Oscar-winning acting legend horrifies with ‘disgusting’ onstage outburst

Actor Richard Dreyfuss walked on stage in a dress to present a screening of his best-loved films – and things just got weirder from there.

Veteran actor Richard Dreyfuss walked on stage wearing a dress over his outfit for a screening of his classic film Jaws over the weekend – and things just got weirder from there, as he went on a rant denounced by those in attendance as sexist, homophobic and transphobic.

Dreyfuss, 76, was at the Cabot theatre in Beverly, Massachusetts, to introduce a screening of Steven Spielberg’s 1975 film.

But Drefyuss’ bizarre actions during his time on stage have led the venue to offer a public apology to those present, saying they “deeply regret the distress caused”.

Dreyfuss walked on stage wearing a patterned dress, which two stagehands soon rushed to help him out of.

In eyewitness accounts of the event posted to social media, attendees claim that Dreyfuss referred to Barbra Streisand, who produced and co-starred in the 1987 film Nuts with him, was a “genius” – but that women “are so passive, that’s why the movie sucked.”

Spielberg also copped a spray, with Dreyfuss allegedly calling him both a “genius” and an “idiot”.

Dreyfuss also allegedly made disparaging comments about the MeToo movement and about transgender people.

Dreyfuss was there to talk about his work in Jaws (pictured)...

...instead he came on stage in a dress and offended many attendees.

It appears the crowd was not on his side: Variety reports that dozens of people walked out of the screening.

“Jesus Christ what an explosion,” one person in attendance relayed of the event. “Crowd was shouting at him and most walked out before the movie even started. Talk about the movie a**hole.”

Another person wrote on Facebook that they left the Q&A after 20 minutes. “Should have been fun, but what a disappointment. Dreyfus is a pathetic clown and an intolerant jerk. Sad.”

One eyewitness account circulating on social media.

The cinema sent this apology email to those in attendance.

“This was disgusting,” another attendee fumed on the venue’s Facebook page. “How could the Cabot not have vetted his act better. Apparently (I found out too late), he has a reputation for spewing this kind of racist, homophobic, misogynistic bullcrap.”

The Cabot theatre later sent an email to those present at the screening, writing: “We are aware of, and share serious concerns, following the recent event with Richard Dreyfuss prior to a screening of the film Jaws at The Cabot. The views expressed by Mr. Dreyfuss do not reflect the values of inclusivity and respect that we uphold as an organisation. We deeply regret the distress that this has caused to many of our patrons.”

Amid all this, another person on social media shared their own encounter with Dreyfuss from five years ago.

“Okay so we saw him do a pre-show talk in 2019 and holy s**t it went off the rails, too. He talked for at least 3 hours too long. It was WEIRD,” they wrote, alongside a photo of them with the star.

Dreyfuss has been a prolific actor since the late 60s, winning an Academy Award for Best Actor in 1997 for his role in The Goodbye Girl. He was nominated for another Best Actor Oscar in 1995 for Mr Holland’s Opus.