‘Romeo and Juliet’ stars sue Paramount for ‘child abuse’ over nude scene in 1968 film

The stars of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, a 1968 Oscar-winning film, have sued Paramount Pictures.

According to BBC, the lawsuit was filed last Friday in the Santa Monica superior court in Los Angeles.

The actors, Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, are alleging sexual abuse over the portrayal of a nude scene.

Whiting and Hussey, now aged over 70, were teenagers when the movie was produced.

In the suit, the actors claimed the director Franco Zeffirelli, who died in 2019, encouraged them to take up nude scenes.

They alleged that this was despite previous assurances that they would not have to.

The actors claimed that, on the morning of the shoot, the director told them they would wear only body makeup.

They alleged that Zeffirelli assured them the camera would be positioned to not show nudity.

In the final film, Whiting’s bare buttocks and Hussey’s bare breasts were briefly shown.

The actors claimed Zeffirelli had made a U-turn, saying they must act nude “or the picture would fail” and hurt their career.

Both actors are seeking damages of more than $500 million, although Paramount has not yet responded.

The ace movie stars cited the “emotional damage” they have experienced and the revenue that the award-winning film has raked in.

When the film was hot, Whiting was 16 and is now 72. Hussey, on the other hand, was 15 but is now 71.

‘Romeo and Juliet’ was nominated for four Oscars, including ‘Best Director’ and ‘Best Picture’.

It would later win two awards — for cinematography and costume design.