Susan Sarandon calls the pope a 'Nazi'
Actress Susan Sarandon attends the Endometriosis Foundation of America's 3rd Annual Blossom Ball at the New York Public Library in Manhattan. (March 18, 2011) Credit: Getty Images
Susan Sarandon dropped a zinger or two when she appeared at the Bay Street Theatre Saturday for an interview with fellow actor Bob Balaban. The outspokenly political actress talked about Occupy Wall Street, recalled her run-ins with the NYPD over the Amadou Diallo case and called the current pope a "Nazi."
Click here to read an updated story, "Catholic leader: Sarandon comment 'obscene'"
That last comment was somewhat offhanded. She was discussing her 1995 film "Dead Man Walking," based on the anti-death-penalty book by Sister Helen Prejean, a copy of which she sent to the pope.
"The last one," she said, "not this Nazi one we have now." Balaban gently tut-tutted, but Sarandon only repeated her remark.
Of all the places on largely Catholic Long Island, perhaps only in the Hamptons could Sarandon get a laugh with such a comment. She may have only used "Nazi" to mean "dictatorial" or "cold," but it's a dangerous word for public figures to throw around. In Cannes, after the director Lars von Trier randomly and jokingly called himself a Nazi, the French festival banned him and demanded an apology. He has since stopped talking to the media.
Speaking of von Trier, his new film "Melancholia" plays today at noon at the UA East Hampton. The Golden Starfish Awards ceremony takes place at 5:30 p.m. at Guild Hall, followed by the closing-night film, "The Artist," at 8 p.m. at the same venue.
