Bill Murray found himself at the center of controversy this week after two separate incidents—one involving a confrontation with a fan and another with an unscripted kiss toward co-star Naomi Watts—went viral.
The first occurred at New York City’s AMC Lincoln Square theater, where the 74-year-old Ghostbusters star was attending a Q&A for his new film The Friend. In a TikTok clip posted Wednesday, Murray is seen walking through the lobby when a fan appears to bump into him while holding a phone. Murray immediately turned and pointed at the individual, shouting, “You attack me like that again, I’ll step on your foot!” He then accused the fan of “physical assault” as a security guard intervened. The fan apologized repeatedly while Murray walked away, warning, “Don’t do it again!”
Later, during the Q&A session for The Friend—an adaptation of Sigrid Nunez’s award-winning novel, in which Murray plays a grieving mentor—the actor stirred more headlines. When Watts, 55, was asked about her best on-screen kiss, Murray suddenly grabbed her face and kissed her before she could answer. Watts appeared stunned, covering her face and laughing nervously before quipping, “You’ve got lipstick on your face.” She then asked the audience, “Did I go red?” as Murray grinned and gave a thumbs-up to the camera.
The moment drew swift backlash online, with critics calling it “horrifying” and “disrespectful.” One X/Twitter user wrote, “How gross and horrifying,” while another criticized the event’s host for praising the moment. Watts, who is married to actor Billy Crudup, later revealed that her favorite career kiss was with her husband.
Murray, who previously starred with Watts in St. Vincent (2014), has yet to comment on either incident. The events have reignited discussions about celebrity boundaries, both with fans and colleagues.
