The lead actors of the 1968 movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet have filed a lawsuit towards Paramount Photos for sexual harassment over the film’s nude scene.
The swimsuit was filed by the celebs of the movie, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, on Friday, December 30, accusing the studio of “sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud,” in line with the Related Press. The costars claimed that director Franco Zeffirelli — who died in 2019 — advised each actors that the movie wouldn’t have any nudity and for the bed room scene the twosome would put on flesh-colored undergarments.
The swimsuit alleges that Zeffirelli later recommended that the performers filmed the scene bare or the film “would fail.” On the time of the manufacturing, Hussey was 15 years previous and Whiting was 16.
“What they have been advised and what went on have been two various things,” the actors’ enterprise supervisor Tony Marinozzi advised Selection on Tuesday, January 3. “They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he wouldn’t violate that belief that they had. Franco was their good friend, and admittedly, at 16, what do they do? There are not any choices. There was no #MeToo.”
The critically acclaimed romantic drama was a box-office success upon its 1968 launch, and Hussey beforehand defended the movie’s controversial nude scene. The Shakespeare adaptation went on to earn 4 Academy Award nominations and took residence the awards for Greatest Costume and Greatest Cinematography in 1969.
In August 2018, Hussey spoke to The Guardian about her function within the movie in honor of its fiftieth anniversary. “I beloved taking part in Juliet,” the Argentina native stated on the time. “The one half I didn’t like was all of the PR. It was exhausting, and I used to be this wild little factor.”
Hussey and Whiting, who are actually each of their 70s, have filed their lawsuit with the Santa Monica Superior Court docket 55 years after the movie’s preliminary launch. In response to Selection, California legislation briefly suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of kid sexual abuse till the deadline of December 31, 2022.
The grievance additionally states that the actors have suffered from psychological anguish and emotional misery for the reason that movie’s launch. The pair declare that they’ve misplaced out on job alternatives, regardless of their breakout performances within the Oscar-winning image. The pair are searching for $500 million in damages, per the Related Press.
Maintain scrolling to study extra in regards to the Romeo and Juliet and Paramount lawsuit:
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting Sue Paramount for Sexual Harassment Extra Than 50 Years After 1968 Movie: All the pieces to Know
The lead actors of the 1968 movie adaptation of Romeo and Juliet have filed a lawsuit towards Paramount Photos for sexual harassment over the film’s nude scene.
The swimsuit was filed by the celebs of the movie, Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, on Friday, December 30, accusing the studio of “sexual abuse, sexual harassment and fraud,” in line with the Related Press. The costars claimed that director Franco Zeffirelli — who died in 2019 — advised each actors that the movie wouldn’t have any nudity and for the bed room scene the twosome would put on flesh-colored undergarments.
The swimsuit alleges that Zeffirelli later recommended that the performers filmed the scene bare or the film “would fail.” On the time of the manufacturing, Hussey was 15 years previous and Whiting was 16.
“What they have been advised and what went on have been two various things,” the actors’ enterprise supervisor Tony Marinozzi advised Selection on Tuesday, January 3. “They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he wouldn’t violate that belief that they had. Franco was their good friend, and admittedly, at 16, what do they do? There are not any choices. There was no #MeToo.”
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The critically acclaimed romantic drama was a box-office success upon its 1968 launch, and Hussey beforehand defended the movie’s controversial nude scene. The Shakespeare adaptation went on to earn 4 Academy Award nominations and took residence the awards for Greatest Costume and Greatest Cinematography in 1969.
In August 2018, Hussey spoke to The Guardian about her function within the movie in honor of its fiftieth anniversary. “I beloved taking part in Juliet,” the Argentina native stated on the time. “The one half I didn’t like was all of the PR. It was exhausting, and I used to be this wild little factor.”
Hussey and Whiting, who are actually each of their 70s, have filed their lawsuit with the Santa Monica Superior Court docket 55 years after the movie’s preliminary launch. In response to Selection, California legislation briefly suspended the statute of limitations for older claims of kid sexual abuse till the deadline of December 31, 2022.
The grievance additionally states that the actors have suffered from psychological anguish and emotional misery for the reason that movie’s launch. The pair declare that they’ve misplaced out on job alternatives, regardless of their breakout performances within the Oscar-winning image. The pair are searching for $500 million in damages, per the Related Press.
Maintain scrolling to study extra in regards to the Romeo and Juliet and Paramount lawsuit:
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
Who’re Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting?
The film’s lead actors, Hussey (Juliet) and Whiting (Romeo), have filed the lawsuit towards the film studio. The pair have been youngsters on the time the film was in manufacturing.
Each entertainers went on to have restricted roles following the film’s launch, regardless of the movie’s success. Hussey went on to snag roles in Jesus of Nazareth, Loss of life on the Nile and Black Christmas. Whiting, for his half, was in Giacomo Casanova: Childhood and Adolescence, Frankenstein: The True Story and Social Suicide.
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
What Do the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars Declare Within the Lawsuit?
The actors allege that the movie’s director assured them there can be no nudity within the manufacturing, however Zeffirelli allegedly later recommended that they need to shoot the bed room scene within the nude to forestall the movie from failing.
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
What Are the ‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars In search of Within the Lawsuit?
Hussey and Whiting are reportedly searching for $500 million — equal to the amount of cash the movie has earned since its 1968 launch — for the emotional and bodily ache they declare to have suffered because of the alleged harassment.
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
When Was the Lawsuit Filed?
The lawsuit was filed on December 30, 2022, in Santa Monica, California, someday earlier than the statute of limitations’ short-term extension expired.
Credit score: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock
What Has Paramount Stated In regards to the Claims?
Paramount has not commented in regards to the lawsuit right now.
