Actor Tony Danza Criticized for Red-Carpet Interview Behavior

Actor Tony Danza is receiving backlash for his behavior during a red-carpet interview. The incident occurred when reporter Rye Myers posted a video of the interaction to TikTok on the Broadway opening night of “New York.”

While Broadway producer Jamie deRoy responded positively to Myers’ question about how they were doing, Danza told the reporter to “Relax a little,” adding, “You’re more excited than we are. Take it easy.”

The interview abruptly ended after Myers asked Danza and deRoy whether their favorite New York City staple food item was hot dogs or pizza. In response, Danza patted Myers on the cheek and said, “You know what you’ve got to do, buddy; you’ve got to come up with better questions.”

Danza then appeared to usher deRoy away, saying, “Come on, let’s go. I’ve got to go.” The video, which had more than 115,000 views on Saturday, sparked criticism and support in the comment section.

Myers expressed dismay at Danza’s behavior in the caption of his TikTok video, writing, “To say I was blown away, shocked, and embarrassed is an understatement…But my professionalism showed through!”

While some viewers admonished Danza and came to Myers’ defense, others found no issue with the interaction. Notably, singer Michael Bublé commented and wrote, “I think you’re amazing, Ry.

I’ll have a pizza with you.” As of yet, neither Myers nor representatives for Danza have issued a statement.
Myers clarified in the comment section that the musical’s theme, “New York City,” influenced his interview questions.

Danza is not the first celebrity to receive backlash for an awkward red-carpet exchange. In March, actor Hugh Grant faced a similar situation when he had an uncomfortable interview with model Ashley Graham at the Oscars.