Russell Crowe on circumcision tweets: I'm very sorry
June 10th, 2011
03:15 PM ET

Russell Crowe on circumcision tweets: I'm very sorry

After launching into an anti-circumcision discussion on Twitter, Russell Crowe has offered a mea culpa.

The Oscar winner found himself in a heated exchange with his followers on Thursday after he tweeted, "Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature?” in response to a follower who seemed to be asking for his opinion on the subject. "My son is due soon," the Twitter user, picknic11, wrote. "Do you think I should get him circumstanced?'

She later clarified that it was a joke. "So, um, my little lame joke to Russell Crowe seems to have blown up a bit," the user wrote. "For the record, I was not asking Russell for parenting advice, I was making A JOKE. A joke about one word that sounded a bit like another."

But because of Crowe's response, a Twitter row ensued. According to the Telegraph, Crowe added, "Is it real that God requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect."

Crowe went on to add that he has “Many Jewish friends, I love my Jewish friends, I love the apples and the honey and the funny little hats but stop cutting yr babies,” the Telegraph reports.

“I will always stand for the perfection of babies, I will always believe in God, not man's interpretation of what God requires,” Crowe reportedly posted. And to those who disagreed: “Last of it, if u feel it is yr right 2 cut things off yr babies please unfollow and f- off, I'll take attentive parenting over barbarism.”

Crowe has since removed those statements and has issued an apology.

“This is a great forum for communication, I, like any human have my opinions and you all have yours, thank you for trusting me with them,” he tweeted Friday. “I have a deep and abiding love for all people of all nationalities, I'm very sorry that I have said things on here that have caused distress… My personal beliefs aside I realize that some will interpret this debate as me mocking the rituals and traditions of others. I am very sorry.”

Meanwhile, picknic11, has issued her own apology to Crowe. "@russellcrowe For what it's worth, I'm sorry to have kicked off the s--storm, although I know you are more than capable of taking it."


Filed under: Celebrities

soundoff (192 Responses)
  1. fe

    obviously like your web site however you need to test the spelling on several of your posts. A number of them are rife with spelling issues and I find it very troublesome to tell the truth on the other hand I'll surely come back again.

    February 21, 2013 at 9:09 am | Report abuse |
  2. onefeather

    My God, He has the right to say what he thinks or believes as we all do even if we do not agree.

    June 13, 2011 at 5:40 pm | Report abuse |
  3. fadeinlight

    If his logic is that "Babies are perfect," then perhaps he should be campaigning against, say, plastic surgery for children born with cleft palates, or plastic surgery at all...

    June 13, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hugh7

      Yes that is a faulty argument (one you should forgive a proud father), but if there were anything wrong with having a foreskin, it would have been naturally selected away long since. And if such a unique structure, placed where it is and working as it does, does NOT have an erogenous function, what was God/evolution thinking?

      June 17, 2011 at 9:44 pm | Report abuse |
  4. derp

    "Who are you to correct nature?”

    Ok Russ, so when you get cancer, we'll just let you die rather than give you medical care.

    Who are we to correct nature?

    June 13, 2011 at 1:39 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tom

      Cancer is not nature, it's nature gone wrong. It's caused by mutation, carcinogen exposure, and any number of interactions of environmental factors with evolved genetic predispositions. A f–eskin is not cancerous. Left alone, it does not metastasize and cause death. It cannot be analogized to a wisdom tooth, appendix, gall bladder, etc., all things that are removed only when they prove medically problematic. Nor is a f–eskin simply useless skin–it is integral to s-xual function. You (and many other commentators making the same argument) can't understand the difference between the curative aspects of medicine, versus a supposed "medical treatment" that has no grounding in medical necessity (again, point me to a specific study with a good research design). However non-eloquent Mr. Crowe might be in his statements, at least he doesn't engage in strawman arguing.

      June 13, 2011 at 1:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • SB

      Oh the ignorance, it burns! Look guy, foreskin removal is not a form of cancer prevention. There is no more prevalence of cancer in the foreskin than any other tissue in your body. Removing the foreskin to prevent cancer makes as much sense as removing your arm, and is about as effective. Actually removing your arm would be more effective due to the sheer number of cells. But anyway, that's no cause to remove the foreskin for that reason. In fact, there is no reason at all to remove the foreskin except for aesthetics which isn't something the parent's should decide. It is something that the boy should decide when he is mature enough to make that decision. Adult foreskin removal is safer, the aesthetic effects are the same, and it's ethical unlike infant mutilation which, regardless of how unfair that may make it seem, is what we're talking about.

      June 13, 2011 at 3:45 pm | Report abuse |
  5. Rock

    Thank you mom and dad (whoever you were) for removing that ugly skin.

    June 13, 2011 at 10:00 am | Report abuse |
    • Hugh7

      If you've never seen it, how do you know it was ugly? And if you'd had it all your life and still had it, how do you know you'd still think it was ugly?

      June 18, 2011 at 12:13 am | Report abuse |
  6. marian

    Mel Gibson directed passion of the christ ,directed and starred in braveheartlethal weapon and the mad max movies. Russel Crowe did gladiator, a dangerous mind. How in the world did you get those 2 mixed?

    June 13, 2011 at 9:09 am | Report abuse |
    • The Mad R@p3r

      I know you're trying to troll me, Marian, but like everybody on here I know all those tricks. Russel did an incredible job directing Passion of the Christ, and frankly he was simply incredible as Jesus in the movie.

      June 13, 2011 at 9:58 am | Report abuse |
    • Meh

      Wasn't Russel the main characted in Alien?

