Glee producer’s controversial Salling tribute
FORMER Glee cast and crew members turned to social media after news broke that star Mark Salling had apparently committed suicide, weeks after pleading guilty to possession of child pornography.
Producer Tim Davis expressed his condolences, while acknowledging the 35-year-old actor's crimes. Salling had been scheduled for sentencing in March, and faced five to seven years in prison.
"Today we lost another #Glee cast member. Yes, he committed crimes against children. Yes, it's horrific. But #MarkSalling was a broken man … I loved Mark, and am sad when I consider the devastation of his parents. PLEASE withhold your cruel comments," Davis tweeted.
"Let me be clear. Having compassion for #MarkSalling in no way minimizes his crimes, nor does it minimize the pain and devastation of the victims of those crimes," he continued. "I'm just saying stop adding to his family's pain. This was their son. If you're without sin, feel free to cast stones."
Salling's co-star Jane Lynch retweeted Davis' latter statement.
However, many criticised Davis' sentiments:
Equating possession of 25,000 pictures & 600 videos of child pornography (including children as young as three) with the everyday sins of the average human is careless and appalling.
— Charlotte A (@chazzer84) January 30, 2018
IF YOURE WITHOUT SICK IMAGES AND VIDEOS OF CHILDREN - FEEL FREE TO CAST STONES. pic.twitter.com/Ds0D957LTT
— ashley✨ (@ash_zee) January 30, 2018
Whether we’re of Sin or not is irrelevant, that doesn’t make us exempt from vocalising our disgust for a man who admitted to having thousands of images of child pornography. I’ll save all my compassion for those poor children! But I agree hassling the family is not right though
— Paul Reddin (@PaulCR_) January 30, 2018
To be clear #MarkSalling is THE ONE that brought and is bringing pain to his family.Just as he did to the victims and their families. Spare us the lecture.
— Govt. Mule (@Mule1998) January 30, 2018
If your child was preyed upon and featured in one of those 50000 images seized by cops and which Salling actively, engaged with, stored and viewed for his own depraved pleasure, you wouldn't dare refer to that quote about sin.
— Jasmine's Mommy (@VanessaG_TX) January 30, 2018
Not to be insensitive, and while I feel sad for his loved ones, how do you think the children that were victims in the videos he knowingly collected, would feel seeing him described as such? Being a 'broken man' does not remove the fact that he had a child pornography collection.
— rebs fisher (@LovingLourd) January 30, 2018
Glee director Paris Barclay shared a photo of Salling and late co-star Cory Monteith filming the hit Fox series and wrote, "It's a painful loss, again. Two young actors, lost too soon. RIP #marksalling."
Salling's lawyer confirmed his death to Page Six on Tuesday.
"Mark was a gentle and loving person, a person of great creativity, who was doing his best to atone for some serious mistakes and errors of judgment. He is survived by his mother and father, and his brother. The Salling family appreciates the support they have been receiving and asks for their privacy to be respected."
Salling's Glee co-star Matthew Morrison today posted a photo of himself standing between Salling and fellow Glee star Cory Monteith, who died of a drug overdose in 2013 aged 31.
Speaking to paparazzi, former Glee star Jane Lynch said she was "sad" about his death.
"It's tragic and I'm broken-hearted over it," she told TMZ.
Salling played Noah "Puck" Puckerman on Glee, which ran from 2009 to 2015.
This story originally ran on the New York Post and is republished here with permission.
If you are experiencing mental health issues or suicidal feelings contact Lifeline in 13 11 14 or BeyondBlue 1300 224 636. If it is an emergency please call 000.
