Posted on 08/09/2002 10:01:14 AM PDT by Paul Atreides
He's one of Hollywood's hottest actors and, with Natural Born Killers among his starring roles, is no stranger to controversy.
But now Woody Harrelson has taken another brave step - he's passionately defended George Michael over his anti-Bush and Blair single Shoot The Dog.
The 41-year-old star - currently appearing in On An Average Day opposite Kyle MacLachlan at the Comedy Theatre in London - has hit out at the backlash against the song's lyrics which criticise George Bush, Tony Blair and the war on terror since September 11.
At his play's after-show party on Wednesday night, Woody told Jessica: "I saw the Daily Mirror's front page on George Michael and I thought it was brilliant. I've always been a fan but he's right up there now. I think he's a great guy.
"I haven't seen the video for his song but I was fascinated by what he had to say.
"He's incredibly brave to have done that song. Especially when doing something like that could be considered very dangerous in today's world."
Harrelson - who is famous for his role as the dim barman Woody in Cheers and who stunned audiences with his powerful portrayal of a murderer in Natural Born Killers - is the first American to stand up and defend the 39-year-old British singer.
The former Wham! star caused outrage by using the Daily Mirror's Howdy Poodle front page, which poked fun at the special relationship between Britain and the US, on the single's cover.
"I can't believe he got so criticised in America for it. It's so unfair," said Woody. "I hear he's too scared to go over to the States now. What a joke. I'd really like to meet George.
"I want to congratulate him on standing up and speaking out.
"I totally support him and wish him all the best. It would really make my day if you could set up a meeting with me and George. I just want to shake that guy by the hand."
He also had nothing but praise for the Daily Mirror.
"I have one thing to say about the Mirror - it's amazing," he said. "The paper's stance on the war against terrorism is just right. It's so bold.
"The war against terrorism is terrorism. The whole thing is just bullsh*t. What you guys have done is very brave."
Woody - who was with his wife Laura and their two daughters Deni, nine, and five-year-old Zoe at the party at Adam Street private members' club - has been living in London for two months. He has homes in Hawaii and Costa Rica and proclaims to be a vegan, although he was gobbling up the canapes at the party.
"I love it over here, man," he grinned, sipping a pint of beer.
"I've been really busy but now the play has started I want to have a little fun. There's a little spot I go to but I'd rather not tell you where it is."
London cab driver Les Dartnell also attended the play.
In June Woody was wrestled to the ground by policemen and arrested after he went berserk in the back of Les's taxi. The cabbie said the star acted like a "caged animal".
Within minutes of Les picking the actor up from Chinawhite at 2am, Woody had trashed the cab. He then booted the door open and made a run for it.
Les dropped the charges after Woody paid him £542.96 and the two men shook hands after the play. "He said, 'No hard feelings'," said Woody. "He seemed like a nice guy. It's just one of those terrible circumstances."
WOODY TAKES ON THE WARMONGERS
WHEN George Michael released his controversial record Shoot The Dog about the War on Terror he was instantly torn to pieces by the right-wing gutter press.
They attacked him for being an "anti-9/11 pop pervert coward", said his career was "down the toilet" and generally abused and ridiculed the singer for airing sensible, compassionate views shared by the Daily Mirror and many millions of British people.
The message from these fascist, homophobic bully-boys was clear: "Agree with us or we'll bury you."
So relentless and nasty was their attack that George began to fear he might never return safely to America again - and sales of his record inevitably suffered as a result.
But today he is publicly supported by a powerful new celebrity voice.
Hollywood superstar Woody Harrelson says the ex-Wham! star was "brave and brilliant" to raise doubt over the War on Terror. Woody adds that the Mirror's coverage of the conflict has been "bold, right, amazing".
The problem for the right-wing, slavishly pro-American bully-boys is that Woody is one of their own. An all-American hero who plays macho roles in blockbuster movies.
And he's not gay, either, so they can't even whack him for that.
By praising the Mirror and defending George Michael, Woody knows he'll get flak back home. And he'll get personally degraded by The Sun, the New York Post and other nasty little rags.
But Woody has shown that not all Americans share their President's warmongering values.
The Mirror is not anti-American. But we are increasingly disturbed by the conduct of George Bush as he marauds around the world, settling old family scores and blowing things up.
Secret polling carried out by Tony Blair's inner circle reveals most Britons also have a deep suspicion and dislike of this incredibly right-wing, intellectually challenged and trigger-happy President.
Disasters such as Vietnam happened because governments were allowed to proceed with them by lapdog media and weak opposition voices.
If Tony Blair thinks he can quietly sneak Britain into a war with Saddam Hussein because his mate George Bush wants him to, he should think again.
Remember White Men Can't Jump? Pleeeeeaaazzze this guy is a joke. I think I remember that Woody launched a line of clothing made from hemp. Now I need a clever line about Woodster smoking his clothes.....:-)
ROTFLMAO!!! Okay, that's reaaly over the top.
Woody who? I am sorry, but Woody hasn't been 'hot' since Cheer's and even then wasn't all that 'hot'.
Yeah, ol' Woody showed his intellectual skills in stellar roles in quality movies like "Natural Born Killers" and "Cowboy Way".
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