      June 13, 2011 at 10:03 am | Report abuse |
  7. Heaan

    "Is it real that God requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfect."
    The Wheel in the Sky demands your flesh fools!!!
    Babies are not perfect – they are ugly. I know all you proud parents out there think you made the best looking kid but let me tell you from everyone else's perspective, it looks like a tank rolled over it.

    June 13, 2011 at 9:07 am | Report abuse |
  8. Jaime

    I agree with RC as well. I really wish I hadn't had "a little off the top".

    June 13, 2011 at 8:23 am | Report abuse |
  9. Conan

    The word "Barbaric" does not even come close to applying in this situation. #hyperbole

    June 13, 2011 at 7:20 am | Report abuse |
  10. dave nelson

    Sometimes i really hate the predictive mode on my phone. Please excuse any typos.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:11 am | Report abuse |
  11. dave nelson

    Hey, Moderator I just sent my complaint about you to the first link in the chain of command. I gave asked for your termination. I intend to go as far as necessary to ensure your permanent removal from this companys payroll. Have a nice day.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:06 am | Report abuse |
  12. dave nelson

    Hey, meesctns. I just sent my complaint about you to the first link in the chain of command. I gave asked for your termination. I intend to go as far as necessary to ensure your permanent removal from this companys payroll. Have a nice day.

    June 13, 2011 at 7:05 am | Report abuse |
  13. dave nelson

    the moderator who keeps doing this is, in my humble opinion, a very rude and immature individual. they shot down another topic related post.

    June 13, 2011 at 6:43 am | Report abuse |
  14. dave nelson

    I swear, if i ever find out the name of the moderator who keeps rejecting my topic oriented posts, i will do everything in my power to see the person fired. Matter of fact, i am going to get in touch with the biggest boss i can find and raise immortal hell until i get i get satisfaction. My post contained only facts and did not insult anyone, yet it as rejected anyway.

    June 13, 2011 at 6:30 am | Report abuse |
  15. bubbahu?

    obviously crowe is not the sharpest " tool " in the shed in more ways then one !

    June 13, 2011 at 6:29 am | Report abuse |
  16. Alientech

    Another stupid religious practice. Were it some other group doing it, RC wouldn't be apologizing for his comments and we wouldn't be discussing it.

    June 13, 2011 at 5:35 am | Report abuse |
  17. Sonoma

    Parents who had it done and are fine with it. I have one question. Did you WATCH??? Cause most of the time they do not medicate the baby so it doesn't feel pain. Ask some doctors/nurses sometimes who have to be in the room with the baby. I do not understand how you can be so nonchalant about what happens to your newborn baby. Just because they don't remember, doesn't mean they didn't feel pain or weren't traumatized. Also, think about when they have to urinate after, the stinging they must feel.....

    June 13, 2011 at 1:51 am | Report abuse |
  18. Tom

    How enlightened. We do this because (1) he might someday not know how to practice good hygiene or (2) he might someday contract an STD or AIDS and be stupid enough to engage in unsafe practices or (3) his parents' religion demands this ritual procedure or (4) he simply happens to have been born as a "he" instead of a "she". Last time I checked, women can be unhygienic, women engage in unsafe practices, women contract STDs, AIDS, etc., and women are born to parents whose religion has mainstream female g–nital mutilation. Show me the studies on how women spread STDs and AIDS, or the studies in which the female's "treatment group" is mutilated as adults in the name of science. Show me one study on males that does not have a deeply flawed research design, and yet is used to prop up this terrible practice. Show me one argument that is not hypocritical and against the supposed liberty and equality we so ardently preach about.

    June 13, 2011 at 12:38 am | Report abuse |
  19. M.K.

    How can someone say they are going to heaven anyhow? The best scientists in the world cannot define heaven, and no one knows how long eternity will last. Can anyone define the word eternity? That is one thing even the human brain cannot fathom, and that is the best computer ever developed.

    June 12, 2011 at 11:57 pm | Report abuse |
  20. M.K.

    Crowe is right on the money. If having foreskin will keep them out of heaven none of us has a chance of a snowball in hell. Isn' it t strange that Billy Graham said Mother Theresa could not go to heaven, but a born again mass murderer could. If only the hypocritical born again baptists are welcome in heaven, I would prefer to go some place else. Hell would not be such a bad place with out all the so-called born again killers running around.

    June 12, 2011 at 11:47 pm | Report abuse |
  21. Weiner

    How is it digusting and cruel, speaking of experience? It reduces the risks of many penile infections and diseases. Takes several seconds and is nearly painless to a newborn baby. Look it up.

    June 12, 2011 at 11:39 pm | Report abuse |
    • Stefan

      Point me to exactly which studies show it reduces the risks of penile infections and diseases, and I'll point you to the many faults in their research design. Most have been dismissed as junk science. It's bad enough we have this propped up via religion. Please refrain from trying to put the force of science/reason behind it.

      June 13, 2011 at 12:24 am | Report abuse |
  22. Logan

    Thank you Russell for saying what needs to be said. It is a disgusting and cruel practice, and is a violation of human rights. That's right, people, your babies are humans. They are not an extention of you. When it comes down to it there are only two questions that matter. 1)What is wrong with your baby's penis? and 2)What if the doctor makes a mistake? It is just not worth it, and it's sad that when babies are first brought into the world the people who are meant to protect them put them through this torture.

    June 12, 2011 at 10:45 pm | Report abuse |
  23. Odinj

    Jesus wasn't Cut. All I'm saying...

    June 12, 2011 at 8:19 pm | Report abuse |
  24. jamesnyc

    genital mutilation is wrong male or female.

    June 12, 2011 at 8:17 pm | Report abuse |
  25. Literalist

    I undestand that Russel Crowe does not eat bread. Wheat is perfect the way God created it. Why tinker?

