Silence of the Lambs' Buffalo Bill actor admits movie's handling of gender identity was 'f---ing ...

The Oscarwinning film has long faced accusations of homophobia and transphobia for its tackling of Ted Levine's fictional serial killer. Silence of the Lambs' Buffalo Bill actor admits movie's handling of gender identity was 'fing wrong' The Oscarwinning film has long faced accusations of homophobia and transphobia for its tackling of Ted Levine's fictional serial killer. By Shania Russell :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/ShaniaRussellauthorphoto5934b684845d480caa4485648c39ef2b.jpg) Shania Russell Shania Russell is a news writer at , with five years of experience.

The Oscar-winning film has long faced accusations of homophobia and transphobia for its tackling of Ted Levine's fictional serial killer.

Silence of the Lambs' Buffalo Bill actor admits movie's handling of gender identity was 'f---ing wrong'

The Oscar-winning film has long faced accusations of homophobia and transphobia for its tackling of Ted Levine's fictional serial killer.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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February 15, 2026 3:06 p.m. ET

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Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill in 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Credit:

Orion/courtesy Everett Collection

As* The Silence of the Lambs* celebrates a major milestone, the actor behind Buffalo Bill is acknowledging that certain elements of the film have not stood the test of time.

On Valentine's Day, the groundbreaking, Oscar-winning 1991 horror classic celebrated its 35th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Ted Levine — who earned acclaim for his portrayal of a serial killer who skinned his female victims — addressed critiques that it has earned from the queer and transgender communities.

"There are certain aspects of the movie that don't hold up too well," Levine told *The Hollywood Reporter* in a new interview. "We all know more, and I'm a lot wiser about transgender issues. There are some lines in that script and movie that are unfortunate."

*The Silence of the Lambs* follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster, who teams up with imprisoned cannibal and expert psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) to track down Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb, a prolific serial killer who lures in and then peels his victims to create a "woman suit."

While the script never explicitly states Buffalo Bill's gender identity, and Lecter even argues that he is "not really transsexual," it does note that Gumb unsuccessfully applied for gender-affirming surgery. Many viewers have interpreted the character as queer, with some critics denouncing the film for perpetuating negative stereotypes associated with the gay and trans communities.

Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster in 'The Silence Of The Lambs'.

Ken Regan/Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

Levine admitted that while he was making the movie, the possibility of those criticisms did not occur to him, but as he developed a fuller understanding of gender identity, it changed his perspective.

"[It's] just over time and having gotten aware and worked with trans folks, and understanding a bit more about the culture and the reality of the meaning of gender," said the actor. "It's unfortunate that the film vilified that, and it's f---ing wrong. And you can quote me on that."

As for his approach to portraying the character, Levine clarified, "I didn't play him as being gay or trans. I think he was just a f---ed-up heterosexual man. That's what I was doing."

Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster avoided each other while filming 'Silence of the Lambs'

The 23 best psychological horror movies ranked, from 'Smile' to 'Psycho'

The character of Buffalo Bill, who originated in the 1988 Thomas Harris book, *The Silence of the Lambs,* drew inspiration from several known serial killers — including Ed Gein, Ted Bundy, and Gary Michael Heidnik.

Director Jonathan Demme's producing partner on the film adaptation, Edward Saxon, also spoke to *The Hollywood Reporter,* saying the team did not anticipate sparking outrage among the LGBTQ+ community with their portrayal of Buffalo Bill.

"We were really loyal to the book," Saxon said. "As we made the film, there was just no question in our minds that Buffalo Bill was a completely aberrant personality — that he wasn't gay or trans. He was sick."

He continued, "To that extent, we missed it. From my point of view, we weren't sensitive enough to the legacy of a lot of stereotypes and their ability to harm."

Saxon added that though he feels "regret" about it, the movie's handling of Buffalo Bill did not come from "any place of malice."

Ted Levine in 'The Silence Of The Lambs'.

Orion/Kobal/Shutterstock

"It actually came from a place of seeing this guy," he said. "We all had dear friends and family who were gay. We thought it would just be very clear that Buffalo Bill adapts different things from society, from a place of an incredibly sick pathology."

