News Commentary — Dec 23, 2014
Recent news items about Sony and the comments from Sony Pictures Chair Amy Pascal brought to mind an email from psychic friend I received earlier this year.
Pascal’s comments were leaked following Sony’s decision to release a movie with a plot about the assassination of Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Following the leaks and the cyber attacks that followed Sony announced that the movie, the Interview, wouldn’t go on general release.
The damage had been done however. Beyond escalating into an international crisis which raised serious questions about privacy and freedom of speech, perhaps the most damaging aspect of the whole affair was the exposure of Sony Pictures head Amy Pascal’s private emails.
Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin. Click to enlarge
Much of it was salacious gossip between industry insiders. With Pascal calling Adam Sandler an “asshole” after he asked for more money, while producer Scott Rudin called Angelina Jolie a “minimally talented, Spoiled brat” in an email to Pascal.
In another email exchange Pascal and Rudin mocked President Obama with allusions to race.
‘Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?’ Pascal asked Rudin, in reference to the 2012 Quentin Tarantino film Django Unchained that dealt with the subject of slavery. The two then go on to list as many current films starring black actors as they can name.
The release of the emails forced Pascal to formally apologise for her remarks, which she described as “insensitive and inappropriate, but not an accurate reflection of who I am”.
As if to make up for the exchange another private Pascal email appeared on the web a short while later in which she suggested that Black actor Idris Elba should be the “new Bond“.
Amy Pascal on her way to her Sony Pictures office. Following the emails disclosure she is now accompanied by burly bodyguards whereever she goes. Click to enlarge