Sean Penn: Death to Haiti Relief Critics

(CBS)  Actor Sean Penn has little use for those who disparage his work to bring relief to the victims of the January 12 Haitian earthquake.

In an interview with CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan to be broadcast this weekend on CBS' "Sunday Morning," the Academy Award-winning actor addresses cynics who decry the efforts of celebrities to bring attention to the Haitians' plight:


LARA LOGAN: Does it make you angry when people talk about, you know, 'Sean Penn, the Hollywood star, the movie star, coming in and trying to do something,' and they're kind of cynical about it?

SEAN PENN: No.

LOGAN: Do you hate that question?

PENN: No. I guess I've been so away from it all, [in] our tent camp in Haiti, that I haven't had an awful lot of time to pay attention to them. You know, do I hope that those people die screaming of rectal cancer? Yeah, you know, but I'm not going to spend a lot of energy on it.


Penn recently returned to Haiti with his 16-year-old son, Hopper Jack, and 18-year-old daughter, Dylan. Penn said the two were not simply on a sightseeing tour.

"Oh, they're going to help! They're going to be my slaves while we're there!" he laughed. "You bet they're going to help."

"Why are you taking your children there?" Logan asked.

"I think that they've had the experience, as I have, that the first person served by service is the server," Penn said. "You know, there's nobody in the world that isn't looking for a kind of purpose in life, and tangible purpose is the most immediately recognizable."

He also said Americans should be really proud about the United States' relief efforts in Haiti: "And pride is an obligation to avoid shame later."

In the interview Penn also discusses the more than $1 million in aid provided to Haiti, which began with the help of his friend, businesswoman Diana Jenkins.

"I just ran into her at a cocktail party and said what I was intending to do," he said. "And so she decided to support it."

"She said, 'Here's a million bucks'?" Logan asked.

"Yeah. So, we were able to just say 'Yes, yes, yes' on things. We were able to get X-ray machines and ventilators, and do all kinds of things. . . . I was just able to make decisions and bring things in."

"How did you take the money in? Suitcases of cash?" Logan asked.

"We took a lot of cash in, yeah, into the country," he said.

"Literally, what did you put it in? Carry it in backpacks?"

"Yeah!"

"That's amazing. So, there you are wandering the earthquake zone in Haiti with backpacks of cash?"

"We don't do that anymore!" he said." We now have a bank account, so no one comes up for cash on the ground in Haiti."

"How much of it has been your money?"

"Enough that I'd better get a job soon," he laughed. "
 
Penn, who won the Best Actor Oscar last year for his performance in "Milk," is scheduled to be a presenter at this year's Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday evening.

Watch the complete interview with Penn on CBS' "Sunday Morning," Sunday, March 7 at 9:00 a.m. ET/PT, hosted by Charles Osgood.

Rand Morrison is the executive producer.

[brianhutchins]

Sean Penn is a good hearted person. I know that he even renovated some of the homes to match parts of his USA homes. Putting in a skylight and even a veranda. Yea Sean! You da man!

[iconnic]

Why for the love of Pete, do you all put this ego tripping idiot on like he's some kind of God. I know he and Madonna are so long ago, but I swear, I see what the attraction was for them when they were together. They both have the biggest egos imagineable. He is always gripping about something or another, he gripped about the Oscars and how terrible they were...until he WON one. Oh yeah, showed up for that terrible one, now didn't he? I really cannot stomach him. He wants to be so important all the time, he's an activist wanna be just like his female counterpart Madonna. It's really all about THEM. Hey here's a clue Egotist. When you are out doing something for mankind, leave your ego at the door. Why do you have to be all up in people's faces all the time, carping about everything. I am so happy Robin, your wife got a clue and divorced you. She is one of the most talented people around, and I will bet you ten to one, she was an absolute angel to you. I am so glad she's outta there.

