One of the most powerful gay men in Hollywood, film and theater producer Scott Rudin, is being called an “absolute monster” in an explosive Hollywood Reporter cover story that is packed with all sorts of shocking accusations.
Rudin has produced such films as queer cult classics The First Wives Club and Clueless, plus No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird, Fences, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Social Network, and countless other blockbusters. In total, his film productions have raked in over 150 Oscar noms and 23 wins over the years, while his plays have won him 17 Tony Awards.
Not that this is surprising, but Scott Rudin is just the tip of the iceberg. There are SO many producers, directors, and agents (especially agents) who are long overdue for a reckoning for the frankly insane ways they've treated their staff.
— Will Mavity (@mavericksmovies) April 7, 2021
But according the Reporter, the guy is an absolute nightmare to work with and people have only been willing to put up with him out of fear of being blacklisted in the entertainment industry.
Until now, that is.
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Here are just some of the accusations being made against the 62-year-old entertainment mogul:
- Sending an assistant to the emergency room after smashing a computer monitor down on their hand in a fit of rage.
- Throwing a computer at a window in conference room while arguing with a publicist, then storming off to the office kitchen and destroying a napkin dispenser.
- Throwing a glass bowl at someone during a temper tantrum that resulted in an HR staffer suffering a panic attack severe enough to require an ambulance.
- Hitting an assistant with a baked potato.
- Hitting another assistant with a stapler.
- Throwing a teacup at yet another assistant.
- Accusing an employee of theft in an effort to kill a job offer from a competing production company.
- Scrubbing production credits from former employees as payback for quitting.
This isn’t the first time Rudin has been accused of awful behavior either. Stories of his abuse have been circulating for years.
A 2005 Wall Street Journal profile called him a “Boss-Zilla” and included similar war stories from employees, including claims of “caustic rants, shrieking threats, and impulsive firings.”
The profile also mentioned that he went through 119 assistants in five years, not counting the countless ones who never made it through the two-week trial employment period.
Today would be a good day to ask yourself if you’re the Scott Rudin to your own assistants.
— Caroline “Caro” Renard (@sankofa_bird) April 7, 2021
Speaking to the Reporter, Ryan Nelson, who was Rudin’s executive assistant from 2018–2019, said working for the guy was “exhausting and horrific.”
“Not even the way he abused me, but watching the way he abused the people around me who started to become my very close friends,” Nelson recalls. “You’re spending 14 hours a day with the same people, enduring the same abuse. It became this collective bond with these people.”
Rudin has not commented on the bombshell story or the fallout it’s had over the last few days.
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
ttm9
This guy is an UGLY TROLL who couldn’t get another man into bed without paying BIG$$$$! No wonder he acts like such a DICK!!
PoetDaddy
Actually, you seem fairly disgusting, too.
Garath99
Typical response from someone obviously toxic. Bet your profile says ‘no fems, no fats, no……” as well.
Dick.
cortlan
Secret playground for adults, where you can meet different people – xmeet.fun
Chrisk
Someone needs to do an old fashioned beat down on the bully. Only way to get through to those types.
Troyfight
@Chrisk ….I agree.
Jon in Canada
A vile bully who bears more than a striking resemblance to Harvey Weinstein; coincidence? Ugly on the inside which in turn made him ugly on the outside. Insecure men, gay, straight or otherwise are pathetic creatures.
naobe5
Exactly!!
rand503
No comment? Yeah, well the reason why is when you treat your whole staff that badly, you don’t have anyone to write a response or protect you in any way.
rockland2u
wow, he does appear to have a habit of throwing things at people, we need someone with good catching skills, next time a stapler flies your way, just catch it, and fire it right back at him.
Prax07
Lmao @threw a baked potato. Honestly, if a guy as rich as him wants to throw temper tantrums at his staff in hollywood why TF am I supposed to care?
Joshooeerr
Dunno… a shred of compassion and humanity, maybe?
MOE-X
I think people are more likely to call out sexual harrassment these days but this form of physical and mental torture is regularly excepted from people who are considered to have “genius” especially in the performing arts. It’s probably just as much or more common in theater, orchestral, and ballet circles. Being a b**ch queen doesn’t mean it’s not toxic masculinity. He’ll be fine unfortunately.
DuMaurier
I like the baked potato anecdote.
He sounds horrible and I wouldn’t want to work with him (I cry easily), but he reminds me of those Golden Age of Hollywood tyrants like L.B. Mayer, Harry Cohn, Preminger, etc; temperamental, raging geniuses I’m glad I never met but I’m glad existed. You don’t want to many of them, and I’m almost surprised one exists in our persnickety anticepticized time.
kennedyglenn
When I originally came across this story, I half thought it was another expose of horrible illegal sexual ordeals but instead we only find out Rudin is only an arrogant prissy intolerant temper/tantrum big baby. That’s half the men in Hollywood. Why is this newsworthy or an issue. I guess the woke society and cancel culture wants to continue to claim as many people as it can simply because it’s en vogue to do so. Who is next on the chopping block?
cineteach
What an troubling post. This type of behavior is not cute, not healthy, and not acceptable. After 50 + years in the Industry I can tell you it’s not the norm. Most people, no matter how accomplished or how much of a purported “genius” would not be allowed to get away with such abnormal behavior. Tyrannical! Abusive! Actionable!
Troyfight
@cineteach …I agree with you. I did some Hollywood journalism throughout the 2000s, and this kind of behavior is quickly gossiped about, and the jerk increasingly gets avoided ….entertainment is a strange business, though.
inbama
I guess there were no successful lesbians to trash this week.
Australia Elijah
Scott Rudin absolutely needs to be held accountable for these allegations – me thinks this is just the tip of the iceberg. I think we need to start talking about criminal charges being laid – Police investigation. We all know what happened to the Wicked Witch. Mr Rudin would be wise to be careful that someone don’t drop a house on him. #AbsolutelyUnacceptable
Michael1500
Yeah, he’s ugly all right—- the very antithesis of sexy. Just try to keep him away from all mirrors and any reflective objects and maybe his mood will be improved.
Wicked Dickie
“…then storming off to the office kitchen and destroying a napkin dispenser….” Was that added for dramatic effect?
Troyfight
….blasted out laughing from that report, I have to confess.
JustMuscles1
No one should be surprised at the goings-on behind the scenes of Hollywood. It a business that’s been built upon power play since its inception. If you want to make a change, then press charges and hold those in power accountable for being humane, if nothing else. Regardless they will hire and fire who they please. If you want to work in Hollywoodland, then buck up. If you want to make it as an artist, then start your own company. Heck, YouTubers and Instagramers have a platform to create and be their own bosses. It seems like someones figured out how to cut through the Bullshit!
Me2
He should be in jail. I wonder why no one has pressed charges or sued the crap out of him. I hope they dig up more dirt and destroy him.
Cam
America needs to pass better worker protections that also include protections for “Independent Contractors” with penalties for retaliation. That way people will be less afraid to report bullys like this and it will go beyond the “Rumors have circulated for years” stage.