Steven Seagal is a prominent name in the realm of Hollywood action movies, famous for his karate prowess that dominated the screens during the 90s.
With an impressive filmography of over 46 movies, Seagal has secured his position alongside iconic action legends such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Jean-Claude Van Damme.
Despite his success at the box office, Seagal's movies have often fallen short of impressing critics, with only a few like Under Siege and Executive Decision meeting critical expectations.
Nevertheless, he boasts numerous successful films to his credit, including The Keeper, Fire Down Below, The Glimmer Man, Half Past Dead, and On Deadly Ground.
Throughout his career, Seagal has not been without controversy, facing accusations of s–ual harassment and scrutiny of his conduct on set.
Michael Jai White, another notable figure in the action genre, shared insights into the working conditions on Seagal's movie sets.
White, known for his martial arts skills and acting chops, highlighted the unique situation where Seagal would aggressively hit stuntmen during action scenes, leaving them in a precarious position.
In a candid interview, White disclosed that some stuntmen chose to endure Seagal's behavior silently, considering it part of the job and a test of their resilience.
Recalling his experience working with Seagal on the film “On Deadly Ground,” White recounted how Seagal, who was also directing the movie, would physically engage with the cast and crew, including the stunt performers.
Despite witnessing such incidents, many stuntmen refrained from speaking out against Seagal's actions, viewing it as a badge of honor to withstand the director's forceful approach.
Morris Chestnut, known for his role in “Boyz n the Hood,” echoed similar sentiments regarding Seagal's treatment of stuntmen.
Having collaborated with Seagal on “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory,” Chestnut criticized Seagal's unrestrained physicality towards stunt performers, emphasizing that such behavior was unacceptable on a professional film set.
Chestnut highlighted the power dynamics at play, where stuntmen felt compelled to endure mistreatment due to Seagal's status as the star of the movie.
Charlize Theron, the acclaimed actress from “Mad Max: Fury Road,” didn't mince words when addressing Seagal's persona, labeling him as an “Incredibly Overweight” fraud and questioning his martial arts background.
Theron expressed her skepticism towards Seagal's fighting abilities, particularly noting discrepancies in his performance during Aikido tournaments.
She accused Seagal of relying on staged confrontations and criticized his treatment of women, citing instances of alleged misconduct.
Seagal's reputation has been marred by allegations of s–ual assault and harassment, which he and his legal team vehemently deny, dismissing the claims as baseless and lacking substantial evidence.
Despite the controversies surrounding his conduct both on and off-screen, Seagal continues to be a polarizing figure in the world of action cinema, raising questions about accountability and professionalism in the entertainment industry.
