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Jane Velez-Mitchell
Unarmed Teen Killed By Cop; Actor Robin Williams Found Dead
Aired August 11, 2014 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL, HOST: Tonight, breaking news, as a mystery unfolds and violent protests explode. Dozens of people are arrested for
looting after a cop guns down an unarmed African-American teen. But tonight, two totally conflicting stories of what happened have emerged.
Cops say the teen, Michael Brown, was shot dead after struggling over the officer`s gun. But witnesses say the unarmed teenager was surrendering
peacefully as he was shot. So which is true? And could this mystery cop be charged with murder?
Good evening. I`m Jane Velez-Mitchell coming to you live.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LESLIE MCSPADDEN, MICHAEL BROWN`S MOTHER: You took my son away from me.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Michael brown, shot and killed Saturday.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Allegedly pushed the police officer back into the car.
(Bleep). (Bleep). (Bleep).
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: He wasn`t a drug dealer. He was supposed to start school!
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: There was a struggle over the officer`s weapon.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: Anger turns to chaos in a St. Louis suburb.
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: This is your warning. Leave the area!
MCSPADDEN: Y`all got his blood on y`all`s hands.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Eighteen-year-old Michael Brown, a high school grad with no criminal history was not carrying a weapon when a police officer
shot and killed him Saturday. What sparked the confrontation? A St. Louis alderman says Michael and a friend were accused of quote, "stealing gum" or
some sort of cigarette from a store two blocks away from where he was killed. But others say they were just jaywalking. Now, the police chief,
here`s his story, he says the cop tried to get out of his parole car but Michael shoved him back in and as the two struggled, Michael reached for
his weapon. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: The genesis of this was a physical confrontation. Allegedly pushed the police officer back into the car where he physically
assaulted the police officer. It is our understanding at this point in the investigation that within the police car, there was a struggle over the
officer`s weapon. There was at least one shot fired within the car.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Cops say, it spilled into the street where Michael was shot several times and killed about 35 feet away from the police car.
But witnesses say the unarmed teenager who was on his way to his grandmother`s house stopped and raised his hands in the air. Listen to the
witnesses.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN: The police chased after the guy. He was unarmed. He ran for his life. They shot him and he fell. He put his arms up to let
them know he was compliant and that he was unarmed. And they shot him twice more. And he fell to the ground and died.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, we can`t confirm either of these stories because guess what, we can`t get our hands on the police report. Why won`t police
give out the police report? Michael`s family says he was about to start college and this shooting was totally unprovoked. What do you think? Call
me. 1-877-586-7297. And please join our conversation by going to my Facebook page or giving me your thoughts on twitter.
Our "Lion`s Den" is fired up and ready to debate this issue. I want to start with Natalie Jackson, the famed criminal defense attorney, with
part of the team that represented the family of Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was shot dead by infamously the neighborhood watch captain, George
Zimmerman. Do you see parallels to the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin tragedy here?
NATALIE JACKSON, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: I see certain parallels as far as the story goes. But I think this is a lot more egregious because
this is a public officer. This is someone who`s charged to protect all of us and to treat us all equally and fairly.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, here`s what I really want to wrap my brain around. Why is it that we don`t have the police report? Here I am giving
two different versions of events. What would really be helpful right now is the police report.
I want to go to Mike Brooks, HLN law enforcement analyst. I find it curious, that the police report which I think should be the first thing
that`s handed out, is still being kept from the media. And I wonder, is that because that police report might be somewhat problematical?
MIKE BROOKS, HLN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, we`re not talking about a burglary or a robbery here where you can usually go get a police
report in three days at the police station with a report number. We`re talking about an officer-involved killing of an unarmed man. So, you know,
they`re not going to give out any information right now Jane because it`s early on in the investigation, need to wait for the autopsy reports and we
need to let the whole investigation play out. But I`m glad that they turned it over to the St. Louis County Police Department, an independent
organization. And I`m also glad, Jane, that the FBI civil rights division has gotten involved with this now. So hopefully the people there will feel
like, OK, well, the FBI, you know, we can trust them where we can`t trust our local law enforcement. So hopefully that will help things.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, Marc Lamont Hill, CNN political commentator, do you find it problematical that the police reports hasn`t been handed? And
I understand that it`s an officer involved shooting. But still, I mean, there`s a report that was written, you have two totally different versions
of events and that has sparked protests, it`s sparked looting, it`s sparking a national uproar. Why not put the police report out there?
MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: I asked the same question. In my own experience as an activist and organizer particularly
against these types of issues, when there`s something that is at least ostensibly exculpatory for the police, they put it out very quickly. When
they had evidence to show that they didn`t know wrong, that they were justified in their actions, stuff gets leaked, it`s put out deliberately,
explicitly. But when things are fuzzy, you see things like this. Police departments, internal affairs bureaus investigations. They often start to
hide stuff when it looks like they have something to hide. That`s why I`m glad that the Justice Department is engaged in this, the FBI, civil rights
division is engaged in this. And the national media is watching us from the very beginning. Unlike Sanford, Florida, we had the kind of make
people pay attention, they`re paying attention from the beginning here was the big help.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, listen, the word of this deadly shooting of Michael Brown by police officer quickly spread, tensions came to a boil.
We all know what happened. Police say two cops actually were injured as those protests turned violent. The police chief says he was shot at three
times. And I want you to take a look at this really extraordinary video of the looting that followed.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
(INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Just at a sporting goods store and looked behind me, at least three more stores were being looted at this point. We`re
seeing a lot of windows being smashed, people running out with clothing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: OK. At least 32 people have been arrested. Heather Hansen, the criminal defense attorney, what should happen to these people
who took advantage of really a terrible situation, a tragedy and then in turn victimize store owners? Should we throw the book at them?
HEATHER HANSEN, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Yes. Absolutely. I mean, they should be prosecuted just like anybody else. Two wrongs do not make a
right. And this whole situation is indicative of the stress between the police and the community there. Everyone needs to go back to their calmer
hearts and wait for things to be investigated, wait for these reports to come out, so that we can come together as a community and try to resolve
this and move forward.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, I mean, look, here`s the thing, Natalie Jackson, a lot of people have said, well, the looting was just frustration
that boiled over and it`s young people feeling, well, this could have been me and I`m frustrated, I`m angry. But really, is there any excuse for
doing what happened there last night in terms of the damage to the stores and running out with property?
JACKSON: No, there`s no excuse. But I`ll tell you, Jane, there`s a difference between the looters and the people who were frustrated and
angry. So we can`t get those two -- we can`t intermingle those two people. Looters are opportunistic controls. The people who are frustrated and
angry, they have a right to be. In fact, I heard Dr. Michael Dyson say earlier that, you know, the anger and the frustration and what you see
that`s a result of it, which is sometimes the violence or the rioting, you know, that`s the language of people who are unheard. So those are the
people that we really have to give credence to and allow to express what they`re feeling, not the looters. Looters are going to do what criminals
do. So, they`re not the same people. And I think that`s where people are getting confused.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, and I can tell you right now, we`ve got some major breaking news, we understand, involving potentially -- tell me,
producer, in my ear. The death of Robin Williams, the movie star, at the age of 63? My producer is saying the suspected cause of this death is
what? Suicide? Reportedly depressed lately, his family confirmed. This is a shock. This is such a shock. Again, this is breaking news, I am
hearing this in my ear as I am telling you -- on a totally different subject from what we were talking about.
The movie star, Robin Williams, dead. And we remember him from so many incredible movies. We are going to stay on top of the story involving
the death and the controversy surrounding the death of Michael Brown. But we`re also going to take a very short break and be back with Dr. Drew in a
second to talk about the death of Robin Williams at the age of 63, a man that, well, so many of us, myself included, admired. Let`s take a short
break and we`ll be back in just a second. Stay right there.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Robin Williams is dead. This is a shocker. We are all just learning about this together. And it is a very, very sad event,
someone who was an Oscar winner, who was beloved. And who had struggled with sobriety. He was addicted to cocaine and alcohol back in the `80s.
