Morgan Freeman says Newtown statement was a hoax

Actor Morgan Freeman arrives at the 35th Kennedy Center Honors, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, Dec. 2, 2012. / Drew Angerer/AFP/Getty Images

Morgan Freeman says he did not issue the statement that went viral on the Internet blaming the media for sensationalizing the Newtown School shootings that left 20 children and 6 adults dead.

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The Oscar-winning actor said the statement that was attributed to him was a hoax, reports The Wrap, who spoke to the actor's publicist, Stan Rosenfield.

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Connecticut elementary school shooting

"It's because of the way the media reports it," said the false statement. "Turn on the news and see how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single 'victim' of Columbine?"

The comments were posted on Facebook and Twitter and continued to spread across the Internet.

The controversial comments ended with: "So congratulations, sensationalist media, you've just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or maternity ward next. "

[1wesleyf]

Oops:
It should read:
"NIC THALON: I regret not HAVING taken the time to.."

[shortyfudpuc]

YES!! Let us just sweep mental illness under the rug and forget about the person who shot those children. Just think, there is another potential shooter out there right now being released from a mental hospital, or kept out of one, because of the lack of funds. What are we going to do when the entitlement monies are removed from the budget and they are all released as "safe for social interaction". Oh, and also the funding is being cut for their medication so they will not have to bother taking it. Just think about the money we will save in the budget. The person might even get a job as a school cafeteria worker. That way he could poison hundreds of kids at once. NO guns involved.

We really need to pour millions into covering the tragedy. And then we need to spend hundreds of millions on ad's for our point of view. Hey, the Advertising companies love to make money. They do not care who or where the checks come from. The NRA, sure we will make you a great commercial saying it was all the fault of failed school polices. Or video games. Hey, you gun control parties we can help you advertise that no one should have a gun. We will even get mayor Michael Bloomberg to do a heart wrenching message about how afraid he is to go out on his own streets. Just send your check to XYZ Spin Doctors ad agency.

Next we need the religious to get involved. After all, who has killed, maimed, and tortured more people,and started more wars in history than religion. FYI, I am not an atheist. However I do have an issue with people who want everything run by their religious beliefs. Or ELSE!!

Last, lets not forget TV. We must really do something about the content that is shown on all these violent shows. We really need to remove all viewing material that is above a G-Rating from cable, network, and satellite transmissions. We just need to watch My Little Pony 24/7. That way no one would be violent. Little Sally and Johnny will then be protected from bad images and thoughts. As for the "NEWS", I for one would like to see real news. I could care less what some Celebrity is doing or who they are doing. I HAVE FOUND THE CURE FOR TV. It is called an OFF switch.

Just some thoughts for the general masses.

-30-

[ellensmithee]

Harris and Klebold are household names??? Not in my house, Mr. Freeman. I don't devote my life to talking about rage killers. Perhaps you do. If you do not like what's going on in TV, there's a solution for it. Turn the TV off. I don't like what you're saying, so I'll stop reading your words.

I'm not sure why celebrities believe their opinions rate a national stage. Narcissism? Probably.

[ugacrew]

Their opinions matter, and no its not narcissism. How do you think blockbusters become blockbusters? People by the thousands are paying attention.

Give credit where credit is due. Mr. Freeman is an oustanding, oscar winning actor, with many many fans worldwide.

Exercise your right to turn your TV off. Thats your choice, but there will be many who will listen to what he has to say.

Ever hear of Bruce Springsteen? Rolling Stones?.........there are many others.

[Nicthalon]

Did you even read the headline? The statement where that was said was A HOAX!!! Apparently, you stopped reading before you even knew what was said, and then mouthed off on it... not an intelligent way to do things.

[1988JAck]

This is the kind of thing the right wing loves to do, send these fake e-mails to ditto heads and they will believe it.
I'm sure there are a lot of them running around now telling their friends what Morgan Freeman said. Yuk.

[shortyfudpuc]

I agree. All the ditto heads are surely passing this along as fast as they'er little fingers can type.

[davefromga]

I can't believe you are this stupid without having to go to some kind of school for it! Right wing? Here is a situation where over a dozen innocent children are gunned down and you have the gall to say the email hoaxes that exploit this situation are due to right wing crazies? you should be completely ashamed of yourself! The leftist have so much hate and venom that they have to exploit something like this to vent against a group that they can't stand? Go and F*%& yourself!

