Leaked: Sony emails reveal racist jokes about President Obama

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Thursday, December 11, 2014
Executives at center of Sony email hacking scandal apologizes for emails
Marci Gonzalez has the latest details.

A newly revealed email exchange from the Sony hack allegedly shows racist comments made by two well-known movie moguls about President Obama.

Amy Pascal, co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Scott Rudin, prolific film and theater producer behind "There Will Be Blood" and "No Country for Old Men," were revealed to have an email discussion where racist comments were allegedly made about President Obama. According to the emails obtained by BuzzFeed, Pascal allegedly wrote to Rudin "what should I ask the president at this stupid Jeffrey breakfast," referring to Jeffrey Katzenberg, CEO of DreamWorks Animation and former chairman of The Walt Disney Company.

Rudin allegedly replied "Would he like to finance some movies." Pascal then allegedly replied "I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO," referring to "Django Unchained," the popular Quentin Tarantino film about a freed-slave turned bounty hunter.

Rudin then allegedly replied "12 YEARS," referring to the Oscar-winning period piece "12 Years a Slave" about an African American man sold into slavery in the Antebellum south.

Pascal then allegedly guessed other movies that President Obama might enjoy dealing with African American topics or starring African American actors. "Or ("Lee Daniels: The Butler.") Or "Think Like a Man?"

Rudin allegedly replied "Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart." At a fundraiser held at DreamWorks later that evening, President Obama praised Hollywood's ability to depict diversity. "Whether they're watching an old movie - "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show, or "Will and Grace" and "Modern Family" - they've had a front-row seat to our march towards progress. Even if their own nations haven't made that progress yet."

Previous reveals from the Sony hack include emails where Rudin and Pascal allegedly bickered over feasibility on a biopic of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and an idea from actress Angelina Jolie for a movie about historical figure Cleopatra, where Rudin allegedly called Jolie a "minimally talented spoiled brat," according to Variety.

Rudin commented to The New York Times on Wednesday regarding earlier hacks. "This is not about salacious emails being batted around by Gawker and Defamer . . . it's about a criminal act, and the people behind it should be treated as nothing more nor less than criminals."

UPDATE: Rudin and Pascal released new statements regarding the email hacks.

Rudin: "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. I am deeply sorry and apologize for any injury they might have caused."

Pascal: "The content of my emails to Scott were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am. Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended."