Hollywood star Bill Murray has been slammed by fans after an awkward moment with Aussie actress Naomi Watts on US television.

The pair were appearing on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen to promote their latest film The Friend, when Murray became a little too familiar.

It occurred during a Q&A portion of the show when viewer Amina called in asking Watts, 56, to nominate her favorite on-screen kiss.

Before the Mulholland Drive star could give her answer, Murray, 74, pounced on his co-star and grabbed her face and planted a kiss square on her lips.

It appeared the kiss was not rehearsed and Watts looked taken aback after the exchange.

Murray, who had previously starred alongside Watts in the 2014 dramedy St Vincent, offered a thumbs-up to the camera after his impromptu move.

Hollywood star Bill Murray has been slammed by fans after an awkward moment with Aussie actress Naomi Watts on US television

Hollywood star Bill Murray has been slammed by fans after an awkward moment with Aussie actress Naomi Watts on US television

‘You’ve got lipstick on your face,’  Watts said to her co-star, before asking ‘did I go red?’

The Ghostbusters star merely stared down the barrel of the camera before declaring: ‘That was too easy.’

Murray’s impromptu PDA was met with a chorus of disapproval from viewers, who branded the actor as ‘gross’.

‘I feel so bad for her that she had to pretend to be okay afterwards,’ one commenter wrote.

‘He just humiliated her on live TV.’

Another chimed in with: ‘The death grip on her face… poor Naomi’ while a third added ‘I would throw up.’

Another angry viewer wrote: ‘The look he gives the camera like…yep and wtf are you gonna do about it?’

Watts did eventually get the chance to answer the question, admitting that her favorite on-screen kiss was with husband Billy Crudup.

The pair were appearing on Watch What Happens Live to promote their latest film The Friend, when Murray became a little too familiar

The pair were appearing on Watch What Happens Live to promote their latest film The Friend, when Murray became a little too familiar

It occurred during a Q and A portion of the show when viewer Amina called in, asking Watts to nominate her favorite on screen kiss

It occurred during a Q and A portion of the show when viewer Amina called in, asking Watts to nominate her favorite on screen kiss

Before the Mulholland Drive star could give her answer, Murray pounced on his co-star and grabbed her face and planted a kiss square on Naomi's lips

Before the Mulholland Drive star could give her answer, Murray pounced on his co-star and grabbed her face and planted a kiss square on Naomi’s lips

It comes after Watts revealed how Crudup put her at ease during their first sexual encounter after she told him about going through early menopause.

In an extract from her forthcoming book published by The Times, she candidly reflected on her and Crudup’s romance that blossomed after she experienced menopause at the age of 36. 

The Oscar-nominated actress admitted she wasn’t looking for love when their paths crossed while filming the Netflix thriller Gypsy – shortly after her split from American actor Liev Schreiber in 2016. 

However, Watts began to see Crudup in a different light after one of their steamy scenes when he ‘spontaneously flung a pillow across the room while ravishing me with such passion that I blushed and broke character’. 

Recalling their first time together, Watts said she excused herself to go to the bathroom and remove her hormone therapy patch – but became conscious after it left a mark on her body.

She dwelled on how Crudup might react to her being menopausal, while worrying about whether he wanted more children, for so long that he eventually called out to her.

‘I came out mortified,’ she continued, before telling him everything about being in early menopause.

Murray's impromptu PDA was met with a chorus of disapproval from viewers, who branded the actor as 'gross'

Murray’s impromptu PDA was met with a chorus of disapproval from viewers, who branded the actor as ‘gross’

'I feel so bad for her that she had to pretend to be okay afterwards,' one commenter wrote. Murray and Watts are pictured in a scene from the 2014 film St Vincent

‘I feel so bad for her that she had to pretend to be okay afterwards,’ one commenter wrote. Murray and Watts are pictured in a scene from the 2014 film St Vincent

‘I wear these hormone patches, and I didn’t want you to see it because then you would know I’m in early menopause, which means I am old, and you wouldn’t want me and, oh my God, should I just leave?’ Watts recalled their conversation. 

However, Crudup’s response instantly quelled her fears about ageing, as he quipped: ‘Hey, if it makes you feel better, I’ve got grey hairs on my b***s.’

Elsewhere in the book extract, Watts opened up about rediscovering her sexuality after menopause, grappling with its lesser-known symptoms and other ‘gory details’, as well as challenging Hollywood’s ageism.

On her initial reluctance to write about her menopause experience, she said: ‘My fear was too great.

‘I was told I would never work again if I admitted to being menopausal, or even perimenopausal. Hollywood’s lovely term for such women was “unf***able.”‘

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