[kirkslade]

Why is everyone upset with Sean Penn? He's an actor. Doesn't that qualify him as an expert on everything??? School is no longer important. This guy is SH#T!
I live in the Little Haiti section section of Miami. I would welcome an open debate between me and this misinformed loser. I see more crime every day than he sees in a lifetime. Many races, creeds, and colors have come to our great country and exceled. The Haitian's have come here and stagnated. Of course there are exceptions. I am talking about the majority. I would put the number at 90%

[Rickinrio]

Sean Penn's help for Haiti is a good deed. But as a 15 year colorectal cancer survivor who was given a 23% chance of surviving 5 years and beat the odds, I think he's way off base putting a curse on his critics by hoping that they all die from rectal cancer.

I did a Google keyword search earlier today using the words Penn, Haiti, Critics and Aid, and I was unable to find any URL that linked to a story where somebody held what he did to help people in Haiti against him. And, the highly pre-publicized interview coming on the eve of the Oscars...it's tough not to wonder about motive.

Here in Brazil, where I live, we just had Madonna parachute in to go slumming in a "favela" that was about as tame as Bill Clinton having a business lunch uptown at Silvia's. She publicized her fund raising efforts. Folha, perhaps Brazil's largest and most trusted online newspapers, linked those efforts to a project controlled by the Kabbalah Centre, whose rabbi Yardeni blames Jews themselves for being victims of the Holocaust because they didn't use Kabbalah. Never mind that the Kabbalah Centre didn't exist in the run-up to the Holocaust.

These are strange days for cause related celebrity marketing and charitable giving. As a colon cancer survivor I think that Sean has offended millions who are victims of this silent killer and that he ought to apologize for putting a curse of rectal cancer on his critics. And since March it is National Colon Cancer Awareness Month he ought to step up with the rest of the Hollywood celebs who are helping educate people about cancer. How would Sean feel if he got rectal cancer? Who are the critics Sean is talking about? Who put Sean on the Haiti Aid "enemies list"? Do we need to go over to Second Life and ask Nixon and Haldeman:)

[hockeymom441]

Do you really think that's what he meant... literally?!? Doubt it. Understandably, he's annoyed and chose an way to express it. Here, in America, we still have free speech... so criticizing his comments is just annoying! (even if they were bizarre and insensitive).

[gbockman]

I have a question for Mr. Penn...Why Haiti? Why not start in our country the USA? Our own country needs help in so many areas. What about the Emergency Storm Relief for the Cheyenne River Sioux right here in the USA! Why not the children in the USA that are born with defects that need our help for surgeries. I could go on and on but what I am saying is I don't understand. Is it because you get the attention and media coverage when you go to other countries?

[bggart]

I don't think this was done for publicity.Did you know that Alonzo Mourning was one of the first to be there with a medical group? No fanfare, just doing what needs to be done. (and he also does great things in this country but doesn't look for either thanks or publicity.

[BenjaminChertoff]

How would you feel if a Hollywood star came to you, in the US, at your house, and helped you?

Haiti would not, and will not exist without serious help from the US (we are the only ones with the resources). Surgeries for the deformed, or mass epidemics that kill millions? Furthermore, the Haitian consulate specifically asked the US to help -- about 10-20 minutes after the quake, via a call to State (sorry, Department of State) from the US Embassy. It is State that is technically in control of the military --- we've sent, oh, around 24 ships down there, including a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and upwards of 30,000 people in total. You know what it costs to run a Nimitz-class carrier? The heavy lift MH-53 -- a staple of the military's heavy lift platforms, requires, o, round 75 maintenance hour per flight hour. I wonder how much it costs to run a C-17 round-trip? Here's my point: the US Military SAVED Haiti from immediate disaster, and continues to keep the country alive. Are you looking for attention when you file your taxes? Because the US taxpayers have, as an aaggregate, payed more than any NGO, actor, rich person in Haiti. Furthermore, while the journalists life in the hills in a fairly nice (although half destroyed) hotel, Penn is in a tent. He smiled more when he was down there, doing what he wanted to be doing. That did not look like a celebrity looking for coverage. Logan reported his accomplishments in the VO. Penn doesn't like to talk about it. And if you spend an hour in Haiti, I can pretty much guarantee you'd want to empty your bank account to help. But Penn didn't just do that. He made things happen. He liased with the military (that you paid for) every night. So who's at fault here? Who has done anything wrong? Certainly not those brave US men and women in uniform, huffing it through the crowded steets of Haiti where I personally saw four men with shotguns, six with machetes, and countless with clubs -- all within about a six block radius. Although this is certainly not what Monroe had in mind, yet it is what he's committed us to uphold. Somewhere in West Texas, I'm sure at least one of the Bush's has declaed war on earthquakes.

