Scott Rudin Fallout grows with emotional video message to producer

Scott Rudin Fallout grows with emotional video message to producer

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The outrage surrounding producer Scott Rudin escalated over the weekend, with Broadway star Sutton Foster speaking out as the twin brother of a late former Rudin assistant posted an emotional video message claiming his brother was traumatized by his experience with the producer.

Both statements follow Rudin’s announcement that he is ‘retiring’ from Broadway. In a statement to the Washington Post, Rudin wrote: “Much has been written about my history of disturbing interactions with colleagues, and I am very sorry for the pain my behavior has caused directly and indirectly to individuals.”

In a live Instagram chat with Beth Nicely, the performer and personal trainer, Foster, who will star alongside Hugh Jackman in a revival of ‘The Music Man’ with Hugh Jackman in a revival of The Music Man, pronounced.

‘It’s really an unfortunate situation, but the only positive outcome is the event, and I know Hugh [Jackman] feels exactly the same way, ‘Foster said, referring to her co-star’ Music Man ‘.

On Sunday, the twin brother of a former Rudin assistant called out the producer in an emotional video on Twitter, demanding “true consequences” from the entertainment industry for Rudin’s alleged behavior. The combination of Foster’s statement and the emotional video of David Graham-Caso ensures that the pressure will be on mainstream Hollywood companies to sever ties with one of the most productive producers in film, TV and theater.

Graham-Caso, who is deputy chief of staff and communications director to LA councilor Mike Bonin, said his brother Kevin Blake Graham-Caso suffered “horrific abuse” while working for Rudin in 2008 and 2009. Kevin Blake Graham-Caso passed away in October 2020, according to a death certificate issued by Variety.

“The motivation was accountability,” Graham-Caso said Variety about his decision to post the message. “Scott Rudin’s horrific abuse of assistants has been an open secret in Broadway and Hollywood for decades. I wanted to make this video to make sure he not only understands it, but that the people who have enabled him for years understand it. I wanted to do right by my brother and that’s the way I know. ”

A Hollywood Reporter story published on April 7 first outlined allegations of abuse and bullying, including alleged cases where Rudin threw a staple and baked potatoes at workers and broke a computer monitor at the hands of an assistant has. Since the publication of the article, the Actors’ Equity Fund and Time’s Up have both called for Rudin to exempt all his former staff members from non-disclosure agreements.

On why Foster had not spoken to Rudin earlier, she said she ‘had to walk away’ to see the situation clearly, and apologized for not ‘trumpeting’ her feelings.

‘I had to walk away to really address how I wanted to handle the situation, and I did not feel I had to post it so that it would happen. “I did not feel I had to do anything because it was becoming a reactionary thing,” Foster said. ‘And for me, I had to take a step back to make sure the decision I made was mine, and not based on the noise of social media … I apologize if I do not seem to have my feelings actively trumpeted, but I could not get a clear thought and I really had to walk away. ‘

Despite the controversy, Foster said she is excited to be working on The Music Man again.

‘I’m so honored to be a part of’ The Music Man ‘and I can not wait to create an amazing, safe, inclusive, loving, amazing environment for everyone involved. And that’s all I care about going forward, “said Foster.

That kind of safe environment could not be found at Rudin’s production company, Graham-Caso claims, telling stories about Kevin’s experience.

“You harassed, humiliated, bullied and harassed him for eight fixed months,” Graham-Caso said as if he had spoken directly to Rudin. ‘It was so intense that he developed anxiety and depression and post-traumatic stress, and like many survivors of traumatic abuse, he found himself in another abusive relationship later in life. It was so intense that he took his own life last October. ”

Graham-Caso went on to promise to make it his personal duty that Rudin have ‘real consequences’.

‘This message is to let you know that I’m moving forward to make sure people know that when they choose to work with you, they want to work with a bully. They choose to work with a racist. “They choose to work with a small and small person who harms those who help him succeed,” Graham-Caso said. “I’m going to make sure people know the value and importance of a union, and the kind of protection needed to stop reckless thugs like you from ruining the lives of the people who work with you.”

In an interview with VarietyGraham-Caso claims that at one point Rudin became so incensed about his brother that he threw him out of a moving car.

“I think an appointment was not synced on his phone,” he said. “It was years ago, but Kevin told me that Rudin pushed a door open, or pushed him in the door, but basically shouted, ‘Fuck you, get the fuck out of my car,’ and Kevin was like, ‘ The car moves, I can not, ‘and Rudin was like,’ No, now. ‘And I do not know if he physically pushed him or opened the door on which he was leaning, but anyway. Kevin said he didn’t really have to pick, but it was the shock of being thrown out. ”

In the video, Graham-Caso also discusses Rudin’s recent decision to ‘retire’ from Broadway, calling it ‘a clever PR strategy to avoid real consequences.’ After that, Graham-Caso elaborated on what reaction he wants the entertainment industry to take.

‘The real consequences would now be distributors announcing that any film with your name on it would not be purchased. Not as long as someone who treats people like you makes a profit, ”Graham-Caso said. ‘Real consequences would be the talented writers, directors and actors you work with, and you don’t call back. To actually show that they care about the rights and dignity of people and that no one deserves the kind of abuse you inflict. Real justice would be that you know it was Kevin who helped hold you accountable. ”

Graham-Caso said his brother remained silent about Rudin’s alleged abuse due to career consequences.

“He never wanted to talk, he always felt like it would be the iron nail in the coffin of his career. It would admit he would never get it,” he said. Variety. “He wanted to be a writer, he was really very talented. But he never really wanted to do it. He cared deeply for social justice. We grew up in a union family, we were really progressive, but there were things that were conflicting. But then the Hollywood Reporter [article] hit, I felt it was an opportunity to really do right and share his story and his truth and hopefully help other people. “

Rudin’s representatives did not immediately respond. Variety‘s request for comment regarding the statements of Foster and Graham-Caso. A representative of A24, which distributes several Rudin-produced films, such as ‘The Humans’ and ‘The Tragedy of Macbeth’, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a representative of Netflix, which produced the Rudin manufactured production will flow. ‘The Woman in the Window’ in May, did not immediately comment.

Rudin has been active in TV for the past few years. Currently, he is executive producer of the FX comedy “What We Do in the Shadow.” In 2015, Rudin’s banner colored a comprehensive and lucrative TV development and manufacturing offering in various 21st Century Fox TV units. The deal is no longer active in the Disney era.

Watch the full video of Graham-Caso below.

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