Sam Elliott generated a bit of controversy when he gave his two cents about Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog. The actor sounded off on the film during an appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast where he criticized the movie for its homoerotic undertones and Campion’s ability to make a convincing Western because of her choice to shoot the movie in New Zealand. Given the fact that his comments resulted in some unflattering headlines for the actor, Elliott has now offered a public apology for his words.
Per Deadline, Elliott admits that he “wasn’t very articulate” when it came to wording his opinion and that he feels “terrible” that his words hurt others. The actor stressed that the gay community has been very supportive of him throughout his career which made him feel especially bad if he offended anyone within that community. Elliott also offered an apology to Campion herself and the cast of The Power of the Dog. You can read Elliott’s full apology below!
“That movie struck a chord with me, 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. The gay community has been incredible to me my entire career, and I mean my entire career, before I got started when I was in this town. Friends on every level, in every job description, up until today, my agent, my dear friend, my agent for 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. I also told this ‘WTF’ 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, in particular Benedict Cumberbatch. I can only say that I’m sorry, and I am. I am.”
While some might believe that the apology came a little late, I think it shows good character in Sam that he publicly apologized for what he said and that he realized that his words may have been perceived in a negative light. At the time the comments were made, Campion responded to Elliott’s comments and she didn’t take them lightly. When speaking to Variety Campion said, “I think Sam… Look, what can I say? I’m sorry, he was being a little bit of a B-I-T-C-H. I’m sorry to say it, but he’s not a cowboy; he’s an actor. The West is a mythic space and there’s a lot of room on the range. You know, I think it’s a little bit sexist, because you think about the number of amazing Westerns that were made in Spain by Sergio Leone. I consider myself a creator, and I think he sees me as a woman, or something less at first, and I don’t appreciate that.”
What are YOUR thoughts on Sam Elliott’s apology? Do YOU think Jane Campion and the rest of the team behind The Power of the Dog will accept it?