Opposition deputy slams choice of Julianne Moore to promote Turkey

ANKARA

The acclaimed American artist was chosen to star in Turkey’s new promotional film set to be released in February. REUTERS photo

An opposition deputy has slammed the Culture and Tourism Ministry’s choice of Hollywood star Julianne Moore as Turkey’s new spokesperson for “using a woman’s body to promote the country.”

“How reasonable do you find promoting Turkey with the body of such names and women,” Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) lawmaker Ruhsar Demirel asked Family and Social Affairs Minister Ayşenur İslam during a Parliament commission session on Jan. 30.

“How do you find, as a woman, giving plenty of money to a Hollywood star to promote Turkey, as if we were doing it in the 19th century?” Demirel asked İslam.

The acclaimed American artist was chosen to star in Turkey’s new promotional film, which is being shot in Los Angeles. Culture and Tourism Minister had recently confirmed that a very famous artist was cast for Turkey’s promotional film. The movie clip has caused much anticipation and is set to be released in February. 

Along with Moore, four renowned foreign photographers were also hired to shoot Turkey’s most touristic sights.