UPDATED: The Feud Between 'Lethal Weapon' Co-Stars Damon Wayans and Clayne Crawford Is Getting Ugly

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 15, 2018 |

By Dustin Rowles | TV | May 15, 2018 |

OK, maybe it was just the on-set incident with Damon Wayans during Clayne Crawford’s stint as director on the series that resulted in Crawford’s firing? Or maybe Damon Wayans just really hates Crawford?

There’s been some suggestion that no one on the set of Lethal Weapon would continue working on the series with Crawford, and there were no scenarios, apparently, in which Fox would renew the well-rated series with Crawford still attached, but the whole dispute seems to revolve largely around one incident in which Wayans felt “unsafe because a piece of shrapnel from an effect hit him,” according to Crawford’s apology. That incident led to Wayans going home and returning the next day with new conditions for shooting, including not running down stairs or holding a gun. Those conditions, in turn, led to Crawford “using strong words to tell Wayans how he felt about him.”

After Lethal Weapon was officially renewed, Wayans — who had taken some abuse from viewers who blamed Wayans and Fox for Crawford’s departure — took to Twitter and posted more about the incident, before the tweets were deleted and his account was turned private. However, The Hollywood Reporter took screenshots of the tweet:

OK, what is the suggestion here? That Crawford is a bad director? Or that there was something more nefarious? Is Wayans intimating that this was intentional? Or reckless? Or that Crawford was the second shooter? Whatever it is, Wayans seems to be really pissed about it, and likely pissed enough to get Crawford fired over it.

Meanwhile, Crawford’s co-stars are vouching for him on Twitter.

pic.twitter.com/DDOioj4RQu

— Hilarie Burton (@HilarieBurton) May 12, 2018

Clayne is a passionate, talented & caring artist. One of my fondest memories in my entire acting career is playing his father in the Sundance series @Rectify for 4 seasons as well as becoming friends. I look forward to hopefully work with @ClayneCrawford again…if I get lucky. https://t.co/fIFcRmFdrh

— Bruce McKinnon (@Bruce_McKinnon) May 12, 2018

@ClayneCrawford If antidotal experience can hurt a career, maybe it can save it. My experience was a pleasure, it was professional & nothing but good vibes happened during my episode of Lethal Weapon. How many good reviews of Clayne’s behavior on set do we need? #allfacts

— Kurt Yaeger (@kurtyaeger) May 13, 2018

One of the best experiences I have had was doing Lethal Weapon. Everyone in the cast and crew as awesome, but it was @ClayneCrawford that made it really special for me. I cant wait until we can work together again! pic.twitter.com/JtQ4dUMqW9

— Teo Briones (@TheTeoBriones) May 13, 2018

Thank you @ClayneCrawford for continuing to be as kind, generous, and fatherly as anyone our son has ever worked with. You have taken Duncan under your wing, taught him about filmmaking, and been a true mentor. Now if I could just get him to stop shooting me with the nerf gun! pic.twitter.com/1xE7OZRtzT

— Andrew Joiner (@AndrewJJoiner) May 13, 2018

I don’t know if it is ass-saving PR, or if it is genuine, but Crawford is putting a hell of a good face on all of his.

Updated: USA Today also had this tweet, in which Wayans remarked: Since Warner Brothers TV is not defending me at all, here’s another photo of images other people were posting in and around the lot. Not me! He became UNINSURABLE. Relished in making females cry. And struck fear in cast and crew. #dontblameme