The truth is the truth, no matter how you slice it. Last week, Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame, died in a fiery crash. The accident was attributed to Dunn’s intoxicated state (his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit), while he was driving his Porsche 911 GT3 at an excessive rate of speed (reportedly in excess of 110 miles an hour).
According to reports, Dunn, along with his friend Zachary Hartwell, died when the car caromed out of control, flew off the road, hit a tree and burst into flames.
Upon the announcement of Dunn’s death, and after viewing pictures Dunn posted of himself drinking like a sailor on leave prior to getting into his car, and acting like a jackass, movie critic Roger Ebert tweeted, “Friends don’t let jackasses drink and drive.”
This statement, true as it was, unleashed a torrent of condemnation from Dunn’s friends and, particularly, from fellow “Jackass” Bam Margera.
Margera lashed out at Ebert by furiously tweeting to the masses, “I just lost my best friend, I have been crying hysterical for a full day and piece of s— Roger Ebert has the gall to put in his two cents.”
Margera, knowing that he now had everybody’s attention, further tweeted, “F— you. Millions of people are crying right now, shut your fat f——- mouth.”
How appropriate of him.
Maybe those so-called friends should have put in their two cents in and taken the keys away from Dunn. Then Dunn and Hartwell would be alive today, would and only be suffering from wicked hangovers, and could continue acting like jackasses.
In true Jackass fashion, Margera didn’t take into account that what Ebert said was the truth: friends should not let friends drive drunk. True, the remark was insensitive and the timing was off, but you can’t change what is the truth. The fact of the matter is that truth is never sensitive, nor ever timely. It just is.
Not for nuthin,™ Margera shouldn’t have attacked Roger Ebert for telling the truth. He should be using his talents and fame as a Jackass to save other lives by posting public service announcements all over the place — “Friends don’t let jackasses drink and drive.” Then maybe the jackass kids out there that look up to these Jackasses won’t think it’s cool to be stupid, drunk and dead.
Jdelbuono@cnglocal.com