Amanda Peet's Apology: Sincere or Damage Control?

July 17, 2008

Actress and mama Amanda Peet published an apology in Cookie for calling parents who don’t vaccinate their kids “parasites” during an interview. The mother of 18-month-old Frances said:

I believe in my heart that my use of the word "parasites" was mean and divisive; I completely understand why it offended some parents, and in particular, parents of children with autism who feel that vaccines caused their illness. For this I am truly sorry.

What are your thoughts on her apology?

25 Comments

3 years

Great information! I’ve been looking for something like this for a while now. Thanks!

3 years

What amazes me about all these mothers who blame vaccines for autism, is that how many of them smoked or drank while they were pregnant. In Jenny McCarthy's case, we know she was a smoker, and we have known for 40 years that mothers who smoke during pregnancy risk the chance of neurological, among other, birth defects. We're still just beginning to understand how the absorption of nicotine in the fetal brain affects long term development. But this much we do know, the effects of nicotine on a fetus are horrific, and in high doses has been linked to seizure disorders in children, so it's quite plausible that Ms McCarthy's smoking was the cause of her childs autism.

loveforacure 4 years

people allways agree on something because they have never seen it first hand. i have a son that has autism. he talked when he was 1 year old. the day after he recieved his vaccines he stopped talking and had a blaank stare in his eyes. i am not saying that the vaccines caused his autism,but it may have had something to do with it. I will probably never know for sure since the studies are so vague. But i do hope no other parent has to endure what my family has had too. If you suspect you child has autism take them in early to have them checked out. No one should speak about anything unless they are informed about it from both sides. I am sorry amanda peet is so ignorant on the subject its not her fault after all she is a class B actress any ways. A loving father of a son with autism

loveforacure 4 years

mkms78 4 years

I agree with her that vaccines do not cause Autism and that children who are not vaccinated are leeching off of children who are. I think that her words were poorly chosen for a magazine, but wish she would have stuck to her opinion. I believe that sometimes bad things happen to children and parents need an outlet. They just can't accept that this could happen to their child. I think not vaccinating children will lead to further epidemics. My son has had every shot available and will continue.

mickstephenson 4 years

Damage control, she made an intelligent statement and shouldn't have to take back her words to appease the idiots out there. The fact is there is no scientific evidence to make a link, the statistics just aren't there for it even to warrant further investigation, but you get uninformed idiots who are just as bad as 911 truthers who won't listen to reason. This is something that is widely ignored in the scientific community because no one wants to research something that was invented by the media and perpetuated by idiots, there was originally a mistaken scientist who put out a paper which was immediately proven to be ablsolute crap and she ruined her reputation and now cheap womens magazines perpetuate a mistake on ad infinitum, the newspapers are parasites, and anyone who perpetuates this are parasites, who care enough to read a crummy magazine to make decisions about the child's well being but not enough to go and read the long winded papers that debunk it. If your child dies of measles are is made infertile i hope you can live with the guilt. Until stumbling across this page I had never heard of this but now i have much more respect for Amanda Peet, she may have just saved your childs life from your stupidity if you care enough to listen.

mickstephenson 4 years

phatE 4 years

sparklish, she can have an opinion or a point but name calling is just ignorant, especially when you consider situations like bransugar, and many others.. i think she is saying sorry because she was completely out of line and people got pissed off.. i doubt she would have said anything if it wouldn't have become such an issue.. as people above said, she believes it, and so instead of just releasing another statement, live it out by being open minded to others in the next interview ..

phatE 4 years

bransugar79 4 years

My sister developed epilepsy and cerebral palsey as a result of newborn vaccinations. I know now that if I have children I will have to be particularly careful with their vaccinations. I don't think it is fair to make a statement like that about a parents choice without considering why they are making that choice

sparklish 4 years

She shouldn't have apologised at all - she has a point; those who don't vaccinate are relying on "herd immunity" which only exists when others do vaccinate.

snowysakurasky 4 years

well, its a controversial issue. I vaccinated my son but was worried and wished that there was a "better solution." anyways it seems like a deliberate gaffe, since she should have better PR skills than to call a large group of people parasites! so im going with the idea that it was to promote her movie! but i still like her!

ediiesweets1 4 years

Oh come on! What is with the constant apologies, I can see if she were the surgeon general but please she is an actress speaking her mind. I am with Amanda Peet - I think parents who don't get their children vaccinated are the parasites. Is that any less offensive? The autism link to childhood vaccinations has yet to be proved.

roxtarchic 4 years

there was more to her apology... and it sounds so scripted... i'm just as disgusted reading her nonpology as i was initially by her judgemental comment. and i agree lindsaybriggs... if you're gonna have an opinion... have an opinion... be informed & don't back down if you're convinced of your stand on an issue. i'd respect that, even if i didnt agree.

roxtarchic 4 years

lindsaybriggs 4 years

Personally I'm tired of hearing people say sorry for things they really think! So what, you think parents who don't vaccinate their children parasites? Own it! Everyone is entitled to their opinion; don't back down cause some people don't like it. Obviously she thought it enough at the moment, so she should claim it and not get all wishy washy.

mother 4 years

we're all human, we've all made mistakes and said things we regret, give the girl a break. I have a feeling that if it her opinion were the opposite of what she feels, no one would have a problem with it. It's a free country, we are all entitled to our own opinions.

lickety split 4 years

glad she did this. i'm sure the words had little meaning for her, she was talking off the cuff about something she has no real information about. she was probably shocked at the reactions she received. maybe this will give her something to think about. live and learn :)

CMG 4 years

she comes across as an idiot in the article actually. she says that she made her decision after only talking to experts on one side of the debate. there are lots of physicians out there who have plenty of evidence to support the fact that vaccinations are neurologically damaging and trigger autism. so not only did she become dogmatic about the issue after only half educating herself on the issue, she then used offensive language.

roxtarchic 4 years

i notoriously open my mouth and insert foot more than i'd care to admit... and then realize afterwards... ugghhh. so i will give her the benefit of the doubt... personally i think the bulk of her statement (w/all the ummms) might have been somewhat scripted in the first place... hey, maybe this will prompt her to do a little more research.

faerymagick15 4 years

damage control...since she has a movie coming out soon. The debate over vaccines will continue and I know what side I am on but would NEVER be as harsh and unfeeling as she was about the "other opinion". She realized her comments could REALLY hurt her image!

Greggie 4 years

Neither - more publicity for her movie. She made a deliberate statement, not just rambling in general conversation.

bluepuppybites 4 years

I wish people would just stop and think about what comes out of their mouths sometimes. My husband and I are having trouble commuting to each other and say stupid things all the time. So for now before we get into a big discussion we write out what we are going to say.

chicagojlo 4 years

Who hasn't said something without realising the context it could be taken in until later? I can't imagine a context where calling kids parasites would be acceptable, but I'm sure that when she said it she didn't mean it in the way it's been interpreted.

MartiniLush 4 years

The debate over vaccinations and autism is a pretty heated one. I think that Amanda really chose her words poorly and that she is really sorry for that. I mean, who among us hasn't spoken before we really think it through and then regret what we've said? Unfortunately for Amanda, the whole world gets to see her mistake.

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