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

In 2021, the CBS sequel series *Clarice* addressed Buffalo Bill's transphobic legacy by introducing a trans character, played by activist Jen Richards, who was forced to reckon with the impact of the serial killer's fame. While chatting with **, Richards pointed out that Buffalo Bill had the power to become so influential because "the transgender community was largely invisible" in the early '90s.

"That meant that any portrayal of people who were trans had a weight to it, and it informed the public's opinion of what it means to be trans," she told EW, noting that Bill could reinforce "a stereotype that already existed that transgender women were people who coveted and wanted to harm women and were part of a misogynistic culture, rather than human beings with an authenticity who are moving through their lives with the same desires and needs as any other human being."

Despite the controversy surrounding it, *The Silence of the Lambs* made Oscars history as the first horror film, and third film overall, to sweep the Academy Awards' Big Five categories: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (for Hopkins), Best Actress (for Foster), and Best Adapted Screenplay. To this day, it remains the only horror film to ever win Best Picture.**

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’80s Rocker Sends Clear Message on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour

'80s Rocker Sends Clear Message on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour Olivia KlimekFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:51 PM 0 In early February, Dee Snider, frontman of iconic '80s heavy metal band Twisted Sister, announced his departure from the band due to health concerns. This sudden retirement startled fans, leaving the remaining members of Twisted Sister with no choice other than to cancel the group's upcoming 50th anniversary tour. Although news of his worsening health left fans worried, Snider reassured them.

- - '80s Rocker Sends Clear Message on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour

Olivia KlimekFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:51 PM

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In early February, Dee Snider, frontman of iconic '80s heavy metal band Twisted Sister, announced his departure from the band due to health concerns. This sudden retirement startled fans, leaving the remaining members of Twisted Sister with no choice other than to cancel the group's upcoming 50th anniversary tour. Although news of his worsening health left fans worried, Snider reassured them.

On a recent episode of House of Hair, a radio show hosted by Snider, the 70-year-old frontman made an additional statement regarding his health. He explained that while he is taking it easy, he is by no means dying.

"The rumors have run wild that I am on my deathbed," Snider said. "I am not. I just can't do those things that I did in my 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s and even 60s. All right? Otherwise I'm alive and well. I'm enjoying life."

From left, Twisted Sister's Mark Mendoza, Eddie Ojeda, Dee Snider, A.J. Pero and Jay Jay French pose for studio group portrait.Fin Costello/Redferns (Fin Costello/Redferns)

Snider's decision to step away from the band was brought on by a series of health concerns, including struggles with degenerative arthritis in his shoulders, high blood pressure and a recent hip replacement surgery. While he loves to be on stage, Snider knew he would not be able to keep up with his past performances. He went on to thank fans for their support during this change. "You won't see me on the stage kicking ass like I used to because that will mess me up," Snider explained, going on to share his gratitude. "Thank you very much for cheering me on. I'm OK. I just can't do that anymore. And you know what? The truth of the matter is: I don't want you to see me up there being less than you expect me to be. You got memories of a great show that I did? That's what I want to leave you with."

While the upcoming anniversary tour has been canceled, the remaining classic-era members, guitarists Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, are working to find solutions for the future of Twisted Sister.

Related: '80s Rocker Issues Statement on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour: 'We Had No Other Choice'

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’80s Rocker Sends Clear Message on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour

'80s Rocker Sends Clear Message on Canceling 50th Anniversary Tour Olivia KlimekFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:51 PM 0 In...

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’90s Rocker Addresses Potential Reunion Ahead of 2026 Farewell Tour

'90s Rocker Addresses Potential Reunion Ahead of 2026 Farewell Tour Rana AlsoufiFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:37 PM 0 Photo by Roberto Finizio/NurPhoto via Getty Images As the heavy metal band Megadeth begins to embark on their 2026 farewell tour, a former band member has publicly spoken out in hopes to take part in the performances.

- - '90s Rocker Addresses Potential Reunion Ahead of 2026 Farewell Tour

Rana AlsoufiFebruary 15, 2026 at 10:37 PM

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Photo by Roberto Finizio/NurPhoto via Getty Images

As the heavy metal band Megadeth begins to embark on their 2026 farewell tour, a former band member has publicly spoken out in hopes to take part in the performances.

