Russell Crowe's anti-circumcision Twitter rant: 'Stop cutting your babies'
Twitter
Google
There's surely a time and a place for everything. The place and time for Russell Crowe to air his views about circumcision was probably not Twitter on Thursday (June 9).In a series of tweets, the Australian actor made his stance on the practice of foreskin removal -- a standard medical procedure and, in some religions a sacred rite, that continues to be the subject of debate -- crystal clear.
The reaction was prompted by a question from a fan who, like most sensible soon-to-be-parents, took to Twitter to get advice from a celebrity on neo-natal health. @picknic11 asked for Crowe's opinion on whether or not she should circumcise her son.
Crowe replied to the question with one of his own:
Circumcision is barbaric and stupid. Who are you to correct nature? Is it real that GOD requires a donation of foreskin? Babies are perfectless than a minute ago via web 
Favorite 
Retweet 
Reply
Russell Crowe
russellcrowe
When another fan suggested that circumcision is often performed not as a religious "donation," but as an aid to hygiene, Crowe suggested the commenter sew up his backside (in saltier, Crowe-ier language).
Then, perhaps fearing that he hadn't offended anyone yet, Crowe let the Jews -- particularly director Eli Roth -- know how he feels about their beliefs:
many jewish friends, I love my Jewish friends, I love the apples and the honey and the funny little hats but stop cutting yr babies @elirothless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyRussell Crowe
russellcrowe
Sensing that perhaps things were going a bit off the rails and could possibly head into phone-throwing territory, Crowe put in his final word on the matter:
last of it, if u feel it is yr right 2 cut things off yr babies please unfollow and f**k off,I'll take attentive parenting over barbarismless than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyRussell Crowe
russellcrowe
Alrighty, then.
UPDATE: Eli Roth, who co-wrote and produces the upcoming "Man with the Iron Fists" -- the RZA-directed martial arts movie in which Crowe stars -- replies:
@russellcrowe You didn't seem to be complaining when I was recutting you this afternoon...less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet Reply
Eli Roth
eliroth
Zing.
UPDATE 2: As of Friday (June 10) morning, Roth is now vigorously defending Crowe and fans are chiming in to say the media is making a big deal out of what was "obviously" an inside joke:
#FF @russellcrowe One of the nicest people I have ever been lucky enough to meet and work with. AND RESPECTFUL OF ALL RELIGIONS.less than a minute ago via web Favorite Retweet ReplyEli Roth
eliroth
What do you think -- are we making a mountain out of a molehill or did Crowe unwittingly launch a debate about a touchy subject?
my new favorite actor.
i feel so ******* angry that 20,000 nerve endings were ripped off without consent.
dont feminists ***** about "my body, my choice?"
circumcision is mutilation.
i can honestly say i am not a violent person my nature, but give my a knife, a locked room and the doctor that cut me, and I WILL be on death row if its a cpaital punishment state.
circumcision ruined my whole ******* life.
Has Russell Crowe lost his mind. He is such a good actor like Mel Gibson, he has temper. Get over it Russell, you can scream all you want hospitals will continue to ask parents whether or not they want their male child circumcised. It's a health issue as well as religious. So what's
Russells deal.
He's right, it is barbaric. We Americans have been too scared to confront this subject directly and now it is all out in the open. It was a real money maker for hospitals and now the game is over. Put down the knife and step away from the baby!
I'm an American of Jewish descent. I think much of the discussion on this issue misses the most important point - the individual's right to choose about HIS OWN BODY.
The point is the freedom of choice. For me, and for others who were circumcised in infancy, that choice was taken away from us. Even if you don't agree with the word "mutilation," my penis was modified, and I never consented to it. The way that it looks and feels and functions was permanently changed and this can't be undone.
Why should I be denied the right to decide for myself how I want MY penis. My parents won't be using my penis. So why should it be their choice?
I know that cutting baby boys is still widely accepted and considered normal in this country, but that doesn't in itself make it right. Lots of bad things were at one time widely accepted.
So I just ask you all to honestly consider this question. Why should a parent have the right to have a normal healthy and functional part of their child amputated without their consent?
Crowe - I flipping love you!! Genital cutting (of boys AND girls) is wrong on many levels. Glad to see some slebs speaking out about it, maybe this will help rates drop even further :-)
Oh, my, yes- what a terrible, terrible man. How dare he be outraged at people performing cosmetic surgery on infants? I mean, nobody was outraged about Botox Mom. We just laughed that **** off when we found out it was a hoax. After all, it was her kid, why can't she go ahead and do what she wants with her? Ugh. Come on, people! Look at what you are saying. You defend religious freedom but only for adults and those religions and cultures that mutilate the genitals of males. Russell Crowe speaks out against the truly horrific and unnecessary (no medical organization in the world recommends it so stop with the "hygiene and health" bs for goodness sake)procedure of routine infant circumcision. Go to youtube. Watch a video. Then come back and comment. If you aren't as pissed as he is about it, you are a robot or a sociopath.
When we made the choice, we consulted with adult males both circumcised and uncircumcised - all suggested circumcision for the locker room factor - the normalcy factor. It's easy to feel robbed but it's common to be humiliated by young men and women accustomed to the status quo . . .
Good on you Russell , babies have human rights too .
I am a woman. I've experienced men both circumcised and uncircumcised, & uncircumcised is way WAY better for both the man and the woman (if they're not freaked out & closed-minded about it). The hygiene argument is lame (i mean should we cut off a body part just to keep it clean? huh?). IF you teach proper hygiene, it is just as clean. I feel sorry for men who have been circumcised, but if you have been, don't let it ruin your life, you can still enjoy the life and sex. Thank you.
Kuddos to Crowe! Boys ARE born perfect...no disassembly required!