Shocking no one, Bill O’Reilly is criticizing Sean Penn again. Bill gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter (quotes via OK!) where he says that Penn is a great actor, but Bill will never, ever sit through one of Sean’s movies. The reason? Because Sean “gives aid and comfort to people like [Iran president Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein, when he was alive”. OK! has more:
Despite constantly railing against the liberal-leaning folks in Hollywood, Fox News bully pundit claims that he’s actually a “big movie guy.” In fact, says Bill, the only big-screen star whose politics keep him away from the theater is Sean Penn.
“He’s a great actor, and if you hire him, you’ll get a good performance,” explains the outspoken O’Reilly in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “I’m just not going to give a guy who gives aid and comfort to people like [Iran president Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, Hugo Chavez and Saddam Hussein, when he was alive, my 10 bucks. That’s my right as an American.”
On the opposite side of the O’Reilly spectrum is — not shockingly — Clint Eastwood. “I admire him because he’s a self-made guy,” says Bill.
Ironically, when O’Reilly rattles off his favorite movies of all time, he includes Robert Altman’s legendarily leftist anti-war comedy M*A*S*H.
[From OK! Magazine]
Bill might have a point… he’s not saying Sean Penn should be lynched or anything, he’s just saying he doesn’t want to see Penn’s movies, which is his right. A lot of people probably feel that way about Sean Penn and other actors whose films can’t be separated from their politics. Even in the mythical liberal Hollywood, Sean Penn is very, very left of center.
Is Bill O’Reilly just trying to stir the pot and get some press by starting a mini-war with one of Hollywood’s most liberal actors? Or did he just answer a question posed to him with honesty?
Sean Penn is a jerk. May be a “great” actor…..not so sure great applies here. But his tolerance of the dictators of this world is unacceptable. I, too, would not support his acting efforts. BOO on Penn.
I completely agree with O’Reilly on this one- and feel that all AMERICANS should do the same. Sean Penn doesn’t even know the depth of his statements when he goes to these countries and publicly declares his support for such arrogant dictatorships. He hasn’t ever lived in any of the countries that he so publicly supports.
Bill just needs some press. Does he have a book coming out or something?
I read the original Hollywood Reporter interview, and it was clear that he was answering a question asked.
czarina: I read the interview, too, and I agree with your take.
While I’m not a fan of most of Sean’s personal/political antics, I’ll continue to see his movies for the simple fact that there are so few decent films being released these days. So when one comes along, I try not to miss it.
I agree with O’Reilly also.
I refuse to pay to see Penn’s films.
@Czarina & Codzilla, funny how that tidbit was omitted.
@Liz Conley, Amen to your comment!
*sigh* I don’t like Penn either…and I had no idea he was giving aid and comfort to Ahmadinejad. Chavez is one thing, but Ahmadinejad is another entirely.
Boo Sean Penn, BOOO.
I think Bill lives in his own world. Sean penn has the right to support anybody he wants. He makes up his own mind and is not told what to think. Hugo Chavez is not a dictator he is the democratically elected president of Venezueala. He does not serve the interests of the U.S, so im sure this is why he is such a threat.
I am not a fan of Sean Penn for various reasons(beats up women)but i can appreciate him as an actor regardless of his political views.
If people stopped going to see movies because of what goes on in the actors personal lives, cinema would be dead
i must say i despise o’reilly and his ignorant verbal incontinence, but sean penn irritates me too. although i don;t know when sean penn gave “aid & comfort” to sadaam hussein…did he have him round his house for tea and cookies?
Sean penn beats up women? Man, that is a new low for him and another reason for me to despise his guts.
Agree with Aoife about Hugo Chavez but Ahmadinejad? really Sean? UGH, I suppose ignorant fools have to stick together.
I bet Sean Penn, Hugo Chavez and Ahmadinejad have an annual get together to watch Sex and the City and Will and Grace marathons while drinking cosmopolitans and appletini’s and talk about who got fat again in Hollywood.
Why does Penn’s association with Ahmadinejad surprise anyone since Chavez and Ahmadinejad are buddies?
btw, in Feb 2009, Chavez won a referendum that lifts term limits on elected officials. Does that sound like a good idea to anyone? It didn’t to George Washington.
Resembles the seeds of a dictatorship to me.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3517106.stm
Daisy, I have it on good authority the Boogeyman will get you. Meanwhile I’ll continue living without fear, thanks very much.
Dante, ‘An ostrich with its head in the sand is just as blind to opportunity as to disaster’.
??
Name’s Reginald. Respect it. And check your closets for monsters.
I agree with you, Daisy. Doing away with term limits sounds like someone’s laying the foundation for absolute rule.
Sean Penn is a pretty complex guy in my book. But he’s definitely alienated the conservatives after that Oscar speech. And yes – he does come off as a bit of a jackass. It’s great that he’s fighting for gay rights, but it doesn’t do much to color his horrible persona.
Neither does palling around with Ahmadinejad.
Bill O’Reilly – 1/Sean Penn – -7
“Bill O’Reilly thinks Sean Penn gives ‘aid & comfort’ to madmen & despots ”
But isn’t that the American way? LOL.
I think “Bill O’Reilly, Ann Coulter, Limbaugh and others are just laughing at us all the way to bank, as they feed us these little tidbits called distractions from the real issues. LOL.
Issue1 the state of the republican party.
If you never saw an opportunity did it ever exist.LOL.
Look at that I’m getting you to think. I knew you could do it!
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