Simon Pegg left attendees at a London Literary Festival event stunned after firing off a four-letter expletive at a fan who tried to encourage him to break the rules of the Hollywood actors strike.
The actor, comedian and screenwriter, 53, was hosting a Q&A for friend and collaborator Nick Frost's new book A Slice Of Fried Gold: Taste My Memories, at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday.
During it, he advised the audience that “due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Nick won't be able to answer any questions regarding his film and television work”.
Members of the Screen Actor’s Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) have been campaigning for better pay and other improvements since July 14.
Actors are now calling for an 11 per cent pay rise, among other demands linked to the use of AI and streaming. The move has seen Hollywood all but ground to a halt, with no end currently in sight.
Seemingly taking no notice of Pegg’s statement, however, a woman then shouted out: “Hot Fuzz 2!” in reference to the longed-for sequel to Pegg and Frost's 2007 hit comedy action film Hot Fuzz.
This did not sit well with Pegg, who responded: “F*** you! What did I just say?”
A member of the audience told the Daily Mail's Eden Confidential: “It was a bit uncalled for. We know he has to take the strikes seriously, but there was no need for him to use such an expletive at that poor fan.”
The Standard has contacted a representative for Simon Pegg for comment.
