- Kieran Culkin's prank confession
- Mark Ruffalo's unexpected high
- Reactions from the cast and crew
In a recent revelation, Kieran Culkin admitted to a mischievous prank that took place during the 2000 production of James Lapine's play 'The Moment When'" At just 17, Culkin swapped a fake joint with a real one, leading to an unexpected high for his co-stars, including Mark Ruffalo and Tony winner Phyllis Newman. The prank unfolded during the play's press night, a moment Culkin described with a mix of regret and amusement. He recalled realizing the prank's impact as he caught the scent of real marijuana backstage, thinking, “Uh-oh. I believe it’s happened.”
Kieran Culkin's prank confession
Culkin's prank led to an unusual experience for Ruffalo, who unknowingly took "big, dramatic draws" from the real joint on stage. The actor expressed regret, admitting, "I'm like, 'I thought this was a good prank. I'm stupid. Oh my God, I'm so sorry.'" However, the cast responded positively. Ruffalo, who hadn't smoked in a decade, found humor in the situation, remarking, "The second half's going to be so much fun." Another actor, who had never smoked before, found the experience "lovely," while Phyllis Newman humorously thanked Culkin, saying, "I haven’t smoked pot since the 1960s. Thank you, darling."
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Reactions from the cast and crew
While the actors took the incident in stride, the stage manager was less amused. Culkin recounted, "Then the stage manager comes stomping in and goes, 'I don’t care whose it is, or what happened, but Kieran, give me the joint.'" The stage manager's stern warning, "Ruin your life on your own time," highlighted the seriousness of the prank. Interestingly, Ruffalo had previously mentioned the incident during a 2020 appearance on The Graham Norton Show, though he had not revealed Culkin's involvement at that time.
Despite the unexpected turn of events, the play received rave reviews, with Ruffalo noting, "I got the best reviews of my entire career." Reflecting on the prank years later, Culkin assured fans and future co-stars that such antics are a thing of the past. "I was young. I’m 42 now. I know better," he stated, emphasizing his growth and maturity since the incident.
