Kevin Smith Apologises Over ‘Petty’ Bruce Willis Comments After Aphasia Diagnosis

Kevin Smith has apologised over the ‘petty’ comments he previously made about Bruce Willis after hearing of his aphasia diagnosis. 

The Die Hard actor’s family recently announced that he would be retiring from acting immediately, following the diagnosis of the condition which affects cognitive function. 

Now, Smith, who directed Willis in 2010’s Cop Out, has taken back the negative remarks he made about the actor in January 2011.

The recently took to Twitter to write: “Long before any of the Cop Out stuff, I was a big Bruce Willis fan - so this is really heartbreaking to read. He loved to act and sing and the loss of that has to be devastating for him.”

He added: “I feel like an asshole for my petty complaints from 2010. So sorry to BW and his family.”

Previously, the director stated that working with the now-retired action star on the movie was ‘f***ing soul-crushing’. 

He told WTF with Marc Maron: “It was difficult. I’ve never been involved in a situation like that where one component is not in the box at all.”

Smith claimed that Willis “wouldn’t even sit for a f***ing poster shoot”, and added that if it “were it not for Tracy [Morgan], I might’ve killed myself or someone else in the making of that movie”.

Willis previously starred in classic films such as the Die Hard series and Pulp Fiction since starting his career in 1980.

He also starred in TV shows such as Miami Vice and Moonlighting, as well as enjoying a music career.

Willis gained superstar status for his role as John McClane in Die Hard, but also went on to star in huge films such as The Fifth Element, The Sixth Sense, and Sin City.

He is known for his hard-man credentials, but also picked up a Golden Globe for his role as private detective David Addison in Moonlighting.