In a case of exquisitely well-delivered poetic justice, actress and insolent repeat offender Michelle Rodriguez is facing stiff new penalties for violating an earlier probation back home in Los Angeles when she was arrested for drunk driving last December in Hawaii.
She doesn't seem to mind girl jail all that much, though. In an interview, the Girlfight and BloodRayne star told People magazine, "I'm a gypsy. I can see beauty in a jail cell."
Do tell Ms. Rodriguez, what was her name?
Ms. Rodriguez, a former star (her character was killed off earlier in the season) of the hit TV series Lost, was sentenced to 60 days in the LA county jail, in addition to a 30 day stint in alcohol rehab, and 30 days of community services that will include time with Mothers Against Drunk Driving victim impact panel and the city's hospital and morgue program.
It's almost like the judge really, really, really doesn't like her.
These new penalties stem from a previous arrest for DUI in two separate incidents in the L.A. area in 2003. Rodriguez served community service, 48 hours in jail, and received three years probation for those violations; a probation which she then violated with her drunk driving arrest in Kauai on December 1, 2005 while on location for Lost.
Ms. Rodriguez had her probation extended an additional two years as part of the judge's sentencing, and she'll likely violate that as well. Why my bad attitude? I resent people who seem to think that because they are celebrities that this somehow makes them above the law.
How will Michelle spend her 60 days in jail? Most likely the same way she spent the 65 hours she served in Hawaii: "drawing pictures for everybody on their shirts. Writing poetry. And singing show tunes with the girls."
When asked why she chose jail time over community service in Hawaii, her response was that it "was more convenient to my business ... do I wanna live in Hawaii and do community service? Heck yeah, who wouldn't? Sit by the beach, cleaning up the beach, lounging, it's great. But at the end of the day I have to pay my dues and I have to work as well."
Now she gets to do both: two months under lock and key AND community service. Lucky girl.
Article comments
1 - Bosch
Well, maybe Rodriguez is one of those "people who seem to think that because they are celebrities this somehow makes them above the law." But maybe she's just another addict who hasn't faced the facts yet -- in which case, jail and probation are nice, but the only part of her penalty that will make a difference is rehab.
2 - Eric Olsen
Good point Bosch - the community service at the morgue may have some impact also. And despite her insouciance regarding jail, 60 days is a good chunk out of one's life
3 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
If she is just an addict, she will break this parole as well and have the opportunity to find more and more beauty in jail. The penalties pile up when you break the law.
4 - Dawn
Yes Ruvy, like credit card debt and writing bad checks. It's a never ending cycle of terror.
5 - Eric Olsen
I am guessing jail will look vastly less beautiful after 60 days, or however many she actually serves
6 - Kate
Michelle Rodriguez has driven under the influence twice. That's not good. Drinking and driving is a serious offence, I get that. But your speculation that Michelle is "seem[s] to think that because [she is a] celebrit[y] this somehow makes [her] above the law" is just that. The irony here is that people are only focusing on her because of her celebrity status - I don’t see blogs on the thousands of other people who are convicted of similar crimes. Give Michelle a break - she made mistakes, and is recompensing for them. Maybe this jail term and community service will really make a difference to her perspective. I'm a fan of snark, but I don't like personal attacks on people, regardless of whether you feel that, as a crimnal, she deserved this mockery. Everyone deserves another chance. (Hope that wasn't too angry - it's not my intention to cause offence, just putting forward a different perspective.)
7 - Dawn
I can understand where you are coming from Kate, but her attitude is generally what bothers me. She seems to feel that she really can't be bothered to do the right thing and face up to her actions - she would rather take the lazy way out than pay back the community to which she offended.
8 - Fiona
If you'd bothered to find the full text of the comments she made, she actually said that she could do more for the community in her own sphere, than in court-designated make-work projects. She didn't say she didn't want to do work for the community.
She also may be an actress and therefore paid a lot more than most of us, but she also has bills to pay and a career to keep up with. Hollywood's a fickle employer and can be unforgiving.
9 - Hardguy69
WHO Cares about her Personal Live ; Just LOOK at them BOOBS @@BOING!! thats Right I'M Shallow, their Ain't no Water in my Well. "BONE" Dry folks.