Image credit: Christian Alminana/WireImage.com; Merrick Morton
When I sat down with the cast of The Social Network for an EW.com video interview this week, I had to ask them all what they thought of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg’s recent $100 million donation to the Newark, N.J., school district. (Zuckerberg, pictured left, is played brilliantly by Jesse Eisenberg, right, in the film.) Of course it’s hard not to look at the timing of the announcement—just one week before the release of the not-so-flattering movie about him—and wonder if it was more than a coincidence. ”I think it was met by the press and by the blogosphere with a certain amount of cynicism that he was doing that to possibly deflect or offset any kind of criticism that he was going to get,” Social Network screenwriter Aaron Sorkin says in Part 1 of our 5-part chat. “I think it’s very unhealthy cynicism. I think that when someone does that, the only reasonable response is ‘Thank you, sir. Thank you very much.’”
“It was completely predictable by the press to call that trite,” seconds Justin Timberlake, one of the stars of the film. “That’s a lot of money to a great cause and I commend him on it.”
Check out the complete Part 1 below; the rest of the interview will run in this space in the coming days. Click here to watch Part 2.
Yeah, my first thought was, “Wow, he’s really attempting some major damage control.” My second thought was, “Well, who the hell cares why he did it? He just donated A HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS to a school district.” Whether he’s an a-hole or not, I think donating that kind of money to that kind of cause is a stand-up move (no matter what the motivation was), and he should be commended.
Amen.
Praise Allah.
I agree…a hundred million dollars is ALOT of money, no matter what Dr. Evil thinks…
definitely enough to teach people that a lot isn’t one word
Bob, you probably shouldn’t be criticizing someone else’s grammar when you apparently were never taught to capitalize the first letter of the first word in your sentence. Furthermore, a period at the end of a sentence is always nice. While I’m at it, I might as well point out that you didn’t even write a complete sentence.
Bob, you gots schooled!! (and yes, I am aware this was grammatically incorrect)
Agreed.
Only arrogant cynics will miss the main part of this news – a school board just got $100 million. How is that not a good thing?
Well, it’d be a good thing if the Newark School Board doesn’t find a way to waste the money. Newark gets 23,000 per student and teachers/students still say that they don’t receive enough money for books/supplies. And, test scores have been going down for years.
Totally agree.
Amen, he could be an aroogant douche but who cares? $100 to a school board. That’s HUGE.
Mary q – you nailed it. Excellent.
You got that sh*t right. Geez.
I guess it worked then didn’t it?
Well said Mary – much better than “First!”
That is a great donation, regardless of why he did it. It’s not as if he’s a total monster. Lots of questionable individuals give huge donations.
Bill Gates is doing the same thing, giving away billions to repair his horrible modern day monopolist robber-baron reputation. He’s afraid of his place in history.
“I’m pretty sure that Bill Gates’ reputation as one of the most important figures of the 20th and 21st Centuries is secured,” he said, typing from his Windows-based PC.
Take this for what it’s worth, but Oprah said that she learned that the donation was being made anonymously and that she convinced him to take a bow. Either way $100 M is a generous donation and will help many kids.
I’m from Northern NJ and was fortunate to have parents that put me in a private school – through college.
Newark public schools are messed up. Hell, a lot of public schools, regardless of their neighborhoods, are messed up. For anyone, especially the rich media, to dismiss his donation needs to just shut up.
May I suggest that for his next $100 million donation, he pay for 1000 students’ college tuition, most specifically in Keene. PLEASE!
I believe he did it for his reputation but it sill is a good thing. However, I have a feeling the money isn’t going to be used properly by the district and in the long run it isn’t going to help as much as it could or should.
I’m not sure I care why he did it, but I agree with you about the school board. I fear that 80% of the money will be frittered away
Ok, The Donation was awesome, there is no denying that. The amount of money is very generous.. But a question asked early in the thread, “how is it not a good thing”, and a comment earlier in this thread saying “Either way $100 M is a generous donation and will help many kids.”
My Comment is this.. Its not a good thing nor does it help any children in that school district. What it is a big fat paycheck for the school board officials to find a way to squander and pocket the money with out anyone knowing about it.. I’m sorry but that’s a lot of money and with that amount come temptation.. With temptation comes greed… I dare someone to prove me wrong.. It may not happen now, it may not happen in a few weeks. But months down the road the next headline will read “Newark, N.J., School District Officials Charged With Embezzlement of Donated Funds”.. Mark my words, it will happen.. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be trying to find away to get a hand on some of that..
Did you not hear the whole story? The reason Mark donated the money is because the community, including the mayor of Newark and the governor of New Jersey, have a plan and are committed to reforming their schools. It isn’t just a random donation.
Residents of Charlestown in Boston had better start donating money to public schools. Some recent hits have been putting them in a not-so-flattering light also!
There is no wrong reason to do the right thing.
Which is why I should be commended for my charitable donations to the Boys and Girls Club for America, even if it is just to throw people off of my murderous scent.
Are you kidding…..people give and they get shot down for it….grow up people! have you ever been to Newark at least maybe Christie will make sure the school actually uses the money for the kids.
Off subject, but Justin Timberlake (as much as I adore him) comes across like he doesn’t appreciate his NSync days. I get it, he’s made superior music solo, but he should show a little respect for the boy band, bleach blond afro days cuz without them he might not be where he is today.
right! I thought the same thing- hold up Justin, you were touring the world, singing and making some money
Bad memories for him because NSync was managed by Lou Pearlman, who basically robbed them all and is currently serving a 25-year jail sentence. Speaking of which, that actually would make a good movie…
Nobody’s perfect and if he wanted to he could’ve kept his money with the idc what ppl think of me I’m rich theory, but the fact is he didn’t. He did a really good thing for the kids in that public school system and I commend him for doing so.
Dave – You seemed caught off by Aaron’s response.
I was caught off that they were sitting and talking instead doing the ole Sorkin walk -n- talk.
I was a little bit, honestly. I expected him to admit to a little cynicism himself. But I appreciated his candor and found him completely respectful after the interview was over.
Oprah said Zuckerberg wanted to keep the donation anonymous (ya..right). Anonymity is the best way to be charitable because the act of giving is 100% fulfilled. When celebs or billionaires announce they’re contributions there is a selfish give-take to the whole idea of philanthropy. Why oh why do people need to take credit for helping others?!?!?! Yes, I know: at least the children or charity case will be helped but I don’t think we should put these celebrities on a pedestal for their work because sometimes it is the only reason why they do it. Yeah, I’m taking about you, Zuckerberg, Oprah and Brangelina!!!!
Correction.
Oprah said Zuckerberg wanted to keep the donation anonymous (ya..right). Anonymity is the best way to be charitable because the act of giving is 100% fulfilled. When celebs or billionaires announce their contributions there is a selfish give-take to the whole idea of philanthropy. Why oh why do people need to take credit for helping others?!?!?! Yes, I know: at least the children or charity case will be helped but I don’t think we should put these celebrities on a pedestal for their work because sometimes it is the only reason why they do it. Yeah, I’m taking about you, Zuckerberg, Oprah and Brangelina!!!!
Actually, this donation had been arranged quite a while back, and was done anonymously. Anyone who saw Oprah’s show last Friday could tell Zuckerberg was nervous to even be there, not beating his chest over the donation. It wasn’t a well-timed donation on his part, it was just a well-timed leak on someone else’s part. And quit your whining Ann. It would be nice if all celebs gave back a fraction of what they earned and didn’t just park 12 cars in their garages.
Why does Justin Timberlake get his own cover?
Also Dave Karger is hot. This is brand new information for me!