Cameron Diaz issued an apology after offending Peru with her choice in handbags. On Friday, Diaz visited Machu Picchu carrying a handbag featuring a red star and the slogan, “Serve the people” in Chinese. The communist accessory was particularly offense in Peru because
The phrase, a slogan of the late Chinese Communist leader Mao Zedong, touched a nerve among Peruvians still recovering from the Maoist Shining Path insurgency of the 1980s and early 1990s that left nearly 70,000 dead.
“It alludes to a concept that did so much damage to Peru, that brought about so many victims,” Peruvian human rights Pablo Rojas told the Associated Press. “I don’t think she should have used that bag where the followers of that ideology did so much damage.”
When asked for comment, the Peruvian government said, “No, no. Not her handbag. Her face. Her FACE! Ahhh!” Then the spokesman ran away screaming with his arms flailing wildly above his head.