    June 12, 2011 at 5:08 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tom

      Fitting that a strawman argument is based on wheat. Russell made a decision (1) as an adult (2) related to his own health. But let's run with your line of reasoning. The analogy to circ–cision would be: as an infant we decide wheat is bad for you or against your religion and your parents therefore decide you can't have wheat. Wheat never would have been a problem for you, but we were worried it might be based on some sketchy studies. Plus no one in your family background ever ate wheat. It's too bad, because it turns out wheat would have had a lot of benefits for you too. As an adult, you regret the decision of your doctors/parents and decide you want to eat wheat. Thankfully you can. Unfortunately, circ–cision isn't just something that you can opt out of later. It's permanent. Russell not eating wheat as an adult is more the corollary to deciding you don't want your f–eskin AS AN ADULT. Are you seeing the distinction??

      June 13, 2011 at 2:14 pm | Report abuse |
  26. spacemonkey

    Well then Russell Crowe should never wear clothes either. Cuz if god thought it was necessary people would have been born with them on.

    June 12, 2011 at 3:29 pm | Report abuse |
  27. gkingii

    OK, now lets see how he feels about hairy pits, pierced c**ts, ugly zits or folks who are twits. Maybe we already know that last one.

    June 12, 2011 at 3:26 pm | Report abuse |
  28. Jess

    I got my baby boy cut when he was a day old. And he's perfectly fine. He is one of the happiest babies I know. And I feel bad for the guys who's parents didn't love them enough to get them chopped shortly after birth.

    June 12, 2011 at 1:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • Trevor

      Stupid comment

      June 12, 2011 at 11:06 pm | Report abuse |
    • dee

      Once again, an ignorant fool trying to say something of substance. fail. no, sorry, EPIC FAIL, Jess.

      June 13, 2011 at 1:41 am | Report abuse |
    • Tom

      I did the same thing to my daughter after she was born in line with our religious customs. It took seconds, and the doctors and nurses said she was just fine. She's one of the happiest babies I know. They said that she might have some pain for a couple weeks, but she won't remember any of this down the road and will certainly thank me later on. I've basically saved her from STDs, AIDS, and cancer risk.

      June 13, 2011 at 2:01 pm | Report abuse |
  29. brian

    so what if thats what he thinks so what he can think what he wants whats hes in movies so he has to think what we tell him to come on

    June 12, 2011 at 1:01 pm | Report abuse |
  30. Agha Ata (USA)

    The Bible is the word of God, The proof is that it is written in the Bible (period) lol

    June 12, 2011 at 10:38 am | Report abuse |
  31. Richard Allen

    Eh let the kid keep his foreskin and if he wants it removed when he is older, it will be his decision.

    June 12, 2011 at 9:33 am | Report abuse |
  32. MJ

    The Robin Hood backdrop was an interesting choice for the photo.....

    June 12, 2011 at 8:41 am | Report abuse |
  33. SusanBarwick

    Baby boys have died from this procedure....

    June 12, 2011 at 7:53 am | Report abuse |
  34. eattherich

    There is no god. Man created the idea of god. The bible was written by stone age humans. There is no afterlife or santa claus. Mutilating a child is wrong.

    June 12, 2011 at 6:30 am | Report abuse |
  35. dave nelson

    Hey cnn, try being a real journalistic endeavor and print what I send in. My comments are true, insightful, and not nearly as idiotic as some of those posted here.

    June 12, 2011 at 5:28 am | Report abuse |
  36. dave nelson

    Ah, yet again, this biased, pathetic so called media forum refused to post a blog i sent. Losers.

    June 12, 2011 at 5:23 am | Report abuse |
  37. rtbrno65

    Crowe's cutting remarks should spark some healthy debate around the globe.

    June 12, 2011 at 5:18 am | Report abuse |
  38. whatwhat4

    It was no skin off my nose

    June 12, 2011 at 4:45 am | Report abuse |
  39. LUAP

    I just hope he doesn't lunge his phone at anyone...

    June 12, 2011 at 12:48 am | Report abuse |
  40. Robert

    WAS. God outlawed certain meats for the Hebrews, in our 21st century hindsight this was a good thing because the meats that were outlawed would have caused devastating illness for their densely packed community if undercooked. C-cision was a symbolic act beginning with Abraham (I think). But in the New Testament, book of Acts, God showed Peter that the rule of unclean animals no longer applied. And concerning c-cision, the apostles met in Jerusalem and agreed that c-cision was an Old Covenant practice, no longer applicable for Christians, whether Jewish or Gentile.

    As for the practice today (of male c-cision, not the mutliation referred to as "female ci-cision"), there are medical arguments for and against it. When it is properly done, at the proper time, the male baby will heal the fastest and experience the least amount of pain. This is by design, again something we can see with 21st century hindsight in a law given to us well over 4000 years ago.

    June 11, 2011 at 11:21 pm | Report abuse |
    • Robert

      *sigh* This was a reply to jdoe "Well the Bible also says that eating pork and shellfish is an abomination. Yet not too many people abide by that. As believe, people will pick and choose the rules they want to follow."

      Stupid comment system is stupid. And CNN, good job running an article on a topic and then not allowing posts containing the same word.

      June 11, 2011 at 11:23 pm | Report abuse |
  41. Robert

    Twitter and facebook are two ways of showing that very few celebrities have anything of value to say.

    June 11, 2011 at 11:11 pm | Report abuse |
  42. Blessed Geek

    llessuR 0773H
    R U cirXised?

