While David O. Russell is one of the most famous names in the industry for his star-studded critically-acclaimed pieces like American Hustle (2013), Silver Linings Playbook (2012), and The Fighter (2010), he is also rather infamous for his controversial stints. To say the least, he is one to have picked beef with and become the arch-nemesis of A-lister George Clooney.
Adding to this list was even the actress cum comedian Lily Tomlin who, despite being a senior to Russell, had to face his wrath while working with him on I Heart Huckabees in 2004. However, this time, it all came back to bite the filmmaker right where it hurt when his infamous clip of mistreating the actress resurfaced to humiliate him years later in 2012.
David O. Russell Brutally Berated Lily Tomlin in 2004
Around two decades ago, Tomlin joined forces with filmmaker David O. Russell to create the 2004 comedy/Indie I Heart Hucklebees. However, her experience of working with him wasn’t one of the best experiences of her life. If anything, all the obscenities hurled at her as the director lashed out at her meant it was hardly a worthwhile adventure for her.
Soon after, a clip from the sets of the very film surfaced, perfectly depicting the harsh crimes committed against the then-65-year-old Tomlin. At one point, Russell is seen thrashing the contents of a table between them on the floor while screaming profanities that sounded something like this (via Consequence of Sound):
OK b—h? I’m not here to be f—in’ yelled at! I worked on this f—in’ thing for three f—in’ years not to have some f—in’ c—t yell at me in front of the f—in’ crew when I’m trying to f—in’ help you, you b—h!
Of course, this didn’t go well and landed Russell under one of the most controversial spotlights. However, years later, Lily Tomlin brushed off all speculation of bad blood between her and Russell.
In a 2011 interview with Movieline, she went on to jump to Russell’s defense, saying:
David is a very mercurial person, and that’s part of why he’s so brilliant. He almost reflects the movie. I did two movies with him, and I Heart Huckabees was so crazy, so all over the place, I think he kind of embodies intuitively whatever he’s trying to make happen. It was just crazy, crazy stuff.
She claimed that it was normal for them to flip out on each other after getting “manic and crazy.” Not only this, she even affirmed that she wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again, saying: “I adore him, I love him. He’s brilliant.”
But while that was that, all didn’t quite turn out the best for Russell, who had to pay severely for his crimes when it all came back to bite him.
David O. Russell’s “Mercurial” Energy was Showered Back on Him Humiliatingly
Although he initially got away with it, George Clooney‘s arch-nemesis’s brutal outburst at Tomlin eventually found its way back to him in the most humiliating manner possible. This happened a year after the actress brushed off all claims of there existing any bad blood between them, at the Gotham Awards ceremony of 2012.
In front of an ever so widely present audience, it was host Mike Birbiglia who took the opportunity to bring back that expletive-laden tirade out in the wild. While reciting his opening monologue for the ceremony, Birbiglia didn’t miss a beat as he perfectly ranted out the entire thing, word for word (via The Hollywood Reporter).
Well, for whatever it’s worth, it seems like the one who built up the quote “what goes around, comes around” mustn’t have lied while saying it!
You can watch I Heart Huckabees on Prime Video.
