Why Angelina Jolie Is Calling Vanity Fair Cover Story 'False and Upsetting'

The cover story on the actress detailed a game in which the casting directors played with the poor children in Cambodia in search of an actor for their upcoming film. These directors would place money in front of these children from “orphanages, circuses, and slum schools.” They would then ask the children what they needed the money for, and take the money away to provoke a reaction.

Here's how it was described in the article:

The internet immediately blew up attacking Jolie for her poor decision in methods.

In a statement released Saturday by Jolie, she said the audition game was taken out of context.

“Every measure was taken to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of the children,” Jolie told The Huffington Post. “Parents, guardians, partner NGOs whose job it is to care for children, and medical doctors were always on hand…to make sure no one was in any way hurt by participating in the recreation of such a painful part of their country's history.”

She went on to clarify that the “pretend exercise” was “from an actual scene in the film” and was not “a real scenario” as it had been written to appear.

““I am upset that a pretend exercise in an improvisation, from an actual scene in the film, has been written about as if it was a real scenario. The suggestion that real money was taken from a child during an audition is false and upsetting. I would be outraged myself if this had happened,” Jolie added. “The point of this film is to bring attention to the horrors children face in war, and to help fight to protect them.”