In an emotional moment at the red-carpet premiere of "The Predator," director Shane Black took responsibility for casting a registered sex offender in a bit part in the film.
"I made an error in judgment that is irresponsible, you know?" he told the Associated Press. "I am not just a kid who can say, 'Hey, we're making movies in college, put your buddy in the movie.' This is an adult decision with real responsibilities, and I didn't vet somebody."
First reported by the Los Angeles Times last week, 20th Century Fox was about to lock the final print of "The Predator" when studio officials were informed by actress Olivia Munn that Black had cast Steven Wilder Striegel, an old friend (and registered sex offender), in the film.
Originally Black defended his choice to cast Striegel in a small role, playing down the charges of risk of injury to a child and enticing a minor by computer to which Striegel pleaded guilty in 2010. Black said he believed that the actor was "caught up in a bad situation versus something lecherous."
Black quickly issued an apology, stating that he had been misled by his friend regarding the charges.
"I believe strongly in giving people second chances," he said, "but sometimes you discover that chance is not as warranted as you may have hoped."
For Munn, who brought the matter to light, the ensuing uproar was difficult to weather.
"I felt the support from online and the news," Munn said during an interview Saturday at The Times' studio at the Toronto International Film Festival. "Everybody was very encouraging and made me feel really good, but it was a very lonely, lonely time for me that day."
Black told "Entertainment Tonight" that he had since reached out to Munn to apologize.
"I felt that I owed her that call, that apology and I'm very sorry for any pain that she's felt, but I reached out privately," the "Lethal Weapon" creator said.
For her part, Munn told "ET" that her publicist informed her that Black had reached out but they had yet to speak.
In a story published Thursday, the young woman victimized by Striegel spoke to The Times about the controversy and her appreciation of Munn's advocacy.
