Moore accused of publicity stunt over Disney 'ban'
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
07 May 2004

Less than 24 hours after accusing the Walt Disney Company of pulling the plug on his latest documentary in a blatant attempt at political censorship, the rabble-rousing film-maker Michael Moore has admitted he knew a year ago that Disney had no intention of distributing it.

The admission, during an interview with CNN, undermined Moore's claim that Disney was trying to sabotage the US release of Fahrenheit 911 just days before its world premiere at the Cannes film festival.

Instead, it lent credence to a growing suspicion that Moore was manufacturing a controversy to help publicise the film, a full-bore attack on the Bush administration and its handling of national security since the attacks of 11 September 2001.

In an indignant letter to his supporters, Moore said he had learnt only on Monday that Disney had put the kibosh on distributing the film, which has been financed by the semi-independent Disney subsidiary Miramax.

But in the CNN interview he said: "Almost a year ago, after we'd started making the film, the chairman of Disney, Michael Eisner, told my agent he was upset Miramax had made the film and he will not distribute it."

Nobody in Hollywood doubts Fahrenheit 911 will find a US distributor. His last documentary, Bowling for Columbine , made for $3m (£1.7m), pulled in $22m at the US box office.

But Moore's publicity stunt, if that is what is, appears to be working. A front-page news piece in The New York Times was followed yesterday by an editorial denouncing Disney for censorship and denial of Moore's right to free expression.

Moore told CNN that Disney had "signed a contract to distribute this [film]" but got cold feet. But Disney executives insists there was never any contract. And a source close to Miramax said that the only deal there was for financing, not for distribution.

Mel Gibson had the same problem.  So he put up $25m and financed it himself.

I suggest Mr Moore do the same thing.

SGtar15

He is such a douche! A friend of mine convinced me to give "bowling for Columbine" a chance. That film made me pissed off for several days and the sickest part is that this fat a- hole has fans.

Moore is a fucking mut of the lowest order.

No wonder there is a book called

Michael Moore is a big fat liar...can't be slander/liable if it's the truth.

I often visualize his head exploding from the impact of a .50 bmg round. (I see it in slow motion)

Quoted: Mel Gibson had the same problem.  So he put up $25m and financed it himself. I suggest Mr Moore do the same thing. SGtar15

Gibson got to laugh his way all the way to the bank on that one (as The Passion knocked Titanic off of the king-of-films throne)...

I doubt Moore will do as well...

Imagine -  a big fat blowhard acting like a big fat blowhard.

I'm shocked - SHOCKED  - I tell you.

Nothing is beneath that walking bag of shit.

WE need an anti michael moore website.


Ben

http://www.moorelies.com/

As I heard on talk radio yesteday: only government can censor, a corporation or business makes an editorial decision.  Their dime, their choice.

Heh heh, he must have thought realized that the only way he can get tons of exposure to his fabricated B.S. documantry was to... fabricate a B.S. story about censorship.  I saw Bowling For Columbine and was too amused to be pissed.  He couldn't go ten minutes into it without turning it into "America Sucks".  

What an asshat.

Hoppy8420

The worst part about Moore is that he's a phoney.
He rails against capitalism, but it's made him rich.
He bitches about out-sourcing jobs, and child labor, but his daughters wear
the newest fashions from The Gap, which is notorious for both.

I was in the studio audience the last time he had a series on cable.
They filmed the audience segments in an auditorium at the Illinois Institute of Technology.
(That's where I saw his daughters and wife).
He spoke in glowing terms about unions, but was using cheap student labor.
He lambasted the NRA and right-to-carry, but had private security frisk everyone before
they could enter the auditorium.
He bitched about compassion and human rights, but kept hundreds of people waiting in line
outside in a cold Chicago Janruary because he was late.

The guy's a perfect example of a Hollyweird Limo Liberal who is brain damaged enough
to believe his own twisted propaganda.

CKMorley