Actors fairness blows up audience member who filmed Jesse Williams nude scene in “Take Me Out” and tweeted it

Actors ‘Equity criticizes an audience member who secretly filmed Jesse Williams’ nude scene while performing. ask me The second stage at the New York theater and then premiered on Twitter. Equity called it “sexual harassment and a terrible breach of consent.”

The New York Theater, which collects cell phones from audience members and keeps them locked up during performances, called the violation “extremely unfortunate” and said it could have “serious legal consequences.” Williams received a Tony Award nomination Monday for her role and has been trending most of the day on Twitter.

“We strongly condemn the creation and distribution of photos and videos of our members during the nude scene,” said Kate Schindl, president of the Actors Association for Equality. “As actors, we regularly accept that we are vulnerable on stage to tell tough and difficult stories. This is not to say that we agree that these vulnerable moments should be widely shared by anyone who wants to steal a recording device from a movie theater. Those who did this knew not only that the actors were hired without their consent, but also unequivocally violated the theater’s ban on recording and broadcasting.

“In every work there is a mutual understanding between the audience and the artists that we share this limited experience of time and place; “This trust allows us to be both emotionally and physically,” added Schindl. “Breaking this agreement by taking and distributing these photos and videos is both sexual harassment and a terrible violation of consent. It is a violation of our collective ability to tell stories with audacity and courage ”.

The Second Stage Theater said it “worked to ensure confidentiality ask me The company creates a phone-free space for all performances with locked phone cases. We are surprised that this policy has been breached and unauthorized images of our operating company have been posted. It’s a shame that one of the audience members chose to disrespect the show, his fellow spectators and, most importantly, the actors. Taking nude photos of someone without their consent is highly controversial and can have serious legal consequences. Posting it on the Internet is a serious and unacceptable violation of the trust built in the theater community between actor and audience. We are actively seeking removal requests and are asking that no one be involved in the distribution of these images. The second scene also adds additional staff to implement the policy in the theater.