Sean Penn Sinks
How in the world did I miss this yesterday?
Movie star and political activist Penn, 45, was in the collapsing city to aid stranded victims of flooding sparked by Hurricane Katrina, but the small boat he was piloting to launch a rescue attempt sprang a leak.The outspoken actor had planned to rescue children waylaid by the deadly waters, but apparently forgot to plug a hole in the bottom of the vessel, which began taking water within seconds of its launch.
When the boat’s motor failed to start, those aboard were forced to use paddles to propel themselves down the flooded New Orleans street.
Asked what he had hoped to achieve in the waterlogged city, the actor replied: “Whatever I can do to help.”
But with the boat loaded with members of the Oscar-winner’s entourage, including his personal photographer, one bystander taunted: “How are you going to get any people in that thing?”
Update: Sean Penn does have ardent fans…too ardent.
I admire everyone and anyone who wants to help. But if you want to see it done right look at how Lance Armstrong handled it.
photo h/t: Mccannta
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September 6th, 2005 at 1:18 am
Plan of Attack
After being overcome with bad press and finger pointing by the mainstream media, it is satisfying to read the some real facts regarding what it will take to get a handle on the mess in New Orleans. Teflon at MoltenThought has some reasoned thoughts add…
September 6th, 2005 at 2:43 pm
I don’t remember anyone accusing Sean Penn of being the brightest bulb on the string. He will do anything for publicity and most of the time it is something really stupid.
Chuck
September 7th, 2005 at 5:19 am
Here’s the real, unbiased, story:
NEW ORLEANS – Sean Penn took matters into his own hands yesterday, launching a boat in a personal effort to rescue New Orleans families stranded by Hurricane Katrina.
The Oscar-winning actor and political activist managed to reach several people who had been trapped in their homes since the hurricane hit Monday.
Penn, who was accompanied by his personal photographer and a crew of helpers, brought the victims to dry land – and gave them cash as well.
Johnnie Brown, 73, a retired custodian, called his sister on a cell phone after being plucked from his flooded house. “Guess who come and got me out of the house? Sean Penn the actor. Them boys were really nice,” he said.
Penn later accompanied a few of them to a hospital.
Asked what he was doing in the disaster zone, Penn said, “Whatever I can do to help.”
“There’s a lot of people out there,” Penn said. “There’s bodies everywhere. We could only do so many houses.”
The outspoken Penn has made several forays into political activism. He visited Iraq in the weeks before the U.S. launched the war to topple Saddam Hussein and recently journeyed to Iran and wrote a series of stories about life in the Islamic republic.
http://www.nydailynews.com/09-05-2005/news/wn_report/story/343491p-293308c.html
September 7th, 2005 at 8:50 am
Penn’s “people” in terms of his public relations team are likely amongst the best so we may never really know the true story. The “story” above reads like a media relations expert press release and not a real news story. Sorry.
That said I remain convinced that instead of grandstanding Penn and others would make a better longterm contribution by donating as much money as possible and encouraging others to do so. Why not donate the money from his next film and encourage other actors to do so or donate the time of his PR team to promote Katrina fundraisers instead of having them spend time putting out the PR backfires that his trip to New Orleans has caused (right or wrongly reported)?
Unrelated: I visited the website of the commenter above (Ralph) and there is some spirited discussion on immigration. For those interested in joining it looks like all sides are being represented. Readers of this blog know that we are enourmously supportive of legal immigration and assimilation. Underground economies, undocumented workers, unsafe desert crossings, and pockets of unassimilated societies, well that’s another story. Maybe Penn can tackle that next.
September 9th, 2005 at 6:05 pm
Listen, donate all the money you want and that’s fantastic, of course who knows how much of it will ever go to where it’s needed.
This guy is putting his money where his mouth is, he’s doing something because he can, and he’s getting shit for it.
he and a lot of other ‘a-listers’ are leaving the comfort of their way-to-cushy lives and getting wet, walking in turd filled water, and actually helping people. It does not matter if it’s 1 person they help or 100 people they help, but they are doing a lot more than I am, and I’ll wager they’re doing a lot more than any of you readers are too. how about a little less nut busting, and a lot more support for anyone willing to go out and do what most of us are not doing. And who the hell cares if there’s a photographer if people are getting rescued, and who the hell cares if there’s a hole in the boat. I’ve boated before and had motors die, and leaks develop, but it’s never made front page news.
some people look at what’s going on in the world as bystanders, and things like this are like episodes in a television show.
This guy is experiencing it, and is making a difference.
and no, i’m not a fan… and yes, i was a penn disliker with respect to Iraq… but that said, guess what, a lot of those stupid celebs were on the money about that, but that’s another discussion all together.
But, until i get my hands dirty, or offer to take in a displaced family, and this goes for the rest of you too, leave the people alone who are trying to help these people.
gotta get back to work, so i can afford to pay $3.25 a gallon for gas…