Bula -

So, Alex and I went to Fiji last week, got married, threw a coconut at Keith Richards, and survived a tsunami.

Oh, I'm sorry, I went over that first part a little fast. It's true, we finally made it official and got hitched on Tavarua Island in Fiji on May 3rd and the only "relation" there was my best pal from West Virginia, David Stacy, and his wife, Aileen. No caterers, no floral arrangements, no doves getting released, no tuxedo, no band, no family to worry about, no travel arrangements to make for people, no maps to draw, no hotels to arrange, no makeup, no hairstylists, no shoes, no stress ... it was the perfect wedding.

The only people there were the other folks staying on the island (and this place only has 13 "bures", pronounced burays, so only 30 people were there to begin with!) And the whole island is only thirty acres! It was pretty amazing, and our witnesses: my boy Dave Stacy and Chief Druku from the village of Nabila. His village owns the island and the reefs around it, and has for centuries.

Here we are at Sunset just after the ceremony. Alex is wearing a dress made by her mom (she does it professionally, you can check it out and get your own here: http://www.naturalfiberclothing.com/index.html ), and me? No, my mom didn't make my dress. I am wearing a traditional black formal Fijian "sulu." And yes, I was goin' commando under there.

I've been criss-crossing the country for weeks now, shooting interviews and going to various locations for the second season of 30 Days. This week I was in Jefferson City, MO and Buffalo, NY before trudging back west to the house we're renting for the next couple of months in L.A. (thanks FX) while we complete the series. (And luckily this time our cat didn't hide in the closet for weeks on end after we got here.)

I calculated that in the last two years, I've spent nearly 70% of my time away from home sleeping in hotels ... and the scary part is, the hotels are starting to feel like home. I actually like staying there! (Not in all hotels, mind you, but many.) There's just something about planes and hotels and traveling that I really like. Maybe in my next life I should be a pilot. (But then I wouldn't get to sleep on planes, which is what I REALLY like, mainly because that's the one time my phone doesn't ring and my e-mail doesn't work.)

It's so pathetic, but I've actually seen all the theatrical movies (both the "New Releases" and "Hollywood Hits") that are currently playing on Spectravision in a hotel room near you. And I've eaten more bad buffet breakfasts than anyone should - that's why I've pretty much reserved myself these days to coffee, juice, fruit and maybe, MAYBE, some eggs if they aren't too scary (scary meaning either too runny, like a snotty diaper, or too hard, like fool's gold on a plate.)

STOP

IF YOU ARE COMING TO THIS BLOG FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE HEARING OF THE SPEECH AT HATBORO HORSHAM HIGH SCHOOL, THEN GO TO THE PREVIOUS BLOG ENTRY "A LETTER OF EXPLANATION" FIRST, READ ALL OF THE OLD ENTRIES, AND THEN COME BACK TO THIS PAGE TO SHARE.

THANK YOU.

Well, it's now Wednesday and I can honestly say that my mom has never been prouder. (I am kidding, of course.) In fact, the first phone call I got Sunday morning was from my disapproving mother. She's the greatest.

In an interview with the Philly Inquirer that ran yesterday (and subsequently got picked up by a bunch of other papers), I apologized for my actions and was misquoted again!

The reporter quoted me as saying, "In my background, the kids in the front row were the ones paying attention. We would make jokes about the ones in the back row with helmets, not paying attention," she said.

What I actually said was, "In my background, the kids in the front row were the ones paying attention. Jokes were made about the kids in the back row not paying attention, and I know because I was one of those kids in the back row."

They have since run a retraction:

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/special_packages/todaystalk/14200967.htm

But I think you can see how the press can twist your words and how things can be misinterpreted.

I sent a letter to the Principal of the high school yesterday and according to the school's website we both agree that its time to move on and get back to work.

That being said, I spent yesterday in Washington, DC doing research and having meetings about my next movie. It won't be out until next year, but I will keep you posted. And on Monday night, Alex and I went to the GLAAD Awards where the "Gay/Straight" episode of 30 Days won the Best Reality Show prize.

Onward and upward ...

Talk to you soon -

Morgan

To the Students, Teachers, Parents, Administrators of Hatboro Horsham High School, the Hatboro Horsham Education Foundation, and anyone else who has now heard of the events of last Friday in Pennsylvania,

Throughout the year, I travel to various colleges and high schools to talk about my experiences in making Super SIze Me, the impact it has had on me and the community, and what kids can do to make a difference in their own lives. That was my goal when I went to speak to the students of Hatboro Horsham High School.

