Frank Darabont takes aim at the "sociopaths" who fired him from The Walking Dead, Pilates instructors
Frank Darabont was booted from The Walking Dead in 2011, banished to live outside its walls for stabbing the show’s budget in the head and setting it aflame—metaphorically speaking. And while he’s since exacted revenge in relatively minor ways, such as more or less spoiling the end of its second season with a casting announcement for his new series, TNT’s Mob City, he’s become increasingly vindictive about the decision as the press junket for that series rolls on and inevitable Walking Dead questions roll out. First came an interview with The New York Times, in which Darabont opted for a more serene, diplomatic response:
“Suffice to say, there was some conflict that couldn't be resolved. … I try to avoid that sort of aggravation in my life. It's simply better for my spirit and my state of mind. I've always believed more in taking the high road than the low."
But, as so many Walking Dead characters learn, you can only avoid aggravation and ignore the rotting, clawing ugliness outside for so long. So, by the time he got to Rolling Stone, Darabont had this to say:
“[F]or the same reason that if the woman that I loved left me for the Pilates instructor and they sent me an invitation to their wedding, for the same reason I wouldn't go to the wedding, I haven't seen an episode of The Walking Dead since then…. I had to take some time off after that to really reassess everything, to really get over the emotional devastation of having some truly malevolent people tear asunder a brilliant family that had gathered to create this hit for them. It was a very, very deep and loving family, the cast and the crew, and to have that torn apart was — when somebody throws a hand-grenade into that situation, it's tremendously emotionally trying. So would I want to watch another episode of The Walking Dead after that? Are you fucking kidding me? No, you put that traumatic disappointment behind you and move on with your life.”
And now, with a new Variety interview, all the walls have finally broken down, and Darabont has come face to face with his deeply ingrained disgust with AMC—and, apparently, Pilates instructors:
“If the woman you loved with all your heart left you for the Pilates instructor and just sent you an invitation to the wedding, would you go? … There’s a deep commitment and emotional investment that happens when you create something that is very near and dear to you, and when that is torn asunder by sociopaths who don’t give a shit about your feelings or the feelings of your cast and crew because they have their own reasons to screw everybody, that doesn’t feel good.”
Although to be fair, maybe the Pilates instructor just has a better sense of rhythm?