Reckless twitting is everywhere these days, but with the help of Spike Lee and Roseanne Barr, it went from just ‘reckless’ to out of control – to the point that lives are being endangered.

Just as Spike Lee was apologizing for giving out the wrong address of George Zimmerman, Roseanne Barr tweeted to her 110,000 followers the correct address of where Zimmerman resides.

George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, shot and killed Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old resident of Sanford, Florida on February 26. The story quickly received national attention after allegations that Zimmerman shot Martin based on racism arose.  Zimmerman claims he shot Martin on the grounds of self-defense, based under Florida’s “stand your ground” law.

Marcus Higgins, a Los Angeles man, who is a Twitter follower of Spike Lee, tweeted to celebrities Will Smith, Lebron James and Lee the address that he thought was Zimmerman’s. Lee was the only one who acted upon his follower’s tweet and then followed up with putting it on his own Twitter, where approximately 250,000 of Lee’s followers had access to.

However, the address put all over the internet was not in fact Zimmerman’s residence but instead the home of Elaine and David McClain, an elderly couple in their seventies. After receiving hate mail and death threats from people across the nation, the McClain’s were moved to a hotel in an undisclosed location for protection purposes. Lee has publicly apologized to the couple and in desperation to regain a positive image to his fans, Lee wants to reach a financial settlement with the couple.

But just when the hype surrounding Spike Lee was dying down, enter comedian Roseanne Barr. On March 29, Barr tweeted the correct address of George Zimmerman and his parents, Robert and Gladys. Barr quickly deleted her post but remarked that, “it was good to let people know that they can’t hide anymore.”

Still, several of Barr’s followers re-tweeted her original post giving out the Zimmerman’s phone number and address as well as divulging the contact information of Joseph Oliver, who has been making recent public appearances as close friend and supporter of Zimmerman. Barr might face charges for her actions after violating Twitter’s rules and regulations: Never give out someone else’s confidential or contact information.

While Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defense, the 16-year-old girl who was the last to talk to Martin before his death, has a very different story. The young girl reported according to ABC News, that “Martin was on the phone with her when George Zimmerman began following him.

She recounted that she told Martin to run, then she heard some pushing, then the line went dead.” Police found no weapons on Martin and in his pockets were only a bag of skittles and an iced tea.

“Zimmerman violated major principles of the Neighborhood Watch manual, which states, ‘it should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers, and they shall not carry weapons.’”

As the Twitter frenzy continues to escalate, an online petition wanting Zimmerman arrested has been created. Thus far, over 90,000 people have signed it. According to change.org, “it is the fastest growing petition in internet history.”

Jason Whitlock, a FOX News Sports Writer, is calling Zimmerman, “the new O.J.,” and “a gun-toting vigilante with a sketchy background as the victim.”

Since the petition, media attention, the divulgence of personal information via Twitter, death threats against Zimmerman and the endangerment of innocent civilians’ lives, Zimmerman has decided to get a lawyer and will be represented by Craig Sonner. Attorney Benjamin Crump will be representing the Martin family as more of the case is exposed and if it goes to trial.

Yet, the biggest question still remains, how differently would this case have been handled if it weren’t for the reckless tweeting of Spike Lee, Roseanne Barr and all of their twitter followers? Unfortunately for the families and friends so deeply impacted, that question will forever go unanswered.

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Spike Lee’s negligent tweet to his 240,000 followers has caused an elderly couple in Sanford, Florida to live in fear. The director retweeted an incorrect address that allegedly was the house that Trayvon Martin’s killer George Zimmerman resided at.

The tweet spawned from twitter account holder @MACCAPONE, according to The Smoking Gun. Marcus Davonne Higgins, 33, a Los Angeles resident tweeted the wrong address to several celebrities such as rapper 50 cent and actor Will Smith. Higgins tweet stated “EVERBODY REPOST THIS.” Lee was the only celebrity to retweet the false information. Higgins also took to his facebook page “FEEL FREE TO REACH OUT & TOUCH HIM.”

