LOS ANGELES (Diya TV) — Aziz Ansari has broken his silence on the controversy surrounding Bill Murray, stemming from an alleged incident during the production of Ansari’s 2022 movie Being Mortal. The 42-year-old actor and comedian told The Hollywood Reporter that Murray, 74, was “devastated” by the allegations.

“He couldn’t believe it happened. I think this movie meant a lot to him,” Ansari said.

Murray was accused in April 2022 of misconduct by a younger female crew member. Reports said the actor straddled the woman on a prop bed and kissed her on the mouth while both wore masks due to COVID safety protocols. The matter reportedly led to a settlement of just over $100,000 in October 2022.

In an April interview with The New York Times, Murray said the situation left him feeling “barbecued.” He admitted he tried to make peace with the affected parties.

“I don’t go too many days or weeks without thinking of what happened. … I dunno what prompted me to do it,” Murray said. “It’s something that I had done to someone else before, and I thought it was funny, and every time it happened, it was funny.”

Murray explained, “I was wearing a mask, and I kissed her, and she was wearing a mask. It wasn’t like I touched her, but it was just, I kissed her through a mask. And she wasn’t a stranger.”

He added that the experience taught him a lesson. “But it was a great disappointment, because I thought I knew someone, and I did not,” Murray said. Following the allegations, Being Mortal, which was produced by Disney-owned Searchlight Pictures, was suspended indefinitely. Ansari said the suspension was a blow but refused to dwell on it.

“Everybody’s texting me, ‘Oh Aziz, I’m so sorry,’ ” he said. “And I said, ‘Oh God, I can’t live in this woe-is-me moment.’”

The movie starred Murray alongside Seth Rogen and Keke Palmer. Ansari reportedly completed about three-quarters of the film before production was halted. Despite the setback, Ansari quickly shifted focus to his directorial debut, Good Fortune. The comedy, which Ansari also wrote and stars in, features Seth Rogen, Keanu Reeves, Keke Palmer, and Sandra Oh.

The film follows Gabriel, a “well-meaning but rather inept angel,” who intervenes in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy venture capitalist (Rogen). Reeves plays Ansari’s “budget guardian angel.”

Ansari recalled reaching out to Rogen for support after Being Mortal was shelved. “I said, ‘Hey, I know you’re supposed to be filming Being Mortal, so you’re free today. This is a s—-y day for me. If you want to help me, read this, tell me if you want to do it,” he said.

Rogen described the making of Good Fortune as a blend of comedy and real-life moments. “We were saying as we were making it, ‘If this movie does nothing else, I hope maybe people tip their DoorDash a little bit more after they watch it,’ ” he said.

Ansari’s approach to the situation highlights his resilience and focus on creativity. By channeling the disruption from Being Mortal into a new project, he has turned a challenging experience into an opportunity for growth.

“Instead of wallowing in the wake of my canceled project, I focused on what I could make happen,” he said. With Good Fortune set to release soon, Ansari proves that setbacks in Hollywood do not have to end a career. Instead, they can inspire new work, collaboration, and humor.