Some of us can dish it, but we can’t take it. Sean Penn may not be the most egregious of know-nothing actors. He did revise some of his blanket statements about Iraq after spending a day or two there. But he seems to be oblivious to the basic criticism of Hollywood types using their celebrity to opine in front of TV cameras on every issue du jour – why them?
So when the makers of Team America wanted to have a little fun at his (and plenty of other’s) expense, he screamed like a stuck pig and issued a memo as if he were the Senator from Malibu:
It’s all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one’s ignorance, indcluding [sic] a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.
Penn concludes with the King of All Anglosaxonisms and an offer to take Team America’s creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone to Falluja. The filmmakers should animate Penn’s self-serving nonsense for a sequel. He certainly makes their point for them. I wouldn’t be surprised if this turned up on an episode of South Park.
UPDATE: Some insight here. (hat tip: Nancy Block)
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