Lethal Weapon has become a key part of Fox's primetime lineup for many fans over the past two seasons, and all signs seemed pointing toward a renewal for a third season sooner rather than later. Unfortunately, reports surfaced only yesterday claiming that star Clayne Crawford's behavior on set put the future of the series in jeopardy. Now, Crawford himself has come out to address the allegations on social media, sharing this message:
If anybody had expected a volatile or angry response from Clayne Crawford after the allegations made headlines on April 23, they might have been shocked by what Crawford posted on his Instagram account. His response was frank and measured as he addressed the specific issues raised against him, and he even apologized for not addressing the issue earlier.
Reports of the behind-the-scenes issues referenced instances of Clayne Crawford being disciplined for his behavior. Crawford didn't deny these instances in his post, but he did elaborate on the context of the situations. According to his social media statement, he satisfied what was asked of him after the first reprimand and he takes full responsibility for the safety issue that led to the second reprimand when he was directing an episode.
Furthermore, Crawford went on to apologize if he unintentionally made anybody uncomfortable at Lethal Weapon and acknowledge that Lethal Weapon isn't receiving the most positive attention due to the allegations against him. His reveal that he "would never intentionally jeopardize so many jobs" indicates that he's very aware that Lethal Weapon is far more than just a starring vehicle for his character.
Sure, the show may be about Riggs and Murtaugh (Damon Wayans), but it's filled with an ensemble of other actors, not to mention all the members of the crew who make the TV magic happen. For everybody's sake, we have to hope that Lethal Weapon doesn't get the axe due to the allegations against Clayne Crawford.
If Clayne Crawford's explanation via social media isn't enough to offset the negativity surrounding the show after the allegations of misbehavior, there is the possibility that the show will recast the role of Martin Riggs. That said, it's difficult to imagine somebody else tackling the role after two seasons with Crawford. It should be interesting to see how the situation continues to unfold. Crawford clearly hopes to stay with the show.
You can catch new episodes of Lethal Weapon on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. No decision has been made just yet on the show's future, but other shows have had their fates decided. You can find them on our rundown of network TV renewals and cancellations. For what you'll be able to watch once the 2017-2018 TV season has come to an end, check out our summer TV premiere schedule and our 2018 Netflix premiere guide.