Founding member David Ellefson — who was with the band from its conception in 1983 until its dissolution in 2002, and then again after rejoining the band in 2010 until leaving in 2021 — shared with UnDinamo - La última Radio de Rock in an interview on Wednesday that if given the opportunity, the bassist would love to reunite with Megadeth on stage.

"I have always said that I am available for that," Ellefson said during the interview. "And I would do it because I think any reason that I'm not there now is unfounded. It's untruthful and it's unfair because clearly there's nothing wrong."

DAVID ELLEFSON Believes He Should Be Part Of MEGADETH's Farewell Tour: 'Any Reason That I'm Not There Now Is Unfounded', 'Untruthful' And 'Unfair' https://t.co/zFcoNfffbE pic.twitter.com/nGTKr0r2qF

— BLABBERMOUTH.NET (@BLABBERMOUTHNET) February 12, 2026

Ellefson was removed from Megadeth in 2021 after frontman Dave Mustaine released a statement saying that Ellefson had been accused of alleged sexual misconduct with an underage fan after explicit videos were leaked online. Ellefson has continued to deny the allegations, and the other party has also denied that they were underaged during the time of the videos.

RELATED: Legendary Metal Band Reaches New High With Final Album

In the interview on Wednesday, Ellefson said that he hopes his former bandmates would be willing to resolve any of the tension that still remains following his departure. "I would hope and even pray to [God] that any misunderstanding, any bitterness would be removed — that that would somehow be dissipated."

In 2023, former Megadeth guitarist Marty Friedman — who left the band in 2000 — was invited to perform with the band during two different live concerts in Tokyo, Japan, and Wacken, Germany. Ellefson said that Friedman's guest appearances prove that a reunion could be possible.

"I can't speak for anyone else, but I would wish that Dave [Mustaine]… Look, if it were just me and Dave sitting here, I'm sure everything would be fine. But there's a lot of people with influences, and that can be sticky," Ellefson said.

He also added that he hopes that fans will vocalize their interest in a reunion to prove that it's something they want to see. "My hope is that the voice of the fans gets louder than any other voice that would tear it apart," he said.

But a recent interview with Mustaine in Guitar World shows that the likelihood of Ellefson being invited back to perform is still slim. "That would be a huge undertaking," Mustaine said about inviting more Megadeth alumni back. "I don't think I want to do that. I'd rather keep doing what we're doing and let the fans [experience] Megadeth music and be happy about it. It's not 'puppet show Megadeth.'"

Megadeth's global farewell tour kicks off on Tuesday in Abbotsford, Canada, and is expected to end on Sept. 29 in San Antonio, Texas.

Related: Iconic '70s Rock Band Announces Special Guest for 2026 Farewell Tour

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This Young Designer Is Bringing the Fantasy Back to Fashion Week

This Young Designer Is Bringing the Fantasy Back to Fashion Week Camille FreestoneFebruary 16, 2026 at 12:57 AM 0 A New Designer Bringing Fantasy to Fashion Week Courtesy of Andrew "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Tonight will not be Andrew Curwen's first fashion show—he presented a collection of 11 looks last summer in Bushwick—but it will be the young designer's first time joining the official calendar of New York Fashion Week. With a 9:00 p.m.

- - This Young Designer Is Bringing the Fantasy Back to Fashion Week

Camille FreestoneFebruary 16, 2026 at 12:57 AM

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A New Designer Bringing Fantasy to Fashion Week Courtesy of Andrew

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

Tonight will not be Andrew Curwen's first fashion show—he presented a collection of 11 looks last summer in Bushwick—but it will be the young designer's first time joining the official calendar of New York Fashion Week. With a 9:00 p.m. slot tonight, the 30-year-old will show a collection called "Nocturnal Conditions" that explores the subcultures of the after-hours.

