Stars of 1968 ‘Romeo and Juliet’ sue Paramount over nude scene filmed when they were minors

The stars of 1968’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are suing over the nude scene they filmed when they were just 15 and 16 years old.

Olivia Hussey, 71, and Leonard Whiting, 72, filed a lawsuit Friday in Santa Monica Superior Court charging the studio with sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Hussey and Whiting say director Franco Zeffirelli originally told them there would be no nudity in the film, but on the last day of filming, he reportedly said the film would “fail” unless they did a nude scene with body makeup on.

The couple is seeking damages “believed to be in excess of $500 million.”

The couple accuses the studio of sexual harassment, fraud, sexual abuse and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

The lawsuit also alleges that the couple was filmed nude without their knowledge.

“What they were told and what happened were two different things,” Tony Marinozzi, the actors’ business manager, said in a statement. declaration.

They trusted Franco. At the age of 16, as actors, they took their initiative that it would not violate that trust they had,’ said the manager.

‘Franco was his friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do?’ Marinozzi added in a statement to the outlet. There are no options. There was no #MeToo.’

The lawsuit alleges that Zefrelli showed the actors where the camera would be placed, but that no nudity would be filmed or disclosed.

Hussey and Whiting thought they “had no choice but to perform nude with body makeup as required on the last day of filming.”

The lawsuit also alleges that the couple was filmed nude without their knowledge.

The film was released in 1968 to great critical acclaim.

Hussey and Whiting say they were originally told by director Franco Zeffirelli that there would be no nudity in the film.

The lawsuit also alleges that the couple was filmed nude without their knowledge.

In a statement to VarietySolomon Gresen, the couple’s lawyer, said the actors “were very young, naive kids in the ’60s who didn’t understand what was about to hit them.”

The couple said the scene caused them long-term financial, physical and emotional pain.

The film also cost Hussey and Whiting “a lifetime of lost income and other employment benefits and employment opportunities,” according to the complaint.

“Suddenly they were famous on a level they never expected, and on top of that, they were raped in a way they didn’t know how to handle,” Gresen said.

The $500 million in damages the couple is seeking matches the amount the film has earned since its 1968 release.

The couple said the scene caused them long-term financial, physical and emotional pain.

The film also cost Hussey and Whiting “a lifetime of lost income and other employment benefits and employment opportunities,” according to the complaint.

The $500 million in damages the couple is seeking matches the amount the film has earned since its 1968 release.

In a 2018 interview, Hussey claimed that Zerffirelli referred to her as ‘Boobs O’Mina’ and admitted that she was the unrequited love of his life.

At the time, Hussey also said that she “loved playing Juliet” but that the press was “exhausting”.

According to Variety, the actors’ lawsuit is based on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on allegations of child sexual abuse.

That law had a deadline of December 31, 2022.

In a 2018 interview, Hussey claimed that Zerffirelli referred to her as ‘Boobs O’Mina’

According to Variety, the actors’ lawsuit is based on a California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations on allegations of child sexual abuse.

Hussey and Whiting thought they “had no choice but to perform nude with body makeup as required on the last day of filming.”