He talked about this openly. And then he got sober and he was sober for a long time.
Now, according to reports, he relapsed in 2006 but then he got back together, he got back on the wagon. Now, you may remember back in June, he
entered rehab proactively saying that he was just trying to maintain his sobriety. So he did not say he relapsed. He simply said, I was going back
into rehab to just work on my sobriety. And I remember talking about that and saying, my hat`s off to you. That`s a very admirable thing to do.
And tonight we`re learning that he passed away this morning and here is a statement from his press representative and his wife. Robin Williams
passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late. This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their
privacy as they grieve during this very difficult time. And that`s from Mara Buxbaum, press representative for Robin Williams.
And his wife said this, "This morning, I lost my husband and my best friend while the world lost one of its most beloved artist and a beautiful
human being. I am utterly heartbroken. In behalf or Robin`s family, we are asking for privacy during our time of profound grief. As he is
remembered, it is our hope the focus will not be on Robin`s death but on the countless moments of joy and laughter he gave to millions of people in
so many movies like, well, my favorite, "Mrs. Doubtfire," also "Good morning, Vietnam," Good Will Hunting," was a movie he won an Oscar for."
I want to go right now to Dr. Drew. Dr. Drew, first of all, this is so shocking and upsetting.
DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, "DR. DREW ON CALL": Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: They`re not saying that this has anything to do whatsoever with addiction. But myself being a recovering alcoholic with 19
years of sobriety and you being perhaps the nation`s leading expert on addiction, do you think it might have something to do with that issue?
PINSKY: Well, of course. And, again, let`s reiterate what the family said, that not focusing on his death but his amazing body of work that we
all love. I mean, this is somebody most people love. And so, this is a tragic loss for everyone and of course for his family. Yes, Jane, let`s
talk about what likely set this up. I mean, we really have to analyze how this could possibly happen to someone who seemed to be thriving and have
such a wonderful life. He had long periods of sobriety. But, you know, Jane, you know as well as I, this is a cunning illness. That when it
resurfaces, it can be demoralizing, it can be shattering, and it can be cunning, it can be difficult to control, more so in a relapse after a long
period of sobriety, almost than any other time.
So you have to wonder whether that was a component of this depression. The other issue was, you know, to have depression severe enough that it
became chronic and ended in a fatality, you have to wonder what other contributing factors there might have been. Alcohol is certainly one. He
may have had a genetic potential for depression. He also had cardiac surgery. Just having cardiac disease and cardiac surgery can put people at
risk for depression that is very difficult to treat, difficult to get to respond. So it`s hard to say it`s the alcoholism, per se. But you have to
figure it probably figured in here. I sort of smell like both, the depression and the alcoholism. But you know, Jane, many patients, when
people commit suicide, when they`re outweigh of alcohol has been relapse, are trying to kill the alcoholic, not the person.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, I am reading right now, Dr. Drew, from Marin County Sheriff`s office Coroner division. And again, this is just coming
in. This is breaking news, tragically superstar Robin Williams dead. Here`s what they say. Investigation into the death of actor Robin Williams
on August 11th at about 11:55 a.m., the Marin County communications received the 911 call reporting a male adult had been located unconscious
and not breathing inside his residence in the Tiburon area. And they responded, he resides at this residence with his wife. At approximately
10:00 p.m. on August 10th, he was located this morning shortly before the 911 call was placed. In other words, it would appear that the family found
him. At this time, the sheriff`s office suspects the death to be suicide due to asphyxia. What do you make of that? Suicide due to asphyxia.
