Back in May of this year it was revealed that Clayne Crawford had been fired from his role as Martin Riggs in Fox’s TV adaptation of Lethal Weapon.
Despite apologising publicly for on-set issues, which reportedly included an angry outburst at a guest director and a falling out with co-star Damon Wayans, Crawford was sacked by Fox and producing partner Warner Bros., with Seann William Scott coming in to replace him as the new character Wesley Cole.
Crawford has now spoken out about the situation on the Drinkin’ Bros. Podcast, stating that he learned about his firing from social media and has never had a conversation with Warner Bros. Television since he was first told about the on-set incidents by studio chief Peter Roth.
“He said, ‘Clayne, I can’t promise you that I can save your job, but what I can tell you is that you have to make a public announcement apologizing, publicly, to Damon Wayans’. I was like, ‘What the fuck? Peter, why would I apologize publicly because he and I had a riff on set?’ And he’s like, ‘Clayne, that statement alone tells me you don’t want to come back… If I were you, I’d look your children in the eyes, and I’d look your wife in the eyes, and you need to make a decision, but again I can’t promise you that I can save your job.'”
SEE ALSO: Damon Wayans is “having fun” on Lethal Weapon following Clayne Crawford’s firing
Crawford then went on to discuss the incident where he was accused of shouting at an assistant director due to noise on set, stating: “I knew that they had those tapes, and they had been blackmailing me with that… anytime I had a problem with [Damon Wayans]. When the incident happened, I had to pay half of my salary for that episode, I had to spend six weeks in anger management every day on my lunch break, and I had to be escorted to and from set by a security guard, so it was humiliating.”
He was also accused of shouting at children that same day, but denied those allegations, adding: “[A] blatant fucking lie… Clearly I’m yelling at the guy whose job it is to get the set quiet. Here’s the thing: Did I make a poor choice? Absolutely, and I felt embarrassed in the moment because I was belligerent… Hollywood is very sensitive, so I should not have screamed and yelled, right, because it’s a bunch of very delicate flowers out there.”
SEE ALSO: Lethal Weapon season 3 promo introduces Seann William Scott’s Wesley Cole
“LETHAL WEAPON combines action and drama with friendship and humor, as it follows DETECTIVE MURTAUGH (Damon Wayans) and his colleagues in the LAPD – CAPTAIN AVERY (Kevin Rahm), SCORSESE (Johnathan Fernandez) and DETECTIVE BAILEY (Michelle Mitchenor) – working a crime-ridden beat in modern-day Los Angeles.
Entering its third season, LETHAL WEAPON introduces Seann William Scott (the “American Pie” franchise”) as DETECTIVE WESLEY COLE, a former international CIA operative who has been everywhere and seen everything. Cole will find himself navigating a new partnership with Murtaugh, as he adjusts to life in Los Angeles.
The series also follows Murtaugh’s family, including his wife, TRISH (Keesha Sharp), and children, ROGER MURTAUGH, JR. (Dante Brown) and RIANA MURTAUGH (Chandler Kinney).
LETHAL WEAPON is a production of Warner Bros. Television in association with Rideback (formerly Lin Pictures) and Good Session Productions. Matt Miller, Dan Lin, Jennifer Gwartz, Bill Callahan and Alex Taub serve as executive producers.”
Lethal Weapon Season 3 premieres on September 25th on Fox.
Originally published August 31, 2018. Updated December 4, 2022.
