The tragic news of Sam Neill’s death from pneumonia seems to have hit the media like a ton of bricks, but here’s the kicker: instead of allowing his legacy to shine through, outlets like TMZ are sensationalizing it, spinning a narrative around a beloved actor’s passing. What’s the aim here? More clicks, more views—because that’s what corporate media thrives on. Forget nuanced storytelling; it’s all about the headline grab that capitalizes on shock value.

Take a look at how CNN handles similar stories. They typically engage in a sentimental dance, almost elevating the topic to a “cultural reflection” rather than focusing on the impact of the individual. This is where they miss the mark. They could use their platform to discuss Neill’s body of work and how he shaped cinematic history, but instead, they’re more interested in the fleeting drama of his untimely death.

Then you have Fox News—surprisingly calm on this front, but don’t let that fool you. They still fall into the grave mistake of reducing people to mere statistics when they could provide a meaningful discourse about mental health and the fragility of life, particularly as it relates to aging actors in Hollywood.

At the end of the day, we should be focusing on celebrating Neill’s contributions rather than letting corporate media norms dictate how we process loss. Let’s demand better from our news sources. Give us the deeper discussions, the heartfelt tributes, not just the sensationalism.