Imagine working with someone for years, traveling across the galaxy, facing off against Klingons, Romulans, and an assortment of sci-fi oddities, only to have your biggest battle be with your own co-star. Welcome to the decades-long, interstellar feud between William Shatner and George Takei. If Star Trek was all about boldly going where no one had gone before, their relationship was about stubbornly staying where no one wanted to be, at odds.
This isn’t your standard Hollywood rivalry filled with passive-aggressive award speeches or cryptic social media posts. No, this one has been brewing for over 50 years. It’s like a slow-cooked space stew of bitterness, misunderstandings, and just a dash of ego. And despite years of public jabs and behind-the-scenes snubs, Shatner has made one thing clear: he’s not interested in making peace.
What exactly happened between the captain of the USS Enterprise and his loyal helmsman? The answer is about as clear as a Klingon legal document. But one thing is certain: these two could power an entire warp drive with their mutual disdain.
Captain Kirk’s cold shoulder and maybe his fault
The roots of this legendary beef seem to lie somewhere between casual workplace indifference and Shatner’s, shall we say, captain-like demeanor. While George Takei was busy navigating the Enterprise, Shatner was apparently too busy navigating his own stardom.
In 2016, according to Express, some handwritten notes from William Shatner surfaced at an auction, giving a rare glimpse into his perspective. He admitted that he never really made an effort to get to know George Takei, writing,
He would come in every so often during the week while we were shooting Star Trek. I was busy learning lines and dealing with my life, so I really can’t remember a meaningful conversation. I’m sure that would be my fault … my lack of attention.
Translation? Shatner was too busy being Captain Kirk to notice that Takei existed beyond his scripted lines. Whether it was an honest oversight or an early sign of his well-documented ego, the end result was the same: Takei didn’t feel the love, and a grudge was born.
But let’s be honest, if you were on the Starship Enterprise and your captain didn’t bother to acknowledge you beyond a professional “warp speed, Mr. Sulu,” you’d probably feel a little salty, too. And salt, as we know, is the foundation of any good grudge.
George Takei’s art of holding a cosmic grudge
While some Hollywood feuds fizzle out over time, this one only seems to intensify. George Takei, never one to hold back, has had a few choice words about his former captain over the years.
During an appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher (via CheatSheet), the host jokingly suggested that since Shatner is Canadian, he should be naturally kind and easygoing. Takei, in true grudge-holding fashion, wasn’t buying it. Ouch. That’s the kind of burn that requires a full-body science-fictional healing chamber.
For his part, Shatner hasn’t exactly been working on a peace treaty. He has consistently dismissed Takei’s comments as attention-seeking jabs, calling him a disturbed individual in one interview. Clearly, this is no friendly sparring match; it’s a full-on, warp-speed rivalry with no end in sight.
So what do we learn from all this? Maybe that grudges, much like space, can last forever. Or maybe just that if you ever find yourself working with William Shatner, make sure he actually knows your name.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
