Nobody should have the right to tell someone else’s story. Especially if the person in question is still alive. I know, it happens all the time.
The pressure of being knowledgeable creates hack spokespeople. Because of time, access, or other issues, writers, filmmakers, newscasters, find the person closest to a thing (maybe not the best) to make comment.
But I’m tired of getting second or third hand information of why a particular person is important, what their influences were, or even their inspirations or intentions.
Why can we just get the truth?
Even if the person themselves said, “I’m not really sure why I did that, I just wanted to see what would happen.” I would take that, over someone who wasn’t there, didn’t know them, and couldn’t have found out, saying anything.
If you don’t know, say you don’t know. Don’t make up a narrative just to have something to say, but isn’t true. Better yet, if you know someone who can speak more to the topic, get them on the microphone.