Bill Murray Allegedly Sexually Assaulted Female Staffer on ‘Being Mortal’ Set — Report - IndieWire

New details astir Bill Murray’s suspension from the Searchlight Pictures movie “Being Mortal” emerged from a caller study from Puck.

On April 18, Searchlight paused accumulation connected Aziz Ansari’s directorial debut “Being Mortal” aft a ailment was filed against prima Bill Murray implicit inappropriate behavior. According to Puck newsman Eriq Gardner, Searchlight is nary longer making the film.

While determination were nary details astir the allegations, immoderate speculated that Murray’s co-star Keke Palmer was the unfortunate of the alleged inappropriate behavior. But according to Puck, Murray was “particularly affable with 1 pistillate accumulation staffer,” whose sanction was withheld from the story. Gardner wrote:

This overmuch younger woman, Murray felt, had been flirting with him. So astatine 1 infinitesimal erstwhile the 2 were successful adjacent proximity adjacent a furniture that was portion of the production, Murray started kissing her assemblage and straddling her. It was possibly an unclear spot of carnal comedy, but 1 that was unannounced. She couldn’t determination due to the fact that helium outweighed her, she alleged. Then, helium kissed her connected the mouth, though erstwhile helium did so, some Murray and the pistillate were wearing masks, owing to Covid protocols.

During an interrogation with CNBC aboriginal successful April, Bill Murray said his behaviour was “so insensitive,” portion not going into specifics.

The woman, according to Puck, interpreted Murray’s behaviour arsenic sexual. Her ailment connected the Searchlight accumulation made its mode to Disney brass, with Searchlight allegedly, successful an unsigned memo, telling formed and unit that the movie was suspended.

According to the report, Murray is keenly alert that his behaviour affected galore people, including those who mislaid their jobs. He worked with the staffer successful mediation and came to a settlement, according to Puck, of much than $100,000. However, Searchlight genitor Disney did not restart the half-finished production.

As Gardner noted, “While [Searchlight] inactive enjoys plentifulness of originative latitude to pursuit awards, Disney tends not to tolerate this benignant of controversy—especially erstwhile container bureau is truthful challenged for specialty movies, and the ‘win’ present is apt landing a prize-winner connected Hulu.”

IndieWire has reached retired to representatives for Bill Murray and his accuser and astatine Searchlight Pictures for comment.

Based connected Atul Gawande’s nonfiction publication “Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters successful the End,” the movie started main photography March 28 and was reportedly halfway done accumulation anterior to the allegation against Murray. The movie was acceptable for a 2023 merchandise date.

Most precocious the movie was shopped connected the Cannes market, with Rolling Stone reporting the movie could beryllium seeking a caller workplace home.

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