Rita Wilson speaking on the record about Scott Rudin. Don’t take this lightly. This is a major headline.
Rita Wilson tells the New York Times of Rudin: “He is the kind of person who makes someone feel worthless, unvaluable, and replaceable.”
Rita starred in a Larry David play, “Fish in the Dark,” on Broadway produced by Rudin. She tells the Times that Rudin “lamented” she might miss Tony voting season because she was having treatment for breast cancer.
Got that?
“I felt like he was trying to find a way to fire me legally,” Wilson told the Times, noting that Rudin asked to see her medical records. Why? In case she was lying about the breast cancer? The treatments? Who knows?
Rita Wilson is known in Hollywood as a stand up person. She speaks her mind, she doesn’t suffer fools gladly. She’s kind of a leader among celebrity friends. She’s also married to maybe the King of Hollywood, Tom Hanks. And she and Tom are BFFs with Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw. This is Rita Wilson, who produced a massive hit, “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” She’s also got a great music career. You do not insult Rita Wilson.
For Wilson to feel comfortable enough to unload to the New York Times about her shabby treatment means Scott Rudin is toast. When you think about it, you wonder how he thought he could treat her that way in the first place? Did he not understand the impact of his actions? Did he think she’d never mention how she was treated? Forget the New York Times, how about her friends? Her husband?
Let’s not brush by this moment. Rudin has been accused of throwing people out of cars, tossing baked potatoes at them, instigating a suicide, and no end of obnoxious behavior. It was one thing that he didn’t regard underlings seriously or respect anyone around him. But making Rita Wilson feel bad — and I’m serious, not being facetious — seems like the stupidest move he could have made. And I thought even Rudin understood Hollywood politics. I guess not.
Some things you might be able to overcome. The flying potato, the nervous breakdowns. But not this. This may go down as the fatal mistake.
And PS Rita was really good in the play!