Sam Elliott has apologised for his 'piece of s**t' comments about The Power of the Dog.
Jane Campion's revisionist Western was tipped to take home Netflix's first-ever Best Picture award at this year's Oscars. Alas, Apple TV+ became the first streaming platform to win the prestigious accolade with CODA.
In the weeks prior to the ceremony, Elliott appeared on Marc Maron's podcast WTF with Marc Maron, where he made some controversial remarks about the film.
Describing the movie as a 'piece of s**t', the actor also said its portrayal of America's west felt 'f***ing personal'.
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Elliott attracted sharp criticism for his comments, even from Campion herself, who described him as a 'bit of a bitch'.
In a new interview with Deadline ahead of the release of Yellowstone spin-off 1883, Elliott apologised.
He said: "I wasn’t very articulate about it. I didn’t articulate it very well. I said some things that hurt people and I feel terrible about that.
"I [said] that I thought Jane Campion was a brilliant director. I want to apologise 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."
Elliott also apologised to the gay community, saying they've been 'incredible' to him his entire career.
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He continued: "And I mean by entire career, from before I got started in this town. Friends on every level, in every job description – up until today, with my agent, my dear friend of a number of years.
"I’m sorry that I hurt any of those friends and someone I loved and anyone else by the words that I used."
During the podcast, Elliott recalled seeing an advert for the film in the Los Angeles Times that discussed the 'evisceration of the American myth', which rubbed him the wrong way.
He said: "The evisceration of the American west? They made it look like – what are all those dancers, those guys in New York that wear bowties and not much else? Remember them from back in the day?"
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Maron then suggested he was referencing Chippendale dancers. "That’s what all these f***ing cowboys in that movie looked like, running around in chaps and no shirts. There were all these allusions to homosexuality throughout the f***ing movie," Elliott replied.
While indeed describing Campion as a 'brilliant director', he also said: "Well, what the f**k does this woman from down there know about the American west?"
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Topics: Netflix, Oscars, Film and TV, Entertainment