Everyone is buzzing about the death of Heath Ledger, and the media coverage is completely rankling me. Every time there's a new detail released, it gets splashed around in headlines that, the very next day, are proven wrong. "Heath Ledger found facedown and naked on his bedroom floor!" (Oh wait, he was actually in bed.) "Sleeping pills scattered around Heath's apartment!" (Oh wait, they weren't scattered, actually. They were on his nightstand and in his medicine cabinet.) "Rolled-up 20-dollar bill found in Heath's apartment with traces of white powder!" (Oh wait, the bill was clean. No illegal drugs were found.)

Entertainment reporters (if you can call them that) are the worst, but even legitimate news organizations get into it. I hate how the media spreads all sorts of rumors before any actual truth comes out. Since his death, news reports have been suggesting (sometimes outright, sometimes with strong hints) that he overdosed - maybe intentionally, maybe accidentally. But we don't even know yet if drugs were involved in his death! Sure, he owned sleeping pills. He also suffered from insomnia, which he was very open about. Why do we immediately assume he died from an overdose? Initial reports were that he had pneumonia, too. Not sure if that's true, either, but why do we leap for the idea that he overdosed and ignore the possibility that he might have had a health emergency?

A better question is why are we making wild speculation at all?! Oh right, because scandal sells. How honorable. This isn't news - it's rumor. And by spreading it, we disrespect the person who died, not to mention his family and friends who have to endure all these claims before anything is confirmed.

I realize that given his age, Ledger's death is mysterious. And it may turn out that the official findings show he did die of an OD. Frankly, it's none of our business, but I hope the cause, whatever it may be, is announced soon - so he will no longer be a tabloid target and can actually rest in peace.