PEOPLE
Actor Sam Elliott apologized Sunday for widely criticized remarks he made about Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning film “The Power of the Dog.”
During a panel for Deadline’s Contenders TV convention in Los Angeles, the veteran performer walked back his comments comparing cowboys in the Netflix Western to Chippendales dancers and criticizing “all these allusions to homosexuality throughout the (expletive) movie.”
“That movie struck a chord with me, and in trying to tell [‘WTF’ podcast host Marc Maron] how I felt about the film, I wasn’t very articulate about it,” Elliott said Sunday.
“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 when I was in this town.”
Not long after Elliott disparaged her and her movie on Maron’s “WTF” podcast, Campion deemed the “1883" star’s statements sexist and called him “a little bit of a (expletive).” Additionally, Benedict Cumberbatch — who stars in “The Power of the Dog” as cruel rancher Phil Burbank — extrapolated Elliott’s “very odd” diatribe to “a massive intolerance within the world at large towards homosexuality still.”
The acclaimed period drama led this year’s Oscar nominees with 12 nods, while Campion took home the prize for directing.
At Sunday’s Deadline event, Elliott acknowledged the gay folks who have helped him navigate the entertainment industry, including his “dear friend” and talent agent “of a number of years.”
“I’m sorry that I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved and anyone else by the words that I used,” Elliott continued.
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Jussie Smollett has released a defiant new song opposing the outcome of his Chicago trial, during which he was convicted on charges of staging a hate crime and sentenced to 150 days in jail.
On Friday, the former "Empire" star shared a lyric video for "Thank You God" via Instagram and announced that all profits from the tune will be donated to organizations uplifting Black, LGBTQ+ and wrongfully incarcerated people. Beneficiaries of the release include the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, Secure the Bag Safety and the Illinois Innocence Project.
"Channeling these thoughts the best way I know how," a title card reads at the top of the video. "Love you ... Jussie."
Throughout the nearly 1-minute, 40-second track, Smollett reflects on the discourse surrounding his trial and rejects the accusation that he pretended to be the victim of a racist, homophobic attack for "fame" or "clout."
"It's like they're hell bent on not solving the crime/ taking out the elements of race and trans and homophobia/ That's straight taking lives/ But turn around and act like I'm the one that killed the strides," the performer raps.
"Some people searching for fame/ Some people chasing that clout/ Just remember this/ This ain't that situation/ You think I'm stupid enough to kill my reputation?/ Just simply to look like a victim/ Like it's something fun/ Y'all better look at someone else/ You got the wrong one."
In the wake of his controversial sentencing, some of Smollett's fellow entertainers posted #FreeJussie on social media in his defense. Among the Hollywood luminaries in Smollett's corner are "Pose" star Indya Moore and "Empire" alum Taraji P. Henson, who played his mother on the hit musical drama.
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The longtime wife of Billy Ray Cyrus — and mother of pop stars Miley and Noah Cyrus — filed for divorce last week, according to a new report.
Tish Cyrus cited “irreconcilable differences” in the filing in Tennessee, saying she and Billy Ray have lived apart for more than two years, TMZ reported.
Billy Ray, a country music star known for the hit songs “Achy Breaky Heart” and “Old Town Road,” married Tish in 1993.
They have five children together.
From combined wire services
