Sharon Stone On Chinese Earthquake: "I Thought, Is That Karma?"

Last week in Cannes at the annual amFAR fundraiser for which she annually plays auctioneer, Sharon Stone chatted her way down the red carpet. Stopping to talk to a cluster of microphones, she was asked about the Chinese earthquake, the death toll for which tops 67,000 with over 20,000 still missing.
As seen below (on a Chinese broadcast, so excuse the Chinese introduction), Stone was asked her thoughts about the quake, wondered aloud if it was karma, and said the following:

"Well, you know, it was very interesting, because at first I am not happy about the way Chinese are treating the Tibetans because I don't think anybody should be unkind to anybody else... Then I've been concerned about how should we deal with the Olympics because they're not being nice to the Dalai Lama, who's a good friend of mine. And then all this earthquake, and all this stuff happened, I thought, is that karma? When you are not nice, the bad things happen to you. And then I got a letter from the Tibetan foundation that they wanted to go and be helpful, and that made me cry... That was a big lesson to me."

Watch the whole clip here:

Comments

[bullypulpit]

Was it necessary to vilify this woman because she admitted her initial reaction was wrong? It's not as if she issued a public statement and then had to take it back or defend it. So comparisons with her words and those of Robertson or Wright or Hagee are invidious.

She appears now to "get it" about Karma--which seems more than most people here. I'd shake her hand for having the grace to acknowledge her misconception. Few are that secure.

[laifu]

i don't think she gets it; she just fears it - she fears losing $ - that's why she apologized. no one with a kind heart to humans can say such a thing at any time, especially when so many humans are suffering. she is either an idiot or a psycho. she is an actor, she might have thought she was acting too when she was apologizing. what a shame!

[HardLeft]

It *is* karma in the classic sense. But it has nothing to do with Tibet, or any sort of retribution for past sins.

[SifSkade]

Yeah, but to even question for a moment if karma was zapping all of these average Joes -- and children -- in retaliation for the actions of their government was both ignorant and stank.

[Politiking]

You know what is Karma Sharon? You making Basic Instinct 2!

[wmbear]

YA KNOW, THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT TOO...

When I thought of Sharon Stone, I thought of one thing. But then, I listened to her and I thought, well, now when I think of Sharon Stone, it will be in a different context. And I think the Dalai Lama is a friend of us all....

[OtayPanky]

OK, she gets the Jerry Falwell memorial religious idiocy award this week...presented by former honorees Pat Robertson and John Hagee.

[Irons]

Well, I've always felt that "acting" wasn't a great talent, but I did think it took some intelligence and sensitivity, but I'm rethinking that in light of Stone's comments.

I'm quite sure she has too much money and time on her hands.

[gd7277467]

HUH ???

WHAT ???

Where the hell do these airheads come from ?

JESUS !!!

[MajorKong]

I don't like the Chinese government, but I wouldn't wish that earthquake on my worst enemy.

[Chubbster]

She didn't.

[fran]

What an empty headed person.Send this woman back to the Burger King
or wherever the hell she worked before she was able to issue statements like this~

[Anda]

I thought it was very put, what is your problem wit ha person realizing that she made a error. And by the way at sixty she is still well out together, with a little help

[rini]

She still called the Chinese civilians caught in the quake "people who aren't very nice to you." I would think that she would understand the difference between the Chinese people and the government and its' policies. We should help because people are suffering...period. Also, I don't believe that things even out. Bad things do happen to good people and life is not fair, despite our desperate attempts to read meaning into things that are random.

[ThatsNotFunny]

In other words, the General Tso's Chicken has come home to roost?

[NoSillyName]

Pretty stupid thought, Ms. Stone. The earthquake and the aftershocks are hurting/killing the poor people of that area. It isn't killing the Communist government who also abuse the people.

I'm glad you learned a little lesson from this.

Think a bit more deeply next time.

Or don't.

[watchingthings]

The bigest worry now is.....many rivers are damed up and are forming lakes behind these dams. Some rise in the metres per day range. When these earthquake caused dams begin busting up....there may very well be floods like never before seen by the human race.

[watchingthings]

This shouldn't be too shocking......comming from a pampered, out of touch with reality bimbo.

[rh654]

Sharon Stones statement is just another version of the statements by the religious right about New Orleans being hit by Katrina.

Neither one makes any sense and both show an underlying ignorance of science.

Besides - the Chinese Leadership weren't affected much by the quake - it was the poor that died and are homeless.

If that is Karma - the only Karma is that is sucks to be poor I guess - because the folks who make policy with regards to Tibet weren't impacted much if at all.

[indigo218]

Karma cuts both ways. It's also collective karma that made Tibetans stateless and they understand this and don't use this notion selectively, unlike the monotheist right.

And furthermore, karma is NOT an excuse not to extend loving-kindess to all sentient beings. It's a clear tenet of all schools of Buddhism, incl. Tibetan Buddhism.

Karma also teaches us to be mindful of our thought, speech and actions because we are responsible for the ensuing fruits.

[pilgrim7]

Well put.

[pkafin]

The difference is, if you read her whole statement, is that she is telling about her thoughts to illustrate how wrong she was to have them.

I don't remember Pat Robertson say "I thought New Orleans was divine retribution, but then this thing happened that made me think 'Wow that was a dumb thought'".

I do believe that Sharon Stone was saying something of this nature.

[Argent]

Bad things don't happen to good people???

You're right, Sharon - the earthquake sends a very clear message. It's almost like you've reached enlightenment...

omg - what a simpleton...