‘I FEEL TERRIBLE’

Sam Elliott Apologizes for Going on Homophobic ‘Power of the Dog’ Rant

Elliott said he hadn’t been “very articulate” about his thoughts on the film.

Nearly six weeks after aiming a sharply homophobic, expletive-laced critique at Oscar-nominated Western The Power of the Dog, actor Sam Elliot has apologized for his comments. Speaking at an event hosted by Deadline, Elliott said that he hadn’t been “very articulate” about his feelings on Jane Campion’s film while talking to Marc Maron for his WTF podcast. Referring to Maron as “the WTF podcaster,” Elliott on Sunday said he had wanted to talk about The Power of the Dog after it had “struck a chord” with him. Describing his thoughts while on the podcast, however, Elliott had hit a more sour note, calling the movie a “piece of shit” with “allusions of homosexuality.” He had also challenged the New Zealand-born Campion’s abilities, fuming, “What the fuck does this woman from down there know about the American West?” At Deadline’s event, Elliott walked back his remarks, saying he felt “terrible” about them having hurt the gay community. He called Campion “a brilliant director” and apologized directly to her film’s cast, “in particular Benedict Cumberbatch. I can only say that I’m sorry and I am. I am.”