Welcome to the March 5, 2015 edition of Outrage Watch, HitFix's (almost) daily rundown of all the things folks are peeved about in entertainment. Today's top story: Method Man is speaking his truth — loudly and with a lot of curse words.
After hearing that his former Wu-Tang clan cohorts would be auctioning off the only copy of the band's secret “final” album “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin” for millions of dollars — with the caveat that the buyer will not have the right to make money off the album for 88 years — Method Man did not hold back in an interview with XXL magazine.
“Fuck that album,” said the rapper. “I”m tired of this shit and I know everybody else is tired of it, too. Fuck that album, if that”s what they are doing. I haven”t heard anything like that, but if they”re doing crap like that, fuck that album. Straight up. I”m just keeping it 100. When music can”t be music and y”all turning it into something else, fuck that. Give it to the people, if they want to hear the shit, let them have it. Give it away free. I don”t give a fuck; that ain”t making nobody rich or poor. Give the fucking music out. Stop playing with the public, man.”
Strong words! For his part, Wu-Tang member RZA attempted to clarify the report with the following tweet:
For clarity. The 88 year clause relates to the commercialization of the album. Meaning it can't be sold or bought only given away.
– RZA! (@RZA) March 4, 2015
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All good now, guys? (Listen to a whole 51 seconds of the album below.)
[XXL]
Want more? There's plenty of indignation to go around. See below for a full roundup of today's kerfuffles.
Outraged: Twitter
Target: ABC Family's “The Fosters”
Why: After featuring the youngest gay kiss in TV history on this week's episode, the ABC Family series has come under fire from, shall we say, some rather intolerant folks. Perhaps the most shocking reaction emanated from Twitter user @AnnBarnhardt, who also, I should probably note, characterizes Lady Gaga's “Born This Way” as a “sodomite slogan”:
Basic cable now peddling in gay kiddie porn. ABC Family Airs Youngest-Ever Gay Kiss Between Two 13-Year-Old Boys https://t.co/5ndg3xoMp5
– Ann Barnhardt (@AnnBarnhardt) March 4, 2015
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Guess we should haul in the creators of “The Wonder Years” too, then? See here for co-creator Peter Paige's admirably measured response. Oh, and you can watch the terribly shocking kiss below.
[The Wrap]
Outraged: “The Hunting Ground” director Kirby Dick
Target: Florida State University President John Thrasher
Why: After Thrasher released a statement characterizing the director's new documentary about the college rape epidemic as “seriously lacking in credibility,” Dick countered with a statement of his own, in which he claims to have contacted the university for an interview over two months ago.
“We didn”t get a response until last week – three days before our film opened in theaters and more than two months after we first sent the letter,” he writes, before adding later: “Rather than attack the messenger, President Thrasher should show leadership and focus on the problem that has existed on his campus for decades.”
Not a bad suggestion, John.
[The Wrap]
Outraged: George Takei
Target: The state of Alabama
Why: The “Star Trek” icon has helped launch a social media campaign protesting a decision by Alabama's highest court to uphold the state's gay marriage ban. “[Give] AL the 'wedding finger' and [tag] #LuvUAlabama,” wrote the actor on Facebook, along with a photo of he and his husband Brad doing just that. And previously: “I'm going to say it. Alabama is really starting to piss me off.”
Let's celebrate this campaign with George's incredible laugh.
[h/t Huffington Post]
Alabama just gave SCOTUS the finger by halting marriage equality there despite federal orders. Couples, let's respo… pic.twitter.com/7tseAzoaob
– George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) March 4, 2015
Outraged: Indie rock band Ex Cops
Target: McDonalds
Why: Band member Brian Harding has written an open letter slamming the $90 billion-plus mega-corporation for refusing to pay performers for their tasty-sounding “McDonalds Showcase” at this year's SXSW music festival. Quoth Mickey D's: “There isn”t a budget for an artist fee (unfortunately).” Whaaaaat. “It is a horrifying and gross reality when one sees the true nature of corporations and their pathetic attempts to achieve relevance with millennials,” writes Harding in part. I highly recommend reading the full thing.
Outraged: Rachel Maddow
Target: Bill O'Reilly, Fox News
Why: “The Fox News channel has still not corrected [O'Reilly's false claims about being in a 'war zone' during the Falklands war], or commented on those claims at all,” said Maddow on Wednesday's episode, before adding later: “The network has also not apologized or retracted any of Mr. O'Reilly's overt threats to other reporters who have just covered this story.”
[Salon]
Outraged: A few Twitter users
Target: Neil Patrick Harris
Why: After posting a photo of himself with Bill Clinton on Twitter Wednesday night — “Surreal. Just had the honor of introducing @BillClinton at an event for the amazing Clinton Foundation,” he wrote — a number of users slammed the 2015 Oscars host for the tweet. Stay tuned for that last one, it's a doozy.
.@ActuallyNPH Even Barney Stinson wouldn't do what Bill Clinton did in the Caribbean (or to Juanita Broaddrick). Shame on you, NPH.
– EagleGraphs (@EagleGraphs) March 5, 2015
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@ActuallyNPH @billclinton @ClintonFdn How many foreign donations from terrorist sponsoring countries did you guys pull in?
– RebelliousStripes (@jon_jononymous) March 5, 2015
Hahahahahaha!!! XD Bill Clinton is the only president to sign anti-gay legislation. Twice. @ActuallyNPH @billclinton @ClintonFdn #BRAVO
– SpatialAwareness(HM) (@die_mich_zwei) March 5, 2015
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@ActuallyNPH @billclinton @ClintonFdn yes quite the honor 2 stand next 2 a rapist, liar & cheater! Congrats!
– Glam♥Ma (@PNWJae) March 5, 2015
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Well, then.
[h/t Twitchy]
Outraged: Seth Rogen
Target: The Hollywood Reporter
Why: The “Interview” star has hit back at the trade's claims that outgoing Sony Pictures president Amy Pascal is “unable to move into her new suite that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg most recently occupied because the stench of marijuana cannot be easily removed” via Instagram: “I don't know what's more irresponsible,” he wrote, “that they would print a story that is completely untrue, or that they would refer to how pot smells as a 'stench.' #mys—smellsgood.”
Let's celebrate this story with Seth's amazing laugh.
[People]