Richard Dreyfuss, known for his role in “Jaws,” has been criticized in recent years for his controversial opinions on topics like Oscar diversity requirements and Blackface.
The Incident
At a “Jaws” screening in Beverly, Massachusetts, on Saturday evening, Dreyfuss made more controversial remarks. Reports say he spoke negatively about trans people, Barbra Streisand, and women in general.
Theater’s Apology
The Cabot Theater sent an email to ticket holders, apologizing for Dreyfuss’s comments. According to New Bedford, Mass. radio station WBSM, the email read:
“Dear Cabot Patrons,
I am writing to address an important matter concerning last night’s event with Richard Dreyfuss at The Cabot.
We deeply regret that Mr. Dreyfuss’s comments during the event were not in line with the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold at The Cabot. We understand that his remarks were distressing and offensive to many of our community members, and for that, we sincerely apologize.
At The Cabot, we are committed to fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect our beliefs, and we do not endorse them in any way.
We take full responsibility for the oversight in not anticipating the direction of the conversation and for any discomfort it caused.
We are taking immediate steps to ensure that such an incident does not happen again. This includes more rigorous vetting of our event participants and more proactive communication strategies to keep our audience informed.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support of The Cabot.
We value your feedback and are dedicated to learning from this experience to better serve our community.”
Audience Reaction
- A video on YouTube shows Dreyfuss arriving on stage to applause, while a Taylor Swift song plays. He wore a dress over his clothes, which was removed by stagehands.
- Facebook commenters were angry, describing his remarks as “vile, dehumanizing, and abhorrent” towards trans youth, LGBTQ+ people, women, and survivors of sexual violence.
- Many attendees, including families with children, left the event.
References
- WBSM Radio Station for the email details.
- YouTube videos of the event and post-screening discussion.
- Facebook comments from event attendees.
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