Aug 29
'11
Zoe Saldana thinks people who hate America are racist

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Zoe Saldana is still trying to make this lead actress thing happen. And she’s finding mild success, I suppose. Her new film, Colombiana, made about $10 million over the hurricane-soaked weekend, which is pretty decent when you consider that A) Most people don’t give a crap about Zoe Saldana and B) It looked like a bad movie. Zoe is still giving interviews in support of the film too. Hey, remember Zoe’s GQ piece where the GQ writer compared her to Angelina Jolie, and I pointed that out and every commenter wept and cried and “corrected” me by saying that Zoe never compared herself to Angelina? Well, guess who’s comparing herself to Angelina now?

Zoe Saldana is “scared” by comparisons people have made to her and Angelina Jolie.

The ‘Avatar’ actress has been called the “new Angelina Jolie” by some critics after playing a revenge-seeking assassin in new movie ‘Colombiana’ – and she explained the association makes her feel a bit uncomfortable, despite being inspired by such stars.

She told FOX411′s Pop Tarts column: “If I think about it in that fashion than yes (it’s scary,) I wouldn’t want to think about it in that way. But I have been inspired by amazing actresses that have taken amazing risks and opened amazing doors, and I am a product of that and I am honored to be included in a group of women that have defied their own gravity. Besides playing amazing character roles they also have an amazing agility to do action.”

The 33-year-old beauty prefers performing her own stunts, much like Angelina, although she admitted it can be “exhausting”.

She added: “Thank God no permanent injuries, but I was definitely very, very sore. It’s always a lot of work and its exhausting while you’re doing it and your training for it.”

[From Contact Music]

“I am honored to be included in a group of women that have defied their own gravity.” Eyeroll. I really dislike women who talk like that. “I am the mistress of my own powerful, ribald destiny, because the power of the feminine cannot be breached!” Shut up.

Anyway, Zoe also has a big new interview in yesterday’s The Mail on Sunday. The whole piece is rather… odd. Zoe is predictably full of herself (as she always is), but she says a few things that make absolutely no sense to me. Like… people who hate America are racist? What’s that again? Here are the highlights:

On fighting her: “I don’t mean to be cocky, but nobody would want to fight me. On Colombiana, I spent ten hours a day for a month working with the man who trained Matt Damon for The Bourne Identity.”

On James Cameron and Avatar: “James Cameron didn’t scare me. You hear stories about him being a tough guy to work for, but he’s very humble. When he walks into a room his presence is undeniable, so at first when you meet him it’s kind of confusing – should I be scared? No, the thing is, you should be yourself and James respects that. He’s very passionate about what he believes in and he’s super-talented, but he also respects people who stand up for their beliefs. Usually, though, he’s right. We’re hoping to do Avatar 2 next year. James is working on the script now and I’ve missed playing Neytiri. I can’t wait.”

On anti-Americanism and racism: “It’s trendy to hate Americans right now. Deep down, some people are enjoying the fact that the most powerful nation on Earth is struggling a little – and then they deny that’s racist! And that frightens me. I’ve witnessed racism all my life. And of course there’s racism and discrimination in Hollywood. You go for a part and they say, ‘Oh, we really liked her, she’s amazing, but we wanted to go with something more traditional.’ As if I’m not a traditional American! I feel sorry for people like that. They need to educate themselves. Mostly you move on and say, ‘Well, I wasn’t meant to work with you or be around someone like you…’ Other times you might say, ‘You’re ignorant, you’re a racist. That’s it. I’m out of here!’”

On sci-fi versus costume dramas: “Jane Austen is great, but stories set in space are so much better. I’m a massive sci-fi fan. When they were prepping me to go on the Star Trek tour, some of the marketing people asked me to say that Star Trek was a great film for women to see. And I said, ‘Why would I do that? Aren’t they coming anyway?’ I honestly thought every girl loved sci-fi. I was raised in a home where we watched 2001, Blade Runner, ET, and my heroes were Ripley and Sarah Connor (from the Alien and Terminator films), and I thought all girls were like that. I mean, are we only meant to read Jane Austen?”

On politics: “We’ll definitely have a woman President in my lifetime. I just hope she’ll be a good leader. Some Republicans say, ‘Oh, you voted for Obama because he’s black.’ And that’s so offensive and condescending. I voted for him because he represents the things I believe in. And when it comes to a woman standing for President, I won’t campaign for her just because she’s a woman; I’ll campaign for her if I believe she’d be a good leader. Women have to stand up for what’s rightfully ours: equality. We don’t hate men – I certainly don’t – it’s just about getting respect.”

