Lohan's "Canyons" co-star defends her behavior
Following a less-than-positive New York Times piece about the troubled production of The Canyons, star James Deen sat down with The Daily Beast to give his take on the expedited shoot.
VIDEO - Watch a Clip From The Canyons
"I thought the whole experience was really fantastic," Deen tells The Daily Beast's Marlow Stern. "Right now, there's audio circulating of her cursing me out on set. That came out the day after the Times article came out painting her as unprofessional, and I think [the audio] was released by her camp to try and make her look good."
Deen adds context, "Two hours before that, I told her I was doing this film for my own self-gratification -- as something exciting and new -- and I think she took it the wrong way, as an affront to her profession and as I was just there to hang out. But that whole situation was defused by her taking a time-out and me talking to her and explaining what I meant."
VIDEO - On The Set of The Canyons
While he admits that most of the article is accurate, Deen describes the piece as "Accurate events reflected in the mirror and then retold for dramatic effect." To prove his point, Deen cites one passage that claims he was lonely throughout the shoot as none of his friends came to visit. He says, "I just feel it's unprofessional to invite your friends to 'the office.' If I'm working at McDonald's, I don't invite my friends over to watch me flip burgers."
Deen also has a unique take on Lohan's oft-criticized behavior, saying, "She's a child star who's been living in this fame world being chased by paparazzi. I tried to consider that in every interaction with her, so when she speaks, what could be construed as an insult by some was not necessarily intended to be an insult."
"People treat actors like these fragile, delicate creatures, and you've got to remember that for the past 10 years, Lindsay could not go to Starbucks. She was raised in the Hollywood system, so she's used to a certain level of treatment. Instead of saying, 'Excuse me, could you please pass me the water?' She's used to saying, 'I need water,' and then someone just giving her water. She's been conditioned to say what she needs and then someone will bring it to her, so I can see why people would consider her to be a train wreck or a bitch or whatever, but her intentions are fine."
For of Deen's interview with The Daily Beast, click here.