I doubt we’re going to get anything else as major as those emails between Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal where Rudin was having a complete hissy fit about Angelina Jolie. But there’s still some interesting stuff to be sorted through with the Sony Hack documents. Here are some stories percolating through the interwebs:
*George Clooney is going to be working with Sony on a film about the Rupert Murdoch/News of the World hacking debacle. The Sony hackers got their hands on some emails between Clooney and Amy Pascal – go here to see. Apparently, George already assumed he’s being hacked, and acts accordingly.
*Joel McHale is really nice. He sweetly emailed a Sony mid-level executive and asked for a discounted TV that he was promised.
*Kevin Hart has been making comedies with Sony and they’ve been increasingly profitable and popular. So, Kevin wanted a little extra money to do a little extra promotion for one of his films – his manager asked Sony to include some extra pay for Kevin to promote his film on social media, because his contract to promote the film (probably Think Like a Man Too) was just for interviews and TV appearances, not for social media. So, obviously, some Sony executive wrote about Hart: “I’m not saying he’s a whore, but he’s a whore.” There’s a discussion about what kind of precedent it sets if they give Hart a little bit more for social media shilling – go here to read.
*And here’s one of the more disturbing exchanges:
Before Sony Pictures chair Amy Pascal attended a breakfast of Hollywood bigwigs last November with Barack Obama, she emailed her friend Scott Rudin for suggestions on what she should ask the president.
In what has become the latest embarrassing email uncovered in a trove of messages leaked by hackers who attacked Sony, Pascal wrote Rudin: “What should I ask the president at this stupid Jeffrey breakfast?” She was referring to a breakfast hosted by DreamWorks Animation head and major Democratic donor Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Rudin, a top film producer responsible for films like No Country for Old Men and Moneyball, responded, “Would he like to finance some movies.” Pascal replied, “I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?” Rudin responded: “12 YEARS.” Pascal quickly continued down the path of guessing Obama preferred movies by or starring African Americans. “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic]”
Rudin’s response: “Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”
At a fundraiser later that evening at DreamWorks’ studio, Obama didn’t express a particular preference for the films Rudin and Pascal listed, telling a crowd of Hollywood executives, “Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy.”
Pascal is a major Democratic donor; she gave $5,000 to Obama’s re-election campaign and cut a $30,800 check to the Democratic National Committee, according to OpenSecrets.
So… Amy Pascal is a Democratic donor who likes to “joke” about how the president of the United States only likes movies about slavery or movies starring Kevin Hart? Good lord. How embarrassing for them.
Meanwhile, I’ve been sort of surprised by the lack of formal statements from the people involved – however unwillingly – in these controversies. Angelina Jolie hasn’t made a statement. Neither has Amy Pascal. But Rudin did tell the NYT: “This is not about salacious emails being batted around by Gawker and Defamer. It’s about a criminal act, and the people behind it should be treated as nothing more nor less than criminals.” Sure. I don’t think there’s any question that the hack was a criminal act. But it’s also a HUGE gossip story.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
With George, I think it was a joke since the story of the film has to do with hacking of celebrity phones and emails?
I always just assume the NSA is listening in, because they are.
“entertainment is part of our American diplomacy” Pretty much sums up the giant F0ck you to North Korea, and the potential source of the Sony hack in response?
I’m watching you too, Kidoo.
I’m going through your medicine cabinet, Kidoo.
I claim the Xanax, Abot.
Who has xanax? I WANT THE xanax.
You’re both being watched watching me.
*Jots down notes about all 3 of you*
*filming you through your camera while you are taking notes*
@Kiddo, everyone knows that lucy2 is a total brat and she will steal your lunch money when you’re not looking. Plus, I’m pretty sure she’s cheating on Abbot behind her back, so do not stand next to her in the quad.
North Korea: 1
Hollywood: 0
Holy.S**t.
…and the hits just keeps on coming. Like I said yesterday, here’s your movie right here.
He called Kevin Hart a whore. I will admit that I actually laughed at that but would I have laughed if he had said it about a woman. See I call myself out for double standards. This shit is getting good.
Seriously , LOL part ” I’m not calling him a whore , but he’s a whore .”
This isn’t bullshiting with your friends , these are company emails , business emails with co works
Hollywood really is so twisted, it’s as if high school were a trillion dollar industry .
What’s so pathetic about today’s culture , so many in society allow Hollywood people influence their politics .
@Avery but do you really need a bunch of hacked emails to realize how f”ed up Hollywood is. I know it’s messed up due to the lack of leading roles for minorities. Now I guess they have that microscopic light shined on them which will get people talking at least for now.
And yes I laughed at the part where Rudin called Kev a whore. I was just picturing what Hart’s reaction might be. It wasn’t so long ago that Hart made a joke calling darkskinned women with no credit broke ass dark hoes. So now I wonder how he feels to be called a whore by one of Hollywood’s big wigs. BTW I know Hart was joking when he said that but still….
Is anybody really that shocked that Hollywood is teeming with raging egomaniacal a-holes? I still think the most embarrassing thing about all this is that they had a master password file called…Master_Password_File.
SHOCKED, shocked I tell you…nope.
Yeah they should have at least made it an alphanumeric password like “Password1″…
Ok?? I mean There is NO Shock at All here, they are all conniving and narcissistic… The surprise is that a homophobic/misogynistic/racist type thing took too many days to come out
They should give the NFL a ring.
Why, I always just assumed Hollyweird was brimming over with shiny happy people. This is so shocking! Excuse me while I clutch my pearls….
