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Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams has addressed the leak of a video of him nude in the broadway show, Take Me Out.
The video emerged on social media last Monday and quickly went viral. It showed Williams during a locker room scene in the play, which is about a closeted baseball player.
The Hayes Theatre, which is home to the production, asks all audience members to lock their phones away in a security bag to prevent such footage, and was quick to condemn the leak.
On Thursday night, Williams told Associated Press, “I’m not down about it. Our job is to go out there every night, no matter what.”
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Although most comments at first focused on Williams’ toned physique and the size of his manhood, many were soon quick to point out that filming someone naked without their consent is not to be applauded.
The Hayes Theatre has since said it was installing infrared cameras and additional security to ensure no audience members are secretly recording the performance.
Related: The Jesse Williams nude leak saga continues
Second Stage Theater, the company running the production, issued a statement saying: “It is deeply unfortunate that one audience member chose to disrespect the production, their fellow audience members, and most importantly, the cast in this matter.
“Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theater community.”
Williams acknowledged the supportive comments he’d received, telling Associated Press, “I’m not really worrying about it. I can’t sweat that. We do need to keep advocating for ourselves. And it’s wonderful to see a community push back and make clear what we do stand for, what we don’t.”
“Consent is important, I thought. So, let’s keep that in mind universally.”
Related: Nude, full-frontal video leak of Jesse Williams sends Twitter into meltdown
In his first major stage role, Williams plays Take Me Out’s main character, Darren Lemming. Also in the show are Patrick J. Adams (Suits) and Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family).
The play is well worth seeing, regardless of that infamous scene. Penned by Richard Greenberg, the show, which won a Tony Award for Best Play for its first run in 2003, examines a major league baseball player coming out as gay.
Last week, Take Me Out scooped four Tony Award nominations, including Best Revival. Jesse Williams, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Michael Oberholtzer are all up for Best Actor.
Head here to read the Queerty review of Take Me Out.
Jim
Good lord how long will this non-story get ink????
jcool
as long as it keeps selling tickets
Tim
Exactly
Kangol2
Queerty wrote: “The play is well worth seeing, regardless of that infamous scene.”
“Regardless of”? Really? Is this a right-wing, anti-nudity site now? Why is the scene “infamous”? It’s a nude scene in a mainstream play about a gay baseball player. Readers of this site are presumably adults, and the majority are LGBTQ, no?
Edited for you: “The play is well worth seeing, including that compelling nude scene. “
Donston
I’m pretty sure they were trying to say even without the nudity it would be a play worth seeing. Having seen a production from a decade ago, the material screams early 2000s. Solid play but not one I found that intriguing. It does allow its performers some good material. As for the consent thing, I do understand feeling violated. However, you have to be a tad realistic. You’re getting naked on stage in front of 100s of people a week in 2022. The nudity is gonna get out there.
Man About Town
Once again Dave, this play is NOT about “a closeted baseball player” because the character comes out at a press conference BEFORE the play even begins.
Bengali
Sad about your perception being so far off.
ShiningSex
What’s the “big” deal? He’s not all that. So a big (obviously played with before hitting the state) d*ck is not a big deal if the person is not that attractive or knows how to use it. SO enough with the story. If you want to see big d*ck, google it and get your pleasure on. This is just a boring story about a boring performance.
Kangol2
Have you seen it? The play during its current Broadway run. Seriously? Do tell.
Capawok
And your name is Shining Sex ??
Really ?
Why ?
Polaro
Of course everyone knew it would be leaked. They always are. There are real problems in the world. This isn’t one of them. And, no, it is not an issue of consent. Cheapens the concept of consent to put that out there.
LeBlevsez
It’s the gif that keeps on giving….
>sorry<
LunaSol2010
The violation of a woman in the nude on stage would be met with severe criminal repercussions, a complete investigation would be made in a 10 seat radius near to the stage area known by the ticket sales information.
Charges of assault & violation would be swift and serious of agreed upon theatre protocols at opening pre show, and again during the mid show intermission.
We admire the posotive conduct of theatre goers as post covid allows.
Patti Lapone gave a huge wake up call with her rant of WAKE THE **** UP! COVER UP YOUR FULL FACE OR GET THE **** OUT OF THE THEATRE!
She stopped the show 3 – 4 previous times for people chronically tapping on txt msgs. And talking non stop during the show.
Now you call Mr Williams assault and violation a stunt to sell Tickets?
What Pathetic cynicism! How jaded. The lowest of the 12 forms of humour. Because they are humour at the cost of another.
Being well-built & a DNA gene poll winner, working out hard and long, we diminish the violation … as greater for women … and a red badge of courage for a guy.
Even Burt Reynolds had a modicum of modesty. And that cost him a serious A list career.
We are a sexist society.
We do hold double standards.
We diminish serious concerns.
We laugh off intimate photos and videos illegally obtained but we never hold the perpetrator accountable. Sex tapes are used to blackmail and dehumanizing celebrities.
We laugh off violations & blame a hit show with multiple Tony Award Nominations for 3 Best Actors in a Tony nominated Best Revival production.
When theatre is a privilege with definite rules of conduct to everyone onstage and offstage and in audience … we never take into account the feelings of violation by actors: Daniel Ratcliffe in EQUIS, …. et al.
Actors are not models for porn consumption. And audience members should be prosecuted by law for filming anything for a cheap thrill and more clicks. This is not a stripper on a bar!
USA: A country with the worst gun proliferation, highest domestic viilence, death rate & domestic terrorism issues in the world.
We have seen 226 mass shooting Jan 1, 2022 to May 16, 2022. We are merely 136 days into the new year, so why is it not being addressed? We could see 2+ a day in the near future.
And let’s not overlook 49% of Republicans believe in a secret Replacement Controversy that white people are being replaced by black, Latin, jews, Muslim, Hindu & Asian citizens.
So where did you see a family member just disappear in your life?
Or it could be a clue to racist excuses to say Covid is a hoax? Why were the wealthy, royalty & famous not free from covid infections? . Ecen several heads of State were infected.
Many overweight people died (& people with underlying conditions). We were NEVER educated that losing 10 to 25 lbs could have saved lives.
We live in a cloud of fears & obsessions that express themselves as impulse control issues and boundary violations that are epidemic.
John Stuart Mill
“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
So which side are you on? Your conduct is easily identified. You are either a positive force in life or you are part of the problem.
Respect for the private intimacy of an actor doing his job should never be fodder for an immoral cheap thrills: social gossip & immoral discord.
(I have been onstage fully undressing with a scene partner, nude and exposed. Had I seen a camera or photographer in the audience I would have committed an equally heinous act of violation against the ‘perp’.)
No one has the right to violate anyone. Ever!
See Mickey Rooney, death by alleged domestic violence.
See Gary Coleman, death by alleged domestic violence.
*See Johnny Deep, alleged survivor of abuse, serious hospitalized injury on night before honeymoon, violent abuse resulting in severed finger, multiple cigarette burns to arm & body. Etc.
*(96.2% social media support JD fighting for hisvright to work as an actor/artist.)
Meanwhile multi million dollar production Aquaman 2 prepares for distribution. No replacement of Amber Heard. Monday she confessed to perjury.) Warner Brothers has a 2 million and building signed petition to recast the role played by AH.
We need to be aware we all deserve respect, truth, respect, the rights to safety and happiness as we see it except at the cost of anothers suffering.
Paulie P
Are we sure his last name is not Kardashian?
ScottOnEarth
Nowhere in this story is anyone quoted as saying, “consent is everything,” yet Jesse Williams is quoted as saying, “consent is important.” Quality and details, matter.