Sharon Stone eats her words and apologises; Dior China drops her

Looks like mammon does have its way of making people think before they talk. Less than a day after Sharon Stone suggested at the Cannes Film Festival that the Sichuan earthquake was karma for China's treatment of the Tibetans, she has been forced to eat back her words and apologise:

"My erroneous words and deeds angered and saddened the Chinese people, and I sincerely apologise for this. I'm willing to participate in any earthquake relief activity and to do my utmost to help Chinese people affected by the disaster."

Christian Dior has sprung to action, pulling Stone from all its ads and stores in China, and said in a Chinese-language statement:

"We don't agree with her hasty, unreflecting remarks and we deeply regret them. Dior was one of the first international brands to enter China and has won the affection and respect of the consuming public. We absolutely do not support any remark that hurts the Chinese people's feelings. We express our sorrow over the compatriots who lost their lives in the earthquake in Wenchuan, Sichuan, and we extend our sympathy and condolences to the people in the disaster area."

In a report we saw on Dragon TV's music entertainment programme, the spokeswoman for Dior China highlighted and emphasised that Sharon Stone will never ever be seen again in its stores and advertising within China. The report ended with the VJ chiming in that Sharon Stone will never ever be heard of on Dragon TV again.

Ng See-Yuen (吴思远), chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers and founder of the UME Cineplex chain which has chains all across China condemned Stone's comments and said UME would not be showing any of her movies in its theatres. The move appeared to be a voluntary one and not ordered by SARFT.

Stone is winning little sympathy for opening her mouth without using her brain. Apart from swift condemnation by the Chinese media (the Information Times called Stone an "enemy of the whole nation"), Facebook users have been quick to voice their displeasure by setting up groups such as Sharon should be stoned, Sharon Stone Needs to Shut the FUCK UP and SHAME ON Sharon Stone!

Photo from infacinatorinc