I barely watch TV shows at this point. I’m waiting for Game of Thrones, of course, but ever since Donald Trump got elected (“elected”), I just can’t sit down and focus on developing an interest for a new show. It’s weird, right? I should *need* that kind of escape, the escape of fictionalized drama or comedy, but I just can’t. I watch tennis or the news, or sometimes the Cooking Channel or HGTV. That’s how I relax. Anyway, I’m admitting all of that just to say: I haven’t been paying ANY attention to what’s on network TV at this point. I didn’t even remember that they had done a rebooted-for-TV version of Lethal Weapon. But they did. It’s on Fox. They’re already on their third season?!?! HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? Well, they’re in the third season, and long story short, the white guy is a douchebag and he’s gonna get his ass fired.
Lethal Weapon is the youngest and highest rated of the three Warner Bros TV drama series for Fox, so its renewal had been considered a no-brainer. But a behind-the scene issue involving one of the two leads, Clayne Crawford, is making a third season a rather complex proposition.
I have learned that Crawford has had a history of bad behavior on the show, and that he has been disciplined several times over complaints of emotional abuse and creating a hostile environment. I hear the issue has escalated to a point where other actors as well as crew on Lethal Weapon would feel uncomfortable being on set with him. The problem is threatening the future of the show, with a recasting — a rare and dramatic move when involving a lead of an established series — being explored. Fox and Warner Bros TV declined comment.
While Damon Wayans, who plays Roger Murtaugh, had been a key auspice on the series from the start — his casting helped Matt Miller’s pilot script land a green light in February 2016 — Crawford was a relatively late addition. The Rectify alum was tapped for the role of Martin Riggs a month later after a lengthy search. (Crawford has since parted ways with the talent agency that repped him when he landed the pilot.)
Replace the name “Clayne Crawford” with the name of an actress, any actress, and replace the he/him pronouns with she/her pronouns and reread it. Then tell me that white male privilege doesn’t exist. The first time a woman – especially a woman of color – did anything resembling “emotional abuse” or “creating a hostile work environment,” she would be sh-tcanned. She would be fired and bad-mouthed for the rest of her career. She wouldn’t be able to work again. So… do that to Clayne Crawford, whoever the f–k he is. Fire him. Replace him with any of the they-all-blend-together white dudes. If Deadline hadn’t announced it, I’m not sure people would have noticed – the producers could have gotten away with firing him quietly and replacing him with a look-alike and few people would have figured it out.
Photos courtesy of WENN.
He sounds like a straight-up jerk. The sooner they dump him, the better.
Makes me sad. I love this show and he is (now was) my absolute favorite character on the show.
I like the show a lot as well but his character does get on my nerves a bit ….
I don’t watch the show but I LOVE that the industry is changing to the point that this is even a possibility. What can I say: regardless of industry I do think you should have to be a decent human being to hold a job around other people.
I disagree that they could have fired him quietly as he’s the co-lead; but it definitely would have been some “mutually agreed”, “new opportunities” nonsense. It’s a new day.
Yes, it is encouraging to see that people are being held accountable. I hope that these changes aren’t limited to the entertainment and media industries, I hope it is a true turning point across all work environments.
Its not too surprising this has been done before (Shannen Doherty comes to mind) if its someone that doesn’t have a whole lot of clout in the industry.
Plus Lethal Weapon while I enjoy the show isn’t that big compared to other shows where the cast isn’t nearly as easy to replace.
I can’t wait until male white doctors get held to some level of responsibility. They basically have to sexually assault dozens of gymnasts or continually botch multiple surgeries before anything happens to them. Soooooooo many hostile work environments caused by them.
The David Caruso Effect, idiot will hopefully get fired and learn.
I read this headline as “Cindy Crawford is about to be justifiably fired from the Lethal Weapon tv show” and decided that maybe I need to go back to having a second cup of coffee in the morning.
I like your headline better.
I laffed
That was how I read it too!
He was really good in Rectify tv show. Sad to learn he’s just another douche canoe.
But he plays a douche canoe so well…his character in Rectify correctly personified except for any evolution and growth lol.
This is the only show I follow. He is a perfect cast, I prob won’t watch if he’s fired. Bummer! He makes a good bad boy!
For this to come out, it must be BAD. And I have a really hard time making the comparison had this been an actress, because I don’t think an actress that behaves this way would have been hired in the first place. I have a hunch that this edge is what got him hired in the first place – Riggs is reckless and insane. If it were a woman, she’d have been deemed too much drama or something like that.
“the producers could have gotten away with firing him quietly and replacing him with a look-alike and few people would have figured it out.”
LOL! Dick York/Dick Sargent all over again. And it worked!
Sounds like he’s taking his Mel Gibson portrayal a little too seriously.
I’d have noticed. It’s one of the very few network shows I watch. I like(d) him.
Think about the OG Aunt Viv, Janet Hubert, from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. She completely lost her career due to her on-set antics and bad behavior.
I thought she had well-documented mental health issues? It’s a shame because I really liked her portrayal.
I loved her portrayal, too. As a minority female, I loved how she displayed a strong, vocal woman with brains and confidence. It’s sad how it all went south. I’m unsure about well-documented mental health issues, but she was most certainly difficult and still extremely bitter.
Oh, is that where she went? I always liked her and the replacement was never as good.
I actually watch this show and find it enjoyable. There is good chemistry between the two actors. Shame it’s not working out. I will admit the guy is replaceable for no other reason than I’m not digging his stache.
