May 18, 2018
Actor Jason Statham Apologizes for Allegedly Using Gay Slurs on Set of Film in 2013
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Action star Jason Statham is apologizing Thursday for allegedly using gay slurs during a private conversation on the set of the 2015 film "Wild Card."
Statham, 50, allegedly said "fucking fags" several times while speaking with Steve Casman, his close producing partner, on the set of the gambling film in 2013, according to a report from The Blast. The site reports R.J. Cipriani, a consultant on the movie, claimed to have a recording of the alleged conversation and confronted Statham about it in 2017.
The "Spy" actor said he did not remember using gay slurs but issued a statement, apologizing.
"Someone approached me claiming to have a tape of me using terms offensive to the LGBTQ community during a conversation I had with my producing partner, on a movie set five years ago," he told The Blast. "I have never heard the recording and my multiple requests to hear the recording have been refused. I have no recollection of making any of these offensive comments.
"However, let me be clear, the terms referenced are highly offensive," the actor's statement goes on to say. "If I said these words, it was wrong and I deeply apologize. Anyone who knows me knows it doesn't reflect how I feel about the LGBTQ community. While I cannot fix what was said in the past, I can learn from it and do better in the future."
The British newspaper The Sun reported it obtained a leaked transcript of the alleged conversation:
It claims he said: "Stop acting like a f***ing fag. I hate that faggity f***ing shit." Talking, whispering ...you guys are acting like a bunch of f***ing faggots.
"If you want to tell me something don't wait till I do 15 f***ing takes before you say something.
"Stop being a f**king fag and be more assertive.... I just hate that f***ing faggity behaviour f***ing faggity shit... f***ing fags, I just hate that s***."
The Sun reports the transcript alleges Chasman then said: "I guess I am a fag" before leaving to try and defuse the situation.
Cipriani told The Sun he went public with the allegations because he asked Statham to apologize, but the actor refused.
"At the time I wanted to go public but I'm ashamed to admit [I did not]. There were other co-stars, producers, assistants and sound guys who heard the anti-gay rant that day and everyone was shocked and offended," Cipriani told the newspaper. "Now I want to make things right - it's time the world knew what Jason Statham did. I approached Jason and his manager and gave him a chance to put this right - I said I wanted him to either apologize or do something for charity or good causes to make amends."
The Blast reports that Statham's legal team said any private conversation the actor had should not have been recorded and that any recording of conversation while on the set of "Wild Card" could be a crime.
