John Leguizamos says Seagal is a “horrible human”

https://www.insider.com/john-leguizamo-calls-steven-seagal-washed-up-horrible-human-2022-11

John Leguizamo has reignited what seems like a decade-long feud with his former costar, Steven Seagal.

While promoting his new film "The Menu," Leguizamo told Entertainment Weekly's Clark Collis in an interview published Saturday that he based his character in the film on Seagal. The pair initially met almost three decades ago on the set of "Executive Decision," a 1996 action movie that saw Leguizamo, 62, play a sergeant and Seagal, 70, play a colonel, according to IMDB.

But the experience isn't one Leguizamo appears to look back to fondly. When asked how he prepared to play his character in "The Menu," an actor in the twilight of his career, Leguizamo pointed to Seagal.

"I've met lots of these stars like that, maybe before they were washed up," he said. "I kind of based mine on Steven Seagal. I had a bad run-in with him. We did a movie together. It was Executive Decision. He's kind of a horrible human.”

Representatives for Seagal did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

The "Encanto" star has opened up about what he really thinks of Seagal several times over the past decade, including in his award-winning solo Broadway play "Ghetto Klown," which originally opened in New York City in 2011.

Speaking to the AV Club in 2012 about the play and his problem with Seagal, Leguizamo said that their beef began on the first day of rehearsal for "Executive Decision."

"He came in and was like, [low, breathy voice] 'I'm in command. What I say is law.' So I started, like, [snorts]. I mean, who the fuck talks like that? Who comes into rehearsal and says that shit? So I started laughing and he slammed me with an aikido elbow against a brick wall and knocked all the air out of me," he said. According to Leguizamo, he dropped to the ground gasping for breath and asking why.

He added that later on in the filming schedule, he would turn up early on days where Seagal's death scenes were shot on purpose. "I wanted to see him die. It was like a fantasy," Leguizamo added.

In 2014, Leguizamo brought up the incident again during an interview with the Los Angeles Times where he said he was respectful to all the celebrities he mentions in his play – except for Seagal.

"I'm not really attacking anybody in the whole show, except Steven Seagal," he said.