James Corden Praises “Brave” Olivia Munn Over ‘Predator’ Controversy

Olivia Munn’s widely publicized success in getting a scene featuring a registered sex offender deleted from her latest movie The Predator earned the actress an impromptu thanks from James Corden and an ovation on The Late Late Show on Thursday.

Munn was on the show to talk about her role in Shane Black’s film as well as revealing that her own dog got to star in the movie, but before Corden introduced a clip from The Predator, he praised Munn for taking the stand that somewhat clouded the premiere of the movie.  

“I just want to say, I think you did an incredible thing on your film. To go to a studio as an actress and ask them to remove a scene, which was inherently the right thing to do,” Corden said as the audience and fellow guests Mel B and Dr. Phil broke out in applause. 

Corden added: “It says so much about you as a person, as a performer and as an actress. And it’s an incredible, brave statement to make. We really appreciate you doing that.”

After going public with her successful request that 21st Century Fox remove a scene in the film in which she unknowingly appeared opposite a registered sex offender (who is a friend of the film’s director, Shane Black), Munn had spoken out about the lack of personal support she received from her co-stars and director. (Munn spoke to THR‘s Video Lounge in Toronto on Saturday afternoon, but instead of doing a scheduled interview alongside available castmembers, Munn was joined only by Jacob Tremblay after a few of her castmates backed out, presumably because of the subject matter of the deleted scene.)

Speaking at the Hollywood premiere of the film Wednesday night, however, Munn revealed that several members of her cast later reached out to her. “I’m grateful my co-stars have spoken out,” she told THR. “I’ve spoken to a few of them privately, and they do understand the situation and have expressed their regret for how it went down. And I think they understand now. But it’s a tough situation.”

Black has issued an apology for the casting and said he supported the studio’s decision to cut the scene.