Jennifer Connelly is torn apart by bigwig exec but exacts her revenge flawlessly

Jennifer Connelly is torn apart by bigwig exec but exacts her revenge flawlessly

Connelly at the Creation premiere last night (Photo by Karon Liu)

Jennifer Connelly was literally ripped apart by Astral Media bigwig John Riley for failing to show at his gala yesterday—when announcing her non-presence, he held up a picture of her and tore it in two—but she had excuses to make this morning. Or was it revenge to take? And after her heart-wrenching explanation, we imagine he’s feeling like a rather outsized asshole.

At this morning’s Creation press conference, Connelly interrupted the film talk to deliver a personal message to Riley: “I just have to say, we did go to to your party, and I would have loved to stay longer, but it was,” a fragile, struggling pause here, “the first anniversary of my father’s death.” She eked out a few more words, but then sprang the tears. With obvious difficulty, she blinked them away. “I’m sorry,” she choked. “I’m sorry.”

Somewhere, John Riley is cursing the fine talents of his “former favourite actress.” As he told his party attendees last night, “I promised my kids we would shake hands.”

Oops?

UPDATE: Read John Riley’s reaction from Friday afternoon>>