“Last Tango in Paris” director Bernardo Bertolucci has called the outcry over a rape scene between stars Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider a “ridiculous misunderstanding.”
In the scene in the 1972 film, Brando’s character rapes Schneider’s while using butter as a lubricant.
“I would like, for the last time, to clear up a ridiculous misunderstanding that continues to generate press reports about ‘Last Tango in Paris’ around the world,” the Italian filmmaker said in a statement Monday. “Several years ago at the Cinematèque Francais someone asked me for details on the famous butter scene. I specified, but perhaps I was not clear, that I decided with Marlon Brando not to inform Maria that we would have used butter.”
“We wanted her spontaneous reaction to that improper use [of the butter]. That is where the misunderstanding lies,” the statement continued. “Somebody thought, and thinks, that Maria had not been informed about the violence on her. That is false!”
Bertolucci added, “Maria knew everything because she had read the script, where it was all described. The only novelty was the idea of the butter.”
The issue erupted over the weekend after a YouTube user posted Bertolucci’s 2013 Cinematèque Francais interview, and several news outlets ran headlines that some interpreted to mean Brando had raped Schneider as the cameras rolled. (Yahoo’s headline said, “Bertolucci admits infamous Last Tango ‘butter’ rape scene was non-consensual.” Time tweeted, “‘Last Tango in Paris’ director admits controversial butter rape scene was really rape.”)
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2007, Schneider said that while what Brando was doing wasn’t real, she objected that the director and her co-star didn’t tell her well in advance about their plans for the scene.
Bertolucci said in the 2013 interview that he and Brando decided on the day they shot the rape scene that Brando’s character should use butter as a lubricant. They didn’t tell Schneider about the idea, Bertolucci said, “because I wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress. I wanted her to react and she felt humiliated… and I think that she hated me and also Marlon because we didn’t tell her that there was that detail of the butter used as a lubricant.”
A number of Hollywood stars and filmmakers — including Chris Evans, Ava DuVernay and Jessica Chastain — weighed in with disgust over the weekend.
Chastain is among those who seems to have interpreted Bertolucci’s quote and the headlines about it to mean Schneider was literally raped.
“To all the people that love this film- you’re watching a 19yr old get raped by a 48yr old man. The director planned her attack. I feel sick,” the actress tweeted.
Schneider, who died of cancer in 2011, said that while no intercourse took place, she “felt a little raped, both by Marlon and Bertolucci” after the one-take scene. She told the Daily Mail she only learned about the scene before they shot it.
“That scene wasn’t in the original script. The truth is it was Marlon who came up with the idea. They only told me about it before we had to film the scene and I was so angry,” she said. “I should have called my agent or had my lawyer come to the set because you can’t force someone to do something that isn’t in the script, but at the time, I didn’t know that. Marlon said to me, ‘Maria, don’t worry, it’s just a movie.’ But during the scene, even though what Marlon was doing wasn’t real, I was crying real tears. I felt humiliated and, to be honest, I felt a little raped, both by Marlon and Bertolucci. After the scene, Marlon didn’t console me or apologize. Thankfully, there was just one take.”
Some have noted on Twitter that if Schneider were penetrated with butter without her consent, that would also be sexual assault. Schneider did not say that occurred, but was disturbed enough to break down on-camera. “Even though what Marlon was doing wasn’t real, I was crying real tears,” she said.
Here are more reactions from Hollywood stars sympathizing with Schneider.
'Game of Thrones' 16 Most Memorable Sex Scenes (Photos)
There have been plenty of times when characters got down and dirty during the last six seasons of "Game of Thrones," although it hasn't always been pleasant. Here's your fully safe for work look at some of the most memorable sex scenes in the show, including at least one that involved leeches. (Note: Spoilers ahead!)
Jaime & Cersei: Season 1, Ep. 1
This scene set the tone for much of the show when the twins were caught committing incest by Bran Stark. From its setting in abandoned broken tower to its ending with attempted murder, the whole thing is pretty gross.
HBO
Tyrion & Ros: Season 1, Ep. 1
We got introduced to the Imp in memorable fashion during this brothel scene. The lovable sex worker Ros was also a part of the moment, before she went on to bigger and better things in King's Landing.
