THR

By Alex Ben Block

Beck said on his Wednesday program on the Fox News Channel that he was joking in 2007 when he said on his then-CNN show that  “only pure evil could have directed the movie 'Titanic,'" and that James Cameron had “tossed his hat into the ring and is officially running for anti-Christ.”

Beck told viewers in his closing segment Wednesday that he had trouble even remembering his brief meeting with Cameron while the director was sitting in a makeup chair in 2007. “But he hates me,” added Beck. “And not because  of what I said in person. And if I did say anything to you, James, in person, I’m sorry. I can’t imagine. But this is what he was quoting about me saying he was the anti-Christ.”

Beck then read back a transcript of his comments about Cameron, “Titanic” and its music in 2007.

He said his negative comments at that time were really about “the Celine Dion song,” referring to the “Titanic” theme,  “My Heart Will Go On,” which Beck called “horrific.”

“The best part,” added Beck, “this guy has carried this joke around with him for three long years.”

Beck then referred to the mega-success of the “Smurf-murdering movie” before adding: “Oh my god, really. It’s time to walk away from the CGI just for a minute, Jim. Just for a second. I don’t think he’s upset with me through. He’s also upset with you because you’re a global-warming denier.”

Beck then played the THR audio clip of Cameron’s tongue-in-cheek comments at the press conference, saying he wanted to shoot anyone who still denies the reality of global warming.

“Since he took my anti-Christ joke so seriously, I guess I have to ask James stop threatening to shoot people in the street.,” added Beck. “Seventy-nine percent of Americans aren’t convinced greenhouse gases were the most important factor in the planet’s warming.”

Then with mock tears, Beck added: “Why must you kill all of them? Why must you kill all of them?”

After a commercial, Beck closed his show by noting Cameron did not win the Oscar earlier this month for director or best picture for “Avatar,” and so his real problem is that he lost to his ex-wife.