Bill Murray speaks about his alleged inappropriate behavior on set

Bill Murray breaks his silence
Trying to make peace
The investigation continues
What happened on the film set?
Searchlight Pictures put the break on the movie
Information is starting to come out
Complaints from several women
Pulling her ponytail
The fine line of legality (or discomfort)
An look at awkward episodes in the actor's past
Lucy Liu's experience with Bill Murray
A long time ago but...
'Being Mortal' is paralyzed
Aziz Ansari's directorial debut
The Ansari case
A bad date?
Aziz Ansari apologized
Seth Rogen, the other protagonist
He spoke out against abuse before
"I thought it was funny"

"I did something I thought was funny and it wasn’t taken that way." This is Bill Murray's explanation of the alleged 'inappropriate behavior' that caused him to be removed from the set of 'Being Mortal.'

Bill Murray breaks his silence

It's his first response to the events since the production of the film was mysteriously suspended in late April. Bill Murray gave an interview to CNBC to explain, somewhat ambiguously, what had occurred.

"Difference of opinion"

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 company — 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."

"Times change"

Murray continued: "The world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I thought was funny as a little kid isn't necessarily what is funny now. Things change and the times change. It’s important to me to figure it out. And the most important thing is that it’s best for the other person."

(In the picture, Bill Murray with singer Debbie Harry in 1979)

Trying to make peace

The actor admitted that he had thought a lot about the incident since the film was shut down. He told CNBC that he and the woman who filed the complaint are "trying to make peace with each other... We’re both professionals. We like each other’s work. We like each other, I think."

The investigation continues

Production company Searchlight has not made a further statement about the matter, as they are waiting to hear all the versions of the story. In the meantime, Bill Murray says that, "if we can’t really get along and trust each other, there’s no point in going further working together or making the movie."

What happened on the film set?

In late April 2022, Searchlight Pictures made the drastic decision to stop filming 'Being Moral' after an internal investigation of a complaint about the actor. The producer gave no further details about the complaint.

Searchlight Pictures put the break on the movie

"After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue for the time being," a statement to the staff read.

Information is starting to come out

As we wait to learn what will happen to the project and Bill Murray's role in it, PageSix has revealed some more information about the actor's alleged "inappropriate behavior."

Complaints from several women

According to PageSix, several women from the filming team and the cast indicated they had been harassed and touched without consent by the 71-year-old actor.

Pulling her ponytail

"He was very irresistible, [but he did not touch] any private areas," an insider told PageSix. He "would put one hand around a women, touch her hair, pull her ponytail, but always in a funny way."

The fine line of legality (or discomfort)

"It's a fine line and everyone loves Bill," the source continued, "but while his conduct is not illegal, some women felt uncomfortable and he crossed a line."

"He loves to flirt"

This same person reveals to PageSix that Bill Murray "loves women and loves to flirt, he enjoys poetry and romance, he’s always flirting, but it is always couched in comedy. It isn't clear if he crossed a line."

An look at awkward episodes in the actor's past

Since the incident, the media have focused on past accusations against Bill Murray. For example an argument he had with Lucy Liu.

Lucy Liu's experience with Bill Murray

In July 2021, the Los Angeles Times published Lucy Liu's  recollections of her work with Bill Murray in 'Charlie's Angels.' It had been more than two decades ago, as the movie premiered in 2000. The incidents between them were triggered by the rewriting of a scene without the knowledge of Bill Murray.

A long time ago but...

The actor reacted to the changes "by throwing insults at me," the actress recalled. "I stood up for myself, and I don't regret it. Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or wherever you came from, there's no need to condescend or to put other people down."

'Being Mortal' is paralyzed

For now, the film 'Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End' has an uncertain future. With a premiere scheduled for sometime in 2023, the incident with Bill Murray could delay the release until 2024. Everything is up in the air.

Aziz Ansari's directorial debut

The film, directed, written, produced and starred by Aziz Ansari, marked his directorial debut on the big screen. It also stars Seth Rogen.

The Ansari case

Curiously, Aziz Ansari also experienced an accusation of inappropriate behavior. In this case it was an incident in his personal life. He allegedly harassed a girl with whom he had a date in 2018, Vanity Fair reported at the time.

A bad date?

It was a point of debate whether the incident was simply an awkward moment in a date or an unfair use of power by the star to pressure the woman into sex, Vanity Fair reported.

Aziz Ansari apologized

Afterwards, Aziz Ansari gave explanations and further addressed the matter in a monologue for Netflix ('Aziz Ansari: Right Now,' photo). Besides apologizing, he presented his point of view on the incident. It doesn't look like Bill Murray is going down that road.

Seth Rogen, the other protagonist

Seth Rogen, meanwhile, has had his own issues related to misconduct on the work floor. In his case, it was his long-time collaborator and friend James Franco who - as he himself confessed - crossed the line with his acting students.

 

He spoke out against abuse before

US Weekly reported at the time (in 2021) that Rogen immediately denounced Franco and distanced himself from the abuse. It's not clear whether he will have anything to say about the accusations against Bill Murray.

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