Scott Rudin, a theater and film producer who has won numerous awards for his work, said he is leaving Broadway after allegations of being violent and abusive towards his staff.
“Much has been written about my history of troubling interactions with colleagues, and I am deeply sorry for the pain my behavior has caused individuals, directly and indirectly,” he said in a statement Saturday. “I am now taking steps I should have taken years ago to address this behavior.”
Rudin, 62, said his departure will be immediate and his roles in upcoming Broadway productions will be filled by the “community and, in some cases, from the roster of contestants already attending those shows.”
Several Broadway stars have sued the industry for failing to address Rudin’s alleged behavior.
In a five-minute Instagram video on Wednesday, Tony Award winner Karen Olivo announced she would not be returning to “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” when performances resume, saying she wants a “theater industry that matches my integrity.” .
The Latina actress, who played Satine in the musical, called the silence about Rudin ‘unacceptable’.
“Social justice is actually more important than the sparkling diamond,” said Olivo. “Building a better industry is more important than putting money in my pockets.”
Earlier this month, “On Your Feet!” actor Mauricio Martinez said it was “disheartening to see most of the entertainment industry remain silent about a producer exposed for abuse and sometimes physical abuse of his employees.”
“It’s almost as if assistants are worthless to you, as long as you keep living your dreams,” he tweeted on April 8
Film producer Megan Ellison tweeted an article about Rudin written by The Hollywood Reporter, saying it “barely scratches the surface of Scott Rudin’s abusive, racist and sexist behavior.”
“Like Harvey, too many people are afraid to speak up,” Ellison tweeted on April 7. “I support and applaud those who did. There is good reason to be afraid because he is vengeful and has no qualms about lying.”
Rudin is a powerful producer with over a dozen Tony Awards for his work on Broadway shows such as “The Book of Mormon,” “Hello, Dolly!” and “Fences.” In Hollywood he is behind popular films such as ‘No Country for Old Men’, ‘Lady Bird’, ‘The Social Network’ and ‘Clueless’.
Broadway productions have been interrupted due to the coronavirus pandemic. In his statement, Rudin said he hopes the industry can reopen soon and doesn’t want the allegations against him getting in the way.
“My passionate hope and expectation is that Broadway will reopen successfully very soon, and that the many talented artists associated with it will once again flourish and share their artistry with the world. , Broadway’s well-deserved return, or more specifically, the return of the 1,500 people who worked on these shows, ”he said.
After his announcement, the Actors’ Equity Association praised those who came forward about Rudin.
“Since news stories came out about Scott Rudin, we’ve had many private conversations with our siblings and the Broadway League. We have heard from hundreds of members that these allegations are inexcusable and that everyone deserves a safe workplace, whether they are union members or not, ” a statement read.
The association, which represents more than 51,000 actors and directors, also appealed to the producer to exempt its staff from nondisclosure agreements.
“This is an important step in creating truly safe and harassment-free theatrical workplaces on Broadway and beyond,” he said.
