'Last Tango in Paris' Director Clarifies Comments on Rape Scene

Bernardo Bertolucci, the director of the movie Last Tango in Paris, is clarifying comments he made about the rape scene in his 1972 movie.

An interview that the Italian filmmaker gave three years ago surfaced this weekend and his comments made it seem like actress Maria Schneider was raped on screen by co-star Marlon Brando against her will.

Many celebs spoke out slamming the director and actor for their actions.

“I would like, for the last time, to clear up a ridiculous misunderstanding that continues to generate press reports about Last Tango in Paris around the world,” Bertolucci said in a statement (via TheWrap). “Several years ago at the Cinematèque Francais someone asked me for details on the famous butter scene. I specified, but perhaps I was not clear, that I decided with Marlon Brando not to inform Maria that we would have used butter.”

Click inside to read the rest of the statement…

“We wanted her spontaneous reaction to that improper use [of the butter]. That is where the misunderstanding lies,” Bernardo continued. “Somebody thought, and thinks, that Maria had not been informed about the violence on her. That is false! Maria knew everything because she had read the script, where it was all described. The only novelty was the idea of the butter.”