One of Pope Francis’ recurring themes is the damage done by gossip. In an Angelus about a year ago, he said (from the National Catholic Register, via CNA):
“It’s so rotten, gossip. At the beginning, it seems to be something enjoyable and fun, like a piece of candy. But at the end, it fills the heart with bitterness and also poisons us,” Pope Francis said Feb. 16.
“I tell you the truth,” he preached to the crowds filling St. Peter’s Square. “I am convinced that if each one of us would purposely avoid gossip, at the end, we would become a saint! It’s a beautiful path!”
“Do we want to become saints? Yes or no?” he queried, as the crowds replied, “Yes!”
“Yes? Do we want to live attached to gossip as a habit?” Pope Francis continued, “Yes or no? No? Okay, so we are in agreement! No gossip!”
He continued:
Jesus offers the example of the Fifth Commandmen, “Do not kill,” and goes on to add, “but I say to you: Whoever is angry with his brother will be guilty before the court.”
“With this, Jesus reminds us that even words can kill,” explained the Pope. “When it is said that someone has the ‘tongue of a serpent,’ what does it mean? That his words kill.”
“Therefore, not only must one not make an attempt on the life of others, but one must not even pour on him the poison of anger and hit him with slander, nor speak ill of him. And here we arrive at gossip. Gossip can also kill, because it kills the reputation of the person,” stressed the Holy Father.
Even before that, in the fall of 2013, he said (from the U.K. Catholic Herald):
People who judge and criticise others are hypocrites and cowards who are unable to face their own defects, Pope Francis has said.
Gossip, too, is “criminal” as it destroys, rather than exalts the image of God present in others, he said in his early morning homily today (September 13) at his residence of Domus Sanctae Marthae.
“Those who live judging their neighbours, speaking badly of them, are hypocrites because they don’t have the strength, the courage to look at their own defects,” he said.
Last fall, the pontiff went so far as to say to assembled religious superiors at the Vatican (via CNS):
“Please,” he told the superiors, “don’t let the terrorism of gossip exist among you. Throw it out. Let there be fraternity. And if you have something against your brother, tell him to his face. Sometimes it might end in fisticuffs,” he said, causing the superiors to laugh. “That’s not a problem. It’s always better than the terrorism of gossip.”
Apparently the secular world agrees. Cablenet Investigation Discovery has given the greenlight to “Death by Gossip With Wendy Williams,” set to premiere this fall.
Williams, the host of a popular self-titled syndicated talk show, will be host and executive producer of the new series. From the press release:
(Silver Spring, MD) – Investigation Discovery proves that talk may be cheap, but gossip can be deadly with the greenlight of a new series DEATH BY GOSSIP WITH WENDY WILLIAMS, with the Diva of Dish serving as host and executive producer. Premiering in the fall of 2015, idle chitchat turns dark and dangerous as ID uncovers crimes fueled by rumors and sordid half-truths that lead to the ultimate betrayal…murder.
“There’s nobody better than the daring doyenne of daytime, Wendy Williams to offer this cautionary tale to those who indulge in chatter and innuendo,” said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Discovery Networks. “DEATH BY GOSSIP proves that sticks and stones may break your bones…but words can really kill you.”
“It’s no rumor… I’m obsessed with ID to the point that it keeps me up at night,” said Wendy Williams. “I couldn’t be happier to host and executive producer my own project on one of my favorite networks and showcase my brand of talk, which won’t get you killed, but it will kill in the ratings!”
Beware of offices, gyms, playgrounds, and nosy neighborhoods, as they all make for great rumor mills, but when dishing the dirt results in a body six feet under, not minding one’s own beeswax can quickly become a deadly offense. From a respected English teacher’s very own Shakespearean tragedy entangled by sex, greed and betrayal, to college kid wrapped up in a twisted love triangle with a dash of black magic, DEATH BY GOSSIP warns viewers of the tempting grapevine, because it can quickly strangle the most unsuspecting of prattlers.
DEATH BY GOSSIP is produced by Wendy Williams Productions (WWP) in association with m2 Pictures for Investigation Discovery. Wendy Hunter, Kevin Hunter, Jill Ramsey and Lisa Knapp are executive producers for WWP. Mike Sinclair, David O’Donnell and Ashley Crary are executive producers for m2 Pictures.For Investigation Discovery, Thomas Cutler is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President.
Of course, Williams herself is trading in the fascination with gossip to fuel ratings, but wouldn’t it be nice if people didn’t just enjoy this as voyeurism or titillation, but truly as a cautionary tale?
Gossip is one of humanity’s most cost-effective weapons. Words are free, and words can kill.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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