It appears that Spike Lee has been talking smack about Clint Eastwood. Not a man to take guff from anyone, Clint has responded with instructions for Lee to shut his face! We get the following news piece thanks to our good friends over at ropeofsilicone:
At the Cannes Film Festival Spike Lee called out Clint Eastwood and his films Flags of Our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima saying:
“There were many African-Americans who survived that war and who were upset at Clint for not having one [in the films]. That was his version: the negro soldier did not exist. I have a different version.
In an interview with The Guardian Eastwood answers the questions head on:
“The story is Flags of Our Fathers, the famous flag-raising picture, and they didn’t do that. If I go ahead and put an African-American actor in there, people’d go: ‘This guy’s lost his mind.’ I mean, it’s not accurate.” Referring to Lee, he added: “A guy like him should shut his face.”
I am not sure how many African American soldiers fought at Iwo Jima, and I’m certainly not able to step in between these two and say who is right and who is wrong….but holy crow! I have to admire Spike Lee’s balls for calling out one of the most macho dudes to ever grace the big screen. Everyone loves Clint, and if Lee is going to throw shit at him, he better expect some back.
In the Guardian, Eastwood goes on to say that he always accurately represents racial diversity according to time and place.
I am wondering if this feud will blow up to Rosie/Donald heights or if it will stop right now. I certainly hope these guys shake hands and make up; I respect both of them and it would be a shame for these artisans to waste any more air throwing insults at each other.
International Friends – if any of you are students of American history, please feel free to share your take on the history behind this disagreement.
