Richard Dreyfuss accused of sexist, homophobic rant at ‘Jaws’ screening | EUROtoday

The newest headlines from our reporters throughout the US despatched straight to your inbox every weekday

Your briefing on the newest headlines from throughout the US

Hollywood star Richard Dreyfuss is dealing with backlash after he allegedly launched right into a sexist and homophobic rant at a particular screening of the film, Jaws.

Saturday’s occasion, “An Evening With Richard Dreyfuss”, on the Cabot Performing Arts Center, in Beverly, Massachusetts, was billed as a screening of the 1975 film and a dialogue with the actor, who starred in it.

However those that attended the occasion later reported on-line that the Oscar-winning actor had used sexist and homophobic language which prompted greater than a dozen individuals to stroll out.

One wrote in reply to a Facebook publish from The Cabot: “We walked out of his interview tonight along with hundreds of others because of his racist homophobic misogynistic rant.”

Another attendee advised the occasion be renamed “An Evening of Misogyny and Homophobia With Richard Dreyfuss.” “Disappointing doesn’t even begin to cover it,” the particular person posted.

According to a different social media consumer, who mentioned her girlfriend’s dad and mom attended the occasion, Dreyfuss made offensive remarks together with disparaging feedback about Barbara Streisand, his co-star within the 1987 thriller Nuts. He reportedly additionally described director Steven Spielberg as “a genius but an idiot”.

According to X consumer @sasysquatchgirl, who claimed to be on the occasion: “In a flip of a switch [Dreyfuss] started to talk about a movie he did with Barbara Streisand whom he insulted, then literally insulted all women. Then he insulted trans kids, I can’t even begin to say how terrible it was.”

Some individuals allegedly booed the actor after which walked out, they added.

The Independent has contacted representatives of Dreyfuss for touch upon the incident.

In a press release shared with The Hollywood Reporter on Monday, Cabot Performing Arts Center apologized to attendees.

“We are aware of, and share serious concerns, following the recent event with Richard Dreyfuss prior to a screening of the film Jaws at The Cabot.

“The views expressed by Mr Dreyfuss do not reflect the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold as an organization. We deeply regret the distress that this has caused to many of our patrons.”

The assertion continued: “We regret that an event that was meant to be a conversation to celebrate an iconic movie instead became a platform for political views. We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for the discomfort it caused to many patrons.

“We are in active dialogue with our patrons about their experience and are committed to learning from this event how to better enact our mission of entertaining, educating and inspiring our community.”

The Independent has contacted The Cabot for remark.

Dreyfuss starred in Jaws alongside Roy Scheider and Robert Shaw. The movie, directed by Steven Spielberg, was nominated for Best Picture on the 1976 Academy Awards. The actor can be recognized for his performances in different hit 70s films like American Graffiti and Close Encounters of a Third Kind, additionally directed by Spielberg.