You know, sometimes stars really are just like us. Haven’t you ever showed up at some random dude’s party without knowing much about him? Hilary Swank attended a birthday concert for Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, who has been accused of torture, abductions and killings. Human rights groups hate this guy, whose security forces harass and threaten women who don’t wear a headscarf or adhere to the Islamic dress code in Chechnya. Hilary — who may have been paid to appear — has issued a statement regarding her involvement in the celebration, which reads: “I deeply regret attending this event… If I had a full understanding of what this event was apparently intended to be, I would never have gone.” Jean Claude Van Damme and violinist Vanessa Mae also attended the festivities. [CBS News, Guardian]
Thor Halvorssen, president of the Human Rights Foundation, says: “Hilary Swank obviously has the right to earn a living entertaining the highest bidder, but this sort of venality should be exposed – especially after claiming she was not going. Would she have accepted an invitation to entertain Pinochet? Al-Qaeda? The apartheid government in Pretoria? We must remember the disgrace of Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, Beyoncé and 50 Cent were exposed to after singing for Gaddafi’s family and earning millions of dollars for it.” [The Hollywood Reporter]
Here’s video of Hilary at the event. [YouTube]