Koch brothers slam 'guy who makes obscene gestures with a monkey'
(CNN) - Actor Zach Galifianakis may be known for his less-than family-friendly sense of humor, but billionaires David and Charles Koch demonstrated Tuesday they don't find him so funny.
The comedian is co-starring with Will Ferrell in the upcoming comedy, "The Campaign," which features a pair of wealthy donors called the "Motch brothers," played by Dan Aykroyd and John Lithgow.
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Galifianakis, whose uncle served as a U.S. congressman from North Carolina, told the New York Daily News on Monday that it was "pretty obvious" the Motch brothers, a pair of wealthy donors who attempt to manipulate political campaigns, were crafted after David and Charles Koch, best known as the "Koch brothers."
The Koch brothers are high-profile figures in the Republican Party who support conservative and libertarian causes. Backers of the group Americans for Prosperity, the pair of industrialists are expected to spend tens – if not hundreds – of millions on Republican causes this year.
In July, the Kochs hosted a fund-raiser for Mitt Romney in Southampton, which drew multiple protests from Occupy Wall Street crowds.
In the interview Monday, "The Hangover" star wasted no time expressing how he feels about the real-life industrialist titans.
"I disagree with everything they do. They are creepy and there is no way around that. It's not freedom what they are doing," Galifianakis said.
Apparently, the real Koch brothers weren't so amused. A spokesman for the industrialist titans released a statement, chiding the actor's comments.
"Last we checked, the movie is a comedy. Maybe more to the point is that it's laughable to take political guidance or moral instruction from a guy who makes obscene gestures with a monkey on a bus in Bangkok," said Philip Ellender, referring to a scene from the movie "The Hangover Part II."
Ellender continued: "We disagree with his uninformed characterization of Koch and our beliefs. His comments, which appear to be based on false attacks made by our political opponents, demonstrate a lack of understanding of our longstanding support of individual freedom, freedom of expression, and constitutional rights."
"The Campaign" is produced by Warner Bros., which, like CNN, is owned by Time Warner.
- CNN's Mark Preston and Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
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Wont someone give the rich a break. All they want from this election cycle is a little respect (and return on their investment)
Elect Romney and you won't mind him helping out China with their unemployment problem. You don't mind giving up a few more million jobs to help out the rich and the commies! Do you?
I personally think that it is SAD SHAMEFUL and utterly DISGUSTING that these two Ultra-Left-Liberal Obamanite Comedian's are able to get away with putting forth LIE'S Half-Truth's and out-right Slander against these truly GREAT AMERICAN PATRIOT'S like Charles and David Koch! Now all I have too do is just simply kick back and wait for these Fine Gentlemen The Koch Brothers to drop a check for $1,000,000 in the mail addressed to little ole' me Harry Pelham!!!!!
Turn on the light and watch the roaches scurry away.
Why is Hollywood always trying to portray themselves as part of the 99%? They are as much a part of the money and influence problem as anybody.
Political History and the Movies ? LOL..LOL... Hollywood has always been seen as a No-Good, evil enity from the eyes of the Republican, Religious leaders of this country period. But they will now use the industry to promote their agenda. Gets people fired-up. The entertainment bussiness isn't going away anytime soon and it's good to see them support the POTUS on all levels. Hurray for Hollywood !
We don't like people poking fun at us...whhhaaaaa...get over it and go swim in your money pit.
Mike – you can't take anything from the poor, they don't pay any taxes at all. and the middle class pay very few taxes.
The same could be said for these Hollywood hypocrites who have Soros' money behind them. They're agenda is scary, creepy and downright evil to me.
The Koch brothers believe in the freedom to own and control everything and everyone.
I bet the Koch boys like to play with their monkeys too(Scott Walker and Mitt Robmey)
Rich = Bad
Poor = Good
Government = vehicle available to assuage our envy
Don, you hit it right, the rich want a return on there investment, and they got it with Busch, with Obama there worried there net worth might not go up as much and they won't be able to buy there kids college education
Talk about thin skin. They spend tons of money in an attempt to discredit our President and buy an election but they can't take a joke. What will they do next buy the movie studio or deny them fuel?
The Koch Brothers sure don't like what they are seeing in their mirror, do they?
And I guess its better to take advise from someone who bought (bribe) many politicians to get political favours so that thay can rob the American people and stuff their pockets.
Proof again that Conservaturds have no sense of humor (which usually requires a modicum of intelligence).
One word: Birchers.
The country has a Koch problem.
Last I checked, Zach is an American citizen with the right to speak his mind. The fact that the Koch bros. took the time to actually issue a response and refer to something a character in a movie, not a real person did, speaks more to their character than Zach's.
Though this isn't "headline news", it does bring out a point. The Koch brothers don't like being poked fun of or depicted in an comedic manner that mirrors their real agenda. They represent a select group who believe that only they know how to govern the U.S., not the "people". After all, they bought the best candidate that money could buy, Mitt Romney.
Yeah, longstanding support of individual freedom, freedom of expression and constitutional rights where they can be bought or stolen for the wealthy.
Romney is China's worst enemy period.My vote goes to him.
What Kochs too close to home, sorry I guess they didn't get your memo.
Yeah, longstanding support of individual freedom, freedom of expression and constitutional rights where they can be bought or stolen for the wealthy. Actually, no, it has not been posted yet otherwise it would be on the posted page.
Let's call it what it is. These guys BRIBE politicians in our CORRUPT political system.. and rather than be ashamed, they are proud of it.