And Since When Did "Actress" = "Pundit" Anyway?

I just unearthed this little gem in an article by Peter Allen in the UK Daily Mail:

"9/11 Attacks Made Up," Says French Best Actress Oscar-Winner

Actress Marion Cotillard sparked a political row yesterday after accusing America of fabricating the 9/11 attacks.

The 32-year-old French actress, who received an Oscar last month for her performance as singer Edith Piaf in La Vie En Rose, openly questioned the truth behind the terrorist atrocity in an interview broadcast on a French website.

"I think we're lied to about a number of things," Cotillard said, singling out the 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center as an example of the US making up horror stories for political ends.

Referring to the two passenger jets being flown into the Twin Towers, Cotillard said:

"We see other towers of the same kind being hit by planes. Are they burned? They [sic] was a tower, I believe it was in Spain, which burnt for 24 hours. It never collapsed. None of these towers collapsed. And there [in New York], in a few minutes, the whole thing collapsed."

She added that the towers, planned in the early Sixties, were an outdated "money-sucker" that would have cost more to modernise than to rebuild altogether, which is why they were destroyed.

She said: "It was a money-sucker because they were finished, it seems to me, by 1973, and to re-cable all that, to bring up-to-date all the technology and everything, it was a lot more expensive, that work, than destroying them."

The article goes on to mention how she's not really buying the whole idea of astronauts walking on the moon either. 

So, let's sum this up, shall we? 

According to Cotillard, our space program is a lie, which must mean the 1,400 different inventions that stemmed from the technology developed in our quest to get to the moon, e.g microwaves, kidney dialysis machines, CAT scans and MRIs, cordless power tools, modern athletic shoes, water purification systems, Tang, and my Tempurpedic mattress are all MYTHS, which really sucks if you want to go for a run, take a nap, build a shelf, or not die while waiting for a kidney transplant.      

And, because a starring role as Edith Piaf automatically fills you with the kind of structural engineering knowledge that allows you to absolutely determine cause and effect by simply hearing about a building collapse, we can rest assured the events of 9/11 were nothing more than an elaborate scheme to give the Twin Towers a much-needed makeover.

Wow.

Perhaps you'll consider these statements before you add any of Cotillard's movies to your Netflix queue?

Comments

[Therese]

Can we take back her Oscar?

[Reagan]

I love how actors and actresses become experts on things the minute the gain recognition for ACTING. Honestly, they're famous for pretending to be something/someone they're not and this obviously gives them a pass to run their mouths about things they know nothing about; things they don't even care to LEARN about. Stick to what you're good at: being someone else. Leave intelligent thought to those capable of using their brain.

[Meg]

argh.

JP, I'm so with you.

[JP]

Actors don't know more about the world, politics or religion than the many other people in the world. They just have a more people listening to their thoughts and beliefs. I kind of hate that about our society, that we are so quick to believe what a famous person says. Why do we care which celebrities endorse political candidates? Is being a celebrity a good litmus test of knowing how to pick a public official? (Stepping off soapbox.)

[Kelly]

She's an idiot. I think the dress should have been our first clue. And her acceptance speech...made no sense...and neither does this.

[LLori]

Shocking, unfeeling moron . . I wanted to see the movie, now disappointed. This should kill the sales. Now on the interesting side...plenty of middle easterners are moving to France in droves. Don't you remember the riots & cars set on fire in France? People do not want to extend permanent employment to newcomers. Anyway, what a sick, sad mind she has...now we are learning about it. Well, the world is a different place. I remember in the 80's they were bombing Paris. I just never thought it would ever happen here in the wonderful U.S. of A. Again, what an idiot.

[Kristabella]

OK, I already didn't like her for her ugly fish dress at the Oscars.

Wow. Now I'd like to shove some Freedom Fries where the sun don't shine.

[pheebee]

Hmm...perhaps you thinks she's a moron. Perhaps you buy into her conspiracy theory. Either way, what in the devil has that got to do with her playing Edith Piaf?

