November 24, 2020
Watch: Director Who Made Comments in 'Love, Victor' Star's Viral Video Comes Forward
READ TIME: 2 MIN.
The unnamed director who is heard making disparaging comments about "Love, Victor" actor Lukas Gage's home in a viral video is coming forward to apologize.
Before he did offer his apology, TMZ first up with Tristram Shapeero, a British TV director who has helmed episodes for shows like "Veep" and "The Good Place," after he was identified as the person making comments in the now-viral Zoom audition, which has been viewed more than 9.5 million times.
"These poor people live in these tiny apartments," he is heard saying, not realizing he is unmuted. Gage points out that he can hear him, prompting the director to quickly apologize.
"I don't have any apology because I didn't say anything bad," Shapeero told TMZ when asked about the video. "You have to look up the definition...it was three months ago...actually I'm not going to say anything right now because we're talking to some PR people but there will be a statement I'm sure at some point."
When the TMZ videographer asked him if he thought what he said in the clip was wrong, Shapeero said "the context of which it was said and the context of the meaning of the words needs to be properly evaluated. That's all I'm going to say."
Not long after, Deadline published a letter from Shapeero, who apologizes to Gage and explains himself.
Despite what is probably wise advice: to say the least possible and let this pass, I have decided to come forward, take responsibility, make the apology Mr. Gage deserves, and offer some background for my unacceptable and insensitive remarks. I am Tristram Shapeero, a 20-year veteran television director, half in the UK, and the second half here in the US.
First and foremost I offer Mr. Gage a sincere and unvarnished apology for my offensive words, my unprofessional behavior during the audition and for not giving him the focus and attention he deserved. My job is to evaluate performers against the part I am trying to cast. Lukas deserved better.
This Zoom audition took place in August, after four months of lockdown. A number of my co-workers were also on the auditions which happened over several days. It was emotional to see actors work so hard to win the few parts available and we were deeply moved by the passion of these young people under the extraordinary circumstances.
I was using the word 'poor' in the sense of deserving sympathy, as opposed to any economic judgment. My words were being spoken from a genuine place of appreciation for what the actors were having to endure, stuck in confined spaces, finding it within themselves to give a role-winning performance under these conditions.
As I say on the video, I'm mortified about what happened. While I can't put the proverbial toothpaste back in the tube, I move forward from this incident a more empathetic man; a more focused director and I promise, an even better partner to actors from the audition process to the final cut.
Click here to read his full letter and watch Gage's video below.
