Let's Cast the First Stone

Why does the media cover the PR stunts of minor celebrities? Last week, the son of conspiracy theorist and movie directory Oliver Stone converted to Islam. His name is now Sean Ali Stone. Over the weekend,we got an article in the New York Post in which Stone is claiming now to be a victim. That really did not take long. Five days ago in Iran Stone made his conversion. In the intervening days he travelled back to the USA and met the reporter for dinner at trendy Bario 47 in Manhattan. Suddenly, Stone is a victim of a major Hollywood backlash due to his conversion. Give me a break!

First, if Stone has suddenly become an observant Muslim, he would not be eating at Bario 47 which does not meet the relevant dietary requirements. It seems most likely that Stone announced his conversion for shock value and to get publicity for his new movie (whose name I will not mention since I have no desire to help Stone's game plan.) In other words, Stone's actions are like Madonna's involvement with Kabbala, the Jewish mysticism which she claims to follow.

Second, if Stone is actually experiencing a backlash, why doesn't he go public with details. No, Stone just tells us that he is a victim but never identifies the perpetrators or what they have done. Indeed, these would have had to be some pretty amazing people to get to Stone while he was flying back from Iran and to take some action which would harm him when they had no dealings with him. It sounds much more like the plot to one of his father's movies than anything that actually happened.

Third, let's assume for a moment that Stone is accurately telling the truth (which seems unlikely to me). Who cares? People in Hollywood have every right to get annoyed with Stone if they choose to. Stone does not say that he lost a job or had anything other than words directed at him. Why does the media think that anyone actually cares about this stuff.

Okay, so I realize that after complaining about the story, I am extending it by writing about it. Too bad. It has to be said. I am giving notice, however, that this is the last story on Stone and his purported conversion.