Bill Murray speaks about his alleged inappropriate behavior on set

"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.'

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.

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."

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)

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."

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."

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.

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

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."

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.

"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."

"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."

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."

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

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.

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."

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.

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

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.

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.

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, 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.

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.