NPR Fires 'Fresh Air' Film Critic David Edelstein For 'Last Tango in Paris' Rape Scene Joke

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NPR Fires 'Fresh Air' Film Critic David Edelstein For 'Last Tango in Paris' Rape Scene Joke
Associated Press
2-3 minutes

(NEW YORK) — NPR’s “Fresh Air” has parted ways with contributor David Edelstein after the film critic made a joke about the rape scene in “Last Tango in Paris” on his Facebook page following Monday’s death of director Bernardo Bertolucci.

In a statement Tuesday, “Fresh Air” said the post was “offensive and unacceptable” because of what actress Maria Schneider experienced filming the scene. Schneider said in a 2007 interview that the simulated sex scene was unscripted and that she felt bullied by Bertolucci and unsupported by her co-star Marlon Brando. “I was crying real tears,” said Schneider, who died in 2011.

Edelstein had captioned a photo of the scene with the line: “Even grief is better with butter.” After a backlash, which included actress Martha Plimpton calling for Edelstein’s firing, Edelstein said he was unaware of Schneider’s comments and apologized.

Read more at: http://time.com/5465778/npr-fires-david-edelstein-last-tango-joke/