Wow. As a Rectify fan, this is disappointing. Crawford was excellent on that show, playing a needy, emotionally manipulative, tragically self-aware, weak and compulsive asshole. Sounds like there may have been a deep connection between actor and character.
Get this guy out of the workplace.
I only watched the first season of Rectify and then forgot to catch up, but I remember he was good in it. But no amount of talent is worth someone behaving like that.
SOOOOOO many actors would kill for the opportunity to star in a network show, especially one that has gotten a few seasons. It’s amazing to me how some people can’t help but shoot themselves in the foot. Hopefully they remove him and a better person gets the opportunity.
I totally agree.
Seriously, pick up the rest of Rectify, though. It’s legitimately beautiful, a balm for our inhumane times.
I wonder if this is why he hasn’t had a bigger career. I remember seeing him years ago in something entirely forgettable movie (or tv show?) and made a note of his name, thinking he had loads of charisma and would probably have a break out career. Then there was nothing but crickets for years. He has to be a next-level d-bag to not be a bigger star, he has everything the H’wood establishment usually goes for.
^ This.
Been watching for him since The Perfect Host; just crickets. Your assessment is on point.
He brought a legitimacy to a story line on NCIS: New Orleans as well. He made Lucas Black look like a decent actor.
Oh man, I just love him so much as Riggs! Whyyy does he have to be just another abusive douchebag? I hope they can him asap.
Replace him with a woman. And not a woman who can just be there as a romantic foil for Wayans.
Murdoch is crazy about his wife so I don’t think that will happen.
Bump up Jordana Brewster. Have her go to the academy and get her badge.
Let’s face it, if Crawford is fired, her character will be pointless.
OR, bring back Alex Cruz. He was great and then was just…gone. It would not surprise me if Crawford was the reason for it.
@Tiffany *Murtaugh.
Personally I’d love it if Bailey was made a more major character. I like that character and I really enjoy this show
I really hope they fire and replace him with someone else. There is no need for hundreds of people to lose their jobs because he is a jerk.
I clearly watched too much tv as a child/ teen coz i remember shows that did this. Mainstream shows eg Aunt Viv in Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Becky in Roseanne, Darryl in Bewitched, Miss Ellie in Dallas.
IIRC, in the case of Roseanne, Becky was replaced twice. Second time they brought back the original actress.
Lecy Goranson (og Becky) did leave the show twice, but both exits were due to her attending college.
Don’t even watch this show although I like Wayans a lot.
I do watch Lucifer though and BBT.
that’s sad, because that is one of my favorite shows!!!
Oh no!!! I LOVE this show and I love the two leads!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t even imagine another actor taking over the part. Or will they just do away with the character of Riggs and introduce an entirely new character?!?! UGH is my TV love affair with Lethal Weapon coming to an end?!?!?! Why can’t good actors be GOOD PEOPLE?????
I watch the show because of him…at first I was like ” ok ,there’s nothing else on TV…let’s give Lethal Weapon a shot”….saw him, loved him and got hooked. He’s the perfect Riggs! The weirdness, the hair, the clothes and the stache!! I’m crying inside! :'(
Because consequences are unevenly applied.
My husband loves this show. I can’t watch it. Little bit too much deliberate weirdo due to trauma character of Riggs and what I consider macho-craphead-ain’t-I-cute?-behavior. I also despise those long tendrils of hair.
It’s too bad to hear this, he’s really an excellent tv actor, and does an amazing job as Riggs. I watched the first season and a half of Leathal Weapon, it’s well acted, but all the current real world issues with cops shooting people really took the fun out of watching them blow up guys that they weren’t sure were guilty/dangerous.
Honestly though, without more details I can’t feel one way or the other about either possible outcome. Until I’ve got details I’m not willing to write him off.
Also, with regards to the ‘if this was a woman’ thing, I think it’s generally accepted that feminism is aiming to correct injustices, not perpetrate them equally on all genders. I.e. get women paid more, not get men paid less. If your arguement is to take things the other way that’s both morally bankrupt and likely very hard to find supporters for.
I agree! Eloquently stated. There’s just no information about what happened, however, his costars are posting vague statements without explicitly supporting him. I hope it all gets cleared up soon! I wonder if it’s also a poor publicity stunt, since it’s all before his directorial debut??
I think the point was that he should be fired and blackballed just as any woman would be. That doesn’t strike me as injustice.
This is so disappointing. Dude can act! Loved him so much in Rectify and The Baytown Outlaws, but i never got around to watching Lethal Weapon.
I do think he is really hot lookswise. I have a crush on him from Rectify.
This guy sounds like a jerk and, as you say, will be justifiably fired.
You know, if you replaced ‘they-all-blend-together white dudes’ with any other skin colour, the commenters on here would be rioting, and rightfully so. A couple of other people commented on this, but their comments seem to have disappeared.
It’s a shame, but I think I might be done here, and I’ve been a reader since the days of Hot Guy Fridays.
All the best.
I’ve also noticed that if a famous woman is over 27 and she’s photographed coming from or going to a nightclub more than once the press labels her an alcoholic or a slut. If this woman has children she is also a bad mother. Yet, Leonardo Dicaprio can party at nightclubs and attend Cochella until he’s 50 or older and it’s not a problem.
Have you seen all the mom shaming stories in the press about Kylie Jenner going to Cochella? How dare she! Have you seen any about the famous men with children who were at Cochella? Nope. She went with Travis Scott. No one was offended by him attending.