Actors' Equity Association and Second Stage Theater Speak Out Against the Illegal Recording of Jesse Williams's and Patrick J Adams's Nude Scene
Actors' Equity and 2nd Stage are coming out in defense of Jesse Williams and Patrick J. Adams after their nude scene in the Broadway show Take Me Out was illegally recorded by an audience member.
Great care was taken to ensure that no footage was captured of the Broadway play Take Me Out, in order to protect the safety and privacy of the actors. Audience members were required to put their phones in special bags and hand them in prior to the start of the show.
Unfortunately, one audience member managed to sneak a phone in, and record footage of an intimate scene featuring Tony nominee Jesse Williams and Patrick J. Adams; the exact scene that demanded the rules to be put in place.
This disgusting violation has since been commented on by Actors' Equity Association, the actors' union. In their detailed statement, they wrote:
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms the creation and distribution of photographs and videos of our members during a nude scene...
"As actors, we regularly agree to be vulnerable onstage in order to tell difficult and challenging stories. This does not mean that we agree to have those vulnerable moments widely shared by anyone who feels like sneaking a recording device into the theater. Whoever did this knew not only that they were filming actors without their consent, but also that they were explicitly violating the theater's prohibition on recording and distribution.
"At every performance, there is a mutual understanding between the audience and the performers that we are sharing an experience limited to this time and place; that trust makes it possible for us to be exposed both emotionally and physically.
"Trampling on this agreement by capturing and distributing these photographs and videos is both sexual harassment and an appalling breach of consent. It is a violation that impedes our collective ability to tell stories with boldness and bravery."
Second Stage Theater, the theater that houses this powerful and brave production, also came out with a strong statement against the horrific actions of the audience member.
"Second Stage Theater has worked to ensure the privacy of the "Take Me Out" company by creating a phone-free space with locked phone cases at all performances. We are appalled that this policy has been violated and unauthorized footage of our acting company has been posted. It is deeply unfortunate that one audience member chose to disrespect the production, their fellow audience members, and, most importantly, the cast in this manner.
"Taking naked pictures of anyone without their consent is highly objectionable and can have severe legal consequences. Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theater community.
"We are actively pursuing takedown requests and ask that no one participates in the distribution of these images. Second Stage is also adding additional staff at the theater to enforce the policy."
We are so sorry that the actors were violated in this way. These actions are disgusting, and we stand with the performers.