    June 11, 2011 at 9:25 pm | Report abuse |
  43. Matt

    I never realized this was such a big deal. I can say that I am and guess what, I don't remember a damn thing from when it happened and neither does anyone else that has been. If it hoenstly affected men in some negative way I could see this being a problem, but otherwise it just seems to me to be something else for people to argue about.

    June 11, 2011 at 7:29 pm | Report abuse |
  44. Rogey

    God, who is perfect, made man in his image. But then had second thoughts and decided that some parts should be chopped off.

    June 11, 2011 at 7:20 pm | Report abuse |
  45. dawn01

    well, better see this http://www.SUPERSONIC.US.COM

    June 11, 2011 at 6:14 pm | Report abuse |
  46. matt devereaux

    I'm sorry but how exactly is the bible proven to be the word of God?
    DCM is an idiot "fundee"...wish these people weren't allowed to vote.

    June 11, 2011 at 6:07 pm | Report abuse |
  47. jdoe

    Well the Bible also says that eating pork and shellfish is an abomination. Yet not too many people abide by that. As believe, people will pick and choose the rules they want to follow.

    June 11, 2011 at 6:05 pm | Report abuse |
  48. jdoe

    Let's just be glad that the Bible doesn't require an offering of an earlobe or your pinky finger.

    June 11, 2011 at 6:03 pm | Report abuse |
  49. A

    Actually, both of my sons had this done within our 2 day stay immediately after birth, not a week later

    June 11, 2011 at 6:02 pm | Report abuse |
  50. RealityChecker

    Crowe is an idiot. And his fans are even bigger idiots.

    June 11, 2011 at 5:53 pm | Report abuse |
  51. Tom

    Russell hates Americans. Why do we care what he thinks?

    June 11, 2011 at 4:56 pm | Report abuse |
  52. justin

    If it not natural to alter what god gave you why has he cut his hair, nails, and uses product to remove wrinkles on his face? Also, from his years of drinking and drugs he altered his mind. Oh wait, he's a celebrity. Gods rules only apply to regular people, not d-bag washed up former stars.

    June 11, 2011 at 4:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • Thomas

      Um, he's an ADULT? I imagine if parents wanted to get implants for their babies or inject their babies with cocaine or give their babies alcohol then the public and the state might have a real interest in stopping this, no? But hey, let's just keep the weird logic rolling so we don't feel weird about all this needless mutilation at the hands of our parents and licensed professionals.

      June 13, 2011 at 2:22 pm | Report abuse |
  53. minnimee

    Never could stand this jerk

    June 11, 2011 at 4:21 pm | Report abuse |
  54. Iowa Yid

    Peter said it was alright to eat pork although Christ was a Jew, and was rumored to be a vegetarian and I am sure Russell has a porker in the freezer. However, God commanded Abraham to do the snip, so when Crowe says ir is man's law, he misses the bible. Considering the amount of biblical movies he does, well go figur. However.. He has no right fanticizing about Jewish baby penises.. I am really betting his offers from Jewish producers and directors probably will dwindle. We all know the Brits hate the Jews ever since the Jews kicked them out of their holdings in Israel.

    June 11, 2011 at 4:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Midwest Yid

      I agree, what is with these actors, politicians all fanticising about Jewish baby penises. It makes me worry alot. They are so rich they have nothing else do look bu think about penises. With this political Wiener who definitely must have had serious kidding in school, we have this other yahoo thinking about penises.

      I suppose Crowe is disappointed he didn't get an over night stay with Michael Jackson at Neverland Ranch when he could have.... I think personally the guy has serious trouble. However I am going to bar my door worrying that Crowe might be in the area lurking to see baby penises....

      June 11, 2011 at 4:24 pm | Report abuse |
  55. dennis

    I was happy that RC was expressing his opinions/belief openly and then he apologizes, takes away the comments etc etc...Come on man, don't be politically correct all the time. Are you afraid that your jew 'friends' will be offended? Well, if they are good friends (and more than 10 years of age), then they should be able to learn how to live to with differences of opinions. Why do you need to placate them – you don't need to win the popularity contest (since you already are). Don't worry about endorsements or new movies – because hollywood tolerates Mel Gibson and his tirades, so this pales in comparison. Be a Gladiator, own up to your views and re-post your views on barbaric procedure. Foreskin in the name of God – it's comical.

    June 11, 2011 at 3:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • Herby Sagues

      The funny thing is that he's bowing to a sort of political correctness that says that it is bad to criticize people that mutilate babies.

      June 12, 2011 at 5:04 am | Report abuse |
  56. Matt

    Extra, Extra...Russel Crow to star in Robin's Hood.

    June 11, 2011 at 2:00 pm | Report abuse |
  57. Kathleen

    DO YOU KNOW WHY CROWE APOLOGIZED? BECAUSE HE WAS BRANDED AS A NAZI BY THE JEWISH MEDIA. IT'S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SHUT SOMEONE UP WHO THINKS THAT GENITAL CUTTING IS BARBARIC. DON'T BE FOOLED BY THE SMOKESCREEN. BABIES ARE BORN PERFECT. NO DISASSEMBLY REQUIRED!

    June 11, 2011 at 1:54 pm | Report abuse |
  58. DCM

    In reply to my original post people said "what about Abraham and Moses, they didn't have the bible..." However, that's kinda a funny argument because they're "proof" comes from bible which without we wouldn't have any testimony that these personalities even existed.

    June 11, 2011 at 1:37 pm | Report abuse |
  59. RichardSRussell

    We stand aghast at religiously based FEMALE genital mutilation in Africa but raise nary a peep about equally religiously based MALE genital mutilation in America. Crowe may have gotten carried away with "babies are perfect", since some of them clearly have problems that only surgery can fix, but having a foreskin isn't one of them.

