Scott Rudin takedown - Page 3

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 2:38pm

Let’s just be real. A couple people on a message board “boycotting” his shows is nothing. And I’m going to guess that pretty close to 100% of people who’ve bought tickets to “Music Man” have zero idea who Rudin is and will never make the connection. By the time they see his name in the playbill, there will be zero recollection of this story they might pass by or briefly see. I’m not saying he’s a good person, just that this story will have zero impact on box office for the show.

[Plexsis]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 2:48pm

His bio has been taken out of the bios section of the Music Man official site. Can’t confirm it was there before (way back doesn’t have anything for the bios page), but I feel like I definitely saw it before.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 2:54pm

If his name has been removed, even more proof that this will have no impact on the production.

[raddersons]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 2:55pm

I think the key takeaway here is: His reputation in business mattered more than his reputation as a person. He is someone whose shows win awards and turn profits. Look where many of the people interviewed have ended up: Netflix, Sony Motion Pictures... having Rudin on your resume said you were the real deal. It's not dissimilar to Weinstein: He used his power and influence to get away with abuse, whether physical or sexual (in Weinstein's case). And people were willing to look the other way for a really long time. 

The argument of "If you don't like him, don't work with him" really doesn't hold up. You may know he's abusive, but you don't say no to Scott Rudin because being associated with him meant bigger and better things for you. That's the problem.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:03pm

Plexsis said: "His bio has been taken out of the bios section of the Music Man official site. Can’t confirm it was there before (way back doesn’t have anything for the bios page), but I feel like I definitely saw it before."

When I checked out the website about a month ago, his bio was there. Yikes. 

 

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:09pm

I remember during the whole Beetlejuce drama in late 2019, I was reading the Indeed reviews on working for him and they were horrible as I've also seen rumors on here over the years.

Also, remember all that crap with Shuffle Along? I remember somebody on here said that Billy Porter said somewhere that closing due to Audra being pregnant was a lame excuse and it closed on something "totally different" that he will reveal when he writes a memoir. There was also the whole lawsuit incident from the insurance company.

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:13pm

Also, is he related to Rudin Real Estate? If so, he's most likely a distant cousin of mine .....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:40pm

Wild that this thread doesn't appear on the homepage of the BWW message board. I had to google it since I saw no discussion of this.

[MannPhan24601]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:41pm

Also, I assume that canceled NYT article on Broadway and Metoo was on Rudin? I found tweets saying NYT was supposed to expose him last year too

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:42pm

Probably.

This is from the THR writer: https://twitter.com/TatianaSiegel27/status/1379824635487879176

[JBroadway]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:48pm

LizzieCurry said: "Wild that this thread doesn't appear on the homepage of the BWW message board. I had to google it since I saw no discussion of this."

 

You mean the main homepage where you see all the threads? This homepage? https://forum.broadwayworld.com/index.php

It's showing up for me. 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:53pm

Weird. I searched in-page for "Rudin" and there was nothing. 

(Oh. Maybe I've blocked the OP or vice versa. Haha!)

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 3:56pm

There are enough categories of loathsomeness (none added by this article but that's beside the point) that it is hard to imagine anyone who can't find at least one to justify some horrible outcome for him. The more interesting question is who, if anyone, has the will to do something about it. As much as we might want to deflect the focus onto individual talent, the true power players are the audience and the landlords. As noted, most of the audience has no clue about any of this (yet at least), and it seems pretty clear that a good share of the clued-in are not going to do the "right thing." And the landlords? ummm... 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:04pm

Must be a slow news day if they’re running with this, YAWN

[blaxx]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:08pm

Who wants to bet that Jackman drops out in 3...2. 1...

[Dolly80]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:17pm

I suspect if this story gains heat, that the floodgates will open. There won’t be a shortage of people who’ve been treated terribly, so I hope they come forward.

 

abusive behaviour , whether sexual or not, should have no place in the work environment, and I’m glad it’s being called out now.

(Grabs popcorn ....)

[Dolly80]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:22pm

castlestreet said: "Maybe you guys have heard of a little known Broadway producer and generally regarded nightmare name David Merrick???

Difficult and even abusive in a Miranda Priestly way isn’t anything new in show business. You all keep mentioning that you are aware of this, and then say because of the times we live in now that this has to stop-they aren’t the same things, not even close.

