I don’t mind Natalie Maines, and I typically agree with the things she says, but her big mouth does tend to get her — and her bandmates — in an awful lot of trouble. Exhibit 8000:
A man whose 8-year-old stepson was killed in 1993 has sued all three members of the country-pop group for defamation, singling out frontwoman Natalie Maines for her comments suggesting that he played a role in the boy’s death.
Maines, whose outspokenness has won her lifelong friends and mortal enemies alike, appeared last December at a rally in Little Rock, Ark., for the three men, tagged the “West Memphis Three” by their supporters, who were convicted as teenagers of killing the plaintiff’s stepson, Steve Branch, and two other 8-year-old boys.
According to the six-page complaint filed Nov. 25 in Pulaski County Circuit Court, the “Not Ready to Make Nice” singer told the crowd that new DNA evidence from the crime scene implicated Steve’s stepdad, Terry Hobbs, and that Hobbs’ behavior following the boys’ death was suspect.
I wonder how the rest of the Chicks feel about being dragged into Natalie’s battles.
This is just material for her upcoming bestseller: “How To Kill Your Career: Just Keep On Talking!” by Natalia Maines.
I don’t like their music but I like them (although she is a terrible dresser).
It’s funny how the US claims to be the land of the free however you say the wrong thing and Clear Channel bans you and people sue you and threaten your life. That’s freedom.
This is a free country and you can say what you wish, however, there are CONSCEQUENCES for the things that you say and do. WAKE UP JACKASS! It’s called taking responsibility.
Omg, that man is crazy…if you watch the documentary about this case, you’ll see how unstable he is. From the evidence presented, it is pretty clear that the kids accused of those murders did not commit them. Ugh, that case is such a clusterf$%k. I don’t blame Natalie Maines for saying that–anyone who knows anything about the case believes the same thing.
We do have freedom of speech, and if she says things that piss people off (she has that right) then she has to deal with the onslaught of people who disagree (their right). However, implicating someone in a murder is beyond freedom of speech. she has no right to do that. She’s also not a scientist, lawyer, judge, or anyone else who should be commenting on this subject. She’d better pony up the DNA proof (and maybe explain how she’s privy to this info) or she should suffer the consequences of her big mouth. If she has proof, and this goes to trial, good for her. If not, she deserves to be sued.
i agree w/ Leah. That whole case was a clusterf*ck. Another example of “good ol’ boy” justice.
Natalie Maines is an ass and should stfu
She’s simply on board with a lot of people (and other celebrities) who think that these boys got an unfair trial. There is a lot of information out there about how badly the case and evidence was handled. There is no DNA evidence linking the convicted men to the crime, it is mostly coerced confessions and testimony. There is DNA evidence linking this man suing to the crime. All she is saying is that based on the evidence there should be a retrial. She isn’t claiming to have new evidence or be an expert. She’s simply supporting the same organization that a lot of other people are too.
I see a breast lift scar.
Being someone VERY familar with the West Memphis Three case, Raye completely hit the nail on the head. The man suing has sued several people for defamation (along with other accusations), none of which have held up in court. All Maines did was state what basically anyone and everyone who follows this case already knows has been discussed and surmised. In short, a retrial is the minimum we should be doing for this case, and if she feels that way then she is simply restating what many MANY others already assert.
If it wasn’t for her.. people wouldn’t know their up from down in judgement.. haha
Veronica and Beet Czar are correct, but Raye brings a valid point.
Natalie Maines was brought in a a lead singer. She is not, nor has ever been the leader of the Dixie Chicks. Matie Maguire and Emily Robison worked hard to build that group and both have musical talent.
It is a shame that Maguire and Robison have to be dragged in to another mouthy comment made by some one who can’t see that she is not a size four and is very annoying.
I’ve never had a problem with Natalie using her fame to get her views across.
The thing that does bother me is that she does seem to say “we” a lot and drag the rest of the “chicks” into it. I remember a few time both other members of the band having to make announcements saying that they didn’t necessarily agree with their band mate.
It’s one thing to be outspoken, but at least have the balls to say that it’s YOUR idea, not trying to have others take the fall for your controversial remarks.
Plus, it’s seems like she’s always talking about stuff that she doesn’t really know much about.
She was right about Bush. She’s right about this case. Deal with it.
