It's no different then everything you still hear about Elvis, Monroe, Dean and Lennon. I think it's actually kind of nice that they feel that he is relevant enough to put him on the cover. It's not abnormal to do these sorts of things Rolling Stone put Kurt Cobain on the cover over and over again after his death. I think it's like a tribute and not a negative thing at all.

we love him and miss him

I hate Vanity Fair as a tabloid

I think it's interesting. I would read it. I don't view it as inappropriate and agree with glynislily. I see it as tributary.

What do you mean "inappropriate"? Why would you give readers two options that are not evn opposites of each other? Strange question...

I think its interesting I will definitely buy! Heath is definitely one of my favorite actors and its nice to read about him and see pictures of him again. He was a very talented young man and we need to honor and remember him for all the joy and entertainment he brought to us, his fans. I will never forget him and he will be forever loved and missed.

Custody battle??? There was a custody battle???

This seems more like a hitpiece on Michelle Williams than anything judging by the excerpts I've read elsewhere. But maybe there is more to it.

I am glad to see his memory kept alive. Elvis died over 30 years ago and he still makes magazine covers. I'm very interested in hearing the real story behind what was going on with him. It makes me sad to read he wanted to spend time with his daughter in London but the mother wouldn't let him because he had a cold. Less than a week later he was dead. In the end he's the one that was reckless and took the pills now his daughter will never know him. It's just sad.

his family can keep his memeory alive.i think its innapropriate ,he has a little girl,his final days are none of our business.

I'm sorry but you can't compare Heath to Elvis or anything like that. I don't think.

It's truly unfortunate this article seems geared towards creating a person at fault. Instead of including any events and/or details that led up to the breakdown of a relationship the focus is instead on how many lawyers were ultimately involved?

Heath was a gifted brilliant actor and his death will never be anything but but a tragic loss. But placing a slant on this sad story as if he were some naive and innocent victim in it all is just wrong.

I guess Vanity Fair is no better than the National Enquirer.

I don't get the beatification of Heath Ledger, he had so much to live for; looks, money, fame, recognition, work, a beautiful child and he acted recklessly and we must feel bad for him?

It's fine if they want to tell the story. I'll probably read it. However the cover smacks of sales gimmick to me.

I do think it's inappropriate to run the story; and it's especially inappropriate to implicate that his split with Michelle Williams could be even partly responsible for his death - are they now saying that it was a suicide or something? Even if they are saying that he was depressed because of it and therefore overdosed; that is an extremely disturbing guilt to saddle Michelle and their daughter with. I think the main problem I have with this is because I know that these people; all people in any kind of media or entertainment outlet; don't care at all for anything other than mone, power, and fame. A publication like Vanity Fair, especially has never before shown any kind of sensitivity toward human beings; can anyone really think that they would now? I don't find interesting; because this is his family's business and no one else's...

I completely agree with Lizlee89's comment. Any implication that Michelle was responsible for Heath's behavior prior to his death is completely inappopriate. No one can know what it's like to love an addict unless they've gone through it, and anyone who has experienced it would never, ever suggest enabling someone by sticking around was a good idea. The article seems irresponsible, tabloidish, and oddly timed.

It does sound an awful lot like some blame is being placed on Michelle Williams. To be honest, I think that's fair. According to some, Ledger was a known drug user for years, and a friend of Michelle's told PEOPLE magazine that she was fully aware of their "differences" from the beginning, but willingly "turned her head" to those at first. If Ledger did have a drug problem, I can completely understand a mother not wanting her child around that, but don't be a hypocrite about it. She knew how Heath was, had a child with him, and then wants to be angry about it later. Sorry, but in my eyes, that's not fair. All I'm saying is that, as easy as it is, Heath Ledger isn't the only one to blame in the situation.

Let me clarify, when I said "and then she wants to be angry about it later," it is referring to Heath's alleged problem, which he was reportedly making an effort to get under control.

Commodifying death & people's memories...where do we draw the line?

Butt out Terry Gilliam!

Univgirl - People fall in love with other people despite their differences and despite their bad habits. Maybe one day, when you fall in love, you'll understand. Until then... I'm sorry Michelle and Heath's private affairs affect your life so much.

I feel that the parties interviewed should have kept their mouths shut. Having said that, Vanity Fair could have done a tribute piece that included the great photos, but nixed the article.

despite the new photos, I am not going to buy this issue. it's old news that can only hurt a family who is still in a lot of pain, not to mention an innocent child.

I was surprised by the exerpt. I never heard about any sort of custody battle...

I am sad that people are still trying to stir up contoversy over Heath's death. I'm one of his biggest fan, but I wish that people just stop digging into his private life which would open more wounds to his beloved ones. Even if what Terry Gilliam's saying about the custody battle was true, would it be any good for his daughter's cause? The article would, in the long run, become a sort of reference when she grows up wondering that maybe her mother had something to do with her father's death. If Heath's so-called 'friends' in this article care about him at all, they wouldn't get involved in this and making Heath's loved ones in such a painful situation.
Let him rest in peace. PLEASE. Give Michelle some peace too, so that she can raise Matilda with the best love a mother can give.

Isn't this a repeat of articles done after his death? I hear that one of the so-called highlights is a friends insistence that "Heath doesn't take illegal substances or prescription medications"... Yet, his death was ruled: an accidental overdose of prescription meds."
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Well, the editors & publishers don't skip off to the bank with wads of cash from geniuses with LONG memories. No. They keep recycling crap because, for the most part, the reading public has short memories & lower IQ's... and will shell out $$$ to read garbage from UNNAMED sources, friends & insiders.
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After I stopped the addition (Yes! laugh if you will) of buying magazines every week (including monthly ones) I was shocked to discover an extra $200.00 in MY bank account at the end of the year.

