The co-chair of Sony Pictures and a prominent Hollywood producer apologized Thursday for comments about President Obama’s presumed preference for movies featuring black characters and issues, BuzzFeed reported.
The comments were made in a November 2013 email conversation between co-chair Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin that became public when Sony Pictures was hacked last week.
According to BuzzFeed’s transcription of the email exchange, Rudin and Pascal speculated that Obama would likely be a fan of actor and comedian Kevin Hart and might prefer movies like “Django Unchained” and “12 Years a Slave.”
“What should I ask the president at this stupid Jeffrey breakfast?” Pascal wrote in an email to Rudin, referring to an upcoming breakfast where Obama would be in attendance.
“Would he like to finance some movies,” Rudin replied.
“I doubt it,” Pascal wrote back. “Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?”
Rudin then suggested she ask if Obama was a fan of “12 Years,” to which Pascal replied: “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic]”
Rudin finished the exchange by adding: “Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”
In statements released after the hacked emails became public, both apologized for the exchange, saying the messages were never meant to be public but were nonetheless inappropriate.
