Sam Elliott has commented publicly for the first time since his controversial comments about The Power of the Dog, apologising to the film’s director and stars.
The actor made waves with his criticism of the film on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast last month, deriding its “allusions of homosexuality.”
And despite hailing Jane Campion as “a brilliant director”, he said he didn’t enjoy her “piece of shit” film.“What the fuck does this women from down there (New Zealand) know about the American west? Why the fuck did she shoot this movie in New Zealand and call it Montana? And say this is the way it was? That fucking rubbed me the wrong way,” he claimed.
That led people like The Power of the Dog star Kodi Smith-McPhee to respond to the comments, and now Elliott has finally offered an apology for his words.
“I told the WTF podcaster that I thought Jane Campion was a brilliant director, and I want to apologise to the cast of The Power of the Dog, brilliant actors all,” he said (as per Deadline). “And in particular Benedict Cumberbatch. I can only say that I’m sorry and I am. I am.”
After joking that no one should “do a podcast with the call letters WTF,” Elliott then offered an explanation for how he truly felt about the film.
“I wasn’t very articulate about it. I didn’t articulate it very well,” he said. “And I said some things that hurt people and I feel terrible about that. The gay community has been incredible to me my entire career. And I mean my entire career, from before I got started in this town.
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Friends on every level and every job description up until today. I’m sorry I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved. And anyone else by the words that I used.”
Elliott’s comments didn’t have an effect on The Power of the Dog anyway: the film was nominated for 12 Oscars, with Campion winning for Best Director.
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