Scott Rudin Amy Pascal - H 2014
AP ImagesSony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal has issued an apology in the wake of a leaked email exchange between her and producer Scott Rudin that were considered racially insensitive.
“The content of my emails to Scott were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am,” Pascal wrote. “Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended.”
The email exchange, which was part of documents that have been posted after a massive Sony hack, discussed how Pascal should handle a meeting with President Obama at a Jeffrey Katzenberg fundraiser. The two appeared to mock movies featuring black casts and the president’s possible interest in them. Rudin suggested that the president might especially like comedian Kevin Hart.
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“Would he like to finance some movies?” Rudin wrote, referring to the president. Pascal wrote back, “I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?” Rudin responded with “12 YEARS,” to which Pascal volleyed by naming other films starring African-Americans: “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic].”
Also embarrassing, Pascal referred to the fundraiser as stupid.
Earlier in the day Thursday, Rudin issued his own apology. “Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended,” he said. “I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive — and not funny at all. To anybody I’ve offended, I’m profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologize for any injury they might have caused.”
