Charity cancels Susan Sarandon's appearance over protests of her anti-war views
Mar 28, 2003
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida - The United Way of Tampa Bay has canceled an upcoming event featuring actress Susan Sarandon after getting some three dozen complaints about her anti-war views.
Sarandon had been scheduled as the keynote speaker at the charity's April 11 event designed to inspire volunteerism in the community. Her brother, Terry Tomalin, outdoors writer at the St. Petersburg Times, asked her to participate six months ago.
But when invitations went out about two weeks ago, the United Way said it received phone calls, e-mails and letters criticizing Sarandon's selection because of her anti-war views.
Robin Carson, chairwoman of the board of directors, said the event had the potential to become "divisive."
"The focus of our whole meeting had shifted to whether or not we were creating a political platform for Susan Sarandon," Carson said Thursday. "That is not our purpose. That's not what we're about."
Sarandon, who introduced the obituary segment of Sunday's Academy Awards (news - web sites) show, flashed a peace symbol with her fingers while walking on stage at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California.
The 56-year-old, who won a best-actress Oscar for 1995's "Dead Man Walking," was on vacation in Mexico and couldn't be reached for comment. Her agency didn't immediately respond to a faxed request for comment.