“We’re all on economic hard times,” says the guy who makes millions of dollars for each movie he makes.
Via Mediaite:
In an interview with Al Jazeera, actor Sean Penn defended Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who’s government has led a bloody crackdown amid protests over shortages and political repression. Penn called Maduro’s predecessor Hugo Chavez a “great friend” and said that Venezuela’s president faces unrest over economic hardship much like President Barack Obama faced when he took office.
“President Maduro inherited a lot of the growing pains that were left, and the problems that came of a country largely forced into paranoia, largely forced into certain relationships that maybe are distasteful,” Penn said.
He added that Maduro is similar to Chavez in that he is “in love with his people and his country.” When he was asked if he thought the Venezuelan people were in love with Maduro, Penn said it was important to “be careful.”
“Are they demonstrating in Venezuela over oppression, or are they demonstrating because they’re on economic hard times? It’s the latter,” Penn insisted. “We’re all on economic hard times.”