NOT!!
i remember there’s a junior IT guy who tried to be smart in hiding all his p0rn by masquerading it as a text file and hid it on our company’s server trash folder. and he managed to get a “rental ring” amongst the junior IT staff thanks to that. only that the trash folder got cleaned out every month or so (it used to be every day, then evolved to every week then…. because a lot of people are so trigger happy with their delete button).
he didn’t own up to it at first but got tired of repopulating the folder after awhile that he whined to a guy he thought was a fellow Junior IT, but is actually our very babyfaced, lovable CIO.
it was fun while it lasted.
That literally made me laugh out loud. He should have been fired for not knowing who the CIO was.
@mimi
Hahah I know: master password file brilliany hidden under the impossible to crack secret code name…master_password_file
Bwahahhahahahahaaa
No, but I’m quite cynical.
Someone on d-listed postulated that the jokes might have been sarcastic, in that as people who aren’t racist, they surmise what racists would ask. Thoughts?
I’m guessing no, because they would have made more black films in general, but maybe I’m seeing this through a biased prism?
You mean like parodying the racially-insensitive white person?
Eh…I’m not sure I’m willing to give these two jackholes the benefit of the doubt..
Resounding No from this corner of the camp event.
LOL @mimif – camp event is not accepting any excuse
That sounds plausible, I think you’d have to read all the emails to analyze the tone of banter b/w Scott and amy
Am I the only person who finds the comments about Obama the most disturbing yet? Everything else has a feeling of “business as usual” (complaining about actors, hustling for roles, etc.), but for a well-educated individual with a powerful job (who supposedly supports Obama) to make those kind of jokes? It’s not even about Obama specifically but the subtext of racism that disturbs me.
I can’t wait to hear what Chris Rock has to say about this.
+1
Yes. Larry Wilmore too. And now I wish 30 Rock was still on the air, because you know Tina Fey and Company would have had a field day with this.
It’s very disturbing to say the least.
It’s weird how people can make racist comments and not feel dirty about it.
Like, it just comes so naturally to some people, it’s scary.
That’s the Entitled Elite for you.
Yup, some people are so casual about it that it’s disturbing.
They should be embarrassed about this one, especially Pascal. I see your true colors shinning through girlfriend.
I wish Obama would just walk up to her in a public forum, hand her a check for $35,800 and say thanks but no thanks. Now I’m off to watch DJango.
Lol V4Real, you’re killing me today. 😀
“I wish Obama would just walk up to her in a public forum, hand her a check for $35,800 and say thanks but no thanks. Now I’m off to watch DJango.”
That would be so epic.
Just shows how deeply rooted racism still is, and how people are able to hide it in their public life. The idea of political correctness contributes to that- so they pretend, and when feeling unwatched, show their true colors. This woman probably only ‘supported’ Obama because most of Hollywood does, because jokes like that are truly not just embarrassing, but show a carelessness that’s disturbing.
@ siri – ita and i bet she feels really good about herself for supporting obama
“my black friend” is now “my black president”
i hope both of them cant wiggle out of this
The comfort level of her bigotry is unnerving.
Chris Rock was right and the hackers just showed us the receipts.
+1 hundred eleventy billion thousands and thousand
100% agree.
+1 hundred eleventy billion thousands and thousand to infinity
Sweet Jebus, they’re not being racist, they’re being lazy joke traders. Of course the exchange is in bad taste and is embarrassing in public and out of context, but this is not racism. The more we dilute its true meaning, the more people will get away with actual racism that’s harmful and oppressive. Recognize this as a dumb conversation between two dimwits, not an implication that blacks are inferior because they only like black movies (that doesn’t even make sense!) Let’s look at real issues, per recent Chris Rock interviews, and use our energy to make real changes. This is a waste of our collective energy.
It sounds pretty racist to me. The joke is that Obama likes black movies — their view of him is solely thru the prism of race. Not that he’s the President of the United States. Would they say the same about a white POTUS? Oh, wait of course not because the majority of films are for white peeps by white peeps. And it’s this same attitude that causes crazy right wing staffers to go off about how the Obama girls dont respect their country, just like their parents. What gives people the right to be so cavalier in their attitude toward the president? Nothing in Obama’s demeanor invites that– if anything, it was Bush who invited disregard yet he never got such disrespect.
You’re not the only person. It disgusts and shocks me, too.
You’re not the only one. Rudin is horrible but Amy Pascal is an embarrassment. Depressing to realize that someone in such a powerful position seems to possess so little intelligence or dignity.
No. They are very disturbing and just highlight what we’ve been saying all along. Racism is alive and well in the US. People are just better about hiding it. I hope there is huge fallout for Rudin & Pascal.
” I hope there is huge fallout for Rudin & Pascal.”
Yes +1
I fear though that their power is going to shield them.
I feel that way too!
No you are not alone on this. Very. Disturbing.
I totally agree!
It’s very disturbing.
I think Amy Pascal has come off HORRIBLY in this whole thing, appearing very weak and whiny regarding the Jobs movie, and now initiating this racist back and forth? Ew. Rudin’s reputation was always dreadful, but I didn’t know much about her. What I’ve learned is very off-putting.
Very disturbing, especially considering how many separate messages were in that little bigoted exchange, so it wasn’t like one little jacked up comment. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not. In 2014, most racism is undercover, deeply-ingrained bigotry.
President Obama is a *true* class act. I am so glad that he is black, and that he is our president. Black is normal! Few, I repeat *few* people could reach his level of dignity, equanimity and graciousness. (apparently a great many people could follow his lead – he even showed up the prince). What a ridiculous conversation about skin color: sadly, we are still a country working on civil rights.
“You are glad that Obama is black”and “black is normal.” Really???? WOW! Stand in a room full of black people and make that last statement.
