KEVIN SMITH OPENS UP ABOUT BRUCE WILLIS AT WONDERCON 2022

Photo: Jimmy Leszczynski

During his 'The Panel with Kevin Smith' panel at WonderCon 2022 pop culture icon Kevin Smith got more than a little emotional. Billed as ‘the world’s worst Kevin Smith salesman tries to sell you on Kevin Smith as a person, podcaster, pop culture commentator, writer, director, and general nuisance!’, the panel ultimately turned out to be much more. Smith began in a light-hearted fashion telling the crowd that if anyone even thinks about coming up and striking him, that would “bring me to tears, I cannot take a hit.” As it turns out Smith’s tears, as well as the crowd’s, would flow in spite of an assault.

For almost an hour Smith vamped and entertained the crowd by answering Q & As, sharing funny stories, giving advice, and reflecting on the reason he loved superheroes. However, a hush fell over the crowd as the final attendee in the question line asked him to speak on Bruce Willis given the recent public announcement that the beloved action star is suffering from aphasia.

photo: Jimmy Leszczynski

In the past, Smith had not been shy about his experiences with Willis on the set of Cop Out. The two “butted heads” did not get along for the duration of the shoot. In a recent tweet, Smith commented on the news of Willis’ affliction, but this was the first time that he addressed it in front of an audience.

Long before any of the Cop Out stuff, I was a big Bruce Willis fan - so this is really heartbreaking to read. He loved to act and sing and the loss of that has to be devastating for him. I feel like an asshole for my petty complaints from 2010. So sorry to BW and his family. https://t.co/npSgvkb5v7

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) March 30, 2022

Stories of the two icons not getting along on set had circulated and Smith did not hold back when addressing the stories and that was the way it had been for years. “Then you get older, and shit just becomes water under the bridge. There was a time in my life when Cop Out was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Then I grew up, and stopped bitching. Then we found out recently- just this week - that Bruce is suffering from aphasia” Instantly all the strife, and all the friction and all the grudge that Smith had been holding onto, he hadn’t watched Die Hard in years, all of a sudden just slipped away. “Because aphasia is pretty dang cruel.”

As a journalist, and lifelong Bruce Willis fan, this was a tough one to write up. No other celebrity has touched my life, through almost every stage of it. I felt every tear that Smith shed, and in recalling his poignant response, I felt them again. You can dig the video posted on Retro Cool Nerd below, and my full write-up for Bleeding Cool here. The question begins at 3:41, and Smith gets emotional as he reflects on his relationship with Willis. Teary-eyed is an understatement.