‘Star is Born’ producer’s past reemerges
in ‘A Star is Born.’ Just as film festival audiences are swooning over Bradley Cooper’s celebrated romance A Star Is Born, the film’s studio is distancing itself from a producer of the project.
Jon Peters is a credited producer of the new Star Is Born, the third remake of the Hollywood fable. Peters was instrumental in the making of the 1976 version of A Star Is Born, which starred his then-girlfriend Barbra Streisand.
But with the new film in the spotlight, Peters’ history has come under scrutiny. A report on Tuesday by Jezebel took issue with Peters, in the #MeToo era, being a producer on one of the autumn’s biggest releases.
In August 2011, a Los Angeles jury awarded one of Peters’ former employees, Shelly Morita, more than $3.3 million (Dh12.1 million) in a harassment case she filed against the producer. The jury determined Peters subjected Morita to “severe and pervasive” harassment and a “hostile or abusive” work environment.
Peters and Morita entered into a later agreement overturning the judgment in the case. The terms were not disclosed.
Warner Bros, which produced and will release A Star Is Born next month, said it was contractually bound to credit Peters.
The news has potential ramifications for A Star Is Born in awards season, where it is expected to be a heavyweight contender. —