Dior drops Sharon Stone over earthquake remarks
By Alexandra Heilbron on May 30, 2008 | 60 Comments
Sharon Stone has been dropped by Christian Dior in the company’s Chinese ads after she called the recent earthquake that took over 70,000 lives “karma” for China’s treatment of the Tibetan people. Dior’s Shanghai office released a statement saying, “In light of the negative reaction that Sharon Stone’s inappropriate remarks have triggered, Dior China has decided to immediately cancel and stop any advertisements, marketing campaigns and commercial activities associated with Sharon Stone.” Stone included an apology in the statement that read: “Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people. I am willing to take part in the relief work of China’s earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people.”
she deserves it
She is right!!! Karma works and the Chinese should know that!! The Tibetan people have been beat and killed by the Chinese!
So if Dior really cared about what she said, wouldn’t they drop her from ALL of their ads? Obviously they don’t give a crap about anything but protecting sales.
As for the Karma thing, if that really worked then the 70,000 people dead would be the power mongers who caused the problems, not the innocent families and children that died. Shame on you!
The karma at work here is not individuals against individuals; it is a nation’s karma.
sorry tiny tots, karma doesnt attack a country, it works in mysterious ways, i’ll give you that, but to say that the 70,000 people that were killed by a natural disaster deserved it, thats kinda f*cked up way of thinking, espically since we get so much useless sh*t made by them, not unless all those 70,000 people were murderers, rapists, pedophiles, arsenists, torturists, then it would have been karma kickin in in a giantic way, but i doubt that many people had some big ass skeleton in thier closets to bring on somethign that insanely large payback type of retrobution
“Karma”, are you a racist or just plain stupid?
Yeah, those innocent men, women, and children definitely deserved what karma brought to them because of the Chinese leaders. NOT. Jeez, what a bitch to say such things.
“Karma” thosands of Tibetan people were killed in the earthquake. How can it be karma punishing the Chinese for killing Tibetan people when both sides had huge losses due to the earthquake? Do some research before you spread your hate.
I’m pretty sure she was three sheets to the wind when she made that incredibly STUPID statement, but who hasn’t said something stupid after a few? She apologized, so lighten up.
One of the main tenets in Buddhism is that it is not for us to decide what Karma is to be handed out. It is not for us to judge who is deserving of Karma for their actions. It’s the same principle of “judge not lest ye be judged”.
Unfortunately, that’s what she did. Never mind the fact that it’s the Chinese government that is responsible for the wrong-doings to the Tibetan people. Not the people of China to see them suffer like this is wrong and it’s an awful tragedy. Nothing less and surely not Karma.
Steppin in here wearing helmet and flame retardant suit and bullet proof vest to drop a few thoughts to ponder. First, good on Sharon Stone for having courage to say what she thinks in public. Freedom of speech – anybody heard of that? Now to drop some gasoline soaked thoughts: What country’s culture can we think of has killed their baby girls at birth for centuries? What country bound up the feet of any surviving females so tightly as to cripple them so badly that many weren’t able to walk? What country has a culture that skins small animals alive, throws them into boiling pots of water, keeps animals in cages in scorching heat under the hot sun in markets until most of them are dead or sold? Oh by the way, many of those animals are cats,dogs,and rabbits that are loving domestic animals to us. What country has a culture that gathers thousands of birds together and throws them into sacks alive terrifying and suffocating them to death as the sacks are thrown into the ground and buried? This same technique took place with the Civets,which are similar to a small cat during the SARS scare. Can anyone think of a country that has a culture of such cold blooded, merciless cruelty that fits this description? This might even include opportunity to mention that this same country has a habit of lacing foods with fatal toxic substances such as antifreeze as sweeteners and using harmful substances in drugs to be exported to other countries to consumed by babys,children,adults,and pets. Karma??? Hhmmmmm…….. Now you can bring out your flamethrowers and semi-automatics,I’m ready.