By the way, why are we throwing around Obama's middle name?

[Jaye]

So, the Port Authority who owned the buildings (they weren't owned by the federal government, but the Port Authority) wanted new buildings so badly, that instead of having them imploded like they do in Vegas, they chose to have planes full of people, fly into buildings full of people? Hmmm.... sounds plausible - NOT! So, the Port Authority wanted 343 firefighters to die, and thousands of innocent people? And what about the other two planes that weren't flying to NY? What buildings were they trying to demolish? This is so ridiculous that I can't even believe we are talking about it! IDIOT!

[Steph T]

Wow...that's all I can say right now. I would assume she thinks the holocaust was a lie too. Need to walk away and breathe deeply now.

[holly]

erin - she lthinks we made the towers 'melt' and killed thousands of people because it was cheaper to rebuild from scratch than to make improvements to the buildings. She is a complete ignoramous and needs to be stoned by the survivors of 9/11. www.finickycritic.com

[Dave]

I really wish I had Ms. Cotillard's ear right now, so I could ask her if a few more things were fake. For instance...

1) Was it fake when my friends and I watched from a hill in our town as a tall plume of smoke rose from Manhattan?
2) Was it fake when a classmate of mine had to drop out of college because she lost her father in the attacks and the PTSD ravaged her so much that she failed out of all of her classes?
3) Was it fake for the hour I thought my uncle, who was in the Towers during the 1993 bombing but had since moved elsewhere in Manhattan, was actually in the building and could have conceivably be dead?

How anyone could think all of this was for a cosmetic f---ing makeover is beyond me. I knew there was ignorance in this world, but the depth of it continues to astonish me. To make a little plug, though, may I recommend a book here? William Gibson's novel Pattern Recognition is one of the finest books I've read to deal with the tragedy in a mature and recuperative manner. Very much worth reading.

[elise]

So because the towers were going to be too pricey to renovate, the US engaged in a really crazy kind of Flip That House where they just demoed both towers? That one day? And thought leaving all the people inside would be good for what? TV ratings?

Will NEVER watch this woman in anything. Ever. Ugh.

[Dani]

Wow. My boyfriend and I had decided that we were gonna be happy she won the best actress Oscar...till now! We both had people who should rightly have been in the towers that day, and one of my friends dad's who was like a second father to me worked in the rescue operations, so for someone to be so ridiculous is completely surreal to me. I'm all for getting on the "the government can lie to people" train, but this is totally ridiculous. Somehow I doubt part of the training to be a French singer includes a structural engineering degree. And aren't there tons of folks that get those for real every year?! So why haven't they noticed this obvious flaw in the government's story?

[Heather]

PS Won't France be surprised when Canada comes to invade them and no one helps them out.......???!!!!!

[Heather]

Ok, I would like to say that I am surprised.....however, I bet she is not the only one in the wonderful country of France that believes this....They have to have SOME kind of excuse, other than being big fat wussies, for not helping the rest of the world in our Mid-East endeavors.....Ok, I am with the whole idea that actors, actresses, stars and starlettes are not on my "Wow, I wonder what their political views are" list...
What a NUMBNUTS...........

[sarah]

Wow. Just wow. Even if taken out of context, that is very messed up. I agree celebs should not generally be political spokespeople but the fact that they are in the public eye means that people listen to them. Great when they're opinions do something for the world ... not so great when they say idiotic things!!

[jodifur]

I'm confused. Is she saying we mad up the attacks? Like holocaust deniers? That is was all a movie and the people who "died" are in hiding? Or, is she saying the US planned the attacks themselves so we could blame the terrorists.

Either way it's disgusting, I just want to make sure I get it.