[From The Mail]

Go back and read the stuff about anti-Americanism and racism and see if you can make any sense out of it. The only explanation I have is that Zoe thinks that people hate America because we have a black president? Is that what she’s saying? I don’t think people hate America because we have a black president, and I don’t think anti-Americanism is rooted in race either. I mean, plenty of people hated America when Dubya was president too. RACIST!!

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

Written by Kaiser

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Posted in Zoe Saldana


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81 Responses to “Zoe Saldana thinks people who hate America are racist”

  1. CuriousCat says:

    When you are so thin your head looks disproportionate to the rest of your body, it’s high time you covered up.

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  2. Matt says:

    Does she know what the word racism refers to? I think she meant xenophobia.

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  3. Astrid says:

    America the most powerful nation on earth? I do believe that hasn’t been the case for quite some time. China anyone?

    Uh-oh! Does this make me racist! Zoe is going to kick my ass…

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  4. CandyKay says:

    People who waste time hating any other group of people usually have problems of their own that they’re projecting on somebody else.

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  5. Addie says:

    @Matt. Exactly it is called xenophobia not racism.

    She talks about people educating themselves, maybe she should do the same.

    We had xenophobic attacks here in South Africa a few years ago, it is different from racism cos it was people attacking people of the same race, just from a different country.

    Oh and just cos they ripped off the wanted poster and used the concept for thet Colomina movie does NOT make her the next Angelina.
    Why should there be a next Angelina?? Angie is alive and well doing her OWN thing.

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  6. atlantapug says:

    Zoe, you are pretty and talented and all….. now please keep your mouth shut. You are just not smart my dear.

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  7. Call Me Al says:

    I have no idea what she is talking about, but I live in a predominantly black city in the Southern U.S. and people are always hating on it. As she said, it’s trendy for white people especially to talk about how our city sucks, as do white people in other parts of the state. I think it’s because of racism. White people don’t appreciate the culture of black southerners and don’t want to “deal” with them.

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  8. size says:

    I think it’s because many Americans still believe in the one drop rule and are quick to label anyone who looks Black as Black. This is only an American issue because other countries are content with people saying they’re mixed rather than forcing them to pick a race.
    I mean, if A person and B person is samely half asian, half caucasian
    but A turned out to be more asian looking, she will labled as asian
    and B turned out to be more caucasian looking then she would live her rest of her lives as caucasian and treated like caucasian
    anyway America doesn’t have a BLACK president.
    American have 50 white 50 black president
    but it is all about one drop rule. lol

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  9. 9 out 10 experts recommend says:

    I don’t hate Americans. I visited the US a couple years ago & I had a good time. I even have family in LA. So I have a little personal connection with the country.
    I don’t think that the world hates the American citizens. For the most part, I think they hate if there is any is the abhorrent dislike for the government. You can blame the Bush administration for that one. But as an Aussie I hate the Australian government too.
    But I know of people who are first generation Australians or recent immigrants who don’t like America and it’s need to try and solve the worlds problems. Friends who fled the Vietnam war, left the Balkins & central America have seen terrible things by US interference.
    But have a sense of humor- I tease my American cousin about the Aussie dollar doing better than the USD! But it’s cool between us :)
    But that being said living in a developed first world country where there are wonderful opportunities to create a better life is awesome- like minded Aussies & Americans should agree to that one!

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  10. mary says:

    astrid:

    most people don’t count countries outside usa, canada and europe. Racism! ;)

    är du svensk?

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  11. jc126 says:

    Hmm. The only thing i can come up with before finishing my tea this morning (and therefore being somewhat more coherent) is that she’s trying to sound both pro-American and also venting a bit about racism that I’m sure she’s experienced. Sometimes it seems to me that when people complain about being discriminated against because of ethnicity, they are accused of being whiners or told how much better they have it in America, blah blah, with a subtle message underneath that they’re rotten Americans by complaining. That’s just my first thought.

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  12. the original bellaluna says:

    No, Zoe dear, the reason other countries don’t like America is because America has behaved like a buffoon. America is the arrogant drunk best man/brother/sister at the wedding. Look at “W.” (Dear God, the words – and non-words – that came out of that plebeian’s mouth! Bet he doesn’t even know what a “plebeian” is. Until he looks in a mirror.)

