William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy had been together in one of the most iconic franchises of all time, Star Trek. Though they had their ups and downs, the two were very close on and off the screen. At one point, Shatner had even called Nimoy the only friend he had ever had. They even had similar career trajectories and had a friendship that lasted around 50 years.
So, why is it that despite being this close, William Shatner skipped Leonard Nimoy’s funeral and chose to go to a charity event instead?
William Shatner Chose to Go to A Charity Event Rather Than Attend Co-Star Leonard Nimoy’s Funeral
During an interview with Variety, William Shatner talked about why he ended up missing Leonard Nimoy’s funeral. He stated that his co-star’s passing was quite sudden and unexpected. He had prior engagements and did not feel that it was right to cancel on such short notice and decided to stick to his commitment. The engagement in question was a fundraising charity event at Donald Trump’s Florida resort Mar-a-Lago.
“When Leonard Nimoy died a few years ago, his funeral was on a Sunday. His death was very sudden, and I had obligated myself to go to Mar-a-Lago for a Red Cross fundraiser. I was one of the celebrities raising money. That event was on Saturday night. I chose to keep my promise and go to Mar-a-Lago instead of the funeral.” He stated and went on to talk about what he told the audience at this event, “I said to the audience, ‘People ask about a legacy. There’s no legacy. Statues are torn down. Graveyards are ransacked. Headstones are knocked over. No one remembers anyone.'”
The actor went on to add that he does not think that his missing the funeral was that bad a thing, adding that when one dies, they do not leave anything behind but the good deeds they do for people. This is why he ultimately ended up missing Nimoy’s final farewell.
What Does William Shatner Have To Say To Fans Who Criticize Him For Missing Leonard Nimoy’s Funeral
During this interview, William Shatner was also asked about how he felt about the backlash he faced for missing Leonard Nimoy’s funeral. To this, the actor replied that it did not matter to him. He mentioned that he believes what he did was right and that is all that matters to him.
“Who cares? I know what I did was right. So it doesn’t matter. We’re criticized when we lift a finger. I don’t read that stuff. I try not to indulge in the evil that’s out there.”
He went on to add that due to his profession, he is bound to be criticized for the smallest things he does. So, rather than pay heed to what people say about him, he chooses to ignore the evil that is out there and focus on himself instead and not read much into things.
Source: Variety
