One of the big stories last week was “Does Leonardo DiCaprio get sexually assaulted by a bear in The Revenant?” It was a question that needed to be asked, apparently, because once the screenings started happening, there was some speculation that DiCaprio might have been sexually violated in some way by a CGI/fake bear. Some sites reported that his character was “raped” by a bear, but it was later downgraded to a “dry-humping.” The studio even had to send out a spokesperson to say NO, Leo’s character did not experience bear-rape in any way, shape or form. And now The Revenant’s director, Alejandro González Iñárritu, is saying some words about the bear-rape story. He told the LA Times:
“It’s almost a ‘Saturday Night Live’ skit. It’s fantastic…I find it hilarious, and pathetic in a way. You have one guy in a garage inventing something that’s then shared by somebody else. And then a newspaper acknowledges it as news, and then it triggers papers around the world. What’s unbelievable is the validation. When I first saw it I thought it was a joke. But then it gets validation, and the studio actually has to release a statement that there was no bear rape. It’s like a crazy mad comedy. I don’t know who this guy is. I guess he has five minutes of fame now… In the 140-character world it doesn’t matter if it’s true. There’s no complexity or conversation. Just certainties. It’s the same with politics. Everybody is so certain. There have been a lot of stories about this movie that haven’t been true. Leo’s beard had fleas, that was one that went all around the world. We just need Trump to say the raping bear was Mexican and we’ll be done… It was not a rape. It was a pure making love of cinema.”
From what anyone can tell, the bear-rape story seemed to have started with Roger Friedman – who is a respected film critic and entertainment journalist – and The Drudge Report (sad clown noise). The Drudge Report was, to my knowledge, the first site to say “bear rape” while Friedman was basically the first critic to say that there was something sexual about the bear-on-Leo assault. Anyway, the big bear-rape story is over. But Inarritu is right… I can’t believe Donald Trump hasn’t said something about needing to build a wall to defend Americans against Mexican bear rapists.
Here are some photos of Leonardo in Paris for the Climate Summit over the weekend. I sort of can’t believe that all of Leo’s Oscar-strategizing is paying off! He really is the leading contender for this year’s Best Actor Oscar. And let’s face it, the bear-rape story HELPED his chances. It reminded Oscar voters of how much Leo struggled for his art.
Photos courtesy of Pacific Coast News.
If only because this guy can’t see the humor in this story, and also because Leo creeps me out, I hope this movie doesn’t do as well as they all hope.
It’s pretty clear he saw some humor in the story, despite it must not be nice to see your work twisted like that.
He completely saw the humor in the situation but it is his work being mocked as well.
+1
Humor? I thought he saw the humor in it and the irony of how info gets passed as fact. This is his art. He is a brilliant director and also screenplay writer. Glad you hope it doesn’t do well based off of this, instead of his brilliant body of work and all coming from a minority in the industry at that.
Haha, the line about Trump was amazing.
Lion, and tigers, and Mexican bear rapists, Oh My!!!
“It was a pure making love …” So, Leo consented to sex with the fake bear?
Well, on the outside, bears only live until 30, so that puts her completely in his demographic.
It is hilarious and pathetic and it allowed one of the funniest threads in a long, dry CB patch. Loads of well deserved zingers were delivered. Thanks for the laughs.
Please don’t give Trump any ideas …
I still hope he doesn’t get it. I find him smug and his acting overrated.
What’s wrong with the Drudge report (besides that clearly they attributed this wrong)? It’s not a fun or well designed site by any means, but as a business journalist I check it all the time. I’ve never heard anyone criticize it before, just curious.
You’ve never heard anyone criticize the Drudge report?! Right off the bat, the problem is sensationalist and blatantly false headlines.
I heard that the Mama Bear was wearing the Victoria’s Secret Holiday Diamond bra.
Who cares really. The oscars are beyond irrelevant.
Dark clouds and violent anger is what I see for Mr D.
I hope Alejandro keeps his humor when his lead gets snubbed.
Yes, unfortunately there is no Oscar in store, not even a nomination I’m afraid.
The best actor category will be filled with old and new faces and none belonging to Mr D.
Like I said last time, he will announce his break and become a bit of a recluse for a few years but have no fear! He will return and win one day.
That day however, is not next year or the year after.
damn you are psychic!
So there IS an intimate moment betwixt Leo and the Bear! That’s animal cruelty!
But how do you report Leo to the Animal Protective Services for being intimate with a CGI bear?
I hope not. I want Rapey Bear to be this year’s fake baby.
What’s hilarious and pathetic is the fact that people believed it for a second. That says a lot about the thirst of everyone involved, especially DiCaprio and the director. These two seem so far up their own a**es, it’s bizarrely entertaining.
Btw, where is Tom Hardy in all this? Haven’t heard a peep from him so far.
Leonardo Dicaprio will not win the Oscar.
I’m willing to put money on it.
i seem to be the only person looking forward to this film. i don’t care for the oscars or leo, but I still find him to be quite a good actor.
I’m waiting for this movie too. I love Alejandro’s movies, he is a gifted director. And although Leo’s personal life is a mess I do enjoy most of his films. Also there’s Tom Hardy and Chivo Lubezki’s work, so I really want to see this film.
YEs, I think the movie should be great (hopefully). Aside from Leo’s model-collecting, I think he’s a great actor and should win an Oscar at some point. And I respect the hell out of his environmental activism with NRDC. So I wouldn’t be sorry to see him win. He’s got an impressive body of work behind me. More than Bradley Cooper for sure.
I thought the only fake bear dry humping people was Leo on a yacht and some unlucky VS models.
I can’t take a guy seriously when he talks about the importance of addressing climate change, but really, really super duper loves flying in his private jet.
+1000000000000000
Don’t forget the megayachts.
This movie looks awful. Well made but awful. Why on earth would I want to watch a movie that seems to be about a man being put in as many in humanly awful situations as possible?
Is bear rape a phrase we could try to never use again?
Right? I think all the humor was wrung from it on the first day.
LOL
He is not the leading contender. But his PR team is dropping stories saying he is all over the internet hoping the buzz becomes circular. Looks like it’s working….
In the end, Leo won’t win. Will Smith has a better chance.
Oh God, not Will Smith!!!
I noticed he slipped up on the accent in the Concussion trailer. Anyone who’d do Bad Boys 4 or Suicide Squad needs to be prohibited from being even nominated.
One of the dumbest entertainment rumours in recent history. Bizarre, totally bizarre. I think the blogger who started it was high.
Leo needs to lay off the bottle, smokes and get some more sleep. Damn, I love me some Leo D. but he has aged and looks bloated, puffy and horrible in these shots.
Apologies in advance for being so superficial, but these were the first thoughts that popped in to mind upon viewing photos.
Drilling a bit deeper in to the topic of this post, agree LD has had to struggle a bit for his art in order to get the Academy Award he is striving for.
Looking forward to this movie because it is directed by Innaruta, Hardy and DiCaprio and others in the cast I would enjoy seeing, and also interested in the topic matter. Wasn’t this story also somewhat based on a true account of events?
Happy Holidays to all CB’ers! =)