Joan Rivers didn’t meet the Russell Crowe I met, or she wouldn’t have insulted him on Brit talk show
Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:30AM Soon I’m sure you’ll be seeing news clips of Joan Rivers appearing on the British show Loose Women, a near cousin to The View in the US, calling Russell Crowe some pretty bad names, including dropping the f-bomb, resulting in her being censored (commonly known as bleeped.) After the break Rivers didn’t return to the show. She seemed surprised she got booted. Well, it just so happens I’ve met Russell Crowe, via an event arranged by Jacksonville Axemen coach Spinner Howland (photo below) and Rivers' description of the actor is so far off I can’t help but wonder what she did wrong when she met him. And I didn't exactly make a great impression on him myself. At first.
My own experience was completely unlike Rivers’ experience and I got off on a pretty wobbly foot with the award-winning actor. We were at a news conference in a locker room at the University of North Florida. Subject: rugby league. I was one of the only freelancers there, sitting amid our city’s news personalities popularly referred to as ‘local celebs.’ I was sorely out of place and no one knew me. I introduced myself to a photographer from a publication I write for and he looked at me like I was speaking Farsi. But Crowe was there to talk about rugby league and I am crazy for rugby. The reason for that is I once dated an extremely hot rugby player in college. I didn’t love him but I did come to love the game. And the players aren’t bad on the eyes either. (I know that’s sexist but I’m Southern so there you go.)
Crowe talked about an upcoming match at UNF, between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Leeds Rhinos. Jacksonville’s rugby league team The Axemen planned to host the game, and Coach Spinner Howland put his heart and soul into putting the event together. Jacksonville was thrilled to host this event, welcoming the teams with open arms. The match would be unlike any other that had ever occurred on US turf. Crowe is part owner of the Rabbitohs, and if you want to see him at his best, get him to talk to you about rugby league (side note to media who I know lurk here: be sure to include the word ‘league.’) Of his buying into the team, Crowe said, “This is a privilege, not a business deal.”
So after he talked about the match, he took questions. No one made a sound. So I stuck my hand in the air and tossed him a question about a fellow he’d made a movie with who happened to be filming a movie here in Jax (our city was once up front and center in the motion pic industry when it was in its infancy and we still see lots of movies shot here). The look on Crowe’s face said it all. My question thudded into the ether of the room with the impact of a boulder thrown from the Empire State Building. “If you see him, tell him I said g‘day,” Crowe said.
Now that might have been the end of things as far as this freelancer’s questions. But I redeemed myself by returning to the subject of rugby league and Crowe answered other questions I put forth. After the Q&A, I walked over to him and explained that as a freelancer, I had to try to get as much different information as possible. Because I planned to pitch the story to a number of different publications. He was positively generous about it. He then posed as I took a photo of him with an eager young journalist who was so shy about asking to have her photo made I had to push her into Crowe’s path. I have two daughters. I told this girl, “Don’t be shy. When you’re my age you’ll really value that photo.” When all was done, Crowe walked outside and posed with fans as cameras clicked left and right. Bear in mind he’d been on a plane for about 15 hours.
A few months later, my family and I went to the Plaza III, an upscale restaurant on the river in downtown Jax. I went outside to smoke and struck up a conversation with a staffer. She told me about all the celebs who’ve dined there (and there have been many)—who was nice and who wasn’t. So I asked, “Who was your nicest?”
She didn’t even think about it. “Russell Crowe.”
Now you may be reading this thinking I was star struck. I’d have to tell you that after 20 years of pumping words out to help us earn a living, not much rocks my boat except the guy I’m married to. The greatest poems I’ve ever written were inspired by him. I’ve interviewed filmmakers and authors, Pulitzer-winning poets and entrepreneurs. I’ve done freelance work for one of the largest corporations in the nation. Some of the folks were nice and some weren’t. I once interviewed a senator who drove me around the hills in Carolina as gospel music blared from his radio. I didn’t care. I don’t have to sleep with ‘em or eat with ‘em. I just do the job. It’s business not personal.
