Overview

• Stone recalled confronting Douglas at the Cannes Film Festival over disparaging remarks about her friend, prompting him to shout “What the f--- do you know?” across a group.
• Douglas’s rep Allen Burry said the actor “doesn’t remember any argument in that timeframe” and only met Stone when he saw her Paul Verhoeven screen test.
• Stone argued that the initial off-camera tension enriched their on-screen chemistry in Basic Instinct by showing her character undeterred by Douglas’s temper.
• Both actors agree that despite conflicting memories of their first meeting, their relationship evolved into a strong friendship over the following decades.
• The renewed debate over the 1992 clash has reignited public interest in Basic Instinct’s behind-the-scenes lore as a franchise reboot moves forward.