[Anthonomus]

Sure, it was a hoax. Or is it? Just like the hoax a few months ago that Mr. Freeman had passed away? Who is Mr. Freeman kidding, if he isn't even alive?

[DavidodDenver]

Its true. He should have said it. It would make more sense then the liberla news and their masters calling for regulations of a right. Calling for the regulation of someones property that had nothing to do with it is more of an insult and a lie than blaming the media for glorifying these people to find a bigger unarmed gun-free zone and topping the last tragedy. The politicians don't care either because this helps their agenda to ban all guns and takes the attention off their own problems like Obamacare and Fiscal Cliff. Which doesn't seem as important since this happened. Although it is important and should be the objective of our elected officials. Not standing in the blood of victims calling for a ban of a right that is guaranteed by the constitution.

[1wesleyf]

As long as people have no (or little) respect for God, they will continue to have no or little respect for other people---and maybe not even any respect for themselves. If there was no God or if He has not enunciated His will, at least in general, somewhere (e.g. the Bible) then who can logically say what was done in Newtown was "wrong". It may be logically maintained that it is very unpopular but not wrong. For without God or a statement of His will, there exists no "right" or "wrong". I know that what was done in Newtown was evil and anyone with even 1/2 a brain knows this as well; (The fool saith in his heart ' There is no God'). However, if there is not One who actually knows what is Good (right) and who actually is Good (and right), then there can be no actual right or wrong (one must ponder this to know its truth as space here is limited). Many have done their best to try to drive God out of everything and everywhere. And I must admit, after hearing of this latest effort by Satan and his puppet Lanza, they've done an excellent job. Some comfort may be taken in 1) knowing that God will have the final word---for all of us and 2) God says that the fate of one who even causes a child to stumble is worse than having a millstone tied about his/her neck and being cast into the sea.

[Nicthalon]

You don't need God to respect others, you just have to respect YOURSELF. Look how many people died on 9/11/2001 because of people who let their faith in "God" override their ability to think rationally for themselves.

[1wesleyf]

NIC THALON: I regret not taken the time to draft a "dumbed down" version of my post for you. Maybe you should re-read what I'd written about respect for people, self-respect included. Thanks for reiterating for me. I hope you don't always argue over points with which you agree. As for the MUSLIMS who were responsible (ostensibly, at least) for 9-11: they made no effort to hide the fact that their faith was not in God (aka Jehovah, aka Yahweh, aka YHWH, aka I AM). If and when you educate yourself on the issue, I'll be happy to continue the "debate". Consequently, your condescension / scolding was not warranted.

[bbrenda54]

I think that its a valid message that the media does sensational thing's like this and I believe that a peson could think get my name in the paper..

I also feel that if you let your kids watc violence they get to the point that they are immune to it and some kids take that warped brain thought into heir own lives and hurt others because of it..I personally wish the media would just tell it and then leave it alone..Don't bother those poor parents about their children..They are grieving, how could you look into that innocent face and shoot them several times..

[Nighthawk0163]

people are so stupid and sad now days.....it is a combination of many things that can make a person act out of control, not just the way parents raised their kids, or video games and movies or even music. How about just plain old evil people...people that just do not give a damn about anyone or anything including themselves...doesnt matter where it stemmed from..it is still their own fault. If you blame the parents, then you have to blame society as well for all the bad influences out there for our kids today. Thats just like the same people that wanted God out of the schools...are the exact same ones that cry " where was God"?? when a tragedy like this happens...well go figure! Put blame where blame is due..on the person or persons that did the actual crime.

[dhenry68]

Too much anonymity online - People's IP addresses need to be captured and people held responsible for their reckless comments.

[porsche911king]

Or just not believe everything you read on the internet.

[RollotheNorman]

IP addresses can be spoofed. There also hundreds of thousands of IPs that are open access: Libraries, schools, Starbucks, the occasional home or business wireless with no password protection, or very easily hacked protection. Look at the email addresses of the next spam you get, they may well be spoofed and lead back to an unassigned IP. Back when I used USENET a lot, I've come across phony domain news servers that were set up just so white supremacist groups could post trash without other admins rejecting their feed.