Here are some new photos of Charlize Theron, Sean Penn and Charlize’s son Jackson arriving at LAX. They were coming home after Charlize promoted A Million Ways to Die in the West – Sean came with her to keep her company during that leg of the promotional tour. You know what surprises me about these photos? Sean Penn doesn’t look angry whatsoever. A few years ago, if a paparazzo had gotten in his face at LAX, Sean would be throwing punches and screaming obscenities. Is this the power of Charlize Theron? She’s turned him into an even-tempered guy?
But it’s not all boyfriend makeovers and engagement rumors for Charlize. While she was in England, she sat down for an interview with Sky News. And like Kristen Stewart before her, Charlize dropped the word “rape” when describing the gossip/media attention surrounding her. Charlize’s exact words, when asked (by a really cloying, leading interviewer) about all of the attention given to her personal life and if she Googles herself, were: “I don’t do that, so that’s my saving grace. When you start living in that world, and doing that, you start I guess feeling raped.” When asked if she really feels that strongly about it, she says: “Well, you know when it comes to your son and your private life. Maybe that’s just me. Some people might relish all that stuff but there are certain things in my life that I think of as very sacred and I am very protective over them.”
Between this and Gwyneth Paltrow’s ongoing “internet comments are like war” controversy, it feels like we’re in the midst of Inappropriate Hyperbole Week. I tend to think Charlize’s comments are about on par with Kristen Stewart’s controversy from a few years ago – Kristen was talking about paparazzi photos of herself and she said, “The photos are so…I feel like I’m looking at someone being raped.” She later had to apologize and say that her wording was unfortunate and inappropriate and she should have said “violated.” I think that’s what Charlize should say too – rape is rape. Nothing else is “like rape” except rape. Celebrities may feel violated or uncomfortable, but enough with the hyper-dramatic hyperbole of everything being “like rape” or “like war.”
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Why is this not Celeb 101? Do not compare ANYTHING to: rape, Hitler, the Holocaust, slavery, etc. Just don’t. Find another way to say what you are trying to say.
+100000000000000000000000000000
After googling her name and rape , search gave me a shocking info. Charlize Theron was and still maybe is UN ambassador for peace and spokeswoman for Stop Rape Now, organisation who fights violence against women VAW.
It really is 101. She is doing interviews to promote a movie, so you know she has a PR person on standby (though sometimes I wonder if some of these celebs actually listen to anyone’s advice).
She probably knows or had a good idea of what questions will be in advance. It’s just stupidity to say something that could be offensive (not to mention overdramatic).
Kind of unrelated here, but did you read Lainey’s Jolie article yesterday? Angie has NO publicist. She has a million kids, shes on time, she’s FRIENDLY, articulate, intelligent, etc, etc. she’s set the bar too high. If Angie can do it, why can’t the rest of them?
At this point, Charlize should know better about what to say during interviews. End rant.
@Kimmy.
Exactly. Seriously people. You are actors. Get the hell over yourselves. Someone taking pictures of you is not freaking rape. Someone talking shit about you on the internet is not war or rape. Damn.
You can’t compare Angelina Jolie to most of the celebritys. She’s smart, she knows what’s going on in the world – most of them don’t.
Kimmy, I read Lainey’s piece on AJ right before I came here to read about Charlize. Night and day. I respect AJ all the more. Charlize? This just confirms what I already suspected.
@starrywonder I don’t know. You put someone outside your door with a camera, and every time you check your mail, go to store, sun in your backyard, someone is creeping and following and taking pictures, all the while asking asinine questions about your child and sig other. I think after a WEEK you’d agree you feel absolutely violated.
While yes, “violated” is a better word choice (and I agree, gossip and photographers would feel like violation) but I don’t think you can place limitations on what words one can use as simile. You can compare something to rape. It’s allowed. but know that it’s insensitive to compare something like a bad situation to a completely awful situation like they’re equal. This stands for everything, not just rape our the holocaust. If hubby said he had a tummy ache and told me it was like childbirth, I’d “bitch please” so fast… It’s just that few things are as awful add Hitler, holocaust, or rape so it usually ends up sounding insensitive.
@Wiffie I agree that yes having photographers in your face constantly has to be annoying and you may start to feel as if your privacy is violated. However, that is a really long way off from being raped and I’m sorry you don’t get to use that word to compare to what a man/woman who was raped against their will and having another person force themselves or something else inside of you to someone snapping your photo and hollering at you.
And the thing that gets me with all of these celebrities having their heads up their butts about their lives and how hard it is is the fact that others such as Lainey and other gossips sites say celebrities can disappear when they want to. Flying into LAX when there is another airport that the paparazzi don’t hang out is an answer. Yes it may suck to change up your routine but I would do things like that if the photographers really bothered me. Quit calling the paps when you need to promote something and then call them stalkers after you decide you don’t want to play the pap stroll game when you don’t have anything to promote. Look at how many celebrities were not down for that whole don’t work with magazines or others who post celebrity baby pictures. Heck Kneepads, Kneepads of all magazines had to call the celebs out about that. You can’t act as if you are being harassed when you actually call up magazines and put your kids on the covers or have them do red carpet walks as a family and screech about your lives being like a war.
Look at how many celebrities you rarely see unless they are promoting like Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep. Heck no one even knew about AJ’s surgery until she went to the papers with it.
I agree with you 1000% starrywonder.
Nothing will ever be like rape except rape. Sit down Charlize Theron and all the other celebrities making these comments and shut the hell up. If you don´t want your picture taken due to your enormous wealth and status in Hollywood, then move the hell away from L.A. and get another job. It´s easy as that.
Of course its a violation of privacy and of course I can see how it gets annoying having paps following you around all day but then a) don´t call them, b) don´t walk around the places that are cramped with paps and c) disappear!
But yeah, your totally privileged, easy, all access, freebie, make a movie once a year for 8 weeks, overpaid, luxury, best healthcare, big mansion, designer clothes, holidays 44 weeks a year life is totally like rape, war and working in the coal-mine.
