Posted on 04/21/2003 2:48:59 AM PDT by kattracks
(CNSNews.com) - The sponsors of at least two different websites chronicling the anti-war statements and activities of Hollywood celebrities, say they're being inundated with death threats from "anti-war pacifist" supporters of the celebrities.
The sponsor of one of the sites, who would only identify himself as Tim C., said he has received nearly 100 death threats since starting www.famousidiot.com less than two months ago. Tim's mother and wife want him to stop exposing Hollywood's liberal activists out of fear for his personal safety.
"If they are anti-war pacifists, they're the most violent people I have ever met in my life. It's really unbelievable," Tim C., told CNSNews.com. The website's motto is: "They (Hollywood) don't speak for us."
The author of another anti-celebrity activist website, www.HollywoodHalfWits.com, dedicated to "exposing the ignorance, insanity and anti-Americanism of Hollywood celebrities," also claims defenders of Hollywood activists are anything but pacifist.
"I have received death threats, thousands of virus-laden emails, words of pure hatred, all this from the peace-loving, compassionate free-speech left," Mark of HollywoodHalfWits.com told CNSNews.com. Mark declined to reveal his last name as a safety precaution.
"I'm just an average American living in a small town in California. Due to the threats in the hate mail I get, that's all I can say," Mark said.
Tim C. of Famousidiot.com said the threats are relentless. "I receive on average one death threat a day ... we had no clue that these folks feel that strongly," he explained.
The war in Iraq prompted a blitz of high profile celebrity anti-war activists voicing their dissent in the media and as a result, created a host of new websites dedicated to chronicling, criticizing and ridiculing the famous activists.
Visitors to famousidiot.com rank a top ten list of celebrities they most want to boycott. Actress Janeane Garofalo is currently ranked the number one boycott target, followed by actor George Clooney and the country music band, Dixie Chicks. The site also lists the appropriate studio or production company next to each celebrity to aid people in launching a boycott.
Famousidiot.com "is dedicated to exposing the elitists among us that feel compelled to speak out against the very country that afforded them the opportunity to earn a king's fortune."
Mark, of HollywoodHalfWits.com, claims he has drawn 1.3 million visitors to his site since its launch in February. The website features a "Hall of Halfwits," which includes a who's who of liberal activists, including Garofalo, Clooney, the Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, Mike Farrell, Ed Harris, Jessica Lange, Madonna, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Martin Sheen, Oliver Stone, and Barbra Streisand.
'Moronic, Ludicrous, Pointless Web Site'
Mark declined to provide CNSNews.com with copies of specific death threats he has received because he said he "hates to encourage these guys to do more and get themselves, published." He did, however, provide a sample of some of the hate mail he said he receives on a daily basis.
One letter writer to HollywoodHalfWits.com stated the following: "YOU ARE THE BIGGEST HALFWIT I'VE EVER SEEN!!! HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD YOUR HEAD UP YOU'RE A**? YOU MUST BE BRAINWASHED BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHATEVER BRAIN YOU HAVE LEFT."
Another letter writer included the phrase, "F*** you!!!" and urged Mark to, "Get a life and do something worthwhile!!!! Quit picking on those of us who tend to speak out for our right to do so!!!!"
Tim C. of Famousidiot.com, characterized most of the mail he receives as hate mail.
"We get several hundred e-mails a day, 60 percent hate mail and 40 percent supportive of our efforts. Some of the most vile things that have ever been said to me have been said through e-mail through this site," Tim C. explained.
A sampling of the hate mail on Famousidiot.com reveals anger over the purpose of the website. "I must say, your site is so aptly named," stated one email authored by "Jim." The email blasted what its author called, "A moronic, ludicrous, pointless web site in support of the most idiotic U.S. president that has ever held the office. Famous idiots, indeed."
Another letter signed by Karin, states, "I have never hared (sic) so much neo-facist (sic) crap in my life. Just the existence of your site and the futile attempt of justifying your unbelievable stupidity and ignorance through the mocking of those who speak reason is unreal."
Tim C. said he never receives mail from anti-Hollywood conservatives advocating harm to the liberal activists. "The ironic thing is, it's never 'let's go kill them' coming from the conservatives' point of view. It's always, they (the liberals) are misinformed."
However, liberal activists "are over the top," Tim C. added.
A spokesperson for the Creative Coalition, a liberal celebrity-based activist group whose founders include actors Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve and Susan Sarandon, did not respond to an interview request for this article.
'Anti-American Things'
Mark dismisses allegations that his and other similar websites are resurrecting the 1950s-era Hollywood blacklists.
"I'm just bringing to light the ignorant, insane or anti-American things some celebrities say, so that visitors can make decisions on if they should support their work," Mark said.
"Funny, Susan Sarandon thought it was just fine to help lead a boycott against Dr. Laura's TV show; well, the tables are turned now and she doesn't like it one bit," he added.
HollywoodHalfWits.com serves as a comprehensive database, including not only the offending political statements each celebrity has made, but also links to the news source that reported it, and a biography of each celebrity. The site also includes the agents or studio contact information for each of the celebrities profiled so Internet users can initiate a boycott and register their displeasure directly to the source.
HollywoodHalfWits.com does not want to silence the celebrities. In fact, it encourages celebrities to keep publicly expressing their political views.
"No one is censoring them or throwing them in jail for their views. While some do, I'm not even telling them to pipe down. I encourage them to continue to speak out. It's usually more entertaining than the movies they make," according to Mark.
Other anti-Hollywood web sites includes www.celiberal.com and www.boycott-hollywood.us. Celiberal.com's mission statement reads: "We simply stop buying or renting their movies, music albums, books and the products or services they endorse." Boycott-hollywood.us proclaims to celebrity liberal activists: "Hey Hollywood ... Listen Up!! You Don't Speak for Me!!"
Hollywood Feeling a 'Backlash'
Mark from HollywoodHalfWits.com believes the new wave of sites chronicling the celebrities is having an impact.
"Middle America is realizing that they are not alone in their feelings of outrage. They are speaking up and contacting agents, publicists, studios and others in the industry," Mark said.
And the effects are stunning, according to Mark.
"For the first time in their professional lives, there is a backlash, and they are in shock that everyone does not honor everything they speak. Studios are canceling projects with controversial celebrities," he added.
E-mail a news tip to Marc Morano.
Send a Letter to the Editor about this article.
I hardly watch tv anymore or rent videos.
I see this attitude more and more lately, even here on FR. No one group has the market cornered on this one.
I wonder why he would help found a Liberal Activist Group, or is it not Liberal? Or is this a false statement? From the article:
A spokesperson for the Creative Coalition, a liberal celebrity-based activist group whose founders include actors Ron Silver, Christopher Reeve and Susan Sarandon, did not respond to an interview request for this article.
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