As I told both the principal and superintendent of schools after my lecture, it is never my intent to insult or demean anyone – and I understand how some of my remarks may have offended some in attendance and if you feel they did, then I am deeply sorry.

When I speak at schools, I try to express my views on difficult topics with humor and a joking mannerism. I try to connect with students by conveying my thoughts in an accessible form, using the same speech and tone that they or I would use in any other lively conversation. One student even said to me, “you didn’t say anything that we aren’t going to hear later on TV,” and that was my sole intent.

I do, however, believe it is very important for me to address many of the points made in the media.

First and most importantly, it should be made clear that the only person I called “retarded” was myself when I was unable to hear a question from the audience. Having done work with special needs children in the past, something this hurtful would never come from my lips. I did make an aside about kids sleeping in the back wearing helmets, which was done with no malicious intent (I was playing it as a slacker reference to the Jon Heder character in the upcoming film “Benchwarmers,” a reference which was lost and, as I was later told, there were no actual students wearing helmets in the back).

I have also been portrayed as someone who spewed profanity for a full hour. To set the record straight, I said only five “dirty” words during the entire speech.

The Superintendent said to me backstage that the only words he had problems with were the “F-Bombs,” (of which there were only two) so perhaps I should have toned down even those two uses, but as another student told me, it’s nothing they hadn’t heard before.

It has also been said that I insulted faculty, when in actuality, all I was doing was making a joke at their expense for the enjoyment of the students. While the main floor of the auditorium was full, 7 or 8 teachers sat up in the balcony. During the Q&A; after my talk, I asked them if they had any questions for me. They shook their heads no and I said to the kids, “You see, while you guys sit down here and watch, the teachers sit up in the balcony and smoke pot.” The students roared with laughter, and once again, that was all I wanted to do: entertain the kids.

Lastly, in the article it quoted me as saying that the greatest lesson those kids learned was the importance of freedom of speech. When saying that, I did not mean that you have the right to insult anyone at will (as many people have interpreted it.) I was referring to the fact that the group that hired me to speak asked that I not mention McDonald’s in any of my talk because one of their board members owns a franchise. That would be like asking Neil Armstrong to speak but tell him he can’t bring up walking on the moon, so needless to say, I didn’t agree to their censorship.

Please know that any comment I made in my speech was done in a comical tone without an ounce of vindictive purpose. While it may be too late for apologies for many in the community, I hope this in some small way can start to make amends with the rest of you.

As an individual who fights daily for us all to find some common ground in this world, I am hopeful that the work I do can continue to generate a positive dialogue, inspire action and make this world a better place.

Sincerely,

Morgan Spurlock

After a very difficult 30 Days, I am back home in New York City. I can't say much about it, but I can honestly say it was eye opening beyond belief. It was pretty emotional and will hopefully be as moving for you as it was for me.

It was tough because I went straight from shooting my episode into shooting the "Public Nuisance" pilot for Comedy Central. I would have killed for a week off after my "30 Days" ordeal, but it wasn't in the cards. At least I went from heavy to comedy - that was the saving grace - and it's one funny show.

It's official, the 30 Days: Season 1 DVD hits the streets in June and you can pre-order it on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com

So we didn't win the PGA Award ... we got beat by 60 Minutes. Hey, if you're gonna lose to someone, I'd rather it be Morley and the boys. We did however get nominated for a GLAAD Award for the Gay/Straight episode (my favorite from last season ... not that I play favorites.) So we may just redeem ourselves.

The past couple weeks have been amazing - after the PGA Awards, Alex and I flew to Sundance for the day. I had to go there for a quick meeting en route to Chicago and when I drove into town, the first time I'd been there since SSM exploded two years, I was overwhelmed with emotion. It felt like I was there only yesterday and I was overcome ... I owe so much to that place, so much to that festival and all the people who make it possible. I just can't wait to come back with another movie!

Best part of Sundance was meeting my new pal Treat Williams. He lives there full time shooting his TV show on the WB and we sat across from one another at ChefDance - this great nightly dinner where celeb chefs come and cook it up like crazy. The food was sick (in agood way) and I was psyched I got to drink vino and hang out with Critical Bill! The guy's a rockstar.