Bill Murray speaks out about ‘Being Mortal’ on-set misconduct allegations: ‘I thought it was funny’

Bill Murray hasn’t forgotten about being accused of misconduct on the set of “Being Mortal” in 2022.

“I don’t go too many days or weeks without thinking of what happened,” the 74-year-old actor said in an interview on the New York Times’ podcast “The Daily” released Saturday while promoting his new film “The Friend.”

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Three years ago, production on received a settlement of around $100,000 from Murray, who also signed a nondisclosure agreement regarding his “inappropriate behavior.” 

The “Caddyshack” star said he felt “barbecued” by the experience and “tried to make peace” with those involved.

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“It was Covid, we were all wearing masks and we were all stranded in this one room listening to this crazy scene,” he recalled. “I dunno what prompted me to do it. It’s something that I had done to someone else before, and I thought it was funny, and every time it happened, it was funny.”

“I was wearing a mask, and I gave her a kiss, and she was wearing a mask,” he said. “It wasn’t like I touched her, but it was just, I gave her a kiss through a mask. And she wasn’t a stranger.”

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Murray said it “still bothers” him that HR shut down the film’s productions because there were “pre-existing conditions” in place.

“I’m like, what? How was anyone supposed to know anything like that? There was no conversation, there was nothing. There was no peacemaking, nothing,” he explained. “It went to this lunatic arbitration, which, if anyone ever suggests you go to arbitration: Don’t do it. Never ever do it. Because you think it’s justice, and it isn’t.”

When asked if he’s learned from the incident, Murray replied, “I think so.”

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“You can teach an old dog new tricks. But it was a great disappointment, because I thought I knew someone, and I did not,” he shared. “I certainly thought it was light. I thought it was funny. To me it’s still funny, the idea that you could give someone a kiss with a mask on. It’s still stupid. It’s all it was.”

Murray previously addressed the misconduct allegations during an appearance on CNBC in May 2022.

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“I had a difference of opinion with a woman I’m working with,” he said. “I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way. As of now, we are talking and we are trying to make peace with each other.”

He added: “The world’s different than it was when I was a little kid. Things change, times change.”