Actor Seth Rogen and director/producer Judd Apatow are hitting back at a Washington Post film critic for strongly suggesting that the sort of movies churned out by the duo are partly to blame for Elliot Rodger's deadly killing spree on Friday. For his part, Apatow effectively blasted Ann Hornaday for, well, trolling.
Jessica Chasmar of the Washington Times has the story (emphasis mine):
Seth Rogen, the leading actor of “Neighbors,” fired back Monday night, calling Miss Hornaday’s article "horribly insulting and misinformed."
"[H]ow dare you imply that me getting girls in movies caused a lunatic to go on a rampage,” he said.
Judd Apatow, who has directed so-called "frat-boy" movies such as "Knocked Up" and "40-Year-Old Virgin," which both featured Mr. Rogen, issued a scathing tweet Monday night, saying Miss Hornaday "uses tragedy to promote herself with idiotic thoughts."
Mr. Apatow then set his sights on The Washington Post: "[W]ith every view her paper makes money from discussing a story no one yet knows anything about. Now it is a media profit center."
"Remember everyone — ads next to articles generate money. They say something shocking and uninformed & get you to click on it to profit," he said.
"Here is how it all works," the director continued. "Anne says something thoughtless. I say it is wrong then CNN asks everyone to debate and it becomes TV. I said no. I wonder if Anne can prevent herself from going on and becoming part of how these tragic events become profit centers for media."
