Russell Crowe Apologizes After BAFTA Incident

Russell Crowe apologized to British television producer, Malcolm Gerrie, after Crowe "accosted" the producer who cut a poem Crowe recited during an acceptance speech. Crowe won the BAFTA –Britain’s equivalent to the Oscars- for Best Actor for his role in A Beautiful Mind and during his acceptance speech he recited a poem by the late Irish poet Patrick Kavanaugh called "Sanctity." The poetry reading was trimmed due to time constraints and Crowe roughed up Gerrie at a post-awards dinner at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel. He mistakenly believed Gerrie was responsible for the cutting of the poem. Crowe shoved Gerrie up against a wall and labeled him a "f------ piece of s---."

Crowe allegedly said, "I don’t five a f--- who you are. Who on earth had the f------ audacity to take out the Best Actor’s poem." During interviews the next day Crowe seemed unrepentant. That may have been a bad move on Crowe’s part. Academy voters received their ballots the day the news of Crowe’s attack broke and some say his behavior may have left a bad taste in their mouths. Crowe, who has a history of obnoxious behavior, may be back peddling with his apology to Gerrie. He called Gerrie Saturday morning and, as reported in London’s Sun newspaper said, "My language was excessive because I was livid [and] I behaved inappropriately. I was overreacting because I felt passionately about it at the time." Gerrie told the Sun, "I told him I didn’t get any satisfaction out of the whole situation, and if he wanted to make it up to any of my family he could speak to my son. He then spoke to [my son] Oliver for about 15 minutes and told him about the making of Gladiator."

Crowe’s entire acceptance speech, including the poem "Sanctity," was left "intact for international broadcasts." E! will air the BAFTAs Saturday at 8PM, including Crowe’s entire acceptance speech, poem and all.