Steve Coogan on Angelina Jolie's humanitarian efforts

CLARIFICATION - ALISTAIR CAMPBELL - STEVE COOGAN INTERVIEW - see Tokyo Rose current post - for interview clarification particulars - here.  GQ clarification - here.
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Steve Coogan brands Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian efforts 'off putting': 'I have more respect for a star that does something difficult

Wednesday 09 July 2014


Angelina Jolie’s humanitarian efforts have been the subject of high praise by most of her peers.

Most recently, the actress was honoured with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Governor's Ball in November 2013 – a renown accolade she earned for her work as the co-founder of the Prevent Sexual Violence Initiative and as a special envoy for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

But not all are as impressed by her charity work. In discussion with Tony Blair’s former Director of Communications Alastair Campbell – published by British GQ – Steve Coogan called Jolie’s effort’s "off-putting" and called for "celebrities" to butt out of international affairs and stick to their day jobs.

"Though I have been involved politically, I find people who are in the public eye for something else who suddenly start voicing opinions about everything else quite irritating," Coogan is quoted as saying.

"What? Like Angelina Jolie going out campaigning with William Hague?" Campbell added, referencing Jolie’s tireless campaigning to address the issue of rape in war zones.

"I do find it a bit off-putting," Coogan responded.

"If you are trying to do something charitable there is always a double-edged sword, because it is good PR for the celebrity.

"Better to do it than not do it, but I have much more respect for a celebrity that goes out [campaigning] about something really difficult."

Elsewhere in the interview, Coogan also voiced his opinion on the controversial Scottish Independence debate. His vote in the September referendum, if he had one, would resolutely be a "no".

"I don't want them to become independent," he said. "The reason I don't like Ukip is because I think we should be pro-European, a more not less cohesive world. Insularity isn't good."

source:  Independent
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COMMENT

Coogan's an entertainer/producer.

The issue isn't whether or not the PR benefits the celebrity.

The issue is the worldwide platform and PR machinery that these celebrities command; the degree of influence on public perception; and the political (or other) agendas behind the emotive issues and causes etc that celebrities endorse.

The celebrity-politico-humanitarian aspect of Hollywood (and beyond) deserves its own study.

So he's bought into the notion of 'European' and 'cohesive' identity, while nationalism is now considered 'insularity'?






Wow.


MATERIAL REFERRED TO IN THIS POST IS AFFECTED BY FOLLOWING:

THERE'S BEEN A CLARIFICATION OF INTERVIEW WITH STEVE COOGAN BY ALISTAIR CAMPBELL.

ALISTAIR CAMPBELL'S GQ - CLARIFICATION ... HERE.