Angelina Jolie Calls for Joseph Kony's Arrest (Video)

The filmmakers behind Kony 2012 were apparently preaching to the choir when they targeted Angelina Jolie as one of 20 culturemakers they hoped would call for the arrest of Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony.

Jolie told The Telegraph Thursday that Kony was extraordinarily horrible human being." The comments were made at the Third Annual Women In The World Summit in New York, reports ABC News.

Jolies image appeared near the end of the 30-minute documentary Kony 2012, which went viral earlier this week. Viewers were urged to contact Jolie and public figures ranging from Bill Gates to Justin Bieber, and ask them to call for Kony's arrest.

STORY:Hollywood-Supported 'Stop Kony' Viral Video Sparks Backlash From Activists and Journalists

After the documentary went viral Tuesday night, Twitter lit up with Kony-related tweets to Jolie and other targeted celebrities. Kony 2012, created by the San Diego non-profit Invisible Children, Inc., has received more than 50 million views since its release, and has garnered both praise for its effective promotion of the cause and criticism of its methods.

After her comments to The Telegraph, Jolie appeared on Extra topraise the number of "young people rising up" to demand Konys arrest.

Jolie had previously spoken out against Kony in a March 2010 interview on ABC'sNightline, when she was doing press fo! r her ac tion-thriller Salt. Jolie told anchor Cynthia McFadden she would be tempted take down certain terrible people if she were left alone in a room with them.

"Joseph Kony," Jolie said. "I hate him."

The filmmakers likely knew Jolie, an avowed humanitarian, was a strong candidate to join its cause. Others targeted by the group range in their political views and level of human rights involvement.

PHOTOS: George Clooney: Career in Pictures

An excerpt of an interview with George Clooney, one of the celebrities targeted by Invisible Children, appears in the documentary. In the clip, Clooney calls for human rights abusers to be as famous as he is, so it would be harder for them to hide. Rush Limbaugh, also targeted by Invisible Children, last year questioned the U.S. decision to send 100 military advisers to assist Uganda in capturing Kony. Limbaugh later said he would need to examine the issue further.

Kony, leader of a military group called the Lord's Resistance Army, has carried out a number of documented atrocities in Uganda, including the kidnapping and enlistment of thousands of children into his militia.


Comments