    America (American goverment, at least) is arrogant and full of itself. Other countries don’t like that. Neither do I, frankly.

    One cannot go stomping around in one’s boots proclaiming superiority and expect one’s neighbours in goodwill to be impressed.

    Yes, I am an American. I am also the mother of 2 mixed-ethnicity children. There is nothing “racist” about not liking how America (again, as a “government”) behaves. That doesn’t make me unpatriotic. It also doesn’t mean I hate my country. It makes me fed up to HERE with the bi-partisan bullshit!

    But if you were another country, looking at us RIGHT NOW, wouldn’t you have some serious questions? I LIVE HERE, and I have some serious questions. Like, when all our government is concerned with is bi-partisan bullshit, how is anything going to get accomplished? (A valid question.)

    Now do shut up, child, and go get an education. Angelina Jolie you are not.

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  13. Kloops says:

    Oh dear. Looks like ‘deep’ thoughts are not her strength. She comes across as full of herself but she hasn’t been forced on us ad nauseum so she still seems silly and benign. Maybe in time she’ll reach full-on obnoxious territory. Until then, I find her only slightly annoying.

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  14. Jen D says:

    @ Matt

    Thank you! Not only that, does she mean America as a country, or Americans? Either way, she’s wrong. I can’t decide if she’s being a brat, or if she’s just coming off badly in the interview. I’d like to give her the benefit of the doubt. I do feel like she reads a lot of self-help books and spews out those lines. She also definitely needs to use another adjective other than “amazing.”

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  15. Quest says:

    Is she lacking oxygen to the brain or something? HUH! Pretty yes, intelligent, apparently not

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  16. Eve says:

    *sigh*

    She’s not very bright, is she?

    Love Original Bellaluna’s comment (# 12), by the way. She summed everything up pretty well.

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  17. Angelina says:

    Well most people hate the French is that Racist as well lol

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  18. donnamae54 says:

    Columbiana’s poster was a copy of Angelina’s “Wanted”, Wanted made how much on it’s opening week-end about 65 million, Zoe Saldana’s Columbiana made 10 Million? She is the next Angelina Jolie some say?

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  19. Girafe99 says:

    She is someone who is very opinionated but with opinions lacking intellect and substance and what the fuck does that line about defining gravity mean, I honestly hate that pseudo intellectuality, where people string random big words together to make themselves seem superior to the rest of us plebs

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  20. Incredulous says:

    I do not think that word means what she thinks it means.

    Plus, most of her comments come across as facile and ignorant. As an example, I’m guessing that she doesn’t know that George W. Bush has a better track record on prison reform than Barack Obama. Let me repeat that because it seems wrong but is true: George W. Bush has a better track record on prison reform than Barack Obama.

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  21. Deltona lakes says:

    @size
    The one drop rule is not someone who 50 percent black. It’s much less than that…. That’s why it’s referred as one drop. You may of had a grandparent that was black /or mixed. You were still considered black in America.

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  22. The Truth Fairy says:

    “American” IS NOT a race!!! It’s a nationality. Is she stupid?? Doesn’t she remember what happened to Megan Fox?! Honey, if you’re dumb and you want to be a big star, let your publicist script your interviews. That is what you pay them for!

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  23. machiavelli says:

    Another vapid actress! Just what we need.

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  24. Trillian says:

    Maybe that’s just me, but I always feel Americans are very “race-obsessed”.

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  25. sassenach says:

    Nowhere in her interview did she mention that people hate America because of Obama. Why do people always have to twist words when the interviews are easy enough to understand? She indeed meant Xenophobia and she should think about her answers before she speaks next time. That whole “gravity” mess is speaking in platitudes and I don’t like when anyone or celebrities do that.

    I don’t really care for her that much especially since she is so thin and haggard in the face but I have to say that it is awesome that her film has made that much money her JUST HER as the lead. No male actor to prop her. That is awesome!

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  26. girlwithapearl says:

    People hate America for so so many reasons, and its totally racist and ignorant to say that its ONLY because of race
    srsly

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  27. the original bellaluna says:

    size – As the mother of 2 mixed-ethnicity children, I REFUSED to check a box on that particular section of the school registration. When the receptionist (or whatever) handed it back to me to “complete,” I said “No. My children are everything. What am I supposed to check?” Do you know what she said to me? “Check whatever will get them the most later in life.” I. WAS. FLOORED.

