13 International Celebrity Tiffs

Robin Williams’ comment to David Letterman last week that “Australians are basically English rednecks” set off quite a chain reaction—the Australian prime minister is mad at Williams, and the Alabama governor is mad at the Australian PM for implying Alabamians are the real rednecks. The Daily Beast rounds up a dozen more diplomatic scandals in the celebrity world:

• Adam Carolla: The Filipino people weren’t too happy last week when the comedian railed about boxer Manny Pacquiao being the only thing the country has to offer: “They got this and sex tours, that’s all they have over there. Get your shit together, Philippines. Jesus Christ. I mean, again, it’s fine to be proud of your countrymen. But that’s it? That’s all you got?”
• Richard Gere: When he kissed Celebrity Big Brother winner Shilpa Shetty in 2007, protesters in India shouted “Death to Shilpa Shetty!” and burned effigies of Gere.

• Jack Cafferty: Called the Chinese “a bunch of thugs and goons” in 2008 on The Situation Room. China wanted an apology, and CNN delivered, clarifying that Cafferty was only referring to the Chinese government.
• Sharon Stone: Famously stuck her foot in her mouth when she theorized China’s 2008 earthquake was a result of “karma” over the country's treatment of Tibetans; after China boycotted her films, she apologized.

For the complete list, click here. (More Robin Williams stories.)