Rogen apologizes for ‘American Sniper’ tweets

  • By Lindsey Bahr Associated Press
  • Tuesday, January 27, 2015 9:52am
  • LifeGo-See-Do

LOS ANGELES — Seth Rogen responded to the outrage incited by a series of tweets he wrote regarding the film “American Sniper” in a statement issued exclusively to the Associated Press on Thursday, saying it wasn’t his intent to offend anyone or to say anything with political implications.

The actor and filmmaker, fresh off of the whirlwind, Sony-hack-addled release of his film “The Interview,” was thrown back into the spotlight Sunday when he tweeted that “American Sniper kind of reminds me of the movie that’s showing in the third act of (Inglourious) Basterds.”

Quentin Tarantino’s 2009 revenge fantasy film shows clips from a fake propaganda movie about a skilled Nazi sniper.

Online outlets including Fox News Insider, the Daily Caller and Brietbart concluded that Rogen’s intent was to liken Clint Eastwood’s fact-based drama about the late Navy SEAL Chris Kyle to “Nazi propaganda.”

On Monday, Rogen went back to Twitter to clarify that he “actually liked” Eastwood’s film and that he wasn’t comparing the two at all.

Conservative blogs, however, were not appeased. Celebrities like Dean Cain and Kid Rock joined in to publicly criticize Rogen, too.

In his statement Thursday, Rogen reiterated that the movie only reminded him of the other “because they both involved plots about the most lethal of snipers.”

He went on to explain that he would never compare the film to Nazi propaganda, and that he has nothing against Kyle or veterans in general.

“My grandfather was a veteran,” Rogen said.

“My comment about the movie was not meant to have any political implications,” he said. “Any political meaning was ascribed to my comment by news commentary.”

Rogen also apologized for any offense his tweets might have caused. The actor concluded the statement by saying he hoped that “this clears things up.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Brandon Hailey of Cytrus, center, plays the saxophone during a headlining show at Madam Lou’s on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023 in Seattle, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lynnwood-based funk octet Cytrus has the juice

Resilience and brotherhood take center stage with ‘friends-first’ band.

FILE - In this April 11, 2014 file photo, Neko Case performs at the Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio, Calif. Fire investigators are looking for the cause of a fire on Monday, Sept. 18, 2017, that heavily damaged Case’s 225-year-old Vermont home. There were no injuries, though a barn was destroyed. It took firefighters two hours to extinguish the blaze. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Singer-songwriter Neko Case, an indie music icon from Tacoma, performs Sunday in Edmonds.

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli
Tangier’s market boasts piles of fruits, veggies, and olives, countless varieties of bread, and nonperishables, like clothing and electronics.
Rick Steves on the cultural kaleidoscope of Tangier in Morocco

Walking through the city, I think to myself, “How could anyone be in southern Spain — so close — and not hop over to experience this wonderland?”

chris elliott.
Vrbo promised to cover her rental bill in Hawaii, so why won’t it?

When Cheryl Mander’s Vrbo rental in Hawaii is uninhabitable, the rental platform agrees to cover her new accommodations. But then it backs out. What happened?

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.