I hope you realize that these are racist statements . If he were Asian or Native American would you say the same? This is an example that the majority of people are racists but will only acknowledge racism in others because it makes us feel superior. Get that plank out of you eye.
I’m very interested in *not* being racist. My black friends are no different than I; that’s is all I was trying to say. I am very aware of prejudice because it horrifies me – it is bullying to the point of indignity. And worse. Asians, Native Americans, Mexican-American’s, even people from the Middle East, are subjected to prejudice in the US. I cringe when thinking about how this would feel. It seems so much harder than even being poor…I’ve watched the movies and documentaries and I have tremendous empathy. {I don’t know what you want me to do}. Calling someone a racist, gives no information about how you would like them to improve. I would appreciate any solid advice.
This is the next day of all the posting on this article, but I have pondered this. I believe that perhaps one is talking about access. That is why I have heard the word “privileged” so many times here. White people have had the money in the US and have been unwilling to share opportunities with black people. * Access *.
I am on your side. For me, that means that I vote Democrat, because that is the party that is for minorities and women, children and education – all the good things, for the people, for many of us who have little. The Republicans wish to own, even our wombs. They are on the side of big business, and we cannot let that happen. Please vote – that is the major way that we can change America. Vote for people who are on our side.
When I say that I am glad that Barack Obama is our “black” president, I mean this because I am on the side of progress! (also, he is the very best president of my life, and I’m up there).
I feel the same way. The only one I find shocking are the Obama emails, which is so disheartening to read how low they go in the gutter with their racist snark.
Yeah, the casual racism disturbed me. I also got the feeling from that exchange that both Pascal and Rubin are unaware that the universe doesn’t revolve around the film industry.
The whole exchange sounded like typical clueless, heartless Holly wood, where the only good things in life are money and power. I’m guessing the two of them are meeting to discuss whether sending muffin baskets to the president and all A-list black actors will smooth things over.
No, it waqs a horrible email exchange to read. I hope their careers are over. Mind you, whoever was emailing about ending the awful Adam Sandler movies should be promoted …
I think that’s a reality many people feel, though may not have it broken down and put into words like these emails.
I read on a website yesterday about how someone conservatives were gloating because this exposed the ‘true’ racists: liberals. I think most informed individuals never thought the democratic or liberal wings were some race-free Mecca but instead always looked at it as the lesser of two evils.
Much like slaves escaping their masters from the south didn’t descend upon the north to find perfection but rather a slightly less horrific environment for them based on their skin tone.
There are several jackasses like Pascel who pat themselves on the back for being so progressive while still harboring malicious ignorance and racist thoughts. Because they are slightly ahead of the curve they think they are absolved of all their privelages and prejudices.
I mean, they suggested that an African American man would like African American themed movies and actors. How is that racist and disturbing? Really, I want to know.
I think Shonda Rhimes had the last word on Rudin, Pascal and the whole mess: “You can put a cherry on a pile of sh*t, but that don’t make it a sundae.
I don’t think ANY less of Kevin Hart, Angelina Jolie (who never says anything bad about anyone) and various others who are getting dumped on by these executives and producers. I do think very poorly of said execs and producers and think they should apologize for their behavior and lack of security. This Rudin person should look long and hard in the mirror, plenty of things on the internet before this how he treats employees and people, pure evil. Edited to add: I despise racist comments….talk about true colors.
I do think Angie acted like a entitled brat, do I could give that e-mail a pass.
This however, is horrbile.
That’s your opinion. I don’t think Jolie acts entitled to anything. It seems many want to tear her down on everything she does…she faces it from both men and women, why is that? As far as Jolie being a racist? Please. I do think she might have gotten an eye-opener about her friends at Sony. These days, everyone should look into the eyes of every child and ask themselves, ‘am I a racist?’ Might help change the world.
I didn’t say she was a racist? Where did I say that?
Do you really think Angelina is going to friends with Amy anymore? Angelina is raising 3 children from the world and people will laugh if you claim she is racist.
Your idol Jennifer on the other hand, doesn’t act with black people, BFF with racist Chelsea Handler. So go attack her hypocrite.
I have to wonder if that means Angelina Jolie is a racist too. I’m just wondering because Chelsea Handler gets labeled a racist and whoever hangs out with her or is friends with her gets labelled a racist too.
Lots of people have racist friends. It doesn’t make them racists, unless they try to make excuses for their friends’ racism.
I had a friend in college who was an overt anti-Semite. Every time she spewed some anti-Semitic bullshit I called her on it. That’s the best way to deal with a racist friend, short of avoiding them altogether.
Ugh. So racist and not funny or cute.
Sadly, this kind of sh*t is just standard when it comes to Obama.
Aaaaw Joel McHale. It’s kinda funny he asked for a TV. Aren’t these people loaded?
Yeah, he seemed very sweet, but I was a little confused about why he cared so much. I would have assumed that wouldn’t have been a ton of money to him.
I know how is that sweet… Looks crazy cheap to me , this is a guy who is a lead and host of 2 tv shows, making at least few hundred thousand, if not million a year and he’s asking a guy he doesn’t know for discount on a tv.. Dude go to Costco and dish out a few hundred bucks, cheep ass.
I read the text of the email reminder for a tv discount from my FAVE Joel.
I think it’s a little bit of comedy.
Love him.
And he got the tv, bonus.
Why are people so fu*king disgusting? You would think it takes blood, sweat, and tears to NOT be an a**hole.
It’s gonna be a lot of awkward interactions at Sony for a loooonnnng time.
Yeah, this rubbed me the wrong way. The ‘whore’ comment coupled with the HILARIOOOUSSS idea that of course Obama only likes black films cause…cause…you get it guys? Cause he’s BLACK! Lolololol!
