“I did something I thought was funny”: Bill Murray Justified His Actions after His ‘Inappropriate Behavior’ Shut Down a Whole Movie
Actor Bill Murray gained renown when he debuted on The National Lampoon Radio Hour in 1973 and later performed on Saturday Night Live from 1977 to 1980. He is most recognized for his deadpan portrayals in studio comedies and independent dramas. The actor received compliments on his comic timing and the accuracy with which he captured the characters on screen.
Recently, the actor was spotted in Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly’s key role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania from the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Lord Krylar. Despite being incredibly skilled at what they do, actors occasionally overstep the mark, which has serious repercussions for the other parties engaged in the project. Bill Murray is no exception. Let’s dive in to know more.
Bill Murray’s inappropriate behavior shut down Being Mortal
Back in April of 2022, according to a report by Puck, Disney’s Searchlight unit abruptly had to shut down Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut titled Being Mortal, based on surgeon Atul Gawande’s 2014 book titled Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End. Actor Bill Murray along with Aziz Ansari, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer starred in now suspended movie.
The reason for the movie being suspended was a complaint against Bill Murray for allegedly harassing a young female crew member. The reports by Puck said that multiple reporters alleged that the actor was straddling and kissing a much younger female member of the production staff who was horrified by the experience and interpreted his action as entirely s**ual.
The Puck writer Eriq Gardner writes, “This much younger woman, Murray felt, had been flirting with him. So at one moment when the two were in close proximity near a bed that was part of the production, Murray started kissing her body and straddling her.”
Gardner continued,
“It was perhaps an unclear bit of physical comedy, but one that was unannounced. She couldn’t move because he outweighed her, she alleged. Then, he kissed her on the mouth, although when he did so, both Murray and the woman were wearing masks, owing to Covid protocols. Murray later said that he was just being jestful…”
Bill Murray clarifies his actions
The actor during an interview with CNBC Television via The Independent, was asked about his inappropriate behavior on the sets of Being Mortal, which led to the project being suspended. He said,
“I had a difference of opinion with a woman I’m working with. I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way. The movie studio wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out and investigate it and so they stopped the production.”
At the time of the interview, the actor revealed that he had been in contact with the woman who allegedly accused him and they were trying to make peace with each other. He added that they are both professionals and like each other’s work, so he was hoping that they could reach a solution. However, he added,
“If we can’t get along and trust each other, there’s no point in going further working together or making a movie… It’s been quite an education for me. I’ve been doing not much else but thinking about her for the last week or two.”
It was also reported that the actor had paid a settlement of $100,000 to the woman he had allegedly offended. To which Puck reported, “Notably, the deal included another component besides a non-disclosure agreement: The woman agreed to waive any legal claims she might make against the producers of Being Mortal, including Searchlight and Disney.”
Keke Palmer shares opinion on Bill Murray starrer Being Mortal being suspended
Keke Palmer, who was all set to star in the movie alongside Murray, was asked by Deadline about her opinion on the movie being suspended, to which she said,
“I had a wonderful time filming. Aziz Ansari is one of the coolest people that I ever met. That was the coolest experience, but I don’t know anything more than that.”
Bill Murray, however, in his CNBC interview via CNN shared that the incident has been quite an education for him, adding that what he always thought was funny as a little kid is not the same as what is funny now. He acknowledged that things and time do change, so he needs to figure them out and change as well.
It was noted by a source close to the actor that he felt miserable with the situation and mentioned what he thought was a miscommunication, but now it’s been a moment that caused his co-workers to lose their jobs.
Source: Puck, Deadline & The Independent
