Ted Williams: Will Fame Hurt Him?

Ted Williams, quite recently, was a homeless panhandler standing on the side of the street in Columbus, Ohio, until he was discovered by a reporter who made a video of Williams demonstrating his “golden pipes.” Since the video was put online, it's lured more than 13 million hits.

As a result, Williams has been bombarded with job offers, voiced ads for Kraft Mac & Cheese, and been reunited with his mother, Julia Williams, 90, of Brooklyn, as well as several of what he says are nine children he fathered.

But Williams’ past has come out, which includes drug and alcohol addictions and a criminal record, and is raising concern that his sudden stardom and could lead him "off the wagon."

"This overnight stardom, for anyone, even somebody who had a completely perfectly clean past, could be an issue," said "Early Show on Saturday Morning" co-anchor Rebecca Jarvis.
Homeless Man Ted Williams Radio VoiceThe Columbus Dispatch reports video of Ted Williams posted this week on the newspaper's website has commanded millions o... Read Moref views.
Source: YouTube
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"Absolutely," agreed "Early Show" contributor Dr. Jennifer Hartstein, a psychologist. "Look at all these reality television stars we watch all the time and their lives unfold in front of us, too, and then they go down these paths (on which) they don't know what to do with their fame. And here's someone who does have a troubled past. So, we really need to hope and pray that he continues to take this second chance and … use that for the good and really turn his life around and keep it that way."

The Columbus Dispatch reports video of Ted Williams posted this week on the newspaper's website has commanded millions of views.
Source: YouTube