Bruce Willis had long been a childhood hero for Kevin Smith, who had grown up admiring the actor’s performances, particularly in the 1985 show Moonlighting. Therefore, when the opportunity arose to work alongside the iconic actor, it was a dream come true for Smith. Thus they joined forces on Cop Out.
However, the saying “never meet your idols” took on a bitter reality for Smith, as he was left deeply disappointed by the experience of actually working alongside Willis. And thus, later called him out publically.
But lo and behold, Bruce Willis, true to his nature, handled the situation with poise and dignity. He responded to the director with a blend of professionalism and biting wit, showcasing his years of experience working in Hollywood.
Bruce Willis Had a Savage Reply for Kevin Smith’s Smug Attitude
Cop Out fell far short of becoming the movie of the year, or even the month, to be brutally honest. As revealed in Kevin Smith‘s autobiography, filming the movie proved to be a nightmare for the director. He openly criticized the actor who was also his childhood idol, Bruce Willis, for his lack of cooperation and challenging attitude on set.
While the full extent of these claims remains unclear, it was unmistakably evident that the two did not get along at all. As Smith stated in his autobiography, reported by People,
“Cop Out could have been a great experience if it were not for the fact that I met true darkness in Bruce Willis – I love making movies and he does not, at all”.
He then further stated that the actor,
“wouldn’t even sit for a f–king poster shoot–were it not for Tracy, I might have killed either myself or someone else in the making of f–king ‘Cop Out.’”
Which Willis later responded to in a 2013 interview with Time Out (via Far Out Magazine), saying,
“Poor Kevin. He’s just a whiner, you know? We had some personal issues about how we approached work. I don’t have an answer for him. I’m never going to call him out and lay him out in public. Sometimes you just don’t get along.”
Bruce Willis, a legend in his own right, demonstrated true professionalism and composure through his sharp retort, highlighting the unrivaled poise and expertise that has come over the number of years he has been in the industry.
Kevin Smith Apologised to Bruce Willis
Despite the lingering differences between the director and the actor that persisted for over a decade, there were no significant changes in their relationship until 2022. Kevin Smith’s response to the news of Bruce Willis’ retirement from acting and his diagnosis of aphasia was marked by remorse.
Smith openly expressed regret, acknowledging that he “feels like an a–hole” for publicly criticizing the actor over a decade ago. He took to Twitter (now known as X) and stated,
“Long before any of the ‘Cop Out’ stuff, I was a big Bruce Willis fan, so this is really heartbreaking to read,—He loved to act and sing and the loss of that has to be devastating for him. I feel like an asshole for my petty complaints from 2010. So sorry to [Bruce Willis] and his family.”
And it was true indeed, the director was in fact a huge fan of Willis. Once in an interview with CinemaBlend, he revealed,
“I wasn’t the 38-year-old Kevin Smith who had directed a bunch of movies; I was the 12-year-old who would lay on my parents’ couch and watch David Addison on Moonlighting on Tuesday”
Smith displayed genuine concern for the Die Hard actor, setting aside their past differences, especially considering Willis was his childhood hero. The two have since then managed to reconcile their relationship.
Cop Out is available on Apple TV for rent.
Source: Time Out (via Far Out Magazine)
