Alex Pettyfer Reveals Why He Got a ‘Bad Rep’ on the ‘Magic Mike’ Set: ‘I Was Genuinely Nervous and Scared To Be Myself’
Magic Mike wasn’t so magical for Alex Pettyfer. The actor played Channing Tatum’s protégé in the 2012 film but according to him, he and the 21 Jump Street actor didn’t get along. The now-30-year-old says he and Tatum’s feud on the set of the movie had a lot to do with his own behavior.
Alex Pettyfer says Channing Tatum didn’t want him cast in the movie
Pettyfer addressed the rumored feud between him and Tatum during a guest spot on Bret Easton Ellis’ podcast in 2015, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He confirmed that he and Tatum didn’t get along, saying that it was mostly his fault.
“Channing Tatum does not like me,” Pettyfer said. “For many reasons. Many being my own fault.”
Following reports of bad behavior, Pettyfer said Magic Mike director Steven Soderbergh expressed his interest in casting him in the movie. He thought Tatum, who had invested some of his own money in Magic Mike, didn’t like the idea.
“I had a very negative past relating to the things that I had done on movies and promotion of movies. And Channing Tatum is an extraordinarily smart businessman,” Pettyfer said. “I think he probably didn’t want to get into a conflict with Steven and so I was cast.”
He blames himself for the Channing Tatum feud
On the set of Magic Mike Pettyfer wasn’t friendly with his co-stars including Tatum. That’s what he says made things between him and the actor even worse.
“I didn’t speak on the movie [set]. I was scared to speak,” he said. “I did my work and then I sat in the corner and listened to music because I’d been told that anything I do was wrong by my reps and I was very insecure as a human being.”
“That also gave me a bad rep because they said, ‘Oh Alex thinks he’s f***ing better than everybody else because he doesn’t speak to anyone.’ And that’s not true. I was genuinely nervous and scared to be myself,” he added.
After filming on the movie wrapped, relations between Pettyfer and Tatum soured even more. Pettyfer rented an apartment in New York City, New York, which a friend of Tatum’s owned.
He moved out abruptly citing mold and dust allergies. Then the actor’s cousin died and he forgot to pay the four months of rent he owed. That’s when he got an email from Tatum about it.
“I all of a sudden got a very negative email from Channing, rightfully so, saying, ‘Don’t f*** my friends. You owe money. Pay the f***ing money. Don’t be a clown,'” Pettyfer recalled.
After being “hounded” for the money, Pettyfer decided not to pay the money. When he showed up for Magic Mike re-shoots none of his fellow cast members were friendly.
“[Channing] had already told everyone he didn’t like me,” he said. “And what Channing says goes because he’s a movie star. He’s incredible. He’s done so well for himself.”
Magic Mike was supposed to be Pettyfer’s comeback but it didn’t happen. The movie was a big success that led to a 2015 sequel. However, the actor wasn’t asked to reprise his role. Pettyfer and Tatum both continue to act but they haven’t worked together since Magic Mike.
