Director David O. Russell Has a History of Groping and On-Set Abuse

In the wake of three decades worth of sexual assault, harassment and allegations coming to light against Harvey Weinstein, are dropping projects that the Weinstein Company is a part of. Apple canceled an Elvis biopic that was in the works with the company, and director Oliver Stone, who is working with The Weinstein Company and Showtime on a series Guantanamo, said he will not do the project as long as the Weinstein Company is involved, reports the Daily Beast. 

And Amazon is reconsidering the fates of two upcoming projects that are co-productions with The Weinstein Company. Amazon recently announced the resignation of Roy Price in the wake of sexual harassment allegations, reports the Daily Beast, and in October, announced that the company “intends to move forward” on The Romanoffs “without the involvement of The Weinstein Company.” Amazon has, however, decided not to move forward with the David O. Russell project.

 According to the Daily Beast, Russell’s bad behavior has been well-known and documented. He has a history of on-set harassment, and there are interviews where stars discuss his cruel tactics. The Daily Beast says there are even videos of Russell verbally abusing actors.

The Daily Beast writes that Amazon’s decision to do the project in the first place, despite his monstrous behavior as a director and the hostile work environment he creates, is evidence of an industry where “men consistently flourish in spite of allegations against them.”

Russell should not have been hired in the first place, writes the Daily Beast, based on the stories that former co-workers have told. Records of Russell’s behavior dates back to 1999 when he worked on Three Kings. Since then, he has gotten into physical altercations on set, including once with George Clooney, was so abusive to Amy Adams during American Hustle that Christian Bale stepped in, called Lily Tomlin a “b-tch” and a “c-nt,” and according to a police report, and groped his niece. There are endless stories about his behavior, but the Daily Beast writes that they are consistently overlooked.