Well, way to go, Angelina Jolie. You managed to get Fox News' dander up at the premiere of your new movie, and like clockwork, the aggrieved network has turned right around and decided to take it out on the rest of us.
In a long litany of complaint, Roger Friedman enumerates Jolie's transgressions, the highlights being a stringent contract reporters were asked to sign and an abortive attempt to bar Fox from the red carpet. (Though, as we have already noted, Jolie told Jon Stewart Thursday night that she did neither authorized the contract or the attempted ban. Furthermore, her attoney, Robert Offer has both claimed responsibility for the contract and asserted that he acted independently of Jolie.) Still, Fox, you're a tad annoyed? We hear you. But here's the part we just aren't buying:
Angelina Jolie's true colors came out Wednesday as she promoted a film about freedom of the press and then tried to censor all her interviews. Jolie is touting press freedom these days...But Jolie turns out to be a mighty hypocrite when it comes to her own freedom of the press.
No, no, no, Fox News. "Freedom of the press" accords you broad rights to publish and broadcast stories without interference from the state. It does not compel the participation of the subject of the story. Flash us your special version of the Constitution all you want, the fact of the matter is, if the would-be subject of a story wants to try to thwart your attempt to cover them, they have every right to do so.
Still, Fox's angry response to Jolie is such a well-manicured mosaic of admonishment that it's hard to not deeply admire it. If only there was a chance that Fox might now train that prosecutorial zeal onto the people who run the country! But, we suppose that Fox's problem with being put on a leash by Jolie is less about standing up for an unfettered press, and more about simply preferring the leash they're already wearing.
RELATED:Angelina Jolie's Freedom of Press, on Her Terms [Fox]A Deal Too Far: Interviewers Balk at Jolie's Terms [New York Times]
PREVIOUSLY, ON EAT THE PRESSAngelina Blames "Protective" Reps For Pre-Interview Contract Kerfuffle, Calls Measure "Excessive"