In joining the calendar, he elevates to the same platform as established names like Proenza Schouler, Khaite, and Altuzarra, but Curwen is fulfilling a very different fashion fantasy from those brands. He doesn't really fit into the tropes of New York's legacy of American sportswear—though he will be subverting archetypes of tailoring this season. Instead, the new designer would rather explore the artistry of fashion, an idea often (stereotypically) relegated to the fashion weeks of European cities like Milan and Paris. His first collection featured ultra-cinched corsetry, voluminous bustles, and exaggerated, almost floor-length sleeves. (Strip it down, though, and you can find some rather wearable pieces like wonkily tailored trousers and a red silk skirt trimmed with a white ruffle.) Fall 2026 promises to deliver more of the same.

We caught up with Curwen earlier this week to discuss finalizing the details of his fashion show—after the initial venue fell through a week out. But that hasn't stopped him and his team. They've rallied to find something even better. Ahead, the designer-to-watch speaks to his desire to sit on this season's fashion calendar, his sources of inspiration, and how he handles the pressure—when in doubt, call mom.

Andrew Curwen's first collection Courtesy of Andrew Curwen

How is the lead-up going?

It's going pretty well. It's a really beautiful thing to see your team mobilize and come together. As stuff starts getting finalized and the vision starts coming to fruition, you're like, "This is why we do the work." The hardest moments are the most rewarding. We hit a little hiccup this weekend with the venue. We thought something was confirmed, but it fell through. At first I was like, "What are we going to do?" All I've been doing is reaching out, and everyone has leads. It's not ideal, but at the same time, there's hope, frankly at this point, for something better than we had originally anticipated. Moments like these make the chaos worth it.

What can you tease about your upcoming collection and presentation?

We're going a lot darker with everything. I'm really obsessed with this incredibly deep green that, unless you're in sunlight, looks like black. It's like midnight green. I also spent so much money on shoulder pads this season.

What was the inspiration for that?

The shoulder pad is one of the simplest ways we can play with our silhouette. I've explored corsetry quite a bit—corsetry and tailoring are the two things that really made me fall in love with the design side of fashion. You throw on either a tailored jacket or a corset, and you immediately see yourself differently. You hold yourself in a different way. I wanted to push the tailoring aspect this season—and push it to an extreme in a few looks.

Andrew Curwen's first collection Courtesy of Andrew Curwen

I know you've shown before, but why was it important to you to join the New York Fashion Week calendar?

I feel like it's important for more young designers and more independent designers to be on the New York fashion calendar. I think globally, New York Fashion Week is very much seen as the heavy-hitting moneymakers. It doesn't leave much room for a lot of the beautiful creativity that exists not just in New York City, but among brands that fly in to show here, the American creative voices. I think it's really, really important to put it on that stage so other people can see themselves here versus feeling like they may need to go to another country to show. There is a hunger for that style of work here in New York.

New York has such a legacy of wearability. How do you either see yourself fitting into this city's fashion conversation or see yourself in a group that challenges it?

To be fair, a little bit of both, but leaning towards challenging it. Shortly after the first show, I was wondering if I had anything that was super viable for wholesale. Within a month, I had my first custom commission order, and then those started coming at a really high rate. There is still desire, in that respect. Also, I do have a little bit of hesitation if we were to enter the wholesale market considering its state at the moment. I'm not sure how many people want to take a risk with a corset with horsehair sticking out of it. So, I see myself carving my own path in terms of sellability.

Andrew Curwen's first collection Courtesy of Andrew Curwen

In putting together a fashion show, where do you look for inspiration?

My friends brought me to see a few contemporary dance groups this summer. One of them was the Young Boy Dancing Group. They usually have the audience surrounding them. You understand the caliber and the visceral nature of the performance you're about to see, but you don't exactly know where it's going to go. So there's this anticipation. There's a slight discomfort to it. It's like watching movies that are somewhat discomforting like The Night Porter. There's a lot of sexual tension, fear even. That was a really long-winded way of saying it is that kind of cinematic experience that isn't there just to be like, "Oh my God, this is beautiful."

How is the pressure? How have you kept yourself sane?

A lot of it is about having a good support system. There's probably about 10 minutes a day where I'll forget that and start to panic about budgets or asking for too many favors. And then, in that moment, I'll take a breath, walk around the block, and during that walk, I'll usually call someone again, maybe designer and mentor Jane Wade to calm me down. But also the Hail Mary is to always call mom.

