Los Angeles, August 5 (Reuters) – Despite an emphysema diagnosis, “Twin Peaks” creator David Lynch said on Monday he is filled with happiness and will never retire, clarifying statements he made earlier to magazine Sight and Sound that he would most likely have to cease working.
The 78-year-old American director expressed gratitude on social networking site X to those who have expressed concern about his health situation. He attributed his emphysema to his smoking history, which has no known remedy.
“Yes, I have emphysema from my many years of smoking. I have to admit that I loved smoking very much, and I really adore tobacco – the scent of it, putting cigarettes on fire, smoking them,” he said, earning 1.3 million likes
“But there is a cost to this happiness, and for me, it is emphysema. I have been smoke-free for more than two years. I just had several tests, and the good news is that I am in wonderful form, with the exception of emphysema,” he continued.
He also stated in an interview with Sight and Sound’s September cover story that he was unable to leave his house because he was frightened of getting COVID-19, which would jeopardize his health even more.
“I have emphysema from smoking for so long, and I’m homebound whether I like it or not… And now, due of COVID, it would be quite dangerous for me to become ill, even with a cold,” Lynch told the British publication.
The “Eraserhead” and “The Elephant Man” director also revealed that he could only go a short distance before running out of oxygen.
The representative for Lynch did not reply to a request for comment.
Lynch is unlikely to direct in-person again, but he has raised the potential of directing remotely.
“I would really hate that,” he said, conceding that directing virtually would not be appealing to the Oscar-nominated filmmaker.