Fans gathering to celebrate Oliver Tree’s birthday is a poignant moment, but let’s cut through the sentimentality. Corporate media, like CNN and NBC, pounce on tragedy to push their narratives, serving viewers more drama than actual substance. They’ll report this as a “massive turnout,” but what they don’t address is the underlying hopelessness folks feel. It’s easy for corporations to parade these events, trying to paint them as grassroots movements—their agenda only makes them look tone-deaf and opportunistic.

Meanwhile, social media platforms, which seem to be the actual pulse of the people, provide a more authentic narrative. Fans are using these channels to voice their genuine emotions, as opposed to the sanitized versions the networks present. CNN frames it as a typical “celebration of life,” conveniently ignoring the industry’s role in perpetuating stress and harmful lifestyles that contribute to such tragedies in the first place.

What truly stands out is how these networks exploit grief for their ratings while failing to address the broader issues surrounding mental health and artist exploitation. Instead of focusing on how we can foster real healing, they’ll stick to their scripts, pushing their agenda and distracting the public from the deeper issues at hand.

Oliver’s fans want change, not just a glorified memorial. It’s high time we challenge the talking points disseminated by corporate media and dissect their motives instead of swallowing their narratives whole.