Support NeoGAF

[Ripclawe]

http://drudgereport.com/penn.htm

SEAN PENN RIPS 'TEAM AMERICA' CREATORS IN ANGRY MEMO

**Exclusive**

October 6, 2004

To Trey Parker and Matt Stone,

I remember a cordial hello when you guys were beginning to be famous guys around Hollywood at some party. I remember several times getting a few giggles out of your humor. I remember not being bothered as you traded on my name among others to appear witty, above it all, and likeable to your crowd. I never mind being of service, in satire and silliness.

I do mind when anybody who doesn't have a child, doesn't have a child at war, or isn't or won't be in harm's way themselves, is encouraging that there's "no shame in not voting" "if you don't know what you're talking about" (Mr. Stone) without mentioning the shame of not knowing what your talking about, and encouraging people to know. You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys. It's all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.

All best, and a sincere fuck you,

Sean Penn

P.S. Take this as a personal invitation from me to you (you can ask Dennis Miller along for the ride as well) to escort you on a trip, which I took last Christmas. We'll fly to Amman, Jordan and I'll ride with you in a (?) 12 hours through the Sunni Triangle into Fallujah and Baghdad and I'll show you around. When we return, make all the fun you want.

Developing...

 

[explodet]

Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Still pissing off both sides of the political spectrum.

 

[Jim Bowie]

What the fuck, Sean? So if I don't know what the hell my candidates want, why should I vote? I know if I knew absolutely dick about politics, I would learn or not vote!

 

[Scrow]

All best, and a sincere fuck you

:lol

 

[Che]

I like it. Their idiotic opinions are clearly shown on South Park. I mean yeah it's humor and all, but in the end of the day they're trying to teach us something which most of the times is stupid, irresponsible and not well thought out.

 

[Drinky Crow]

They're awfully preachy for folks whose humor depends on ridiculing preachiness.

 

[Ned Flanders]

What the fuck, Sean? So if I don't know what the hell my candidates want, why should I vote? I know if I knew absolutely dick about politics, I would learn or not vote!

If you'll read, what Penn (who I'm not the biggest fan of BTW) is saying is that it's not responsible to encourage the uninformed not vote without encouraging them to get informed.

 

[Dan]

Sean Penn's argument is completely based on the assumption that all of the people who would choose not to vote would vote for Kerry if push came to shove. What a douche.

 

[Dan]

Did we just read the same memo?

Read this:

Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.

He's implying more than just that it's irresponsible to suggest that it's okay not to vote. He's saying it's irresponsible not to tell people to investigate and learn why they should vote for Kerry.

 

[Mega Man's Electric Sheep]

"Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them."

He is clearly saying here that he wants people to vote so that Bush will not get reelected. I'm just sayin'.

Yeah, what you said too Dan.

 

[Gruco]

I think it's a good letter. He's definitely not whining like a bitch or anything, just making a simple and sincere point.

And, as much as I love Matt and Trey, Drinky's comment is pretty accurate. Hell, the brazen irony is one of the reasons I like their sense of humor so much, but pointing out the disservice it can do is fair game.

 

[LakeEarth]

I like it. Their idiotic opinions are clearly shown on South Park. I mean yeah it's humor and all, but in the end of the day they're trying to teach us something which most of the times is stupid, irresponsible and not well thought out.

Isn't that the point of the "I've learned something" endings of South Park? The episodes where the anti-cigarette groups are the bad guys can't really be taken seriously.

 

[Dan]

They're awfully preachy for folks whose humor depends on ridiculing preachiness.

Of course, you're taking Sean Penn's word for this. We don't know how often or in what kind of context these alleged statements were made. It's kinda hard to judge Matt and Trey on what they may or may not have said and meant when we have not a single quote.

At least, I haven't seen or heard comments from them to this effect myself.

 

[Jim Bowie]

If you'll read, what Penn (who I'm not the biggest fan of BTW) is saying is that it's not responsible to encourage the uninformed not vote without encouraging them to get informed.

It follows that if you want to vote, you'd learn something about the candidates. What Parker and Stone were stressing is that if you don't want to learn and stay uninformed, then you really shouldn't vote.

