China quake victims to Sharon Stone: Give us $1 billion!

More than 1,000 Chinese earthquake victims (and Manhattan attorney Ming Hai) have demanded that actress Sharon Stone put her money where her mouth is.

Fox News (via the New York Post) is reporting that they're asking for a $1-billion payout from Sharon Stone.

The "Basic Instinct" star was served with legal papers announcing intention to sue her for harming Chinese people by suggesting the catastrophic quake in May was "karma" for the regime's occupation of Tibet.

Yes, she really did say that. Open mouth, insert Manolo Blahnik.

"For the families who have lost their loved ones or lost limbs or suffered severe injuries, your ... statement and act has caused extreme emotional distress," Ming wrote, citing the comments La Stone spouted at the Cannes Film Festival, where she -- along with Madonna -- helped raise barnloads of bucks for AIDS research at the annual AMfar charity dinner and auction during the festival.

In a public apology last month, Stone, 50, said she "could not be more regretful for that mistake."

But that wasn't enough. French fashion house Christian Dior immediately dropped Stone from its Chinese ads. And the Shanghai International Film Festival sniffed that she was not welcome at this year's event.

Plus PETA has offered to scan her brain to find her heart, although that's got nothing to do with quake victims and everything to do with the fact that Sharon just loves to wear dead animals.

What do you think? Should Sharon Stone have to pay damages to quake victims? And is $1 billion enough?

It was an inexcusably thoughtless and ignorant thing to say.

But jeepers, what does a girl have to do to say she's sorry these days?

Photo: La Stone, doing what she does best, besides raising money for worthy causes. Hey, maybe she should host a benefit for the China quake victims? It's not such a dumb idea. Credit: Wire Image

Comments

[Kerry]

Someone needs to explain the meaning of free speech to the Chinese. Sharon Stone is an American and can say whatever she wants. And to my fellow Americans going to the Chinese Olympics, don't breathe the air, it's deadly...

[john]

LOL. that attorney should be disbared. this is america. we have free speech. we can say as we please and if we want to say that the chinese deserved it, we can. it's malicious and stupid(sharon stone you're an idiot) but still, 1st amendment. why did they ever vote china for the olympic host.

[MrEbert]

I, too, demand $1M as Ms. Stone has repeatedly and deeply offended me with her atrocious movies and acting.

[Mike]

Free speech my @$$!

[Chou On Dhat]

Don't give a dime to China until they change their fascist, racist dictatorship of murderers and thugs into something that resembles a civilized government. They have poisoned their air, water and land, they torture and imprison all those who disagree, their children died in the earthquake because of corruption, and now they complain because Sharon Stone said what we all think?

[Mei Ling]

She made a mistake and apologized.
And even if she did send money or held a charity event, who's to say that the corrupt Chinese government won't confiscate the money? They were greedy enough to build buildings that weren't safe and now they are bribing grieving parents with money not to bring protests for losing their children.

[Jay B.]

I didn't think any public statement could top Sharon Stone's karma rant in terms of sheer stupidity until I read about Ming Hai's $1 billion dollar demand. Absurd!

[sorrysenough]

you know, it was a big goof on Ms. Stone's part, but geesh. Let her off the hook- we're all entitled to have a bad moment, and public figures are no less so. Don't these earthquake victims have more important concerns?

[deanpaul1]

Oh god what a joke...Sharon Stone has been misquoted a billion times: she said that she wondered if it was some kind of karma, she didn't wish it upon them or place blame. China's record on human rights abuses is atrocious and they should clean up their own actions before suggesting some misquote from a movie star has anything to do with anything. Corruption lies at the heart of China and this demand for $ reveals their true self..greedy and dark.

[kittyn]

Hey, LA Times, research this Ming Hai a bit, don't just put out his press release. This attorney's office is not in Manhattan. Please, he wishes. According to all listings for him he's in Flushing, Queens and is a law firm of one. Apparently no real firms in NYC wanted to hire him. Who knows where his law degree comes from. He's a greedy hack who has brought a frivolous lawsuit against a big media figure before. Last year he tried to sue CNN for $1 billion for remarks made by Jack Cafferty. Ming Hai proves over and over he can't even grasp the concept of free speech. Somebody like this should not be allowed to practice law in the United States. Whatever judge has the misfortune of hearing this ridiculous case, I hope that judge fines Ming Hai and tosses him out on his a**.

[freespeach]

Yeah, free speach. Those american died in September 11, 2001, were karma also cause US government raise war all over the world. Especially those died in "Katrina" are karma also cause US are the most polluted country in the world. US people now are suffering economic downturn cause their karma also, cause they over borroging and spending, Yes, I agree karma hit US the most.

