andy weir has apologized to Alex Kurtzman after comments he made on a podcast provoked backlash. He posted an open letter on his public account on March 30, 2026 (ET), saying he was trying to be funny but that his remarks came off as disrespectful and mean. The apology follows his on-air criticism of recent Star Trek shows and his disclosure that a Star Trek pitch he made was rejected by Kurtzman.
Andy Weir’s apology and what he said
In the open letter, Weir wrote that his remarks were “taken out of context as salacious sound bytes” and that he “was trying to be self-deprecating. ” He added, “I was trying to be funny, but in retrospect it comes off as disrespectful and mean, ” and offered to talk in real time by phone or video call to Alex Kurtzman to clear the matter up. The letter stresses Weir’s expressed personal regard for Kurtzman, calling him a “really nice guy” while acknowledging the harm his words caused.
Immediate reactions and the original exchange
The episode originated in a conversation with a podcast host, when the topic turned to modern Star Trek programming. During that discussion Weir said he had pitched a Star Trek show and spent time in a Zoom meeting with showrunners and Alex Kurtzman. Weir’s remarks included, “He, as a person, is a really nice guy. But at the same time, those shows are s*it, ” and, after noting Paramount’s rejection of his pitch, he added, “they didn’t accept my pitch so, you know, f*ck ’em. ”
Author Don Winslow, identified with the Crime 101 source material, pushed back publicly, writing that while he is a fan of Weir’s work, attacking other writers’ efforts from a position of success was wrong and that Weir “owe[s] him an apology… writer to writer. ”
Quick context
Weir is the author of the novels behind the films Project Hail Mary and The Martian; Project Hail Mary was noted as a recent box-office success in the materials provided. His comments on the podcast and the subsequent apology have focused attention on creative disagreements over the direction of Star Trek television under current stewardship.
What’s next
Expectation now centers on whether Kurtzman will respond to Weir’s offer to discuss the matter directly and whether Weir’s apology will ease the public fallout. The author’s outreach and any reply from Alex Kurtzman or the studio will shape next steps; andy weir has signaled willingness to engage in direct conversation to resolve the dispute.