Sadly this is what’s true of people in positions of power who are supposedly open-minded. Lemony Snicket v. 2.0.
Good for Kevin, hope he asks for a butt-load more money now for any promo.
I wonder if this is going to hurt the studio in the next couple of years. Their only way to salvage this might be to hire a hacker to dig up emails at Paramount, Fox, Warner Bros., etc …
And I’m only half kidding.
Sony’s done for. Pascal especially since she is the woman and the main character in all this. I really wish that they would release more emails from more companies.
The funny thing is after this I’m guessing all these companies are learning a really valuable lesson. Either up the security or don’t say stupid sh-t over email. I forsee some classes on how to write a professional email for a bunch of people in the future.
Are you kidding… they’ve been deleting and wiping servers clean like crazy over at Fox.
Fox doesn’t even have to wipe their sh-t clean, considering they proudly let it all hang out on the regular.
Yeah that whore comment was it for me. I don’t particularly like Kevin Hart movies, but if he were white with his profile and built in audience, there is no way in hell he would be making 3 mil for a film, the way his films open.
Exactly. The tone suggests, “How dare he?! Doesn’t he realize how lucky he is for us to even throw him a bone??? But I bet Obama likes his movies though, LMAO!”
So, basically, people are assholes? Color me surprised.
So, basically, rich white old men that run Hollywood incepted misogyny & racism behind a liberal facade of our American right for entertainment. What else can we add?
And women. Read Amy Pascal’s bio – after graduating from UCLA, she started out as a secretary and worked her way up through the ranks. She’s been honored for her role in expanding the role of women in film, and yet …
That’s alright. It matches the espousing of liberal political leaders that they are populists when, in fact, they are staunch corporatists.
Everyone is bought and sold. *’Values’ are for entertainment purposes only.* Entertainment now equals diplomacy.
Pascal is the only woman that commands a similar salary as the men involved. The only one.
And yeah, Kiddo, it’s all the same at the end of the day when Capital is involved.
I wonder what Mel Gibson thinks about all this?
Mimif, I love your remark. There really is nothing else to say.
Joel McHale <3
Did you see he tweeted a response?
https://twitter.com/joelmchale/status/543050275884236800
So … Joel McHale might be the only person to come out of this looking like a good person.
Love him & if someone rises from these ashes I’m glad it’s him!
That’s a good way of handling things!
I thought Clooney’s email was harmless enough, and there’s one that’s been reported on elsewhere from Paul Reiser that reflects well on him. I suspect this is one of those classic “Who are you when no one’s looking?” situations, where the decent human beings end up looking fine and the secret and not so secret assholes have a lot to worry about.
Call me crazy but Joel McHale looked kinda hot in “Deliver us from Evil” that horror movie with Eric Bana
Girl, you crazy.
I realize that these emails will offend people, but they were never meant for public consumption. Can we stop pretending that most people don’t make politically incorrect statements about a variety of issues in the privacy of their own home or in correspondents with friends? I just don’t believe that most people are goody two shoes who don’t say things that could be perceived as mean-spirited or racist when speaking candidly with family and close friends. I see enough comments made anonymously online everyday to know that a whole lot of people who probably seem like nice people in real life have beliefs they would only feel comfortable stating behind closed doors and anonymously online.
I don’t disagree (trust me, I’d be horrified if some of my text messages were ever made public), but these are a different tenor than, say, finding out Natalie Portman’s people lobby for roles. There’s a subtext within the comments about Obama that give credence to comments made by Chris Rock and other entertainers about Hollywood and its attitudes toward black men and women.
You’re telling on yourself. Believe it or not some of us try to be respectful of others even if there is no one around to hold us accountable.
Mean spirited comments are made on some of our favorite websites such as Celebitchy and Dlisted. It doesn’t have to be a comment that is racist in nature. Dissing people for their looks and fashion choices could also be construed as mean spirited. I’m not part of the PC brigade, that’s all. I admit to saying less than nice things about certain co-workers and other people I dislike in the comfort of close friends. I just would never use my work email for those types of communication.
*sighhhh
That’s rather unfair. Yes, I do think what someone says in private can reflect who they are in public (see the comments about Obama), but everyone has moments when they need to let off steam. It’s why privacy exists.
That said, these emails were not anonymous, were sent in the context of a job, and there’s a much lower expectation of privacy as a result.
Agree, and there’s no excuse for the *subtle* racism in these emails.
I’m with you. And it’s even more alarming to imagine someone being a “private” racist than just owning it.
Oh dear. Comments about the PC brigade? Attempts to equate racism to making comments about someone’s clothes? Apologizing for racism just isn’t cool.
You would think they would have sense enough not to leave evidence of their racism, ya know? It’s like when I see people leave incredibly racist comments on facebook news stories (about Ferguson and the protests) attached to their profile with their real name. Oh, so you are a racist and an idiot? I think if you are in a powerful position, you need to be very careful about what you do and say… and not be a racist a-hole!
@Peppa-I think their bravado in that regard reveals the scope of their perceived (or real) power as well as their arrogance.
My rule is dont write it down if you dont want other people to see it. They should have known better than to put it in an email. (I mean, I also think they are ignorant, racist, assholes who shouldnt speak or think like that anyways, but, seriously – dont put that ish in an email idiots!)
“I just don’t believe that most people are goody two shoes who don’t say things that could be perceived as mean-spirited or racist when speaking candidly with family and close friends. ”
You don’t have to be “goody two shoes” you can just be a normal civilized person. I agree with sighhh, you kinda outed yourself on this one.
