Romeo and Juliet stars file new lawsuit against Paramount over underage nude images used for Criterion release

Romeo and Juliet stars file new lawsuit against Paramount over underage nude images used for Criterion release

Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting are doubling down on their efforts to stop redistribution of the shots of them naked in the movie.

 

Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey

 

Actors from 1968’s “Romeo and Juliet” Sue Studio Again Over Their Nude Scene

 

Furthermore, “Neither Whiting, nor his guardian ever consented in writing to perform as an actor in the Original Work, nor did he ever purport to give, or recognize any rights in his performance to B.H.E., or any other entity, including, but not limited to the right to recreate, republish, or redistribute photographs of his performance in the Original Work in any other medium or format than 35 mm analogue cinematographic photographs,” according to the complaint.

An attorney for Hussey and Whiting, as well as reps for the defendants — Paramount, Criterion Collection and Janus Films, which owns Criterion — did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

According to court documentation, Hussey and Whiting are seeking “damages in a sum according to proof that is adequate to compensate” them “for their economic injuries suffered as herein above alleged,” as well as “general injuries suffered as herein above alleged.”

They are also seeking “punitive, or exemplary damages in a sum sufficient to punish and/or make an example of them and/or to deter such conduct in the future,” “preliminary and permanent injunction that the Digital Release not be distributed with the Digital Photos included,” “costs of this action” and “such other and further relief as the court may deem appropriate.”

<p>Courtesy Everett Collection</p> Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in <em>Romeo and Juliet</em> (1968)Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet (1968)

 

Whiting and Hussey’s original lawsuit relied on a recent California law that temporarily suspended the statute of limitations regarding claims of child sexual abuse that had a deadline of Dec. 31, 2022.

In May 2023, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alison Mackenzie indicated she would dismiss the lawsuitsaying the film’s content didn’t rise to the level of child pornography and noted that the plaintiffs didn’t follow all the steps to comply with the California law.

The actors’ attorney Solomon Gresen “strongly denounced” the judge’s decision at the time, according to a press release, and said they planned to move forward with a federal lawsuit over a 2023 re-release of Romeo and Juliet.

“We firmly believe that the exploitation and sexualization of minors in the film industry must be confronted and legally addressed to protect vulnerable individuals from harm and ensure the enforcement of existing laws,” said Gresen at the time.

The December 2022 filing said the actors were seeking compensation “believed to be in excess of $500 million” to match the amount of money the film has earned since 1968.

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