Yes to everyone! Charlize is showing her true colors. She’s awful and just as full of herself and penn can be. I’m sure this isn’t far off from how they talk in private.
Bottom line. MollyB nailed it. The terrible things that have happened in the world like Rape, Mass murder or the holocaust, or the travesty of slavery is not the same as paps taking shots of you on the side walk or making up stories to print in the liner of a birds cage.
An apology from her won’t be good enough.
LAUREN-100000000000000000% agree!! Well said.
So basic. When will they learn?!
Don’t forget JLaw “I broke out my rape scream for you.” Maybe these women need to talk to some real rape victims to get some FREAKING PERSPECTIVE on their over-privileged lives.
Didn’t Sean Penn tie up and trapeze/try to rape Madonna? Am I making that up?
Word.
I feel like at this point, Angelina Jolie is the only A-list celeb out there who knows the rules. She would never.
Maybe because she knows what the real world looks like – after all, she worked with rape victims (among other things). So tired of these self-entitled, dumb, clueless bitches. They should found a club where Gwynnie, Charlize and co can meet once a month and bemoan their hard lot. And Charlize has always been ignorant and stupid, I think she often gets the pass because of her beauty, but I kind of suspect that she is very much her like character in “Young adult”.
I couldn’t see Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Cate Blanchett, Matt Damon, Emma Stone, Bryan Cranston, Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, etc saying something like this. There are certainly plenty of stupid and/or insensitive celebrities out there, but I don’t know if it’s fair to lump everyone who happens to do the same job for a living together like that.
Come on that’s not fair. Although there are plenty of stupid celebs, there are also a lot of smart, well spoken celebs who could never say something like that. You think someone like George Clooney or Matt Damon or Sandra Bullock, Ryan Golsing would ever speak like that? Angie Jo isn’t the only celeb out there that does charity work you know. Leo Dicaprio is another who would never joke about rape either.
+167849
YES! You should write a handbook or something.
So so true, I like Charlize but this is a stupid comment
Thank you violated …Yes Raped No WTF is wrong with these people
Thank you, well said.
That should be HUMANITY 101.
If Charlize wants to talk about Hitler, I might suggest she start by having a conversation with Sean about his creepy mustache.
“I don’t do that, so that’s my saving grace. When you start living in that world, and doing that, you start I guess feeling raped.”
Shut up, you dumbass!
The level of stupidity is astounding.
And she comes from South Africa, for crying out loud! Sexual violence against women is endemic there.
If I’m not wrong, she even shot a psa ad (about the subject).
So true, and especially with whats happening in India at the moment.
That’s what I was thinking, the case in Sudan, the regular abuse of women in India, the increase of sexual slavery and she uses that term. Also given her family history of domestic violence I am just…astounded that she would use that comparison.
@Lindy79, Good Lord, the gang rape and hanging of the two teenage cousins. Just barbaric.
Wow. You would think that something like “I sometimes feel like my privacy/personal life is being violated” or “I feel like the press/paps really cross the line sometimes” or oh, I dunno…ANY OTHER REPLY that doesn’t compare fame to rape, genocide, etc. Can they really not think before they speak? Are they really that convinced that there is a “celebrity struggle”? I know that it would drive me crazy to get hunted (hey there is another word, Charlize!!) by paps. But to say you feel raped? Oh, man. I just won’t with this one. She is really getting on my nerves.
She has always been this vapid. I can remember when she first started out that she would always bring up how YOUNG she was. Now, that’s she’s older, she doesn’t mention it at all. IIRC, didn’t she kill the man who was beating up her mother?
No, her mother shot and killed her father. That’s why Charlize is against guns. (Makes no sense to me because her mother using the gun saved them.)
As for her and other celebrities’ comments about these subjects, they really need to realize that their words do make a difference over whether someone would watch their movies or not. I haven’t been a fan of hers in a while, but now I absolutely will never watch anything she’s ever in again.
“Makes no sense to me because her mother using the gun saved them.”
Which is why I think SHE did the shooting. I think there was some suspicion cast her way, but it was dropped.
I’m just gonna go for blunt here – let’s see…. which would I prefer, a life of privileged/ease and wealth and the ability to artistically have a grand old time all over the world with the slight negative of having people argue about what I had for breakfast and tipping my garbage guy to let them go through my recycling bin – annoying, frustrating and likely somewhat upsetting OR
the evening when my drink was drugged, I was dragged into an alley, raped by a total stranger WHO, when I started to come around in the middle (in his ‘defense’, he likely hadn’t PLANNED to rape… a 6’2 tall woman who would likely having a higher dose required then he planned to drop) was bashed repeated over the head with a brick until I stopped moving long enough for him to finish what he started (and yeah, I know he finished we’ll get to the specifics in a second) and would crawl away with a concussion (still don’t have total vision or hearing on the side I got cracked) a permanent heart condition (had a slight one to start, but when you mix engine degreaser and other ‘fun’ cocktail ingredient to that – scarred my heart something fierce – to this day, IF I manage to get pregnant like I hope this summer – my car keys will go bye-bye the day the stick turns blue because I won’t safely be able to regulate my blood pressure due to that attack) PTSD something FIERCE, and oh – how did I know he finished? I wasn’t sleeping with anyone other then my cat on my bed, too terrified of men, and while not a virgin (molested as a kid), didn’t have a partner before OR after and I found I was pregnant 4 months down the line. So, yeah, he finished. And I got the extra bonus of scouting/interviewing parents until I found my daughter where she was meant to be – so I also got the huge bonus fun of being a bio mom, not raising my own child even though it was for the best, and all the pain THAT tosses in. Hmmm. Choices, Choices. Which of these two shiny life options would anyone with even a shred of sanity pic?
