By Erin Free
Though famed as a big screen hardman with an off-screen penchant for laidback interests like Buddhism, blues, and the environment, according to one co-star, Steven Seagal’s tough guy mean streak isn’t just confined to his movie roles. As relayed by John Leguizamo (occasional stand-up comedian and cheeky big-mouth of renown), Steven Seagal walked onto the set of their 1996 action flick, Executive Decision, and instantly informed the cast and crew that he was the shoot’s alpha male, despite only having a supporting role. “I’m in command,” the actor announced. “Everything that I say is law. Anybody doesn’t agree?” When the ever-sassy Leguizamo let out a big laugh in response, the diminutive actor quickly felt the wrath of Steven Seagal.
“I started cracking up because he sounded like a retard,” Leguizamo – who lampooned Seagal and many other actors in his 2011 stand-up show, Ghetto Klown – said on QTV. “Then he Taekwondo’ed my ass against a brick wall and hit me with his elbow. He’s six-foot-five, and he caught me off guard. He knocked all of the air out of me, and I was like, ‘Why?!’ I really wanted to say how big and fat he was, and that he runs like a girl, but I didn’t, because all I could say was, ‘Why?!’ Why’d he slam me against the wall? We were rehearsing. Why can’t I call him names? If I can’t let it out, it’s going to build like a cancer. His publicist told my publicist that he wants to punch me out. I better stop talking about him.”