Alleged tax evasion has been a favorite tool of intimidation. Wielding such dubious accusations, the Kremlin was able to consign Russia's richest man, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, to a Siberian prison camp and to expropriate his giant oil company, Yukos. Whatever the state of his taxes, Khodorkovsky's real sin was to bankroll opposition to Putin.
Let us hope Spielberg, Katzenberg, Geffen, Winfrey, Damon, Affleck, Clooney et al. see the parallels here and speak to their misguided colleagues.
Now if you'll excuse, I have to rinse with salt water.