Jesse Williams speaks out after nude Broadway scene video leak: ‘It’s just a body’
Jesse Williams responds to the NSFW footage that was leaked online from his Broadway performance (Photo by Francois Durand/Getty Images)
Former Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams said stripping off on stage isn’t ‘that big of a deal’ after a nude video was published on social media.
On Monday (9 May), a scene from Jesse Williams’ Broadway play, Take Me Out, where the actor is completely nude began to circulate after an audience member filmed and posted it online.
After social media went wild over the NSFW footage, Watch What Happens Live aired an interview with Williams in which he discussed getting naked on stage.
“It’s a body, once you see it, you realise it’s whatever, it’s a boy,” he said during Tuesday night’s episode (10 May).
“I just have to make it not that big of a deal.”
Former Grey’s Anatomy star Jesse Williams. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)
Theatre threatens legal action after Jesse Williams nude video leak
The Second Stage Theatre, where the play is staged, said it was “appalled” by the Jesse Williiams leak.
In a statement to Deadline, the theatre said: “Taking naked pictures of anyone without their consent is highly objectionable and can have severe legal consequences.
“Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theatre community.
The theatre collects audience members’ phones on entry, keeping them locked away for the duration of the play, and said it is adding additional staff to enforce the policy.
Take Me Out sees Williams play a gay baseball player who comes out at the peak of his career.
The production has received widespread acclaim and Williams has been nominated for a Tony Award, in the category Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play.
Williams spoke about the role in an interview with Page Six.
“I was terrified” he said, “But then I noted that that was what I asked God for. I asked to be terrified. I asked to do something that was scary and challenging and made me earn it and made me feel alive and not comfortable.”
Williams isn’t the only famous face on the Take Me Out cast. The former Grey’s Anatomy star is joined by Modern Family Jesse Tyler Ferguson, and Suits star Patrick J Adams.
