Bill Murray has reportedly been accused of inappropriate behavior on the set of Aziz Ansari‘s upcoming film, Being Mortal.
The 71-year-old Golden Globe winner was named in a complaint last week and Searchlight Pictures is investigating after suspending production on the movie, Variety reported.
Bill Murray Is Under Investigation by Searchlight Pictures After a Complaint Was Filed Against Him.
Details about the complaint against Murray and his future involvement with the film remain unclear.
Reps for Murray and Anzari were reached for comment but they provided none. Searchlight Pictures was also contacted but they explained that they do not comment on ongoing investigations.
The studio reportedly paused production Monday before suspending work on the film Wednesday, detailing the decision via email to the cast and crew, which was obtained by Variety.
“We know you are all concerned about the recent delays in production and want to give you an update,” the letter began, the email reportedly states. “Late last week, we were made aware of a complaint, and we immediately looked into it. After reviewing the circumstances, it has been decided that production cannot continue at this time.”
“We are truly grateful to all of you for everything you’ve put into this project. Our hope is to resume production and are working with Aziz and [producer] Youree [Henley] to figure out that timing. Production will be in touch with you to share details on the wrap, and we will let you know as soon as we have more information to share,” the email ends.
The email makes no mention of Ansari, who is making his feature film debut as a director with his longtime producing partner Youree Henley. In addition to directing duties, the Parks and Recreation actor also wrote the script and will star in the film alongside actors like Keke Palmer and Seth Rogen, according to IMDB.
The film is based on Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End, a book published in 2014 and written by Atul Gawande. The book is an inside look at hospice and end-of-life care. Shooting for the film began a couple of weeks ago on March 28.
Sadly, this is not the first time Bill Murray has been accused of inappropriate behavior on set. In 2000, his Charlie’s Angels co-star Lucy Liu accused the veteran actor of misconduct. She recalled him berating her on the set of the movie after she and her co-stars reworked a scene during a rehearsal for which he was not even present.
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“Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it. So, yes, I stood up for myself, and I don’t regret it,” Liu said last year on the Los Angeles Times‘ Asian Enough podcast. “Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or wherever you came from, there’s no need to condescend or to put other people down. And I would not stand down, and nor should I have.”
As we eagerly await the findings of Searchlight Picture’s internal investigation into the complaint about Bill Murray, Liu’s previous comments color the entire ordeal, making us question Murray’s professionalism.