Kevin Smith Says He Regrets 'Petty' Comments About Bruce Willis Following Diagnosis

Kevin Smith has spoken out on previous comments he made about Bruce Willis following the actor's recent retirement announcement. 

Willis's daughter Rumer took to social media on 30 March to announce the Die Hard actor had been diagnosed with aphasia – a condition that can affect one's ability to communicate.

American filmmaker, actor and comedian Smith has since apologised for previous 'petty' comments he made about Willis – after working with the action star on 2010 film Cop Out – on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast episode released on 17 January, 2011.

On the podcast, Smith detailed how 'difficult' it was working with Willis, claiming that the actor 'wouldn't even sit for a f***ing poster shoot'.

He said: "It was difficult. I’ve never been involved in a situation like that where one component is not in the box at all.

"Were it not for Tracy [Morgan] I might’ve killed myself or someone else in the making of that movie."

Smith concluded by calling the whole experience 'f***ing soul crushing'.

However, reflecting on Willis's retirement announcement as 'really heartbreaking to read', Smith noted he feels 'like an a**hole' for his 'petty' complaints.

He tweeted: "Long before any of the Cop Out stuff, I was a big Bruce Willis fan – so this is really heartbreaking to read. He loved to act and sing and the loss of that has to be devastating for him.

"I feel like an a**hole for my petty complaints from 2010. So sorry to BW and his family."

In Rumer's post, Willis's family said they are currently going through a 'really challenging time' and are 'so appreciative' of the 'continued love, compassion and support' from fans.

"We are moving through this as a strong family unit, and wanted to bring his fans in because we know how much he means to you, as you do to him," the post explained.

While Willis starred as NYPD cop Jimmy Monroe in Cop Out, it was Die Hard that was voted his best ever movie.

Willis took on the role of John McClane – a detective who becomes embroiled in a hostage situation involving his estranged wife, who he'd been hoping to spend Christmas with.

Despite the controversy surrounding whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie, one reviewer called the character of McClane 'basically superhuman', saying 'it's not hard to see why' the film is considered Willis's best and McClane his 'most iconic role'.

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Topics: Bruce Willis, Film and TV

Poppy Bilderbeck

Poppy Bilderbeck is a Senior Journalist at LADbible Group. She graduated from The University of Manchester in 2021 with a First in English Literature and Drama, where alongside her studies she was Editor-in-Chief of The Tab Manchester. Poppy is most comfortable when chatting about all things mental health, is proving a drama degree is far from useless by watching and reviewing as many TV shows and films as possible and is such a crisp fanatic the office has been forced to release them in batches.