Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Cream / Wow Shoot the Messenger: Toby Keith vs. Peter Cooper--The Movie
Posted by Jack Silverman on Wed, Apr 8, 2009 at 5:35 AM
The film adaptation of the story of Toby and Peter.
Comments (9)
Showing 1-9 of 9
Any publicity is good publicity when you can use the stage to remind people how much of a "badass" you are. He ought to thank Mr. Cooper for politely serving as his whipping post on camera. This can only help Mr. Keith's image.
like
dislike
Thanks for posting this, Jack. This makes my point for me, right at the end when Toby asks Peter quite simply "Why do you not call me or Kris or Willie?". It was irresponsible to print this story without any verification, and I've learned from personal experience that if you're going to print your name next to an accusation you had better be ready to get called out on it. It pays to verify the facts, in advance, before running with a story. It particularly pays in the age of the internet where what might have once been quickly overlooked on a back page of the paper can now get "supersized" so quickly.
Brandon, once again, I need to ask: Did you read Peter Cooper's story?
Cooper's story was about how silly it was that Ethan Hawke vainly tried to hide the identity of Toby Keith. It's not about the incident. I stand by my position that Cooper did nothing wrong, and that Keith should have been going after Hawke.
Cooper's commentary was on the Rolling Stone story, not the situation that transpired. I don't know how I can spell this out any more clearly.
Jack, yes, I read Peter Cooper's story as well as all of the followups and corrections. I will give you that Hawke is more culpable.
It just rubs me the wrong way that claiming a story is merely a commentary on a third-party report absolves the publisher of a responsibility to question that third party's facts. Is Cooper's opinion that Ethan Hawke is silly print-worthy? Or is it only print-worthy because it includes a juicy accusation? If it's the latter, it's the reporter's job to at least nod in the general direction of the accusation he's providing the details of.
It's pretty clear we don't agree on this and probably won't, and that's fine with me.
Brandon, yes, we probably won't agree. But I do appreciate your concern for journalistic integrity, as that's an important concern.
Here are my responses to your questions:
First, it's printworthy because it's a national print story about a major country music star, and Peter Cooper is a music journalist in the country music capitol. I don't see any gray area there.
Next, Peter merely was reporting on Ethan's version of events (and his funny pseudo-veiled reference to Toby).
Peter's story is factually correct. These are Ethan's version of the events. And he makes it clear, by saying "According to Ethan Hawke."
He also included Kris Kristofferson's comments when he received them, after the first story.
I just think it is so misleading, they acted like Toby went totally off. He was nice and calm talking to Peter, he didn't scream or yell he talked and said what he had to say. He has every right to do that when lies are told. Willie Nelson also came forward and said it never happened, why wasn't that printed? Everybody jumps on Toby because he is honest, and tells it like it is. People don't like that. What really irritates me is people saying things and never have listened to Toby at all. Before saying things about Toby or what he did listen to him and watch his Biography and things and you will see what he's about. There are so many hypocrits out here they complain about what he says but then they bash him, thats a hypocrit.
Another thing, if this really happenened I'm sure Kris would have remembered it and I doubt they would be as close of friends as they are. See Toby didn't do any of the cussing in this SO CALLED TRUTH, it was all Kris, but then when Toby does go off he gets bashed. You can't have it both ways.
WTF? Several people that WERE THERE said he said dropped the "f bomb" 4 or 5 times.
Were you there? Did you hear something different than they did?
T's a talentless boob, anyway.
There is some humorous subtext here. Toby Keith is part of the giant, corporate, country/pop machine- the Britney Spears of country music. Peter Cooper can write and play AND sing honest county music (check out his new album with Eric Brace). Toby Keith has the all the money the machine can supply, but he as never garnered the respect of great musicians. Envy?
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