I know! SIT THE F%#K DOWN CHARLIZE. Go play in your mansion and don’t talk to adults, it just makes people want to throw things at you. Which won’t be good for boxoffice sales.
I am so, so sorry for what you’ve experienced, and I’m sorry that people trivialize the horror in the way Charlize did here.
My God Jenna, I am so sorry you went through this! My prayers go out to you sweetheart, I honestly am sick reading your story. Hugs and love and positive thoughts your way. XOXO
Jenna, I have no proper words to express how sorry I am that a sick, vicious rapist did those horrible things to you, and know that I pray for you and hope for the best for your future. You certainly deserve it. Thank you for driving home why rape-as-hyperbole is inherently wrong, and trivializes the experiences of survivors such as yourself. Blessings, you strong and brave soul!
Idiot
You’re right Eva, for someone who continually praises Seth McFarlane & Chelsea Handler, but still regards themselves as one of the people.
I cannot imagine how it must be to be an adopted child of colour whose parent is good friends with someone who makes racists remarks (and profits off it).
UGH! Someone needs to tell the self important Paltrow’s and Theron’s of the world to STFU STFU STFU STFU!
Their ill thought out examples are so terribly disrespectful to actual victims of RAPE and WAR.
+1,000,000!!!! They most certainly need to STFU already. It’s enough, and Charlize has gotten on my last nerve. Figures, she starts dating a jackass like Penn, and now she’s morphing into one herself.
Celebs really need to learn to think BEFORE they speak. I’m so sick of hearing how awful it is for them and how they feel attacked, and violated. They chose this profession, they are aware of the day and age we live in with social media, the internet and the fact that everything they say and do is flashed across our screens almost instantly. Don’t like it? Then they should all pool together their fortunes, buy an island in the middle of nowhere and gab to each other about how wonderful they are compared to the rest of us. I doubt we’d miss them.
Maybe they should KEEP talking and take all the rope they need to hang themselves. Paltrow, that finger wagging handbag model with her phony website, and Theron, Goddess of Vapid Stupidity, should be publicly exposed as the entitled narcissists that they are.
These people are so indulged and sheltered from real life that a hangnail is the equivalent an amputation to them.
So true! Never really liked her that much to begin with. I’m pretty sure its because of that god awful J’adore perfume commercial that plays on loop around Christmas. Yep, entitled, out of touch, princess. Shut up Charlize.
This!!^^^
You’d think she’d know better, given her childhood experience. Weird.
I’ll go first- super awful analogy. Really surprised that Charlize went that route- thought she was savvier than that. I can totally appreciate that that level of intrusiveness can feel like a personal violation.
Everything you said here. Just such an incredibly dumb thing to say and I expected much more from her.
SIGH.
Also, just to reiterate what some posters said above, these celebs are so self-entitled, so sheltered from reality it’s astounding to me.
She didn’t come from a rich family and is from South Africa right?
I wouldn’t classify Charlize as sheltered she does go to third world counties for her UN work. Unlike Goop who’s was born rich and in that celebrity life and has never taken her herself out side her bubble.
Well it’s true that her mother did shoot her father (an alcoholic and abuser) in self-defense. That would definitely introduce a young woman to a frightening level of violence.
That being said, she didn’t grow up poor.
“Theron attended Putfontein Primary School (Laerskool Putfontein), a period she later characterised as not “fitting in”. At 13, Theron was sent to boarding school and began her studies at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg.”
I mean, she wasn’t living in abject poverty-she was attending prestigious private schools throughout her childhood.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t erase what she went through growing up in an abusive household.
But this is precisely why her comments are so incongruent with what we know about her–she knows very well the traumatic effect of violent acts– she should know better than to speak so cavalierly about them.
I maintain that almost ALL celebs are very isolated and insular to a degree, particularly if they grow up in the industry. They’re constantly buffered by body guards and entourages, they’re almost never alone. Most of them have no idea what it’s like to be the average female who’s constantly looking over her shoulder.
Just another entitled celebrity with the huge ego. Acting like she is royalty, that every utterance is a stroke of brilliance. Celebs stop drinking the koolaid.
It’s an awful analogy and I think this (or an incident like it) should be a learning lesson for the public. People are beginning to think of rape as”simply” an act of violation of one’s self. While that is part of it, I don’t think people grasp what rape really is or the true actions and consequences that the victim faces. I can’t have any sympathy for her here because the interviewer said “That strongly?” That’s a chance to have softened and/or corrected your comment.
I think it is a mistake for anyone to make a comparison to rape, because there is something uniquely horrifying about that act. Nothing compares.
While acknowledging that it is never a good choice to use that comparison, I think we also need to hear a little bit about what our fellow females are telling us. As mimi said above, Charlize, Kristen Stewart, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Keira Knightley have all made this comparison. Why? I think they are trying to tell us the extreme level of invasion that is happening in their lives. While it is not equal to rape, I do think they are trying to let people know how vulnerable and unsafe they feel. My perspective on celebrity has changed with my life and work experiences, and I think there are some very troubling things that happen to celebs that should be recognized and prevented. Even “spoiled” people can have troubling things happen to them. I also recognize that what is allowed in regards to celebrities can eventually be used on “regular” people by employers, exes, grudge holder, etc.
Ok, and I’m not unsympathetic to what stars have to deal with when it comes to the scum that is paparazzi. In fact, I’m one of the people that usually sides with the celeb when it comes to a celeb v. pap incident.
..but are their vocabularies SO limited that they can’t come up with a more appropriate way of describing the paparazzi hounding them?
How about “invasive, meddlesome, intrusive, prying, nosy”?
Here’s the thing: rape has a VERY specific definition and at the heart of it’s meaning lies a defiling, a “ruining” if you will. It’s about destroying someone’s heart, mind, and spirit. A pap taking an unsolicited photo of a celeb does not involve the active seizing of one’s soul. “Vulnerable” and “unsafe” are a state of being, rape is an act of sexual violation.
