During the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in China, 50 year old American actress Sharon Stone commented, “this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice the bad things happen to you?'' on the red carpet during an interview at the Cannes Film Festival earlier last week, causing outrage throughout China. In a second interview recently after, the renowned actress had stood by her comments and felt that China had mistreated Tibetans and doing so may have caused “bad karma” leading to the horrific earthquake that killed thousands of people. But in her most recent statement she has seem to change her thoughts, and retracted her inappropriate comment. It seemed she tried to redeem herself and distanced herself from the negative image she has created of herself. Her comment about such a broad array of people that just so happens to live within an invisible boundary we call China.
The term Chinese is so broadly used to describe any person living in China; we are often too narrow minded to even learn the facts before opening our mouths. There are millions of different ethnicities that live within China and to claim such a statement about such a vast array of people is very ignorant. Not only that, but to blame all of China for the mistreating of Tibetans based on choices that the Chinese government makes is very inappropriate. There are tens of thousands of innocent people that have lost their lives in this earthquake, and to say that any of them deserves it or cause it upon themselves, is just plain wrong. No one deserves their home and families to be torn apart, especially literally from the ground up. Not the mothers, the fathers, grandparents, and especially not all the innocent little children who have lost their lives due to the quake. That is just extremely wrong, it does not matter who makes such a statement. A good person would show remorse, sympathy, and support, not judgment and blame. As we all know, her apology now is full of crap because we know that she doesn’t mean it. As a celebrity it’s all about the money. More than half the time a celebrity of any sort makes an official apology to the public, its either one-- a publicity stunt, or two-- they’re just reading a script wrote by someone they paid to write stuff like that anyways (in my opinion). The reason why Sharon Stone decided to retract her statement and even attempt to apologize is because she is losing money. Why else? Her movies are being banned in various theaters in China. French fashion store- Christian Dior has confirmed on Thursday that the company was forced to drop her ads from all their stores in China due to customer dissatisfaction with her comment.
Celebrities are supposed to be role models, good role models. The things they say and do travels through ear faster than a speeding bullet. Sometimes too well for their own good. Even just a small little comment like this one, when made without full consideration, can cause a ton of damage. Within a week’s time, millions of people were angry and hurt by it, as well as tons of money lost. An apology was issued, but the damage has been done. Such people as celebrities should not mix politics with entertainment, especially in times of distress. But like Sharon Stone once said, “is that karma?”, because if it is, it sure came back to bite her in the ass quite quickly. Says who? Christian Dior. Public icons should always reconsider their statements before digging themselves a hole in dirt.
5 comments:
With the large life loss that China has suffered it is hard to think that this comment could have been anything but caullus, however it was an opinion. It doesn't matter who the person is, they are allowed their right to an opinion.
You are allowed to have an opinion but others are allowed to have an opinion to praise or to condemn, and if neccessary, take actions whatever it may be (legally or illegally). You just have to prepare for any consequencies that follow.
She was right the first time. It's karma. Get over it.
I agree that people have their right to freedom of voice but to put this in terms of reality, being a public icon will still put you at risk no matter what.
Yes, it is an opinion. But to openly and directly blame 70,000 dead innocent people, China's karma, in public isn't the brightest statement either. Especially when you play a part in China's economy, posing for ads (that no longer will be seen in the country). I'm not saying Stone is denied right of opinion but maybe it would be wiser to discuss it with a close friend behind closed doors, thinking even then those doors may be invisible.
It was a dumb remark. But if every action ought to have an equal and opposite reaction, the question is whether the response has been proportionate. Based on what I've read, it seems that the Chinese reaction to Stone's comment has been one of immediate anger/hurt national feelings and a call by some (probably a small minority) for an "anti-Sharon movement." From my perspective, the opinions of some B-list actress are of virtually no consequence. But from a Chinese perspective, this probably feels like yet another unfair criticism hurled at the motherland from an ignorant Westerner, in an environment where little else but criticism is heard from the foreign press. So I think the response is really the grounded in something that extends way beyond the casual comments of one individual and, in that sense, sort of understandable.
It's absolutely true that China needs to get used to criticism if it's going to join the ranks of the major world powers. But it seems that China-bashing has now become as en vogue among Hollywood celebrities as AIDS ribbons were in the 90s. If it's really change that's sought-- for human rights, for the environment, etc.-- it's high time that people begin voicing their criticisms more sensibly, and in a way that promotes dialog rather than prevents it.
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