Did you even read the emails? This isn’t your garden variety snark; these are very powerful people that directly influence a huge section of the entertainment industry, and therefore American culture. Personally, I can’t give it a pass, private information hacked or not. And if you are an ignorant bigot, how f-cking dumb & power drunk do you have to be to leave a paper trail?
Exactly. The difference is that they were basically making snarky jokes based on his skin color. I could see them making snarky film choices based on his gov’t policies. As an example–say they were talking about Sarah Palin–make a snarky suggestion about suggesting to her to watch a movie about how Planned Parenthood was created. Or say that she and her daughter might enjoy watching Teen Mom or whatever.
Everyone is forgetting about the most outrageous hack which dwarfs this story in comparison: THE NSA SPYING ON EVERYONE’S COMMUNICATIONS & SAVING THEM.
Totally criminal.
Boom. +1 and I’ll add 2 Sony execs for good measure.
Yes, and the backdoor gaps they left open to access all the info has made technology vulnerable to outside criminal hacks as well.
Even if they were not intended for public consumption, these were not private emails among 2 friends, they were business emails. Totally inappropriate exchange in a business context (and abhorrent in any context in my opinion).
Agreed. And who is to say that a friend couldn’t turn on you in an instant and release emails like this? Someone at my husband’s work accidentally hit reply all to an email about a new light rail stop and wrote “oh great, the crime rate is going to spike here, it’s not like we don’t already have enough of them around.” He works in Baltimore city, so I’m sure you can interpret what that person meant. As you can imagine, that was not well received. If you don’t want the public to see, maybe don’t put it in writing.
uh…I may make what people consider mean-spirited comments and almost immediately feel bad about it, but I would NEVER make a racist comment when “speaking candidly” to a family member or friend because…you know, I’m NOT a racist.
I notice it’s always the closet-racists who claim ” oh, if someone is mad enough, anyone would say that, just not in public”. NO. Not just “anyone” would say stuff like that. only racists would. and if your go-to slur when someone cuts you off in traffic is a racial or ethnic slur and not just a simple “M-F’er!” then yeah, you may be a racist.
I do think stuff can be taken out of context. A friend of mine is Asian and a horrible driver. She loves making jokes about “contributing to the stereotype,” and it’s becoming a running joke among our group of friends. When we were in college, someone overheard me make one of those jokes and proceeded to tell a handful of mutual acquaintances that I was racist.
So do I think we should be careful about not taking things out of context said in a private setting? Yes. Do I think that’s the case here? No.
I’m not homophobic and support gay rights. However, if someone personally is homophobic, it is their right to express those views in private conversations. I know of people who are anti-gay Christians and even though it is difficult to become close to them, I don’t believe that they are bad people, just ignorant people. However, they do not cause any harm to others. There are many people with personal beliefs that I do not agree with, but that is the freedom we have in a democracy. I really could care less if a person is less than tactful in a private conversation as long as they do not actually do things that are harmful to others in real life. I may dislike a co-worker and say bad things about him/her in private with my friends and family, but I will treat that person with the utmost respect and kindness in the workplace.
The are two glaring details here that make it wrong on so many levels.
First of all I don’t think anyone should get a pass on racist and rude comments at ANY time, with friends or family or whatever. It is wrong and they should be called on it, but I understand that birds of a feather… and of course these kind of idiotic convos will happen in private.
BUT – and this is a huge BUT, the emails you send and read at work are not private. They reflect upon you, your company, your coworkers, as it reflects the culture of a place.
I have been in a male dominated industry for a decade. If any of our execs wrote that “we should make cars in pink for the little women with a built in baby seat and the cars we sell to black people should come with the radio channels set to rap” or some similar BS, what would you think? Maybe in private he can think that all he wants, but to express these kinds of views at work is not acceptable in any way.
Yes, the hackers commited a crime. Catch them, prosecute, punish them (if you can).
The Sony execs demonstrated that they are racist and misogynistic. Punish them too, if as a company you want to save your image. As a public, we have a choice too, we can boycott their product.
Totally agree – these are business emails that presumably reflect the culture of their business. Depressing.
Most people perhaps, but I have never typed anything that I couldn’t say to anyone’s face. Makes things a whole lot easier. IMO.
“I’m not saying he’s a whore, but he’s a whore.” WOW!! How intelligent!
Can I call both Amy and Scott “bitches” please?
So GC doesn’t like FB,Twitter, Texts, now emails breached and he cursed, what about blogs? He wouldn’t like that too, what are we going to do now?
So how long until Pascal resigns? Sony has the catalyst to get rid of her now after the embarrassment of riches that was the Jobs screw up and someone needs to be thrown under the bus. Maybe not while the hacking thing is still news, but after it dies down, I expect a “shake-up” that finds Pascal ejected from the Boys Club.
Is very strange to see this happening in the USA. For a long time we were told the USA was the place where racism wasn’t tolerated, it was the land of freedom and people from all over the world interacted happily every day.
Then things like Ferguson happen, and then things like this happen, and it makes you wonder if it’s all a facade that actually helps racism become stronger.
I was shocked that when I went to England, black people don’t even consider themselves black, they just are like any other citizen.
Several years ago, I worked with a black man who was well educated, soft spoken, a pacifist … but also about 6’2″ and broad shouldered. Even though he was one of the most peaceful people I’ve ever known, he had more than his share of stories about getting pulled over, questioned, etc.
The one exception? He went over to Belfast, Northern Ireland in the early ’90s during the height of the Troubles to work for a nonprofit youth program for children (like I said, one of the nicest guys you could ever meet). Despite the level of violence in the city, he said it was the most relaxed time in his life because, for the first time, he wasn’t once hassled by police. For once, his skin color was an advantage because people knew he wasn’t part of the conflict. He could freely walk through the city, police and military personnel were nice to him.
