Actress Jennifer Lawrence apologizes for using ‘sacred rocks’ in Hawaii for ‘butt itching’
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jennifer Lawrence starred as Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” movie series, which was partly filmed in Hawaii.
Oscar-winning actress Jennifer Lawrence issued an apology on Facebook today over a story she shared about using “sacred rocks” in Hawaii for “butt itching.”
Social and national media were abuzz with criticism and debate after Lawrence, during an interview with irreverent BBC talk-show host Graham Norton, recently shared that she had scratched herself with “sacred rocks” she was not supposed to sit on while shooting a scene for the second “Hunger Games” movie in the isles in 2013.
“They were sacred and you’re not supposed to sit on them because you’re not supposed to expose your genitalia to them,” she told Norton during her appearance. “I, however, was in a wet-suit for this whole shoot, so, oh my God, they were so good for butt itching!”
The 26-year-old actress then shared that one rock came loose as a result and rolled down the mountain, nearly hitting a sound technician. That led local workers on the set to speculate it was because of a curse, but she said she knew she had caused it.
In a Facebook post today, Lawrence wrote: “I meant absolutely no disrespect to the Hawaiian people. I really thought that I was being self-deprecating about the fact that I was ‘the curse,’ but I understand the way it was perceived was not funny and I apologize if I offended anyone.”
She had shared a similar account in 2013 on “Live with Kelly and Michael.”
Hawaii film commissioner Donne Dawson said Lawrence was filming in Oahu’s Waimea Valley, which is managed by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs.
“I would say her comments were unfortunate and I’m really pleased that she’s issued an apology,” Dawson said today. “I think the Native Hawaiian community is probably grateful for that apology as well.”
Most film productions in Hawaii hire cultural consultants, Dawson added, to advise cast and crew on local sensitivities. The state also issues guidelines for filming in Hawaii, including what filmmakers need to be aware of environmentally and culturally with regard to Native Hawaiian culture and the community at large.
A cultural protocol guidebook is in the works, she said, which the state hopes to make available in both print and digital formats.
62 responses to “Actress Jennifer Lawrence apologizes for using ‘sacred rocks’ in Hawaii for ‘butt itching’”
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Did she Leave the Country yet? She said she would leave the Country,should President Elect Donald Trump WIN! Come to think about it….. Has any of these “Never Trump” Hollywood celebrities, Rock Stars left yet?… if you have any info w/that please share. IMUA
Nope, not a darn one of them. Babs Striesand, and the deplorable 17 have not, nor will they leave.
I figure some would go to Cuba, according to Sean Pennsky, and Michael Moore say the health care facilities are like Mayo.
They will go back to Russia.
No big deal. And I’m native.
The blogging community is lighting up. Lighten up and find something more constructive to do like protest the telescope.
all rocks from hawai’i belong in hawai’i..if you remove a rock something bad will happen to you..you must return it to the same spot you took it from..all rocks are sacred, some more that others.. it will bring you big pilikea
bring it back sista
i warning you!
She did not take any rocks with her. Besides, all rocks are NOT “sacred”. Even Hawaiian locals take rocks from other islands and bring them to Oahu, they build walls with rocks, and dump trash on top of rocks everywhere. You want respect, show respect and you may get it in return.
No, she didn’t say that, Don’t lie.
What a waste of a human life. She needs to learn her anatomy. She was actually scratching her face with that rock.
HRS134…awesome reply, she truly is being an ass.
gotta say her face is a lot better then what I’ve seeing lately around here.
Now that’s a ridiculous comment. She has done more with her life in a few years than you have done or will do in your entire lifetime. All you low lifes need to stop with your jealousy of successful people and then maybe you can make something worthwhile out of your own life.
You don’t know me nor what I’ve accomplished. Keep in mind that some folks are so poor that all they have is a lot of money…….
It’s evident from your sad comment that you have no class. You obviously haven’t accomplished anything because you are jealous of people who have.
She’s sorry “if” she offended anyone. She knows she offended plenty people. What she’s really sorry about is the negative publicity her attitude has drawn. Next time you are in Hawaii, be more respectful – that’s how you show you are truly sorry.
agree…trashy actress and another bore of a film
Are you Hawaiian now?
She is now if they going to criticize our lava 🙂
Don’t say that – she is a good actress and her movies have huge audiences.
“respectful”? Like how respectful are the locals who throw trash all over the streets and property and ocean? Don’t try to dispute it because it is a known fact.
What I find most interesting is that this is the second most read story on BBC.com . . . Oh the things we are famous for!
Lawrence is known for making wise crack jokes. Sounds more like she was just trying to be funny for a television interview and her intention was not out of malice or hate if she sat on a rock that was considered sacred.
Really people, get a life. Aren’t there more important things to b@@@ch about? Like OHA’s new chairperson, that should be the big news.
What’s wrong with OHA’s new chairperson? Everyone bleeches about OHA, now they change format and y’all still bleeching, freak go run for OHA office then, if you think you can do a better job. All waha not going to solve the problem.
