Rita Wilson claims Scott Rudin tried 'to find a way to fire' her after her breast cancer diagnosis

Rita Wilson opened up about her experience working with the disgraced producer Scott Rudin on the 2015 Broadway comedy Fish in the Dark, penned by Larry David.

In a new interview with The New York Times, the actress, 64, recalled how Rudin, 62, made her feel ‘worthless, unvaluable and replaceable’ after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

‘When she told Mr. Rudin the news, she said, he complained that she would need time off during Tony voting season and asked to see her medical records, while Anna Shapiro, the director, grew upset about having to find a replacement,’ the outlet reported.

Speaking up: Rita Wilson opened up about her experience working with the disgraced producer Scott Rudin on the 2015 Broadway comedy Fish in the Dark, penned by Larry David; seen in 2020

Speaking up: Rita Wilson opened up about her experience working with the disgraced producer Scott Rudin on the 2015 Broadway comedy Fish in the Dark, penned by Larry David; seen in 2020

The report added: ‘A few days later, just before the curtains rose, Ms. Wilson received a call from her agent, saying her surgeon needed to call the insurance adjuster immediately, per Mr. Rudin’s demands. The memory still pains her.’ 

Speaking directly about Rudin, Wilson said she felt ‘he was trying to find a way to fire’ her ‘legally.’

‘He is the kind of person who makes someone feel worthless, unvaluable and replaceable,’ she noted, as she joined the chorus of figures in the entertainment industry who have spoken out against Rudin for his allegedly abusive behavior on set. 

Unbelievable behavior: In a new interview with The New York Times , the actress, 64, recalled how Rudin, 62, made her feel 'worthless, invaluable and replaceable' after she was diagnosed with breast cancer (Scott Rudin pictured in 2011)

Unbelievable behavior: In a new interview with The New York Times , the actress, 64, recalled how Rudin, 62, made her feel ‘worthless, invaluable and replaceable’ after she was diagnosed with breast cancer (Scott Rudin pictured in 2011)

Rick Miramontez, one of Rudin’s spokesmen, told the newspaper that the Oscar winner’s ‘recollection was that Ms. Wilson had wanted to open the show and then leave, but that he and the director had not wanted her to delay treatment. 

Last week, Rudin resigned from the the Broadway League amid accusations of bullying staff. 

Rudin told The Washington Post: ‘Much has been written about my history of troubling interactions with colleagues, and I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior caused to individuals, directly and indirectly.

Rick Miramontez, one of Rudin's spokesmen, told the newspaper that the Oscar winner 'recollection was that Ms. Wilson had wanted to open the show and then leave, but that he and the director had not wanted her to delay treatment; seen in 2020

Rick Miramontez, one of Rudin’s spokesmen, told the newspaper that the Oscar winner ‘recollection was that Ms. Wilson had wanted to open the show and then leave, but that he and the director had not wanted her to delay treatment; seen in 2020

‘After a period of reflection, I’ve made the decision to step back from active participation on our Broadway productions, effective immediately. My roles will be filled by others from the Broadway community and in a number of cases, from the roster of participants already in place on those shows.

‘My passionate hope and expectation is that Broadway will reopen successfully very soon, and that the many talented artists associated with it will once again begin to thrive and share their artistry with the world. I do not want any controversy associated with me to interrupt Broadway’s well deserved return, or specifically, the return of the 1500 people working on these shows.’

Several of Rudin’s former staffers who worked for him at his Scott Rudin Productions spoke out about his alleged abusive and bullying behavior in a series of interviews with The Hollywood Reporter published on earlier this month.

The allegations leveled against the super-producer, which date back decades, range from physical and emotional abuse to bullying and mistreatment.

Stepping down: Last week, Rudin resigned from the from the powerful Broadway League amid accusations of bullying staff; seen in 2017

Stepping down: Last week, Rudin resigned from the from the powerful Broadway League amid accusations of bullying staff; seen in 2017

Many of the former staffers were entry-level employees who worked as assistants fresh out of college.

In one alleged incident in 2012, Rudin was accused of sending a bleeding male assistant to the hospital after smashing an Apple computer monitor on the employee’s hand because he couldn’t get a seat on a sold-out flight.

Staffers also detailed witnessing him throw laptops at walls, a stapler at a theater assistant and a glass bowl at another employee that smashed after hitting a wall.

In 2018, he threw a baked potato at his then-assistant for not telling him earlier that he had a meeting scheduled with someone from the New York based A24 media company.

Abuse of power: Of the films he has produced, 23 have won Oscars and 151 have been nominated. Rudin has also won 17 Tony Awards for his work on Broadway; pictured with Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin at the New York premiere of The Hours in 2002

Abuse of power: Of the films he has produced, 23 have won Oscars and 151 have been nominated. Rudin has also won 17 Tony Awards for his work on Broadway; pictured with Harvey Weinstein and Scott Rudin at the New York premiere of The Hours in 2002

Others described Rudin screaming at them from such a close distance that his spit landed on their faces.

‘When you feel his spit on your face as he’s screaming at you, saying, ‘You’re worth nothing,’ it obviously makes an impact, and we’re young,’ one of his former assistants said.

‘Over his long career, there are hundreds and hundreds of people who have suffered. And some have given up their dreams because he made them feel and believe that they can’t do whatever it is they’re trying to do.’

Successful career: His film producing credits include: No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird, The Social Network and The Truman Show; seen in 2016

Successful career: His film producing credits include: No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird, The Social Network and The Truman Show; seen in 2016

Some employees said he was also vindictive and would go as far as changing credits on IMDb that they had obtained working for him when they quit.

Rudin is among the most decorated in the industry and is among the few to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards – otherwise known as EGOT status.

Of the films he has produced, 23 have won Oscars and 151 have been nominated. Rudin has also won 17 Tony Awards for his work on Broadway.

His film producing credits include: No Country for Old Men, Lady Bird, The Social Network and The Truman Show.

While many in the industry have faced a reckoning in the wake of Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement, Rudin’s ex-employees say the super-producer managed to continue on with his alleged abusive behavior.

source: dailymail.co.uk