Update on Kimo
Well, as many of you watched, we were one of the many, many sites on the Internet that reported in error on the death of Kimo Lopoldo a couple of weeks ago. Although I must say, that although Kimo faced challenges in his life, it was with fond reflection of his strength that we reported on his death.
Well, apparently he’s still alive… and the bad news: That whole fondness things didn’t last. With his first video interview “postmortem”, Kimo made it clear that there should be no question about who he was in life… just watch the video, and you can decide for yourself:
So why do I choose to write about this now?
Well, I received a message from
“Good New Movies
In ASSOCIATION WITH
Biblical Films”
asking that I give equal coverage to a movie that Kimo has been working on as I did to his death. A shameless ploy to capitalize on the God-send of Kimo making the news in order to hype up their movie? I tend to think so… but you can decide for yourself:
“On July 21st, your media organization reported the death of Mr. Kimo
Leopoldo. In addition to falsely reporting his death, you listed his
arrests, struggles with drugs and stagnated his career as a UFC MMA Fighter.
What wasn’t reported was that Mr. Kimo Leopoldo had just finished filming in
a major motion picture, “In The Closet”. “In The Closet”, winner of “Best
Religious Film” at the 2009 San Diego Black Film Festival has a theatrical
release date of October 30, 2009.
We, as the production company, was devastated of the news of Kimo’s “Death”
from your news organization. To realize that months of work and our plans of
going to “The Tonight Show” and “ESPN” were going to be cancelled was
heartbreaking. Mr. Lamont A. Coleman (Director), winner of the NAACP Award
for Best Supporting Actor in “The Last Street Play” Directed by Paula Jai
Parker (Hustle & Flow), was outraged by the remorseless attitude from the
press when his reported death was false. Rosemarie Smith, Executive Director
of The Coleman & Smith Artistic Company (Non-Profit Organization), was
disgusted to read the negative press surrounding his alleged death
subsequent to the time he spent working with former at-risk teens in her
organization. To read all the negative press of our star’s past life
regarding his drug abuse, has become an enormous obstruction to the
Christian crowd we are marketing to through Good New Movies.
We are proud and excited to be working with Kimo as one of the stars of our
film. It is really a blessing to work with him and in contrast to some of
the accounts rolling around the internet, he is sharp, giving, and very
focused on his work. In the film, Kimo plays a tormenting demon “Death” as
one of the leads and was initially concerned about the message the film
would send. After discussing his faith with the producers, he was pleased to
see that the film’s message lined up with his belief in Jesus Christ. In his
time filming with the production, he left everyone looking forward to
promoting the film with him. His performance in the film is haunting,
effective and is sure to be another highlight in his career.
We are asking you to give us an equal platform, via publication, to show
the positive work Kimo Leopoldo has done with the production, and our
organizations. As we begin our marketing campaign, we are giving you the
opportunity to interview him and the director.
For more information about our film, please visit
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1323927/, www.colsac.org, www.biblicalfilms.org,
www.goodnewmovies.com”
Okay, so you got your free promotion of your new movie from me. I do want to ask however, in case anyone cares and is out for anything more than visibility: Who really did the damage to Kimo? The community of bloggers who erroneously reported his death, fondly recalled his life, and (correctly) mentioned challenges he faced with drugs? Or Kimo himself, who came out afterward looking like an incoherent gang-banger, and snickering about whoever he can’t mention that had him so busy that morning?
He was more of a role-model when we all thought he was dead. But… as long as someone gets to capitalize on him being in the news, I guess that’s all that matters 
Related posts:
