He’s taking more steps back than James Harden.
Scott Rudin, the Hollywood and Broadway heavy-hitter accused of abuse by several former staffers, is taking a “step back” from his film productions.
Rudin, 62, has produced dozens of plays and movies, and is one of just 16 people to win an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. But former employees described him as a “monster” who threw things at his staff and created a culture of fear at Scott Rudin Productions.
He took his first “step back” Saturday, limiting his involvement in multiple current Broadway productions. On Tuesday, he took another, related to his film and streaming products, USA Today reported. Exactly how far Rudin is stepping back remains unclear.
“When I commented over the weekend, I was focused on Broadway reopening successfully and not wanting my previous behavior to detract from everyone’s efforts to return,” Rudin said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “It’s clear to me I should take the same path in film and streaming. I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior has caused and I take this step with a commitment to grow and change.”
Stories about Rudin’s toxic behavior go back decades. The 1994 film “Swimming With Sharks,” about an abusive boss, was reportedly based on Rudin.
Rudin’s recent decisions came several days after a Hollywood Reporter expose detailed some of those stories, though pushback in Hollywood and on Broadway has been relatively light.
Tony-winning actress Karen Olivo was the biggest star to call out Rudin, and she blasted the industry for its non-response.
“The silence about Scott Rudin, unacceptable. Unacceptable,” Olivo said. “That’s the easy one y’all. That’s the monster. That should be a no-brainer.”
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