As the mega-producer begins to sever ties with Broadway shows and film projects amid allegations of abuse, financial supporter Barry Diller remains the mother, and key decision makers have remained out of the conflict so far.
Call it easy spacing. Following an April 7th Hollywood Reporter exposed to Scott Rudin’s abusive behavior, a number of industry organizations and Rudin himself began to address the issue, albeit in vague and toothless ways.
On April 17, Rudin announced that he was withdrawing from “active participation” in his future Broadway projects, but gave no indication of what it actually means and which tracks will be affected. Three days later, he released a second statement saying he was moving away from film and streaming projects.
But so far, no industry player or future business partner Rudin has spoken out, and most of the industry holds its mother accountable for allegations of physical violence. Rudin remains a client at WME, an agency that quickly severed ties with other clients accused of the offense, including Armie Hammer and Brett Ratner. But a WME source quickly pointed out that Rudin is a customer with limited capacity, only for television.
The lack of action makes some prominent industries feel frustrated and skeptical. On April 12 Walking Dead Gale producer Anne Hurd contacted the Producers Guild and asked management to take a stand on Rudin. So far, the PGA has not said anything, not even the Academy, which appoints Rudin as a member. “Scott Rudin’s behavior towards his staff is not just an open secret, but one that has been tolerated for too long,” says Hurd. THR. “Given the deafening silence in the industry on these recent allegations, it looks like nothing will change. It is heartbreaking that none of the film / TV studios, networks or unions have issued a statement in support of the victims of his alleged criminal abusive behavior. “
Into the THROn the cover story of April 7, several of Rudin’s former employees recounted his acts of intimidation, which included throwing items at subordinates in the New York office, such as a glass bowl, a baked potato, a cup of tea and a stapler. At least two employees arrived at the hospital – one due to stress, another due to the fact that Rudin allegedly broke a computer monitor in the hands of a young man.
A24 has the strongest ties to Rudin, the producer responsible for many of the New York distributor’s most hectic and profitable films, including Ladybug, Ex Machina and Gemstones. But she has not yet commented on her ongoing relationship with him. An A24 source says THR that Rudin is no longer involved in Jennifer Lawrence Red, white and water and Joel Coen Macbeth’s tragedy, starring Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. But it is not clear whether this is due to the fact that the films are already in post-production. Still warming the waters, billionaire tycoon Barry Diller, a close friend of Rudin’s, has a stake in the A24 and claims Scott Rudin Prods., According to sources.
If Rudin is one of the most powerful producers in the film industry in the last 25 years, he is a titan on Broadway. He and Jane Rosenthal were selected by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to lead the recent Broadway Pop Up shows, a partnership with the New York State Council for Arts and Development Empire State. Rudin’s name has been circulating in the program’s press releases since April 19. Rosenthal declined to comment, as did the governor’s office. Rudin was expected to run the Labor Day program and was the key player in talent training.
But apart from Tony winner Karen Olivo, who has announced that she will give up her lead role Red Mill! – not a Rudin production – in protest of the community’s apathy towards Rudin’s accusations, key decision makers were left out of the fight. A source says THR that The man of music star Sutton Foster has promised to give up the upcoming production, seen as one of the most anticipated plays that will mark Broadway’s return to business after a devastating closure of COVID-19, if Rudin had not set it aside. But Hugh Jackman of the play did not make such an ultimatum, says another source.
For her part, Olivo does not hold her breath that a real change sweeps Broadway and raises a status quo “that favors the profits of the people.”
“This is great news if Rudin is actually moving away [Music Man] and breaking all ties and not becoming a silent co-producer / investor, ”says Olivo. “I’d like to focus on repairing the damage to the victims, focusing on the experience rather than going back to where Rudin is doing Broadway a favor, moving away.”
Meanwhile, some of those who have suffered as a result of Rudin’s abusive behavior have spoken out. David Graham-Caso posted an emotional video message on Twitter in which he spoke directly with Rudin. The video detailed alleged abuse that his identical twin brother, Kevin Graham-Caso, endured at the hands of Rudin. Kevin worked for Rudin in 2008 and 2009 and was “criticized and degraded, assaulted and intimidated and harassed,” according to his brother, and developed a severe anxiety disorder as a result. Kevin took his own life in October.
Rudin’s statement that he was “deeply sorry for the pain my behavior caused people” did not impress his surviving brother. “The pain and suffering caused by Scott Rudin will not be cured by doubling it in a cascade of empty public relations, cynically designed to avoid the real consequences,” says David Graham-Caso THR. “The power to change things, to save future assistants from a fate similar to Kevin’s, belongs to the people who allowed Rudin’s abuse for so long. If the actors, writers and directors who have collaborated with Rudin in the past resist this aggressor, they have the power to save lives. ”
This story first appeared in the April 21 issue of The Hollywood Reporter. Click here to subscribe.