Yahoo Finance Director responds to mocking Lukas Gage from Euphoria's flat in virtual audition
If you thought you'd had some awkward Zoom moments with your work colleagues, wait until you hear about Lukas Gage from Euphoria's experience.
The actor was partaking in a virtual audition for a new TV or film role, when he overheard the director criticising his apartment when he thought he was on mute. Oh god this will literally make your skin crawl.
Just before he's about to start his performance, Lukas hears the man saying, "These poor people live in these tiny apartments like I’m looking at his, you know, background and he’s got his TV and his, you know..."
Lukas quips back, "I know it’s a shitty apartment. That’s why give me this job so I can get a better one."
The director apologises and says, "Oh my God, I'm so, so sorry. I'm mortified." Gage added, "I’m living in a four-by-four box, it’s fine, just give me the job and we’ll be fine."
Since then, the director has identified himself as Tristram Shapeero, and apologised for the comments made. In a statement made to Deadline, he said:
"Despite what is probably wise advice: to say the least possible and let this pass, I have decided to come forward, take responsibility, make the apology Mr. Gage deserves, and offer some background for my unacceptable and insensitive remarks. I am Tristram Shapeero, a 20-year veteran television director, half in the UK, and the second half here in the US.
"First and foremost I offer Mr. Gage a sincere and unvarnished apology for my offensive words, my unprofessional behavior during the audition and for not giving him the focus and attention he deserved. My job is to evaluate performers against the part I am trying to cast. Lukas deserved better.
"I was using the word ‘poor’ in the sense of deserving sympathy, as opposed to any economic judgment. My words were being spoken from a genuine place of appreciation for what the actors were having to endure, stuck in confined spaces, finding it within themselves to give a role-winning performance under these conditions.
As I say on the video, I’m mortified about what happened. While I can’t put the proverbial toothpaste back in the tube, I move forward from this incident a more empathetic man; a more focused director and I promise, an even better partner to actors from the audition process to the final cut."
The director is known for his work on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Peep Show, Green Wing and I'm Alan Partridge.
Actor Lukas shared the clip on Instagram and Twitter with the caption, "Psa: if you're a shit talking director make sure to mute your mic on Zoom meetings 😝" The video has since been viewed thousands of times, with many fellow actors and celebrities taking to the comments to praise Lukas's response to the critique.
Joe Jonas wrote, "Handled like a champ 👍" while someone else put, "Holy. Shit. I have watched this 182829292 times you are a legend and handled beautifully. Much love and hope you get the next part🙏🏼"
Someone else put, "On behalf of whoever that person was, I’m so sorry, that’s unacceptable. You handled that with total grace. ♥️"
So much respect for Lukas for handling it so well, and here's to hoping the male director has learned to think before he disrespects people like that.
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