 

[MaddenNFL64]

:lol

They got to Sean, which I guess is the point.

 

[Dan]

Isn't that the point of the "I've learned something" endings of South Park? The episodes where the anti-cigarette groups are the bad guys can't really be taken seriously.

Not in such literal and black-and-white terms, no, but they're still usually making points worth thinking about. In the case of that episode, about the lengths of manipulation that such groups might go in order to prove their point, and about the hypocrasy sometimes involved.

 

[Ripclawe]

This was probably want set penn off.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10062004/gossip/pagesix.htm

October 6, 2004 -- "SOUTH Park" svengalis Trey Parker and Matt Stone — whose puppet-packed political satire, "Team America: World Police," hits theaters next week — hate P. Diddy's "Vote or Die" campaign.

"I think just saying 'Vote or Die' is a serious danger to democracy," Stone tells Rolling Stone. Parker jumps in with a mocking public service message: "Hey, 19-year-old who doesn't know anything — you chose!"

"If you don't know what you're talking about, there's no shame in not voting," Stone continues. "They say if you don't vote, you can't bitch. But you can vote all you want. This is America."

A spokesman for His Diddyness told us: "Because of the work that Sean 'P. Diddy' Combs has done, voter registration is up 250 percent. Anybody that thinks voting is dangerous for a democracy is a fool."

Parker and Stone say their $32 million "Team America," which lampoons everyone from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il to Michael Moore and activist actors Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, George Clooney and Tim Robbins, won't be another Bush-bashing flick designed to sway voters, as some conservative bloggers have warned.

And they say that if you're persuaded to change your vote because of a puppet movie, there may be something wrong with you. "If anyone walks out of this movie, or a Michael Moore movie, thinking about voting a certain way, then they're [bleeping] stupid and shouldn't be voting," says Stone. "If this movie makes you think that much, then you're too weak-kneed to vote."

Never mind knees — those who can't stomach hard-core puppet sex may want to skip the flick, or at least the DVD that will almost certainly contain raunchy scenes deleted by the ratings board. [See Page 44.]



"Team America," which is expected to get an NC-17 rating, has been described as "the 'Kama Sutra' of puppet sex." Parker and Stone had even hoped to include a "golden shower" scene between two marionettes, although most of that scene will mercifully end up on the cutting room floor.

"It's a back-and-forth with the ratings board," Parker says. "We love the golden shower, but I guess they said no to that. But I just love that they have to watch it. Seriously, can you imagine getting a videotape with just a close-up of a puppet [bleep]hole, and you have to watch it?"

 

[Che]

Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.

What I read is that people are stupid, apathetic and ignorant enough, so these two idiots shouldn't encourage them, nad make it look like this situation is something normal.

 

[Dan]

So basically... Penn is just ultimately justifying the lampooning he gets in Team America.

I mean, c'mon, he's basically saying "fuck whether or not people know anything about this election, it'd be irresponsible to not vote for Kerry."

He's not helping his case here.

 

[PS2 KID]

What I read is that people are stupid, apathetic and ignorant enough, so these two idiots shouldn't encourage them, nad make it look like this situation is something normal.

But it (Not Voting) IS Normal. Most Americans don't vote and who can blame them. We get a choice between dumb and dumber. Even Multiple choice questions have more choices. Then we get people saying don't waste your vote on a 3rd party candidate. So the system is completely f**ked and spinned. How will voting for A or B fix the system. It'll just be a perpertual FYUTA (Y for Yourself). Give Americans better choices rather than liberal and conservative, Republican and Democrat and they'll go out and vote. I give props to the California runoff for making elections more interesting. Should be a model for future elections. More choice is better.

 

[nitewulf]

heh, these two idiots made baseketball for crying out loud.

 

[Gruco]

So basically... Penn is just ultimately justifying the lampooning he gets in Team America.

This is a valuable point, because clearly Penn's goal in writing this letter was to show that he didn't deserve to have anyone laugh at him.

 

[Cooter]

Penn is loser.

 

[Willco]

I already have my tickets for tomorrow night's showing of Team America. And I will laugh at Sean Penn!