America has a huge race issue, and I think, as a society, we tried to pretend it was all solved for several years, only it wasn’t, and finally the failure of ignoring those problems is visible to the world.
“For a long time we were told the USA was the place where racism wasn’t tolerated..”
Not only was I never told that, I never witnessed it either. From my perception growing up in a white suburban town, racism was not only tolerated, but often encouraged. F*ck, the USA was BUILT on the backs of black slaves. Racism has been part of our identity since forever and formed the foundation of current American society.
As a sidenote, never did I see more undercover racists come out of the woodwork on my FB page than when the Ferguson sh*t went down. It was gross as hell, but not surprising I guess.
That’s been my experience, too. I was born and raised in Chicago, one of the most depressingly segregated cities anywhere. The stories I’ve heard about how MLK was treated when he was here are appalling. And I’d venture to say it’s even worse now that it was in the 60s.
As for Ferguson and FB, I had mostly the same experience. Totally gross. Infuriating, actually.
Exactly! I’m not sure who sold her that fairytale, but they lied to her.
Undercover racism runs rampant here. But, I cannot believe people put such overtly racist comments on facebook that shows their real name, picture and where they work. I tried to report some (comments on a news stations page about the story- I wouldn’t keep people as friends that put racist stuff on fb) but facebook says the comments don’t violate anything. Oh really? Ugh.
The streets are made of cheese too! I’m hoping this kind of stuff coming out sheds light on the behind the scenes racism.
When I moved from Canada to the US I was shocked at. How many educated, affluent, white people I met were racist and made no bones about it.
They would say out loud things like ” that is a bad neighbourhood, has lots of blacks and immigrants”… And I would sweetly inform them that I was twice an immigrant myself, coming as I was from Canada and having been raised in Europe. They were always shocked, shocked I tell you, I guess because when they see a Caucasian female with no discernible accent they assume you fit in. I never did and for good reason. (Not suggesting Canada is perfect but we seem to notice a bit less racism…)
It is kinda shocking, it bursts yout bubble. When you’re a kid, you get a very sugar coated view of America. Racism is mostly shown as a thing of the past, happening in historical movies.
A journalist of ours made a travel documentary across The US, around the time of Obama’s first campaign. I remember him asking an old man who he will vote for, and the man said thatl, even thoug he’s a Democrat, he won’t vote for a black man. That blew my mind. I just couldn’t imagine something like that happening in America.
Now, I don’t know how my country woul deal with race issues considering people of other races are very very rare here. The one thing I do remeber is a story that got published about a student from Africa who told about his experience here in the 70s. He also lived in the US. He said that he got called insulting names if he got into an argument, but that this was the only place he ever lived in where white people would shake his hand, drink out of the same glass and invite him into their homes without thinging about it. Sometimes even the same people who said some insulting things.
Charlie, History books are ultra-rah-rah-USA.
Kiddo, are you a godless commie pinko?
Maybe, but I hate pink.
Kiddo – you should see British school textbooks from the 1930s-1950s. I have some as family mementos. Too much reading of them makes me die a little inside!
Kiddo, I teach history and history textbooks are far from rah-rah, not in the last 15 years at least. They have other problems though – they sin through ‘objectivity,” which makes the content timid and toothless. That’s because mammoth publishing houses try to cater to as many regional markets as possible, from New England to Texas, and the result is a curious mishmash of interpretations, but usually polite and complacent. For instance, A. Jackson’s Indian policies were brutal, but not genocidal, and also we dropped a couple of atomic bombs, but it saved American lives.
@Lola Who told you that lie? Racism is alive and breathing, right here in the good ole US of A. Slavery might have been abolished but racism took up a permanent residency. After slavery you had the Black Codes and Jim Crow. Let’s not forget that the Civil Rights Movement was not that long ago (1960’s). This is during the time my mother was growing up. Most people learn racism from their families such as grandparents who was brought up during a different era but brought their racist ideologies into the present.
I live in NY and even though it’s not as blatant racism still exist.
Yep, my mom is 50, and she is the only one out of her siblings who didn’t go to a segregated school.
@Cibele: Past summer, I was in Native American Museum in NyC-they have a huge poster with a list of all the sugarcoating and false reporting about colonization of North America and treatment of Native Americans in USA history school books. The list was very long and shocking. Also, I’ve seen and went through some USA history books for high school, and I have to admit, I think I had more detailed books and learnt more information about world history in my elementary school. It really was shocking to see how little world history matters in those books. For instance-we learn about old Greece and Rome for six months when we’re eleven and then again in high school: we have one year in geography where we learn just about countries outside of our continent; we learned about American civil war for a month (and I’m not from UK)-and those are all obligatory classes. And yes, I don’t think my country is perfect(it is still a very racially homogenous country), but the level of subtle racism and classicism I’ve seen when I went to USA….ugh.
So, of course a lot of what’s being said in private emails is ridiculous, at best. And sure, these are some of the people who have a hand in bringing movies to theaters. And who would be the least bit surprised to read racist or sexist comments in private emails, in any industry? What I’m wondering, though, is why are we discussing the *contents* that have been found? When all those female celeb nudies were hacked, it was all ‘how terrible and offensive that these would be hacked.’ (And, it was.) Most people of any decency weren’t wondering why JLaw was all spread out naked like that. Why is dissecting hacked, private emails any better than dissecting hacked, nude selfies? I certainly don’t support any of the things said, but if it’s immoral and an invasion of privacy to look at hacked celeb selfies, why is it not also immoral and an invasion of privacy to read hacked emails?
Sidenote: Joel McHale is the best.