The paps suck and I’m the first to agree on this, but I just CAN’T with the word “rape”. I would feel dirty using that word in a context that essentially amounts to slang and I’m always surprised when women can throw it out like it’s nothing.
So ultimately, the word “rape” isn’t interchangeable with the word “intrusive”. It stands alone in that involves violence, physical force, sexual humiliation, and a level of destruction.
@TOK
Bravo! For every single word you said. I am a DV/rape survivor and really feel thunderstruck at the general stupidity shown by these celebrities who compare a paparazzo invading their privacy to a crime. For God’s sake, they are completely out of touch.
I agree with you, TOK. I don’t think she should have used that word at all. I think my (rambling) point was that they are self defeating when they try to communicate a message about privacy and use that word. When they use that word, their message is ignored because people are (rightly) focused on the inappropriate words they chose. There might be validity to their underlying point, but it is lost in the fray.
Paparazzi are certainly a challenge, but there are many other ways their lives are invaded. Getting their picture taken is just a small part. Their medical records are invaded, relationship and financial details, children’s safety and privacy, computers and phones hacked, home invasions, etc. This comes from many sources, not just the press. I think after a while of living with that, I think some people do feel legitimately traumatized, however, they need to recognize that rape is a unique kind of trauma that NOTHING compares to.
(Tiffany…Legendary Fence Straddler and Hair Splitter!)
@Hiddles–I had no idea you went through that. *internet hugs*
@Tiffany-I felt weird after I read my response to you because I thought I might seem like I was preaching to the choir (I know that you didn’t approve of her use of the word “rape”), but after reading your further explanation, I see that you were making a point that I missed in your original comment. Celeb’s view of paparazzi is valid– it’s the way they communicate that view that sucks. Agreed. I also agree that the level of invasion from the paps is atrocious. Personally, I see NO NEED to know personal details of celebs or see pics of them pumping gas, etc. I’m ok with critiquing their red carpet photos and seeing them onscreen. Oh, and gossiping about them–that’s fun too 😉
@Hiddles, I had no idea either, I am very sorry to hear that and twice as happy that you met the man you truly love and are happy with him *hugs* <3
Apparently Charlize has never been raped and that’s a good thing because if she had…she would NEVER have made the comparison! As a rape survivor I wish people like her and Goop would keep their mouths shut and stop talking about how tough it is living the LIFE THEY ACTIVELY SOUGHT! But I didn’t seek to be raped…like she sought to be a celebrity and have people hang on her every word and deed!
I’m sorry and believe me that is why I got so pissed off too. Survivor or rape and attempted rape (both friends) and seriously these freaking celebrities these days are pissing me off with their constant diatribes about being stalked and raped by paparazzi.
Dear All Celebrities,
If you don’t like having your picture taken constantly by the paparazzi due to your immense wealth and status in Hollywood, STFU AND FIND A NEW JOB.
Sincerely, EVERYONE
Agree.
Bog off, you won’t be missed.
Yep.
Yep. Dont let the door hit you in the ass on your way out. There are thousands of actors waiting right behind you who would would be very grateful, and absolutely love to step into your life.
So kindly sit down and shut up.
Thank you.
These comments are like the Holocaust.
LOL!
Kaiser I just laughed so hard!
And Charlize is about as cool as hypothermia.
genuine LOL!
hahahaha
OMG. But according to her own logic, this only means we REALLY get it how hard it is for her!
LOLOL
Zing! 😀
Oh snap, Kaiser, you clever thing. 😀
Unfortunate choice of words, but I wont get my pitchfork out just yet. People make mistakes.
In this instance, I respectfully disagree. Charize worked with Kristin Stewart, who made this very mistake (among a million others) while they were doing Snow White and the huntsman.
She, of all people, should know better.
It’s not really just unfortunate choice of words, the interviewer even said that “That strong” in her reference to rape. She didn’t clarify her her chose of words or make another analogy, she thinks having the the paparazzi take pictures of her and the media talking about her is like rape.
She has been sticking her foot in her mouth quite a bit this week. She went off on “gluten free” saying it is “bullshit” ANd she thinks gluten free is sugar free. She was given gluten free cupcakes that she said tasted horrible, so what did she do? Her words…”Then I tried, I said, ‘You know, I love my cleaning ladies, I’m gonna give-’ They wouldn’t even eat it””
What a pretentious snob…I mean…not even the CLEANING LADIES would eat it!!!! What? Are they eating out of her trash and should be grateful for something fresh??
I used to like her, and I could not understand why she was with Sean Penn. It is beginning to make sense now. They are both insufferable.
omg, yes, the cleaning ladies comment: apparently less discriminating that the effing dog? glad I’m not the only one who saw that. Never liked her, now I’m repulsed by her.
I noticed the cleaning ladies comment and I was shocked! What a generous human being she is to give something she didn’t like to her cleaning ladies.
IDIOTIC and ridiculous
I guess we should be happy that there are still gals around who have no idea what RAPE actually is? Maybe there are a few who have not been violated . . .
Oh f@ck off then and go be a waitress. You want privacy regarding your private life? Then don’t have your boyfriend follow you around like a wrinkly, sad puppy on your press tour.
LMAO
Hyperbole and broad generalizations are what always gets celebrities. One should never, ever use rape as a comparison. Dumb. Charlize is in her late 30s and savvy, she should know better. That said it annoys me that Johnny Depp and Seth Rogen have said shit like this or made really inappropriate rape jokes and it gets swept under the rug, but the same thing doesn’t happen with women (see, JLaw’s dumb rape joke from a few weeks ago, Natalie Portman, KStew, Charlize). Whether it is a man or woman, they should be called out on it.