But Russell Crowe is a nice fellow. I hope he doesn't judge the US by Rivers' behavior. I still can’t believe what she said about him or why she’d arbitrarily select him for her venom, and all I can say is Crowe struck me as a guy who doesn’t like B.S. and who wouldn’t particularly be impressed with someone like Rivers. Maybe that’s why I liked him so much. We got that in common.
[Text and Photo by Kay B. Day; photo first publication Florida Times-Union.]
Reader Comments (14)
So many people write and talk friendly about Russell Crowe. But in the headlines only the nonsense always stops - and in the heads of the people. How a pity. Thanks for your report!
Joan Rivers has never even met Crowe. I read that his crime was that he declined to an interview with her on the red carpet, apparently triggering her vitriol.
I assume she's a publicity seeker who thinks talking about rudely about him will get people's attention. And the incident seems to have accomplished her goal. This harridan, fired from her red carpet work by two networks [for vulgarity and insulting stars on air] is back in the headlines.
To Crowe's credit, he's declined all requests to comment. Silence is golden, and classy.
Russell Crowe is a class act, despite the garbage the press spews for the sake of ratings and readership. Anyone who has ever had the privilege to speak with Mr. Crowe, in an honest conversation, will attest to that.
Rivers proved beyond a doubt what a classless act she is.
What a nice story! So many of the "famous" are just rude. It's nice to hear about someone who's actually nice for a change. Obviously, I'm not talking about Joan Rivers.
Very nice, positive story Kay. I was at the game in Jax in January, best time I've had in a long time. I too hope Russell and people from other countries don't judge the US on the likes of Joan Rivers. Sounds like she has a case of sour grapes!
You may have met Russell Crowe on a good day. Plenty of people have met him on his really bad days. People who have been beaten & bitten by him, shouted at & humilated, even elderly people. He is also known to manipulate the media. So no, I don't think Russell Crowe is nice. I think he's arrogant.
Ahhhhh...Joan Rivers is a bottom feeder who brings the definition of 'tacky' to a new low.
My question is: Can Joan Rivers come up with a clip showing her actually talking to Mr. Crowe? A verifiable interview with him? One incident of Mr. Crowe anywhere near her lair at an awards show?
Until she can put her money where her mouth is, then she is the fu*king s*it. cheers
Thanks all. I'm away from the office, but I saw all these comments and wanted to say hello. Really appreciate all your remarks--visit us often! Start your own thread in The US Report Community (right column) and tell us about your blog, your interests or whatever strikes your fancy. Best! Kay
Joan Rivers can only speak favorably about Prince Charles and Camillia. Her time on the red carpet and on fashion was as horrid as her facelift.
When you consider all the garbage Russell Crowe has had to put up with where the inaccurate and petty press is concerned, it is amazing that he can find politness in their presence. But he does repeatedly. The fewer times that he has stood up for himself or let paps know that they are crossing boundaries seem to be the only things the inaccurate press wishes to print.
Joan, retire. There seems to be no way to operate on your personality wrinkles.
Joanie...how crass can you be? From all that I have ever seen or read of Russell Crowe he's a real person...flaws n'all...
He's shown himself to be kind, generous and gentle...as well as being the world's greatest actor as far as I'm concerned.
You on the other hand...none of us knows what real and what isn't with you.
To Catherine:
you are the one being manipulated by the media my dear.
Russell bought a team bankrupt with no talent, put $, time, sweat and tears into them. He has shined light on not only the team, the sport, the players, but also the Country. I thanked him in a note, no more than a week later I had a personally written letter from him thanking me for my kind words. Also later that month a friend told me he bought his long time friend and costumer, his dream car as a birthday present. In my book, thats a top notch bloke!
Kaine, thanks. American media really did Crowe no favors. The only favors given by American media go to suckups. And I somehow think Crowe and I share an anti-suckup attitude.
best and thanks for coming by, Kay
There's no two ways about it: the guy's got a temper. When he's upset, he lets loose. But nobody is so one-dimensional as to only be one thing. As you discovered, he can also be kind and generous. In short, he's human.