    So, being the obnoxious smart-ass that I am, I checked “other” and proceeded to fill in the blank with EVERY SINGLE THING I knew we had bloodlines from. (They hated me.)

    I told them I REFUSED to define my children as “one or the other” and that my children could choose whatever group they identified with most when they were older. (Did I mention that the “official folk” hated me?) See, I also refuse to let society define my children. It’s not up to “society” to decide. (I wasn’t raised to see “colour,” I was raised to see PEOPLE. Like I’ve raised my children, and hopefully they will raise theirs.)

    Eve – It almost makes me embarrassed to be an American. *sadly hangs head*

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  28. Eve says:

    @ Original Bellaluna:

    Eve – It almost makes me embarrassed to be an American. *sadly hangs head*

    Well, don’t be. It’s because I know that there are people like you living there that I try my best not to generalize whenever I discuss US related issues (with my friends or anybody else).

    Plus, I am myself embarrassed for many wrong things that happen here in Brazil so…I know the feeling.

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  29. WillyNilly says:

    Mary:

    People count Canada??

    ;)

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  30. the original bellaluna says:

    Eve – God love you, honey! Thank you. I will try to familiarise myself with Brazil so I can understand. If you have any links or info, I would be grateful.

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  31. Jen D says:

    @ bellaluna

    Wha? They asked for your childrens’ ethnicity when you registered them for school? How can that be right? I’m not doubting you – I’m just amazed. I’m glad you gave them a hard time about it.

    Is this a common thing? Where I teach it’s unheard of.

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  32. Str8Shooter says:

    Dear Zoe: America is a country, NOT a nationality! Racism is discrimination against a RACE of people.

    Man is this chick DUMB!

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  33. mary says:

    willynilly

    I was thinking about including canada. but no, we don’t- what do you have except hockey and maple syrup?
    ;)

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  34. Theuth says:

    Maybe people are “racist” (you aren’t really bright, right Zoe? Because “racist” refers to a race, not a nation) toward USA because its government in the last decades has been embarassing, between the (fake) puritanism, the exaggerate patriotism and the overall ignorance their politicians had shown.
    As an Italian who has to explain A LOT abroad because she can’t take any other jokes about Berlusconi, mafia and spaghettis, well keep crying.
    This is not the way you will help people knowing they are wrong.

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  35. Astrid says:

    @ Mary

    Indeed many countries are simply not considered in the race for “most powerful nation”.

    And not Swedish. =) Belgian in fact.

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  36. the original bellaluna says:

    Jen D, Oh yes, they most certainly did! Every. damn. year. We lived in San Diego County at the time, and it was most certainly “a thing” there. Shameful and disgusting, but still “a thing.” I don’t know where you teach, but I am so SO grateful it’s not “a thing” where you are.

    There is so much racial bias going on in SoCali. And I know that’s not the only place it exists. But I really don’t think it serves any purpose. It just fosters hate and divide. Shameful.

    And today is my oldest’s 21st birthday!

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  37. Eve says:

    @ Original Bellaluna:

    You know, there are things that make me proud too. But when I hear and read about police brutality, corruption and the huge social gap that exists here…it’s disheartening, to say the least. I could provide the links, but there are a way too many wrong things. All you have to do is to google things like “Violence in Brazil”, “Brazilian police brutality” and so on…and then you’ll have plenty of material to read.

    I live in a relatively calm place, but I watch the news everyday and there are things you wouldn’t believe they happened if I told you. Like the story of a 15-year-old girl who was caught stealing. She was arrested and then thrown in a cell with 20 MALE inmates. She had been there for a month, before somebody (who was visiting the prison) finally saw her and denounced the police department’s officers. Needless to say, she was raped repeatedly. They (prisioners) cut her hair so if she came close to the cell’s window (the one that faced the street) people wouldn’t notice she was a girl.

    Can your teeth stand a little more grinding? Here it goes: the police department’s staff’s excuse was that they didn’t have a specific jail for women there. And when asked why they did such thing (put a 15-year-old girl in a cell with men), you know what the police chief said? “We didn’t know she was only 15 years old”. Yes, you got that right. He thought it was ok to throw a woman in a cell with 20 men.

    It pains me to say this but whenever you feel sad and embarrassed for your country, think about this: it could be worse. You could be here.

