Steve Buscemi's role as ex con mobster Tony Blundetto in The Soprano's causes problems

STEVE Buscemi's role as ex-con mobster Tony Blundetto in "The Sopranos" has caused a major problem for the Coalition of Italian American Associations.

In February, Buscemi was a guest speaker at a dinner the Coalition held at the Columbus Citizens Foundation - dedicated to fostering appreciation for Italian-American heritage - on the Upper East Side. But Foundation president Louis Tallarini had objected prior to the dinner, saying Buscemi "portrayed a mafia lifestyle" in his "Sopranos" role - and now, he's banned the Coalition from holding its events there.

"Your invitation to Mr. Buscemi, an individual who has had numerous roles . . . as a mobster . . . was made without notification to any official" of the Foundation, Tallarini wrote to Coalition board member Dr. Joseph Scelsa after the event. "This invitation violated well-known foundation principles . . . You are well aware of the Board's historical opposition to the association of actors who portray gangland characters . . . It was disrespectful to the Foundation."

In a follow-up letter, Tallarini wrote that as of May 1, the Foundation will no longer host the Coalition's events, and asked the group to pay its balance of $9,276.

Scelsa defied Tallarini, arguing beforehand that Buscemi has an entire body of film work outside of "The Sopranos" and that he was chosen to speak because of his volunteer efforts at Ground Zero after 9/11. "It would be disrespectful to disinvite an invited guest," Scelsa said.

In a letter to the foundation written after the dinner, Scelsa wrote, "There was no mention of 'The Sopranos' by anyone at the monthly meeting."

Scelsa told Page Six, "I'm certainly not a fan of the show. It perpetuated a negative stereotype of Italians. But Steve is a great actor and a great human being. We've had our monthly meetings at the foundation for many, many years. When we had him, we introduced him as a great cinematic actor and a director.

"They wanted him to be disinvited, but we didn't do that. This is not about supporting a negative stereotype, this about the right to free speech." Neither the Columbus Citizens Foundation nor Buscemi's rep returned our calls for comment.
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