Lawsuit over nude scene in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ dismissed by judge.

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit from “Romeo and Juliet” Stars Over Nude Scenes

In a recent ruling, a judge dismissed the lawsuit filed by Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting, the teenage stars of the 1968 film “Romeo and Juliet,” who claimed they were coerced into performing nude scenes by director Franco Zeffirelli. The judge stated that the film could not be deemed illegal and that the lawsuit was barred by the statute of limitations.

The Allegations

Hussey and Whiting filed the lawsuit just as 2022 ended, claiming that Zeffirelli had promised there would be no actual nudity in the film and that their bedroom scene would feature them wearing flesh-colored underwear. However, as filming progressed, Zeffirelli allegedly asked them to perform nude with body makeup, threatening that without doing so, “the Picture would fail.”

The Ruling

The judge dismissed the lawsuit’s claim that the scenes constituted “child pornography” and stated that the film could not be deemed illegal. The lawsuit was also barred by the statute of limitations. Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old, respectively, at the time of filming.

The Actors’ Response

The actors’ business manager stated that they trusted Zeffirelli and took his lead, believing he would not violate their trust. “Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo,” he said. The actors’ attorney declared that the nude scenes violated the young actors in a way they didn’t know how to deal with.

Hussey’s Perspective

In a 2018 interview with Variety, Hussey spoke about the nude scene, saying, “Nobody my age had done that before. It was needed for the film.” She called Zeffirelli a “genius” and praised his ability to bring characters to life. “If I could have, I would have just worked with Franco,” she added.

Conclusion

The ruling brings an end to the lawsuit filed by Hussey and Whiting over the nude scenes in “Romeo and Juliet.” While the actors claimed they were coerced into performing the scenes, the judge dismissed the lawsuit, stating that the film could not be deemed illegal and that the lawsuit was barred by the statute of limitations.