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

[blingbling65943]

Am I the only one who wants their movie stars to be diva-like a-holes?

And has anyone looked into whether or not that guy actually WAS an idiot?
Because if so, no harm, no foul

[wedgie]

Rich people have NOTHING TO YELL ABOUT.

Enough.

**

[whatsthatsound]

I like how he uses the "I was in character" defense. I never thought of that. Next time I get angry at somebody I'll say I was "channeling" Tommy from Goodfellas.

[jozinha]

Was the remix paid for? Who did it? We assume it was just a goof. But what if it is a part of convoluted promotion for the movie? This whole episode is.

[Banji81]

Yeah, Mr. Bale, you ARE sorry. Tsk tsk!

[jozinha]

jerrycurls writes:

TMZ is owned by Time-Warner and "Terminator Salvation" is a Warner Bros. film. So, i'll give you three guesses who benefits the most out of the this...

Curious how an incident that happened last year suddenly is publicized now when the film is collecting buzz. How long will they be able to use viral internet behavior until the public figures out they're being played?

[JumonvilleGlen]

I really like him as Batman. I am looking forward to the Terminator movie. Anyone here watch the Sara Connor Chronicles?

[StunnedAndDisgusted]

I like to save my posts for things that actually match my screenname, but at least the last half of it is applicable in Mr. Bale's case. I laughed when he said he 'acted like a punk', I thought his actions just proved he is one. "What a maroon!" (thx, Bugs)

[xmw]

Why is Bale apologizing? He's an "ACTOR". The person we see on screen are not real. Combine the Artistic with the ego and constant exhaustion and they're sometimes a walking freak show. His rant makes for tabloid fodder but is not surprising to me. I will still see his movies because he is good at his craft and I'm not looking to hang out with him.

[jerrycurls]

Honestly, it never ceases to amaze me at the level of self-righteous indignation one finds on message boards. Let's get some perspective people...

Christian Bale yelled at someone for messing up. That's what happened. That's what he did. He apologized to him hours later and to the rest of the crew the next day. Today he apologized again. It doesn't make him a bad guy. Everyone loses it once and a while. If you say you don't, you are a liar.

Get. Over. It.

So to all of you passing judgement, you go right back to your smug perfect little lives behind the computer screen. There's nothing left to see here.

[Banji81]

You yourself are full of it in your deceitful attempt to appear non-judgmental. The man spent an infinity of minutes cursing out a fellow man, not for "messing up", as you so blithely put it, but for simply doing his job. Yeah, everyone loses it once in a while, but not remotely like that; he was waaaay out of line, and the responses to his abnormal reaction are completely warranted, so YOU get off your self righteous horse!

[viewfromuphere]

moreover...Christian BAle yelled at someone "sometime last year"....and that's always been one of my problems with this story.

In that time, as far we know, there have been apologies and people going back to work with each other...and now because someone releases a recording (how was this recording made again....was somebody use his/her cell or was the soundman making a mix tape for his own use) ..everybody involved gets to this all over again...

Behavior was pretty appalling...OK...OTOH...I wonder how many of us would come off on YouTube
if some "friend" got recordings of us as we swore and ranted at ..say....the driver who cuts us off
on the highway...for example...or the ex wife/husband about some perceived slight. Maybe even ranting to their faces.

Frankly recording someone without their knowledge then releasing on the public airways...I find it interesting that as long as it's a public figure involved nobody seems to be questioning the ethics behind that kind of recording..

[jozinha]

It's part of stirring up buzz for the upcoming movie. TMZ is owned by Warner, who is producing the movie.

[swo68]

Well said.

[GrainneKathleen]

Agreed. Taken out of context, of course the rant sounds awful, but there are two sides and I have learned enough to know it was just one of those Hollywood episodes.

[hollyglightly123]

Well said - it's so easy to point the finger at another. But when you do, remember that you've got 3 fingers pointing back at you.

[swo68]

What if you point all 4 fingers at someone instead of just the 1?

[ConfuciusSay-]

Ok, so he lost it at work, then apologized.
It's hardly a big deal.

[libbily]

Bale's apology is empty.

[SharonB]

TMZ is so sleazy. That guy that Harvey Levin is a snake who would put ANYTHING on his show. He is one person who really needs to thank the writer's of the First Amendment . Otherwise, this guy would have to get a job like the rest of us. (But, I guess we should thank him for letting the world know about this little diva's bi*tch dance.)

Just curious, though... How many of YOU here would still have your job is you had spoken to a co-worker like Beal talked to this guy? Even if the other guy was in the wrong, I would still be one of the "unemployed masses" if I said what Beal said to someone I work with.

Beal said he never intended to get "physical" with Hurlbut. I think that was as much to his advantage as it was to Hurlbuts. Perhaps one day he might meet up with someone who DOES intend to get physical even if he does not.

[GrainneKathleen]

It's Bale

[SharonB]

A rose by any other name...

[bonum]

rehab! rehab! rehab! I listened to your RANT online, and DUDE, what candies were you on? or coming off of?

[leeman79]

So he's a perfectionist. I really like this guy, and I think he's a great actor.