Jared Leto distances himself from the Brett Ratner-directed Hugh Hefner bio-pic

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What’s surprising about The Sexual Assailant Outing of 2017 is how few of the names are actually surprising. Many long-time gossip-readers knew that Jeremy Piven was sleazy, that Harvey Weinstein was a terrible person, that Brett Ratner is disgusting. I guess the surprise, for me, is that so many women are finding their voices and coming out to tell their stories, and people are listening to them and taking their stories seriously. In Brett Ratner’s case, it felt like it was a long time coming, and yet it was a surprise when the LA Times’ article dropped on Wednesday, mostly because Ratner is extremely well-connected (much like Weinstein).

I forgot several things about Ratner – one, he had a first-look deal with Warner Bros, which WB first put under “review” in the wake of the LA Times story, then they canceled the first-look deal outright last night. Two, his production company RatPac is massively influential, helping to finance and produce Oscar-winner The Revenant, and co-financing Wonder Woman too. In fact, WW’s director Patty Jenkins is currently issuing statements about her association with Ratner – he wrote a check to cover her thesis film, and he championed her as a director, and she feels guilty because she didn’t know he had been so gross with other women. You can read her statement here. I have no problem acknowledging that Ratner made some good decisions as a producer and financier of films AND that he was very disgusting with a lot of women.

You know what else I forgot? Ratner had signed on to direct the Hugh Hefner bio-pic which was announced two seconds after Hef died. Guess who’s distancing himself from the bio-pic now?

Jared Leto will not be playing Hugh Hefner in a biopic directed by Brett Ratner, who has been accused of multiple cases of sexual misconduct or harassment.

“Jared Leto is not and was not attached to a Brett Ratner directed Hugh Hefner film, nor will he be working with him in the future,” a representative for the actor said in a statement Wednesday. “Earlier reports were incorrect and not confirmed by his representatives.”

The film has also been put on hold by Playboy. “We are deeply troubled to learn about the accusations against Brett Ratner,” a Playboy Enterprises spokesperson said in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “We find this kind of behavior completely unacceptable. We are putting all further development of our projects with RatPac Entertainment on hold until we are able to review the situation further.”

[From People]

Think of how badly you have f–ked up if Playboy wants no piece of your grossness! Ratner was a regular at the Playboy Mansion too – just imagine how many women he assaulted or harassed at the Mansion, only to be rejected when it came to telling Hef’s story. As for Jared Leto’s ass-covering statement… um, I’ve heard a lot of sh-t about Leto too over the years. I kind of wonder if now is the exact moment for Jared Leto to remind people that he still exists. Is Leto’s exposé coming? Who knows.

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29 Responses to “Jared Leto distances himself from the Brett Ratner-directed Hugh Hefner bio-pic”

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  1. Julianna says:

    I was gonna say, Leto has his own skeletons. I could definitely see him being next.

    • ChocoChipDstryr says:

      Isn’t Leto friends with Terry Richardson?

    • Sixer says:

      Which one is the strangle-y, choke-y person we have been disgusted with before on here? Is that Leto? Or someone else? I keep thinking back to previous threads but can’t quite remember.

    • Nicole says:

      Was going to say the same. That he should be worried about his own behavior

    • courtney says:

      yet the YEARS of abuse allegations against his BBF creepy bastard terry richardson weren’t something to distance himself from? just another example that these celebs dont actually care about the abuse, they care about their careers. leto has skeletons too. birds of a feather…

  2. detritus says:

    Pretty rich of the qaalude palace to have morals about consent.
    I mean, I’m glad public pressure is such that it would ruin Hefs feminist cred to have Ratner associated with the project, but seriously, Leto and all should step away from the whole project. Hef is one of the dogs, and the Playboy ethos is part of the reason we are here.

  3. Giulia says:

    All these women coming forward, it’s been – I can’t find words that do it justice. If you don’t have sovreignty over your own person, you are not free in the most basic sense. But I’m concerned all this energy won’t translate into a changed culture. That requires legistlation of course, the problem is the entire subject is framed by men. For one thing, the use of NDAs in this context should be barred. If you rape someone and then pay them off, you shouldn’t expect that agreement to be legally binding, even if the person who was victimized suggests it. That would put the kabosh on both parties. A crime is a crime. If you are an assistant or something, and you participate in enabling, then you are also guilty.

    • commonsense says:

      I agree with you 100%. This is what I am worried about too; all these women and men coming forward with their stories is brave and encouraging but will there be any significant change in attitudes, behaviour and legislations around sexual assault and rape etc? I truly hope so. I guess I am hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

    • QueenB says:

      “For one thing, the use of NDAs in this context should be barred.” Isnt that already a case? I mean can an NDA be upheld if its about reporting a crime?

      I think like in most other cases NDAs dont really work but they are a tool to scare somene from talking.

  4. Clare says:

    ‘We find this kind of behavior completely unacceptable.’ – Good, but a bit rich and disingenuous coming from Playboy.

  5. DiligentDiva says:

    I’m so happy this movie isn’t happening, I hate how it happened though.

  6. IlsaLund says:

    Ratner has long been a sleaze ball. Apparently Ratner and his lawyer are vehemently denying all allegations and Ratner is suing one woman for libel over the rape allegation. Harvey was on the decline,but Ratner is still considered a power player and he’s coming out swinging. His lawyer is taken a scorched earth approach…..too much money involved to be derailed by sexual misconduct allegations.

    And why is there nothing yet on Bryan Singer?

    • Honestly, I think when it comes to Singer, the establishment is circling the wagons because if he goes down? A lot of people are going to be implicated and will be going down with him. He wasn’t alone at those pool parties…

    • Geekychick says:

      honestly, My biggest fear is that nothing will come out in the case of Singer:
      1. there were a LOT of powerful and/or famous people on those parties. I think he has blackmail material on many, many big shots.
      2 it’s pedophilia. if it comes out, there is no going back for these people and they will do whatever it takes to stop that.
      at the same time, I kinda feel that, if we’re gonna listen and try to protect women, there is just no excuse to forget about the children.
      I can’t watch stranger things. after lainey writing about millie bobby brown (first) and after years of reading gossip sights, I just feel so icky and…helpless seeing even her picture. Coreys, Amanda Bynes, Drew, Culkin, Lohan…..it just feels like watching tragedy in the making and I can’t understand how, how that kind of exploitation just continues like a clockwork. :(((

  7. HeidiM says:

    “Hurts like Satan” is known for sending out his legal team when the word underaged is spoken. Allegedly.

  8. Jammy says:

    When I saw Terry and him fluttering around Lupita, I cringed. HARD. Also, he grew up in SA. I could imagine what he was doing to children there. Weirdos. Glad Black Hollywood has her back. Respect to Ryan C.

  9. Jammy says:

    Hugh Hefner, was a pedophile. Why are people attempting to praise him in this thread. He had children in his nude magazine. Weirdos.

  10. Serene Wolf says:

    Fuq Hollywood. Let it burn to the ground.

  11. FF says:

    Jared Leto is just looking to avoid any controversy that might shine a light on his history and preferences.

    I too cringed when I saw him (and, creeper Terry) around Lupita, and some other female celebrities.

    Legit waiting for receipts to drop on Singer and Bay.

  12. Unicorn_Realist says:

    Cory Feldman is going to blow all this wide open. Hope there is justice for all victims.