PINSKY: Well, Jane, I don`t know of any other conclusion. If it was a suicide and it was -- if you come upon somebody who`s not breathing who`s
63 years old, you`re not going to conclude even if there was a suicide note, you`re not going to conclude that it was asphyxia or you`re going to
think overdose. Or if you don`t find a suicide note, you`re going to think heart attack or stroke or some other catastrophic medical event. But when
you said it is suicide and asphyxia, I don`t like to be the person to say this, but there`s only one conclusion you can make. And that is some sort
of direct asphyxiation as a means of suicide like hanging.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Now, they obviously have to do a forensic examination and a toxicology test. That has to be conducted. It could be a long time
before we get the results. But your thoughts on that because at this point there is no indication even though he had very famously struggled with
addiction and had, quote-unquote, "gone proactively back into rehab just this past June" not because he had slipped, but because he wanted to
maintain his sobriety. Do you think that there could be a slip involved here? I don`t want to say that because obviously we don`t know.
PINSKY: Yes. We don`t know. We have no idea. The toxicology, I`m sure, will be made public. I think if we`re betting, we would bet on that.
But here`s one of the problems I have with the media of using the term or people spinning the term rehab. We really don`t know if he went into rehab
back in wherever it was, June. He might have gone into a psychiatric hospital for depression. People use the term rehab to mean everything from
psychiatric treatment to a chemical dependency treatment to God knows what.
It`s just somehow becomes this generic term that publicists believe people will accept. And indeed we do rather than scrutinizing what it is
we`re even talking about. So, he may not even gone to rehab, he may have gone in for a psychiatric hospitalization to stabilize his depression to
make sure his alcoholism didn`t recur around the depression. We don`t know what that is all about. I can tell you that -- well, I can tell you Jane,
but here`s the deal. Hospitals have criteria for admission. And, you know, tuning up your recovery is not a criteria for hospitalization. So we
don`t know whether he was hospitalized or did he go somewhere -- I know of no such place that really sort of, residential treatment, I guess, which is
to keep yourself sober and structured while you work on your recovery.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Dr. Drew, I just want to say, we`ve just received a tweet or reading a tweet from Steve Martin, and obviously very, very close
colleague of Robin Williams. And he says, I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams. Great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.
This is going to just shatter so many people in Hollywood. And I want to point out that he had been on a show -- a CBS show called, I believe "The
Crazy Ones." And apparently it had been a very short run. Like canceled after a very short time. And, you know, unfortunately in Hollywood,
success is measured almost minute by minute in this disposable culture. He`s an acting great. Will always be an acting great and icon of
Hollywood. But do you think that could have impacted his state of mind at all?
PINSKY: I really don`t. If you`re having depression so severe that everyone is struggling with it and trying to treat it and talking about it
and then now ends in what looks like a related fatality, you know, those aren`t the kind of stressors that are going to do it. In fact, if somebody
has that kind of depression, it could be a relief not to have too much work to do while they get focus on getting the depression managed. We forget
two things, there`s two very important -- it`s so hard to talk about this because, you know, we all love this guy so much.
We all have some favorite character he played, some favorite bit he did. He`s been a part of every one of our lives. There`s no one that`s
not going to be affected by this. But there`s a message here that we have to hopefully take away which is that addiction and depression are both
potentially fatal illnesses. Addiction more so, but depression has a fatal outcome in a significant percentage of cases, almost no matter what we do.
And it`s a really important thing to remind ourselves that these are medical conditions that are serious.
And if anyone has a loved one or they themselves are struggling with this sort of thing, please take advantage of treatment and stay with it.
And if, you know, most people can look forward to at least relief if not a full and flourishing recovery. Eventually, these things pass. You know,
so many patients, if we get them past their suicidal period, we get them through that, they`re better, a lot better afterwards. But it`s getting
through those crises, those moments which are medical emergencies, people need to take them seriously.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Let me ask you this question. Because obviously and again, I speak as a recovering alcoholic with 19 years of sobriety. And
I`ve heard a lot over the years talking to other sober friends. You know, the fact that this is believed to be a suicide, due to asphyxia, would it
tend to indicate that it`s not a slip or it`s not related to drugs or alcohol because often when people do die as a result of alcohol or drugs,
they overdose, which is a totally different thing from committing suicide due to asphyxia of some sort?
