Aziz Ansari spoke out on the 2022 misconduct allegations against Bill Murray that led to the cancellation of his directorial debut “Being Mortal.” In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the comedian shared how the incident affected Murray and the effects it had on him.
Bill Murray’s Allegations Halt a Promising Project
In April 2022, Searchlight Pictures stopped production of Being Mortal after a female crew member accused Murray, 74, of inappropriate behaviour. According to Puck, Murray allegedly straddled her near a prop bed and kissed her on the face masks worn for COVID-19 protocols. A second crew member, who saw the incident, also filed a complaint. Following this, Disney, Searchlight’s parent company, also investigated the claims before shelving Ansari’s directorial debut. Murray and his accuser later settled for just over $100,000 in October 2022, as reported by Puck.
“He was devastated,” Ansari said while talking about Murray. “He couldn’t believe it happened. I think this movie meant a lot to him,” Ansari said. He said that the film was three-quarters complete, featuring a star-studded cast of Seth Rogen, Keke Palmer, and Murray.
In an April New York Times interview, Murray reflected on the incident. “I think about Being Mortal all the time,” he said. He described his perspective on the situation, saying, “We were all stranded in this one room listening to this crazy scene….I dunno what prompted me to do it.”
“It’s something that I had done to someone else before, and I thought it was funny, and every time it happened, it was funny,” Murray said while talking about the incident. “I was wearing a mask, and I gave her a kiss, and she was wearing a mask. It wasn’t like I touched her, but it was just, I gave her a kiss through a mask. And she wasn’t a stranger,” he continued.
ALSO READ: Indian Superhero Movies Rise Again: Must-Watch Picks on Netflix, Prime Video & More
Aziz Ansari Bounces Back with Good Fortune
Despite the cancellation of his film, Ansari refused to sit back, “Everybody’s texting me, ‘Oh, Aziz, I’m so sorry,’” Ansari remembered. “And I said, ‘Oh God, I can’t live in this woe-is-me moment,’ he told The Hollywood Reporter. After three years of inactiivity, he’s now gearing for his return to the theatres with a new comedy, Good Fortune, his official directorial debut after the cancellation of Being Mortal.
The film features Seth Rogen, Aziz Ansari, Keke Palmer, Sandra Oh and Keanu Reeves. On the topic of making the movie, Ansari recalled calling Rogen, saying, “Hey, I know you’re supposed to be filming ‘Being Mortal,’ so you’re free today. This is a s—– day for me. If you want to help me, read this, tell me if you want to do it.”
ALSO READ: ‘Ketamine Queen’ Pleads Guilty: The Dark Tale Behind Matthew Perry’s Tragic Death
About Good Fortune
Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut film, Good Fortune, stars Ansari as a gig worker who swaps lives with his rich boss (Seth Rogen) with help from his guardian angel (Keanu Reeves). When he refuses to switch back, chaos unfolds. Featuring Sandra Oh, Good Fortune premieres at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 6 before its theatrical release on October 17.
ALSO READ: Anusha Dandekar Exposed? Sakshi Shivdasani Drops Proof, Malaika Arora Involved
