The admission by Italian director Bernardo Bertolluci that the rape of actress Maria Schneider in the 1972 film “Last Tango in Paris” by actor Marlon Brando was real sparked outrage among celebrities. However, some Twitter users made fun of Marlon Brando’s user of butter on Maria Schneider in the controversial rape scene.
Bernardo Bertolucci actually admitted the rape in a 2013 interview, but the video was only posted last week and has gone viral, People reports. The clip has generated more than 800,000 views on YouTube after one week. Meanwhile, the uncensored clip of Maria Schneider’s rape on “Last Tango in Paris” which runs for three minutes and 25 seconds posted a year ago has more than 2.2 million hits.
Celebrities Criticize Bertolluci
Among the celebrities who condemned Bernardo Bertolluci’s decision to not tell Maria Schneider about the use of the butter was Ava DuVernay, director of “Selma.” She tweeted that as a director, she could barely fathom what Bernardo Bertolluci did just to elicit real pain from Maria Schneider in the “Last Tango in Paris” rape scene. As a woman, she was horrified, disgusted and enraged by the male director’s statement.
Actress Evan Rachel Wood, a victim of rape twice, agreed with DuVernay that the incident was both outrageous and heartbreaking, while Bernardo Bertolluci and Marlon Brando are sick individuals for thinking the non-consensual sex in “Last Tango in Paris” was okay, Deadline reports.
Another actress, Jessica Chastain, wrote she felt sick on learning that Bernardo Bertolluci planned Maria Schneider’s attack in “Last Tango in Paris.” Actor Chris Evans, who was Captain America in a recent Marvel superhero movie, said the director’s admission of the rape in “Last Tango in Paris” was beyond disgusting and he felt rage when he learned of the incident.
Butter As Lubricant
Some Twitter users also took Maria Schneider’s side, such as Tom Bond saying he felt so sorry for Maria Schneider because of “being subjected to that s**t” in “Last Tango in Paris.” However, others made fun of the use of butter.
Carlos Carapinha, for instance, tweeted, “try butter, like Maria Schneider did.” Yaron Melman even joked about the death of the “Last Tango in Paris” actress when Melman wrote, “Maria Schneider dies of anal infection. Marlon Brando admits he couldn't believe it wasn't butter.”
Christopher Jackson asked for the brand of butter that Marlon Brando used in “Last Tango in Paris” for the rape scene. Simon commented that “Maria Schneider needed persuading - Bertolluci had to butter her.” Marc Poitras added, “When people compliment me, I love to say: ‘Don't butter me up, I'm not Maria Schneider's butthole.’”