[bggart]

Lara Logan's questions were infantile. "why did you bring your kids"
"Where did you put the money?" I am surprised he didn't walk out, but I am sure he wants people to realize how important it is to help.
Get a new person to ask important questions not try to be silly. I guess she got what she wanted with his how to treat critics answer.

[BenjaminChertoff]

I get the feeling you weren't in Haiti -- perhaps Logan was a little too "inside the beltway." I also met Penn in Haiti, and that is a very valid question. Walking around with food, money: that can easily get you either beaten or killed. I am fairly shocked that he's bringing his kids. Haiti is a profoundly traumatic experience to witness firsthand, and up in Petion-Ville, in the compound where Penn's camp is; it surrounded, on all sides, but some of the (now) most dangerous areas. Personally, I've been advising people NOT to go to Haiti unless they have a specific skill-set that can help. Otherwise, they are a liability, and will likely take up a litter on a medevac that could otherwise help a Haitian. Now, Penn has plenty of security, so I'm not necessarily worried. Realize that Haiti is in many ways one of the worst countries on the planet, based on standard statistics: Highest AIDS rate, no potable water system before or after the quake. Right now, Haiti has the best medical infrastructure in it's history. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4345255.html
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/military_law/4344622.html

[skarrzpop]

Good for you Sean Penn!! You folks that just want to demean him and his motives should take a 2nd look in the mirror!! What have you done to help those in need lately?....

[kirkslade]

Why should we help? I don't want to help. It offends me that he is helping

[pobi58]

Penn is a self-loathing, dysfunctional individual who gets his worth from his idea of being the hero to the downtrodden.

I could have respect for him or any other celebrity helping people in need if they didn't have this insistance to tell the world how much they are doing. Helping without the public recognition is much more admirable.

[cusefanjapan]

People can question his motives and hate that comment he made about rectal cancer (it was assinine) but fact is he got off his rear and did something and put his money where his mouth is.

[erich_1-2009]

He has just earned some respect in my book for actually trying to help out.
It shows that he has some character, and taking his son and daughter to Haiti is a good idea on his part.

[hateisafourletterword]

While I personally cannot stand Sean Penn, I give him credit for being there. Much better than U2 and others who talk a great gig and then are too busy building mansions to actually get involved.

But Sean two questions? How much aid has come from USA vs. other countries (combined). And if your kids are not on spring break, they should be in school. While they may learn more in a week with you than a year of school, education is critical. You of all people should see the cost of a lack of education being in Haiti. It may not be all the Haitain's fault, but most dirt poor countries do not realize the first step in getting better is to help yourself up. Education is a great first step.

[erasmus111]

by hateisafourletterword March 5, 2010 7:45 PM EST
How much aid has come from USA vs. other countries (combined).


I'm getting REALLY tired of some of you IGNORANT Americans insinuating that you guys are the only ones that help. I suggest you do a little research before you start spewing your crap. There are many other countries that give great amounts of money and time. And they don't have to borrow the money from CHINA first.

Some of you live in a little bubble. The only thing you know about is AMERICA. You know absolutely nothing about what goes on anywhere else. Hell, some of you don't even know what's going on in your own country.

[hateisafourletterword]

erasmus111 - I did not intend to question other countries giving. My question is to Sean Penn directly and meant for him to ponder. He has done nothing but criticize our great country for years. He had the audacity to claim the Chavez is a great leader and the U.S. is evil. I did not realize he made hundreds of millions of dollars while living in Venezuela.

[CBSisCommunist5]

no wonder his wife divorced him