You’re right. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. No flame-throwers. However, for all the practices you’ve listed, you’ve neglected to mention the various hurtful things that have been done in Europe, North America, Africa… on and on and on.
I’m Catholic and proud of it however I shudder at the thought of the Spanish inquisition. How about the plight of the Scots during times when “First Night” was permitted (the wives of Scottish men being taken on their wedding night by the British ruler so he could rape them and prevent them from breeding more Scottish blood?). What about how Native Canadian and Native American people suffering at the hand of pilgrims upon their arrival? This list can go on and on. Do we stop caring about these people and say that they should be punished and wiped off the earth for what’s been done in their pasts? Even if it is present day, who are we to say it’s karma or that they deserve to die? Did anyone take a poll to see how many of those dead, dying, homeless without parents/family are actually staunch supporters of what their government does to others? I don’t think so. The word “Karma” is thrown around far too lightly. Many people think its a joke. It’s not our place to decide who is or is not deserving of this type of punishment.
By the way, what did the people of Myanmar do to deserve their troubles?
Anonymous, I appreciate your views. Many good points made. But each of those issues you raised are for whole other threads of their own that can bring much discussion. This thread is mainly about the comments Sharon Stone made.
As for your comment:”Did anyone take a poll to see how many of those dead, dying, homeless without parents/family are actually staunch supporters of what their government does to others? I don��t think so.” Well, the government IS its people. The people are the body of their government. Therefore, I reverse the question,asking,are you aware of any uprisings taking place in the present or past of those people in protest of the practices of their culture? Western cultures have fought for freedom,freedom of speech,change,and many other wonderful things that we now have. In England for example, a king or queen used to behead those who displeased them. The reason they don’t still that today is because the people changed that practice because obviously they disagreed with it. But some other cultures have chosen instead to live in quiet submission and acceptance of practices like the ones previously mentioned. To still,in this day and age,witness such complete disregard for human and animal life is beyond comprehension.
But we put a pox on anybody such as Sharon Stone who dares to say anything to hurt the
feelings or sound offensive about a people who have and always will accept these types of practices of their culture and not opt to change them. Their silence and failure to act is their agreement with the way things are. It isn’t the government standing in the market staring at those suffering without mercy, it’s the people.
Miss Sharon Stone, Mr. R. Gear and/or others who knows very little about China shall stop calling Chinese Tibetan, Tibetan!
Tibetan are Chinese, except that most of them are “Religious Freaks”!
Tibetan lived as slaves for the “Dalai Lama”, serving the Monks until the “Han Chinese” brough them freedom which they now enjoy!
USA, Japan and one of the “…stan” country are the only three countries in this world will execute mentally ill individuals, China is not one of them.
Well, Earl says, “It’s karma!!”
I thought more people were aware of the fact that China’s is responsible for Human Rights abuses not only to Tibetans but it’s own people. You are not allowed to follow a religion that the government doesn’t approve of. They imprison many people for the practice of Falun Gong which is a peaceful religion. The daily news is edited to suit the government’s message and only then is it played for the people. You can’t just speak out against a powerful government there. Have you forgotten about Tiannamen Square?
As for killing baby girls, I think that’s been overstated. Many baby girls are put for adoption because of the “one child per household” rule. If there’s more than one child then the family has to pay a fine/fee. Many of the people can’t afford it therefore, to carry on their family’s name, they keep the boys. Larger families are reserved for the rich who can afford it. I don’t agree with this practice at all but you have to put yourself in someone else’s shoes when it comes to that one.
We don’t live there and don’t know exactly how the people feel about their governments practices. We can’t assume that the Chinese government is as liberal as ours.
We all complain about how evil China but everyone’s still buying their products. World Leaders negotiate business with them and then for public appearances say, “you need to improve your human rights record”. What a crock! That won’t send the message. The country is thriving and that sure as hell isn’t going to do anything to help the Tibetans.
And the government who representing the face of their people is not always accurate, either. We hear daily how many Americans don’t appreciate Bush representing the face of America.