[erin]

I think of it this way: There are a LOT of idiots out there who want to look smart by saying something political. Especially if they are desperate for attention, and pretty much all of the people involved in the entertainment business are. When somebody says something moronic like that, I think "Hey, one less person I have to pay attention to!" I mean, anybody who says anything like that has proved themselves to be an idiot, so what they say no longer matters! I never heard of this frog b**** before, and now I have absolutely no interest her now. I live in New York, I helped out with WTC recovery, so I know the truth. The "conspiracy theories" that come out are bulls***, fueled by people who want attention. To hell with them!

[Erin]

Maybe Barrack Hussein Obama should sign this woman up to his campaign manager...

[maggii]

so we are to believe that we intentionally blew up our buildings with the people still IN them because it was easier than refurbishing? and what of the pentagon??? we were ALREADY refurbishing it when it got hit! Some people are idiots...but I agree I'm not a big fan of celebrities acting as political experts...

[margalit]

I lost a good friend on 9/11. I've been to ground zero. She's a moron, an insensitive boob, and I can assure you she'll never ever get one cent of my money in revenue.

[T]

http://teamsugar.com/group/249654/blog/1087871

She's still an idiot, but her comments might have been taken out of context.

[petuniasquared]

It sounds like she saw that awful 9/11 conspiracy documentary that was ripped to shreds by Popular Science.

I actually have a few friends who believed that drivel. I'm still friends with them. Warts and all, I love them. It is sort of how I feel about your books. We don't always agree, but damn I love the way you say what you say. Even when it involves that troll Sean Hannity.

[Library Diva]

I think her statements were nonsensical and indefensible, but they have no bearing on whether or not I'd see one of her films. If I boycotted every movie that was written, produced, directed by, or starred someone whose beliefs I didn't like, I would've missed out on a lot.

[Patti_Mayo]

Not only did I lose a niece in the 9/11 attacks, my best friend was a volunteer firefighter from Long Island who spent four days at Ground Zero...He could never describe the things he saw there. He came back a different man.

Not that it'll make a difference to that beeotch, but I'll be boycotting anything with her in it.

[Ginny]

Hmmm ... the burning tower in Spain ... I find myself wondering if it was on fire because it had been plowed into by a JUMBO JET?!?!?! If not, then whether it burned for 24 hours and didn't collapse really is irrelevent, isn't it?!

Next this over-champagned and under-educated bitch will claim there never were actually any REAL twin towers and this was all a Jerry Bruckheimer-directed special effects sequence designed to garner sympathy for America throughout the world. Yes, in fact, there really is no ACTUAL New York City -- it's all a movie set that we are using to fake out the world and make everyone THINK there exists a booming metropolis where actually there is none.

What a loud-mouthed, moronic, insensitive BITCH!!!

[Tiana]

She's definitely a douche bag, but I won't consider that when deciding whether to watch any of her movies. I'm pretty sure she doesn't notice or care if people who think she's a dumbass stop watching her movies. I'm only pretty sure, though.

[April]

Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we've just had proof that females can be douche-bags too.

(Doubly fitting since the word douche is so French)

[Mary]

ok what the fudge????? can we say asshat....I just do not understand people like this...I mean heck....as a girl whose father was supposed to be at the pentagon that day, but didn't make his flight from florida, this really irkes me...and I didn't even lose anyone thank god.....no matter what you may think the reason behind 9/11.....LIVES WERE LOST!!!!! so shut the f**k up if you have NO IDEA what you're talking about!!!!
P.S. I am still totally pissed off that she is an oscar winning actress!!!! but that's a whole other can of worms!!!!

[Qristyn]

How do you spell STUPID?? = Marion Cotillard

[kim]

I read that today and sat with my mouth open for about 30 seconds. What a dumbass. BTW, no one cares what you think, Marion!!

Also, do you luurve the Tempurpedic? I'm jonesing for one, it's jsut a matter of convincing the husband that it's worth the money.

[Mimi]

WOW. That's all I can feel like I can say right now.

I wonder if she would like to repeat all that directly to one of the THOUSANDS of people who lost a loved one on that day???