A movie or TV set is a tough place to work, and it serves as a melting pot for contrasting personalities all working to achieve the same goal. It's nice to hear when people on set become friends, but conflict can brew, as well. Sometimes, things can get physical between actors, and even between actors and directors.
Kevin Smith and Bruce Willis infamously beefed after making Cop Out together, but the two managed to patch things up years down the road. Recently, Willis' aphasia diagnosis triggered a huge response from the industry, including one from Smith.
Let's learn why Smith has some regrets about the hatred that he once felt for Bruce Willis all those years ago.
Kevin Smith And Bruce Willis Worked Together On 'Cop Out'
In 2010, a unique duo was brought together to work on a movie called Cop Out. There weren't many people who would have pegged Bruce Willis and Tracy Morgan as a dynamic duo for a buddy cop movie, and to make things even more interesting, Kevin Smith of Clerks fame was brought in to direct the film.
All three men had been in successful projects before, and there was genuine interest in this project. Fans weren't entirely sure what to expect, and early previews let people know that this movie was definitely going to be on the lighter side.
As interesting as this movie was on paper, it was never able to catch on in the way that the studio was hoping for. It received a harsh response from critics, and it was only able to make $55 million at the box office.
Cop Out was a whiff by Smith and Willis, and in the fallout of the film's failure, some public jabs were taken.
Smith Had Harsh Words For Willis
After the experience of working on Cop Out together, Kevin Smith pulled no punches when talking about his experience with Bruce Willis.
"Everyone knows who it is. Put it this way, remember the really funny guy in the movie? It ain’t him. He’s a f*cking dream. Tracy Morgan, I would lay down in traffic for. Were it not for Tracy, I might’ve killed myself or someone else in the making of that movie," Smith told Marc Maron.
Folks were shocked to hear what the normally kind Smith had to say, and this would not be the only time the director had some unsavory words for Willis.
Willis, did not stay quiet, firing back by 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."
Despite having their differences, years down the road, the pair would reconnect and unbelievably bury that hatchet.
When talking about this, Smith said, "Reach out to an old friend or to someone you never thought would be a friend again. You never know what bridges you can mend."
Recently, Bruce Willis was diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder that has forced him into retirement from acting. There has been an outpouring of support for the actor, including support from his old Cop Out director.
Smith Sent Willis His Regards On Social Media
After learning of Willis' aphasia diagnosis, Smith took to social media to voice his remorse and give Willis' family his best.
"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," he wrote.
As we mentioned already, the two had patched things up previously. Clearly, the diagnosis had a huge impact on Smith. Regardless of what took place between them, Willis was someone that Smith looked up to for years thanks to their New Jersey connection, so seeing his former hero in this state can't be easy.
Smith, of course, was just one of many people in the entertainment industry to show Willis some support after the diagnosis came to light. It's a life-altering bit of news, and Willis has a long road ahead now that his language functioning has been impacted.
Cop Out caused a fracture between Bruce Willis and Kevin Smith, but the two mended fences, and Willis now has Smith's support during this trying time.