She’s a great actress (American Hustle), just ignorant about Hawaiian culture.
Just ignorant period. I realize she was trying to be funny and trashy to match the tenor of the show. I think most Hawaiians have little time for her or her mistaken ideas.
Mistaken idea to speak for “most Hawaiians.”
Allie, how many stairs do you have to take to come down off that horse of yours?
It is truly unfortunate that people nowadays get so offended by either the slightest slip of the tongue or making light of a situation. It may not have been in good taste, but, today’s “Political Correctness” is absurd.
gonegolfin, you’re a breath of fresh air. Your comments are intelligent, fair , compassionate when it calls for understanding. Mahalo!
I just think it was a poor choice of words. She understands nothing of Hawaii or our various cultures and people.
Where’s that rock?
I’ll go out and collect rocks to sell on E-Bay and claim they’re her butt scratchers. Gonna make a mint.
lol *5
5^ ^5
Genius!
ok she apologized… obviously there is no excuse for ignorance…
look it all the idiots that have Trump in as president….
god help us all!
Mei Mei, if you’re going to speak of ignorance, you may want to correct some of your grammatical errors first.
Sentences begin with a capital letter. There should be a comma after “obviously”. You may want to capitalize “God”.
Just a few suggestions before you throw around the “ignorance” label.
I knew somebody would link Trump to it , it is like a broken record for a brain around here.
Oh get real! She is not ignorant and was making comments on a talk show where humor is what they do.
Ignorance is criticizing outsiders for acts that are done every day by locals (including native Hawaiians). Open your eyes and see trash everywhere on the streets, on the beaches, and even on ROCKS. That trash was not put there by visitors.
Sacred rocks? What is not sacred to some Native Hawaiians? It is ridiculous.
I’m Hawaiian and my hammer is sacred. I’ll scratch it on this chick anytime she wants it. Butt or wherever disrespectful beyatch.
You have to start to teach respect for others, when the kids are young.
Just know,I am not native, AND I do respect your culture highly, PCWarrior.
All rocks are sacred, even the sands on the beaches.
Yes, and taro is sacred to some Native Hawaiians, but they have no problem desecrating it by pounding it into poi and then eating it. It shows the hypocrisy of some Native Hawaiians who claim just about everything is sacred to support an agenda of some kind.
Your dumb.
NanakuliBoss, I will tell you what dumb is. Back in the 1990s, scientist at UH spent millions of dollars developing a strain of taro that was resistant to most taro diseases. Taro, as you probably do not know is a food staple in many island nations in the Pacific, South and Southeast Asia and in Africa. The UH planned to sell its patent for the disease resistant taro to recoup the money it invested in researching and developing the taro, but it was prevented from doing so because a handful of Native Hawaiian activists claimed taro was sacred to some Native Hawaiians. Now get this – the sacred claim was based on a fairy tale about a prince or god or some such thing being born from a taro plant. Preventing the patent from being sold based on that is really dumb.
Here is a more recent example of sacred silliness. About two years ago, some Native Hawaiians were outraged about a sexually transmitted disease app called Hula and demanded the name be changed. One reason for demanding the change was that hula is a “sacred” art form of the Hawaiian people. There is no question that the founder of the Hula app was exploiting a “cultural” art form, but to say it was a “sacred” art form is beyond belief. This shows the extremes some Native Hawaiians will go to support their agendas.
So many buying into the “sacred rocks” theory – they are, and always will be …. …… just rocks.
If they were part of a heiau or someone’s grave site – then it would be inappropriate – but rocks are not and never will be sacred. They are inert and unfeeling.
Only God is sacred, rocks are not God for that would a pagan practice of worshipping Baal, which is demonic and foul.
If the Hawaiian culture belief is the rocks are sacred, then who are we, to say they’re not ?
Yes, joeglick, and if a culture believes witches are real and executes those accused of witchcraft like in Salem, Massachusetts, in the 1600s, who are we to say witches are not real? I stopped believing in Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Aesop’s Fables when I was about six years old. How about you?
Did she pay her fine?
This is news? God help us.
Will her career be cursed?
Itch? Den Scratch!
Cannot Reach? Use a Rock!
Scratch Yo’ Okole? Den No Tell!
Tell? Den Whateva – – – 8^O !!!
She could have just used my face. (-B
There are rocks and there are the rocks! Be careful one can distinguish which is which, else the sacred entities will surely pay one a visit when one least expect it!
Maybe someone can mark the rocks that are “sacred” so everyone will know. Oh but then people will whine that marking them is taboo. Will signs next to them be okay? But then, vandals will move the signs. Even local 100% Hawaiians don’t know which are “sacred” rocks and which aren’t.
Sacred rocks are a crock of whatever you want to call it.
i think you’re apologizing to the wrong entity here…….only time will tell
If she want’s to scratch her butt on rocks, I have a special wood that comes around in the mornings that she can use to scratch he genitilia.
Apology accepted. I like her. Let’s move on; I have other stuff to beach about.
she better watch out, or she will get some bad luck..like her private nekkid selfies being released on the internet..