Director offers 'sincere, unvarnished apology' after insulting ‘Euphoria’ star on unmuted Zoom call

This sounds like something out of a coming-of-age movie about an actor moving to Hollywood and trying to make it big. Except in the case of Euphoria (stream now on Crave) star Lukas Gage and during the current pandemic times of virtual auditions, this tale is every bit as real as it is horrifying.Last week, the 25-year-old actor shared a video of a recent Zoom audition, in which an unnamed director didn’t realize he was unmuted. “These poor people live in these tiny apartments. Like I’m looking at his, you know, background and he’s got his TV,” the man said, not knowing that Gage could hear him. “Oof. Yeah, unmuted,” Gage responded with a smile, “I know it’s a shitty apartment, that’s why gimme this job, so I can get a better one. All right, ready?”

psa if youre a shit talking director make sure to mute ur shit on zoom mtgings pic.twitter.com/PTgMZcRhEw

— lukas gage (@lukasgage) November 20, 2020

The director immediately apologized and admitted he was mortified, but after Gage shared the snippet and it went viral (more than 9.5 million views at time of press), television director Tristram Shapeero took responsibility with a full-on apology in Deadline. “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,” Shapeero wrote.“First and foremost I offer Mr. Gage a sincere and unvarnished apology for my offensive words, my unprofessional behaviour 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,” he continued. “This Zoom audition took place in August, after four months of lockdown. A number of my co-workers were also on the auditions which happened over several days. It was emotional to see actors work so hard to win the few parts available and we were deeply moved by the passion of these young people under the extraordinary circumstances.”[video_embed id='2058927']RELATED: Zendaya shares two special episodes of ‘Euphoria’ are coming [/video_embed]The English director, who has helmed many episodes of television over his career and has worked on series like Superstore, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Community, then clarified what he meant by his “poor” comments. “I was using the word ‘poor’ in the sense of deserving sympathy, as opposed to any economic judgment,” he wrote. “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.”The man then promised to do better in the future and to learn from his mistake. “As I say on the video, I’m mortified about what happened,” he said. “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.”While future fallout from Shapeero’s words and subsequent apology remains to be seen, one thing is for sure: Hollywood is 100 per cent behind Gage, his decision to post the clip, and his cute apartment.

Your apartment is a perfectly nice apartment. Your tv is a perfectly nice tv. More than a lot of people have right now. You handled it with grace and by the looks of it, you’ll have plenty of people rooting for your success. Stay gold.

— Julie Plec (@julieplec) November 21, 2020

Agreed! That is NOT a shitty apartment. Not that it should matter for the audition anyway. Sorry, you had to take that in—before an audition, no less.

— Rhea Seehorn (@rheaseehorn) November 20, 2020

I put a quilt over my TV and stack my computer on #Prince re-releases. @lukasgage U doin just fine. ??? ???? pic.twitter.com/tUOUCi2sqe

— loripetty (@loripetty) November 21, 2020

Bro you could not have handled this better

— Ike Barinholtz (@ikebarinholtz) November 21, 2020

As a young man I would have dreamed of an apartment like this one. Look at that sweet flat screen! The guitar! The moldings! https://t.co/cAEGxLy03G

— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) November 21, 2020

Thank for you for posting this. We are all with you! You’re a class act and from the way you responded to this must be a joy to work with. Your apt looks pretty great to me and honestly, f that dude, he doesn’t deserve to work with someone like you

— Jenna Ushkowitz (@JennaUshkowitz) November 21, 2020

Apologies to Lukas Gage pic.twitter.com/yIq1wh4Ysm

— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) November 22, 2020

Well done for handling that patronising British twerp with such good grace. ?

— Hugh Bonneville (@hughbon) November 21, 2020

Since @lukasgage is going viral on film twitter for being the graceful, quick-thinking sweetheart he is, I’d like to add for any (non-asshole) director’s looking that he’s also a delight to work with, funny, talented and a blast on set. Hire this man! https://t.co/Sjai5jqury

— Zelda Williams (@zeldawilliams) November 21, 2020

Thank u @lukasgage for posting this. Actors have to walk out on the plank and be open and vulnerable in an audition and too often the people on the other side have 0 regard for what that takes and how personal it is. fuck 'em. (also that room is nice & u handled that v well) https://t.co/7ZeVhuW3lF

— Kevin McHale (@druidDUDE) November 21, 2020

Judging by all of the support, Gage might be able to afford himself an even nicer apartment in the near future if he chooses. For now, the actor seems to be doing just fine for himself. In addition to his recurring role on Euphoria, which is expected to begin filming its second season early next year, Gage is currently shooting The White Lotus, AKA the upcoming mini-series from HBO starring Connie Britton. The eight-episode project revolves around the guests and employees at a tropical resort during a one-week stay. Steve Zahn (Treme), Jennifer Coolidge (2 Broke Girls) and Gage’s fellow Euphoria actor, Sydney Sweeney, also star.[video_embed id='2083081']BEFORE YOU GO: Janet Hubert confronts Will Smith, saying his words caused her to ‘lose everything’ [/video_embed]