John Carney Apologises To Keira Knightley

Irish film director John Carney has apologised to Keira Knightley for what he describes as the "petty, mean and hurtful" remarks he made about working with the actress on his 2013 film Begin Again.

Carney’s most recent movie Sing Street has garnered rave reviews internationally, and the film has done huge business in Ireland. The film has a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes (out of 128 reviews); 8.3 out of 10 on IMDB; and 79% on Metacritic calculations, based on the views of 37 critics. To date, Sing Street has taken an estimated 5.3 million dollars at the box office.

In an interview with the London Independent, Carney had criticised the British actress's performance in Begin Again, triggering a backlash from friends and fans of the British star.

In response to the backlash, Carney tweeted a message: "From a director who feels like a complete idiot.” This was accompanied by a long note, explaining the context in which the remarks were made. Carney, who is one of Ireland’s most articulate and interesting film directors, expressed his contrition to Knightly personally. “But I wanted to publicly and unreservedly apologise to her fans and friends and anyone else who I have offended,” he said.

“It is not something I could ever justify,” he added “and will never repeat."

In the course of the note, Carney describes the comments as arrogant. However, those that know the director will understand immediately that he is anything but. He is not just one of Ireland’s most brilliant film-makers, but also one of the most likeable.

Carney-watchers will know that he is also frequently self-critical in interviews, discussing his work in a way that is disarmingly honest. In this instance, however, what he said seemed to reflect badly on Knightley, rather than himself.

"As much as I tried to make it work I think that she didn't quite come out as a guitar-playing singer-songwriter,” he had said. While he was not remotely as critical of her as her fans seemed to believe, the director has decided to make public his apology to Knightley.

"Recently, in a phone interview, the conversation turned to a discussion about a past film, Begin Again, starring Keira Knightley,” his act of public contrition began.
"I said a number of things about Keira which were petty, mean and hurtful. I'm ashamed of myself that I could say such things and I've been trying to account for what they say about me.

"In trying to pick holes in my own work, I ended up blaming someone else. That's not only bad directing, that's shoddy behaviour that I am not in any way proud. It's arrogant and disrespectful. Keira was nothing but professional and dedicated during that film and she contributed hugely to its success.

"I wrote to Keira personally to apologise, but I wanted to publicly, and unreservedly apologise to her fans and friends and anyone who I have offended. It's not something that I could ever justify, and will never repeat."

Meanwhile, let’s hope Sing Street continues to do well at the box office. It it surely one of the films of the year, so far...