A TikTok user is receiving online backlash for pranking the cast of Kingdom Of The Planet Of The Apes at the movieâs premiere.
Easton Simpson deliberately mumbled his words while interviewing the filmâs lead actors Owen Teague and Freya Allan, making it difficult for them to understand and answer.
The repeated mumbled questions led to Teague eventually realising he was set up and walking away, and caused Allen to joke that the prank was âevilâ.
When speaking to Teague, Simpson started asking: âActing in this movie, itâs a little different because youâre not playing a human. Was there any part during the filming,â before mumbling the rest of the sentence.
Teague asked for the question to be clarified several times to no avail, before resorting to making ape noises into the microphone and walking away.
The Witcherâs Allan apologised to Simpson as she asked him to repeat his question multiple times, leaned in closer, and turned to her publicist for help, before realising it was a setup.
@es.imps Mumbling to the cast of #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes
@20th Century Studios movie out May 10th #mumble #hollywood #redcarpet
@es.imps Mumbling to Freya Allan before the #KingdomOfThePlanetOfTheApes movie premiere
@20th Century Studios #mumble #hollywood #redcarpet
âThat was goddamn evil, Iâm not gonna forgive you for that,â she said. âIâm anxious enough as it is. Thatâs not allowed. Iâm never saying hello to you again!â
According to The Independent, some social media users have criticised Simpson for the interviews, with one person writing: âThis is so irritating. There are people who take this seriously and would be honoured to interview people like him but instead, this guy gets the job and makes it a mockery and doesnât take it seriously at all.â
Another wrote: âHorrible, disrespectful. Good journalists from all over the world would do anything for this experience.â
Simpsonâs fans showed their support for Teagueâs reaction in the comments of the videos, with one user writing: âThat was THE BEST way to respond to that. Once he knew you were messing he just returned the energyâ.
Another wrote: âThe marketing worked, Iâm going to see it,â to which Simpson replied: âLet me know how it isâ.
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