Bam Margera (L); Johnny Knoxville.Photo: getty (2)
Johnny Knoxvilleis reflecting on his formerJackasscostarBam Margera’s absence from the franchise’s upcoming fourth full-length feature,Jackass Forever.
The 50-year-old actor recently opened up toVarietyin an interview surrounding the film’s upcoming release, saying that the cast and crew “wanted” Margera, 42, to appear “all throughout the movie, but unfortunately that’s not the way it worked out.”
Knoxville and Margera are currently embroiled in a legal battle, afterthe latter sued Knoxville and othersback in August for what he alleged was a wrongful firing fromJackass Forever. (A Paramount representative declined to comment on the lawsuit toVariety, and the publication could not reach Margera for comment.)
“It’s really heartbreaking,” Knoxville toldVarietyof Margera’s absence from the film in all but one stunt. “I love Bam. We all love Bam. He’s our brother, you know? You just hope that he takes it upon himself to get the help that he needs, because we all care about him a lot.”
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Johnny Knoxville and Bam Margera.KMazur/WireImage
The star was fired from the franchise in 2020 after testing positive for Adderall, a supposed violation of his “wellness agreement,” which he signed with the film’s producers.
Margera, who has struggled with substance abuse and beenin and out of rehab in the past, alleged in his lawsuit that Jonze, 52, Tremaine and Knoxville “accosted him and coerced him into signing a draconian ‘Wellness Agreement.’ " If he didn’t, he claimed, they told him he would be cut from all futureJackassprojects.
“Because he’s in such a way that anything’s possible,” he explained. “So, something will break your heart — but it might not shock you.”
RELATED VIDEO: Bam Margera Sues Johnny Knoxville OverJackass ForeverFiring, Alleges “Inhumane” Treatment
In May — the same month Margera posted an Instagram video claiming Knoxville and Tremaine “betrayed” him — Knoxville toldGQthat the death ofJackasscast memberRyan Dunn, who died in 2011 in a drunk-driving accident, was “heartbreaking” and served as an impetus to help his friends who were struggling with addictions.
“I think each of us was responsible for his own actions and when someone’s struggling, everyone tries to help that person. And at the end of the day, that person has to want help. Sometimes they don’t. Yet,” he said in part.
As for whether he was speaking about Margera, Knoxville said, “We want Bam to be happy and healthyand get the help heneeds. We tried to push that along. I think that’s all I really want to say about it.”
“I don’t want to get into [a] public back-and-forth with Bam,” he added. “I just want him to get better.”
Jackass Foreveris in theaters Feb. 4.
If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction, please contact the SAMHSA substance abuse helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
