I watched Different Strokes as a kid and used to crush on Plato heavy. Years after the end of her tragic adult life, her son commits suicide as well. I would have to resist the urge to punch Howard Stern in the face if I ever meet him. He should be charged with double homicide.
She was a struggling drug addict and was attempting to get her shit together. She was on his show the day before she killed herself...Stern gave her a hard time and basically had or allowed his callers troll her to tears on the show.
I googled Dana Plato when I first saw this thread, cuz I was like who?, and Howard Stern's name auto-populated. I then did the search and the interview was on youtube.
I don't think Howard Stern was much of a dick, at least not anymore than normal. He was a little insensitive, but mostly he was on her side. I didn't hear the whole thing, but at least one of the callers was a total cock-sucker and Howard defended her. When she cried, it was out of gratitude for Howard and another caller sticking up for her.
I haven't listened to the interview in a long time, but I recall his defense of her coming across as insincere and patronizing. Yeah, let me passively "defend" you while I simultaneously unleash my scum fan base on you.
It's possible it came across as a lot worse than it was because I was basically in love with her as a kid.
Well, he did seem mostly indifferent to the whole thing at the time. Like he stood up for her, but it was like, "hey, maybe you shouldn't, eh, well, meh, she's probably telling the truth. Maybe." I'm probably being naive, but I didn't really blame him for the douche bag callers. He doesn't personally screen his callers, anyway.