I thought JLaw’s “rape scream” comment used as a joke was far more offensive than Charlize, Kristen Stewart, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Keira Knightley, etc using it to describe their feelings of having their private lives violated by the paps and media. None of these women used the term “rape” in a joking manner even though they all (unfortunately) used it as an extreme measure to sum up their feelings of being violated. There’s nothing funny about rape. That’s why JLaw using it in a joking manner offended me more than Charlize, Kristen, Mila and Keira using it as an extreme example to explain their feelings of violation. To be clear, nobody should get a pass for using it. It’s a very poor word choice to describe a person’s feeling of being violated.
I too think that those that used the word ” rape” in regards to being violated are not as bad as JLaw who was using it as a total joke. But the word really shouldn’t be used in any other context than actual rape.
+1
+2
I dont think Jlaw comment was that offensive .As an actor rape scene can be part of the plot hence her comment and it wasnt an interview.
Are you kidding me? JDepp was dragged and he released an apology, so no he didn’t just get off with a slap on the wrist.
Yep. Johnny Depp was roundly criticized and called out for his comment.
…and he issued a very heartfelt apology.
Johnny’s comment didn’t get swept under the rug at all – there was A TON of outrage after he said that in Vanity Fair, and he apologized swiftly.
She chose her career, and should have known what comes with the territory. My personal opinion of her is lukewarm at best.
She wants privacy for her family, but she talks about her own parents when her father is not able to tell his side of things. My understanding is that she initially claimed her dad was killed in a car accident until it was made public he was murdered (his brother was also present and was shot as well, a detail most accounts leave out). I have no idea what happened in her childhood, but what I have read sounds sketchy (as in, changing stories). Some claim her mother is very pushy and threatened legal action if her father’s family should ever speak out. A couple of them did have the guts to speak a couple of years ago, and they claim some things have been misrepresented.
If she really craved privacy, then she could go away and live outside the spotlight (minus her equally questionable choice of boyfriend).
Aptly put plus good & interesting points, Christin.
Theron sells stories about her private life and fashion pictures of her body whenever she has a movie coming out. She gets millions out of that deal. Millions that give her really exceptional freedoms of choice on what to do in life. And apparently that’s not enough: she also wants to dictate how people should gossip about things she said. Right…
Vesta, I expected to get some harsh feedback over what I’ve wanted to say for a long time. She really has used her looks and ability to frame her story when and how it suits her.
People seem to assume what she says about her background is 100 percent accurate and succinct, when it appears to be far from it.
I can’t say much about the way she frames her childhood story; firstly because I’ve no access to all the facts about what went on and secondly because it’s anyway a horrible tragedy what happened. I give her that.
It’s more the recent “private life” stories that bug me. For example, she has just waxed lyrics in a major fashion magazine about her surprising miracle love to Sean Penn and along we got a bunch of photoshopped pictures with her half-naked body. And when we discuss those things, we’re invasive? That’s the reasoning I don’t get at all…
Get back to us, Charlize, when you’ve been brutally raped and see how it compares.
EXACTLY
Great comment!
What an a$$ she is
Oh, god forbid, Jayna!! Good grief…
What about talking with Madonna about being tortured and tied for hours and forced to perform sexual activity by that disgusting old man she’s dating? that’s how you’ll learn about rape dumb hag
Madonna never confirmed this story
There is a police report.
@don’t kill me i’m french
Madonna has never confirmed the story and it also begs the question: Why does she remain friends with a man that supposedly beat her and tried to sexually assault her? That story is like telephone . Everyone has a version of it and they add something to it.
And she never will. It would be a career downer for her, that fancies herself as a badass woman. There’s a police report that says very clear what happened, It’s just that back then there was no internet and the story just never went out as much. He’s not different than Chris Brown.
@fingerbinger you’re a Penn obsessed troll so your opinion doesn’t count
She’s with Stupid now, that self-important lunatic. Just being near him will make anyone say crazy sh**.
The only thing that can be compared to rape is rape. thats it.
I can’t anymore with celebs and grandios statements like this……..go away, and take Kristen, and Gwyneth with you.
+1 to the millionth degree.
Wow, her popularity (mostly since being with that hair challenged hot dog face) is in a massive downward spiral!
My God…..HIS HAIR!
you mean his toupee …
Not a toupee. Might be hair implants.
Ah, my first snort of the day…thanks!
I never liked her. I’m glad her true colors are finally being exposed by the mainstream press. I feel sorry for Jackson.
She seems to have gotten a pass for a really long time, for whatever reason.
Why do you feel sorry for Jackson? She adopted him and she seems loving and very protective of him. If you have an issue with Charlize don’t drag the little boy into to it. What true colors? How did she get a pass? She’s always had this personality. You’re just paying more attention to her because she dating a guy that everyone seems to hate.
Yep. That’s how I see it too. Same gal, same statements.
I agree with your comment about Jackson having said that Charlize has alway gotten a pass. There are tons of stories out there of people in the industry saying nasty person she is and the media and public have always over look it.
+1 agree
I feel.sorry for Jackson too. He’s has these two assholes as role models!
Nope, it has nothing to do with Sean Penn. One of the first interviews I ever read of her from People magazine I was turned off by her obnoxious attitude. The gist of her statement was she had to leave South Africa because there weren’t any opportunities for white people. There have been stories about her bitch on wheels attitude for years. I don’t like her regardless of who she’s dating. I feel sorry for this child because of her personality.
1. I don’t believe she said there were no opportunities for white people in SA. It sounds like she said something and you misinterpreted it.
2. No matter what you think of Charlize’s personality it’s still inappropriate to bring up her son.
@FingerBinger
Read the article that’s posted in the downthread. She is explicitly quoted as saying that, after apartheid was struck down, that she didn’t think there were any career opportunities for her in SA, as a white South African–and that’s why she went to Italy. That’s not really something I would say outloud, let alone in an interview.
What she said about giving disgusting food that she didn’t liked to her cleaning ladies was beyond disrespectful.
Thank you! I posted that above. So disrespectful. Plus, she spoke of things she knows nothing about as if she was an expert. She sounds like Jenny McCarthy.
Goes right along with throwing a little hissy fit on a bank teller.
