Hollywood bids a fond farewell to Hugo Chavez

As the legacy of Hugo Chavez gets debated in the wake of his passing, filmmakers Michael Moore and Oliver Stone took to Twitter to praise the late Venezuelan president.

“You won’t hear much nice about him in the US media in the next few days. So, I thought I’d say a couple things to provide some balance” wrote Moore.

“Hugo Chavez declared the oil belonged 2 the ppl. He used the oil $ 2 eliminate 75% of extreme poverty, provide free health & education 4 all.” “That made him dangerous. US approved of a coup to overthrow him even though he was a democratically-elected President.” “54 countries around the world allowed the US to detain(& torture) suspects. Latin America, thanks 2 Chavez, was the only place that said no.”

Moore shared a picture of him meeting with Chavez in 2009 at the Venice Film Fest.

“We spoke for over an hour. He said he was happy 2 finally meet someone Bush hated more than him.”

Oliver Stone said, “I mourn a great hero to the majority of his people and those who struggle throughout the world for a place.” “Hated by the entrenched classes, Hugo Chavez will live forever in history. My friend, rest finally in a peace long earned.”

Roseanne Barr also tweeted out her mourning over Chavez, saying, “Ruling Classes hated Hugo Chavez. RIP.” Recording artist M.I.A said the same .

Sean Penn said in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter that “the people of the United States lost a friend it never knew it had. And poor people around the world lost a champion. I lost a friend I was blessed to have. My thoughts are with the family of President Chavez and the people of Venezuela.”

For others, however, Chavez’s passing was a good opportunity to crack some jokes.

“My greatest regret at the passing of America-hating strongman Hugo Chavez, is that he didn’t live long enough to party with Dennis Rodman,” wrote Rob Lowe. Arsenio Hall tweeted, “Venezuelan dictator HUGO CHAVES died today! Horrible timing, ‘cause he had dinner scheduled with Dennis Rodman tomorrow!” Comedian Michael Ian Black wrote, “Please respect Sean Penn’s privacy during this difficult time.