PINSKY: Yes. That`s exactly right. However, I have dealt with a number of people who are struggling -- if somebody`s -- I have to say this,
if somebody`s had a long period of sobriety and then starts struggling, depression is common and suicidality is common with that sort of a case.
So it may be contributing under that causational. This feels more like long standing severe chronic depressive symptoms are going to lead to this.
And the other thing -- the you know, asphyxiation is often just an impulsive act when people do stuff like that. You know, again, if you can
sit on somebody and get them through these periods, it passes. They don`t want to do that.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Dr. Drew?
PINSKY: Yes.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: I just want to jump in because we`re getting a tweet from Ellen DeGeneres who says, "I can`t believe the news about Robin
Williams. He gave so much to so many people. I`m heartbroken as are so many people around the world right now."
I mean, first, we lost Philip Seymour Hoffman and now we`ve lost Robin Williams. It is a shock. We`re going to take a short break, Dr. Drew. We
want to be back with you Dr. Drew on the other side of the break. And please, let`s all just take a moment to give our condolences to the family
of this great man, a man that brought so much happiness and joy to people and who smiled and laughed so much but obviously underneath that happy
facade, someone who was struggling with deep depression. Our hearts go out to everyone in his family.
Stay right there. We`ll going to be back with this breaking news. Robin Williams, dead of an apparent suicide at the age of 63.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: This is a shocker. This man, whose face the world recognized, Robin Williams, dead at the age of 63 of an apparent suicide.
The actor died at his home in northern California. Law enforcement sources are saying they suspect the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia. This is
such a shock. And we know that Robin Williams along with being an incredible actor, an Oscar winner who made us laugh in movies like "Mrs.
Doubtfire" which is one of my favorites, and also had a serious side in "Good Morning, Vietnam" and go back and forth from comedy to tragedy.
He had long struggled with addiction and he had admitted being hooked on cocaine and alcohol back in the 80s. He got sober on his own. He was
sober for a long time. He was sober for approximately 20 years. He then fell off the wagon and he went back to rehab in 2006.
And then just a couple of months ago, earlier in the summer, we heard that he was going back into rehab again. But the word from his reps was he
hadn`t slipped, he hadn`t fallen off the wagon. He hadn`t started using alcohol or drugs again. That he wanted to maintain his sobriety and make
sure he didn`t slip.
And now a few short months later, we hear this devastating news that he is dead of an apparent suicide, asphyxia is what authorities believe.
Of course, they`re going to have to do a long investigation to determine exactly what happened and why.
But I want to go to Dr. Judy Ho, psychologist, and get your sense of it because my gosh, he was always laughing, always smiling. I would watch
him on those late night shows get up there and crack one joke after another, the incredibly quit wit. And yet so many comedians behind the
mask are depressed people, can have depression and in fact it`s almost -- tell me -- a counterbalance to become a comedian to make people laugh to
help them overcome the darkness inside.
DR. JUDY HO, PSYCHOLOGIST: That`s right, Jane. You`re absolutely correct. We do see this in a lot of comedians. And Robin Williams was one
of my favorite artists, too. It`s really sad to hear this.
But as you mentioned, they oftentimes have an outward projection of a person but inwardly they`re suffering. And there`s a huge (inaudible)
distance that they`re trying to deal with and it`s really messing with their identities.
And when depression has its grips on you, it doesn`t matter what`s going right in your life, it`s all about your own interpretation of what`s
going on. And even if you look like you have a great life to everybody else, it`s your interpretation of these events that are causing you to
become more depressed. The more you get into that negative cycle, the more depressed you become.
Unfortunately with suicide, sometimes it can strike at the most apparently nonsensical time possible because it`s as people seem to be
getting better that oftentimes they commit suicide because finally they have the willpower to carry it out, to come up with a plan and to follow
through with it.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: And Marc Lamont Hill, CNN political commentator, we look at this not just from an individual tragedy, which it certainly is and
my heart goes out to his family, but also a sort a culture phenomenon -- you know, Philip Seymour Hoffman and now this?
