George Takei Talks ‘Star Trek’ Costar William Shatner, Doesn’t Need to Forgive Him

George Takei and William Shatner starred together in Star Trek, but the two haven’t gotten along in years. For the first time since their rift, George Takei is speaking out about the supposed fe...
George Takei Talks ‘Star Trek’ Costar William Shatner, Doesn’t Need to Forgive Him
Written by Kimberly Ripley
  • George Takei and William Shatner starred together in Star Trek, but the two haven’t gotten along in years. For the first time since their rift, George Takei is speaking out about the supposed feud, saying it is over.

    Takei claims William Shatner uses their non-friendship for publicity purposes.

    “It’s not tension, it’s all coming from Bill,” the 78-year-old said in a recent interview with The New York Times Magazine. “Whenever he needs a little publicity for a project, he pumps up the so-called controversy between us.”

    William Shatner made waves in 2008, saying he wasn’t invited to George Takei’s wedding. Takei begs to differ.

    “Two months after my wedding, he went on YouTube and ranted and raved about our not sending him an invitation,” George Takei said. “We had. If he had an issue, he could have easily just phoned us before the wedding, simple as that. But he didn’t. And the reason he raised that fuss two months later is because he was premiering his new talk show Raw Nerve.”

    Takei says Shatner, known for his role as Captain James Kirk, is a great actor, but not a team player.

    “It’s difficult working with someone who is not a team player,” he said. “The rest of the cast all understand what makes a scene work–it’s everybody contributing to it. But Bill is a wonderful actor, and he knows it, and he likes to have the camera on him all the time.”

    Any feud between William Shatner and George Takei is over–at least according to George Takei.

    “I don’t need to forgive him,” Takei said. “I’ve already invited him to the opening night of Allegiance.”

    George Takei is presently working on the Broadway musical.

    Do you think William Shatner will accept the invitation?

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