I see where you’re coming from on a lot of points. I agree with what Sharon Stone said. I don’t think she should suffer for an opinion. But I also don’t agree with how insensitive people are being towards China’s earthquake tragedy and labeling it as Karma.
And as someone mentioned before, were there not Tibetans who died as a result of the quake? Where’s the Karma in that?
Even if it was karma I wouldn’t have the guts to say something like that. That would be career suicide!
Although I personally think that the Burma cyclone and the tsunamis that hit Indonesia, Africa, India and Thailand was karma. Have you seen Rambo? Indonesia and Africa are infamous for fraud. All the rape that happens in India and transvestite sex changes in Thailand. The tsunamis were just trying to wash all that crap away! Just like Noah’s flood! Think about it!
Wow.
S.G., I have one question, there is one little thing I’m confused about. You seem to have contradicted yourself in the second to last paragraph. You said “I agree with what Sharon Stone said.”, then you said “But I also don��t agree with…labeling it as Karma.” So, do you, or do you not agree with what Sharon Stone said, as she was the first one who labeled it as Karma.
Now, China doesn’t want the NBA!! They’ll get what’s coming to them….just wait and see!!!!
My agreement wasn’t with Sharon Stone. It was with the poster (Suited Up). And yes, we do live in the beautiful West and Amen for that!
Damn cheap plastic…!!!
China should not have the olympics based on all of that shit, but everybody in the IOC seems to be able to smell the roses that China is shitting out and passing off as a rose-garden. We should not be condoning their actions nor kissing their ass, because they will NEVER change as a result of it, they see it as acceptance. The chinese government owns everything in China and is resonsible for many atrocities to it’s people, and people abroad in the form of sub-standard products and lead and air poisoning/pollution. The Chinese government will stop at nothing to become the world’s largest superpower, and they are not doing it by being concientous of the environment. The fines imposed to factories are wAAAAY below the cost of converting over to cleaner sources, but these companies just factor this into the cost of business, and the CHinese gov’t doesn’t give a flying f@&k!! I pray for the people, but they have to stand up and pray for themselves to change the situation. They have nothing but Communism to lose….
LOLOLOL Nancy! Good thought. And what are they going to do when there’s a country wide ban here of plastic bags? And those poisonous plastic bottles?
Poppa John rocks! Right on Poppa! Talk about hitting the nail on the head!!! I think they should be made unwelcome in every country and all countries should refuse to do business with them unless they change their heartless, cruel ways. Once they see their culture is so frowned upon by others and that they are rejected world-wide they will have to clean up their despicable behaviour. I agree totally that they see it as acceptance when it’s always “business as usual” no matter what they do to their people and every other living creature around them. They will have to earn respect so that others will want to include them. As you said, as long as everyone keeps kissing their hineys they will never change. They make Russians look like pussy cats, as their culture and cruelty goes far and away beyond communism. I think the word “torture” was invented by the Chinese, because anytime the subject of torture arises it’s usually referred to as “Chinese” torture. They seem to be the epitome of cruelty and shadiness. Even the simplest of products from there are not to be trusted.
Poppa John, many factories in China are making products that are owned by multinational companies like Wal-Mart..so the west just dumps all their dirty work to the east and then blame them for environmental issues…
and I think the Chinese are especially outraged by Sharon’s comment because she has accused the chinese of doing something they didnt do which Sharon mentioned “not being nice to the tibetans”
Wal-Mart does not OWN any factories in China, for the record. They happen to be guilty of many labor crimes through ASSOCIATION and creating a market for these types of crimes. Wake up. It’s happening in CHINA!! CHINA can put a stop to it. The people who shop Wal-Mart are the same people who are endorsing it, funny enough. Wal-Mart AND the Chinese gov’t are creating a mutual smokescreen that when cleard is an endorsement of each other’s greedy behaviour. But Wal-Mart does not OWN anything in China. Look It up, They distance themselves for a reason. I do NOT shop at Wal-Mart. I worked there when they took over WOOLCO in 1994, and I quit within a year. They are a corck of shit, big time. It took me THAT long to figure it out being an employee(or associate, as they like to call you). I haven’t shopped there since I quit, and will never as long as I live.
