The celebrities of 1968’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are suing over the nude scene they filmed after they had been simply 15 and 16 years previous.
Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a lawsuit Friday in Santa Monica Superior Courtroom accusing the studio of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional misery.
Hussey and Whiting say director Franco Zeffirelli initially informed them there wouldn’t be any nudity within the movie however on the final day of filming, he allegedly stated the movie ‘would fail’ until they carried out a scene nude whereas carrying physique make-up.
The pair are in search of damages ‘believed to be in extra of 500 million.’
Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a lawsuit Friday in Santa Monica Superior Courtroom
The pair is accusing the studio of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse, and intentional infliction of emotional misery
The lawsuit additionally alleges the pair had been filmed nude with out their data.
‘What they had been informed and what went on had been two various things,’ stated Tony Marinozzi, a enterprise supervisor for the actors, in a press release.
‘They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he wouldn’t violate that belief that they had,’ the supervisor stated.
‘Franco was their good friend, and admittedly, at 16, what do they do?’ Marinozzi added in a press release to the outlet. ‘There are not any choices. There was no #MeToo.’
The swimsuit alleges Zefrelli confirmed the actors the place the digital camera can be positioned however that no nudity can be filmed or launched.
Hussey and Whiting thought ‘that they had no selection however to behave within the nude with physique make-up as demanded on the final day of filming.’
The lawsuit additionally alleges the pair had been filmed nude with out their data
The film was launched in 1968 to essential acclaim
Hussey and Whiting say director Franco Zeffirelli initially informed them there wouldn’t be any nudity within the movie
The lawsuit additionally alleges the pair had been filmed nude with out their data
In a press release to Selection, Solomon Gresen, the legal professional for the pair stated the actors ‘had been very younger naïve kids within the ’60s who had no understanding of what was about to hit them.’
The pair stated the scene brought about them long-term monetary, bodily, and emotional ache.
The movie additionally value Hussey and Whiting ‘a lifetime of lack of earnings and different employment advantages and job alternatives,’ in keeping with the criticism.
‘Swiftly they had been well-known at a stage they by no means anticipated, and as well as they had been violated in a manner they did not know methods to cope with,’ Gresen stated.
The $500 million in damages the pair is in search of matches the quantity the movie has made since its launch in 1968.
The pair stated the scene brought about them long-term monetary, bodily, and emotional ache
The movie additionally value Hussey and Whiting ‘a lifetime of lack of earnings and different employment advantages and job alternatives,’ in keeping with the criticism
The $500 million in damages the pair is in search of matches the quantity the movie has made since its launch in 1968
In an interview from 2018, Hussey claimed Zerffirelli referred to her as ‘Boobs O’Mina’ and that he admitted she was the unrequited love of his life.
On the time, Hussey additionally stated she ‘cherished taking part in Juliet’ however that the press was ‘exhausting.’
In line with Selection, the actors’ lawsuit depends on a California legislation that briefly suspended the statute of limitations on youngster sexual abuse claims.
That legislation had a December 31, 2022 deadline.
In a interview from 2018, Hussey claimed Zerffirelli referred to her as ‘Boobs O’Mina’
In line with Selection, the actors’ lawsuit depends on a California legislation that briefly suspended the statute of limitations on youngster sexual abuse claims
