Clint Eastwood's daughter under fire after destroying a $100,000 Hermes Birkin handbag

Telegraph UK ^ | May 29, 2012 | Belinda White

[rightwingintelligentsia]

As the daughter of one of Hollywood's most prolific actor/directors, and star of realty TV show Mrs. Eastwood & Company chronicling the lives of her extended family, Francesca Eastwood is well used to being in the eye of the storm.

But Clint Eastwood's 18-year-old daughter is on the receiving end of vicious public outcry after a photographic stunt with her artist boyfriend Tyler Shields backfired.

Eastwood and Shields - known for his work with video portraits and celebrity photography - decided to publicly demolish a $100,000 crocodile Hermès Birkin bag by setting it on fire before taking a chainsaw to it, all in the name of art.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

There. Is. NO. (NO!) Such. Thing. As. A. Handbag. Worth. $100,000.

[altura]

The best possible use for a hundred thousand dollar handbag.

the inflated handbag prices are one of the most disgusting aspects of worship of status symbols.

Even worse than $300 sneakers.

[CaptainK]

I've purchased authentic designer bags from ebay at a fraction of the price.

Designers who are off of many people's radars, but their product is made with the same quality leathers and hand stitching as Hermes.

It also cuts down on the danger of buying a counterfeit when a name doesn't have the buzz.

[Baynative]

The fact that there is such a thing as a $100,000 handbag gives creedence to the OWS crowd. But, ironically they worship the people that have them if they claim liberal faith.

[toolman1401]

She is smoking hot; someone should post a picture of her. Then the masses would realize the uproar was much ado about nothing and that she is definitely NOT GUILTY!

[FreedomPoster]

It was probably a $200 Chinese knockoff.

[HIDEK6]

I don't understand why anyone should care that a person destroyed her own handbag.

After all, this could be the first step in her divesting herself of all her worldly goods to take up residence in a convent.

[chesley]

I’m thinking maybe she doesn’t understand art.

But that to the side, the money could have been better spent, it could have helped people. But it was her money, and she could do with it what she wants.

But what will you bet that she is not a liberal, and wants to tax you more to help “the children”?

[wbill]

That $100K could have fed a few starving peasants for years.

My family could have gotten by on $100K very nicely, for a good while.

$100K would buy a decent (not upscale, but decent) house in most locations where I live, as well.

Methinks her dad is not thrilled with this "art". From what little I know, he leans conservative.

Particularly if it was his Hundred Large that originally purchased the bag. :-)

[Graybeard58]

“Why was this not sold and the money given to the poor?”

And like all good liberals, he didn't care a whit about "the poor", he wanted the money for himself.

[Graybeard58]

Everybody stop referencing alligators. This is a crocodile story!

[mj81]

He will be 86 when the next one graduates....

[wbill]

a piece of leather crafted into a bag with a fancy label on it made by the very same people and means as the $30 handbag that I can buy at a fraction of that cost, just to hold their stuff.

I'll ask Mrs Wbill about this tonight. I dunno the difference between, say, a $20 knockoff, and whatever a decent brand name costs.

We talked about it, awhile ago. For her, with little kids, a handbag is a lifeline, not a fashion accessory. When we talked, she said approximately: "Cheap bags, or knockoffs, just fall apart. Where it's something that I use daily, it's better to spend a little money and get something of quality, than be a penny wise and a pound foolish."

Sez me, fair enough. But I doubt that there are too many $100K handbags in her closet, either. LOL!

[Vendome]

I was forced to watch this stoopit show last night.

Contrived and synthetic.

[Old Teufel Hunden]

"I’m thinking maybe she doesn’t understand art."

Exactly!! I could care less how she spends her money. She won't be the first spoiled rich brat who blows money. What bothers me about this article is that this is supposed to be art. Are we as a society willing to accept any act/expression whatever as an expression of art? Whether it's a cross in a jar of urine or some naked chick throwing feces on herself. Can't we as a society just say no, you are an idiot. That is not art. Have we degenerated so far that we can't do that? I doubt that Rembrandt or Da Vinci would call burning an expensive purse art. It demeans true artists.

[Oztrich Boy]

BF bought me a fake Pravda at the flea market for $10 (he actually thought it was real!).

In Soviet Russia, all Pravda is fake.

[exit82]

And like all good liberals, he didn't care a whit about "the poor", he wanted the money for himself.

Excellent point.

[NormsRevenge]

Cable TV is a wasteland of wannabees and celebs who think they have a tale to tell. sadly, they don’t.

[wbill]

Cable TV is a wasteland of wannabees and celebs who think they have a tale to tell

That.....is an incredibly apt description. May I steal it?

I can't stand "reality" programming. I have my own reality, I don't need to live vicariously through someone else's.

[kalee]

In Rembrandt’s or Da Vinci’s time art was in the creation of a work, now in our post modern era it is in the destruction of a work. Nihilism in action.