I think part of it is, as I understand it, these were emails from their work accounts. Work accounts are not private – they haven’t been for years. I knew a woman who was the legal counsel at a college in the 90s and into the early ’00s, and she wasn’t a tech savant by any means, and even she was telling professors and administrators around the year 2000 to treat their work email like any professional correspondence. Because it could be retrieved. Because it could be used in legal suits. Surely a decade later Sony told their employees something similar.
As I said above, I do find hacking terrifying because there is absolutely stuff in my in-box or text messages that I wouldn’t want made public. And I think some of the emails – and Hollywood’s glee over them – is ridiculous. But for some of this stuff? I’m sorry, but if you’re smart enough to get the big office and the big salary, you should know better. And maybe have the moral code to not make racist-tinged comments about the president.
But it’s still not a wholly private sphere.
Oh, I agree about private emails not being ‘private’ because your employer pretty much owns anything you do on their computer system. But these certainly were not ‘public’ emails, either, and were obtained through illegal hacking of a closed and private system.
And please don’t misunderstand me, I completely agree with what you’ve said – that those people should both know better and, hopefully, not even have those views to begin with. I just think it’s an interesting discussion and one that no one seems to care about. Perhaps it’s just easier to defend a favorite celeb or see oneself in the same position of having sensitive photos hacked – it’s more difficult to defend the privacy of people who have said idiotic things. Still, no one seems to want to focus on the genesis of it: private info hacked.
These emails are very salacious and very revealing. It illuminates the racist undercurrent that flows among powerful people in our American film industry. These are the people that black actors have to convince to hire them. And just think, these are the “liberal” ones that donate to President Obama’s elections.
I mean Kevin brings in profit for Sony and can’t get a little extra money to promote his film on Social Media? It begs the question, is it that blacks don’t bring in enough profit studios or is it they can’t get enough money for advertising?
I can’t believe this happened and it’s going to happen more often. If they don’t crack down on hacking with stiff penalties soon, gossip sites could actually sell this stuff and people would buy it. For example, there was a HUGE shake up at the top at Warner Bros. right before the “surprise” casting choice of Affleck as Batman. A couple of my friends and I jokingly said, “forget the movie, I would pay $20 just to read how the casting came about among the power heads at Warner Bros.” Now I bet those were very salacious emails!
I thought calling Kevin a whore was uncalled for, but the money for social media is less a race issue and more a money issue. Executives don’t want to pay actors a dime more than they have to, and giving money to Kevin Hart could, in their minds, set a dangerous precedent for other actors and future contracts. My guess is that there would have been a similar conversation if a white actor asked for something similar.
Yup. It’s a money issue. What some of you might not know is that these big agencies like WME and CAA are backers and investors in companies (WhoSay, the Audience, etc.) that make money by handling celebrity’s social media accounts. So it’s just another revenue stream that they can take a cut and many studios are upset about it.
*MeanHannah
I did not know that. Fascinating. Yeah, I can see studios not wanting to pony up then. Still no excuse to denigrate an actor making more for the studio.
I’m shocked by the response to Kevin Hart asking for more money for PROMOTING their product. He wasn’t asking for more salary for himself, a bigger trailer, more assistants, he wanted more money to promote their product via social media, which is generally pretty effective. Given the year he had, how big his career has blown up, and how profitable his films were, they should be bending over backwards to give the guy whatever he needs to keep that going.
I’m glad these e-mails got out, even if they were hacked. Every once in awhile it’s nice to see as*holes get a little karma. The backbiting and cattiness about “business” was just sort of funny. (Okay, really funny). The Obama comments…what a couple of soulless, elitist, nasty racists. I almost hope she’s invited to another white house dinner just to see her squirm. When Obama greets her, and she knows, HE KNOWS… whats the “plan” for conversation now Pascal?
I bet she is embarrassed – haha for her.
I think Pres Obama deals with this on a regular basis. I can’t imagine being in his shoes. People give him a tough time no matter what. Imagine all the bs and racism he faces on a daily basis. From the same back stabbing, conniving, selfish, greedy, a-holes he knows are only doing this to line their pockets or for their own egos. Just imagine. And he can’t be honest about his experiences because then people would victim blame and tell him to toughen up, etc. Which is why certain celebs can just sh-t the eff up sometimes about how disappointed they are in Obama sometimes. There is no doubt in my mind he’s worked his a-s off and tried his very best whilst keeping everyone happy.
Every single thing you said-my feelings exactly.
Agree. I think he’s shown amazing restraint in light of what he has to deal with on a daily basis. And you just know he’s
heard it all throughout his entire life. Respect!
So when this man was brutally attacking Angelina he said the truth and she deserved it and this what most of Hollywood really thinks.
Now this man attacks the president he is wrong?
Wow – talk about letting people go when they attack Angelina but rise a storm when it’s someone else.
Before anyone starts attacking me – I think the whole thing is despicable. This man is a racist and male chauvinist and I hope he gets ruined and loses his credibility amongst Hollywood.
I was just questioning the people who rejoiced yesterday over the attack on Angelina and now are angry.
He wasn’t attacking policy, he was engaging in racist jokes.
Those two e-mails are different. Yesterday both he and Angelina were doing something wrong, today the President didn’t do anything.
Apples and Oranges Mya. There’s a difference in calling someone a spoiled brat from making racist jokes. How did you not see that?
“How did you not see that?”
consider the source. this is the same poster that referred to “these people” complaining about racism in Hollywood on a Chris Rock post, when the only complaint came from one of “these people”…that is, Chris Rock. so, to extrapolate (and I MAY BE WRONG here), in that poster’s mind, Chris Rock = all black people.
