Kieran Culkin has revealed that a director branded him as 'stupid' during his first ever acting job when he was just six years old. The former child star, now 42, had been shooting a commercial for 'something to do with learning disabilities,' when things went awry on set.
![[The former child star, now 42, had been shooting a commercial for 'something to do with learning disabilities,' when things went awry on set. He's seen with his brother in 1990]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/20/93436217-14222367-Kieran_right_with_his_older_brother_Macaulay_Culkin_circa_1990-a-20_1734986813037.jpg)
During the commercial, he was playing a kid who couldn't solve an 'easy' problem at school. His classmates were supposed to make fun of him for it, but when the director began calling him names, Kieran was left horrified. Speaking to Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett on the latest episode of the Smartless podcast, Kieran opened up about the traumatic experience.
![[During the commercial, he was supposed to play a kid who couldn't solve an 'easy' problem at school. But when the director began calling him names, Kieran (front left) was left horrified]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/20/93436981-14222367-The_brothers_posing_with_their_parents_Kit_and_Patricia_in_Londo-a-21_1734986813048.jpg)
He said: 'The concept was, I'm standing in front of a chalkboard with chalk in my hand and I don't know how to solve the easy thing in front of me. 'And the kids in the class are supposed to be calling me a dummy and stupid, all that. 'I have a distinct memory of being there and the director going, "OK, action." And he starts going, "Dummy. Idiot. Stupid."'.
![[Kieran didn't name the director who called him an 'idiot' when he was a child]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/23/20/93436997-14222367-Kieran_didn_t_name_the_director_who_had_called_him_an_idiot_when-a-19_1734986813004.jpg)
Kieran Culkin has revealed that a director branded him as 'stupid' during his first ever acting job when he was just six years old. He's seen earlier this month. The former child star, now 42, had been shooting a commercial for 'something to do with learning disabilities,' when things went awry on set. He's seen with his brother in 1990.
The anecdote left the podcast hosts shocked, with Kieran going on to note that even at six years old, he realized that it was an odd move from the director. He added: 'I'm thinking like, "I get it. I'm six. Stand here and look sad. I'm not f***ing method [acting]. I'm six. What's wrong with you?"'.
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