Tarantino Film Premiere Canceled in Wake of Connecticut Tragedy
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The Weinstein Company(LOS ANGELES) — More movie and TV premieres have been put on hold in the wake of Friday’s horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.
The premiere of Quentin Tarantino’s new movie, Django Unchained, a violent western in which dozens of characters are brutally shot, was canceled on Monday. The Jamie Foxx and Leonardo DiCaprio-fronted pic was supposed to be feted at a red carpet screening and party Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., and in this time of national mourning we have decided to forgo our scheduled event,” the Weinstein Co., the studio behind the movie, said in a statement. “However, we will be holding a private screening for the cast and crew and their friends and families.”
Tarantino dismissed the idea that violence in movies leads to real-life massacres at a press junket for Django Unchained over the weekend. “I just think, you know, there’s violence in the world, tragedies happen, blame the playmakers,” he said, according to the BBC. “It’s a western. Give me a break.”
Meanwhile, TLC has postponed the premiere of Best Funeral Ever, which centers on a Texas funeral home that throws a party after each service. The hour-long special, which could turn into a recurring series, was scheduled to premiere on Dec. 27. It will now air on Jan. 6, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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