Ruth Wilson Left “The Affair” Because It Was An Awful Work Environment

Ruth Wilson, one of the four leads of Showtime’s The Affair, left the show after four seasons (the show ended with five seasons), and at the time, she told Gayle King on CBS This Morning that she wasn’t allowed to talk about her exit. Ruth may never be able to talk about it due to a non-disclosure agreement. Many speculated that Ruth was actually fired, because she had spoken out earlier about getting paid less than co-star Dominic West. Showtime then released a statement saying that Ruth’s character had simply run its course. Now we’ve got some anonymous sources who claim that Ruth leaving the show may have had a lot do with the toxic environment on set. And I don’t mean there was a best boy or a key grip that was constantly playing “Toxic” by Britney Spears (because I think we can all agree that would be a great work environment).

The Affair’s creator Sarah Treem said that Ruth’s character getting written off the show was Ruth’s choice. Despite winning the 2015 Golden Globe award for Best Actress – Television Drama, and being nominated for multiple Satellite Awards, Ruth wanted out of the show immediately, and a new article from The Hollywood Reporter gives insight as to why she wanted out.

Sources allege that Ruth’s reason for quitting the show was the nudity clause in her contract. When Ruth signed on to the show, she agreed to get naked. But after what felt like an excessive amount of nude scenes, she wondered just how many times people needed to see her boobs.

Sources, many of whom declined to speak on the record, say Wilson was often asked to be unclothed in scenes where there seemed to be no clear creative rationale for the nudity other than for it to be “titillating,” as one person involved with the production puts it. Another source overheard Wilson ask on set, referring to a male co-star, “Why do you need to see me and not more of him?”

A SAG-AFTRA spokesperson tells THR that despite signing a nudity waiver, performers must still provide consent, and be treated with dignity during those nude scenes. When Ruth wanted to keep her top on, she was allegedly met with “push back,” and was labeled “difficult.” Sources say that Sarah Treem epeatedly pressured her to get naked.

Ruth also didn’t want to do a sex scene in which Dominic’s character pushes her up against a tree during a yoga retreat, because it “felt rapey.” So a body double was used. That body double later sued Showtime in 2017, after claiming she was fired for confronting a male assistant director for allegedly putting her down on the call sheet as “Alison Sexytime Double.” That lawsuit was later settled by Showtime.

There’s also a Showtime-HBO crossover element to this story. The Affair shot in New York State. Also shooting at that time was Girls. Jenni Konner, a producer on Girls, wrote a blind item for her and Lena Dunham’s Lenny Letter back in 2016, about a director from another TV series that cornered Lena at a restaurant, begging her to convince the star of his TV show to get naked more. The director in question praised Lena for showing, “anything, even your asshole.” He then reportedly requested Lena meet with the star of his TV series, and convince her to “show her tits, or at least some vag.” He also allegedly pulled out his phone and showed Lena a picture of a mutual friend with a body double’s dick next to her face.

Sources say the dick picture subject was The Affair’s Maura Tierney and the actress who needed to be convinced of doing more nudity was Ruth Wilson. And the director, according to sources, was Jeffrey Reiner, an executive producer and frequent director on The Affair. Cleta Ellington, an associate of Jeffrey’s, tells THR that Jenni wasn’t telling the whole truth, called the piece a “clickbait smear” against Jeffrey, and that Lena Dunham initiated the “funny” conversation.

HR eventually got involved in the situation, and Sarah Treem sent out an email to cast and crew about sexual harassment. Ruth Wilson and Maura Tierney allegedly expressed they didn’t want to work with Jeffrey Reiner. Ruth agreed to her fourth and final season, so long as Jeffrey was never on set with her. Well, yeah. No surprise there. It’s probably really difficult to act when someone is off to the side yelling, “Show your vag!”

Ruth also expressed concern over how her character was going to go out. Initially, it was reportedly written that she’d be violently murdered after fighting off an attempted rape. She really didn’t like that. The rape part was written out, but the violent murder remained. I know Ruth can’t technically talk about any of this, but I really wish she could. Because I need her perspective on all of this. A story needs more context when the mention of Lena Dunham’s asshole isn’t the worst part.

Pic: Wenn.com