Movie and theatre producer Luca
Barbareschi told ANSA Friday he had director Fausto Brizzi under
contract for three years despite sexual abuse allegations
against the filmmaker from 10 different women.
Barbareschi said "Brizzi is a genius. He has a wonderful
mind. This #metoo gang are loonies. It's comical".
Barbareschi said Brizzi was "head of the Eliseo Cinema
section, a showrun for many things, and in July we'll start a
new film".
In November Brizzi's wife said that she does not think there
is anything in the allegations of sexual abuse by the filmmaker.
"There are lots of rumours going around, for me, that is what
they are," Claudia Zanella told weekly magazine Oggi.
"My mother is not well and this is my priority at the
moment".
Warner Bros. Entertainment Italia said that Christmas
movie "Poveri Ma Ricchissimi" (Poor but Very Rich) - the latest
in a string of Brizzo festive blockbusters - would come out as
planned on December 14 even though Brizzi was at the centre of
the #metoo storm.
The company said the decision was based on the fact that the
film was "the result of the creativity, work and dedication of
hundreds of women and men in the cast and production".
It added that it had "suspended any future collaboration with
Brizzi, who will not be connected to any activities regarding
the promotion and distribution of the film".
Brizzi has denied the accusations that featured in an
investigative report by the Mediaset TV programme 'Le Iene'.
During the report 10 women accused Brizzi of varying degrees
of sexual harassment and assault.
photo: Brizzi
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