LOS ANGELES _ After defending his decision to cast a registered sex offender in "The Predator," director Shane Black has released a public apology for letting down those he did not give "a voice in the decision."
On Thursday, the Los Angeles Times published a story reporting that 20th Century Fox recently deleted a scene from the upcoming sci-fi thriller that featured Steven Wilder Striegel, Black's friend of 14 years. The studio decided to excise the scene from "The Predator" after actress Olivia Munn, one of the film's stars, learned that in 2010, Striegel pleaded guilty to allegations that he tried to lure a 14-year-old girl into a sexual relationship online.
After reading the story, Black said Thursday afternoon, "it has sadly become clear to me that I was misled by a friend I really wanted to believe was telling me the truth when he described the circumstances of his conviction."
"I believe strongly in giving people second chances," he continued, "but sometimes you discover that chance is not as warranted as you may have hoped."
In the Times story, Black initially said he "personally chose to help a friend" by casting Striegel in "The Predator" and two of his other films, "Iron Man 3" and "The Nice Guys." He said he believed that Striegel was "caught up in a bad situation versus something lecherous."
Striegel told the Times he had entered into email correspondence with the 14-year-old, whom he described as one of his "distant relatives," because she was troubled and he wanted to boost her self-esteem by complimenting her. But court documents revealed Striegel often used graphic sexual innuendo in exchanges with the girl.
"After learning more about the affidavit, transcripts and additional details surrounding Steve Striegel's sentence," Black said, "I am deeply disappointed in myself. I apologize to all of those, past and present, I've let down by having Steve around them without giving them a voice in the decision."
"The Predator" was set to debut Thursday night on the opening day of the Toronto International Film Festival, where Black was scheduled to appear post-screening during a question-and-answer session.
