New Zealand’s state tourism agency has issued an apology to Anna Faris, who filmed Yogi Bear while in their country. Believe it or not, there’s more to that story: During an interview on Lopez Tonight, Faris told an anecdote about being accosted by two separate carloads of Kiwis who screamed, “Fuck you, asshole!” and “Show me your tits you stupid bitch!” While some might interpret this as her conscience made sentient, shaming her into picking better projects or, failing that, surrendering to fully exploiting her assets, Faris said she had no idea why she was being picked on.
Even worse, after it made the local press, a spokesman for Tourism New Zealand reportedly responded in the New Zealand Herald by alluding to her 2007 Stonette of the Year award from High Times (for which Faris gave a belated acceptance speech on the show) and saying, “In the same segment, she accepts an award for being a pothead stoner of the year… I don't think she has any credibility”—you know, because pot often makes you hallucinate crazy shit, like two separate carloads of belligerent men trying to get you to take your top off. That comment most likely escaped notice outside of New Zealand, but just to be safe, the tourism board has amended its earlier statement, saying, “The inference that Tourism NZ did not take Ms. Faris' comments seriously is very much regretted and was certainly not intended,” and offering her “great Kiwi hospitality” to make up for it, which we assume means she can come and play any sort of hobbit she wants.