Editor’s note. The following article was published by HOPE Australia on May 30 and is reposted with permission.
Stan Lee literally made superheroes.
A comic book writer, he was responsible for the creation of characters like Spiderman, the X-Men, Iron Man, the Fantastic Four, Thor and the Hulk. Generations and generations of comic book fans lined up at conventions to receive his autograph.
He was rich and famous but, at 95 years of age, he was also a vulnerable old man.
Police allege that after Lee’s wife of 69 years, Joan, passed away in 2017, Lee’s manager, Keya Morgan, became close to him and attempted to exert influence and control over his life and finances.
Morgan was arrested last week on charges that include theft, forgery, fraud and false imprisonment. In other words, Morgan was charged with elder abuse.
Stories suggest that Morgan changed Lee’s phone number in an attempt to distance him from family and friends, would use Lee’s macular degeneration as an excuse to read and respond to all of Lee’s emails, and attempted to control his financial affairs.
While most elder abuse occurs in private, there were articles reporting the potential abuse in the months before Lee’s death in November 2018, but even this exposure did not protect him from being manipulated.
Lee’s story demonstrates how easily the elderly can be manipulated.
An investigation from The Hollywood Reporter records [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/stan-lee-needs-a-hero-elder-abuse-claims-a-battle-aging-marvel-creator-1101229] a declaration signed by Lee stated that three men with “bad intentions,” Morgan included, were seeking to gain control over Lee’s assets, property and money.
According to The Hollywood Reporter [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/features/stan-lee-needs-a-hero-elder-abuse-claims-a-battle-aging-marvel-creator-1101229], when Morgan learned that the news outlet had obtained a copy of the declaration, he filmed a video of Lee denying its contents.
Despite the denials in the video, Morgan was arrested and charged six months after Lee’s death. But the video’s existence begs the question, if a person can make a statement in the presence of their lawyer saying one thing, and film a video retracting the statement shortly thereafter, how is anyone able to know for certain their true wishes?
If elder abuse can happen under media spotlight, to someone who – even in his 90s – attracted crowds to see him, then how can we safeguard elderly Australians against it?
Daniel Miller is responsible for nearly all of National Right to Life News' political writing.
With the election of Donald Trump to the U.S. presidency, Daniel Miller developed a deep obsession with U.S. politics that has never let go of the political scientist. Whether it's the election of Joe Biden, the midterm elections in Congress, the abortion rights debate in the Supreme Court or the mudslinging in the primaries - Daniel Miller is happy to stay up late for you.
Daniel was born and raised in New York. After living in China, working for a news agency and another stint at a major news network, he now lives in Arizona with his two daughters.
