LONDON -- Film junkets don't seem to be very fun for either actors or the press, judging from a recent exchange between Tom Hardy and a critic.
Both parties need each other to survive -- but that relationship isn't always harmonious.
The British actor recently wrote that he was "resisting the urge to dare you to say what you 'rant tweeted' so publicly, to my face next time we meet" to journalist Drew McWeeny of the film site HitFix.
Earlier, McWeeny had posted a series of angry tweets about the actor standing him up for an interview while doing publicity for The Revenant. McWeeny said he was forced to wait four hours only for Hardy not to show. In the tweets, the critic called the BAFTA winner a "delicate flower" and "spoiled baby."
I'll say it: Tom Hardy should stop doing junkets. He's terrible at them, and he makes it impossible for anyone to do their jobs. Fuck him.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
Tom Hardy could be set to play me in a movie, and I still wouldn't interview him about it. Besides, his answers would all be, "Ghbbbbygy."— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
I've seen Tom Hardy make publicists cry. He chose to take a nap during my scheduled time in Toronto. Today's REVENANT junket was a joke.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
I get it, dude. Being a movie star is a burden. Thanks for making my job impossible because you're such a delicate fucking flower.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
No one HAS to do press or give interviews. But if you're going to, don't be a piece of shit about it. Thanks.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
And, yeah, I considered not saying anything. But my time is worth something, and Tom Hardy is just an actor. No more tip-toeing.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
Spoiled babies like Hardy count on the press needing access to them and staying quiet about how badly they behave. Dick move.— DrewAtHitFix (@DrewAtHitFix) December 18, 2015
In return, Hardy posted an open letter on his website:
Dear Drew,
Thankyou for your email offering to retract your misdirected anger. I apologise for any part of you having to wait for an interview and then not get one. The truth is we (as I was paired for all interviews that day) were unaware that ANYBODY was waiting. Or even went without a TV interview. Someone somewhere must have thought putting it on me was a lot easier than losing their journalist relations for the ongoing junkets and multiple movies that are pending. I wish I would have napped to be honest.
One note to make is that per Fox, they said they “never actually told (you) that the interview was cancelled, simply that they were running behind schedule.” They also said that “Drew chose not to wait and left. Had he stayed, he would have gotten his interview as planned.”
Fuck.. Plot thickens … Who knows what to trust my friend, but I do know the cancellation was definitely not made by myself.
Resisting the urge to dare you to say what you “rant tweeted” so publicly, to my face next time we meet, which I doubt you have the balls to do; I want to apologise regardless on behalf of those that misled the both of us. That isn’t cool. At all. Neither were your tweets. But that’s by the by.
I appreciate your apology of sorts in your emails to and fro which I am happy to openly post. Also as I hope you understand now and which you’ve made very clear in our emails back and forth, your legitimate frustration lies with those who organised the junket; who fed you and I misinformation; not me.
Again apologies for the clusterfk. And it’s knock on effect to your personal life. I appreciate it is a busy time of year for you and your time shouldn’t have been wasted. I never had any intention of causing you any inconveniences at all.
Best regards and thanks for calling me an asshole a lot
Tommy xxx
So there you have it: a quasi-apology on both sides, and the blame shifted to whoever organised the junket. Thus the special relationship continues.