MARC LAMONT HILL, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Absolutely. And again - - my condolences to Robin Williams` family. He was an extraordinary artist, really a once in a generation type of talent. And to hear this
news -- I`m stunned. We were talking about one thing and when this news broke, I was absolutely stunned.
And I think this is something that will help shine a light on mental health issues as was said earlier. I mean when people are shining in the
public spotlight, when they`re doing well, when their career is very high or when it`s low we don`t have a sense of what`s going on behind the
scenes.
I`ve met Robin Williams a bunch of times, hung out with him and talked to him. And he`s hilarious and he`s very bright and he can be the life of
the party. But behind that, among many people, is something very dark, something very painful that we don`t have access to. So there`s no
correlation between people`s public persona and what`s behind the scenes.
I hope though that we begin to develop a national conversation about mental health so that people can do what needs to be done. It sounds like
Robin was trying to do just that -- by doing some of the maintenance, the preemptive stuff to prevent himself from falling off the wagon. I just
wish more could have been done if possible.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, you know, as -- again, as a recovering alcoholic, I hate to say that over and over -- but it is relevant in the
sense that I can really relate to this terrible tragedy. They say all you have is today when it comes to sobriety and that you are always either
moving toward more sobriety or you`re moving toward a drink. That it`s not static. That it`s constantly changing and that`s why we in recovery have
to work on ourselves every day.
Look at Philip Seymour Hoffman; he was sober for over 20 years.
LAMONT HILL: Yes, yes and --
VELEZ-MITCHELL: This is Robin Williams` Instagram page, by the way, that we`re showing you as this news breaks of his death of apparent suicide
at the age of 63, a death that authorities believe was due to asphyxia.
I want to bring in Mike Brooks, HLN law enforcement analyst, and ask you about this issue of asphyxia and what the Marin County Sheriff`s Office
Coroner Division said. I`ll just read it again. When they arrived at the home in northern California, they suspect the death to be a suicide due to
asphyxia. But a comprehensive investigation must be completed before the final determination is made, including a forensic examination and a
toxicology test.
MIKE BROOKS, HLN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: First of all, I want to say again, condolences to the family. I had an opportunity to meet him a
number of times when I was in Washington, D.C. And just a true talent, treated everyone around him with so much respect. He was just a funny guy.
As Marc Lamont Hill said, you know, the life of the party. Just a great guy.
But as an investigator, it sounds as if it was fairly apparent, Jane, that it was asphyxia. You heard what Dr. Drew said. Most likely it was
hanging using some kind of ligature. There`s also positional asphyxia; if he got himself into a certain area where he couldn`t get out of or also if
he put some kind of bag over his head. These are the main types of -- when we`re dealing with suicide, unfortunately not fun to talk about. But
that`s the kind of asphyxia. And apparently it was apparent to investigators when they were there at the scene.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Absolutely tragic. And it is tough to talk about. But we have some tweets coming in. Comedian Craig Ferguson, talk show
host, "I am so sorry about Robin. He was sweet and generous and kind as well as a comedic genius." Comedian Kevin Nealen, "I`ll miss you, Poppo,
you were such a part of our lives. There will never be another you. A sad, sad day." And Quincy Jones, "Rest in peace to my dear brother and
friend, Robin Williams. The world will miss the decades of laughter you gave all of us."
And we have someone, an actor who`s very well known, he`s going to be on the phone with us in a second. He`s going to weigh in on this terrible
turn of events.
I want to go back to Marc Lamont Hill. I was there when Whitney Houston was found dead in Beverly Hills at the hotel. I covered the Philip
Seymour Hoffman tragedy and now this. Do you think that this is a reflection on what`s going on in our culture? I mean we are dealing with
some rampant issues when it comes to addiction that affects so many Americans. But of course we only really think about it and study it when
somebody famous who has a history of addiction tragically dies.
