George Lazenbywho played 007 in the 1969 movie About Her Majesty’s Secret Service, appeared as part of an Australian tour called The Music of James Bond until his “unacceptable” jokes kicked him out. No recording has been released of the incident that took place on September 9, 2022 in Perth, Australia, but attendees reported what happened at the theater. An audience member said:
“He spent the entire interview talking about his sexual conquests, he swore, he certainly wasn’t talking about his Bond films, he downplayed the Queen, a day after she died. He mentioned women he’d slept with, and there were kids in the audience, and a lot of families who probably took their kids to their first classical music concert.”
“I am sorry and it hurts to hear that my stories in Perth on Saturday offended some people. It was never my intention to make hurtful or homophobic remarks, and I am truly sorry if my stories that I have often shared, such as in the documentary BECOMING BOND, were interpreted that way. I personally have friends close to me who are gay, and I would never want to offend anyone. Being surrounded by strong women all my life, I have always admired and respected women and their wishes.
“I think my real achievements in my life are my children, when my daughter Melanie recently got married I was so proud. Just like my other children, Jennifer – who made me a great grandfather. My younger children are doing well, George Jr and my twins, Samuel and Kaitlin. Now that I’m in my 80s, family and friends are of course the most important to me.”
George Lazenby is dropped from the Tour
Theater producer Concertworks said it was “extremely saddened and disappointed” by Lazenby’s “language, comments and memories” during Saturday’s show in Perth. Aaron Kernaghan, the company’s attorney, said:
“These were his personal views and there is no excuse for that in today’s society. They do not reflect the views of Concertworks. In the meantime, it has “chosen to end its relationship with Mr Lazenby” and has begun “a thorough investigation of the matter”.
Lazenby, who played the role of the British secret agent only once, has since been pulled from the final leg of the national concert tour, which was intended as a tribute to the film franchise.