Bill Murray has acknowledged that his behavior on the set led to a complaint from a woman and the suspension of the shooting of his last film.
The actor-comedian, in his first comments on the “Being Mortal” shutdown, described the incident as a “difference of opinion” but declined to provide details about what happened or who was involved.
“I did something that I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way,” he told CNBC on Saturday during an interview at Berkshire Hathaway’s annual shareholder meeting. “The movie studio wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check everything, investigate it, and they stopped production.”
Murray said he and the unidentified woman are talking and “trying to make it up to each other.” He did not say when or if production would resume and if he would continue to be involved with the film.
“We’re both professionals,” Murray said of the woman. “We like each other’s work. We like each other, I think, and if you can’t really get along and trust each other, there’s no point in continuing to work together or make a movie as well.”
The 71-year-old “Ghostbusters” and “Caddyshack” comedian suggested the changing nature of what is considered appropriate humor was a factor.
“It’s been quite an education for me,” he said. “The world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was fun when I was a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as it is now. Things change and times change, so it’s important for me to understand. outside.”
Murray added: “I think he’s a sad dog who can’t learn anymore. I don’t want to be that sad dog and I have no intention of being that sad dog.”
Searchlight Pictures confirmed to USA TODAY that production has been put on hold, but has so far declined to elaborate, citing the ongoing investigation. The entertainment website Deadline reports that the complaint against Murray was filed earlier this month and production was halted last week.
“Being Mortal” stars Murray, Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer and Aziz Ansari, who writes, directs and produces the film.
Production began in Los Angeles in March and the film was scheduled to open in theaters next year. The film is based on surgeon and author Dr. Atul Gawande’s 2014 non-fiction book on end-of-life care, Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End.
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In a July 2021 interview with the Los Angeles TimesLucy Liu has spoken out about working with Murray on the 2001 film “Charlie’s Angels,” claiming the comedian began “hurling insults” at her while filming a scene.
“Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I wasn’t going to sit back and accept it,” she said. “So yeah, I stood up for myself and I don’t regret it. Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or where you come from, there’s no need to patronize or put other people down. And I wouldn’t back down, and I shouldn’t have either.” “.
Ansari took a break from Hollywood after he was accused of sexual misconduct for a previous date on a Babe.net story January 2018. In the Babe story, the accuser, who was identified by a pseudonym, said the two were in her apartment on a date when he undressed her and pressured her into oral sex.
“I know she was physically giving signs that she wasn’t interested. I don’t think that was noticed at all, or if it was, it was ignored,” she wrote.
At the time, Ansari, who has been outspoken in her support of the #MeToo movement, said in a statement that she thought the sexual activity was consensual, but the next day, “I got a text from her saying that while ‘it might have seemed like this well, after further reflection, she felt uncomfortable. It was true that everything seemed to be fine for me, so when I heard that it wasn’t the case for her, I was shocked and worried… I took her words very seriously.”
Contributors: Philip Marcelo, The Associated Press, and Charles Trepany, USA TODAY
Reference-www.usatoday.com