Oscar Award-Winning Producer Scott Rudin Steps Down Amid Abuse Allegations
By Katie Van Lew
With the emergence and prominence of the “Me Too Movement,“as well as tackling the tyranny of evil men in the film industry– such as disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein– more actors and actresses have come forward with their own experiences of abuse involving other film producers.
Most recently, actors, actresses, and film crew members have revealed the repulsive and highly unprofessional behavior of Oscar award-winning producer Scott Rudin.
Rudin has produced a plethora of outstanding films such as Uncut Gems, Lady Bird, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, and No Country For Old Men. Rudin has also won numerous Tony Awards for his work on Broadway, including productions such as The Book of Mormon. Although his work is admired by the masses and highly acclaimed by audiences everywhere, his behavior and conduct on film productions is unprofessional, disdainful, and overtly vulgar.
Many actors and actresses have expressed their outrage with the abuse wielded by Rudin. In a specific instance, actress Rita Wilson claimed that Rudin downplayed her diagnosis with breast cancer. When Wilson approached Rudin with her ailment, Rudin claimed that time off from work was unnecessary. To further invalidate her experience, Rudin demanded medical records, as if her major personal struggles were negligible and an inconvenience to his agenda.
“He is the kind of person who makes someone feel worthless, unvaluable and replaceable,” said actress Rita Wilson in conversation with The New York Times.
As mentioned in Vulture magazine, a list of 21 stories of Rudin’s abuse towards his film crew were compiled and revealed to the world. The article mentions an onslaught of violently and mentally abusive behaviors conducted by Rudin while filming various movies. His deplorable conduct ventures from racist remarks, to violent behaviors such as allegedly pushing an assistant out of a moving car. His impetuous proclivity to anger as demonstrated through his frequent bouts of violence even caused some of his film crew to measure a corded phone that he often threw at his assistants.
According to Hollywood Reporter’s exposé on Rudin, in one of the most severe instances of abuse, Rudin reportedly slammed an Apple computer monitor on an assistant’s hand. While his assistant sought out immediate medical attention for his bleeding hand, Rudin called his lawyer for protection.
Rudin, who is highly acclaimed in the theater industry, has announced his resignation from the Broadway League.
“I know apologizing is not, by any means, enough,” Rudin states in an email to the New York Times. “In stepping back, I intend to work on my issues and do so fully aware that many will feel that this is too little and too late.”
In addition to his resignation, Rudin has also decided to step down from working on his upcoming films with Jennifer Lawrence and Denzel Washington.
A source from production company A24 commented that Rudin would immediately cease his participation in Lawrence’s upcoming film Red, White and Water as well as The Tragedy of Macbeth starring Denzel Washington.
“When I commented over the weekend, I was focused on Broadway reopening successfully and not wanting my previous behavior to detract from everyone’s efforts to return,” Rudin said in a statement over the weekend. “It’s clear to me I should take the same path in film and streaming. I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior has caused and I take this step with a commitment to grow and change.”
Currently, A24 has cut ties with Rudin, including regarding a new Steven Yeun film that is currently in production.
