Sam Elliott Apologizes For His ‘The Power of the Dog’ Comments

Actor Sam Elliott has apologized for his comments about Jane Campion‘s The Power of the Dog, during a panel with Deadline’s Contenders TV event.

In the panel, he said the following:

“First, don’t go do a podcast whose call letters are WTF.” He added that the movie struck a chord with him.

“And in trying to tell the guy, the WTF guy, how I felt about the film, I wasn’t very articulate about it. I didn’t articulate it very well. And I said some things that hurt people. And I feel terrible about that.”

Elliott then apologized to the gay community, who “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. Friends on every level, in every job description, up until today with my agent, my dear friend.… And I’m sorry that I hurt any of those friends, and someone that I love. And anyone else by the words that I used.

I also told this What the F podcaster that I thought Jane Campion was a brilliant director, and I want to apologize to the cast of The Power of the Dog, brilliant actors, all. And in particular, Benedict Cumberbatch  I can only say that I’m sorry and I am. I am.”

Elliott was under fire for having said that Jane Campion’s movie was a “piece of s–“, and criticized the film’s depiction of cowboys and the director’s remediation of the Western mythology, through a commentary on repressed homosexuality.

The Power of the Dog is now streaming on Netflix.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter , National World