“Close,” according to news reporters.
“Far from it,” according to the Oscar-winning actress’ rep.
Who to believe?
Elizabeth Taylor is probably somewhere in the middle if you sort through the myriad of reports that came out earlier today regarding the 76-year-old move star’s health. The actress was reportedly hospitalized for an undisclosed reason today but was expected to return home soon.
“Ms. Taylor is fine,” her publicist announced late today. “Her hospital visit was precautionary. She will be returning home shortly. At present, she is surrounded by family, friends and fabulous jewels.”
In the meantime, several news outlets have been reporting that Taylor is ailing and her people simply don’t want word of the big screen icon’s declining health to get out.
It’s true that Taylor has been dogged with numerous health issues in recent years, including congestive heart failure in 2004. The “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” star also suffered spinal fractures, reoccurring ulcers, amoebic dysentery, bursitis, acute bronchitis, two serious bouts of pneumonia, drug and alcohol addiction and a benign brain tumor that was removed in 1997.
Despite her health challenges the actress has remained a tireless AIDS activist, making sporadic public appearances in the last few years to support the cause. The last time she was photographed in public at a charity event she was wheelchair-bound, yet still covered in her trademark jewels. Prior to that Taylor performed “Love Letters” in December and helped raise more than $1 million for AIDS research.
Taylor may be best known to some as the Academy Award-winning actress in “Butterfield 8,” but to others she is better known as Michael “Wacko Jacko” Jackson’s BFF (or only friend for that matter).
According to her online bio, Taylor still lives in Bel-Air, California, an ultra-luxe suburb of Los Angeles, with her beloved pets and caretakers.
Personally, I didn’t think Taylor looked that bad during her last outing in December, but a lot can change in a few short months.
Do you think Taylor is on her way out?