World news This article is more than 17 years oldIt's the Pitts: actor bemoans her lot and upsets city of 2 million
This article is more than 17 years oldIf you're going to insult the entire population of one of America's largest, toughest cities, make sure people know who you are first. That was the uncomfortable truth facing Sienna Miller last night after she managed to offend the 2 million residents of Pittsburgh by referring to the Pennsylvania metropolis as "Shitsburgh".
In a Rolling Stone interview, Miller expressed her frustrations with the city where she has been shooting the screen adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. "Can you believe this is my life? Will you pity me when you're back in your funky New York apartment and I'm still in Pittsburgh? I need to get more glamorous films and stop with my indie year," she told the magazine. In a town known for steelworkers, American football and working class pride, the remarks proved unwise.
"I think obviously we have a great town, and I disagree with her comments," said mayor Luke Ravenstahl rather stiffly, adding that perhaps Ms Miller should have got out a bit and seen the city before judging it. "I think she would have found that Pittsburgh is a great place to live," he said.
Ms Miller has been back-pedalling ever since. On Friday she apologised via her publicist, saying it wasn't the city's fault, but a hectic schedule that left her no chance to explore it. "What I have seen of it is beautiful. I came once before to visit the Andy Warhol museum whilst researching a film and found both the city and its inhabitants warm and gracious."
Perhaps the most cutting retort came in a poll by local TV station KDKA to gauge residents' response to her remarks. In the results, 72% asked "Who is Sienna Miller?"
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