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The actor explained that the highflying film was &34;the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track.&34; Why Kurt Russell wrote Tom Cruise a letter about Top Gun: Maverick The actor explained that the highflying film was &34;the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track.&34; By Emlyn Travis :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/EmlynTravisauthorphotocba6765b433b4f93b9398d18053153b1.jpg) Emlyn Travis is a news writer at . She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and NME.

The actor explained that the high-flying film was "the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track."

Why Kurt Russell wrote Tom Cruise a letter about Top Gun: Maverick

The actor explained that the high-flying film was "the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track."

By Emlyn Travis

Emlyn Travis is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2022. Her work has previously appeared on MTV News, Teen Vogue, and *NME*.

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Kurt Russell attends Apple TV Press Day at Barker Hangar on February 03, 2026 in Santa Monica, California; Tom Cruise plays Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 'Top Gun: Maverick'. Credit:

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty; Paramount Pictures

Kurt Russell knew that *Top Gun: Maverick *was the film that movie theaters need to get out of the danger zone. **

The *Escape From New York* star and former pilot tells ** that he personally sent a letter to Tom Cruise about the high-flying sequel, which became a box office smash hit when it was released in May 2022.**

"I actually sent Tom a note because I thought that this was the type of movie that we needed to try and get the movie business back on track, which it's been struggling to do ever since COVID," Russell explains. "People got out of the habit of going to watch something collectively and got used to watching things at home."

Tom Cruise in 'Top Gun: Maverick'. Paramount Pictures

As a result, the 74-year-old says that streaming platforms have become "extremely popular," with "a lot of people from our business [pivoting] over to that" instead of the standard theatrical experience. **

A sequel to the 1986 classic *Top Gun*, *Maverick* followed Cruise's Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell as he taught a group of young Navy pilots how to both conduct and survive a dangerous mission. The film also starred Glen Powell, Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro, Lewis Pullman, and more.

Kurt Russell reveals he helped Tom Cruise learn how to fly after 'Top Gun'

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The Oscar-winning film was the summer smash hit that the box office needed in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, raking in $1.48 billion globally and becoming the 15th highest-grossing film of all time. It would go on to become the second highest-grossing film of the year behind *Avatar: the Way of Water. ***

Kurt Russell attends Goldie's Love-In Gala in Celebration of the 20th Anniversary of The Goldie Hawn Foundation and MindUP at Ron Burkle's Greenacres on September 27, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.

Stefanie Keenan/Getty

In addition to its box office success, *Maverick* was also nominated for six Academy Awards and took home the trophy for Best Sound at the 2023 Oscars. An untitled threequel is currently in development, with Kosinski in talks to return as its director.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.*****

But, first, the filmmaker is directing Russell in Michelob ULTRA's new Super Bowl advertisement, which also happens to star *Maverick*'s very own Pullman. Titled "The ULTRA Instructor," the clip blends football festivities with the upcoming Winter Olympics by having Russell transform subpar skier Greg (Pullman) into a serious slope shredder.

"We love watching the Super Bowl, and it's fun to watch the commercials too," Russell previously told EW about the advertisement. "I gotta say, on that day, they're very different…. They're a little bit like a mini movie. They're water cooler fare, and the next day it's fun to talk about them. So I looked at it as something like, 'Hey, let's go after this. Let's have some fun with this thing.'"**

Watch "The ULTRA Instructor" above.

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The video featured footage depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. Trump won't apologize for posting sincedeleted racist video of Obamas: 'I didn't make a mistake' The video featured footage depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.jpg) Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at . He began writing for EW in 2022. EW's editorial guidelines February 7, 2026 11:37 a.m. ET :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/DonaldTrumpBarackObamaMichelleObama020726437eb00723804302803793ace2858758.

The video featured footage depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.

Trump won't apologize for posting since-deleted racist video of Obamas: 'I didn't make a mistake'

The video featured footage depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes.

