The US Olympic wrestling champion whose life is dramatised in the Oscar-nominated drama Foxcatcher has apologised for an expletive-ridden attack on director Bennett Miller over his portrayal in the film.
Mark Schultz, who is played by Channing Tatum in Foxcatcher, labelled Miller’s film a “miracle” and said he hugely regretted his previous criticisms. He called for the director to be rewarded with an Oscar at next month’s ceremony and lamented Tatum’s failure to secure a best actor nomination last week.
“I apologise to you before the world Bennett,” wrote Schultz, whose brother Dave’s death at the hands of multimillionaire wrestling impresario John du Pont is depicted in the movie. “I’m sorry.” He added: “I think the problem I had was the context of the movie. It’s what happened was so hard. My brother’s murder. My career ruined.”
Schultz referenced Miller’s two previous nominations for the best director prize (for Moneyball and Capote) and said he was hoping for a win this time. “Bennett Miller is the greatest director ever,” he wrote. “3rd time’s the charm. He’s due an oscar.”
He added: “I feel terrible about what I did to Bennett. I should have followed God, not man... Foxcatcher is going to help wrestling. There’s so many positives and no negatives. When I fought and Dave wasn’t there was so emotional.”
#Foxcatcher is a miracle. I'm sorry I said I hated it. I love it. I love my interpretation and will ignore the haters. I'm never getting mad
— Mark Schultz (@MarkSchultzy) January 18, 2015
The gold medallist, who triumphed alongside his brother at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984, mounted an angry social media assault on Miller earlier this month. His initial anger appears to have been sparked after critics reviewing the film noted homosexual undertones to the relationship between the on-screen Schultz and DuPont, played by Steve Carell.
Schultz, who had previously appeared supportive of the film, wrote on Facebook and Twitter: “The personalities and relationships between the characters in the film are primarily fiction and somewhat insulting. Leaving the audience with a feeling that somehow there could have been a sexual relationship between DuPont and I is a sickening and insulting lie.” He then referred to Miller as a “punk”, “pussy” and “liar” in later deleted posts.
Foxcatcher was nominated for five Oscars, including best director for Miller and best actor for Carell, on Thursday. Schultz suggested he had been out of sorts when making his previous comments. “I was temporarily insane,” he wrote on Twitter.
