Rami Malek says working with Bryan Singer was ‘not pleasant’
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Rami Malek, the Oscar nominated star of Bohemian Rhapsody, has spoken about what it was like to work with director Bryan Singer, who has been accused of sexual abuse by a number of people.
Speaking at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Malek said: “In my situation with Bryan, it was not pleasant, not at all. And that’s about what I can say about it at this point.”
The Hollywood Reporter has said that Malek was visibly emotional after making the statement, and added: “For anyone who is seeking any solace in all of this, Bryan Singer was fired. Bryan Singer was fired, I don’t think that was something anyone saw coming but I think that had to happen and it did.”
“In my situation with Bryan, it was not pleasant, not at all. And that’s about what I can say about it at this point.”
– Rami Malek
Singer was fried from his position as director of Bohemian Rhapsody for not showing up to work rather than for allegations of abuse.
Speaking at the event, Malek also said that “everyone deserves a voice and anyone who wants to talk about what happened with Bryan deserves to have their voice heard.”
He continued: “My heart goes out to anyone who has to live through anything like what I’ve heard and what is out there.
“In the light of the #MeToo era that this somehow seems to exist after that, it’s a horrible thing.”
– Rami Malek
“It’s awful, it’s remarkable that this happens, I can appreciate so much what they’ve been through and how difficult this must be for them.
“In the light of the #MeToo era that this somehow seems to exist after that, it’s a horrible thing,” he said.
Allegations of sexual abuse against Bryan Singer
The Atlantic recently published an expose about the allegations against Bryan Singer.
The journalists who wrote the story spent 12 months investigating lawsuits and allegations in total, and spoke with more than 50 sources.
A number of people interviewed in the article alleged that Singer had sexually abused them. Singer has denied the allegations.
Emma McIntyre/Getty
Despite allegations of sexual abuse, and being fired from Bohemian Rhapsody before it was completed, Singer stands to make an estimated $40 million from the film, which has been a huge hit at the box office.
The expose led to GLAAD rescinding its nomination for Bohemian Rhapsody for Best Original Film.
Bryan Singer will direct Red Sonja
Meanwhile, film producer Avi Lerner has said that he plans to keep Singer as director of upcoming film, Red Sonja, and described the allegations as “fake news.”
“In America people are innocent until proven otherwise.”
– Avi Lerner
He said: “Bryan Singer continues to be attached. The over $800 million Bohemian Rhapsody has grossed, making it the highest grossing drama in film history, is testament to his remarkable vision and acumen.
“I know the difference between agenda driven fake news and reality, and I am very comfortable with this decision.
“In America people are innocent until proven otherwise.”
The Red Sonja gig is worth an additional $10 million to Singer, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The Atlantic‘s feature also shed some light on the original decision by 20th Century Fox to hire Singer, who has been dogged by abuse allegations for several years, to work on Bohemian Rhapsody.
It alleged: “[Fox executives] had concerns when the project came their way with Singer already attached. But Singer had the support of the surviving members of Queen. The choice for Fox was to do the film with him or to not do it at all.”
