Jackass cast's biggest feuds – film bust up, contract argument and bitter lawsuit

The final instalment in the Hollywood Jackass franchise, Jackass Forever, hits cinema screens today (February 4).

Since launching onto MTV in 2000, the Jackass cast have become known around the world for their hilarious and death-defying stunts, as well as their horrific accidents while making the series.

After multiple series and three blockbuster films, Jackass Forever marks the final chapter in the popular franchise – but getting it to the big screen has not been easy.

Not only were Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O reportedly hospitalised days into filming, but the cast also had a number of feuds while making Jackass Forever, including contract arguments and firings.

Contract feud

Jackass cast members including Johnny Knoxville and Steve-O have reunited for the final film in the comedy franchise, but Steve-O has revealed that he was surprised another film was being made.

Jackass Forever is being released 10 years after the last film, and Steve-O said he was delighted to be back working with the cast after such a long time.

However, in an interview with Variety Magazine, he also admitted that the way he handled negotiations around a pay rise in his contract for the final instalment of the franchise caused a rift between him and Johnny Knoxville for a period of time.

However, he took responsibility for his actions, saying: “I could have gone about it a lot more smoothly, and I didn’t.”

He added: “I blurted sh*t out during interviews that was counterproductive, so that’s what really p****d off Knoxville. We had a little rift, you know?”

Despite the rift between Steve-O and Johnny Knoxville during the contract negotiations, Steve-O soon agreed to be in the film and the feud was soon forgotten about when the cast went on set to make Jackass Forever.

Steve-O said: “As soon as we’ve gotten together in one place, there’s this unbelievable magical chemistry.

“It was not different this time. It felt more noticeable this time because I had really tried to put up that fight in the contracts.”

Film bust up

Speaking ahead of the release of Jackass Forever, original Jackass star Bam Margera lashed out at Johnny Knoxville and franchise director Jeff Tremaine on social media following his removal from the film.

It had previously been reported that Bam had been removed from the film’s production, after failing to follow through with his contract-mandated rehab.

In his Instagram post, Bam said that Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine “betrayed me, abandoned me, rejected me” and “strung me along like a f***ing puppet.”

However, fellow Jackass star Steve-O, who has publicly battled drug addiction himself, replied to the post saying: “Bam— the two people you’re saying wronged you (Knoxville and Tremaine) are the same two people who organised the intervention which saved my life.

“Everyone bent over backwards to get you in the movie, and all you had to do was not get loaded.

“You’ve continued to get loaded, it’s that simple. We all love you every bit as much as we all say we do, but nobody who really loves you can enable or encourage you to stay sick.”

Johnny Knoxville also spoke out following the online feud in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, saying that he wanted Bam to ‘get healthy’ again.

He said: “We want Bam to be happy and healthy and get the help he needs.. We tried to push that along. I think that’s all I really want to say about it.”

Bam Margera also spoke about being removed from the film, telling GQ Magazine: “It hurts my heart because I’ve waited 10 years for this.”

Lawsuit

The feud between Bam Margera, Johnny Knoxville and Jeff Tremaine escalated in 2021 when Bam Margera filed a lawsuit to sue them, as well as Paramount Pictures and MTV.

Deadline reported that Bam Margera filed the 39-page lawsuit, stating that he had received “inhumane, abusive and discriminatory treatment,” and was seeking millions of dollars in damages for his firing from the film.

The star later said in a statement: “I am p****d-off, angry, hurt, and shattered that Johnny, Jeff, Spike and the studios and producers ripped off my creativity, content and stunts to make this movie, fired me without justification and refuse to pay for my work.

“I created this franchise before any of these guys ever got involved.”

However, The Wrap later reported in October 2021 that Paramount said “enough is enough” and that the lawsuit was “baseless.”

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk