RUSSELL CROWE - RUSSELL CROWE DENIES STONE INSULT

Hollywood hardman RUSSELL CROWE has slammed reports he compared his THE QUICK AND THE DEAD co-star SHARON STONE to a orang-utan, insisting his comments were taken out of context. The Oscar-winner appeared to claim Stone had undergone cosmetic surgery to maintain her stunning features - something she has strongly denied in the past. Crowe was reported as saying, "A lot has changed. You can end up looking like a startled chimpanzee." But Crowe's reps deny he made comments about the BASIC INSTINCT actress' appearance: "It was completely taken out of context."