2008 -- Filmmaker Spike Lee stressed the importance of supporting children's dreams as he accepted the 2008 Wexner Prize last night at a private dinner at the New Albany, Ohio estate of Leslie H. and Abigail Wexner. Wexner is the Ohio billionaire who built the tiny Limited women's clothing chain into a worldwide retail empire.
1999 -- Filmmaker Spike Lee, according to the New York Post, publicly proposed the outright murder of National Rifle Association (NRA) President Charlton Heston. In a brazen but cowardly public statement, Lee said, "The NRA should be disbanded and Charlton Heston should be shot with a .44 Bulldog."
2008 -- After receiving a standing ovation from the invitation-only crowd of several hundred, Lee said, "You guys got it going on here in Columbus, Ohio."
1999 -- When pressured, Lee later claimed his threat to be a joke. Mr. Heston's response asked him to "Point out the funny word."
Heston risked his career in 1963 by marching for racial equality with Martin Luther King, Jr. The actor faced tear gas, water cannons and attack dogs on that march so the Spike Lees of the world could realistically aspire to a film career. Later, as president of the Screen Actor's Guild, Heston fought to open doors for black Americans into the technical unions of Hollywood.
When Mr. Heston was marching for civil rights, Mr. Lee was in diapers.
"Earlier in the evening, Lee received accolades, a ceremonial resolution and an invitation to film future projects in Columbus from members of the Columbus City Council."
Columbus City Council members in the same room with a man who urged such violence?
"Ohio State President Gordon Gee presented the filmmaker with $50,000 in prize money. Gee had started the presentation by referring to Lee as an artist 'who is not afraid to stand up for what he believes, and to humanize all the voices in a debate, no matter how much he may disagree with what they have to say.' "
Uh huh . . .President Gee, you might just ask Mr. Lee what he truly believes.
12 February 2008
Spike Lee, Who Clamored For the Murder of Charlton Heston, Receives Ohio Honor
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Aw c'mon. Spike Lee is an ENORMOUS jerk-off for many reasons, but he's pro-gun control, and made a poor joke in bad taste almost 10 years ago, and we are going to say city council should not be in the same room with him?
Sorry, Brent, ridiculous imho.
A-
Thanks for the note. Yes, he's another of the many who inhabit who are for gun control. And his joke, if we call it that, was in more than poor taste. Actually, CCC was probably drawn to him for his over the top gun control statements, similar to that which we heard from Councilwoman Charlatta Tavares when she referred to competition rifles as weapons of mass destruction. Okay, and maybe, film buff that I am, I've not been impressed with much of his work the since Mo' Better Blues.
Post a Comment