HBO’s ‘Westworld’ Under Fire for Asking Extras to ‘Perform Genital-to-Genital Touching’

SAG-AFTRA advises actors some parts of waiver given to background actors may be unenforceable

HBO’s “Westworld” has caught the attention of SAG-AFTRA after an explicitly worded waiver given to potential background actors included requirements such as “genital-to-genital touching” and other sexual acts.

The document, from Central Casting, says talent who have agreed to serve as background actors on the Anthony Hopkins-led fantasy drama are required to go fully nude and/or witness other fully nude actors as well as participate in graphic sexual situations.

Actors “may be required to perform genital-to-genital touching, simulate oral sex with hand-to-genital touching, contort to form a table-like shape while being fully nude, pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back, [and] ride on someone’s back while you are both fully nude,” reads the document.

The Central Casting document goes on to state that, “If you object to or are uncomfortable working on the Project for any reason, including the graphic nature, required Various Acts, and/or the Project Environment described in this Disclosure & Consent, you will not be able to work on the Project.”

SAG-AFTRA has issued a notice to its members advising that parts of the document may be unenforceable, stating that under their agreement, consent to appear in scenes requiring nudity or sex acts may be withdrawn at any time.

HBO did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.


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