In a recent revelation, Lucy Liu has spoken candidly about a disagreement she had with Bill Murray while filming the 2000 movie Charlie’s Angels for Sony.
This disclosure marks the first time the actress has publicly addressed the incident, sharing her side of the story on an episode of the podcast Asian Enough by the Los Angeles Times, with hosts Johana Bhuiyan, Tracy Brown, Suhauna Hussain, and Jen Yamato.
Liu recounted that the clash with Murray occurred during a rehearsal for a scene that had been reworked over the weekend without Murray’s involvement due to prior commitments.
The rest of the cast had improvised and enhanced the scene in his absence.
Expressing her limited role in the rewrite, Liu mentioned, “I wish I could have contributed more to it, but being the last one cast, I had fewer opportunities to creatively engage at that time.”
Although Liu did not elaborate on the specific comments made by Murray during the rehearsal, she confirmed reports that he began hurling insults at her upon discovering the alterations made to the scene.
Recalling the moment, Liu admitted to feeling taken aback by Murray’s behavior.
She reflected, “I felt like he was directing those comments straight at me.
It was surprising because I couldn’t fathom why his remarks would be directed towards me, a relatively minor figure at that point.”
She further added, “I questioned, ‘Are you speaking to me?
‘—and it became apparent that he was, leading to a direct exchange between us.”
According to Liu, Murray’s choice of words was deemed unacceptable and derogatory.
Despite her lower status among the cast members, she decided to stand up for herself, emphasizing the importance of maintaining self-respect regardless of one’s position.
Drawing parallels between this incident and a childhood memory where her mother faced condescension from a salesperson, Liu highlighted the significance of asserting dignity and self-worth in such situations.
Reflecting on the subsequent media coverage, Liu expressed disappointment at the sexist portrayal of the events.
She found it perplexing how the narrative shifted to paint her as the antagonist when she had not initiated the confrontation.
While some media reports may have been unfavorable, Liu found solace in the support received from colleagues on the film set, who commended her courage in addressing the issue amid challenging circumstances.
Liu shared that she has since reconciled with Murray, emphasizing that she harbors no ill feelings towards him.
Recalling a positive encounter with Murray at an SNL reunion, she highlighted the importance of standing up against mistreatment.
Murray, in a past interview with The Times of London in 2009, reiterated his stance on professionalism, stating his willingness to sever ties with individuals who do not uphold professional standards while working together.
