'Lethal Weapon' Star Apologizes After Bad Behavior Reports & Talk of Recasting
Sheesh. Is Clayne Crawford going Method as Mel Gibson?
Crawford plays Gibson's Lethal Weapon." According to Deadline (and TVLine), his on-set behavior has put the show's otherwise slam-dunk Season 3 renewal in jeopardy.
Here's part of Deadline's report:
"I have learned that Crawford has had a history of bad behavior on the show, and that he has been disciplined several times over complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment. I hear the issue has escalated to a point where other actors as well as crew on Lethal Weapon would feel uncomfortable being on set with him. The problem is threatening the future of the show, with a recasting — a rare and dramatic move when involving a lead of an established series — being explored. Fox and Warner Bros TV declined comment."
Crawford plays Riggs alongside Damon Wayans as Roger Murtaugh, the character played by Danny Glover on film. If it comes to it, recasting -- or just replacing -- Crawford shouldn't be that tough. He may be popular in the role, but it's already a recast role from Mel Gibson's part in the movie. There are some roles it would be impossible to replicate, but Riggs isn't one of them.
But it's not just Deadline reporting on this. TVLine -- granted, a sister publication to Deadline -- shared this blind item last week, then confirmed after Deadline's report that they meant "Lethal Weapon":
BLIND ITEM: An hour-long drama series listed as a "safe bet" on our 2018 Renewal Scorecard is on the verge of getting downgraded to "could go either way" — and the potential status change is not the result of any kind of ratings downturn. Rather, it's due to an increasingly untenable "personnel problem," per a source. Turns out one of the series' leads has become impossible to work with, and his massively disruptive behavioral issues are causing the network/studio to rethink bringing the series back.
It's possible that both sites talked to the same source leaking this inside info. They're not exactly gossip sites, so whoever they spoke to must be Legit.
And apparently the info is true, because Crawford finally addressed the reports in an Instagram post:
It's really one-quarter-apology, three-quarters I Was Being A Selfless Good Dude. Based on his Instagram comments, he has a lot of support out there. But we're only hearing half the story. It's possible there's more to come.
"Lethal Weapon" airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on Fox.
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