Stone Apologises To Chinese Earthquake Comments

LATEST: SHARON STONE has apologised for the insensitive Chinese earthquake remarks, which led to fashion company Christian Dior scrapping her poster campaign in the country.

The outspoken actress left Chinese journalists stunned at the Cannes International Film Festival in France last week (22May08) when she suggested the country's recent earthquake was "karma".

Stone was talking to a Chinese media outlet on Thursday when she linked the recent disaster, which left more than 67,000 people dead, to China's recent treatment of Tibetans.

She said, "All these earthquakes and stuff happened and I thought, 'Is that karma?' When you are not nice, bad things happen to you."

The comments led to Chinese officials calling for a boycott of all her upcoming film projects and protests at Dior, where Stone is a spokesmodel.

A week after her ill-advised comments, the 50-year-old says she is "deeply sorry" for causing anguish and anger.

In a statement, the Basic Instinct star says, "Due to my inappropriate words and acts during the interview, I feel deeply sorry and sad about hurting Chinese people.

"I am willing to take part in the relief work of China's earthquake, and wholly devote myself to helping affected Chinese people."

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang has acknowledged the apology, stating, "We hope that as an actress she should contribute to our two peoples' mutual trust, understanding and friendship."