    June 11, 2011 at 12:53 pm | Report abuse |
  60. AJFA

    Gail Snail – you are an idiot of epic proportions. That was truly one of the dumbest posts I've ever read.

    June 11, 2011 at 12:47 pm | Report abuse |
  61. Gail Snail

    How dare he refer to yamulkas as "funny little hats". Foreskin was for protection when man was running around naked. These days, lots of men do not pull back the foreskin when cleaning their penises, therefore making a great hiding place for dirt & germs.

    June 11, 2011 at 11:53 am | Report abuse |
  62. bilbao

    I don't get public apologies these days. Crowe said what he believed in, and he apologizes? And then we have John Edwards and other public figures doing wrong things, but qualifying their apologies with, "What I did was wrong but not illegal," . A real straightforward man would say the opposite: What I did was illegal, but not wrong (Ghandi, MLK, etc.).
    Instead we have people trying to squirm out and say, "yeah, but it was not illegal, was it?" And what's up with, "I'm sorry if I offended anyone...." That's no apology. Better not to apologize at all if you're not sorry. America, where are your balls?

    June 11, 2011 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
  63. I Rememeber it

    Does no one ever think that maybe just maybe a god that requires the torture of small children isn't god at all but maybe the devil...

    June 11, 2011 at 9:29 am | Report abuse |
    • The Beautiful and Original

      ...then that would mean that the Bible is actually an Evil, satanic text, no? You know, that actually would explain alot.

      P.S.: I love 'cut' guys! DEATH TO SMEGMA!

      June 11, 2011 at 8:06 pm | Report abuse |
  64. bubbahu?

    tweet this crowe !

    June 11, 2011 at 8:32 am | Report abuse |
  65. Andew

    There's no way I would have apologized for any of that. Whining about being offended because it's a religion allows the religious to silence criticism. Only stupid people fall for that.

    June 11, 2011 at 7:20 am | Report abuse |
  66. jiminwa

    I'd give that 5 out of 10 thrown phones.

    June 11, 2011 at 3:12 am | Report abuse |
  67. Tina in TX

    Wow. Can't believe a lot of these posts. Bottom line. It's a personal decision made by parents and is really nobody else's business.

    June 11, 2011 at 1:22 am | Report abuse |
    • Eyedunno

      What about if a parent decides to cut off his/her kid's little toe? What if a parent really decides his/her kid would look better bald for life and gives the kid full-scalp electrolysis. Is there no line to be drawn?

      Face it, the reason you're okay with this as opposed to other forms of disfigurement is that it's still considered socially acceptable. But keep in mind that sharpening girls' teeth to dagger points is socially acceptable among African pygmies, and foot-binding was socially acceptable among Qing Dynasty Chinese.

      June 11, 2011 at 9:09 am | Report abuse |
    • The Mad R@p3r

      Dagger-toothed pygmy women sounds pretty awesome, until you think about them going downtown.

      June 11, 2011 at 10:06 am | Report abuse |
    • CutGuy

      Personal decision of parents? Don't get me wrong...I love my parents...and I'm sure you love your children if you have any. BUT it is NOT YOUR DECISION to make! It's MY penis...not yours. How dare you make a painful and permanent decision for me? An infant has no voice. If an adult male wants to get cut...go for it. But that decision should only be made by an adult....who owns the penis. Not a parent. It is NOT medically necesarry. Just my 2 cents.

      June 11, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Report abuse |
  68. lance corporal

    he's right

    June 11, 2011 at 1:03 am | Report abuse |
  69. Eyedunno

    Russell Crowe was right the first time – the permanent disfigurement of children is something we don't tolerate for girls (for whatever reason, religious or otherwise, not that religion deserves to be on a special pedestal of respect anyway), and we shouldn't tolerate it for boys either.

    June 11, 2011 at 12:53 am | Report abuse |
  70. AnglosAreArrogantAsses

    If you don't like our country's customs, get the hell out! And stop throwing phones at hotel staff, you redneck or bogan or whatever. Take your filthy foreskinned, dirty dingo dick back to dusty convict land where you can engage in all the retarded yankee bashing and buggery as the rest of them.

    June 11, 2011 at 12:16 am | Report abuse |
  71. angry jack

    jack agrees with the fine actor mr. crowe. personally, i think the foreskin has a purpose. to protect the the tender head of our 'thang... one just has to bathe often and keep it clean.

    June 10, 2011 at 11:51 pm | Report abuse |
  72. erin

    what did he apologize for? if that is how he feels then so what?! good for him!h

    June 10, 2011 at 11:27 pm | Report abuse |
  73. markiejoe

    Dear Russell: There is no God. So your argument fails.

    June 10, 2011 at 11:19 pm | Report abuse |
  74. The Bmoll

    We are living in the 21st Century...enough already with the genital mutilation of babies and children!

    June 10, 2011 at 11:17 pm | Report abuse |
  75. Dan the Red

    Oh, my... A hollywood celeb with an opinion...who would've guessed.

    June 10, 2011 at 11:01 pm | Report abuse |
  76. @ mr. Ed

    You are one sick, twisted and demented person. Seek help.

    June 10, 2011 at 9:28 pm | Report abuse |
  77. Pedro

    No Way Jose ! U are an imposter !

    June 10, 2011 at 9:12 pm | Report abuse |
  78. Dark Poet

    Oh wait.. what about tattoos, nose jobs, face lifts, boob jobs, butt implants, calf implants, collagen, or anything else HOLLYWOOD gets?! Guess that part of the whole "Perfection" you guys have in mind too huh?

