Published on May 27, 2008

Hong Kong Cable TV interviewed Sharon Stone in Cannes for her opinion on the China Sichuan earthquake, and her response was staggeringly distasteful.

BEIJING - I’m not sure if any of you have seen this clip yet - but it’s certainly doing the rounds like wildfire.

Hong Kong Cable TV interviewed Sharon Stone in Cannes for her opinion on the China Sichuan earthquake, and her response was staggeringly distasteful. A former member of the Church Of Scientology (which in my mind automatically convinces me she is already a sandwich short of a picnic) she converted to Buddhism after being introduced to the religion by none other than Richard Gere. Now she’s also an ordained minister of the Universal Life Church - itself no stranger to controversy.

How many churches, religions, cults and sects do you need to go through before you realize that you should ‘think before you speak’? For me, all it took was a firm hand from my parents - and believe me I learned quick. How much more of an offensive comment could she have made? To be honest it absolutely sickened me to watch. I'm not sure if she was drunk, high, or a combination of both. Shameful.

Now, she may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer (though she claimed that she was a member of Mensa - which was refuted) but Sharon, we really do not care who your friends are or how influential they may be - make an apology already. Having said that, it’s probably too late already. And I’m doubting people would likely buy your films in China anyway - they stink.

UPDATE - Already there is fallout (unsurpringly) from her comments.

From the Hollywood Reporter :

Her remarks triggered anger across the Chinese-language media and were called "inappropriate" by the founder of one of China's biggest urban cinema chains, who said his company would not show the Hollywood star's films.

Ng See-Yuen, founder of the UME Cineplex chain and the chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers, said that actors should not bring personal politics to comments about a natural disaster that has left 5 million Chinese homeless.

UME has branches in Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Guangzhou, China's biggest urban movie markets.

From the BBC:

Stone's comments also created a swell of anger on the internet, including at least one Chinese website devoted solely to disparaging her comments.

The Beijing Times also reported that some major Beijing department stores had removed advertisements for cosmetic and couture giant Christian Dior, which feature Stone's image.

From The Telegraph:

One young man says: "Why can't we put the debate about the Chinese government away and just think that people died? When I watched her video I was very upset about her opinion. She is a good lady, she is beautiful and she works for the world, for everybody who needs help. But this time I can't accept her opinion. Sharon Stone should say sorry to the people who died in the earthquake. I just want to get everybody's attention and let her know her opinion is wrong."

This is not the first time that Stone has offered her opinion on world affairs.

And From AFP:

"I hope this video is usable for people to get together and help each other and let Sharon Stone say sorry," he said in his YouTube video, which had been seen by more than 18,000 as of early Wednesday

Oh dear, oh dear.

UPDATE 2 - Well it seems as though a fair bit of pressure, not to mention a few million unhappy Chinese, have managed to get Sharon stone to issue an 'apology'. I do find it interesting though, that these statemnts have come via her PR manager at Dior. In addition shares of Christian Dior slipped 0.6% on Thursday and are down 21% over the last year - according to Marketwatch.

From CNN:

The 50-year-old actress said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week. Stone models for Christian Dior SA, and the company's Shanghai office issued the statement.

The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai who gave only her surname, Guo, said Stone would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China.

"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement. "I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."

UPDATE 3 - Xinhua has picked up some responses from Netizens:

Such disgusting remarks spark great rage among all the Chinese people. Sam Teng, a netizen of CCTV.com from Malaysia, is also shocked, and said Sharon Stone has a heart as cold as stone:

"I am utterly shocked and furious to hear the disgusting remarks by Sharon Stone that the earthquake in Sichuan, China is a "karma". At the time when millions of people are displaced, about 60,000 people killed and about another 20,000 people missing due to the earthquake, the Chinese people all over the world including many foreign sympathizers are greatly saddened. The survivors are still struggling for a safer place to live in view of the coming rain and risks of floods. As such, I find Sharon Stone's remark insensitive and inhumane. Where is your sympathy?

Such remarks coming from a celebrity and famous public figure like her cannot be justified for whatever reasons. Not many people can live like Sharon Stone in first class facilities; but unfortunately her remarks showed she has third class mentality. While many people near and far have expressed great sympathy and condolences to the Chinese government and people, here you, Sharon Stone conveniently remarked it as a "karma."

UPDATE 4 - Xinhua: Sharon Stone's quake "karma" apology doesn't mollify many Chinese

Although actress Sharon Stone on Wednesday apologized for her "karma" comments on the May 12 quake in China, many in the country say they'll never forgive her.

According to the Chinese text of the apology sent to the Beijing News by Dior's Shanghai branch on Wednesday, Stone said she felt "deeply sorry for my inappropriate words and acts, which have hurt the Chinese people's feelings."

She also extended the deepest sympathy and condolences to all victims of the disaster and said that she would participate in relief work.

On Wednesday evening, there was no trace of Stone to be seen at some Dior outlets in Shanghai, according to the Shanghai Youth Daily. No posters or ads, and big film and music stores had banished all copies of her work.

Films featuring Stone would be banned from any UME cinema in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland, the Beijing Times quoted Ng See-Yuen, founder of the UME Cineplex chain, as saying on Wednesday.

In addition, Christian Dior, a luxury-goods group for which Stone does some modeling, said in a statement issued by its China head office that company officials "absolutely disagree" with Stone's remarks and are "deeply sorry" for them, according to the Financial Times.

Sincere as her apology seems, Chinese netizens say they don't buy it.

On qq.com, a survey found that 69 percent of about 250,000 respondents said they didn't accept her apology and will never forgive her.

Huang Yi, a mainland actress, wrote in her blog: "It is the first time I heard someone use the word 'interesting' to describe the tragedy ... those who are indifferent to life have no rights to discuss life."

A netizen named "Sayin" said: "What a stupid and selfish comment! Celebrities really should learn to think before talking."