THIS ISN'T ENTERTAINMENT, TONIGHT

It was only a matter of time before the endless chase for ratings and website hits overcame any sense of decency and decorum for the recently dead. Entertainment Tonight have reportedly obtained a video of Heath Ledger snorting cocaine at the Chateau Marmont Hotel. Did this lead to his death, would seem to be the implication? Well, not really as the video was made in 2006 and without Ledger's knowledge, so it's just a seedy little attempt to cash in on the star while he's still hot news.

Details are sketchy, but all sources agree on one thing. At one point Heath mutters to his companion, "I'm gonna get so much shit from my girlfriend. We have a baby together...Matilda, Matilda Rose."

So he was hardly glamourising drugs even at this point, was he? Still, Entertainment Tonight are guarding their footage jealously and are determined that they rake in every single greasy little penny from their exclusive tape, even going as far as issuing a cease-and-desist order to anyone who has even less moral backbone than themselves. Here's the threat, helpfully made out in capital letters to make it look as though they're shouting because they're so serious.

THIS IS TO ADVISE YOU THAT ET AND THE INSIDER HAVE EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS IN AND TO PROPRIETARY MATERIALS OF HEATH LEDGER AT THE CHATEAU MARMONT ON APPROXIMATELY JANUARY 29, 2006

ANY BROADCAST OR USAGE OF THIS MATERIAL IN ANY MANNER NOT AUTHORIZED SHALL CONSTITUTE AN INFRINGEMENT AND VIOLATION OF ET AND THE INSIDER'S VALUABLE EXCLUSIVE AND PROPRIETARY RIGHTS AND WILL CONSTITUTE INFRINGEMENT AND TORTIOUS INTERFERENCE BY THE INFRINGER, EXPOSING THE INFRINGER TO SUBSTANTIAL MONETARY DAMAGES.

In other words, this is our dead horse - find your own to flog. Thankfully Heath's daughter is only two, so won't be able to read any of this bullshit yet, but Michelle Williams, the girlfriend he mentions in the video certainly will. Thanks, Entertainment Tonight. Just what she needs at a time like this.