The address belongs to David McClain, 72 and wife Elaine, 70 who reportedly suffers from a heart condition. Higgins mixed up George Michael Zimmerman 41, for Trayvon’s killer George W. Zimmerman, 28. The recent headline news surrounding the Trayvon Martin’s case has brought attention all around the country due to the injustice felt by the African American community.

The McClain’s have received threatening mail and random visitors to their household. Because of this the McClain’s have been forced to stay at a hotel. Attorney Matt Morgan representing the McClain’s have reached a settlement for the trouble that the couple has had to deal with.

“At this point in time, we have come to an agreement with Spike Lee and his attorneys, and at this point, the matter is fully resolved,” Morgan said. “Spike has agreed to compensate the McClain’s for their loss and for the disruption into their lives. He’s taken full responsibility.”

According to yahoo news. Lee also tweeted late Wednesday: “I Deeply Apologize To The McClain Family For Retweeting Their Address. It Was A Mistake. Please Leave The McClain’s In Peace.”

Lee isn’t the only celebrity to start an uproar through twitter. Pop singer Justin Beiber earlier last month tweeted, “Call me right now.” Beiber used a Dallas phone number and left the last digit a as question mark. Dallas residents were then subjected to phone calls at all times of the night by excited Bieiber fans.

Singer Courtney Love is another rogue celebrity tweeter, tweeting erratically about a fashion designer in 2011. She paid out $430,000 to fashion designer Dawn Simorangkir after making statements that she had a criminal past.

The outlandish behavior amongst celebrities on twitter has a cause and effect not only to themselves but to others as well whom they may not even know. Celebrities are placed on a pedestal once they reach a certain stature and whatever move they make can affect them positively or negatively as far as their image and credibility goes.

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Sunday night during game three of the NBA Eastern Conference Finals between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, Joakim Noah had a verbal altercation with a fan resulting in a $50,000 fine. Noah promptly apologized for the derogatory anti-gay term he used in response to a fan showering insults about Noah’s mother among other things. Some of the players said the fan was intoxicated, but he was never removed from the game.

This was just another instance in the NBA that sparks discussion on several topics. Should security be increased around the benches? Should ushers warn fans around the benches when they are getting out of control? Do arenas need to limit alcohol sales?

Now these are all areas that the NBA needs to make sure they are doing a good job in handling, but the true responsibility lies with the fans. Paying top-dollar for a seat right behind the bench does not buy you the right to act like an idiot. It is sad when one or a few moronic fans ruin things for all the other fans that do a great job rooting for their teams. This is no good-natured Spike Lee Reggie Miller spout. This is just plain harassment and it needs to end.

Taunting is of course a part of the game, and it can be a fun and exciting part of the game that drives players to play harder. More trash-talking takes place on the floor than cameras are able to capture. Every now and then you can read their lips, but most goes unheard by the fans. In the crowd there is also rumblings and chants targeting players but that is part of playing in a hostile environment, and these fans aren’t in the players’ faces they are simply creating a home-court advantage.

The NBA is different than any of the other major sports in America. There is very little separating the fans from the players, often nothing at all. There are seats on the edge of the floor, behind the benches and under the baskets. There is no distance, and fans can be right in the faces of players, verbally abusing and harassing them during the course of a highly emotional game. Sports like the NFL have the fans far removed from the players, and baseball has walls, foul areas, and covered dugouts. The NHL even has glass separating fans from the playing ice.

This incident brings The Malice in the Palace back to life, although in a much smaller scale. This happened between the Pacers and the Pistons November 19, 2004 at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Two notable players, Ron Artest and Stephen Jackson ended up in the crowd going toe to toe with fans. Five players were eventually charged with assault and five fans faced criminal charges and were banned from attending Pistons games for life.

How much is too much?

This article is not meant to excuse Noah of his actions, and he never should have confronted the fan in the first place, but it brings to light a responsibility that lies with the fans. Fans please be responsible when you attend games. Sporting events are meant to be fun, to be an escape from everyday life. Being a fan is about having passion, but when you cross the line it becomes something else, ruining the game and the reputations of fans.

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