    P.S.: The last I heard about this was that the girl and her family were under witness’s protection here (which is nowhere as good as it is in US) because she could be killed (by the police, to remove her as a possible witness in a future trial against the ones responsible for her arrest).

    P.P.S.: I’ll try not to bring this kind of subject again here. This (gossip site) should be what it states on the top of the page: escapism. And that’s the main reason why I come here to post and read other’s comments. So…sorry, you all had to read this.

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  38. kibbles says:

    This just proves that you can find ignorant people of all races on all sides of the political spectrum. If you are critical of Bush, you hate America. If you are critical of Obama, you are a racist. How about people start putting on their thinking caps and question our leaders and the government without calling others who do so racists and anti-American. I am American and I love my country. I am critical of the things our government and leaders do because I care enough that I want things to change for the bottom 90% who are unemployed and struggling to make ends meet. People like Zoe are so isolated in their own world of wealth and fame that they are completely ignorant as to what the rest of the country is going through right now.

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  39. Girafe99 says:

    @Eve that is heartbreaking, It make me want to cry

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  40. the original bellaluna says:

    Eve – No. I WANT to know. Just because this is a gossip site doesn’t make all of us vapid. (SOME, yes. But not all.) I’ll look it up. And that is horrible.

    The social disparity in America is bad as well. Our middle-class has been sufficiently eradicated.

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  41. Eve says:

    @ Giraffe99 and Original Bellaluna:

    The story, unfortunately, is true. It happened in the state of Pará. But I know others…prisoners who were chained to colums/walls because the cells were too crowded (that happened in the south of Brazil — usually very proud of being “first world” in comparison to the rest of the country).

    I’ll see if I can find any links in English to both stories.

    EDIT:

    Here is one:

    http://articles.cnn.com/2007-11-23/world/brazil.prison_1_abaetetuba-paternity-rights-witness-protection-program?_s=PM:WORLD

    I couldn’t find the other one in English. But it happened like this: in the state of Santa Catarina, the police chief chained prisoners to the columns of the department station’s patio. A TV News denounced it and went there to report on the situation. When asked why she did that, she said: “I’m not going to take them home, am I?”. As if anyone was asking her to do such thing.

    You can also check this out:

    http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,AMNESTY,,BRA,,3ae6aa0f2c,0.html

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  42. Annaloo says:

    I don’t think she’s stupid.. but the whole “hating America is racist” is confusing, and we can rely upon the media to conflate a person’s quotes and take things out of context.

    She makes PERFECT sense when ,taking the point about being passed over in Hollywood for a part bc casting wants someone who is more “traditional.” That is a GREAT point: who’s to say she isn’t a traditional American?

    She also made an excellent point about being assumed to have voted for Obama bc of her skin color. It IS condescending.

    I don’t think this is the fight to pick with her.

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  43. rose80 says:

    Still looks like the critics are making the comparison and she’s responding to it.

    @ Size, not to sound mean, but comments like yours frustrate me. Lets be honest here, people would not know that Obama was half white had he not shared it. HE identifies as Black, that is his choice and he has spoken about this many times. He looks black, therefore he identifies as such. The one drop rule simply means that any person with at least one ancestor, who, (depending on the state at the time), has 1/8 or 1/16 of African ancestry is considered to be black. This was the law for hundreds of years and it was passed down from generation to generation. There are MILLIONS of black people in this country who have European ancestry, MILLIONS. You have to know the history of this and understand why people who are technically half, a quarter, a third, and eighth, so on and so forth choose to identify as black. If black people in this county who undoubtedly “look” black started to go an on about how their great great grandfather was a Irish or whatever, and went around saying they are not black, but a 1/4 this and 1/4 they would be ridiculed for it, by both black and white people. It was a system that was used for hundreds of years and it will undoubtedly take hundreds of years to change it. Sadly, in this country people will identify with, however they are treated. It’s a complicated and personal issue, no one has to right to tell someone else how they should identify.

    And she totally meant xenophobic. It was a poor choice of words on her part. Everything else she said made sense, Furthermore she said nothing to the extent of people that hate Obama are racist, I fail to see the correlation of what she said about race in relation to what she said about anti americanism.

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  44. snapnhiss says:

    Maybe she meant “bigoted” against the US.

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  45. Jen says:

    This is why A LOT of celebrities should stay away from ANYTHING political. I don’t think she understands that people from around the world have hated Americans for a long time. It isn’t anything new. Nobody likes a powerhouse.

