TV-MOVIES
Sam Elliott Is Having Second Thoughts About His Power Of The Dog Comments
By NIKKI MUNOZ
Sam Elliott made headlines in March when he criticized the Oscar-nominated film "The Power of the Dog" on Marc Maron's "WTF Podcast" while promoting his "Yellowstone" prequel series. When Maron asked for his thoughts on the film, Elliott retorted, "You want to talk about that piece of s***?”
In reference to director Jane Campion, Elliott stated: "What the f** does this woman from down there, New Zealand, know about the American west? That f***ing rubbed me the wrong way, pal.” He also took issue with the movie's depiction of cowboys, likening them to Chippendale's dancers.
He told Maron, "They're all running around in chaps and no shirts. There's all these allusions to homosexuality throughout the f***ing movie." It was then that Maron pointed out the film implicitly reveals Benedict Cumberbatch's character is a repressed gay man.
Elliott attended Deadline's Contenders TV event on Sunday to promote "1883," where he addressed his previous comments. “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."
Notably, despite reiterating that he finds Campion to be a "brilliant director," Elliott didn't address her directly in his apology. He explained that he wanted to talk about the ways in which the film "struck a chord" with him on the podcast, but that he "wasn't very articulate about it."
He also addressed the LGBTQ+ community by stating, "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, from before I got started in this town. I'm sorry I hurt any of those friends and someone that I loved. And anyone else by the words that I used."