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Dropped like a stone: Dior axes Sharon ads as she says sorry over 'quake karma' comment
Last updated at 14:03pm on 29.05.08
Sharon Stone has been dropped from Christian Dior’s Chinese advertisements after the actress claimed the country’s devastating earthquake may have been the result of bad karma over its treatment of Tibet.
The French fashion house acted even though Stone issued a grovelling apology for the comments.
The 50-year-old actress said she was "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger among Chinese people with her remarks in an interview last week.
Stone models for Christian Dior SA, and the company's Shanghai office issued the statement.
Cancelled: Sharon Stone as she appears in one of the Dior adverts
The public relations manager for Dior in Shanghai, said Basic Instinct star would no longer appear in the company's advertisements in China.
"Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people," Stone said in the statement.
"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."
Stone said she had worked in international charities for the past 20 years and wants to help Chinese people.
During her visit to China last year for the Shanghai Movie Festival she said she felt "deeply the Chinese people's wisdom and hospitality”.
Stone's comments caused considerable anger in the Chinese media. The official Xinhua News Agency said she was the "public enemy of all mankind”.
Chinese media have erupted in indignation over foreign criticism of the country ahead of the Beijing Olympics in August.
Controversial: Sharon Stone on the night she made the comment in Cannes
During the international leg of the Olympic torch relay many Chinese reacted strongly to protests over Beijing's rule of Tibet.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang today said he had taken note of Stone's apology, and he hoped China's relief efforts could be fully understood and supported by the international community.
"We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship," he said.
Stone's original comments were made last week during a Cannes Film Festival red-carpet interview.
"I'm not happy about the way the Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anyone should be unkind to anyone else," Stone said.
"And then this earthquake and all this stuff happened, and then I thought, is that karma? When you're not nice that the bad things happen to you?"
During the brief interview, Stone also said she cried when she received a letter from the Tibetan Foundation asking her to help the quake victims.
"They wanted to go and be helpful, and that made me cry. It was a big lesson to me that sometimes you have to learn to put your head down and be of service even to people who aren't nice to you," she said.
Reader views (7)
Sharon Stone, are you a human being? Otherwise why did you make such cold, dehumanized statement in Cannas? Have you ever being to Tibet? Have you got your own brain? Use your own eyes and brain! Your deep hurt to Chinese people will never forgiven unless a real, truthfully, soulful, and sincerely apologize be given, and unless the sea dries, and unless the stones rot. The souls of victims will be surrounding your bed asking for your real apologize at night. Dior is dirtied by you. And all the dirtied will be kept distance by consumers.
- Maggie, China
She actually later denied making that apology and accused Dior of fabricating the apology for business reasons. She is quite a disturbed lady.
- William Tan, Melbourne Australia
She also said the quake is very "interesting".
- Ss, Cupertino, USA
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
- Billy Wilson, Richardson, Tx. USA
Hollywood, USA making fools of America.
- Doubleu, Miami, FL
It is surprising that someone like Sharon Stone who is obviously dumb as dirt gets questioned on her statements. If this were done to Hollywood socialist regulars, they would finally shut up.
- Rick, fort lauderdale florida
A word of advice for Dior. There are millions of Chinese worldwide who are following the China earthquake situation intently, and who are incensed with Sharon Stone. These people are in the higher income brackets in their communities. In other words, they are your customers and potential customers. Take this into account when you measure the extent of your damage control.
- John, Bangor, USA
