'Profoundly sorry’ - A look back when Scott Rudin stepped back post-bullying allegations, shaking Broadway

In a shockwave that rattled Broadway, prolific producer Scott Rudin decided to withdraw from active participation in his Broadway productions following allegations of bullying. As reported by The Guardian in 2021, Rudin expressed his profound regret over his conduct and pledged immediate remedial action.

Drama off the Stage

"After a period of reflection, I’ve made the decision to step back," announced Rudin, following a damming cover story by The Hollywood Reporter. The report painted a grim picture of Rudin's alleged volatile behavior, including accounts of him hurling objects at his staff. Despite the severity of the claims, Rudin did not deny the allegations. Instead, he stated that he is "profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior has caused."

The Fallout: Broadway Responds

His statement sparked a ripple effect across the Broadway community, prompting performers' unions such as SAG-AFTRA, Actors Equity, and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802 to unify against harassment and toxic work environments.

Rudin's apology couldn't deter Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo from exiting 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical,' nor could it prevent a protest march on Broadway. An escalating campaign is urging the Actors’ Equity Association to add Rudin to a Do Not Work list.

The Show Must Go On

Rudin's Broadway portfolio includes big-ticket productions like 'The Music Man,' 'The Book of Mormon,' 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and a revival of 'West Side Story.' 

Regardless of the personal turmoil, Rudin conveyed his hope for Broadway's imminent reopening after its year-long pandemic hiatus. "My passionate hope and expectation is that Broadway will reopen successfully very soon," he said, expressing his desire not to disrupt the return of the 1,500 people working on his shows.

However, the Actors’ Equity Association, representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers, did not deem Rudin's stepping back as enough. The organization advocated for Rudin to release his staff from any non-disclosure agreements as a step toward truly safe, harassment-free theatrical workplaces.

(Several parts of the text in this article, including the title, were generated with the help of an AI tool.)