[Hannibal]

Natalie Portman apologises for 'feeling black'
December 13, 2004, 12:06:19
Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has been forced to apologise after she was branded "insensitive" for apparently saying she knows what it feels like to be black.

The actress sparked controversy when Allure magazine published an interview she had given them, including the quote: "I'm not black, but I know what it feels like."

However, the 'Star Wars' beauty has now written a letter of apology, claiming she didn't mean to cause any offence.
She is quoted by Britain's IMDB website as saying: "I sincerely, and with my deepest regrets for offending any readers, apologise and apologise and apologise. This has hurt me deeply, and I will do my best to be more thoughtful and articulate in the future."

Natalie - who was born in Jerusalem, Israel and speaks fluent Hebrew - also claimed her words were taken out of context.

*IMAGE REMOVED*

This post has been edited by Chefelf: 13 January 2005 - 08:21 AM

[J m HofMarN]

What in god's name are you talking about?

[Helena]

I don't understand. What has this got to do with Star Wars, apart from the fact that Natalie Portman plays a Star Wars character? You do realise that an actor is a different person from the character they play, right?

[Paladin]

Definately. Given the fact that there are peoiple who play couragous heroes in one movie, and cowards in another, thinking that the character they're playing is who the actor is, is utter stupid.

[Lord Aquaman]

Well said, Paladin. Unfortunately, not everyone has your wisdom.

I always thought Natalie was a bit of a twit. A cute twit undeniably, but a twit none the less.

[civilian_number_two]

I think it's virtually impossible for a White person to make any comment about black people in America without it being taken out of context. It sounded to me like she was trying to EMPATHIZE with black people, and now people are jumping down her throat. She might as well have said "White Power," for all the dumbasses in the press know. I can't imaginge anything less controversial. It reminds me of the Seinfled episode where Jerry says he likes Asian women and Elaine suggests that might be racist. "If I LIKE the race, how can that be "racist?""

The press are a load of fucking hypocrites, by the way, and celebrities looking to "comment" on "controversy" are by and large idiots. Remember how everyone in the celebrity world was all aflutter about the wonder and social relveance of PHILADELPHIA? 'Nuff said!


Unless I'm missing something: can anyone here tell me why they think Portman's comments are racist? And why she ought to apologize for them? I can be swayed by a good argument.


PS: I guess she's Jewish, so I think she was saying she understands descrimination or some such thing. What is the big deal, bitch?

PPS: Hannibal, I think the picture is inappropriate. If that's user-hosted, maybe you could remove it? I should let you know I've mentioned it to Chef to see what he thinks.

[J m HofMarN]

Civilian- Excellent points all of them. I think her comments were blown out of proportion as well but what I don't understand is how this has anything to do with Star Wars or anything to do with Hannibal's jyhad to prove that Starwars is whatever he thinks it is.

PS: You should ammend your statemnet to read "More inappropriate than the images you usually post"

[civilian_number_two]

JM: Hannibal's post needn't have anything to do with Star Wars, since it's in the "Movie Theatre" forum. It's about a movie star, so far enough.

[Madam Corvax]

I think the world's gone crazy.

Why is she apologising? Next thing I'll be apologising for hurting the feelings of anyone to whom I'd say - "Look, I know it's terrible, I know what you feel".

Poor girl.

[Just your average movie goer]

Uh-oh, after experiencing lots of racism in Japan, I said to my mate I could understand what it must be like for black people dealing with that ~ and I had a fair bit of it. Being pulled over by the police all the time for no reason, having everyone vacate the restuarants we went to because they didn't like the foreigners and even having old men stare at me and my mate as if we were animals in a zoo.

But I'm glad the media didn't catch me making that comment or otherwise I'd have to apologise!

Yes, the world has gone crazy. Too much political correctness can turn into facism.

[Jordan]

After watching her in Garden State, I could excuse her for just about anything. She did a great job in that movie.

To get on topic that is off topic for this forum, ya, let her be, she's not racist and the comment was not racist.

Black people better watch out. Pretty soon this whole "you can't say anything about black people or else your racist stuff" will grow old and we may start to resent them.

The above was probably racist.

Something that really offended me the other day was when a black guy came into my work and out loud refered to my fat co-worker as 'tiny' and then told us that "there are more than four negros in Vancouver". He then gave us copies of his Black Vancouver Community paper. He then asked for a donation for the paper. I gave it back. First off, why do they need to form a community with it's own paper and then go around selling it to people. Why can't they just shut up and fit in like every body else in Vancouver. Maybe we do have asian papers, I don't know, but they don't go around selling it to other people. I'd like to see how many heads would turn If I made a white paper.

People in Vancouver love that stuff though. My black friend gets more women and ass kissed by men than anyone else I know. I swear, people think they're hip if they know a black person. I think part of the reason is because they're so afriad of offending them, that they go out of their way to be-friend them. At least her in Canada I think that holds true.

This post has been edited by Jordan: 13 January 2005 - 04:15 PM

[Vwing]

This reminds of a time when a politician used the word "niggardly" - basically meaning stingy - and actually had to apologize the next day because the word offended people in the black community, because of "niggar"dly. It's getting really ridiculous, if there's going to be true equality, we have to stop this bullshit.

[Chyld]

I've been saying it for years, I'm all for political correctness in moderation. However, my "in moderation" is the equivilant of a good joint every so often, and the present state of political correctness is about the same as a guy taking every single drug that exists between paracetemol and heroin. In one evening. Its mental, its ridiculous, its not even describable anymore...

[Kirby]

Finaly someone explains PC to me in a way that I and my friends at the debate club at school understand. Thanks man I've been wondering how to put moderation into words my stoner friends can understand

[SimeSublime]

Chyld: For when you need a stoner to talk to a stoner

Edit: Screwed up the Smiley

This post has been edited by SimeSublime: 17 January 2005 - 09:31 AM