We could not dump our shit there if they didn’t LET us, believe me, they are a soveriegn communist country.
Thank you, Sharon, for speaking the words in the thoughts of many!
Sharon Stone is a blonde bimbo. Karma my ass. I’m Chinese. Does that mean I deserve to die too as a result of karma? I never did anything to the Tibetans. All those innocent people didn’t do anything either. All the countries on this planet have made human rights violations at some point, not just China. Its easy for people here in the west to judge. We don’t have any overpopulation issues. As for the killing baby girls, even that article stated it doesn’t happen frequently. While it may seem cruel that they have a one-child policy, I commend the Chinese government for making that law because keep in mind if they were to keep every single baby, the entire country would be living in poverty and the children would die of starvation, so thats the sacrifice that they had to make. Binding feet was considered a symbol of wealth back in the day, and it only happened to girls that were born to rich families, not all women. As for the Chinese made products being recalled, how about all the North American made stuff that gets recalled? China happens to manufacture alot of our goods, hence and common sense, a majority of recalled are going to be Chinese made.
Ya, the chinese GOVERNMENT does all these bad things and the chinese PEOPLE get thier CHILDREN taken away from them. Ya, thats karma at work alright!! Some people here are as STUPID as Sharon Stone here, who is literally known ONLY for spreading her legs!
LOL!!!
OK people – ENOUGH!
Sharon Stone has the right to speak her mind – just like we have the right to disgree with her! As a society we have become so ‘politically correct’ that NO ONE speaks their mind anymore! Whether you’re wrong or right, you should al least be able to SPEAK your mind!
As to the comment – of it being Karma…. I think mother nature has been PISSED for years & is now starting to show us just how much. You wanna call that karma? Fine. Just don’t blame it on a culture you obviously know nothing about. Blame all of us – the human race in general has become adept at f#@king up the planet.
So many people on here ready to judge – case in point-Just because a person is chinese does not mean they are an immigrant. Just because someone does not agree with you, is not a good enough reason to resort to name-calling. All that acomplishes is showing the world how immature & ignorant you are. That goes for EVERYONE on here – instead of calling each other names, why not use the brains we know you have & back up your point of view? Or is it that hard…..
P.S. – Disagree with me if you want -> but explain WHY…
Sharon Stone is a blonde, very talented actress, not a Bimbo, and one who had enough courage to call a spade a spade. The Chinese poster who tried to shrug off the murders of baby girls by saying it doesn’t happen very often, referring to the link I posted, obviously skipped over the part in the article that said that MILLIONS of the killings are noted. Calling Sharon Stone a blonde Bimbo just because she spoke her mind is just ongoing reflection and demonstration of putrid attitude for their low regard still alive and well for females. Clearly, even ONE murdered baby is not acceptable, never mind in the millions. The poster also excuses it as being potential overpopulation as the reason it was a good idea not to keep all their female babies. Even as a North American, excusing or condoning this practice is deplorable. This type of mindset is not needed or accepted over here. And Snowleopard, you say it is a culture that we know nothing about. Where have YOU been? We didn’t see on National television and other news sources the mass gatherings of live creatures being dumped into bags by the dozens and simply buried in the ground to suffocate?? No wonder they seek to keep the peering media out of their country, they have plenty to hide. I for one, know all I care to know about them. It makes me wonder just how much more there is like this that we still don’t know. I agree totally with the poster who said we don’t speak up enough due to political correctness.