    It wouldn’t be xenophobia as that’s fear of foreigners in your own country. You have a harsh view of immigrants or foreigners in our country…you’re a bit xenophobic.

    She’s just ignorant to world politics. I would say she should stick to acting but I don’t think that’s a strong suit either.

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  46. gobo says:

    Perhaps she’s working on the premise of American being a race unto itself?

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  47. vicky says:

    Blah, blah, blah…shut up, shut up, shut up.
    Oh, was that rude?

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  48. Girafe99 says:

    @Eve thanks for the links, a few years ago there was a documentary I watched about how homeless/street kids were disappearing due to police death squads, have you heard anything about this?

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  49. Turtle Dove says:

    I’m with Matt… the word she’s looking for is xenophobic.

    The more she talks the shorter her time in the limelight. Keep blabbing chicka. Keep blabbing.

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  50. It is ME!!! says:

    @Eve: Good googly moogly, that is a terrible story! I hope the girl and her family are able to get out of Brazil.

    @9 out of 10: Excellent points! I think a lot of people around the world can differentiate between the people of a country and the government that runs it. I have no hate for Iranians, but I think even they can agree their government is balls.

    And as far as Zoe (sigh): Honey, there are people in your own country who don’t even consider your Dominican-Puerto Rican ass American. Hell, my dad is from PR and people ask him for his green card all the damn time! Work on those folks first, then tackle overseas opinions about Americans next. Sheesh.

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  51. rose80 says:

    @ It is Me!!!

    Zoe was born in the US, therefore the US is her country. Statements like yours is the reason why she made the comments about racism in Hollywood in the first place. If anyone needs to be “worked on” it should be you.

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  52. Jen D says:

    @ Bellaluna

    Happy birthday to your oldest! Wow, I can’t imagine why it would be important to know the ethnicity of a child before teaching them. And the admin’s comment to check them off as “whatever gets them further in life” really blows my mind. Once again – you’re awesome for giving them a hard time about it. They need parents like you to stand up against this.

    I teach in Canada, but it’s possible that question is asked in other school districts.

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  53. Micah says:

    She’s lookin a little………”ET” esque in these pics….mainly because she’s so thin now her head looks too big for her body.

    It’s one thing to be naturally thin, it’s another to be so thin you actually begin to look….shriveled.

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  54. Nymeria says:

    @ Jen (#45) – You said: “It wouldn’t be xenophobia as that’s fear of foreigners in your own country. You have a harsh view of immigrants or foreigners in our country…you’re a bit xenophobic.”

    Xenophobia refers to a fear or hatred of anything foreign, irregardless of its location relative to you.

    Dictionaries are our friends!

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  55. Jennifer says:

    I’m black but gotta say to this “Zoe…huh?” I wish she’d been more articulate, fleshed out her thought process more. I bet her meaning was either edited or lost in translation and it’s more elaborate than the interview reveals. I liked the other part of what she said. In my circle of friends you might hear something similar to this but if you heard the whole conversation it would make more sense. I love that she doesn’t play safe by avoiding talking about race issues- which will *always* get you flack. If you’re black, female, it’s a race-oriented topic, and your opinion is even vaguely opinionated, count on it. No matter how smart or insightful the quote. People hate that topic (race). I get the actresses of color that do stay out of it with their benign answers to race questions, and I guess they’re necessary in their own way, since it takes all kinds. But playing safe to stay ladylike and unthreatening in the game doesn’t inspire me. Most non-white (of various races) actresses won’t say anything that incendiary, so I’m glad she’s bold (like, ahem, Halle Berry). That said, I wish WHAT she’d said was smarter. And… Zoe’s quote about “women who defy their own gravity …” ugh. I loved her in Avatar but that quote makes me think she’s getting douche-y.

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  56. the original bellaluna says:

    Jen D, Thank you. And thank you. Actually, I don’t think it has a single thing to do with teaching them. (Especially since all my daughter learned in kindergarten was how to speak Spanish. But I digress…)

    I think the school districts try to get as much money as they can from the government by showing their “diversity” (read: ethnicity) to the state and federal government. You know, can’t access those funds unless a certain number of kids are minorities and/or poor! Gotta hustle for that money!!

    If our government placed a higher priority on education, maybe it wouldn’t have to spend so much on prisons and welfare.

