You probably know by now that Jodi Arias was convicted yesterday of the first-degree murder of her ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander. Prosecutors presented gory and salacious evidence, which proved beyond all reasonable doubt that in 2008 this “black widow” had sex with him, and then stabbed him 27 times — all before slitting his throat, and then shooting him in the face in a jealous rage.
Her trial lasted four months; and reports are that it garnered daytime ratings for the cable network HLN that would make the program director for any network’s primetime line-up blush with envy. Never mind that only porn and snuff videos can match the titillation that kept so many viewers riveted on this trial.
I, however, could not have been less interested in watching, let alone commenting on it. But I fully appreciate why so many of you have asked: Why?
Well, for starters, I prefer my titillation to be completely free of any reference to murder. Then there’s this:
Recall that it was not the nature of the murders, or even who was murdered, that kept us so riveted on coverage of the O.J. Simpson trial. Rather, it was the fact that O.J. was such a bona-fide celebrity … period.
Well, the level of celebrity it took O.J. decades to earn was conferred upon Casey in an instant, making it seem as though public interest in her legal fate is just as warranted.
(“Casey Anthony murder case,” The iPINIONS Journal, June 10, 2011)
And bear in mind that O.J. wasn’t just some stud who played goofy roles in Naked Gun movies. He was a man in whom most Black Americans vested a considerable amount of racial pride – stemming from his days as a superstar running back for USC and the Buffalo Bills, and continuing through the unprecedented crossover appeal he enjoyed as a sportscaster and movie star.
I submit it was this racial pride that misled his predominantly Black jury to acquit him of murder, despite prosecutors presenting clear and convincing evidence, which proved beyond all reasonable doubt that in 1994 this narcissistic SOB stalked his ex-wife and her male friend, and then slit their throats in a jealous rage.
Alas, Jodi has now established the precedent that, if a woman is attractive enough (notwithstanding the schoolmarm look Jodi donned for trial), if the details of her alleged murder are titillating enough, and of course if she’s White … enough, she too can attract this kind of media interest in her own right.
And no woman has ever seemed more stimulated by her perverse celebrity than Jodi, which must have made the unprecedented 18 days she spent on the witness stand tantamount to the longest session of tantric sex ever.
Which I suspect is why she reacted to her guilty verdict – not by flinching in fear or wallowing in self-pity, but by rushing to the nearest TV camera to continue … performing:
I would much rather die sooner rather than later… I believe death is the ultimate freedom.
(Associated Press, May 8, 2013)
Yeah, right! Except that there are already three women on death row in Arizona, where Jodi was tried. But this state has not executed a female death-row inmate in over 80 years (perhaps eternally spooked by the fact that it accidentally decapitated the last one when she was hanged). By chauvinistic and instructive contrast, it executed six men just last year alone.
So, trust me, Jodi knows full well that, even if she gets the death penalty, she would most likely live out the rest of her natural life on death row, during which time she could become even more celebrated as a martyr for the innocence project she apparently thinks was betrayed by her guilty verdict.
I don’t doubt for a moment that she really is this psychopathic … and cunning. And, regrettably, enabling cable networks would be queuing up to broadcast the musings of this condemned woman as the ultimate reality-TV star.
This is why the most suitable punishment for her would be life in prison: without the possibility of parole and with no direct access to media of any kind. Especially given that the first and last woman Arizona executed, namely Eva Duggan in 1930, spent most of her time on death row giving paid interviews.
For the record, though, let me be clear: If a bona-fide celebrity like Gwyneth Paltrow were accused of murdering her husband, I would be interested in her trial. Whereas, if another ordinary girl like Jodi were, I still wouldn’t be.
Related commentaries:
Casey Anthony…
* This commentary was originally published yesterday, Thursday, at 1:17 pm