Actress Olivia Munn claims that certain cast members from her latest film “The Predator” have shunned her after she pushed Fox Studios to delete a scene that featured a registered sex offender.
Last week, reports surfaced that actor Steven Wilder Striegel pleaded guilty in 2010 for trying to entice a 14-year-old girl into a sexual relationship. As a longtime friend of “The Predator” director Shane Black, Striegel had been given roles in several of Black’s films including “Iron Man 3” and “The Nice Guys.” For “The Predator,” Striegel had a three-page scene alongside Olivia Munn, playing a jogger who hits on her repeatedly.
“Our studio was not aware of Mr. Striegel’s background when he was hired,” Fox told The Associated Press. “Several weeks ago, when the studio learned the details, his one scene in the film was removed within 24 hours.”
Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Munn said her co-stars haven’t exactly responded in kind to her blowing the whistle on a registered sex offender — and that includes director Shane Black. “It’s a very lonely feeling to be sitting here by myself when I should be sitting here with the rest of the cast,” Munn told THR. “I do feel like I’ve been treated by some people that I’m the one who went to jail or I’m the one that put this guy on set.”
On Thursday, Munn tweeted that she still supports the film but is wary that the makers have prioritized promoting the movie over stopping sex offenders.
“I’m contractually obligated. And from what I’m experiencing, I think they’d prefer I not show up. It would make everyone breathe easier,” she tweeted Thursday.
Munn continued: “It’s amazing how many people expect you to put the movie first, especially if you’re the lead. On something like this – where a child has been hurt – my silence will never be for sale. And if it costs me my career they can take it.”
Immediately, actor Sterling K. Brown, a co-star of Munn’s, tweeted out an apology to the actress for feeling that way. “I so appreciate that you ‘didn’t leave well enough alone,'” Brown tweeted. “Thank you to @20thcenturyfox for taking quick action in deleting the scene. @oliviamunn I hope you don’t feel quite so alone. You did the right thing.”
Co-star Keegan-Michael Key’s publicist later informed USA Today that he appreciated Munn’s courage to speak out. “Keegan reached out to Olivia privately last week to let her know how proud he was of her and echoed that sentiment in many interviews since then,” said his publicist.
According to Munn, much of the cold-shouldering came from director Shane Black, who has, allegedly, not spoken to her since the scene was deleted.
“I haven’t heard from Shane. I did see his apology … I would have appreciated it more if it was directed toward me privately before it went public and I had to see it online with everyone else,” she said. “It’s honestly disheartening to have to fight for something so hard that is just so obvious to me.”
Black said in a statement on Thursday that he was “misled” by Striegel as to the nature of his offense. “Having read this morning’s news reports, it has sadly become clear to me that I was misled by a friend I really wanted to believe was telling me the truth when he described the circumstances of his conviction,” said Black. I believe strongly in giving people second chances – but sometimes you discover that chance is not as warranted as you may have hoped.”
Munn stars in the film alongside Boyd Holbrook, Trevante Rhodes and Thomas Jane.