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Amy Pascal and Scott Rudin apologize after Sony hack exposes racial comments regarding Obama

"Shaft" producer on President Obama: "I bet he likes Kevin Hart."

By Matt Bradwell
Actors Jonah Hill (L) and Channing Tatum (R), cast members in the motion picture action comedy "21 Jump Street", pose with Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Amy Pascal. UPI/Jim Ruymen
1 of 2 | Actors Jonah Hill (L) and Channing Tatum (R), cast members in the motion picture action comedy "21 Jump Street", pose with Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Amy Pascal. UPI/Jim Ruymen | License Photo

HOLLYWOOD, Dec. 11 (UPI) -- Fallout continues from Sony's massive email security breach, as correspondence between Sony Pictures chair Amy Pascal and film producer Scott Ruden exposes a series of racially charged comments directed at President Barack Obama.

According to BuzzFeed, Pascal asked Rudin what to discuss with Obama at a breakfast hosted by Dreamworks CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg.

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Pascal: What should I ask the president at this stupid Keffrey breakfast? Rudin: Would he like to finance some movies? Pascal: I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO? Rudin:12 YEARS. Pascal: Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic] Rudin: Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.

Less than 12 hours after the emails were leaked, Rudin -- whose 30-year career includes producer credits on Shaft, Zoolander, the Truman Show and nearly every Wes Anderson movie -- issued a public apology, telling Deadline.com, "Private emails between friends and colleagues written in haste and without much thought or sensitivity, even when the content of them is meant to be in jest, can result in offense where none was intended."

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"I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive -- and not funny at all. To anybody I've offended, I'm profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologize for any injury they might have caused."

Pascal also publicly apologized via an official statement provided to Variety, conceding, "Although this was a private communication that was stolen, I accept full responsibility for what I wrote and apologize to everyone who was offended."

"The content of my emails were insensitive and inappropriate but are not an accurate reflection of who I am."

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