Question About Debra?

[Deleted]

It seems on other boards/websites that there is a lot of animosity towards Debra. From what I understand, she wasn't as actively involved in attending parole hearings as her mother and sister, Patti - not until after Patti's death. I really don't know that much about Debra, but becoming involved later doesn't seem like a great reason for all of the vitriol I've read directed towards her. My personal feeling is, "at least she's doing something now." I have no idea how complicated her personal life may have been prior to the last 15 or so years so I don't feel like I have any right to pass judgement there.  

Are there other reasons why many of Sharon's fans dislike Debra so much? Is it for the reason mentioned above or is there something else? 

[Kristen]

I think it's been people somewhat connected to the Tate's who made up stories, and because Debra refuses to comment on crap said about her, some fans took that as some sort of admission of guilt--without doing their own research.

Debra actually was involved with victims rights long before Patti's death, she just didn't get the spotlight. Debra hadn't been connected to Hollywood for quite awhile, while Patti still lived and worked there--thus it was easier for her to communicate with media outlets.

Debra's shown support for Roman over the years, and people demonize her for that. I refuse to judge her for that, because I think she simply has compassion for the man who loved her sister and was the father of her unborn nephew.

A lot of people who support parole for the murderers take to the Internet under the guise of being Sharon's fans or whatever--and rip into her. There is one particular blogger who is OBSESSED with the murderers and constantly attacks Debra. He attacks her for going to parole hearings of the killers who while part of the group who killed Sharon--weren't actually at Cielo when Sharon was killed. He also attacks her for her weight, which is pretty damn disgusting. Because she hasn't actually committed any crimes or harmed anyone, all he can do is insult her appearance.

It should also be noted that that particular blogger is very good friends with Alisa Statman, author of the disgusting and wildly inaccurate, Restless Souls. I could go on for hours about the horrible crap Ms. Statman has done to a whole lot of people. She supposedly 'loved' Patti--but her behavior just goes to show that she was nothing but a leech on Patti.

Alisa Statman has never been involved with victims rights or parole hearings, yet she wants us to think that she's somehow a hero of the Tate Family.

Debra doesn't comment on the lies and insults that have been hurled her way, because she has class and doesn't have to prove anything to anyone.

She occasionally gets some little factoid about Sharon's death or career wrong when interviewed on television, but who cares? Debra's not an actress or television personality and any errors she might make, have no affect on the ultimate situation.

Some people think that when she appeared on Inside Edition a few years ago to show Sharon's clothes, that she lied about Sharon's wedding dress. The dress on the show had blue ribbon on it, which wasn't on it during the wedding--so they automatically assume that Debra had a fake dress made. Nobody has ever asked Debra about the dress directly. If she did, I think she'd have a very reasonable answer for it. My theory is that Sharon had the dress restyled, so she could wear it again for a different event. Sharon constantly re-wore outfits to different events. She was also Catholic, she could have had the dress restyled so she could wear it to her child's christening, or some other ceremony. Even though Roman wasn't a Catholic, I don't see him fighting with her over something like that. It would have been important to her and her family, and he wanted her to be happy.

[Kristen]

Even though it's true that Doris had Patti help her more closely with the victims rights work, there's a very logical reason behind it that doesn't have anything to do with Debra being a bad guy. Patti was able to help her mother more simply because at that point in time, Patti and her children had moved in with Doris and Paul. Patti's marriage to Don Ford ended, and Patti was virtually a broke single mother of three. So while she had her day job, she could assist Doris more easily. Debra didn't live very close to them, so it made it harder to work with her family.

[Deleted]

Thank you, Kristen for your response - again, you're a human encyclopedia when it comes to Sharon, and I really trust your knowledge and judgement on these issues. Debra doesn't need to explain herself to anyone. I also cannot judge her for supporting Roman - he's one of the few people left who was close to Sharon, and it's probably like having a little bit of a living thread/connection to her sister.

I've read some of the Amazon reviews of Restless Souls, and I've been pretty shocked by how many people have believed the book to be completely true (perhaps some of these reviews have been written by Alisa herself). I've personally never read it, and I don't intend to. As you said, Alisa Statman took advantage of Patti and the Tate's in order to benefit herself. I can only imagine how infuriating it is for Debra and the Tate family to know that people are believing the lies Alisa has perpetuated. It's really sickening.

Also, your explanation for why Patti was more closely involved with victims' rights work makes a lot of sense. I had not idea she was living with her parents after her divorce, and it seems like it would be a natural progression that Patti would help Doris with her work.

[Jay]

Kristen,

Thank you for a well-thought-out and reasonable explanation. I just joined this group today (July 4, 2021), but it seems I'm late to the party as always.