    June 10, 2011 at 8:54 pm | Report abuse |
  79. Dark Poet

    Like I said.. I guess Wisdom teeth are perfect too and we should just let them grown in and cause all sorts of problems... I mean many people in 3rd world countries have theirs and have no long term issues but you know I guess that just "Barbaric" as well

    June 10, 2011 at 8:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • nml

      I have my wisdom teeth, idiot.

      June 11, 2011 at 12:17 am | Report abuse |
    • Erin

      And yet, we wait until wisdom teeth start to cause problems before removing them.....

      June 11, 2011 at 11:04 pm | Report abuse |
    • derp

      "And yet, we wait until wisdom teeth start to cause problems before removing them....."

      No, all four of mine were taken out at the same time to prevent any future problems when the first one got impacted.

      June 14, 2011 at 10:44 am | Report abuse |
  80. Mr. Ed

    oh dear me fernace i f***ed up....its business and not bussiness. I needed to change that because I know you of all ppl would want to correct me. I am correct to say so? I will bow down to u and kiss u fine azz ur queen

    June 10, 2011 at 8:41 pm | Report abuse |
  81. Mr. Ed

    @fernace: not that it's any of your bussiness, it's nothing against women. I just like p!ss!ng off people. Are you feeling left out? You know I can always include you in my world of maddness. Maybe now I just might.

    June 10, 2011 at 8:36 pm | Report abuse |
  82. Jesus Krishna

    Sorry Russell, not subject to interpretation. God told Abraham, the grandfather of all monotheism that a male foreskin should be removed as a sign of the covenant between God and man. Indefinitely. Russell, you apparently stand for nature, foreskin and smegma. What a typical celebrity imbecile you are.

    June 10, 2011 at 8:15 pm | Report abuse |
    • Scarlett

      God also commanded that we not eat pork, don't wear clothing of two types of material, kill animals for meat in a certain manner (kosher), stone adulterers, cut off the hands of theives, kill the men, women, children and animals of groups He didn't like, etc. How many of those rules do you follow? You don't get to pick and choose. If the Bible is the word of God, all the rules in it apply - not just the ones that are easy for you to live up to.

      June 10, 2011 at 8:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • Martin

      Fine, then individual males should enter the covenant as adults, when it will be their decision and will mean something. And if it's painful, then the sacrifice will make the covenant more meaningful as well.

      June 11, 2011 at 9:32 am | Report abuse |
    • Chris

      And women? Also, if God has a problem with foreskins, he just should not include them in the future. Simple.

      June 12, 2011 at 7:21 am | Report abuse |
    • Irma

      Yeah, but historically only Med region stuck to it. Ask any Europian or Eastern European man, and you find out that this practice never took off there BECAUSE OF A MILD CLIMATE. So, all religious stuff aside, it stuck PURELY for gygenic reasons. Cheers, believers!

      June 12, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Report abuse |
  83. Dara

    Go Russell! Why is it OK to speak out against female gential mutilation, but not ok for male? Many religious groups routinely practive female circ, but we consider it to be barbaric. US is the only country still routinely performing this cosmetic procedure and I guess that makes it ok? It's not ok. Good for Russell Crowe for spreading the word. Watch a circ and I promise, you'll think it's barbaric too.

    June 10, 2011 at 7:51 pm | Report abuse |
  84. grace verano

    Don't argue guys can we just respect other belief and opinions!

    June 10, 2011 at 7:03 pm | Report abuse |
  85. T3chsupport

    If this exchange had been in person, he probably would have punched someone.
    This guy is a joke.

    June 10, 2011 at 6:21 pm | Report abuse |
  86. Sandy Jacobs

    I just *love* guys that are cut! It's so cute and just feels so right! Plus uncut ones smell funky! Clean your junk, guys! 🙂

    June 10, 2011 at 6:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mark McKee

      I just love it when girls who have never experienced foreskin PRETEND that they have. My junk is always clean, and unless there is some deformity involving your cliitoral region, you are a liar. It feels so right? really? Are you also under the mistaken impression that you've had an orgasm? Gotta love those "sophisticated" women from the eastern time zones...

      June 10, 2011 at 7:35 pm | Report abuse |
    • Cleaner

      Ok Sandy...I'll clean my junk if you clean yours. Oh...what a smell some women have.

      June 11, 2011 at 12:36 pm | Report abuse |
  87. Ken

    I'm with Russell on this one. Stop all genital mutilation of children, male and female. Whether for religious or cultural reasons, it is still barbaric and frankly child abuse.

    June 10, 2011 at 6:09 pm | Report abuse |
    • SaityMaker

      Agree here – either cut BOTH female and male, or NEITHER. This chopping of male children will be looked upon many years from now as a barbaric and insane practice. It shows you how religion and culture can heavily influence "moral" decisions.

      June 10, 2011 at 7:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • Scarlett

      Especially since most doctors prefer to do this without anesthesia ... that is barbaric no matter how you look at it. I bet when a grown man has the procedure done they don't dare try to do it without anesthesia. But with a baby, they can't verbalize ... so doctors can get away with it.

      June 10, 2011 at 8:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • kasey

      IT'S A HEALTH ISSUE, PEOPLE. Do some research before you spout off at the mouth about this. It's a hell of a lot less painful as an infant than it is when you're 30 and have penile cancer.

      June 10, 2011 at 10:07 pm | Report abuse |
    • Eyedunno

      Right, and having your child spayed or neutered completely eliminates any future risk of testicular or ovarian cancer (both of which are far more common than penile cancer, incidentally).

      Whatever makes you feel more comfortable with your barbaric decision to mutilate your child, kasey...

