Bill Murray Says ‘Being Mortal’ Misconduct Was “Light” and Is “Still Funny,” Slams Disney for Film’s Cancellation

Bill Murray is speaking openly about the fallout from the controversy surrounding the production of Being Mortal, which ultimately led to the movie’s cancellation and left him feeling “grilled.

In 2022, the movie project led by Aziz Ansari had to be put on hold when one of the crew members lodged a complaint against Murray. Three years after this incident, the actor-comedian, Murray, clarified that the alleged incident involved a kiss he believed was humorous while wearing a mask.

In a weekend interview with The New York Times, he explained, “I kissed her while wearing a mask.” He added, “It’s not like I physically touched her, but I did give her a kiss through the mask. She was not an acquaintance.

The Ghostbusters actor clarified that the incident mentioned in the lawsuit took place with a colleague, someone I frequently had lunch with. He isn’t certain what triggered him, but he revealed that it occurred during a time when we were all stuck in a single room, listening to an absurd scene play out.

As a gamer, I’ve found myself in situations where I’ve repeated certain actions, jokingly thinking they were amusing. I did the same thing during that event, believing it added some humor to the situation. Each time it occurred, it genuinely made me laugh.

He expressed his feelings as follows: “It turned out to be a letdown since I assumed I understood this person, but I was mistaken.” He went on to say, “I genuinely thought the situation would be lighthearted and amusing. To me, even now, it seems comical that one could kiss while wearing a mask. However, I still consider it foolishness, nothing more.

The movie titled “Being Mortal” was supported by Searchlight Films, a studio owned by Disney. According to Murray, this financial backing from Disney (often referred to as the “Big Mouse”) and their specific requirements or restrictions (referred to as “pre-existing conditions”) led to the temporary halt of production for “Being Mortal” and its eventual incompletion.

He mentioned that the cancellation of the movie by Disney’s human rights department (H&R) still bothers him. He explained that there were unforeseen issues and complications, which left him puzzled. He questioned how anyone could have known about such matters. There was no discussion, no explanation, no attempt to resolve the issue or make amends – nothing at all.

After halting production, Murray expressed his displeasure by stating they were “pushed towards an irrational resolution process,” and advised against it, saying, “If anyone proposes arbitration: Refuse. Absolutely never do it. Because you believe it’s justice, but it isn’t.” Despite the incident happening approximately three years ago, Murray admitted he seldom goes without reflecting on the events that unfolded in “Being Mortal>”.

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2025-04-06 02:54