Bill Murray Calls The Incident That Shut Down Production On “Being Mortal” A “Difference Of Opinion”
Somebody really needs to get Bill Murray a mirror and a wall calendar because he seems to think it’s still 1981. Deadline reports that Bill addressed the circumstances that led to production on Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut, Being Mortal, being suspended after a complaint was filed against him for inappropriate behavior. Over the weekend, Bill made an appearance at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting and said “I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way,” and chalked the incident up to a “difference of opinion.” Bill is 71-years-old and was apparently shocked to learn, just this year, “that the world is different than it was when I was a little kid.” Honestly, being booked for a shareholders meeting gig with an enormous Geico gecko trying to pull focus over his shoulder, should have been his first clue.
We still don’t know exactly what Bill said, or to whom, but Bill says it involved “a woman I was working with.” Being Mortal stars Aziz, Seth Rogen, and Keke Palmer. And Keke is the only woman in the main cast. And as we know, Keke don’t play. Deadline reports:
“I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way,” Murray said. “The company, the movie studio, wanted to do the right thing, so they wanted to check it all out, investigate it. and so they stopped the production. But as of now, we’re talking and we’re trying to make peace with each other. I think that’s where the real issue is, between our peace. We’re both professionals. 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 going further working together or making a movie as well.”
He allowed that he’s been spending the time since production was halted doing not much else beyond thinking about what happened, adding that “It’s been quite an education for me.”
“And I feel like if I don’t see that, you know, the world is different than it was when I was a little kid. You know, what I always thought was funny as a little kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now. Things change and the times change, so it’s important for me to figure it out. And I think the most important thing is that it’s best for the other person. I thought about it, and if it’s not best for the other person, doesn’t matter what happens for me.”
Honestly, Bill sounds a little shaken that he finally got called out on his shit. As we know, Bill has a well-documented reputation for being unpleasant to work with. And I’m sure plenty of women he’s worked with have gritted their teeth and bared his inappropriate antics. If it was Keke who let him know, she’s done the industry a favor. Just ahead of the studio’s announcement that production was being halted, Keke posted this on Instagram.
I’m going to go ahead and assume that Bill did touch someone’s hair as previously reported. Bill should print out a copy of the slide about “overlooked trauma responses” above his dressing room mirror (once he gets one) and think about how many times his “jokes” have elicited one. And speaking of dogs, Bill said he doesn’t want to be that “sad puppy that can’t learn anymore.”
He added that he is trying to learn from what happened. “I really think that’s a really sad puppy that can’t learn anymore. I don’t want to be that sad dog and I have no intention of it. I’ve, what would make me the happiest would be to, you know, put my boots on and for both of us to go back into work and be able to trust each other and work at the work that we’ve both spent a lot of time developing the skill of, and hopefully do something that’s good for more than just the two of us, but for a whole crew of people, a whole crew of movie makers. and the movie studio as well.”
How embarrassing for Bill. An entire production shut down because he allegedly can’t keep his hands to himself and his jokes are so bad they induce a trauma response. If I were Keke, even if she’s not the one who filed the complaint, I’d film a little video where someone shows her a picture of Bill from 1981 and she recreates this moment in Shade History.
And here’s Bill talking about the time he fucked around and found out.
Pic: YouTube