HBO
Daenerys & Drogo: Season 1, Ep. 2
A key turning point in Daenerys taking control of her situation is when she takes control in bed with Khal Drogo. This scene also marks a turning point in their relationship, from arranged marriage to actual love affair.
HBO
Theon & Ros: Season 1, Ep. 5
Long before he became Reek, Theon snuck the ever-present sex worker Ros into Winterfell for this steamy encounter. The stories that Theon was a pretty great lover were part of what led Ramsay to take his "favorite toy" away from him.
HBO
Renly & Loras: Season 2, Ep. 3
The secret lovers faced some turmoil when they argued over Renly's marriage to Loras' sister, Margaery. But it's clear they care for each other, which makes everything that follows so much harder for Loras to bear.
HBO
Stannis & Melisandre: Season 2, Ep. 2
The blood magic the Red Woman, Melisandre, utilizes often has some gross but sexy requirements. The tryst between her and Stannis is necessary to create a ghostly shadow that murders his brother Renly, adding a whole extra level of creepy.
HBO
Robb & Talisa: Season 2, Ep. 8
Robb Stark's downfall began when he broke his engagement to the daughter of Walder Frey in favor of Volantis-born nurse, Talisa. The pair's love isn't enough to save them from betrayal at the Red Wedding, unfortunately.
HBO
Podrick and various sex workers: Season 3, Ep. 3
Podrick proved to be quite the ladies' man when several sex workers refused to take his money -- apparently because he was so good in bed. Bronn and Tyrion demanded details but whatever tips Pod had, they were revealed offscreen.
HBO
Jon & Ygritte: Season 3, Ep. 5
The tender moment in the cave, in which Jon Snow breaks his vows to the Night's Watch, shows real feelings between Jon and Ygritte, despite him being a Crow and her being a Wildling. This is the one moment of happiness the two share before their different worlds tear them apart, with tragic consequences.
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Theon, Myranda & Violet: Season 3, Ep. 7
In this torturous scene, Myranda, Ramsay Bolton's girlfriend, and a second woman, Violet, come to Theon in the torture chamber. He has just enough time to feel like a person again, and for the scene to get hot, before the horrible truth is revealed about Ramsay's plans for Theon.
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Melisandre & Gendry (and leeches): Season 3, Ep. 8
More sexy blood magic times with Melisandre, this time with her seducing the bastard son of Robert Baratheon, Gendry. After the act, she puts leeches on him -- the King's Blood they suck out of Gendry allows Melisandre to see the future. Creepy though that may be, it wasn't a wholly bad deal for Gendry.
HBO
Oberyn & Ellaria: Season 4, Ep. 1
Oberyn and Ellaria not only had each other but several other women and men at the same time at Littlefinger's brothel. The Dornish have fewer hangups than the rest of Westeros, that's for sure.
HBO
Daario & Daenerys: Season 4, Ep. 7
Daenerys took her first lover since Drogo when she slept with sexy sellsword Daario Naharis. The pair had something of a relationship from then on, but Daenerys broke it off when she sailed for Westeros -- and was surprised that doing so didn't really bother her.
HBO
Ramsay & Myranda: Season 5, Ep. 5
Ramsay was creepy enough on his own. But then you add in Myranda, his girlfriend and the daughter of his kennelmaster. Myranda's just as sick as Ramsay when it comes to sadism, and their sexy moment oscillates between pleasure and pain pretty easily.
HBO
Missandei & Grey Worm: Season 7, Ep. 2
The tension between Daenerys' former slaves turned trusted advisers has been ramping up for what seems like forever. Finally, Missandei and Grey Worm had their moment together. The Unsullied are famously eunuchs, but Grey Worm and Missandei found ways to be intimate that got around his limitation.
HBO
Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen, Season 7, Ep. 7
After teasing romance between Jon and Dany all through the season, it finally happened on the boat from Dragonstone to White Harbor. It wasn't the most ridiculous sex scene of the show, but it was one fans have been waiting for throughout Season 7 -- and for fans who predicted this might happen long ago, years.
TheWrap takes a mostly-clothed, SFW look at some of the steamiest moments from the HBO series across the last seven seasons
There have been plenty of times when characters got down and dirty during the last six seasons of "Game of Thrones," although it hasn't always been pleasant. Here's your fully safe for work look at some of the most memorable sex scenes in the show, including at least one that involved leeches. (Note: Spoilers ahead!)