BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhuanet) -- U.S. actress Sharon
Stone has released a statement through her agency apologizing for saying the
earthquake that struck China may have been the result of bad karma, media
reported Thursday.
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U.S. actress Sharon Stone in an undated
file photo. Stone has released a statement through her agency apologizing
for saying the earthquake that struck China may have been the result of
bad karma. (File Photo)
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"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."
The 50-year-old "Basic Instinct" star reportedly made
the comments while speaking to a Hong Kong TV channel on the sidelines of the
Cannes film festival last week.
When asked about her feelings for the earthquake, the
actress said: "You know it was very interesting because first, you know I'm
unhappy about the way the Chinese treating the Tibetan because I think anyone
should not be unkind to anyone else...I've been concerned about how should we
deal with the Olympics, because they are not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who
is a good friend of mine." "And then all this earthquake and all this stuff
happened, and I thought, is that karma -- when you're not nice that the bad
things happen to you?"
Ng See-Yuen, founder of the UME Cineplex, one of
China's largest cinema chains, and chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong
Filmmakers, said he objected to the comments and pledged his company would not
show Stone's films, according to a report in The Hollywood Reporter.
Ng described Stone's comments as "inappropriate" and
said actors should not bring personal politics to comments involving a
humanitarian disaster, according to the Reporter.
Stone's karma remark has sparked a storm of criticism
and condemnation among Chinese netizens.
"I want her to say sorry. It's not for me. It's for
the dead people," said a young man, who described himself as a Chinese called
Adam.
Sam Teng, a netizen of CCTV.com from Malaysia, is
also shocked, and said the actress 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? "
Stone, model for French fashion house Christian Dior,
would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China, according to a
public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai.
The May 12 earthquake, which struck in southwest
China's Sichuan province, is the nation's worst natural disaster in a generation
and has killed at least 68,500.
(Agencies)¡¡
Sharon Stone's quake "karma" apology
doesn't mollify many Chinese
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- 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. Full story
Netizen: Sharon Stone has a heart as
cold as "stone"
BEIJING, May 29 --
U.S. actress Sharon Stone has sparked a storm of criticism and condemnation in
China after suggesting the devastating earthquake on May 12 that killed more
than 68,000 was bad "karma" because of China's Tibet policy. Full story
