In the wake of a national tragedy, I think it's normal to feel helpless. You want to help the victims, you want to do something ... but you're not sure what you CAN do. Which is why I can sort of understand the impetus that drove a young woman named Emily Sanchez to start a social media campaign asking actor Christian Bale to help lift the spirits of the Aurora shooting victims ... but her request not only puts Bale in a terrible position, it's a cringeworthy idea that seems rife with the potential for disaster.
See, this social media campaign is begging Christian Bale to "visit the injured children from the movie massacre as Batman." As in, show up at the hospital, dressed as the Dark Knight -- in order to cheer up the same people who were wounded and traumatized while watching Dark Knight Rises last week.
Anyone else see a problem with this?
I mean, I know Ms. Sanchez meant well with her suggestion -- which started as a Facebook post, and has since turned into the Twitter hashtag #BaleOutAurora -- but even if the request was innocuous, it seems awfully unfair to put Bale in this position. It reminds me of the increasingly awkward trend of military personnel begging celebrities for dates, because how can an actor say no without sounding like a total douchebag?
And, of course, there's the little matter of the request being sort of ... maybe ... a tiny bit ... INSANE? Bale's Batman isn't the campy '60s TV character, ready to bust into the Adam West bat-dance at someone's hospital bedside -- he's a dark, violent, intimidating character. Can you imagine some poor kid waking up to see the Dark Knight looming over him, husking "HELLO." Why not just have Bane show up, while you're at it?
Also, and more seriously, it seems like a terrible gamble to assume that anyone involved in this tragedy is interested in seeing one of the characters from the movie come to life right before their eyes. Right now they need medical and psychological assistance, not the uncomfortable presence of a Hollywood actor who was trained to play movie characters, not help trauma victims.
Saddest of all is the idea that only Batman has the power to be a hero to these victims. (From Sanchez's post: "They need to know Heroes can be real too, not just the bad guys. Dear Christian Bale, please visit the injured children from the movie massacre as Batman. You have the power to be a Hero right now, not a movie Hero, a real life flesh-and-blood one.") There are no shortage of real-life heroes in this story, and there are plenty of possibilities for the rest of us to offer help.
What do you think of the #BaleOutAurora campaign? Do you think Christian Bale really should visit the victims dressed as Batman?
Image via Thorsten Becker/Flickr
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Comments 27
I'm with you Linda. Bad idea. PTSD anyone? If Christian Bale wanted to visit the victims, he should go as himself, not in character.
I wouldn't think it was such a terrible idea if he visited as himself, but the last thing those people need is a blatant reminder of what they went through. They should be focusing on their recovery.
I live in Aurora (Centennial) and I find this absolutey absurd. He had nothing to do with this. There are famiies, friends and victims suffering, true, but it is not his responsibility to come "save the day". I, too, have avoided this message on FB. I find it extremely tacky, to be honest.
P.S. I drove by the memorial sight and theater yesterday and actually had a procedure at Medical Center of Aurora (where many of the victims are) on Monday. There is a heavy heart and feeling in this city. The memorial was beautiful. A man from Illinois hand made 12 crosses and DROVE them out here to honor the victims. He did the same with the Columbine victims. So special. The community has pulled together in an amazing way. Sadly, it takes something tragic like that to do so but, WOW, it is comforting to know that we are capable of doing so.
No, no, no, no, no. Wasn't the shooter dressed as a Batman character? Bad idea all around. I agree with Amanda - the first responders and hospital staff are heroes, as are those victims who shielded friends or loved ones with their own bodies. We need to support the victims, not scare the bejeezus out of them.
Linda, I totally agree! One of my FB friends had the request posted, and these were pretty much my exact thoughts! I cannot imagine why someone would want "Batman" in the flesh after being traumatized while watching the film. Don't get me wrong, I understand the intentions of this campaign, but there are plenty of other ways to show support and, as you said, there are plenty of real life heroes that emerged from this tragedy.
I really think that for some of those kids that seeing him or anything else from that film would be traumatizing. Hello PTSD! I hope he doesn't do a visit. He could help in another way but a visit is not it.
I agree wholeheartedly...and personally as a young child I would be TERRIFIED if batman showed up. I'm sure kids are associating batman with pain...subconciously. When kids are burned parents are sent from the room so they are associated with the pain as the doctors/nurses clean the wound. If NORMAL Christian Bale showed up I'd be fine.