In 2017, actress Anna Faris recounted an incident in which a film director behaved inappropriately toward her, but at the time, she withheld the director's identity.
However, on Wednesday's episode of the podcastAnna Faris is Unqualified, she finally exposed the director during a session with guest Lena Dunham.
Faris stated late director Ivan Reitman slapped her on the butt as she was standing on a ladder while filming a scene from the 2006 movie My Super Ex-Girlfriend.
She first asked Dunham:
"Can I speak ill of the dead?"
Then she recalled:
"I was doing a scene where I was on a ladder and I was supposed to be taking books off a shelf, and he slapped my (butt) in front of the crew so hard, and all I could do was giggle."
"I remember looking around and I remember seeing the crew members being like, 'Wait, what are you going to do about that? That seemed weird.'"
"And that's how I dismissed it. I was like, 'Well, this isn't a thing. Like, it's not that big of a deal. Buck up, Faris. Like, just giggle.'"
"But it made me feel small. He wouldn't have done that to the lead male."
Dunham also chimed in:
"I don't think you're the first person who's reported that. And I'm so sorry you had that experience."
"And did no one step in and say, 'No?'"
Faris answered:
"No, it was like 2006."
According to Faris, it wasn't the only disturbing incident between the two.
"One of my hardest film experiences wast with Ivan Reitman. I mean, the idea of attempting to make a comedy under this reign of terror..."
"He was a yeller. He would bring down somebody every day and my first day, it was me."
Upon learning of Faris' story, many took to twitter to show their support.
\u201c@IndieWire @AnnaFaris you always out them. Dead or alive. It takes courage to do this and those that don't see it that way are probably the ones protecting the slime balls. Good on you Anna, teaching others girls to OUT every chance you can.\u201d— IndieWire (@IndieWire) 1666186392
\u201c@IndieWire Disgusting\u201d— IndieWire (@IndieWire) 1666186392
\u201cAs a longtime fan of Ivan Reitman, it's really disappointing to hear that he behaved in such an inappropriate manner. And to Anna Faris! Who would ever want to treat Anna Faris badly? \nhttps://t.co/1ETmMUfTSi\u201d— Mike McGranaghan (@Mike McGranaghan) 1666207225
\u201c@Variety That man is extremely disrespectful of women. If he'd slapped by butt I'd have slapped his butt face.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1666189066
\u201c@vulture Dude had a terrible rep in the business for years\u201d— Vulture (@Vulture) 1666194179
One of the producers of the film also contributed:
\u201cGavin Polone, one of the producers on My Super Ex Girlfriend, has told us this morning: \u201cI never saw that incident, or heard about it, but I would not have any reason to dispute Anna\u2019s account, either.\u00a0If Anna says it happened, I believe her\u2026\u201d (Cont.)\u201d— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline Hollywood) 1666192177
\u201c\u201cIf it had happened in front of me, I certainly would have confronted Ivan about it. I\u2019m sad to think Anna was demeaned in that way\u201d https://t.co/6mJb4UfSD0\u201d— Deadline Hollywood (@Deadline Hollywood) 1666192177
Entertainment Weekly reached out to representatives for the studio of My Super Ex-Girlfriend, but they have yet to comment.
Reitman, who is best known for directing Ghostbusters and Schwarzenegger films Junior, Twins, and Kindergarten Cop, passed away in February at the age of 75.