By Wesley Stenzel

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President Donald Trump at the 'Melania' world premiere in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2026; Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 7, 2022. Credit:

Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty; Kevin Dietsch/Getty

- Donald Trump refused to apologize for a racist video that was posted on his Truth Social account: "I didn't make a mistake."

- The footage showed Barack and Michelle Obama's faces superimposed onto the bodies of monkeys.

- Trump said that he "looked at the beginning" of the video and concluded that "it was fine" without seeing the Obama footage.

Donald Trump is doubling down on a racist video posted to his Truth Social account.

On Friday, the president responded to a journalist asking if he would apologize for the since-deleted AI-generated video that appeared on Trump's official Truth Social page, which featured a depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama's faces superimposed onto the bodies of apes.

"No, I didn't make a mistake," Trump said while speaking to a group of reporters on Air Force One, confirming that he will not apologize for the post.

Set to the Tokens' song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," the video also featured Trump's face superimposed onto a lion, and depicted other political figures as animals, including a monkey version of Joe Biden and a turtle version of Kamala Harris.

Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 5, 2026.

Aaron Schwartz/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty

** previously learned that the video was posted erroneously by a White House staffer and has since been taken down.

However, Trump's further comments on the matter on Friday suggest that he personally approved the post.

"I mean, I look at a lot of thousands of things. I looked at the beginning of it. It was fine," the president said of the video. "I guess it was a takeoff on *The Lion King* and certainly it was a very strong post in terms of voter fraud." (Trump has repeatedly made false claims about election interference in every presidential election in which he has participated.)

The president did seemingly acknowledge that the last section of the video, which featured the Obama monkey imagery, was more problematic than the rest of the footage, and claimed that he had no knowledge of that portion of the video when it was posted.

"Nobody knew that that was in the end," he said. "If they would have seen it and probably they would have had the sense to take it down."

When later asked if the Truth Social post could hurt Republicans with Black voters, Trump said no and went on to tout his achievements

"I've done great with Black voters... I've been great to them, Black voters have been great to me," he said. "And I am, by the way, the least racist president you've had in a long time, as far as I'm concerned."

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White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously tried to defend the video as a *Lion King* parody.

"This is from an internet meme video depicting President Trump as the King of the Jungle and Democrats as characters from *The Lion King*," she told PEOPLE of the video on Friday. "Please stop the fake outrage and report on something today that actually matters to the American public."

The video, which played into the racist trope of dehumanizing Black people by comparing them to primates, drew outrage from politicians on both sides of the aisle.

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 20, 2024.

Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty

"The President's post is wrong and incredibly offensive — whether intentional or a mistake — and should be deleted immediately with an apology offered," Mike Lawler, a Republican Congressman from New York, wrote on social media.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

"Trump posted a disgustingly racist video depicting the Obamas as apes," Bernie Sanders, a Democratic senator from Vermont, posted on X. "Are my Republican colleagues going to continue to bend the knee to a racist, authoritarian president who wants the American people to bow down before him?"

Tim Scott, a Republican senator from South Caroline, wrote, "Praying it was fake because it's the most racist thing I've seen out of this White House. The President should remove it."

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Michael Douglas shares brutal note he received from Wall Street director: 'You look like you've n...

In retrospect, the actor appreciated Oliver Stone's candid direction: &34;He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push.&34; Michael Douglas shares brutal note he received from Wall Street director: 'You look like you've never acted before' In retrospect, the actor appreciated Oliver Stone's candid direction: &34;He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push.&34; By Wesley Stenzel :maxbytes(150000):stripicc()/WesleyStenzelauthorphoto32b61793a2784639af623f2ae091477e.

In retrospect, the actor appreciated Oliver Stone's candid direction: "He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push."

Michael Douglas shares brutal note he received from *Wall Street *director: 'You look like you've never acted before'

In retrospect, the actor appreciated Oliver Stone's candid direction: "He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push."

By Wesley Stenzel

Wesley Stenzel is a news writer at **. He began writing for EW in 2022.

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February 7, 2026 12:37 p.m. ET

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Michael Douglas in 'Wall Street'. Credit:

Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

- Michael Douglas said that *Wall Street *director Oliver Stone shared scathing criticism of his performance two weeks into shooting.

