Acclaimed filmmaker Cary Fukunaga is in hot water as disturbing allegations come to light regarding his inappropriate workplace behavior. Fukunaga is best known for directing the HBO crime series True Detective and Daniel Craig’s final Bond film, No Time to Die, and is currently involved in Apple’s war drama miniseries, Masters of the Air. Anonymous sources from the production of the show spilled the beans to Rolling Stone about Fukunaga’s on-set misconduct.
The issue stems from an incident in which the 44-year-old director began taking pictures of two background actresses dressed as prostitutes from the 1940s while most of the crew had wrapped up. One of the actresses had turned 18 recently, and per the sources, Fukunaga’s interaction raised numerous red flags as he encouraged them to pose provocatively. When confronted by several uncomfortable onlookers, Fukunaga, in his defense, said he was doing it for continuity purposes.
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“It was way past the line. There’s no sort of argument … that it is OK in any way,” a source said. “It’s an absolute, clear-cut abuse of power.”
But it gets much worse from here. Rolling Stone contacted almost a dozen people who’ve worked with Fukunaga, and they all shared similar stories: the director often uses his influence in the industry to pursue young women and resorts to harassment or threatens their careers if they turn down his advances. And these allegations date back to 2013 when Fukunaga fired actress Raeden Greer from True Detective for not agreeing to do a topless scene even though her contract didn’t have a nudity clause.
Fukunaga’s lawyer, Michael Plonsker, issued a statement refuting the allegations.
“There is nothing salacious about pursuing friendships or consensual romantic relationships with women. Nevertheless, because that would not fit your narrative, you conclude he has done something wrong. No one ever — not once — voiced such sentiments to [Fukunaga]. He creates a work environment that is creative, collaborative and welcoming to all.”
Cary Fukunaga Has Been Called A ‘Groomer’ By Actress Rachelle Vinberg
HBO
Earlier this month, actress and skateboarder Rachelle Vinberg (HBO’s Betty) claimed that she was diagnosed with PTSD due to Fukunaga’s constant manipulation and gaslighting during their brief relationship. Fukunaga met Vinberg a day after she turned 18, and their friendship eventually turned romantic.
“I spent years being scared of him,” Vinberg shared on Instagram. “Mans is a groomer and has been doing this shit for years. Beware women.”
Vinberg has garnered support from several other women who knew or worked with Fukunaga in the past. Twin sisters Cailin and Hannah Loesch, who starred in his show Maniac, also released a statement saying he pressured them to engage in a threesome, suggesting that incest is fine “if all parties are okay with it.” Fukunaga denied the allegations via his reps. Two other sources from Maniac state that Fukunaga constantly surrounded himself with young women. “We used to call it his fan club. I’d be like, ‘Why the hell are all these young girls always hanging around like puppy dogs?’”
Vinberg and the Loesch sisters’ posts were liked and shared by Fukunaga’s ex-girlfriends Kristine Froseth (The Society) and Margaret Qualley (Maid). Fukunaga seems to have a history of unprofessional behavior and doesn’t spare men either from his manipulative tactics. Fukunaga’s frequent collaborator, Nick Cuse, echoed the statements made by Vinberg and the Loesch twins, calling the True Detective director “the worst human being I have ever met in my life.”
Fukunaga has also been accused of hiding behind the guise of feminism to maintain his image. While promoting No Time to Die, he called Sean Connery’s James Bond “a rapist” for forcibly kissing a nurse in Thunderball. No Time to Die itself was called a feminist take on Bond leading up to its release. Fukunaga also protested the recent Roe v. Wade overruling, which ultimately was the last straw for Vinberg before she came forward with her horrific experiences.