    Just a thought.

    (Nymeria, the word is “regardless.” Yes, dictionaries ARE our friends.) ;)

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  57. Jennifer says:

    I think the fact she lived in the Dominican Republic may give her more call and insight into the matter of which she speaks. Though, sadly, she doesn’t explain how or why. A lot of Dominicans try to distance themselves from black people (period). Like some Dominicans would be mad Zoe calls herself black Dominican, they’d prefer she just call herself Dominican- especially since she is a famous Dominican actress. There are plenty of black-looking Dominicans who never call themself black, and don’t want to be called that even though they may indeed have mainly black roots and you’d see their family and everyone has an afro, African features, dark skin etc. NOT all Dominicans are like this AT ALL, but it’s a fairly prevalent form of racism there. There is racism in the DR the darker you are and the white Dominicans have more power and prestige than the black ones, generally. Maybe Zoe’s speaking somewhat to this…? Idk. That’s what makes the most sense to me. There’s a subtle racism against black leaders in a lot of Latin countries.

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  58. Nymeria says:

    @ the original bellaluna – “Irregardless” is often used in place of “regardless.” It is considered incorrect by most dictionaries, but is slowly becoming more acceptable. :) Yes, dictionaries are our friends! (And does this make me a rebel?)

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  59. Jen says:

    Assuming she voted for Obama because he is black is as assinine as assuming I’m racist because I didn’t vote for him.

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  60. People who hate America do it becasue of the aggressive US Government or becasue of the aggressive people. She is making it too narrow-sided and easy, witch is ironically so American.

    It is only good for US that some Canadians and Latinos are called North Americans too.

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  61. taxi says:

    She’s better blue, with a tail. That dress looks a bit like it has a wraparound tail. Those legs really shouldn’t be shown off.
    This is a silly attempt to get attention & no, she’ll never be another Angelina.

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  62. Marianne says:

    I know this sounds mean, but…I hate when she smiles. She has one of the worst smiles.

    It’s up there with Chris Brown’s constipated smile.

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  63. Chris says:

    Yawn. Someone drops the R word and the thread lights up like a pinball machine.

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  64. e.non says:

    maybe the hate is coming from the freedom bombs being dropped by uncle scam.

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  65. Lucy says:

    Not on subject, but I think Zoe would have made a perfect catwoman in the new Batman movie, very exotic looking…just hate that anne hathaway is gonna be catwoman…just don’t see it…

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  66. LittleDeadGirl says:

    As a European who has lived in both Canada and America I have nothing but love for both my adopted countries. Part of dislike for America does come from alot of mistakes the government has made but I’m sorry alot of it is taking smack.

    Sadly most Americans won’t defend their own country, I usually do, and I’ve had plenty of British and French and ect people talk smack about America and then I usually point out how their shit don’t smell so good either and they are usually quiet after that :)

    Americans, defend your country. Question your governement, sure, admit mistakes, of course, but America is far from the worst out there and there are many many must worst governements in place. I think that may be what she was trying to say in her convoluted way? I’m not totally sure it was a hell of a quote.

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  67. Kelly says:

    Wow is she ever dumb. And she is nowhere close to Angelina Jolie nor will she ever be.

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  68. CHRISTIAN_GIRL says:

    About the JOLIE comparisons, where she fails is in the trailer Zoe fights like a trained girl whereas ANGIE is trained to fight like a dude. Her moves are masculine, not feminine. She throws punches, kicks, shoots, holds weapons like a man. No other female has THAT swagger. ALL the rest still move like women fighters. That’s even what the males notice. Make sense. Not being sexist, but it makes Jolie’s moves flow and stand out. As small as she is, her technique would deliver a crushing blow to anybody.

    In my younger days of fighting, men were better to show you how to throw a punch, not women like that mess Zoe was doing on that mans chest. Please NO MAN would ever swing like that and especially not Jolie. So hands down Jolie and Zoe, pound for pound, round for round, we would still be scraping pieces of Zoe of the floor. No contest. Trust that.

    Jolie is treated like a male rock star or superstar actor, while other females want to be treated like Jolie.

    Jolie imitates NO ONE. Come and get her and watch what happens to your career. Bar has been set, and until I guess Shiloh is old enough, Jolie is perched on top. Torched rightfully passed to Shiloh at least in my head. Funny as heck, but it could happen. Shiloh is being prepped, can’t you tell?