Yes Chinese its true that North American stuff gets recalled. But they are recalled because of a flaw or a mistake that has been made that could cause someone to get injured. Bars on baby cribs being too far apart for example, where a baby could hurt itself. A defective metal product on a car that could cause it to fail, etc. But North Americans don’t purposely put poisonous antifreeze in children’s candy that can kill them or that can destroy an adult’s kidneys. Poison’s aren’t purposely added to pet foods and alterations aren’t made to drugs such as Heparin that can kill, just to skimp on the manufacturing costs. Those aren’t the types of recalls that we have to make here. Most of the recalls lately have been for food and other products brought from China….are those the North American recalls you were referring to? I don’t shop at Walmart anymore and I don’t buy anything made in China if the source of the product is known to me.
Hey all you haters, which one of you wrote the letter to the Dixie Chicks saying, “Shut up and sing”???
Great thing about Canada….FREEDOM OF SPEECH!! To all the females on here, imagine where we would be right now if no one had the GUTS to stand up and say what they thought was right and wrong??? Think about that!
And back then, there sure were ALOT who thought it was wrong!!
Suited Up, no doubt you and many others are aware of the terrible things the Chinese government is responsible for. But where do we stop when it comes to airing out the laundry of nations and their governments? If you think China’s issues are the worst, you are severely under-informed. Sharon Stone’s comment was unnecessary, inconsiderate, lacked compassion and was ultimately a stupid thing to say. Certainly we live in a world of free speech but we should be able to draw of when it comes to spreading hate.
Peace – thank you so much! *Sigh* Compassion…THAT was the word I was looking for!
SUITED UP: FYI I respect females to the fullest and consider them an equal. Low regard for females? You how nooo idea how many Chinese women are the boss and wear the pants in the relationship! ITs North Americans like yourself have such a primitive and media endorsed views of our culture and don’t know anything about it! Calling Sharon Sharon a dumbass, means I have low regard for HER. You must be on something to think that that was a comment directed at all women!
To validate Sharon Stone’s Karma speech of innocent chinese people died for the acts of the chinese government, she must believe the victory of the terriost acts in the 911 incident is also a glorifying act of God’s karma. Many people who died in the 911 incident did not agree of what bush did to the middle east countires, and for a matter of fact, many poor souls who got squeeshed during the china earthquick had never came into contact with a tibetan. If any of those poor innocent souls killed in the earthquick deserves to die, Sharon Stone should sincerely believe that every and each of the firemen who died trying to save others’ lives during the 911 incident deserves their very own death as well. Why didn’t she jump up after the 911 incident and gave her “I don’t think anyone should treat anyone else bad” speech right after the 911 incident? Oh, so she didn’t understand what karma means when bad things happen to her own nation and all of a sudden becomes a brave worrior who speaks of karma when she sees people dying in another country? I wonder how she would feel if there were families or friends of hers who were brutally killed in such disasters.
911 was not Karma. It was caused by humans.
Minnerva, if you know anything about Karma, you would be aware of the fact that it does not have to be the result of a natural disaster. It can also be at the hands of a human.
you guys all need to chill like holy crap
Sharon, if you’re willing to help with the relief effort maybe you should start heading over now and not talk so much sh*t. Maybe you’re saying that to get some attention/publicity, I don’t know. If your apology is truly sincere then you shouldn’t waste any time. Come on, time is of the essence here. People are dying by the hour here!!!
Minerva, if u think that the earthquake was china’s karma, what makes you think 911 is not US’s karma as well? oh, right, coz it’s a karma of your nation and you suddenly forget what karam means too. Nice. Well, for your refernce, karam doesn’t have to be caused by nature. It can be human induced as well. And let’s not forget the people who died in katrina too, “that makes me wonder… is that karma” (famous sharon stone quote) well, at least, it was caused by nature too..does that fit into your karma defintion now?
And back to your point, no one here is agreeing what the chinese government did to the baby girls or whatever pollution topic you were bring up, but what makes you think the innocent villagers deserve to die for the acts of the government? So in other words, you should truly believe that an HIV infected baby born from a prositute mother deserves to have aids because he or she has a prostitue mother. Now I am getting how you see things and I am aboslutely proud of you.
arent we all missing the point that there is no such thing as ‘karma’?
shes an idiot.
