Rodney King Dead

TMZ ^ | Today | TMZ

[al baby]

Rodney King -- the man who was at the center of the infamous Los Angeles riots -- was found dead this morning. He was 47.

According to our sources, King's fiancée found him dead at the bottom of a pool.

[melancholy]

What next? Ping.................

King's fiancée found him dead at the bottom of a pool.

Expect the race baiters to use this against whitey, somehow, somewhere or everywhere!

They can’t let a "crisis" go to waste, contrived or not, it doesn't matter.

[Caipirabob]

Yikes!!! 47 is...young!

We all know it's not "natural causes".

I would rather have remembered him for "Can't we all just get along?" rather than "Hey y'all, watch this..."

Rest In Peace.

[Mr. K]

The “Can’t we all get along” speach was probably the single most important and useful thing he ever did in his life.

Too bad it was not taken to heart by the folks it was addressed to.

[oh8eleven]

Watched Rodney on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.
Yeah, I changed my opinion about him after seeing that.
Coming from a family with a long history of drinking problems, I know what addiction can do.
Sometimes DNA can be a bad MFer.

[Ken H]

Say what you like but his “Can't Can we all get along” press conference was important for stopping the Rodney King riots.

[Bobalu]

Prayers up.

I will not say a word against him now...rest in peace Rodney.

[Political Junkie Too]

so, how are they going to blame this on Bush

You mean how is Obama going to use Rodney King's death to bolster his campaign?

-PJ

[Drew68]

Rodney King the great philosopher?

In the midst of looting and violence that King didn't ask for, he uttered the lines, "Can't we all just get along?" Simple and eloquent, this phrase has become part of our national lexicon and we'd be a better place if more people practiced it.

[vladimir998]

In a way I pity Rodney King.

The first half of his life was wasted fulfilling the empty, useless stereotype of inner-city thug black males.

The second half of his life was largely wasted fulfilling the empty, useless stereotype of inner-city thug black males with 15 minutes of fnoteriety.

[nascarnation]

how is Obama going to use Rodney King's death to bolster his campaign

I think it's likely that Rodney will vote Baraq in November.

[PGalt]

Condolences to family and friends of Rodney King.

[martin_fierro]

What a fustercluck this clown was:

• In 1993, King entered an alcohol rehabilitation program and was placed on probation after crashing his vehicle into a block wall in downtown Los Angeles.
• In July 1995, he was arrested by Alhambra police, who alleged that he hit his wife with his car, knocking her to the ground. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of hit and run.
• On August 27, 2003, King was arrested again for speeding and running a red light while under the influence of alcohol. He failed to yield to police officers and slammed his vehicle into a house, breaking his pelvis.
• On November 29, 2007, while riding home on his bicycle, King was shot in the face, arms, and back with pellets from a shotgun. He reported that it was done by a man and a woman who demanded his bicycle and shot him when he rode away. Police described the wounds as looking like they came from birdshot, and said King offered few details about the suspects.
• In May 2008 King checked into the Pasadena Recovery Center in Pasadena, California, which was filmed as part of the second season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, which premiered in October 2008.
  • Dr. Drew Pinsky, who runs the facility, showed concern for King's lifestyle and said that King would die unless his addiction was treated.
  • He also appeared on Sober House, a Celebrity Rehab spin-off focusing on a sober living environment, which aired in early 2009.
  • Both shows filmed King's quest not only to achieve sobriety, but to reestablish a relationship with his family, which had been severely damaged due to his drinking.
  • During his time on Celebrity Rehab and Sober House, King worked not only on his addiction, but on the lingering trauma of the beating. He and Dr. Pinsky retraced his path from the night of his beating, eventually reaching the spot where it happened, the site of the Children's Museum of Los Angeles.
• King won a celebrity boxing match against ex-Chester City (Delaware County, Pennsylvania) police officer Simon Aouad on Friday, September 11, 2009 at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport in Essington, Pennsylvania.
• In 2009, King and other alumni of Celebrity Rehab appeared as panel speakers to a new group of addicts at the Pasadena Recovery Center, marking 11 months of sobriety for him. His appearance was aired in the third season episode "Triggers".
• On September 9, 2010, it was confirmed that King was to marry Cynthia Kelley, who was a juror in the civil suit he brought against the City of Los Angeles.
• On March 3, 2011, King was stopped by Los Angeles police for driving erratically. He was issued a citation for driving with an expired license. This arrest led to his February 2012 misdemeanor conviction for reckless driving.
• On April 12, 2012, King released a statement to the media regarding the Trayvon Martin shooting. King said he was "grieving for Trayvon Martin" and stated how the scream on the audio of George Zimmerman's 911 call reminded him of his own screaming during his beating by the LAPD.

[GOPJ]

...his “Can't we all get along” press conference was important for stopping the Rodney King riots.

Strange way to think about it, but you're right. It did have the effect.

[Hayride]

Before I got rid of my tv I watched Rodney on Celebrity Rehab. A lot of the celebs seem to be maladjusted adolescents and a-holes but Rodney was really likable. It was easy to root for him. I sure wish he was able to overcome his demons and I’m saddened by his passing.

[ConservativeStatement]

There's only room for one king in town.

[Lucky9teen]

I think Rodney said it best, when he said, "Ow...ow....ow...ow"

No, but joking aside, I too saw him on Dr. Drew and agree as others have said here, he seems like a humble man I personally would have liked to meet. It's a shame it seems his addiction got the better of him. RIP Rodney.

[TauntedTiger]

Simple and ignorant, just like “My bad” and “It’s all good.”

[FlingWingFlyer]

If Barry had a son...

[null and void]

Yes. Stranger still, it was said by a man who had no particular reason to take a stand for the system.

Watch the beating video. In your mind remove Rodney and replace him with a mule. Would such a beating be acceptable?

If not on a dumb beast, why on a human?

He stood up when it mattered. Would that we all could be so brave or forgiving.

[Lazamataz]

NOW we can all get along.