Bill Murray made public statements about the circumstances that caused the Being Mortal crew members to halt production during his presence on set. Murray shared his story with The New York Times through an open interview that revealed his actions of masked kissing with a crew member sparked the halt of film production.
“It Was Through a Mask”
Bill Murray revealed during an interview at 73 years old the encounter between himself and his work colleague whom he ate with often at their shared spot.
“I was wearing a mask, and I gave her a kiss. She was wearing a mask too,” Murray said. “It wasn’t like I touched her skin. It was through a mask. And she wasn’t a stranger. I thought it was funny, and every time it happened, it was funny.”
Production Stopped by the Studio
Production of the film stopped immediately when Searchlight Pictures, which operates under Disney ownership decided to stop work on it. Corporate policies led the higher management at Searchlight Pictures to issue the order that stopped production on the film according to Bill Murray.
“That movie was stopped by the human rights or ‘H&R’ of the Disney corporation,”
He said, referring to what he suggested was an overreach in handling the complaint. Following the incident, the issue went to arbitration, something Bill Murray now strongly warns others against.
“We went to this lunatic arbitration… If anyone ever suggests you go to arbitration: Don’t do it,” he said bluntly. “Never ever do it. Because you think it’s justice, and it isn’t.”
A Tarnished Legacy or a Misunderstood Moment?
Bill Murray’s statements push professional communities to evaluate the distinction between intended meaning and actual result. Although he believes his comment was a joke that people misunderstood, his career suffered a severe blow, which caused the termination of a promising film project.
Through his account of the events fans and industry professionals keep discussing how much humor tolls as workplace harassment but he provides unique understanding of such intensive production disputes and their lasting impact on performers.