    No words for her thought process, other than it is NOT like Jolie’s either.

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  69. Kate says:

    After the giant global success of Avatar, Zoe can’t beat down a bunch of maids in a box office brawl. Her movie should have easily beat “The Help” for the number one flick spot this weekend but it didn’t. She is NOT the next Angelina Jolie (Kate Beckinsale or Milla Jovovich)! Zoe better watch her back because the actress that played the young “Colombiana”, Amandla Stenberg, got great reviews and good buzz for her performance. And Sternberg has a role in “The Hunger Games”. Zoe does kick butt with her shoe wardrobe – very chic.

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  70. Gigohead says:

    Speaking as a Dominican, I have disdain for Dominicans who use the term “Black Dominican” that’s downright rude. I can tell the ignorance of a person when i hear them say that.

    I agree with Zoe that bashing Americans is racist.

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  71. Flan says:

    People dislike America because of all the stuff Bush did and now because a bunch of rich guys want to keep their tax-cuts, but don’t give a shit that they hurt the world’s economy AGAIN.

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  72. Emily says:

    I dislike the US government for many reasons, much like I dislike my own government (Aussie) for many reasons-and a lot of those are the same reasons. Doesn’t mean I dislike the country or the people, just the dickheads in charge.

    I’m getting a Megan Fox vibe of this chick, too. Another empty headed action chick who needs to learn to shut her mouth, and is being compared to Jolie for… What? Being in an action flick or two? Please.

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  73. alllison says:

    Nope, “xenophobic” is NOT what she meant.

    Xenophobia is a fear of *any* outsider, not just one particular nationality. She meant “prejudiced” or “bigoted.”

    And she’s overlooking all the warmongering we do, whatever grand justification we give it at the time.

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  74. The Original Ashley says:

    I think it was a term mix up. There are plenty of people that mix up xenophobia and racism. Some people don’t even know that the word xenophobia exists so I’m not going to call her on it. If anything she needs to be educated on the terms.

    And I’m glad that she went to an English paper and basically called it out. It seems like more often than not famous Americans are supposed to apologize for being born in their country of birth and I’m kind of happy she was like that’s not cool. If people want to be ignorant and tar everyone with than same brush so be it, but I’m not going to apologize for the actions of a few just because we share the same citizenship, and I’m definitely not going to be self hating (being in International Affairs, people seem to think I should be ashamed of being an American and I really don’t understand that).

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  75. Eve says:

    @ Giraffe99:

    They probably still exist — the death squads, I mean. Just not so out there in the open.

    These death squads don’t exist exclusively to kill abandoned children who live in the streets. They threaten, harass and attack just about any group of people who defies the local authority/power, like the landlords and farm owners in the northern states…some workers from these farms have been rescued throughout the last decade, they had been there as slaves (literally working as slaves).

    By the way, when I say “local authority” I’m not necessarily referring to the legal/political power. It is about those who control the money. Many times they are mixed (the landlords, farm owners are also politicians and there’s no way you can fight these people).

    For instance, in the 80s a union leader (Chico Mendes) was assassinated. His death was ordered by some rich farm owner. All he wanted was better conditions for the rubber tappers in the Amazon. You can read about his story — but there’s a movie about it too (Raul Julia plays his character). One of his killers is still at large.

    P.S.: Judges and lawyers who try to investigate and punish them are threatened too (some are eventually assassinated as well).

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  76. Oludawe says:

    @ Size (Comment #8), I’ve lived in Europe most of my life, in Northern Europe initially, then in Western Europe. And in each region, the “one drop rule” is firmly in place. In my present country, they have an obsession with the “idea” of a “mixed” person (which is the entire US population, save for recent immigrants). But when it comes down to it, they still call you “Black”, they use the one drop rule actively, and are quite racist – albeit in more subtle/passive-aggressive ways.

    Still, they’re nothing like Americans; Brits and Americans have the world beat on racism.

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  77. culmination says:

    another idiot actor speaks.

    like so many before her, an airhead with a microphone.

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  78. Oludawe says:

    I was just thinking about this post today, and I realized, Celebitchy is assuming that people who hate America/-ns for their economic AND physical enslavement of world peoples, for their genocides against Africans and Indigenous Americans, for their complicity in illegal wars – those people must be “xenophobic”: fearful of strangers.

    It’s talk like this that has our generation so ignorant, shallow, and twisted.

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