Now, I want to stress that there is no indication that there is any involvement with drugs or alcohol at this point. I`m only making a
reference to the fact that Robin Williams had talked very openly about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine in the past and his longtime sobriety
and then the relapse in 2006 and then getting sober again and then recently this past summer, just a couple of months ago, going back into what he
called -- or his reps called a rehab for preventative maintenance so that he wouldn`t slip.
Do you think that this is a wake-up call for our culture to take a look at what`s happening?
LAMONT HILL: I absolutely hope so. Again, on the one hand, I hope this is a wake-up call for mental health. As people talk about depression,
for example, we often say, I`m just a little sad, I`m just a little down or we`ll tell our friends and family, "Just get over it. You know, toughen
up."
Oftentimes, these aren`t just issues you can get over. These are mental health issues. In the same way if you have a sprained ankle or a
broken leg, you don`t just fix yourself, you get help. I hope we create a public sentiment around help and about around support so that we can help
people get what they need.
I think though in this particular moment in our culture, because we promote the self, we promote the individual, we promote the self-styled
celebrity and star, everybody is focused on that and not what`s underneath or what`s behind people`s live. There`s a level of superficiality attached
to public life that I think is only getting more and more bad time goes on.
On top of that we glorify drugs or we glorify alcohol by doing those things and not glorify rehab and not mental health access, we continue to
promote a certain type of narrative, a certain type culture. And people don`t feel like they have outlets and resources for help. People see
getting help as a sign of weakness.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. And I want to bring in now Ed Asner, the famous actor, the well-known actor. Thank you for joining us, Ed -- if I may call
you that.
ED ASNER, ACTOR (via telephone): Thank you very much.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Just want to get your thoughts on this really sad story that we are all shocked to have to report tonight.
ASNER: Yes, I`m very distressed that he was that unhappy. It`s also quite clear that when we do these things, we are very alone. And I am
sorry, terribly sorry that he was so alone.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do you have any idea of what -- any specifics in his depression -- I know you don`t need a specific, that it`s a mood state and
you can to the outward world look like you were on top of the world, which he did, incredibly successful actor, Oscar winner, beloved. But yet do you
have any inkling as to what the depression was related to, if anything specific?
ASNER: No. Of course, it is a mindset that I guess the best psychiatrists can`t clear through. I`m sure he had a lot of help during
his years of life. You reach a point where we regard ourselves as a loser and we cannot pull ourselves up out of that slump, that pit. And suicide
is the means of liberation.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Do you think that there`s any sense that Hollywood is sort of almost a disposable culture, and that no matter what you`ve
achieved -- Oscar winner, globally famous, really revered that if you`re not like the object of the moment and he had recently had a CBS Show called
"The Crazy Ones" that was canceled after a short run, that you can feel -- you can get a mistaken sense that maybe the world has passed you by even
though it hasn`t?
ASNER: I suppose so. I think the cancellation of the show might have been a final blow to whatever was torturing him and depressing him. But
the conditions were there. If not now, then some time later. One could always surmise that no matter how giddy he may have made us feel with his
humor that he was not a happy man. He was a pagliacci.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He was a what?
ASNER: A pagliacci, a clown who was unhappy.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Yes. And that is sort of the classic metaphor or symbol of someone who is happy on the outside but hiding the inner sadness
and the inner tears.
We`re getting so many comments coming in from so many actors and superstars. Cher says, "He was a sweet, lovely man. He ran high voltage,
mind always going. It was who he was, I know well. So sad." Actor David Allen Greer, "Rest in peace, Robin Williams. I had the honor and joy of
working with him. I miss him already." Jimmy Kimmel says, "Robin was as sweet a man as he was funny. If you`re sad, please tell someone." And
Albert Brooks says, "Shocked by the news of Robin Williams` passing. Rest in peace, my friend."
And Ed Asner, I want to thank you for taking the time to call and offer your condolences. Again we`re all shocked. It`s surreal. It`s
surreal to think of this great man and we all felt so close to him through his genius is gone, gone from apparent suicide. Stay right there.
