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A new documentary is examining the Bling Ring from the POV of their alleged ringleader, Rachel Lee.
But I could see how it was quite entertaining for the world to see the story that way.
The story was framed as a tale of materialism gone wild, the ugly product of our celebrity-obsessed society.
ButThe Ringleaderemphasizes how these crimes came from something more eternal that 2000s logomania: a toxic teenage friendship.
This is where she met fellow bling ringer Nick Prugo.
Prugo and Lee bonded over their outsider status in Calabasas.
Lee described the relationship as super pure, at first.
Prugo taught Lee how to contour.
As more kids got added to the Bling Ring, the initial bond between Prugo and Lee was strained.
However, When we were stealing, we were still on each others team, she said.
We were still Bonnie and Clyde.
Chasing a High
InThe Ringleader,Lee said she first tried Xanax at age 14.
She said the drug was a catalyst for her later behavior.
It took away my emotion, she said.
And because I didnt care.
I could act the way that I always wanted to.
How did she always want to act?
Like her heroes in theOceansandFast & Furiousmovies.
In theVanity Fairstory, Lee is portrayed as calm and collected compared to the more jumpy Prugo.
Its possible she was just xanned out.
Goodkin even makes a cameo in the film, as Emma Watsons arresting officer.
She called it part of the vortex of fame.
How can I be the ringleader when I never even met Roy [Lopez] in person?
How can I be the ringleader when me and Alexis werent even really friends?
Who Was the Mastermind?
In the press, her silence was also used against her.
Prugo, especially, characterized Lee as the mastermind and instigator of the crimes.
Lee said the burglaries were more of folie a deux.
They were also an escalation of previous smaller crimes, like checking to see if cars were unlocked.
That part of me has always been inside of me, she said.