 

[hXc_thugg]

Penn is loser.

You is Cooter.

 

[Boogie9IGN]

Damn, Penn's a great actor but he just pisses me off sometimes

 

[Cooter]

You is Cooter.

Your mama's fat.

Take that.

 

[ManaByte]

Penn is loser.

Along with Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, and the queen bitch of all fucktard celebrities who get political; Streisand.

I can't wait to see Team America because Stone and Parker rip those idiots a new one. Celebrities that use their fame to impose their political views on people are a lower form of life than urinal pucks. Campaigning for your favorite candidate is fine. More power to you if you wish to do that. What I have a problem with is when Robbins, Sarandon, Streisand, Viggo Mortensen, Michael Moore, or Sean Penn use some completely unrelated public appearance to go off on some political rant where they try to use their fame impose their extremist views on the public.

 

[Drinky Crow]

"extremist views"?

Fuck, if I were a celebrity, I'd use my fame to try and sway public opinion FOR THE BETTER every chance I got. It's your choice to ignore me.

 

[ManaByte]

"extremist views"?

Fuck, if I were a celebrity, I'd use my fame to try and sway public opinion FOR THE BETTER every chance I got. It's your choice to ignore me.

Hey if they're at some rally they can say whatever the fuck they want. When they're accepting a movie/industry-related award I don't want to hear about how they feel about some endangered fish in outer Mongolia.

 

[Particle Physicist]

" You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys."


i dont like this sentence.

 

[shuri]

Hey if they're at some rally they can say whatever the fuck they want. When they're accepting a movie/industry-related award I don't want to hear about how they feel about some endangered fish in outer Mongolia.

If it can get average people interested in something, i dont see whats the problem

 

[FightyF]

Hey if they're at some rally they can say whatever the fuck they want. When they're accepting a movie/industry-related award I don't want to hear about how they feel about some endangered fish in outer Mongolia.

Perhaps they should resort to terrorism to gain more attention? The whole purpose is to educate a room full of people, during the one moment you have their undivided attention. These actors are human beings and as such have their own hobbies, agendas and issues. These human beings, not the characters they play, are accepting the award.

Really, if they've earned an award, they can say whatever they want.

Nothing is wrong with education. Nothing is wrong with what they are saying, unless it was a racist rant or anything hateful. If they said "Our President should rot in Hell", I'd agree with you. Though there is nothing wrong with not agreeing with Bush, those comments would be innappropriate.

 

[samus4ever]

"average people", what the hell does that mean? I'm a person, so is Penn, so is every "celebrity". I really don't care what they say because they are a person JUST LIKE ME. They are not better then me because they are in movies, nor should they think that. I mean for christ sakes for anyone to take "Jeff Spicoli" serious is crazy. People should make up their own views, not think what some "celebrity" says and then think that way.

 

[ManaByte]

"average people", what the hell does that mean? I'm a person, so is Penn, so is every "celebrity". I really don't care what they say because they are a person JUST LIKE ME. They are not better then me because they are in movies, nor should they think that. I mean for christ sakes for anyone to take "Jeff Spicoli" serious is crazy. People should make up their own views, not think what some "celebrity" says and then think that way.

Yup.

 

[Matt]

"average people", what the hell does that mean? I'm a person, so is Penn, so is every "celebrity". I really don't care what they say because they are a person JUST LIKE ME. They are not better then me because they are in movies, nor should they think that. I mean for christ sakes for anyone to take "Jeff Spicoli" serious is crazy. People should make up their own views, not think what some "celebrity" says and then think that way.

Sorry, but you are an “average” person (as am I.) Sean Penn is a celebrity, therefore he is an abnormal person. It’s basic English.

 

[FightyF]

"average people", what the hell does that mean? I'm a person, so is Penn, so is every "celebrity". I really don't care what they say because they are a person JUST LIKE ME. They are not better then me because they are in movies, nor should they think that. I mean for christ sakes for anyone to take "Jeff Spicoli" serious is crazy. People should make up their own views, not think what some "celebrity" says and then think that way.

