Murray talks on ‘difference of opinion’
Bill Murray has spoken for the first time about his “inappropriate behaviour” towards a woman on the set of his latest film, Being Mortal, which led to filming being stopped last week.
The actor acknowledged that there had been a “difference of opinion” with the woman, who has not been named, but declined to explain what happened.
Murray told CNBC: “The world is different than it was when I was a little kid. What I always thought was funny as a kid isn’t necessarily the same as what’s funny now … Times change so it’s important for me to figure it out.”
Murray, 71, said he and the woman were “trying to make peace with each other”, but did not say when the production might resume, or if he would return to the film.
“We’re both professionals,” he said. “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.”
Being Mortal was midway through filming and was due to be released next year. It was written and directed by the comedian Aziz Ansari, who also stars alongside Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer.
Murray, who starred in Ghostbusters, Caddyshack and Lost in Translation, has been accused of abusive behaviour on set in the past. During production of the 2000 film Charlie’s Angels, the actress Lucy Liu said Murray verbally abused her.
In a 2009 interview with The Times, Murray suggesting Liu had been “unprofessional”. He said: “Look, I will dismiss you completely if you are unprofessional.”