Cameron Diaz Apologizes To Peru

As we first reported on Sunday, Cameron Diaz has caught herself in a controversy and now the actress is speaking out. On Friday Cameron was spotted sporting a bag with a political slogan while sightseeing Machu Picchu in Peru's Andes on Friday.

The bag might be a “it” fashion item in some parts of the world but in Peru the slogan “Serve the People” is a big “fashion don’t”. Especially, since it evokes memories of Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong's and the memories associated with him are bloody.

In a statement emailed to the Associated Press, Cameron said:

"I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended. The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China and I did not realize the potentially hurtful nature of the slogan printed on it.”

The sad part of this story is the actress is in Peru to participate in a Canadian television show “4 REAL” that celebrates Peru's culture. The show focuses on young community leaders around the world. Talk about a good deed gone bad.

Cameron went on in her email to state how she never meant to hurt anyone with her taste of fashion.

"I'm sorry for any people's pain and suffering and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country's history and wish for their continued healing."

What do you guys think? Was Cameron’s poor taste the cause of unnecessary drama or should she have done research before sporting an item?

Source: HollyScoop.com

Cameron Diaz may have commited a fashion crime in Peru

The actress may have inadvertently offended Peruvians who suffered decades of violence from a Maoist guerrilla insurgency by touring here Friday with a bag emblazoned with one of Mao Zedong's favorite political slogans.



Actress Cameron Diaz appears to have committed a major fashion crime in Peru.

The voice of Princess Fiona in the animated Shrek films may have inadvertently offended Peruvians who suffered decades of violence from a Maoist guerrilla insurgency by touring here Friday with a bag emblazoned with one of Mao Zedong's favorite political slogans.

While exploring the Inca city of Machu Picchu high in Peru's Andes, Diaz wore over her shoulder an olive green messenger bag emblazoned with a red star and the words "Serve the People" printed in Chinese on the flap, perhaps Chinese Communist leader Mao's most famous political slogan.

While the bags are marketed as trendy fashion accessories in some world capitals, the phrase has particular resonance in Peru, where the Maoist Shining Path insurgency brought Peru to edge of chaos in the 1980s and early 1990s with a campaign of massacres, assassinations and bombings.

Nearly 70,000 people were killed during the insurgency.

A prominent Peruvian human rights activist said the star of "There's Something About Mary" should have been a little more aware of local sensitivities when picking her accessories.

"It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims," said Pablo Rojas about the bag's slogan. "I don't think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology" did so much damage.