But they are perhaps FAR more educated on these issues that you are!

That's the whole point!

 

[Hitokage]

No, they are rich and objects of America's cult of celebrity. Look at all the time and resources wasted obsessing over these people, and some are shocked and dismayed when they dare decide to take advantage of it?

 

[J2 Cool]

Sorry, but you are an “average” person (as am I.) Sean Penn is a celebrity, therefore he is an abnormal person. It’s basic English.

My mom called me abnormal once. But being that she's an average person is her opinion enough for me to be titled abnormal or would like 5 normal people be equal to every abnormal person?

 

[border]

People that say that celebrities don't have a right to speak out generally annoy the hell out of me. Yeah, let's only listen to politicians that have their pockets lined with soft money, or the some nutball talk show host/pundit that makes a living on saying outrageous bullshit.

Let the public have all possible viewpoints, and let them filter through it.

Many people here feel passionately about some issue or another, and if they were famous I don't doubt that they would use that fame to draw some attention to it.

 

[DCharlie]

"" You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys."
i dont like this sentence. "

yeah, that stuck in my throat as well.

"Oh you are older than me? Oh well, you must be right then...."
*i guess that's more implied than said*

If they did the same shit and were 55, then i assume Penn would shut the fuck up?

 

[Fifty]

Speaking of which.......TEAM AMERICA sneak preview tommorrow night. Everyone go and see it.

 

[Flynn]

"average people", what the hell does that mean? I'm a person, so is Penn, so is every "celebrity". I really don't care what they say because they are a person JUST LIKE ME. They are not better then me because they are in movies, nor should they think that. I mean for christ sakes for anyone to take "Jeff Spicoli" serious is crazy. People should make up their own views, not think what some "celebrity" says and then think that way.

Average people aren't regularly handed a microphone with a direct feed to 20 million homes.

If I had that opportunity, I'd sure as hell use it.

 

[Hournda]

Trey Parker and Matt Stone have a point in saying that stupid people shouldn't vote and if all it takes is one stupid movie to change your point of view then you're an idiot, but what they're not saying is that if you're not informed then you should get informed.

 

[B-B-Bomba!]

I vaguely believe the right to vote ought to be earned somehow, in a way which excludes no-one from being able to earn it.

 

[SFA_AOK]

Penn isn't saying vote democrat. The memo just doesn't say it. I think it's pretty funny for the right to crow on about "But he's sayng by extension to vote democrat!" when, if it was the other way around, you'd say it was perfectly legitimate because nothing was explicitly said and what people intimate from what is said is up to them.

I genuinely believe that if a non voter read up on the issues and decided to vote Bush, Penn wouldn't have a problem. Hell, if you're going to bitch, bitch that the people are too stupid to bother learning about politics and just vote democrat because Penn's voting democrat.

Also - the original Team America trailer looked interesting but I've not seen a funny clip since. I think I turned off the last trailer half way through because I lost interest.

 

[Jim Bowie]

...or the some nutball talk show host/pundit that makes a living on saying outrageous bullshit.

The wacky morning DJ says, "Democracy's a joke!"

It only follows that any intelligent person would think, "Hmm. I'm voting this year. I wonder what party's candidate I should vote for. I should investigate this matter." If you plan do vote, you should know your options. If not, who the hell do you plan on voting for? Trey Parker and Matt Stone of the Team America: World Police party?

 

[evil ways]

"It's a back-and-forth with the ratings board," Parker says. "We love the golden shower, but I guess they said no to that. But I just love that they have to watch it. Seriously, can you imagine getting a videotape with just a close-up of a puppet [bleep]hole, and you have to watch it?"

:lol

 

[human5892]

"I think just saying 'Vote or Die' is a serious danger to democracy," Stone tells Rolling Stone. Parker jumps in with a mocking public service message: "Hey, 19-year-old who doesn't know anything — you chose!"

"If you don't know what you're talking about, there's no shame in not voting," Stone continues. "They say if you don't vote, you can't bitch. But you can vote all you want. This is America."

I absolutely agree with this.

 

[Che]

You is Cooter.

I warn you. Insults like this will get you banned.