Russell Simmons Replies To 'Blood Diamond' Director's Comments
A week after returning from a fact-finding mission for his Simmons Jewelry company, Russell Simmons is facing criticism from film director Edward Zwick.
Zwick, who helmed the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, implied that Simmons is merely a public relations puppet for diamond companies.
Simmons’ recently returned from a trip to South Africa and Botswanna after being invited by the diamond industry's Diamond Information Center.
The mogul concluded that the sale of blood diamonds has dropped to less than 1%, since the Kimberley Process was introduced in 2003 to prevent the trafficking of the illegal diamonds.
During the Blood Diamond premiere in Hollywood, Zwick noted Simmons’ figures and questioned his support of the diamond industry in general.
"I find it embarrassing for Russell Simmons," Zwick told the New York Daily News. "That's a funky number. That number comes from diamonds that are mined in countries that are 'war-declared.' Conflict diamonds are also mined in countries where there is not a 'declared war.' If you want to know about conflict diamonds, you don't go to Botswana and South Africa. You go to Sierra Leone and Angola. … Russell Simmons is being embarrassed."
Simmons has responded to Zwick’s comments and maintains that the film will scare people away from purchasing legitimate diamonds. The mining process of the precious stones have become profitable industries in some African countries.
“This is the arrogance of Warner Brothers pictures," Simmons told AllHipHop.com. "They were selfish self-centered, greedy and hurtful to the indigenous people of Africa. This messaging should have been changed after Nelson Mandela and other African Presidents asked Warner Brothers to change it. Period. I am going to continue to focus on the positive that can come out of this dialogue and work to help empower black Africa.”
Simmons was referring to a letter South African President Nelson Mandela authored, reminding Warner Brothers that some African countries were relying on the stones to rebuild their war torn countries.
The Hip-Hop mogul’s review of the experience came across as positive as he concluded that the diamond business has been a plus for poor residents whose lives have been improved.
Zwick, who helmed the new Leonardo DiCaprio movie Blood Diamond, implied that Simmons is merely a public relations puppet for diamond companies.
Simmons’ recently returned from a trip to South Africa and Botswanna after being invited by the diamond industry's Diamond Information Center.
The mogul concluded that the sale of blood diamonds has dropped to less than 1%, since the Kimberley Process was introduced in 2003 to prevent the trafficking of the illegal diamonds.
During the Blood Diamond premiere in Hollywood, Zwick noted Simmons’ figures and questioned his support of the diamond industry in general.
"I find it embarrassing for Russell Simmons," Zwick told the New York Daily News. "That's a funky number. That number comes from diamonds that are mined in countries that are 'war-declared.' Conflict diamonds are also mined in countries where there is not a 'declared war.' If you want to know about conflict diamonds, you don't go to Botswana and South Africa. You go to Sierra Leone and Angola. … Russell Simmons is being embarrassed."
Simmons has responded to Zwick’s comments and maintains that the film will scare people away from purchasing legitimate diamonds. The mining process of the precious stones have become profitable industries in some African countries.
“This is the arrogance of Warner Brothers pictures," Simmons told AllHipHop.com. "They were selfish self-centered, greedy and hurtful to the indigenous people of Africa. This messaging should have been changed after Nelson Mandela and other African Presidents asked Warner Brothers to change it. Period. I am going to continue to focus on the positive that can come out of this dialogue and work to help empower black Africa.”
Simmons was referring to a letter South African President Nelson Mandela authored, reminding Warner Brothers that some African countries were relying on the stones to rebuild their war torn countries.
The Hip-Hop mogul’s review of the experience came across as positive as he concluded that the diamond business has been a plus for poor residents whose lives have been improved.
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