      June 11, 2011 at 1:06 am | Report abuse |
  88. mel kittles

    With medication many thing is poss

    June 10, 2011 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
  89. fernace

    As we know Russel can get quite worked up over his opinions. I'm glad both he & picnic11 appologized once things calmed down. This isn't a rite or wrong issue, but about traditions & private choices! @ Mr. Ed, you are a talking horses a$$! What's up with the miogynistic comments?!? According to other comments of yours, you seem to hold women as inferior & 2nd class citizens! Do you have an explanation for your opinion, just curious??

    June 10, 2011 at 6:08 pm | Report abuse |
  90. The Mad R@p3r

    @everyone thinking I'm mixed up,
    That's totally ludicrous, Johnny Depp and him were so great in Air America. And while we're quoting Voltaire–"Common sense is not so common."

    June 10, 2011 at 6:07 pm | Report abuse |
  91. mel k

    Crazy you can lose your mind

    June 10, 2011 at 5:55 pm | Report abuse |
  92. laquecia

    Dang white peoples always causin trouble.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:54 pm | Report abuse |
  93. detrius williams

    I gots a whole case of schlitz malt liquor stashed up under the bed ! PAAAAARRRTTTYYYY !

    June 10, 2011 at 5:34 pm | Report abuse |
  94. detrius williams

    No they dont. Ladies Love the magical and dazzling Detrius Williams. I dont have no job but i got plenty of fiiiiiine womens. I got me a fist full of food stamps and I am ready to play ! Its weekend time ladies ! Anyone want some lobster and ribeyes ?

    June 10, 2011 at 5:32 pm | Report abuse |
  95. Maxwell

    To all of you spoiled brats responding to this crap about some Aussie Russ Mel or whomever get a job, women love guys that are employed.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:26 pm | Report abuse |
    • Tony Clifton

      Russell is a Kiwi not an Aussie. i.e He's from New Zealand.

      June 10, 2011 at 8:53 pm | Report abuse |
    • candice

      In that case Mr. Clifton. Mel Gibson was born in New York and moved the Australia when he was 12.

      June 13, 2011 at 8:31 am | Report abuse |
  96. LEE LEE

    isnt he a lesbian ? I herd he gets drunk and beats people up. Lesbians like to do that kind of stuff.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:17 pm | Report abuse |
  97. Peluza

    How can you confuse Mel Gibson with Russell Crow? Get your celebrities straight.
    Mr. Crow I will quote Voltaire: I disapprove of what you said, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:16 pm | Report abuse |
  98. turdparadise

    @the mad, you're right he cant be mad max anymore too many dui's. you're drunk too for mixing it up!

    June 10, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Report abuse |
  99. LEEl

    Junk that hasn't been clipped is not pretty.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • Uglyjunk

      Neither is junk that has been cut.

      June 10, 2011 at 5:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • Bob

      It's a matter of opinion. Your culture has programmed you to believe what you do.

      I can assure that almost nobody in my culture agrees with you. (Amputating healthy tissue from unconsenting children is in fact pretty much illegal here and can result in jail time.)

      June 10, 2011 at 5:58 pm | Report abuse |
    • SanityMaker

      "Junk that hasn't been clipped is not pretty."

      This is like saying that labia that have not been trimmed are not pretty. If you tried to cut female babies, all hell would break loose, but for boys, chop away! Double standard much? No parent has the right to mutilate their baby, male or female.

      June 10, 2011 at 7:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • Uncut male

      So lets cut off everything thats not pretty. Ears for example.

      June 11, 2011 at 7:51 am | Report abuse |
    • clipped

      I am GLAD I was clipped. Much cleaner and much less hassle to simply pee.

      June 11, 2011 at 10:28 pm | Report abuse |
    • Erin

      What do you think men who aren't clipped have to do to pee??

      June 11, 2011 at 10:59 pm | Report abuse |
    • T. Arantado

      Not just ugly, it is also unsanitary, and smegma is carcinogenic that is why cervical cancer is higher in women married to uncut men.

      June 13, 2011 at 1:10 am | Report abuse |
    • Just saying.....

      I've seen both and had both.

      Prefer clipped over unclipped every time.

      June 13, 2011 at 2:05 am | Report abuse |
  100. moooooo

    mooooo

    June 10, 2011 at 5:01 pm | Report abuse |
  101. moooooo

    This guy and Charlie Sheen are perfect role models for you duurty humans. Us cows would never be mean like you folks. All you humans do is get drunk and fight and do bad stuff. You should be more like us cows. We are friendly to one and all. mooooooo.

    June 10, 2011 at 5:00 pm | Report abuse |
  102. bamamom

    Hey barry! U r thinking of mel not russell!

    June 10, 2011 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
  103. Anthony Weiner

    I prefer a little off the top myself. I'll show you a picture.

    June 10, 2011 at 4:30 pm | Report abuse |
  104. RussellCrowe

    Makin movies makin songs and fightin round the world.

    June 10, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
  105. barry

    picnic sounds a little retarded, go read her tweets.

    June 10, 2011 at 3:57 pm | Report abuse |
  106. The Mad R@p3r

    Man, this guy who played Braveheart can't seem to stop offending jewish people. First the rant when he got the DUI and now this. No wonder they won't let him play mad max anymore.

    June 10, 2011 at 3:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • brynpetals

      Get your celebs right...you are thinking of Mel Gibson not Russell Crowe!!

      June 10, 2011 at 4:43 pm | Report abuse |
    • Sarah

      .....that was Mel Gibson, man. Wrong person.

      June 10, 2011 at 4:48 pm | Report abuse |
    • Pooh Bear

      Well, you've got the celebrities mixed up. Mad Max and Braveheart was Mel Gibson, not Russell Crowe.

