It took a long time, but now actor Sam Elliott (77) has apologized to director Jane Campion (67) and the entire cast for his controversial statements about the Oscar film “The Power of the Dog”. According to Elliott, Campion, who received the Academy Award for “Best Director” for the western in late March 2022, is a “brilliant filmmaker,” he said at the “Deadline’s Contenders TV” event on Sunday. He also wanted to apologize to Benedict Cumberbatch (45) in particular. “I can only say that I am very sorry.”
Elliott continues: “I’ve said things that have hurt people. I feel horrible about it. The gay community has been a tremendous support throughout my career.” He is terribly sorry for hurting these friends “and everyone else by the words I chose”.
He had let that off the leather
Before this year’s Oscars, Elliott was questionably upset about the quiet western, calling it a “piece of shit” and making disparaging remarks about Campion and the homosexuality portrayed in the film. The star of numerous westerns, for example, said that the native New Zealander had no idea about the American West.
Campion was hard on Elliott after that rant. Speaking at the Directors Guild of America Awards, she said of his comments: “He’s not a cowboy, he’s an actor. The West is a myth that needs to be debunked.” She also described his views as “sexist” because Elliott had never denied the legitimacy of Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns due to the director’s origins.
The Netflix film “The Power of the Dog” had set itself the task of addressing toxic masculinity – in a western setting.