I found this to be a very strange article. Terry Gilliam's foul mouth and the way he tries to make it out that it's Michelle's fault, but then says he was so impressed that Heath came to work "clearly sick" and was glowing at the end of the day! Probably glowing from the fever and infection that was raging through his body at that time.

i dont think its appropriate to dig up all the old info about his death, why do we need to know, none of us knew him personally so it shouldn't be necessary....i think its fine looking back at his good work and celebrating his life but don't go controversial on him its a bit sick.....

it seems more random than inappropriate to me. why now and not in january when he died?

let the man rest in peace.

it would have been better of course if it's a tribute enumerating his achievements, no need to air out the not so pretty side of his life

well, it's not inappropriate...was it necessary, maybe not but I checked out the photos and he looked very yummy...he was soooo much more than some lame actor...he was like too complex for this world and I think they tried to show that...the epitome of cool and probably held the best convo in a room full of people...side note: he wasn't typically my type but he was sexy, veeery sexy..and he sure did have the "Joker" smile lol...aww, Heath

i think that it's fine that he's on the cover - as long as people aren't trying to exploit him at this point. i don't know what purpose it serves to have his 'dirty laundry' aired out - but i guess that VF usually does things rather tastefully.

WOW it's been a year..... seems unnecessary.

Agree with glynislily. F()ck this still sucks.

I have no respect for Gilliam. Not once, but twice has he pointed the finger at Michelle as if it's her fault. No one told Heath to pop those pills. Presciptoin. Non prescription. It doesn't matter, b/c it's all lethal when abused, and I don't believe that he picked up the habit of pill popping after the split. If anything, it helped cause it. Truth be told, Gilliam is drumming up publicity for Parnassus and/or trying to ease his own guilt by laying blame on Michelle. If Heath was as exhasted and ill as everyone said he was, he shouldn't have been working on that film.

I got a copy of the VF issue today when it hit newsstands in LA. The article is a good 8+ pages long. Small print. And as I suspected, the internet summaries floating around of the article are nothing more than written "sound bites" to entice readers. By and large, this article is about Parnassus, Gilliam and his deep friendship with Heath. That is the focus of the article.

The author of this article went to Pinewood Studios to meet and interview Terry, Nicola, Mick and Gerry, and as I said, the article is really about Terry"s mentorship of Heath more than anything else. There are also some very pithy statements in the article made by the author about Gilliam that I think capture his tenacity and raison d"être as a filmmaker. The article left me with an even greater appreciation for Gilliam and for his involvement in Heath"s beautiful life than I already had. I can"t wait to see this film. If it does not find US distribution, it will really be a crime.

@ Anonymous poster #35:

You could not be more mistaken about Terry Gilliam. He loved Heath like a son, was his dear friend and mentor. He completed this film FOR Heath and for us, so that we, the world, could see Heath's final performance.

I have adored heath since 1997 when I saw him in Roar. I was blessed to have met him and worked around him in 2004. He was a brilliant actor and an even better wonderful human being. I miss him and I do enjoy articles on him,seeing a photo that I have not seen before.I don't care for this article though,a lot of it is mud-slinging type talk, blaming Michelle Williams etc.I know for a fact that Heath would not want that.I cannot believe Gilliam would talk that way either.I think the magazine editors have taken a few comments made by people who knew Heath and ran with them,adding a bit of fiction here and there.Those that really knew Heath and loved him are the ones keeping their mouths shut out of respect. Just print a nice article once in a while,a few photo's to keep our memories of Heath alive,leave the tabloid talk in the gutter where it belongs.It helps no one. RIP Heath, you are so very missed.

I think Terry Gilliam is very inappropriate. Heath always wanted his private life kept private and there is always two sides to every story. Heath and Michelle were still very much in love and sadly didn't get the time to settle things between them. Emotions were running high. Heath would never want the mother of his beloved Matilda spoken of this way.

I am one of Heath's beloved fans. I knew he would be great from the first time I saw him in the Patriot and then 10 things I hate about you. It is tragic that he died so young, leaving a beautiful little girl that is the spitting image of him with what appears to be the same boundless energy and enthusiasm about life. And she only has pictures of him to remember.

I believe this article is timely since his last movie will be out soon; therefore, reminding the public about him will ultimately sell and make money for the producers.

While I love seeing the pictures, I don't appreciate reading the article that almost "blames Michelle for Heath's death". Like his dad said recently: Heath is responsible for what he took and although he didn't mean to kill himself, he was not careful and therefore, tragedy ensued. This, leaving the people who loved him to remember him and still suffer the pain of loss that didn't have to be. But, look at many celebrities before and after him....some have taken the same path with similar results. It is sad, yes... but it also speaks to what fame can do to many who are not well grounded.

I don't think Michelle is to blame. Even if she knew he had a problem when she met him. Many of us think we can change someone and that when a child arrives, the love of a father can change his habits - but people have to change themselves on their own and from within. Loved ones can try to help them but in the end it is the person with the problem who has to do the work.

So, having said that...I love remembering him and seeing his pictures...but, don't throw blame where it doesn't belong. He was a beautiful and talented young man who got lost.

Sorry, found nothing new or interesting in this article. I did learn a bit about Heath's last movie and the director. That's about it. New info about Heath? None. Am disappointed to have spent five dollarsa for nothing. Well, at least I get a couple new pictures of him...that is about all.
Nothing new revealed and BTW...article kind of made Michelle out to have been a heartless b*tch and I doubt that was the case. I am sure she loved Heath and they both tried.

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