Maya,I am pretty sure Angelina would agree that his racist jokes are worse than the crap he said about her. She has black children after all…
A privileged caucasian women wanting her way and getting called out isn’t the same as being subjected to hate because of the colour of someones skin. You are so offensive with your comparison, seriously.
What are the chances that Sony will fire these racists? Seriously, I want their heads. I want Barkhad Abdi to walk into their offices and tell them, “I’m the captain now!”
Anthony Mackie, Viola Davis, and Lupita Nyong’o better get some leading roles that were going to go to white actors for this.
True racism is policies that have escalated black poverty and unemployment to unprecedented levels. THAT needs to be addressed….!
Not sure if this has been posted upthread but Scott Rudin has issued an apology.
http://deadline.com/2014/12/scott-rudin-apology-sony-hacking-barack-obama-1201320321/
Scott Rudin Apologizes After Leak Of Sony’s Hacked Racially Insensitive E-Mails On Barack Obama: “Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended,” he told Deadline. “I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive — and not funny at all. To anybody I’ve offended, I’m profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologize for any injury they might have caused.”
But, it seems from the article that he only apologised for the racist remarks, and not the whole caboodle of insults (including misogynistic ones) revealed in yesterday’s expose…
I seem to have missed the misogynistic ones, what did he say?
“I’m sorry if anyone was offended” always ALWAYS makes my blood boil. It’s basically saying, “Sorry you’re a sensitive ninny part of the PC brigade but I’m not sorry for what I said”. Ugh.
I agree! And the “my comments were made in haste without much thought” is ridiculous. Those are when the most damaging & hurtful things are said, no? It shows who he really is.
Me too. I don’t know why it’s considered acceptable and yet everyone does it.
This is not what he said.
He said.
To anybody I’ve offended, I’m profoundly and deeply sorry,
There’s a massive difference between the two.
Amy Pascal released an “apology” as well which is on the same site. According to her, her emails are “not a reflection of who I am”. Hmmmmm….I think off the cuff comments are a pretty good indicator of who you are and much better then planned statements from your PR firm.
He’s a producer on Top Five. Chris Rock’s commentary these past few months and now this. I just cannot get over how amazing this is. This needs to be a movie stat. It has everything. Irony, complex corporate politics, epic shade, gossip, drama, comedy. Just damn near the best movie ever.
From misogyny and racism, through bullying and general wankiness, to mock-ups confirming whole films are built around product placement and advertising, this hack is really laying movie-making bare, isn’t it?
We thought it was bread and circuses.
Now we KNOW it is.
Racism-Tinged? Nice attempt to soften the facts. Racist remarks pure and simple.
Horrifying and disgusting. But seriously, who writes WORK emails like this?
Ugh, the comments to this story on other sites are ridiculous – “That just proves liberals are the real racists!” Can we all just agree that a$$holes are a$$holes and NOT make it about politics?
+1. It shows that there are racists everywhere (sadly)….
You would think her being jewish she would be more understanding (said no one ever and proves yet again that even non wasps can be racist, people seem to think only white heterosexual men can be racist).
Anyone can be racist. Let’s not sit here and try to act like Chinese, Indian, Mexican, or African Americans are not racist. Racism exists in all ethnicities.
Exactly
Amy pascal is embarrassing.
Would issuing any formal statement really help at this point? Could you even repair this kind of damage? They’re both assholes, but I suspect Pascal is the one who’s going to take the fall on this one if anything goes down.
Is Amy on something? She writes like a child and the only explanation is she’s on drugs…..
If other Executives get fired or lose their baskeball team over racist comments then others should too. It’s corporate email and they should know its NOT “behind closed doors” or “private” when making such comments. No respect for those people anymore.
They mentioned career suicide in those emails about doing certain films but in reality they created this career suicide with the racist and insulting comments!
I’m done with Sony films at least until I see change.
Oh, don’t look so shocked.
Besides Politics, SHOW BUSINESS is also one of the dirtiest. What was exposed on those Amy Pascal – S. Rudin emails I think is actually & similarly happening anywhere around Hollywood. It just so happened that Sony’s server was hacked. Now suddenly all the people in Hollywood are talking about this openly, not just in whispers. I am sure, the celebrities, producers, managers, agents, publicists etc. are now extra CAUTIOUS with their dealings. They never know if something will come out about them as well. In reality, BACKBITING happens everywhere, in any setting or scenario. People talk behind someone else’s back, be it in email, private messages or just even during casual talk between or among friends. This Sony fiasco involved powerful & very famous people, that’s why it’s BIG NEWS. I know, with the things are going, there are more REVELATIONS to come….. and APOLOGIES or DAMAGE CONTROL to follow.
Now, the question is, who among the people involved will rise above this? who will be the loser? Whose career gets affected? Who gets more humiliated? Who will lose credibility more? Who will the public TRUST more? Who will gain the RESPECT of the people more? And lastly, who will get a bad KARMA in the end and who will be blessed more.
Sorry, but I don’t see how suggesting that a black man would prefer black-themed movies is racism, but ok. If we joked about WASPs liking WASPey movies would that be racism, too? And don’t believe for a second that N. Korea was behind this. N. Koreans live behind an extreme iron curtain, and are more worried about their lack of food and family members in political prisons than what’s going on in H’wood. They wouldn’t have any idea Sony would be releasing a comedy about assassinating their dictator, and wouldn’t know about “hot button” issues in the US like differences in salaries based on gender, or that suggesting Pres. Obama like Kevin Hart was “racist”. This is an inside job. Maybe they payed some Korean-American hackers to write the malware, but this is definitely a disgruntled employee.
The biggest surprise to me is that all of these Tribe members treat each other as badly as they treat Gentiles. Oy.