Cameron Diaz has issued an apology after ‘insulting’ locals on a visit to Peru by carrying a bag emblazoned with a communist slogan.
The actress was visiting the Inca city of Machu Picchu last Friday using an olive green bag with a red star and the words “Serve the People” written in Chinese. The message was seen by many as a reference to Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong. Zedong’s Maoist Shining Path insurgency fought the Peruvian government in the 1980s and early 1990s, killing almost 70,000 people.
Human rights activists described the actress’ bag as “inappropriate”, however Diaz has now apologized for her ignorance.
She said, “I sincerely apologize to anyone I may have inadvertently offended. The bag was a purchase I made as a tourist in China and I did not realize the potentially hurtful nature of the slogan printed on it.”
She added, “I’m sorry for any people’s pain and suffering and it was certainly never my intention to reopen what I now know is a painful wound in this country’s history.”