WyBlog

(AP) — The formal announcement by the Venezuelan government that Hugo Chavez has died sent shockwaves through the ranks of the Hollywood elite, who had long been the Venezuelan leader's staunchest supporters. Throughout the day, celebrities struggled to cope with the devastating loss.

"Sean is devastated, completely inconsolable," Sean Penn's publicist Amy Glattensturmer told the AP. "He's been in his bedroom all day. He won't eat, he won't berate his staff, he won't punch women, he wouldn't even come outside to look at the brand new Ferrari Enzo the studio sent him as incentive to read a script. He realizes that a true champion of the working class has died today, and, as one himself, Sean has taken the hit very hard."

"The relationship between celebrities and their dictators is a very close one," PR guru Benjamin Shaltzberg told the AP. "Hollywood celebrities had formed a huge bond with Chavez. It will be difficult to replace."

Throughout Tuesday afternoon, cars full of mourners were seen driving up to Tim Robbins' 20,000-acre private estate, called "Proletariat Meadows," in Westchester County. Robbins, who would not speak directly to the AP, did release the following statement on Twitter: "We who struggle in the working class have lost a hero — a man of strong hand, and one of the few who truly realized what a genius I am."