I’d rather hear about a celebrity speaking their mind on important things…than see some publicity whore going to impoverished nations for some friggin’ photo ops…
She may need to refrain from the all inclusive “we” thing…she she only speak for herself though…
she’s an obnoxious bore that uses her celebrity to spew her views on the public… shut up and sing. just shut up and sing. or just shut up.
That Natalie Maines…she’s always runnin’ her mouth.
Mind your own damn business.
If everyone minds their own business these three men ( who were only boys when they were wrongly arrested and locked up) will continue to serve their sentences for the rest of their lives. Its sad but sometimes it takes publicity like this for people to get involved and see the injustice that sometimes takes place in our systems.
You know, that second documentary on the West Memphis Three was perhaps one of the most terrible and biased pieces of tripe I’ve ever watched. The filmmakers totally accused the step dad — who is indeed unstable, no denying that — of killing his step son. Of course, it seems these filmmakers-cum-detectives came to their conclusions based on the same reasons the jury found the West Memphis Three guilty — because he was weird and didn’t conform to their idea of the father of a boy who had been murdered.
Perhaps Natalie Maines watched the second documentary rather than the first one. Maybe she, like so many, should be a little better informed before trying this man in the court of public opinions.
Apparently they (the other ‘Chicks’) support her 100%. If they didn’t they could kick her out of the band and find someone less controversial. Publicity is publicity I guess.
I agree with whoever it was above that says she’s entitled to her opinion. Telling someone to shut up and sing and threatening to kill them is ridiculous for an opinion.
“In 2007, DNA collected from the crime scene was tested. None was found to match DNA from Echols, Baldwin, Misskelley nor John Mark Byers. In addition, a hair from Terry Hobbs, stepfather to Stevie Branch, was found tied into the knots used to bind the victims. The prosecutors, while conceding that no DNA evidence ties the accused to the crime scene, has said that, “The State stands behind its convictions of Echols and his codefendants.”
She was at a freakin rally for the three convicted men/boys for god’s sake. It’s not like she spouted this off at a concert. It was an appropriate statement at an appropriate event.
OMG, enough with celebrity opinions as if they are gospel, as if their word, their thought on a subject lends it gravity. They have a talent in a particular field, I want to hear them talk about that; so about anything else, shut up. They don’t need to listen to me either.
Notice that all the negative comments are from people who were not familiar with this case in the first place. Ironic that so many of them discount Maines’ right to express her INFORMED opinion, while they go right ahead and express their UNINFORMED opinions.
I saw both documentaries years ago (I also think Dateline or some similar, impartial show covered the case) and there was really no evidence that the convicted teens were the murderers, and much more evidence pointing to Hobbs than the teens.
Read this:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/35197
After reading this, and the comments, I started really looking into the case. It is so interesting. The case had SO many flaws. At the least, the men deserve a new trial. It’s insane.
I applaud anyone who is willing to stand up and demand justice. If those three are innocent, I feel horrible for them. It’s such a crazy case. Research it if you are bored and have time.
Okay first and foremost this is not a free speech issue. She didn’t state an opinion she stated facts and accused Terry Hobbs of murder.
That being said her “facts” were wrong. The DNA that she stated was Terry Hobbs was in fact only consistent with the DNA that was assumed was his (the defense team took cigarette butts from his front yard). Also 1.5% of the population could also be the donor of that DNA. That totals approximately 3.5 million people.
That is the only evidence that even points towards Terry Hobbs, and the defense team and experts clearly stated it was “very weak evidence”.
Also, if you only watch the documentaries, you letting yourself be pulled into the media hype and bias.
Some facts not in the documentaries:
All three of the convicted confessed in one form or another. With Jessie confessing at least three times, including one after his conviction with his attorney present where he cleared up the inconsistencies of his first one. Even stating he did that to mislead the police.
Fibers found that were similiar to items at Jason Baldwin’s home, and Damien Echol’s home on the victims.
Blood found on Damien’s pendant that matched not only Jason Baldwin, but one of the victims.
Blood found on the shirt Jessie was wearing that matched his own and Michael Moore (the one in Jessie’s confession that he stated he hit).
All of the above mentioned evidence the defense for some reason did not test for DNA, makes you wonder why.
She not only spouted off at the rally, but she also published a letter with the same wrong “facts” on the Dixie Chicks website, hence why all the Dixie Chicks are named, with Natalie being the main focus.
As for Terry Hobbs suing anyone else.. that is false. I think you might have confused him with the other step-father… John Mark Byers.