Charlize Theron Calls Out Steven Seagal Over Fighting Skills and Treatment of Women

LOS ANGELES, California — In a recent appearance on Howard Stern’s radio show, Academy Award-winning actress Charlize Theron openly criticized actor Steven Seagal, questioning both his martial arts abilities and his treatment of women. Theron, known for her roles in action films like Atomic Blonde and Mad Max: Fury Road, did not hold back in her assessment of Seagal, a figure with a controversial reputation in Hollywood.

Theron, who has established herself as a formidable action star, shared her thoughts on Seagal during a discussion about her love for martial arts. “At night, I’ll go online to watch fighters or watch people fight, and you always come across that odd Seagal video of him ‘fighting’ in Japan, but he really isn’t,” she said. “He’s just incredibly overweight and pushing people. He’s overweight and can barely fight… look it up, it’s ridiculous… He’s shoving people by the face, it’s a whole setup.”

Theron made it clear that her criticism of Seagal went beyond his fighting skills. “Because he’s not very nice to women,” she explained. “So, fuck you!” Her comments come amid long-standing allegations of misconduct against Seagal, who has been accused by multiple women of discrimination, harassment, and sexual assault. Seagal has also drawn criticism for his outspoken support of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While Seagal is a 7th dan black belt in aikido and has trained notable figures like former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida, his claims of learning combat techniques from the CIA remain unverified. Despite his martial arts credentials, Seagal’s reputation in Hollywood has been marred by numerous controversies over the years.

Theron, meanwhile, has proven her own toughness through her physically demanding roles. During training for Atomic Blonde, she clenched her jaw so hard that she required surgery to repair cracked teeth. She also sparred with actor Keanu Reeves during the filming of John Wick: Chapter 2 and has endured injuries on other sets, including a torn stomach muscle while filming Snow White and the Huntsman and a near-neck-breaking incident during Æon Flux.

Theron’s comments about Seagal highlight a broader issue of accountability in Hollywood, where powerful figures have often avoided scrutiny for alleged misdeeds. By using her platform to speak out, Theron has brought attention to Seagal’s alleged behavior, a move that many see as far more impactful than any action sequence in her films.