposite. She has plainly and simply written about Ronson as "the girl who means the world to me" (along with other references) on her MySpace page. On the Internet, the land of the free.

For that, I owe her this rowback/clarification.

Lohan first began blogging in late July. She wrote that she had just found out the log-in for her MySpace page, "so i can be more involved." Since then, she's written pretty frequently, checking in about what music she's listening to -- loves Annie Lennox's "Walking on Broken Glass," hates "Ladies of the Canyon" by Joni Mitchell: "So- I don't like the one person that requested this song once and they have ruined the song for me forever more....Those who know me and care about me will understand why... I love the artist, but dislike this particular song for my own reasons…" (Sidebar: Who is this person so horrible that he/she could make someone hate "Ladies of the Canyon"?)

But what's gotten more attention have been the rants, and there have been a bunch. Against the suggestion that her 14-year-old sister, Ali, has gotten breast implants; against her troubled father, Michael; against Sarah Palin. The most recent Palin post was in fact a joint one with Ronson, with the peg being an AP story about Palin's church promoting the conversion of gay people into straight people.

The celebrity blogosphere's reaction to Lohan's political blogging has been one of interest, of course. TMZ commented that Palin "may have trouble getting the rehabbed and rumored-to-be-gay vote come November." And Perez Hilton, who is himself obsessed with Palin and all campaign matters, has excerpted all of Lohan's blogs.

As has been true for months in the tabloids -- and continues to be the case on MySpace as well -- the Lohan-Ronson relationship is simply there for the public to see, with Lohan throwing random shoutouts to Ronson at the end of posts ("this song is for sr... ILY.") But as opposed to a big coming out party as paid for by a gossip magazine, Lohan's self-presentation is the less predictable route for a celebrity these days. She's mad at her dad, she's wishing her mom a happy birthday, she's trying to remember the name of an ice cream she liked when she was a kid and she's obsessed with the election.

In this case, at least, stars really are just like us.

Comments

[joe m]

Lindsay is a good person who still has some problems in her life.

[C Thompson]

Thanks for recognizing that Lindsay Lohan has declined to capitalize on her relationship with Samantha Ronson. So many gossip sites continue to characterize it as a publicity stunt, despite ample evidence to the contrary. Lindsay appears more committed to Samantha than she ever did to her highly publicized boyfriends. And she seems happier, healthier and more productive than she has in ages. The fact that Lindsay hasn't profited from some kind of announcement suggests that she's "just like us" in another way - she's setting boundaries to protect her relationship.

Looks like LiLo is growing up. Let's hope the tabloids learn to respect that.

[joann]

did lindsay lohan ever go to school to get an education? she's just an actress acting like she's smart but knows nothing but clothes, partying, alcohol, etc. horrible example for young people and so is her mother. lindsay - shut up about politics since you couldn't make a case even if your pathetic life depended on it!

[hottpics]

Refuses to show tax returns, refuses to comply in troopergate, no abortion for rape and incest, shoots bears from low flying planes, teenager pregnant, 5 children (1) with down syndrome, attended 6 colleges, bankrupts AL as Mayor, for he bridge before she was against it, Religion is questionable. Uses her Yahoo account for business. Has foreign relations exp. because she can see Russia from AL. I just do not see how we could have found a better candidate for VP.

Sarah, Todd and what his name are a great team - you have my vote.

[Shane dela Cruz]

It's so refreshing to read an article about Lindsay and Samantha without condescension towards them and at worst homophobia. Thanks to Ms. Kate Aurthur for an excellent read.

[Heather]

Lindsay, I congratulate you on being happy, finding your space in life that makes you happy. Your ahead of the game for that. I find Lindsay to be an open minded woman who is following her heart. For that, I think she should be commended. Afterall, IT IS HER LIFE RIGHT?

[jen]

The majority of what I've read about Sam/Lindsay has been moderately positive...I hope it continues. So, why does it bother so many people that Lindsay has a political opinion? Is it because of her sexuality OR gender? The subtext of all the articles condemning Lindsay for talking politics is not about her past history, being a paparazzi obsession, or who she sleeps with....its about marginalizing women.

[Néstor]

Is so good to know that "Linday Lohan is back". She is working in her new movie, her new album, "Ugly Betty" new episodes and many more. The girl is working really hard... She is really talented. Her relationship with Sam is helping her a lot. so, in my opinion people should respect her, before everybody criticized her because of her party life and everything, now that she is back on the track people still being cruel. If u don'thave anything good to say, just don't say it... She is human and needs respect..... Thanks.
Good Luck Lindsay.....

[Kate Aurthur]

Thanks for reading, everybody, and for the comments. Joann, I'm curious about what you wrote. You seem so mad! Is it because you disagree with what she's written politically, or is it because you don't think celebrities should get involved with politics? (If the latter, I think the ship has sailed on that one.)

[Rebecca]

So maybe what it really comes down to is that Lindsay really loves Samantha and would rather not risk hurting her feelings by 'using' their relationship to gain income. Hmmm.... don't see anything wrong with that here. As far as her political views, well it's America and everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even if they didn't get a bachelors in Political Science. Seems to me if she's taking a sincere interest then she's far more aware than 70% of the popluation.

[Dave]

Lindsay - When someone who uses drugs, passes out, goes to rehab and has been called a "fire crotch" for being a sl*t tries to comment on adult subjects like presidential candidates - you can only think she was stoned out of her mind again. Did she have her panties on this time? Was there stubble? Perhaps she is trying to impress her new "man/manish" sex partner.
We all need to let Hollyweird know that when the actors start thinking that reading a script equates to intelligence, (and therefore the world needs to know their thoughts) that we won't support their movies or tv shows.

[Sammy]

Its amazing how many young uneduacted girls are tripping over themselves to show support to this waste of space. Maybe they are gay and trying to support one of thier own. The issue is that she tried to think ... and made the mistake of sharing her thoughts (drugs still in the brain). Lindsay - 4 months ago you were searching for 8 balls, gettting gang banged and passing out everywhere. Ohh and that annoying "tumbleweed" like growth that could only be removed by friction

[Britney]

i love lindsay lohan <3

[Impink]

I think it’s a good thing to respect this new Lindsay. Maybe after finding a stable relationship, she wants to explore something new---blogging, politics, fashion business, tv shows. As long as it’s something positive, we don’t need to judge her because of her past history or her intelligence (um, do you know how much her IQ score?). Everyone has rights to change to be a better person, don’t they?

[Erica Stahm]

It's too bad Ms. Lohan cannot come up with her own phrases, and has to steal them from the Big Book of Alcoholic's Anonymous. I refer to her remark about Sarah Palin, "who is she to say what is a sin?" It says in the Big Book, "who am I to say there is no God?"
However, it is good to know that during the numerous attempts at rehab SOMETHING sunk in.

[Kris]

Even the straightest man in the world says It's okay to be gay.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYvH7Gjbxh4