As Paris Hilton is hauled off to jail screaming and crying, Taiwanese singer Shino Lin begs for forgiveness.
While Paris Hilton cried out “Mama!” as she was hauled off to jail (for the second time), drama was also erupting on the other side of the Pacific: Taiwanese singer Shino Lin faced the press to beg for forgiveness in her own drunk driving massacre. In the middle of the night a few weeks ago, Lin’s car hit a motorcycle and killed a nurse who was returning home from the night shift. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to do it,” Lin cried out at the police station when dozens of reporters rushed to question her. The press quickly turned up reports saying Lin stank of alcohol just a few hours after the car accident. Earlier that night in Taipei, she was reportedly dancing and drinking at various bars and clubs until 5 a.m. Returning home, Lin and a friend felt hungry and went out again to eat. Driving her car without a license, Lin says she was just going to grab a quick bite in her neighborhood, but her alcohol level had other plans in mind. Lin lost control of her car and killed the 41-year-old nurse, leaving an 8-year-old son motherless. Lin is facing charges of manslaughter and various offenses against public safety, which carries a sentence of up to two years in jail.
Back in 2000, Lin won both the Taiwan Golden Melody Award and the Hong Kong Golden Singles (China’s answers to the Grammy Awards). But since 2003, her contract with Japanese label Aves Trax was not renewed and she has not put out any new records.
Rumor has it that the main reason Avex refused to renew Lin’s contract was her drinking problem. “She is in fact a talented singer and musician, but because of her drinking problem, no one dares sign her,” said one music producer.
Last week, after the accident, facing tremendous pressure, Lin had an emotional breakdown and was hospitalized for a few days. She then asked for leave from the hospital and went to the parents of the victim, begging and apologizing. “I do not dare think I’ll have your forgiveness. But I will try my very best to turn my remorse into actual compensation for you and your family,” Lin said, on her knees, to the victim's father. The TV reports I saw showed the father just crying and shaking his head. The actual compensation, in fact, is going to be a heavy burden for the unemployed celebrity. Lin is expected to foot the bill for the funeral, then a huge sum for the victim’s life and long-term support for the victim’s son and her elderly parents.
Of course Lin isn’t the only celebrity who has been caught driving under the influence (Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie, ping-pong national player Kong Linghui, action star Wu Jing), so what is it that drives them to this dangerous behavior? All we ever see these stars doing is spoiling themselves and not cherishing what they have. Fame did not bring respect and self-discipline to them, but destruction.
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