The venue released a statement saying, “The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold as an organization.”
Dreyfuss gave a speech on Saturday, May 25, at an event titled “An Evening with Richard Dreyfuss + Jaws Screening” at Beverly, Massachusetts’ The Cabot theater.
Actor Richard Dreyfuss, 76, was participating in a Q&A session for the movie Jaws when things unexpectedly turned sexist and transphobic. The Cabot theater in Beverly, Massachusetts hosted the event, which was themed “An Evening with Richard Dreyfuss + Jaws Screening.”
The actor’s divisive opinions on subjects like trans youngsters and the Academy Awards’ inclusion policies were presented to the eagerly awaiting audience instead of behind-the-scenes tidbits from the beloved movie. Social media reports claim that once Dreyfuss brought up Barbra Streisand, the remarks got more and more heated.
Numerous spectators and social media users expressed their shock and fury. “We walked out of his interview tonight along with hundreds of others because of his racist, homophobic, misogynistic rant,” wrote one commenter on The Cabot’s Facebook page.
The Cabot apologized to the attendees and expressed sorry in a statement in response to the scandal. The location made it quite evident that Dreyfuss’s opinions did not reflect their principles of respect and inclusivity. They expressed regret for the inconvenience caused and pledged to use the experience to improve their community’s services.
Criticism of Dreyfuss’s remarks has been directed against him before. He condemned the Academy’s diversity and inclusion standards for the Oscars during a 2023 episode of Firing Line with Margaret Hoover on PBS. Calling the regulations “patronizing,” Dreyfuss expressed his opinion that artists shouldn’t be forced to follow ephemeral moral standards.
These and other disputes serve as a reminder of how critical it is to advance diversity and value differences in viewpoints. Artists are free to voice their thoughts, but it’s also important to provide a welcoming, safe space that promotes communication and understanding.
