Notice that he only apologizes for "not calling actors before canceling 'Bull Durham' event".
I'm not sure why you're going on about this, and I'm not sure what the basis for the criticism is. A private enterprise, it would seem to me, ought to have every right to associate or not associate with anyone it wants to.
I, for one, would never attend an event of any kind at which Robbins or Sarandon was a speaker or honoree -- these people are, frankly, idiots, in my opinion; why would I want to be there? OTOH, Fleischer is smart, articulate, and knowledgeable, and I'm sure would make an interesting participant.
Others, no doubt, see it the other way around. But the Hall has to make its decisions based on their own best interests, and clearly, the person making the decision felt it was in their interest to not associate with Robbins and Sarandon, right or wrong.
There is no stifling of free speech; there is no "blackballing". These Hollywood nitwits can say anything they'd like to, and other organizations are free to honor them as they see fit. |
