Christian Bale Apologizes For "Inexcusable" Rant

LOS ANGELES — Christian Bale says he acted like a "punk" and that his profane tongue-lashing on the set of "Terminator Salvation" was inexcusable.

In Friday remarks on a Los Angeles morning radio show, Bale said he never intended to get physical with cinematographer Shane Hurlbut. He also said he was likely channeling too much of his character, John Conner.

Bale also told the "Kevin and Bean" show on KROQ 106.7 that he and Hurlbut reconciled and worked together for another month following the tirade.

The outburst, which occurred last year on the set in New Mexico, was posted this week on the celebrity gossip site TMZ. It has become an Internet sensation, inspiring a music remix, spoofs, and punch lines for the "Kevin and Bean" show.

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On the Net:

http://www.kroq.com

http://www.tmz.com

Comments

[Lizard49]

He is innocent. Christian Bale can do whatever he wants and I forgive him. Just look at him! Have you ever seen a finer Bruce Wayne.

Imagine if we all had to publicly apologize for going off the chain??!!

Much love to you Christian, you dont have to apologize for being human. You owe the public nothing.

[Acid Monkey]

It should be said that even though the rant was inexcusable and Christian Bale has already apologised for it, it was actually the DP Shane Hurlbut's unprofessionalism that started the whole tirade. Hurlbut was warned by several people including Bale not to adjust the lights during filming. He ignored these warnings and continued to do so which caused Bale to lose his cool. Any (professional) DP will tell you that you adjust the lights before or after and NOT during the filming of the scene (when the actors are "channelling" their characters).

[surfcitysteven]

I can see this. I wouldn't think that acting is as simple as turning on a switch and there you are, in character, ready to go. I imagine you have to mind-f**k yourself to get there and once you do, a goof ball ruining it could be exasperating. Actors may be primadonnas or not, but I didn't find fault with Bale on this one.

[Dots]

It was worth it...just to see the jump-cut video with O'Reilly and the humerous one with Colbert and Letterman. Anyone who goes off like that is feeling insecure.

[bluesclues]

So, it's good he apologized. I'm sure he's having his head examined, so to speak. Someone here said he was a ''heartbreaker'' in Empire of the Sun, unless you're like 12, you mean like in a tear jerker sort of way? Because he was just a wee thing. I like him as an actor, think he takes alot of roles that are beneath him but it's work, right? I like when he said he might've been channeling a little too much John Conner....okayyy. Whatever, you know how it is - the good ones, they're always trouble..

[BikeFreak]

Mr Bale,
Yes, you did come off looking like "a punk". My question to you is this: instead of apologizing outloud to the public, did you apologize to those on the set, in particular to the DP, who had to listen first hand to your mouth?

[Acid Monkey]

It is my understanding that Bale did apologise to Hurlbut personally and has reconciled. The release of the rant cames after the apology.

[kcnativnla]

It was the DP's fault. Hearing the story firsthand from some of my buddies on the set, Bale only blew up after the DP repeatedly adjusted lights in the middle of emotional scenes.

[tuffymama]

Well, he made a sincere-sounding apology, and seems to have reconciled with the person he wronged. I agree we've had enough public handwringing over this.

I do hope that for his own well-being, though, that he and the people around him understand that this is not normal behavior. Yes, we all get stressed out and have awful days, and snap at our coworkers. A tirade this extreme, however, is pretty odd. Hopefully his friends and family will encourage him to work out his issues.

[kcnativnla]

You hear one side of the story, and suddenly he needs to "work out his issues"? Jump to conclusions much?

[anonimost]

as if this guy is the only person to blow up at someone. you don't have to be an actor to have an episode of blowing off steam and frustration. i'm sure that at least one person who is not an actor has blown their stack and regretted it. not huffpo bloggers of course. we're all perfect. right........

[jesselee26]

if i was producing this movie, i'd be a lot less worried about a famous and profitable actor who behaved regrettably for a few moments while filming than i would be about the tecs who leaked this video. to me, that seems a lot more threatening to the project as a whole.

actors suck. that is part of dealing with actors and anybody who's worked with actors knows that. your crew is supposed to be awesome. and a lot more trustworthy than that.

[boonjava]

The audio was actually sent to the insurance company, in case Bale bailed on the shoot.

[TiredandPragmatic]

Okay, so how many times is this now? Can we get this guy some therapy? Anyone?

[Motik70]

The guy had the balls to apologize. End of story. Move on. Next.

[garlicpowder]

he had no choice but to apologize. Part of being a movie star is convincing enough of the public that you are worthy of being a movie star. Bale's multiple incidents of bad behavior translates into lost sales. Look at Russell Crowe. He still makes pretty good money but he isnt the star that he was mainly because he acted like a baby in public too many times.

[Kalin Persuation]

Christian Bale wasn't acting very "Christian" in this most recent of his reported tirades known to the public. I heard the complete unedited version of his temper tantrum. Success, wealth and fame will not sooth what is now clearly a psychiatric aberration - a pattern in Bale's behavior which calls for psychological intervention and medication with perhaps an SSRI and cognitive therapy. Unless this happens, and soon, we will see repeated and more aggravated incidents - perhaps more physically violent - as this man ages and faces increasing life and professional challenges.

[adin]

he apologized saying what he did was wrong: that's the end of it!

"' ... forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us ...."

" s/he who has not sinned cast the first stone."

[littlepuffycloud]

He's still an incredible actor and his rant has no bearing on that. He was fearless in American Psycho and a heartbreaker in Empire of the Sun. Lucky for me there are never microphones on when I fly into a rant.

[stubbhead]

His rant was pathetic and sick.

[mamacat]

I think he still feels slighted over the treatment he got for his role in Dark Knight. Everyone praises Heath Ledger, but hardly anyone mentions Mr. Bale. Unfortuneately, in my opinion, it was not one of his best performances. Maybe he was acting the way he was told to, but I think his character was too dark for the role of Batman, even given the title. Heath Ledger gave us all the darkness we needed in one movie, did Mr. Bale's character also need to be so twisted? It was hard to appreciate his inner torment while all eyes were riveted on Mr. Ledger.
Just my opinion, no insult intended to Mr. Bale, who I have enjoyed thoroughly in other movies, and I look forward to enjoying again.

[DrJohnnySkeptic]

I'm glad he had the tantrum - that techno song version of his hissy fit is one of my favorites.