Henry Rollins Slams Robin Williams For Suicide

Henry Rollins is slammed by many fans of Robin Williams and celebrities after blasting the legendary actor and other people who commit suicide.


In an essay for L.A. Weekly, Rollins, 53, claims that while he appreciates William's talent and believed he was a "good man" for performing for troops, "it's here where I step off the train."

The musician wrote: "I am sure some will strongly disagree with what I'm about to say. And I also understand that his personal struggles were quite real. I can't argue with that."

He went on: "But I simply cannot understand how any parent could kill themselves."

Rollins pointed out: "How in the hell could you possibly do that to your children? I don't care how well adjusted your kid might be - choosing to kill yourself, rather than to be there for that child, is every shade of awful, traumatic and confusing. I think as soon as you have children, you waive your right to take your own life. No matter what mistakes you make in life, it should be your utmost goal not to traumatize your kids. So, you don't kill yourself."

"I know some people will disagree," Rollins stated, noting: "And I get that you can't understand anyone else's torment. All that "I feel your pain" stuff is bullsh*t and disrespectful. You can appreciate it, listen and support someone as best you can, but you can't understand it."

The rocker was quoted as saying: "Depression is so personal and so unique to each of us that when you're in its teeth, you think you invented it. You can understand your own, but that's it. When you are severely depressed, it can be more isolating than anything else you have ever experienced. In trying to make someone understand, you can only speak in approximation. You are truly on your own."

But even though the media personality once had a housemate whose depression finally led her to commit suicide, Rollins can't figure out or excuse the act.

Rollins declared: "When someone negates their existence, they cancel themselves out in my mind. I have many records, books and films featuring people who have taken their own lives, and I regard them all with a bit of distain. When someone commits this act, he or she is out of my analog world. I know they existed, yet they have nullified their existence because they willfully removed themselves from life. They were real but now they are not."

"I no longer take this person seriously. I may be able to appreciate what he or she did artistically but it's impossible to feel bad for them. Their life wasn't cut short - it was purposely abandoned. It's hard to feel bad when the person did what they wanted to. It sucks they are gone, of course, but it's the decision they made. I have to respect it and move on," he stated.

"Almost 40,000 people a year kill themselves in America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention," Rollins revealed, adding: "In my opinion, that is 40,000 people who blew it."

Several commenters on his story and celebrities were infuriated by his insensitive to the matter.

"Henry Rollins moronic comments about Robin Williams reveal why most people don't connect with his work. He's a fool and a blowhard," Judd Apatow wrote on twitter.

Tom Arnold also wrote: "Always wanted to like and respect Henry Rollins but right now I'm considering killing myself just so I never existed to him."


Feel free to comment and share this blog post if you find it interesting!