‘Star Trek’ Icon William Shatner Says He Has “Run Out Of Patience” For George Takei: “Why Give Credence To People Consumed By Envy And Hate?”

William Shatner Reviews Impressions of Himself via Vanity Fair YouTube / George Takei appears on BBC Hardtalk via YouTube
William Shatner Reviews Impressions of Himself via Vanity Fair YouTube / George Takei appears on BBC Hardtalk via YouTube

The ongoing feud between former Star Trek cast mates William Shatner and George Takei has become somewhat of an entertainment institution over the years – but now it seems the former captain of the USS Enterprise has grown tired of the entire affair.

Kirk (William Shatner) and Sulu (George Takei) prepare to take the fight to Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Kirk (William Shatner) and Sulu (George Takei) prepare to take the fight to Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

RELATED: William Shatner Blasts Recent Star Trek TV Series, Says Creator Gene Roddenberry Would “Be Turning In His Grave At Some Of This Stuff”

The iconic Captain Kirk actor offered his latest thoughts on his continual head-butting with Takei during a recent interview with UK news outlet The Times given in promotion of his new book, Boldly Go: Reflections on a Life of Awe and Wonder.

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) steadies himself to deal with the threat of Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) steadies himself to deal with the threat of Khan (Ricardo Montalbán) in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Led to reflect on his former helsman by his own recollection that Star Trek became so popular because people “loved the stories [and] loved the characters”, Shatner opined that, recently, “I began to understand that they were doing it for publicity.”

“Sixty years after some incident they are still on that track,” he told The Times’ Chief Dance Critic Debra Caine. “Don’t you think that’s a little weird?”

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) speaks to the media ahead of the USS Enterprise-B's maiden voyage in Star Trek Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) speaks to the media ahead of the USS Enterprise-B’s maiden voyage in Star Trek Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

RELATED: Star Trek Legend William Shatner Responds To Wil Wheaton’s Claim That He Was Rude To Him The First Time They Met: “I Have No Recollection Of This Event”

“It’s like a sickness,” Shatner continued. “George has never stopped blackening my name. These people are bitter and embittered.”

“I have run out of patience with them,” the actor-turned-one-time-space-traveler ultimately declared. “Why give credence to people consumed by envy and hate?”

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) explains his dissatisfaction with life within the Nexus to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) explains his dissatisfaction with life within the Nexus to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) in Star Trek Generations (1994), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

As noted above, word of Shatner and Takei’s mutual dislike of one another has been public knowledge for years, but have notably heated up in the age of social media.

In 2015, Takei told the New York Times Magazine that  “It’s not tension, it’s all coming from Bill. Whenever he needs a little publicity for a project, he pumps up the so-called controversy between us.”

Sulu (George Takei) looks on as the Enterprise receives a transmission from Admiral Morrow (Robert Hooks) in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Sulu (George Takei) looks on as the Enterprise receives a transmission from Starfleet in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

RELATED: Star Trek Star William Shatner Responds To George Takei’s Insulting Of Shatner’s Spaceflight: “The Only Time He Gets Press Is When He Talks Bad About Me”

Speaking to the origin of the feud, which according to his autobiography To The Stars first began during their time on the original Star Trek set, Takei explained, “It’s difficult working with someone who is not a team player.”

“The rest of the cast all understand what makes a scene work — it’s everybody contributing to it,” he added. “But Bill is a wonderful actor, and he knows it, and he likes to have the camera on him all the time.”

Kirk (William Shatner) and Sulu (George Takei) find themselves in a standoff with the Klingon commander Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (198), Paramount Pictures

Kirk (William Shatner) and Sulu (George Takei) find themselves in a standoff with the Klingon commander Kruge (Christopher Lloyd) in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (198), Paramount Pictures

Asked if he could ever forgive Shatner, Takei declared, “I don’t need to forgive him. I’ve already invited him to the opening night of [Takei’s then-premiering musical] Allegiance.”

Shatner provided some insight into his side of the story in 2016, where upon he released a number of personal letters to be publicly auctioned.

Sulu (George Takei) prepares to launch the newly refit Enterprise under the watchful eye of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Sulu (George Takei) prepares to launch the newly refit Enterprise under the watchful eye of Captain Kirk (William Shatner) in Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

RELATED: George Takei Tells People To “Take To The Streets,” In Reaction To Leaked Supreme Court Draft Overruling Roe vs. Wade, Ambler Tamblyn Calls It A Declaration Of War

“I had never really got to know him,” Shatner wrote in one such letter. “He would come in every so often during the week while we were shooting Star Trek. I was busy learning lines and dealing with my life, so I really can’t remember a meaningful conversation—I’m sure that would be my fault… my lack of attention.”

“Nevertheless, when we all wrapped that last day of shooting it was all meaningful for all of us—Star Trek was cancelled,” he said. “Until this moment in his apartment we had not spoken. Not so long after that very friendly time he began to say very mean things about me. Why?”

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) finds himself taken aback by the taste of 20th century beer in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Captain Kirk (William Shatner) finds himself taken aback by the taste of 20th century beer in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Last year, Takei mocked Shatner over his then-upcoming trip to space aboard the Jeff Bezos-owned Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

“He’s boldly going where other people have gone before,” the Sulu actor told the New York Post’s Page Six in October 2021. 

“He’s a guinea pig, 90 years old and it’s important to find out what happens,” he further insulted Shatner. “So 90 years old is going to show a great deal more on the wear and tear on the human body, so he’ll be a good specimen to study.”

Sulu (George Takei) prepares to set the Bounty down in Golden Gate Park after arriving in 1986 San Francisco Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

Sulu (George Takei) prepares to set the Bounty down in Golden Gate Park after arriving in 1986 San Francisco Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), Paramount Pictures via Blu-ray

In turn, Shatner would counter by asking that his friends “Don’t hate George. The only time he gets press is when he talks bad about me.”

“He claims 50+ years ago I took away a camera angle that denied him 30 more seconds of prime time TV,” the actor added. “ I’m giving it back to him now by letting him spew his hatred for the world to see!”

William Shatner pushes back against George Takei's insults via Twitter

Archive Link William Shatner Twitter

NEXT: Star Trek Actor George Takei Calls On Americans To “Endure Higher Prices For Food And Gas If It Means Putting The Screws To Putin”

Share: 
Mentioned This Article:

More About: