As more and more information comes to light regarding the deaths of Steve McNair and Sahel Kazemi, the situation becomes increasingly surreal.The latest borderline-unbelievable nugget comes from the Nashville City Paper: apparently, just weeks before his July 4 passing that has been officially declared a murder-suicide, McNair filmed a suicide prevention public service announcement for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Developmental Disability.
The ad never made it to air.
"We were developing a PSA but it never reached the point of being aired and it seems broadcasting it now is not only inappropriate but doesn't serve the community, his family or memory, or the issue we hoped the PSA would help address," Jill Hudson, the department's communications director, told the City Paper.
I mean, come on. This pushes the limits of irony.
During a Wednesday news conference, Nashville police announced that they believed Kazemi had killed McNair and herself after telling friends that her life was "spinning out of control." Kazemi's friends told police that the 20-year-old had spiraled into despair because of financial issues, as well as an increasingly complex relationship with McNair.
On Friday -- one day before this horrible incident -- Kazemi even told a friend, "My life is a ball of s--- and I should end it," Nashville Police Chief Ronal Serpas said.
Unfortunately, so far as we are aware, no one in Kazemi's life took action when she threw up these red flags. The results, obviously, were tragic.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
7-08-2009 @ 9:09PM
suzanne said...
Oh the irony!
Reply
7-09-2009 @ 11:21PM
Itsdamamma said...
I honestly want to see the statistics on this. Most of the people I know who talk about killing them selves do it for the sheer attention of it. The people I know who have actually done it never said a thing to anyone. Just up and gone. What are the stats on "speaking up".
7-10-2009 @ 1:57AM
mickey said...
Lets face it, McNair was committing suicide by cheating on his spouse. Sometimes it just turns out that way, you know, when your playing around with people's lives like that. He went into her restaurant, otherwise they never would have met. No sympathy from me.
7-08-2009 @ 9:11PM
suzanne said...
Everyone needs to take the threats of suicide seriously. It is a cry for help
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7-09-2009 @ 8:10PM
cuttie240 said...
This is an unfortunate and tragic incident, but i'm pretty sure for some, suicide is a thought that has flashed through some peoples minds at one time or another during stressful times ... it's just something certain people don't ever admit.
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7-10-2009 @ 11:34AM
Mister Barbecue said...
No that is not true.
7-09-2009 @ 8:18PM
fknhippie said...
They should air the commercials after the family has had time to grieve and with their permission it may actually make a bigger impact.
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7-09-2009 @ 8:24PM
njspagal said...
I agree with you. This ad will have a much bigger impact now if allowed to be aired by family members.
7-09-2009 @ 8:42PM
Keith Webster said...
I agree. This can help drive home the impact that suicide has on the survivors and maybe just one person will think twice about suicide as a solution to their problems.
7-09-2009 @ 8:26PM
luvs2shopp24 said...
My sisters husband committed suicide back in 07.. Hardest thing our family and his family has ever gone thru....He was only 45 years old, left behind 2 children under the age of 10..He had a choice and he chose the coward way out...I can forgive him for what he did, but I can't forget!
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7-09-2009 @ 10:41PM
Bonnie said...
We can look at suicide with our healthy brains and say "it's a choice" but actually, people who die of suicide DO NOT FEEL THAT IT IS A CHOICE...they are sick and desparate beyond our comprehension.
7-09-2009 @ 8:33PM
Praise the Lord said...
Toby-many won't see it this way , now, but what you said is so true and if either of them had stayed away....they'd both be a lot better off ( most importantly so would his innocent wife and kids and her family as well )
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7-09-2009 @ 8:36PM
kunzsp said...
So sad, and a tragic story.
Phyllis Kunz
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7-10-2009 @ 6:19AM
DAVID said...
Go ahead and put the PSA on the tv. He didn't commit suicide she did. She just killed a loser, cheater, and a liar. But hen again why would anyone believe anything he said, his whole life was a lie. Not much credibility to it.
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7-09-2009 @ 8:46PM
cleancutmaint said...
Help somebody because they are struggling?
I need help. What are you going to do? Pay all my bills for me. Give me a house? A car? OH,Please. Ain't nobody gonna help. You are on your own in this world. Get used to it or get out. There 3 million people in L.A. alone that need help. Just try to find a job that will pay you a decent wage. Then don't get sick or then they will give it to a mexican for half the wage. WORD!
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7-11-2009 @ 2:56PM
fknhippie said...
No helping someone with regards to this post means take someone seriously if they threaten suicide and try to take them somewhere they will be safe like a hospital. You are really missing the point if you think this is comparable to giving someone a car try reading the article and not just the message board
7-10-2009 @ 12:27AM
Kathy said...
Actually, none of us are ever alone. God is always there waiting for us to turn to him. :)
7-10-2009 @ 8:42AM
Danilo said...
why pick on a certain group of people...Pick on the employers who choose to rip these struggling people paying cheap wages..I bet you have a Link-welfare card! WORD!!
7-09-2009 @ 8:48PM
gabnic98 said...
My prayers go out to the McNair family. My family had to deal with the same situation.My uncle's passing was due to a murder-suicide on the hands of his own wife. What she did was selfish because not once did she ever think what will happen to their son.
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7-09-2009 @ 8:49PM
The Aol Experien said...
Sad,but true: Commiting suiside is atragic thing, my X husband did that, but had threatened to do it for 20 years before, I got him help,we divorced, he had remarried for 13 years, everyone thought he was happy, but I beleive when aperson ever mentions it, they will some how do it, they are doing it to spite someone I feel, many things led up to this thru the years, I think guilt was a factor also, it was as if he was saying, i want things my way or I will show you, to me and his(nice) 2nd wife, He was sober man did not even smoke, just so in secure in life, from his up bringing in childhood this is only my thoughts, after living with him 28 yers, Ifeel I can say this. He has great children, good job, a nice home, some money, so what else was it,but insecurity.r
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