Lindsay Lohan: ‘I Was Never Confirmed To Attend’ Venice Film Festival

Lindsay Lohan took to her blog Saturday to explain her absence from The Canyons premiere from the Venice Film Festival Thursday.

Director Paul Schrader told reporters at the festival, “For the last 16 months I’ve been hostage, by own choosing, to a very talented but unpredictable actress.” He also said that Lohan had “stepped up very hard” for the role of Tara, the girlfriend of a Los Angles movie producer, Christian (played by porn actor James Deen).

Lohan was expected to attend the festival to promote the film, but didn’t show up. Her absence was unexplained until now.

“Along with the positive messages and words of support of The Canyons at VFF, I am sending my own to the cast, producers and the amazing Paul Schrader,” Lohan wrote on her blog. “I am so grateful for the extraordinary experience of being a part of this film.”

The 27-year-old continued:

“Unfortunately, I have to clear up these reports. I was never confirmed to attend. Of course, I would have enjoyed returning to that wonderful city and being a part of this amazing event, but my focus is on my health and well-being. Plain and simple, it is of the utmost importance.”

Lohan also included a picture of the city with the message, “To Venice, with love… – L” in the post.

Lohan had actually written that she wouldn’t be attending the premiere the day before the festival. On Wednesday, the Mean Girls actress wrote, “I wish I could be there to celebrate with you in Venice. Paul Schrader, @braxtonpope, @JamesDeen could not have done it without you.”

She added, “And if you haven’t already, see @TheCanyonsFilm it’s out on VOD now!”

The Canyons received a limited release on August 2 at the IFC Center in New York City, the Bell Lightbox in Toronto, and video on demand platforms. The film only brought in $15,200 in its first week at the IFC Center, but distributor IFC Films said it was expecting to make most of its money from video on demand.

“[W]e believe that the film will do most of its business in the digital realm,” IFC Films president Jonathan Sehring said in a statement.

The Canyons has made about $49,500, less than a quarter of its $250,000 budget, since its release.

[Photo credit: s_bukley / Shutterstock.com]