On the other side, we`re going to continue getting information in -- breaking news, Robin Williams dead at 63.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBIN WILLIAMS, ACTOR: It`s always good for me to come to Vegas after rehab. I love that.
BILLY CRYSTAL, COMEDIAN: It`s a good time for you?
WILLIAMS: Good time for me. It`s like going to Colombia, you know, where you want for detox -- Colombia.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: He had that great smile and that great laugh. That`s Robin Williams, who tragically is dead at the age of 63, breaking news,
talking about getting out of rehab in 2006.
Here`s a statement from his press representative, "Robin Williams passed away this morning. He has been battling severe depression of late.
This is a tragic and sudden loss. The family respectfully asks for their privacy as they grieve during this very, very difficult time.
You heard the clip of Robin Williams talking about how, well, I just got out of rehab and I`ve come to Las Vegas and kind of having fun with
that.
Here`s his history. He had struggled with addiction for decades and he cold turkeyed and got sober from cocaine and alcohol in the early 80s.
He was sober for 20 years. He fell off the wagon, went back to rehab in 2006. And then you heard him joking after he got out of rehab in good
spirits. He went back for maintenance rehab just a couple of months ago saying, "I haven`t slept, I just want to make sure -- I`m working on my
sobriety." And now this tragic news that he died of apparent asphyxia in his home in northern California -- a suicide apparently.
Stay right there. We`re going to have analysis on the other side. Just a shock.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WILLIAMS: You know what I`m thinking. You`re supposed to be saying, "What are you thinking, wizard?"
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What are you thinking, wizard?
WILLIAMS: I teach everything I know for free. You get Roxanne. You get my corner of the park. You get to keep half your tips. We`re like a
team.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VELEZ-MITCHELL: That`s Robin Williams in the movie "August Rush in 2007. And tonight we`re learning the shocking news that just broke during
this show a little while ago that the actor was found dead. And they suspect suicide due to asphyxia.
Before we go to Mike Brooks, I just want to read some comments coming in. Steve Carell, "Robin Williams made the world better. Rest in peace."
Mia Farrow, "No! Robin Williams, you were so loved." And we have George Lopez, "Vaya con Dios, my friend. I love you."
Mike Brooks, HLN law enforcement analyst, even though his reps are saying he`s been battling severe depression, do they have to do an
investigation to make absolutely sure, for example, that there was no foul play involved?
BROOKS: Absolutely. In any death investigation, that`s going to happen. But from the sounds of it, Jane, it sounds like that the death was
by asphyxia, which most likely was hanging, or some other positional thing he was in, or maybe a plastic bag. But apparently it`s fairly -- they`re
fairly certain they know what it is. Otherwise they wouldn`t come out and say that, Jane. But yes, you take a look at everything leading up to his
death, and that`s part of the investigation.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Obviously they`re going to do toxicology testing. They mentioned that in the sheriff`s office news release. But do they have
to wait for the results, to get the results, the toxicology results before coming to the final conclusion, especially because -- and I mean this as no
disrespect -- but just simply stating the facts, he was very public about his long battle with addiction, and how he had been sober for many years
and slipped in 2006 and got sober again, and then just a couple of months ago went into rehab, his reps said for preventive, to maintain his
sobriety, so that he didn`t relapse.
Given that history, do they really have to wait until they get the toxicology reports to determine exactly the circumstances and the cause?
BROOKS: Absolutely. Because you need to have everything from that autopsy before you sign that death certificate, before the coroner signs
that death certificate on saying the exact cause and manner, anything that may have been secondary to his death by asphyxia.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Well, this is so sad.
LAMONT HILL: It really is.
VELEZ-MITCHELL: Honestly, when I first heard the news, and we were here talking about a very, very sad story, but totally unrelated, and my
producer whispered in my ear, "Robin Williams is dead of suicide, apparently," I just almost couldn`t believe my ears.
This is such a loss. You know, he made us laugh. He alleviated our sadness. He made us feel better. And sadly, we couldn`t make him feel
better, it appears. My heart goes out to his family -- so sad.
END
