Attendees complained that the 76-year-old actor railed towards Barbra Streisand, ladies in movie and the #MeToo motion earlier than taking goal at transgender youth.
The occasion, billed as “An Evening with Richard Dreyfuss + Jaws Screening,” occurred at The Cabot theatre in Beverly, Mass. — about 200 kilometres north of the enduring film’s setting in Martha’s Vineyard. Dreyfuss starred as oceanographer Matt Hooper within the movie.
After the Saturday occasion, The Cabot despatched an electronic mail to all of its patrons apologizing for the “distressing and offensive” remarks made by Dreyfuss that night time.
“We deeply regret that Mr. Dreyfuss’s comments during the event were not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold at The Cabot,” the theatre wrote. “At The Cabot, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect our beliefs, and we do not endorse them in any way.”
The electronic mail had some Cabot patrons who didn’t attend the occasion scratching their heads. What did Dreyfuss say to trigger such a response?
The occasion was not filmed, however quick clips of Dreyfuss’ entrance on stage and a few of the feedback he made have been posted on-line. Audience members have additionally been sounding off on social media, with some slamming the actor for his remarks and others coming to his defence.
“We walked out of his interview tonight along with hundred (sic) of others because of his racist homophobic mysogynistic (sic) rant,” one attendee wrote on The Cabot’s Facebook web page.
“I am absolutely horrified to learn about Dreyfuss’s disgusting behavior tonight. His transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic rhetoric should have been shut down,” an analogous remark reads.
Another attendee mentioned it was extra like 20-25 individuals who walked out of the theatre, writing: “It’s a sad state of affairs where people are so emotional and sanctimonious that they can’t even stay in the same room with someone they disagree with.”
Video reveals that Dreyfuss took to the stage carrying a floral costume whereas dancing to Taylor Swift’s Love Story. Two stagehands then got here out and unrobed him, revealing trousers and a costume shirt beneath.
The pre-screening Q&A between Dreyfuss and a moderator shortly “went off the rails,” in line with one viewers member: Dreyfuss was reportedly requested about his time working with Barbra Streisand on the 1987 movie Nuts and spoke about how she “is a genius but he didn’t listen to her because she is a woman and women shouldn’t have that power.”
(Streisand produced the film, which starred each her and Dreyfuss.)
Another social media person claimed that Dreyfuss known as Streisand “stubborn to work with because she is a woman who should be submissive.” The moderator then requested Dreyfuss about his views on the #MeToo motion, which he described as “the people who make me vomit.”
Multiple attendees allege Dreyfuss began railing towards transgender youth, particularly mentioning “10-year-olds who want to change their gender.”
Audience member Diane Wolf advised the Boston Globe that Dreyfuss mentioned “the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds.”
Throughout the rant, the gang booed and heckled, in line with witnesses, and lots of theatregoers received up and left.
Sarah Hogg advised the Boston Globe that they paid US$300 for a ticket to the screening, which included a particular meet-and-greet with the actor earlier than the occasion. Hogg ended up leaving earlier than the screening of Jaws even began due to Dreyfuss’ feedback.
“We were thrilled to see Richard Dreyfuss speak about his experience filming Jaws, what it was like, his time in Hollywood,” Hogg mentioned. “That is not at all the experience that we got.”
Hogg added that it was upsetting that that they had shaken Dreyfuss’ hand earlier than the occasion and shared a pleasant dialog with him, solely to then hear the actor say the issues he did.
“I’m queer, I’m non-binary. This is personal to me,” Hogg mentioned. “It’s one of those moments where you feel like you’re having an out-of-body experience. It was horrifying.”
A brief video of the finish of Dreyfuss’ Q&A reveals him plugging his 2022 e-book One Thought Scares Me, saying: “Fifty years ago, without telling anybody, they took civics out of the curriculum at public schools in America. We have no knowledge of who the hell we are and if we don’t get it back soon we’re all gonna die. We have to make sure that your kids are not the last generation of Americans, and you know exactly what I’m talking about.”
What remained of the gang at that time cheered and clapped for the actor.
Dreyfuss is not any stranger to controversy stemming from feedback he has made. Last 12 months, the actor condemned the Academy Awards’ announcement that entries for the Oscars must meet sure variety and inclusion requirements in an interview with PBS.
“No one should be telling me as an artist that I have to give in to the latest, most current idea of what morality is,” he mentioned.
Dreyfuss additionally praised Laurence Olivier’s portrayal of Othello in 1965, saying he “played a Black man brilliantly.”
He was additionally accused of groping followers in 2004. A TV author who labored with him within the Eighties mentioned he sexually harassed her for years and uncovered himself in entrance of her on set.
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