David Schwimmer has come under fire for his alleged claims against Katie (the female capuchin who played Marcel the Monkey), his animal co-star on Friends. Katie’s trainer Mike Morris has finally broken his silence, saying that the statements were not only false, but also “despicable.”
Marcel’s character rose in conversations during the Friends Reunion special when Schwimmer complained that one of his not-so-great moments on set was when Katie missed her mark and was generally messing in timings during takes.
Besides this, the capuchin would eat live grub sitting on Schwimmer’s shoulder and then touch his face with the same unclean hands.
Courtney Cox agreed that the monkey was indeed scary to work with, while Jennifer Anniston justified her experience as being lovely.
In an exclusive interview with The Sun Morris sets the record straight.
Morris admits that he has neither watched the Reunion or the original run of the Friends episodes, mainly due to Schwimmer’s bad reception. Initially, Schwimmer seemed to be doing fine with Katie on set and the first few episodes went on smoothly.
Having an animal do 5-plus episodes on set can be tedious as it is. What didn’t help was that increasingly Schwimmer’s attitude towards Katie was changing. Here’s more of what Morris had to say:
I have never ever watched Friends because of Schwimmer’s comments about the monkeys. I have refused to, ever since he did an interview after the animals got written out of the show and he said they tried to bite him and throw poop at him. They didn’t do any of that. None of it is true, when I was there none of that ever happened. I didn’t speak out back then but I am now. Of course, I didn’t watch the reunion interview but I heard from others what Schwimmer said. I just don’t agree with it, if anything he threw off their timing if we want to be truthful. Schwimmer was fine with the monkeys for the first couple of episodes and happy to be there. But people would laugh at the monkey and I think he got jealous because it wasn’t him getting the laughs.
Mike Morris
Morris blames Schwimmer’s jealousy because the capuchin was getting more attention through her comedic talent, and the fact that 25 years down the line, Swhwimmer continues to complain about it just portrays his bitterness. He adds that no issues were ever raised by Aniston or Matt LeBanc who seemed to get along with Katie during shoots.
Katie was introduced as Marcel the Monkey in Friends’ Season 1, episode 10, a pet companion to keep Ross emotionally supported after his recent divorce from Carol. After some timely laughs, Marcel and Ross both eventually grew out of each other’s needs.
The capuchin’s stay was short, only accounting for appearances in nine episodes – the last one being in Season 2, episode 13.
Schwimmer’s own relationship with Katie might have been tremulous, but Marcel’s role in depicting Ross’ need for a healthy, happy relationship is undeniable.
About F.R.I.E.N.D.S
F.R.I.E.N.D.S is an American television sitcom created by David Crane, and Marta Kauffman which aired on NBC. The ensemble cast includes Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry. The show ran from 1994 to 2004 for ten seasons. A reunion by HBO is currently in the works.
The highly anticipated reunion episode of TV Show Friends will air on HBO max on 27 May. The reunion will cast the main six characters, Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer, Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry.
It follows six friends in New York navigating life and relationships through their 20s and 30s.
Source: Entertain Naver
No Comments on No Monkey Talk, Marcel’s Trainer Responds to David Schwimmer