William Shatner has hit out at critics who accused him of being insensitive for missing his Star Trek co-star Leonard Nimoy’s funeral on Sunday.
Shatner had a commitment at a charity event in Florida that he said prevented him from attending the funeral in Los Angeles for the Mr Spock actor, who died on Friday aged 83.
“I loved [Nimoy] like a brother,” Shatner said in a statement. “We will all miss his humour, his talent, and his capacity to love.”
On Saturday, he tweeted: “I feel really awful. Here I am doing charity work and one of my dearest friends is being buried.”
The New York Daily News’ front page called the actor “Captain Jerk” for attending the Red Cross event. Avid Twitter user Shatner then tweeted the front page. “I want to share this. Let’s discuss it.
“I chose to honour a commitment I made months ago to appear at a charitable fundraiser. A lot of money was raised. So here I am; tell me off.”
One Tweeter suggested he take a private jet to California. “I must have missed your email about underwriting the arrangement and payment for this,” Shatner replied.