Someone mentioned this on another thread, and sure enough, it is attributed to how she was discovered in what appear to be PR approved articles about her. A talent agent witnessed her tantrum and took her under his wing. Lovely.
Me neither. She has always seemed ice cold and self serving. And besides Monsters is incredibly overrated as an actress. I hope after this she fades away. That will take care of any violation she feels from public attention.
Several real movie stars are rarely shown in public.
Note to celebrities: STOP DOING THIS.
These SUPER privileged celebrities and their whining make me sick. Fame is “like rape” to you? STFU and don’t be an actress then.
I like Charlize, but I hope she’ll apologize after this fallout.
she and annalynne mccord need to have an converstaion.
I was thinking the same thing.
With the current pervasiveness of celebrity “news,” these entitled dip$h!ts can’t seem to help but show their true colors …
Says a woman dating a man that terrorized his wife for hours.
I think Johnny Depp made a similar statement, and that was the beginning of his downfall.
I sometimes think celebs say controversial things on purpose. Everybody is grasping for attention, and UNFORTUNATELY in our society nice things don’t grab our attention nearly as much as bad, nasty or tasteless things.
Yeah and he apologized for it.
How many people have said things that were out of line, and then either ignored the backlash or then gave a ‘I’m sorry you were offended’ non apology?
Charlize will probably do the same.
Jennifer Aniston said ‘retard’ on Regis and Kelly–didn’t apologize.
Paula Deen.
Shia LaBeouf–plagiarized his ‘apology’, on top of his other plagiarisms.
Beyonce–when she put those recordings of those people dying in the Challenger explosion.
Reese Witherspoon–basically laughed off her behavior as having too much to drink, when the person who got the DUI, who was with her, seemed to be able to follow police orders quite well.
And I could go on, and on, and on….
“Nothing else is “like rape” except rape.”
A million times this. It should be written in the celebrity handbook someone should put together.
I’ve just read Anne Lynn Mc Cord memories of her rape.
I thought Charlize Theron was better than this.
I find it so interesting how today there are two stories up.
One of a young woman legitimately raped who was hesitant to categorize ACTUAL RAPE as rape, due to the perceived stigma and emotional ramifications. She took a long time to come to terms with what actually happened, has suffered and has bravely spoken publicly.
And then there is this crap of someone who willingly puts themselves in the public eye, is gossiped about at normal celebrity levels and is like, this is comparable to what rape victims go through.
WTF.
THISSSSSS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That is a very good and interesting point!
It was an unfortunate choice of words. Charlize should have just said she felt violated and left it at that. You all are so outraged today and then you’ll all move on to something else and be outraged about that too.
That is how voicing your opinion works. Just as you keep voicing yours. Although it may be the opposing viewpoint, you feel strongly enough to keep putting it out there. That is what people do. I don’t agree with you, but I admire your determination.
I don’t see how it’s an opposing viewpoint. It was an unfortunate choice of words, which it was. I’m just not jumping down her throat or having a visceral reaction to her comment.
Are these celebrities on a bet to see who can make the most gut wrenching stupid comment to the media? Like Kaiser said, there is nothing “like rape” except rape. She just marginalized every woman who has ever been sexually assaulted and she needs to get herself to a woman’s shelter to do good works ASAP. Let her see what “like rape” really is. And, oh yeah, just STFU.
I’m surprised that she would say it publicly but I’m not surprised she said it.
I am over celebs saying stupid crap like this. Especially since she’s pimping this relationship in her interviews. Have a stadium full of seats, Charlize.
Um, it’s even worse given that Charlize Theron did an anti-rape PSA in her native land back in the day. She. Should Know. Better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VbEkVgwzkI
And she does work for the UN on the subject: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1sbF6gx0cU
Oh my God, this comes from a woman who her mom killed her dad of abuse and bad treatment. I don’t know if she lived the experience but to be around a woman who had to kill to save her life is quite an insult to must raped woman and her mom too.
If you feel raped by paparazzi quit.
you have millions to do what ever you want. What an Idiot.
Until about a week ago, I didn’t really have a problem with Charlize (other than the fact that I hate her haircut with a passion). But now that all these promotional interviews have come to light, I actually want to slap her. First she goes on Chelsea Handler to say that she thinks the “gluten free thing” is “bullshit” and “can’t be proven” (I have celiac’s and I CANT eat gluten, it’s not just some celeb diet craze for me, so I take real offense to that), and now she’s comparing having her photograph taken because she’s famous because she CHOSE to enter the profession of acting and gets paid millions for it… To rape. You spoiled, entitled, selfish brat. Learn to keep your mouth shut if you can’t say anything that isn’t ignorant.
I am in complete agreement. I went from liking her to having no respect for her whatsoever. I can’t eat gluten, and her comments just put false information out there. It isn’t a fad for me, for you, or for so many others. It is a way of life that keeps us from being violently ill.
Come on, she was clearly saying gluten-free as the new lifestyle-tumblr-inspired-fad-diet was bullshit.
She didn’t say AIDS was a state of mind.
For being an actress who is skilled at following dialogue, CT could perhaps think about her words more carefully. There are people who actually go through this lady! My mother was attacked when young and never got over it because she was raised in boarding school and taught to keep silent only the impact spilled over into her family life. This is why casual comments should not be made on this subject – there are those who go through horrifying experiences and not taken seriously because people like this say everything is rape. CT is educated enough and has lived enough experience to know the difference.
OMG, considering the history of domestic violence in her family, she should really know better than to make such a stupid ass comment.
This is the woman who was on Ellen and kept calling her child “THE baby”….Ellen was visibly uncomfortable, as was I and probably the audience too.
Why do so many people do this? I’ve noticed it more so in many US TV shows and movies. It’s like referring to an inanimate object e.g. the remote control, the chair, THE baby. I’ve always thought it very odd.
