During the Criss Angel roast in the Fantasy (12/29/2007) episode [#57] of Mindfreak, Carrot Top (Scott Thompson) made the comment: “Criss Angel the sexiest magician in Las Vegas? What’s your competition? The Amazing f[bleep]ing Johnathan, Penn & Teller, Siegfried and whatever’s left of Roy?”
And, despite my appreciation for dark humor and love for constitutional free speech, the flippant reference to the tragedy made me wince.
I’m not one of people who’s going says “it’s too soon,” makes a career of being personally offended, or demands apologies. I put the comment right up there with off remarks about 9/11 and the Challenger Explosion. In some context such things are funny, and in some they’re painful.
What made me wince, however, was the fact that I hadn’t heard anything about Roy in a while. He was a kind man, and we’ve seem to have forgotten him.
While in Vegas this last week, I had a chance to speak with one of Siegfried and Roy’s neighbors. He shared a fairly candid view on how Roy really is doing. It wasn’t pretty.
What I will share of the conversation is that the press is putting a pretty good face on it, but he’s partly paralyzed and there is some definite brain damage going on. He may stand there and look at you while you’re talking, but not be all mentally there as evidenced from lack of facial expression or interaction. The white tiger “attack” (though many suspect it was trying to protect Roy as he had a stroke) really messed him up. He’s functional, but it’s clear things aren’t going to get better, and it’s been very hard on Siegfried, who’s been endearingly supportive.
Roy, your friends and fans still think of you. We miss the way you bridge humans and animals using compassion and love as a bond.