The people who have been canceled because of sexual misconduct and harassment are crossing a line that is incredibly dangerous to the victim. I’m not saying mistreatment like those who’ve worked with a Scott Rudin doesn’t have lasting effects - but there’s literally no comparison, and if that line of work doesn’t work bc of the high stakes and difficult personalities-I’m sorry, but you’ve gotta find another line of work.

I know a lot of people who have worked at the highest level of the Broadway theater-performers, directors, press agents, producers, even marketing - they all say the same thing. When your working with the best the business has to offer, you’ve gotta have thick skin. Tempers flare, stakes are extremely high."

That’s rubbish. I’ve worked with some of the top people in the business, and more often that not, I’ve found the biggest names are the best behaved. 
Luckily a very few are bullies, but when they have a lot of power, watch out. 
 

No one should be excusing this behaviour, there should be a level of respect when you work in theatre. No matter what your position.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:24pm

blaxx said: "Who wants to bet that Jackman drops out in 3...2. 1..."

I might take that, for a couple reasons, including that it is Rudin who drops out. 

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:27pm

Surprised to think people who think that boycotts don't work. Look at Ellen de Generes. Stories about her had been floating around for years but that infamous twitter thread where all the tea was spilled has affected her ratings.

If enough big names come out and speak of their experiences, there will be consequences for Scott Rudin.

[HogansHero]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:39pm

poisonivy2 said: "Surprised to think people who think that boycotts don't work. Look at Ellen de Generes. Stories about her had been floating around for years but that infamous twitter thread where all the tea was spilled has affected her ratings.

If enough big names come out and speak of their experiences, there will be consequences for Scott Rudin."

The big names have not had these experiences with Rudin; just the little names. So the question is whether some of the former will act on behalf of the latter.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 4:59pm

HogansHero said: "poisonivy2 said: "Surprised to think people who think that boycotts don't work. Look at Ellen de Generes. Stories about her had been floating around for years but that infamous twitter thread where all the tea was spilled has affected her ratings.

If enough big names come out and speak of their experiences, there will be consequences for Scott Rudin."

The big names have not had these experiences with Rudin; just the little names. So the question is whether some of the former will act on behalf of the latter."

Hogan, you nailed it. That’s truly what’s needs to happen. Those in power (an A-lister) need to act on behalf of others. It can be something as simple as saying,”I am hearing these reports about your behavior and I need to know what’s going on before I get into a business relationship with you.” Trust me, if Bette, Denzel, or Hugh were to inquire about this, it would have a huge effect. Sadly, most won’t.

[James885]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 5:01pm

True Grit producer & CEO of Annapurna Pictures Megan Ellison has spoken out against Rudin:

Scott Rudin Slammed As ‘Abusive, Racist & Sexist’ By Fellow ‘True Grit’ EP Megan Ellison After Exposé

[JennH]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 5:03pm

MannPhan24601 said: "Also, I assume that canceled NYT article on Broadway and Metoo was on Rudin? I found tweets saying NYT was supposed to expose him last year too"

As in the one promised back in the fall or so of 2017? Likely. Although, I believe there's was a few names that were supposed to be dropped back then, and I can't imagine Rudin wasn't one of them. Man, I can't believe that's been already 3.5 years...I keep feeling like it was way more recent than that.

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 5:04pm

Didn't Kelli O'Hara say once that there's a few people in the industry she won't work with? I wonder if she meant Scott Rudin.

[joevitus]

Posted: 4/7/21 at 5:18pm

raddersons said: "I think the key takeaway here is: His reputation in business mattered more than his reputation as a person. He is someone whoseshows win awards and turn profits.Look where many of the people interviewed have ended up: Netflix, Sony Motion Pictures... having Rudin on your resume said you were the real deal. It's not dissimilar to Weinstein: He used his power and influence to get away with abuse, whether physical or sexual (in Weinstein's case). And people were willing to look the other way for a really long time.

The argument of "If you don't like him, don't work with him" really doesn't hold up. You may know he's abusive, but youdon't say no to Scott Rudin because being associated with him meant bigger and better things for you. That's the problem."

You have ethics or you don't. If you don't want to work with someone, or endorse them, because they are abusive, then you don't. If you choose to do so...guess who you have to blame? (Hint: it isn't other people.)

Updated On: 4/7/21 at 05:18 PM