As I’m writing this, Mark Salling’s recent death continues to be the subject of several heated discussions online. One side is saddened that they lost the actor they loved on Glee from suicide. Many are happy that he’s dead, while others are angry that it happened before his sentencing hearing for possession of child pornography.
So, did Mark deserve to die? No, but not because I pity him.
Imagine what we all feel when criminals take their own life before they’re caught by the cops. (i.e. Andrew Cunanan, Stephen Paddock) Justice isn’t served for the victims and everyone’s just left with questions.
While the convenient timing of Mark’s death is questionable (his hearing was supposed to be on March 7), his mental health was also put in the forefront. A source told E! Online that Mark “had demons he was wrestling with for many years,” adding that he was also depressed. TMZ also reported that he’s allegedly attempted multiple times in the past.
Personally, I believe that suicide is never the answer regardless if someone’s innocent or not. It’s not something that anyone should celebrate in any way. It’s also sad that these days it’s just seen as a method for someone to escape or be absolved of their crimes.
mark salling: is he a bad person? yes. did he do horrible things? yes. did he deserve to die? no. did he deserve to go to prison? yes. do we actually 100% without a doubt know the reason he committed suicide? no. suicide is never something to be celebrated.
— bling pirate ☠️✨ (@alexforaday) January 31, 2018
Mark didn’t deserve death. He should’ve served seven years (or more) in jail and gotten the help he needed. But does that make me sympathetic of him after downloading 50,000 images of children aged three to five years old? No, because his death won’t erase the fact that he pleaded guilty to these crimes, and he will never be charged for them. It’s the same with every other criminal who has died via suicide.
Shame Mark Salling all you want for the child pornography in his possession, but at the end of the day if you’re ‘happy he’s dead’ then you value punishment over rehabilitation
— Louis R Michael (@Louisxmichael) January 31, 2018
No one is required to feel sympathy for Mark Salling. His Glee fame doesn’t excuse his crimes. Likewise, his crimes don’t excuse rude comments about his death. Mark left family and friends here, people who have been hurting for him ever since he got found out. They shouldn’t be liable for what he did, unless stated otherwise that they were complicit.
But if the thought of having one less pedophile in the world will bring peace to people’s minds, I sincerely hope that they don’t wish for all of them to just permanently go away.
Art by Lara Intong
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