- "You look like you've never acted before in your life," he recalled the director telling him.

- Douglas said he's "deeply, deeply appreciative" that Stone gave him the role of Gordon Gekko, which ultimately won him an Oscar.

Making *Wall Street* wasn't all fun and games.

Michael Douglas, who portrayed menacing businessman Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film, discussed his memories of working with director Oliver Stone during a conversation with Alicia Malone at the TCM Classic Film Festival in New York City on Jan. 31.

"Okay, so we were finishing the second week of filming, and there was a knock on my door. 'Hey Mike, it;s Oliver. Can I come in?'" the *Fatal Attraction* actor remembered (via PEOPLE). "I say, 'Yeah, come on in.' He comes in the trailer and sits down. He says to me, 'You okay?' I said, 'Yeah, I'm okay.'"

Douglas said that Stone didn't mince words as the filmmaker confronted him about the quality of his performance.

"'Are you doing drugs?'" he called Stone asking him. "I said, 'No, I'm not doing drugs.' And he said, 'Because you look like you've never acted before in your life.'"

Michael Douglas attends TCM Classic Film Festival: New York Pop-Up x 92NY in New York City on Jan. 31, 2026.

Mike Coppola/Getty

The actor explained that at that point in his career, he usually opted to avoid watching dailies, which are the pieces of raw footage captured on a given day.

"I said, 'Well, I don't like to look at the dailies, because I'm one of those guys that always sees what's wrong or what's not going to be in the film'… so I don't pay attention to the dailies," he remembered telling Stone. "So I said, 'I guess I'd better take a look,' and he said, 'Yeah, you better.'"

Douglas then acquiesced to Stone's wishes and watched two scenes that they'd already shot, one of which involved him riding in a limo with his young costar Charlie Sheen.

"And I'm looking at them really hard, and critically, and they seemed pretty good. So I keep saying, 'I think it's pretty good," he recalled, noting that Stone ultimately agreed, despite his prior harsh words.

"[Stone said], 'Yeah, it is, isn't it?'"

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In retrospect, Douglas appreciates that Stone prioritized the quality of the movie over polite direction.

"He was willing for me to hate his guts for the rest of this movie to get that extra little push," said the actor. "His record of successes with actors is quite impressive. So I'm deeply, deeply appreciative of the fact that it gave me part and the fact that he pushed me to another level."

Stone reflected on Douglas' performance in an interview with Matt Zoller Seitz in his book *The Oliver Stone Experience*.

"I think he was more comfortable [playing a villain], but I think Michael struggles for comfort levels," the director said. "I mean, he's not comfortable per se, he's always looking. If you notice, he moves his shoulders a lot. When he's misused, which he sometimes is in films, that cockiness of Gekko can be irritating, smarmy, in the wrong roles. But I like Michael when he's doing it in good movies, with good material. I liked him in* Wall Street* very much."

Oliver Stone and Michael Douglas in Cannes, Frances, on May 15, 2010.

LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty

Douglas went on to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for his turn as Gekko. While Stone did not receive a nomination for Best Director, he'd already won the award at the previous ceremony for *Platoon*, and would win it again two years later for *Born on the Fourth of July*.

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

In the same interview, Stone shared his perspective on *Wall Street*'s Oscar performance in general.

"There was no respect for the movie. Michael Douglas did get a bump from it, because film industry people liked the performance, but they didn't really look at the movie," the filmmaker opined. "Why was *Wall Street* ignored, except for Michael Douglas? No Oscar nominations for anything, including the writing or anything?"

Stone also noted that he thinks Douglas won the Oscar because his performance as Gekko marked a departure from his previous screen roles.

"In the part, in the movie, he surprised people," the director said. "There's no question that in the first one, the surprise is partly what led to the Oscar, I believe. It was so against what they expected of him."

Stone and Douglas later reteamed for 2010's *Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps*, for which the actor received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "EW Drama"

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Source: Drama

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February 15, 2026

Michael Douglas shares brutal note he received from Wall Street director: 'You look like you've n...

In retrospect, the actor appreciated Oliver Stone's candid direction: &34;He was willing for me to hate his guts for t...

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