Don't look for Spike Lee to apologize to Charlton Heston for helpfully suggesting that the National Rifle Association posterboy be shot.That's because the Do The Right Thing filmmaker says he was just joking.
"I intended it as ironic, as a joke to show how violence begets more violence," Lee told reporters Thursday. "I told everyone there it was a joke. I said I did not want to read in the papers, 'Shoot Charlton Heston.'"
Ah, but be careful what you say around the New York Post, for--lo and behold--last Saturday, the enthusiastic Big Apple tab essentially printed just that, causing Lee a heap of trouble this week. House Majority Leader Dick Armey and other Republican leaders were swift to spike Spike for the comment. Armey called on the writer-director to offer an "I'm sorry" to movieland's Moses--pronto.
At least Heston said he's not taking the Spike matter too seriously.
"He gave me a big laugh," the actor and NRA president said on Los Angeles' KABC-AM radio Thursday. "The statement is a foolish one, and it's not worth arguing about."