Apparently, she’s one of those stars who I only like until I get to know her. Between this and Sean Penn, I think I’m going to stick to enjoying the acting and ignore the rest.
Check out this interview “..soon was dancing professionally in Johannesburg. But at 15, she says, “everything just went wrong.” Her father, Charles, died, leaving the family’s road-construction business in the hands of her mother, Gerda. Theron had little time to grieve; with the dismantling of apartheid and the creation of new affirmative action laws, she became convinced “there was no future for a white South African.” One week after turning 16, she accepted an offer from an Italian model scout, and—with her mother’s blessing—headed for Milan. Looking back, she says, “I just ran.””
http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20142510,00.html
Yep, that’s the one I mentioned up thread. Her proud defender was sure I misinterpreted what Saint Charlize said.
OMG! Over reaction much. Why is everyone so outraged? Ppl cant say anything anymore without someone being offended. Lighten up!! She is clearly saying she would like the focus to be on her career not her personal life away from the camera……it’s intrusive. So she used the word raped. She wasn’t intentionally trying to diminish a person who actually has been raped? So many angry people in the world
I dont know what she sees in SP. He’s not looking too good.
“She is clearly saying she would like the focus to be on her career not her personal life away from the camera……it’s intrusive”
So use the word “intrusive” NOT “rape”.
There is no acceptable reaction to the minimization of rape except outrage. If you don’t understand why, perhaps you need to read about rape culture and what happened at UC Santa Barbara. Or if that’s too much googling, just read the AnnaLynne McCord post from today.
Equating pap photos to rape is contributing to the “normalization” of rape. I’m sorry you don’t see that, but rape is not *just* a word like you make it out to be, it’s an epidemic act of violence that robs people of their dignity and destroys their lives.
Exactly.
Wonderfully stated TOK
I agree with you Kitten. I just don’t think ppl should get so riled over an obvious verbal gaffe. (coming from a someone who was molested as a child) Get angry over actual rape is my point.
I’m not angry, I’m actively disproving. Dumb is dumb, and I cannot be angry at dumb. Hers was a hurtful discourse, and I have a right to try to marginalize dumb, hurtful discourse.
Seriously? She’s in her late thirties. She’s lived in a world where there was ACTIVE racism and segregation–and she was old enough to know and understand it, and young enough to be able to learn and grow past it. Especially since she left, and went to Italy and to the United States when she was 15 or 16.
She, of all people, should know better AND be a lot more sensitive to things like racism, rape, etc. Stuff that she grew up around. Especially with her father as a violent, alcoholic, domestic abuser.
If I’d seen half the stuff that she’s seen, then I would be VERY hesitant in using terms like ‘rape’ to describe MY experiences (particularly if I hadn’t been raped). It trivializes the word. Especially when all she’s talking about is being upset about the paparazzi.
Exactly. It trivializes the word and makes it seem like a regular act.
@Maggie I guess we’re the only dissenters here who aren’t having a knee-jerk reaction at what Charlize said. People love being outraged. A few months ago people were angry with Madonna for using the N word. Last week it was Jennifer Lawrence for “rape scream”. A couple of days ago it was Gwyneth Paltrow. Now it’s Charlize. Next week everyone will be PO’ed at someone else.
Minimizing and dismissing other peoples’ opinions doesn’t actually elevate yours, you get that right?
How kewl you are to not care.
Huh? What exactly did I say that “minimizing or dismissing other people’s opinions”? People have called been calling her names. I think that qualifies as visceral/knee jerk reactions to her comment. People WILL move on and be angry about something else. What exactly is dismissive about that?
Yeah, because we all need an AIDS test after being critiqued online.
Just ONCE I want the interviewer to go off on someone who says something like this. Something along the lines of, “Oh, so having a picture taken of you is like being raped? General interest in you is like being raped? So, is the celebrity life akin to being forced into sex slavery? Are your fans all like Nazis because they want to know what you’re up to and like keeping up with you? Are interviewers like mini Orwellian 1984 dictators, always wanting to watch you and pry into your life? Would you say that your life, right now, is akin to being tortured, a la the political prisoners in North Korea? Tell me more about your horrible life, I find it fascinating.”
Only rape feels like rape.
Only being on the front lines in a war feels like war.
The end.
Let me telll you something….if I were working at a job and the downside of the job it was akin to “rape” or “war” you know what I would do….quit!!! So Charlize and Gwenyth and Kristen…why don’t you stop making movies and websites and all the rest and call it a day. Oh no deal? I know why..
because your full of it! That is all.
I thought her main problem was lacking a douche radar, what with Seth McFarlane and dating the Angry Mop, but she seems to be lacking common sense across the board.
It’s sad and a bit revolting that women like Paltrow and Theron talk about war and rape – so they feel victimized. That’s what goes through their heads, that they’re victims because of public – negative – attention. Again, there’s a Grand Canyon worth of lack of empathy between them and the real world.
Another delusional celebrity so out of touch with reality that she actually thinks her life is the most difficult thing ever
As a rape survivor, I AM SICK AND F*CKING TIRED of these A**HOLES using rape as some kind of comparison point for their bullsh*t. SHUT THE F*CK UP AND SIT DOWN. The aftermath of my rapes nearly destroyed my life. SHUT THE F*CK UP. SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP.
Same here! (((Hugs)))
ThankYou!! Hate all the rape jokes too ! not fnnn funny. Ever. Catch them on family guy or my freinds saying that’s a Rapey guy or a Rapey night out. When did it become a adjective. Pisses me off for myself, and my sister;who was attacked when going to university in the city by a stranger. No comparison ever. Sorry Anon Hugs.Hugs. Hugs.
Thanks guys! 🙂 HUGS back
These narcissists just love to have their pics taken, or to talk quite extensively about family matters when it suits them. Some even like to play with the paps, or call them up for staged shoots. They choose their profession, and should be adult enough to deal with the unwanted attention as well. Particularily in their profession they should also be aware of the importance to choose appropriate words when describing their displeasure with something. To compare a violation of privacy with rape is not only completely thoughtless, but also shows how far they are removed from real life. That kind of self importance and whining is painful to witness. And their lack of empathy for victims of war and rape is really shameful.
