William Shakespeare famously wrote, “Thus with a kiss I die,” in his tragic play Romeo & Juliet. And today, a Los Angeles judge echoed those words in response to a $100 million lawsuit against Paramount Pictures from the stars of Franco Zeffirelli’s Oscar-nominated 1968 adaptation of the play. Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting alleged sexual abuse and negligence, claiming that Zeffirelli violated their consent by filming them nude without their knowledge. However, Judge Alison Mackenzie dismissed the case, stating that the bedroom scenes in question were a “gross mischaracterization” and protected by the First Amendment. The judge also made it clear that the claims of child pornography were unfounded.
Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old when the film was shot, and they sought $100 million in damages. However, their claims were 180° from what Hussey said in 2018 when she spoke of the nudity in the film, stating that it “wasn’t that big of a deal.” The nudity was certainly a big deal when Romeo & Juliet was released in 1968, as it was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two Oscars.
Zeffirelli, who faced claims of sexual harassment and assault in the past, was unable to respond to Hussey and Whiting’s accusations as he passed away in 2019. However, his son Pippo Zeffirelli did respond, calling the allegations “embarrassing” and stating that the actors owed their notoriety to the film.
While Hussey and Whiting may be considering an appeal, it seems that this matter has come to an end. As Shakespeare wrote, “Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
