Are Celebrities Allowed to Say 'No' to Kids with Cancer?
Celebrity chef Ina Garten, star of Barefoot Contessa, is catching heat for turning down a 6-year-old cancer patient's dying wish to cook a meal with her. TMZ reports that Ina said "no" to the Make-A-Wish foundation twice:
[Make-A-Wish] approached Garten with the wish last year, but at the time, she was unable to meet with Enzo due to a book tour. The organization urged Enzo to pick another wish, but he told them he wanted to wait until she becomes available.
We're told the organization went back to Ina this year, but her team responded with a "definite no" once again, citing scheduling conflicts.
[There was a video here]
In the words of Ina, "How bad can that be?" Why should Make-A-Wish get to choose random celebrities and hold them hostage in a prison of public opinion until they agree to hang out with some random kid, anyway?
A member of Enzo's family says the 6-year-old is heartbroken and asked parents, "Why doesn't she want to meet me?"
Oh, right. Terminally ill pediatric cancer patient, heartbroken and bereft, wants one tiny favor to give his tragically short life the tiniest piece of joy in its final hour. You really can't say "no" to that. Ever. [TMZ, photo via Getty, video via Gawker.TV]