      June 10, 2011 at 4:49 pm | Report abuse |
    • The Mad R@p3r

      Nah, this is the guy from Lethal Weapon and Gladiator. There's all those tapes of him cursing out his girlfriend. He directed Passion of the Christ too (What an awesome movie!).

      June 10, 2011 at 4:56 pm | Report abuse |
    • bitnar

      He's joking. Leave him alone.

      June 10, 2011 at 8:30 pm | Report abuse |
    • ken

      wrong idiot.

      June 10, 2011 at 9:01 pm | Report abuse |
    • Jennifer

      I thought you made a funny joke. Apparently some people don't get that and think they're really smart for it.

      June 10, 2011 at 11:52 pm | Report abuse |
    • JEW

      are all you Aussies moronic racists? but nothing personal, some of my best friends are Australian

      June 11, 2011 at 1:15 am | Report abuse |
    • Vader

      That's Mel Gibson, not Russell Crowe you doof.

      June 11, 2011 at 9:58 am | Report abuse |
    • MelGibsonIsNotRussellCrowe

      Then I read your response when someone tries to point out your error.... No, Lethal Weapon and the Passion of the Christ are again, both Mel Gibson, not Russell Crowe. About the only thing you've managed to get right is the Gladiator reference (that was Crowe).

      June 11, 2011 at 10:00 am | Report abuse |
    • The Mad R@p3r

      Actually the Gladiator reference was what I was wrong on, Mel was great in that, he was the man in 300 too. "This is Persia!!!"

      June 11, 2011 at 10:41 am | Report abuse |
    • stop it

      Why are you torturing these poor fools?

      June 12, 2011 at 9:18 am | Report abuse |
    • John

      Well played, fellow troll. Well played.

      June 12, 2011 at 12:37 pm | Report abuse |
    • candice

      Got your joke and laughed. Thank you.

      June 13, 2011 at 8:23 am | Report abuse |
    • russell

      LOL ... you had me going for a moment good one...

      June 13, 2011 at 1:06 pm | Report abuse |
  107. be quiet

    awww, we still love you, ya big lug!

    June 10, 2011 at 3:20 pm | Report abuse |
    • Mel

      I have to agree with RC. I didn't have my son chopped and he was such a happy baby. Unlike those screaming out of their bloody minds in the nursery. It's not natural – period 🙂 Hugs – Mel.

      June 10, 2011 at 10:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • Brandy

      The guy's an a**. He picks fights w/ people, not just on Twitter but in real life, and he suffers no consquences. I mean, the man throws a phone into an innocent hotel worker's face and he gets off. He roughs up some stage hand at an awards show, getting the man's child picked on at school, and nothing is done to him. Sure he gave the kid a phone call, what a nice guy. Those are just two of many incidents of his bullying ways. I get sick of hearing about what shi**y people some celebrities are, yet they continue to be rewarded w/ ridiculously overpaying dream jobs. It makes me sick.

      June 11, 2011 at 8:36 am | Report abuse |
    • Joe in Colorado

      @Mel Sorry to have to correct you, but the procedure happens a week after birth... none of those crying babies in the nursey were crying because of this.

      June 11, 2011 at 10:19 am | Report abuse |
    • reality check

      Dcm, lots of people believe in God without the Bible. Did you know that not everyone on this earth is Christian or Jewish? I know, shocking isn't it? In fact, Abraham and Moses didn't have the Bible and they somehow even managed. Wow, shocking. Note lots of sarcasm

      June 11, 2011 at 12:46 pm | Report abuse |
    • The Mad R@p3r

      Come on, reality check, I think dcm is on to something here. After all, Jesus didn't have the bible and look what happened to him with the whole crucifixion thing.

      June 11, 2011 at 12:54 pm | Report abuse |
    • rukkle

      Take a look out our roundup of this situation here: http://tinyurl.com/6e2c8kw

      June 11, 2011 at 2:25 pm | Report abuse |
    • Brian Butler

      dcm... Read the bible front to back and tell me how much of it you actually abide by. Go to church and tell me how much of the mass dogma is in the bible. You can't have it both ways. Mutilating your children serves no purpose.

      June 12, 2011 at 12:13 am | Report abuse |
    • phildaman

      I'm confused by some of these comments. If you believe in God, you believe in the Bible and what it says. You can't believe in one and not the other...the Bible is God's word. Abraham and Moses were both followers of God but they didn't need the Bible because it didn't exist back then like it exists today...it exists today and was written by God through man. Everyone is welcome to choose their own beliefs...I just have a hard time understanding how you can believe in the one without the other...

      June 12, 2011 at 8:22 am | Report abuse |
    • Diana Abramova

      Russ Crowe stick to acting please...no one cares about your opinions...just make movies and entertain us you little puppet. Foreskin is cut off for health reasons not just Jewish tradition...but obviously you are uneducated in any medical knowledge and just because you are an actor and can potentially play a doctor doesn't mean you are a doctor. Get off your high horse.

      June 12, 2011 at 11:48 am | Report abuse |
    • Paul

      There is nothing wrong with what you said Russell, they ARE barbarians. Blind barbaric sheep.

      June 13, 2011 at 6:32 am | Report abuse |
    • JohnnyJett & the Dirty Socks

      Brandy- It sounds like you either work with RC or you know someone who does. I'd watch your back, you never know it could get back to RC, and he might want to kick your a$$, or have you thrown off the set. Bullies suck.

      June 13, 2011 at 9:17 am | Report abuse |
    • Steve

      He makes a good point except the whole god part. What about all those proven "extra" parts like the appendix?

      June 14, 2011 at 7:02 am | Report abuse |

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