Post date: May 03, 2011 1:31:16 AM
Hollywood celebrities including Quentin Tarantino, Morgan Freeman, Ben Kingsley and Joan Collins respond to the death of Osama Bin Laden.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (MAY 02, 2011) REUTERS - As news broke that Osama Bin Laden had been killed, Hollywood celebrities were just as shocked as the rest of the world.
Attending The Film Society's Annual Gala Presentation of the 38th Annual Chaplin Award in New York City on
Monday (May 02), the stars told Reuters Television where they were, and how they felt when they heard the news."I was in bed, I just lay there listening. I mean, I don't, you know, I'm not one to be rejoicing, but it's a good thing. I know it's a good thing," said actor Morgan Freeman.
Director Quentin Tarantino was traveling when the news broke.
"I was just surprised. It happened while I was in the air, apparently, so when I got off the plane, the guy who picked me up at the airport told me about it," Tarantino said.
Actor Ben Kingsley welcomed the news, describing it as the end of a chapter.
"Where was I? It was this morning, actually because I got back quite late after an event last night and I learnt this morning. What a hard slog. What a long road that was, and it's, I suppose it's a blow for something, for us, for how we conceive life in the West, you know. End of a chapter. Excellent," Kingsley said.
Actress Joan Collins said she learned that Bin Laden had been killed through Twitter.
"I had lots of people Twittering me. All of a sudden, my iPhone goes off and I'm getting lots of Twitters from a lot of my followers and that's how I heard and quite frankly I was jolly pleased," Collins said.
Actor Sidney Poitier, who received the 38th Annual Chaplin Award, said he was relieved to see that Bin Laden had died.
"I read it on the New York Times front page, that's where I read it. And what is my reaction? Well the world has been relieved of a very evil person," Poitier said.
Actor James Earl Jones said he awoke to the news.
"I was asleep," Earl Jones said.
"When my wife gave me breakfast, she said 'by the way, they got him'. My reaction to the news was that it's about time, someone who caused so much pain, he caused a shock to us all that I will never get over. I don't think any of us will. And the fact that he's been captured and killed won't take that away," he added.
Singer Tony Bennett said he heard the news from a family member.
"I was at The Players Club downtown where a lot of wonderful artists were being honoured and when we came home, my daughter called me up and told me what it was, because we were there rather late and it's quite a shock," Bennett said.
Actor Chris Tucker said he felt for the victims of the 9/11 attacks.
"I had a lot of reactions, obviously I feel really bad for the victims here in 9/11 and around the world, you know? So I just hope that they're fine and stuff like that, so I just, that's my main concern, the victims of 9/11 that they were, you know, comforted I guess," Tucker said.
Bin Laden's death ended a nearly 10-year worldwide hunt for the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington D.C.
U.S. officials said bin Laden was found in a million-dollar compound in the military garrison town of Abbottabad, 60 km (35 miles) north of Islamabad. After 40 minutes of fighting, Bin Laden was among several people in the mansion killed. A source familiar with the operation said bin Laden was shot in the head.