Johnny Knoxville still admires his former Jackass co-star Bam Margera, even though they’ve had a public falling out.
Notably, Margera sued Knoxville for wrongful dismissal last year (but eventually dropped it).
Although the 51-year-old star hasn’t communicated with the former professional skateboarder, he said in an interview with Variety that he loves Margera. Additionally, he hopes for the healing of his co-star as he is still being treated for substance abuse.
“I haven’t spoken to Bam in about a year and a half, give or take six months,” he stated.
“[Jackass director] Jeff Tremaine, Steve-O, and I had a face-to-face meeting with Bam and his wife, trying to figure out how to get him help. Then we had a Zoom as a group not long after that. And that was the last time I talked to him.”
He added: “It boils down to – I love Bam.
“I know that a lot has happened. And I just want him to get well for himself and his family. I love the guy, and I want him to get well and stay well.”
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The Lawsuit versus Knoxville and More
In August 2021, Margera filed a lawsuit against Knoxville, filmmaker Spike Jonze, MTV, Paramount Pictures, and others for wrongfully firing him from Jackass Forever. He alleged that the production looked to “steal the popular and lucrative movie franchise and not compensate him.”
In addition, the lawsuit alleged that Margera entered into a contract with Paramount under a “Wellness Agreement.” It should be noted that he was open about his struggle with addiction.
Margera then claimed that Knoxville and Jonze forced him to sign the deal. He accused both his co-actor and his director of approaching him during his time in a rehab facility in 2019.
The agreement states that Margera must undergo daily drug testing. The lawsuit alleged that his wrongful dismissal was rooted in tests that discovered prescription Adderall. And that “defendants knew full well that Margera took Adderall to treat his attention deficit disorder.”
At the time of filing, Margera told EW that his intent to sue “isn’t just about compensation. It’s about treating people with mental health and addiction issues in an honest manner. And not taking advantage of their disabilities to rip them off.”
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Margera and Parties Attains Agreement
But eventually, Margera had a private settlement with all parties involved and dropped the lawsuit in April.
Alongside Margera, the franchise featured Knoxville, Steve-O, and other personalities in 2000’s Jackass reality show.
The 43-year-old appeared in the movies: Jackass: The Movie, Jackass Number Two, Jackass 2.5, Jackass 3D, and Jackass 3.5. He has also spearheaded the franchise’s spin-off Viva La Bam and Bam’s Unholy Union.
Knoxville delivered a safe answer when asked about Margera’s possible return to the Jackass world.
“I think that would be a discussion,” he said. “I only want him to get better. That’s the first step. He has to take that step and maintain that step. Because everything else is just gravy. Jackass is not important when you’re talking about someone’s life.”
Photo: Hot World Report