[Aaron Night]

Firstly, the media - including this article - deliberately kept off her last part of the statement. If you've seen it all, you would know she was actually saying that she found the way the Tibetans are helping the Chinese inspirational, even though they are fighting them for their freedom. So it's completely taken out of context. I'm so sick of media and news "reporting", it's all fiction designed to stir up consumer emotions. Even the info here on Peta is wrong - they hate her because they found out that over 25 years ago, in the 80's, she starred in a B-grade horror film, and in a scene where a giant turantula had to walk across her, they had its fangs removed so it couldn't bite her. But that doesn't generate the same hatred (considering how silly PETA are being about 25 years ago), so why not just lie about the reasons?! Pathetic.

[BigB]

People are so sue happy. So she said something offensive. It was wrong and she appologized. Have we all not said something in our day to day lives that we wish we could take back? The fact that she is in the public eye, or deemed a celebrity, should not give anyone the right to sue her, especially for that obscene amount of money, Stop looking for the quick buck. They won't win anyway. It is purely a waste of everyone's time that is involved.

[Doug Hendrix]

If they can do that then I want to sue the writters of this paper for subjecting me to all of these airheaded idiots in Hollywood. I need at least $1 Mill since you have continuously bombarded me with images and stories of Brittney, K-Fed, Paris, and the rest of these non-essential human beings. GOD I wish it was that easy. The Chinese people are not stupid and they are not pety . Sounds to me like the Chinese government is up to their old and usual ways. Trying to silence their critics. Since Sharon isn't one of their citizens and they cannot shoot her and charge her family for the bullet, they are trying to strong arm her into silence. Screw the Chines government. I, too, think it was Karma for how they not only treat the citizens in Tibet, but all the other citizens in China and the way they treat their land. Yes, as the person above stated the US also has Karma working against her...TRUE THAT, but I also think we are all becoming more aware and most are taking steps to lessen their own carbon footprint...not the Chinese Government. If they can't shut you up then they either jail you, kill you, and now SUE YOU!! Laugh of freaking loud

[walter]

HOT MUCH WOULD THEY TRY TO SUE HER FOR IF SHE WAS JOE 6 PACKS WIFE WITH 5 KIDS IN A 2 ROOM TRAI9LER HOUSE.

[CC]

As much as I disguise Sharon Stone's stupidity, I still find this lawsuit entertainingly ridiculous. Hey, but if even the mcdonald-coffee-burnt-my-lips lawsuit could win big bucks, nothing is impossible. On the other hand, this is more like a case of a chinatown lawyer desperately seeking media attention. Will this remind those hollywood politician-wanna-bes to be a bit cautious next time they open their stinky mouths? Maybe not, since they will never get any brain, no mention a heart.

[mimi]

Yeah, free speach. Those american died in September 11, 2001, were karma also cause US government raise war all over the world. Especially those died in "Katrina" are karma also cause US are the most polluted country in the world. US people now are suffering economic downturn cause their karma also, cause they over borroging and spending, Yes, I agree karma hit US the most.

[jerry]

i agree it is karma. that is why the US had 9/11 and katrina. haha, it is interesting how karma hits the US the most..
Katrina and 9/11 are brought upon by U.S. itself.

[Hussein Hasan]

Hello My dears all specially in USA . how are you . i like to tell you . any i am with few ideas from yours that what sharon said about karma is right . yes its karma . punishment from God for the human mistakes in the their life . each one return to god finally and our end after this life belong for what we have done in our lifes and all the childrens whom died they will be in happy life after this life , there is the life and forever no end for it .
my dears all i like to say and thats the right and i am sure from what i said :
in 5 aughust 2008 there is strong earthquake happened in almost west china , they didnt reveal this even in all the media news , i think the only reason because the olompics sports was so near . i didnt see any reason else . think with me . forexample now if any earthquake else happens in east china or the west or beguins what we can say or think . they hide the truth from all the people out side china because of the sports . is that good reason or fair from china whom want billion dollar from sharon . now where is karma , karma . yes its karma , because they dont have faith in god . now they want money for their pockets not for the victems . you think all they ask about the victems , if they dont believe god create them . you think all they have faith to ask about the faimelies of the victems , ha ha ha . shame on them to ask about that , they have to take faith in their hearts , faith in god before any thing . then think about the money but they will never take it . and from the world of spirits as i know they will never take it . yes this almighty from god to me . they will never take money .
good day for sharon and all in USA .