The Catch-Up
Let’s catch up. What’s been going on?
Abuse in Hollywood.
The American film, television and theatre producer Scott Rudin is being called-out for his repeated abusive behavior towards his employees. Rudin has long been known in the industry to have anger issues, but little has ever been said or done about it.
In fact, Rudin has racked up many awards and accolades over the years, including 23 Oscar wins and 17 individual Tony awards. In 2018, his production of the broadway play, To Kill A Mockingbird, brought in over $1.5 million at the box office, smashing a 118-year-old record. Rudin has also produced plays such as The Book of Mormon, Death of a Salesman, Hello, Dolly! and A Raisin in the Sun.
What did he do?
The Hollywood Reporter released a bombshell article last week detailing former employee’s accounts of Rudin’s toxic and dangerous behavior while at work. One story details Rudin smashing a computer on his assistant’s hand because he was unable to get him on a fully booked flight. The assistant had to be hospitalized for his injuries. Stories have also surfaced of Rudin throwing a laptop in a conference room, throwing a glass bowl at an employee, offensive name-calling, physical violence, using racial slurs, and much, much more. Employees have recounted exhausting, belittling, and scary events that have taken place while working under Rudin.
From Rudin’s former executive assistant, Ryan Nelson:
"Every day was exhausting and horrific," he says. "Not even the way he abused me, but watching the way he abused the people around me who started to become my very close friends. You're spending 14 hours a day with the same people, enduring the same abuse. It became this collective bond with these people."
Why haven’t people spoken out about this before?
Hollywood is restructuring itself- finally. After the #MeToo movement gained massive popularity starting in 2017, toxic abusers who have been able to hide in plain sight, like Rudin, are finally being called out. After Harvey Weinstein, a very powerful Hollywood producer who was convicted of multiple counts of rape and sexual assault, was convicted and sentenced to 23 years in prison, more and more people in the industry, mainly women, have gained the courage to come forward with stories about other powerful people in Hollywood.
However, there has been major backlash from people within the theatre community about the general silence on Rudin, whose well-known, abusive behavior has been “chronicled-even celebrated” by the press throughout the years. Major theatre publications such as Playbill.com and BroadwayWorld.com are being scrutinized for not being the ones to break the story on Rudin.
Additionally, three performers’ unions, the Actors’ Equity Association (AGA), SAG-AFTRA, and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802, have all released a statement “denouncing harassment and toxic workplaces in the industry.” These messages fail to mention Rudin or any other producer by name. No studio or any of the A-list actors that Rudin has worked with over the years have made statements about these allegations.
What’s happening now?
One of the biggest, and only, stars stepping up is Karen Olivo, a 2020/21 Tony nominee. Olivo was set to return to their starring role in Moulin Rouge! When it reopens on Broadway. Olivo announced via her Instagram that she will not be returning due to the silence regarding Scott Rudin.
"Social justice is more important than being the sparkling diamond," Olivo said. "Building a better industry is more important than putting money in my pockets. The silence about Scott Rudin... unacceptable."
They continue: "I don't need to be onstage. I need to be out here. People are more important than your pocketbook... I want a theatre industry that matches my integrity. Come on, y’all. It's not here, obviously. Let's go make it."
Moulin Rouge! Has confirmed that Olivo will not be returning to production. You can watch Karen’s full Instagram video here.
Thanks for catching up.