Percy was scheduled to appear on The Today Show to talk about his new charity work cleaning up the Atlantic and environmental tips on how to keep the oceans cleaner and strengthen the earth's supply of drinkable water. Then this happened.
Natalie Morales: You know there's a lot of excitement and controversy that surrounds your group, even after all these years, but once and awhile there's something that happens. Can we - do we have the clip?
Clip of Peeta being ambushed by the reporter with questions about Finnick and promptly decking him.
Matt Lauer: Ouch.
Percy Jackson: You know the funny thing is that what I came on here to talk about, that's the kind of news people need to talk about. The state of the world, the ways it can get better, what people can do to get off their lazy asses and contribute in a useful way to society ---
Natalie Morales: I don't really think that's fair to ---
Percy Jackson: What's not fair is being treated as an object and not as a person. We didn't ask to be here, we didn't have a choice, and sure some of us decided to jump into the public eye like me. I decided on that and I don't regret it, but plenty of us chose to avoid the spotlight for good reasons. We're people, we're not your *bleep*ing life size action figures. After what Peeta went through, there's no way you can call yourself a fan if you're supporting this kind of *bleep*.
Matt Lauer: Let's try to keep the language clean if we ---
Percy Jackson: Finnick Odair isn't a character to Peeta, that's a friend who was murdered by an oppressive regime that actively tortured all of them. It's not cute to ask her what she thinks about the *bleep*ing casting, that's not news, that's the pathetic scavengers of the journalism world showing no human empathy and common decency. And I'd like to say that The Today Show would be better except you just showed that clip and you're here asking Percy Jackson, the life size action figure, what he thinks about an incident where one of his best friends was forced to relive a tragedy for your entertainment.
Percy looks straight into the camera.
Percy Jackson: Dear TMZ, gossip mags and news stations everywhere, psychotic fandom, and anyone else who thinks you should waste more of your time harassing a good person than making a positive difference in the world. Back the *bleep* off Peeta Mellark and everyone in my community that chose to be private. We don't owe you a damn thing and the next person who messes with any of them will learn what it's like to earn the wrath of the Greek Gods. And the myths are nothing compared to the reality.
Percy smiles and sits back in his chair.
Percy Jackson: So there's your soundbite. Happy now?
Matt Lauer: ... well I think this is a good time to go to commercial.