Honestly, if it is so traumatic leave the industry. Change careers. Take yourself out of the spotlight. Sheesh….
Celebrities these days! Charlize has some nerve. How could you compare anything to rape? Rape is rape! What can be compared to being raped? What can be compared to being forced to have sex against your will? This woman needs her head checked. Nothing about her comment is smart, nor insightful. When these celebrities don’t have a script in their hands, they’re just vain, dull, empty-headed morons.
This is a very interesting article that I ran across when she first started dating Penn:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-506285/My-brother-monster-Charlize-Therons-aunt-disputes-stars-account-shooting-pleads-wont-speak-dying-grandmother.html
I saw this on the news today-along with Goop fiasco- and I was surprised that the media was finally giving ridiculous girls like her what they need. Now if only they would air that Jennifer Lawrence comment about rape, but of course she has great PR so she’ll never get knocked off of that high horse, but as for Charlize, I hope this bad publicity helps her realize just how terrible of a thing it was to say and I hope she matures from it.
Can we please talk about Sean Penn’s hair? I don’t even have a comment, I just think it’s atrocity.
Everyone drools and slobbers over Sean Penn being “such a great actor” and whatnot – and I suppose for these young Hollywood dingbats (read: Charlize Theron, Scarlett Johannsen, etc…) being with such a “serious, talented, ‘artiste'” with stratospheric left-leaning politics, somehow legitimizes them. But, for me, when you Magic Eraser away all the bullshit, he’s just an old, wrinkled, ugly, chain-smoking douchebag.
What is it with these over-priveleged Hollywood types? Being a celebrity, having your picture taken and being gossiped about is NOT akin to rape, war, concentration camps, murder or whatever ther hyperbolic comparison they come up with.
To Charlene, Goop and every other Hollywood asshat who has made these comparisons, I say this: nobody is forcing you to be a celebrity. You are free to fall off the grid. Stop bitching.
Personally, she would’ve been better off likening it to a bra-snapping. A violation of personal space, but not something criminal that could leave years of potentially insurmountable psychological repercussions.
And the hell of it is that she put herself out there, in the past, speaking out again rape. GMA had a piece showing her numerous PSAs regarding rape and yet, here she is saying that her plight is comparable to rape.
Every time I think of it, I think about those abducted Nigerian schoolgirls who could be enduring numerous rapes right now, while Theron could, voluntarily, take a powder from enduring paps and the press.
Now this is a missing sensitivity chip.
Why do we pay these idiots so much money?
If you know anything about language, the word rape according to the World English Dictionary, 3rd definition, rape is “any violation or abuse: (for example) the rape of justice.” She was well within the boundaries of the English language to use the word rape. She’s using it in the context of being violated. If someone says they are “married to their work” you know it’s not a literal meaning.
Don’t try to explain anything to these people. Let them bask in their collective outrage.
Looking at the comment, in context, it’s pretty clear that she is referring to the physical act of rape. She says it leaves you feeling raped. She does not say the paps are raping her private life. It’s all very well to point out the many meanings of a word, but you’re being disingenuous when you completely ignore the phrasing used.
You should know it’s not a literal meaning just as “married to my work” is not a literal meaning.
I understand that some of the comments directed towards actors / celebrities are mean and hurtful. Some don’t even have a basis for the comment at all. The reality is that they chose to become public figures, not their kids though, I do defend the kids. But to compare a comment that someone might have written on the interwebz to rape or war is irresponsible. Unless you are telling me that the actor / celebrity was raped or has been an active soldier that has been deployed to a conflict / war, there is no basis for your (the actors) comment either. I feel more for the kids that get cyber bullied. At least actors have a public outlet, they can go to the media and tell their side of the story, for example, the kids that get cyber bullied don’t.
Another good example to go with my previous post, is a “miscarriage of justice” often used in the legal system. Would you all be so offended because it’s not a physical miscarriage? Just sayin’ don’t be so hypercritical. Words often have more than one meaning.
I don’t even think using the word violated would be appropriate, unless very carefully phrased. If she just said she felt violated, to me that would sound like she was meaning like rape. She would most definitely have to say her privacy was violated and even then for me it’s a stretch.
I’m guessing uncomfortable is what they feel. Pissed off is what they feel… yes, even at times unsafe and fearful but that’s still not loaded with the emotion of violation with talking about one’s person (as opposed to a traffic violation).
They could also feel powerless but really I’m not going to give them that because they have it within their power to go incognito. Many Hollywooders do and I’m not just thinking of those you’d think are low on the paps’ bedposts and therefore not as important to go after.
As a rape survivor, anyone defending this woman’s comparisons are just insulting. No one asks to be raped. Celebrities such as Theron make the decision to go out and about in areas the paparazzi are while others can stay hidden. She opened her mouth to gather buzz for her flop of a film. She stated before she didn’t look herself up. Why the rape comparison if she doesn’t expose herself to that? She’s making a mockery of women that have been attacked that are still alive and fighting and those that lost their fight due to something so traumatic taking place. Say what you want to further excuse this piece of trash but she’s a piece of trash doomed to live in her own ignorant life.
I think people just need to get over her comment. She is entitled to express herself in this way, even if it bothers someone else.
Just curious, are you as forgiving of Paltrow’s comments?
It’s so tiresome when people use rape analogies because nothing feels ‘like rape’ except rape.
Nothing is comparable. I wish they’d stop.
Charlize went from beautiful to ugly during that minute and a half interview clip. Now the Sean Penn thing makes complete sense.
Also – can’t believe she said that about gluten free cupcakes and her cleaning ladies not even wanting them. That really does it for me. I don’t think I can pay to watch her movies without thinking of my hard earned money going to such a horrid person.