Well Anonymous, I say what I think and I’ll give my opinion any damn time I please, as the rest of you do!! As for being bossy, prove it….you can’t! Because I haven’t ‘bossed’ anyone! As for sewage spewing out of a filthy mouth…have a look in the mirror, and don’t forget your tape recorder. Why don’t you get some balls and put a ‘real’ name above your comments!!
The Scientist is correct; no such thing as karma. No god(s). No “Mother” Nature. Only time spent living before death. Hate different cultures all you want; its your right, but it is their culture. North America does not own the world. I feel lucky being Canadian, but I also see, hear, and read of plenty attrocities committed against humans (and animals) by humans in my country daily. So where is the logic in condemming an entire country’s population because their culture’s practices; most likely manifested out from under the suppression of a violent/oppressive government? Grouping the Chinese people together and judgeing/hating them because of their culture is the same attitude that muslim extremists have towards North America and the UK. I believe life is life until it ends. When it ends too soon for an innocent, it should be seen as an inarguable tragedy; regardless of your view(s). As for Sharon Stone; I look forward to the day when we remember that “celebs” are just people like any other. Just because theyre (un)talented in the arts does not mean they have any real insight or anything of much intellectual value to share with us commoners (we should certainly stop putting microphones infront of them).
xray: blah, blah, blah! Sharon Stone may open her mouth at the most inappropriate times but, she still has more class than you!
you all need to get a life
^^^ Nancy, you go girl! Bring on the pain!
Back on topic, IMO Sharon Stoner (I couldn’t help myself 🙂 ) really stepped in it and now she has to pay for her mistakes. I understand why Dior would drop the endorsement deal, but by doing so the company has received a lot more exposure. Only a part of the general public were aware of Stone’s involvement with Dior, but after this everyone who watches the news knows.
Deep behind many sealed doors in the corporate headquarters, marketing guru’s pick the celebs that are most likely to make asses of them selves so that they can later use the publicity to enhance their market outreach.
Probably because I only defend myself…I don’t just come here to attack other commenters, and Tribute has edited quite a few of my comments actually. They have no clue who I am and neither do you, so I really don’t think they are playing the favouritism game!!!
I know for a fact that Tribute doesn’t know who Nancy is. I have heard they want to talk to her about one of her requests but don’t know how to get a hold of her. I’m pretty sure if she emailed them she’d be interested in what they have to say.
Thank you for your thoughts “Squid”. Well said!
First of all, don’t we all eat meat here? I don’t see why its not a big deal to kill chickens, cows, and pigs but its inhuman when its comes to cats and dogs. Aren’t they all animals?
Everybody is jumping on the Free Tibet bandwagon, but anybody that did a little bit of research would find out that monks are mainly the ones that want independence and that not all Tibetans do. Tibetans culture is oppressed in China, however, before China took them over in 1959, Tibetans were slaves under the Dalai Lama and rich aristocrats. They had NO schools, healthcare, and didn’t know how to read until China came along. I’m not saying that it ok for them to be oppressed now, but from what I know, seems they were much worse off before. Anybody that doesn’t believe me can Google it
Why don’t you all just shut up and learn all the facts before u speak ur minds. China had the one child policy to keep its population under control. people kept the male child cuz they could provide for the family better than the female could cuz they can work the farm. As for human rights yes china has a bad record but what about the US and Guantanamo bay. AS for recalls since 99% of things is made in china its not surprising that when things are recalled it originates in china. Many things are recalled not just things made in china.
I thought they kept the male child to carry on the family name?
hi:
if the earthquake happen in canada, she say the same works because the QC people. do you agree with her?
every country has their own problem. we can not use the people’s death to make fun.
Huh?
the people that stated the sichuan earthquake is due to karma must be the sickest, most twisted, inhuman people in the world. people are suffering and you’re saying they deserve it even though they have nothing to do with their governments decisions. The selfishness disgusts me.