Rita Wilson says Scott Rudin tried 'to find a way to fire' her from a Broadway play after her breast cancer diagnosis

• Rita Wilson spoke out against Scott Rudin in a story published Saturday by The New York Times.

• Wilson said Rudin was someone who could make others "feel worthless, unvaluable and replaceable."

• Rudin stepped back from film and Netflix projects after being accused of abusive behavior.

• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Rita Wilson has spoken out against producer Scott Rudin, claiming he tried to have her fired after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

The backlash surrounding the 62-year-old Oscar-winning producer began earlier in April when The Hollywood Reporter published an exposé that detailed accusations of abusive behavior in the workplace.

The fallout continued on Saturday when The New York Times' Michael Paulson and Cara Buckley spoke to some of Rudin's former collaborators, including Wilson.

In 2015, Wilson discovered she had breast cancer while performing in Larry David's Broadway play "Fish in the Dark," produced by Rudin.

The 64-year-old actor told the Times that after Rudin learned of her diagnosis, "he complained that she would need time off during Tony voting season and asked to see her medical records, while Anna Shapiro, the director, grew upset about having to find a replacement."

"A few days later, just before the curtains rose, Ms. Wilson received a call from her agent, saying her surgeon needed to call the insurance adjuster immediately, per Mr. Rudin's demands," the article continued.

Wilson, who said her experience with breast cancer prepared her for COVID-19, told the Times that the memory "still pains her."

"I felt like he was trying to find a way to fire me legally," Wilson said. "He is the kind of person who makes someone feel worthless, unvaluable, and replaceable."

Rick Miramontez, a spokesperson for Rudin, told the Times that his client's "recollection was that Ms. Wilson had wanted to open the show and then leave, but that he and the director had not wanted her to delay treatment."

Shapiro told the publication that she was attempting to be helpful and "had immediately apologized when it became clear that she had unintentionally upset Ms. Wilson."

Representatives for Wilson, Rudin, and Shapiro did not respond to Insider's requests for comment.

Rudin, who backed Hollywood hits like "The Social Network" and "Uncut Gems," announced this month that he would "step back" from his project amid the allegations.

"When I commented over the weekend, I was focused on Broadway reopening successfully and not wanting my previous behavior to detract from everyone's efforts to return," Rudin told Variety in a statement. "It's clear to me I should take the same path in film and streaming."

Andrew Coles, who previously worked as Rudin's assistant, told The Hollywood Reporter that Rudin created a toxic environment that caused employees to sleep in the office, lose hair from stress, and experience ulcers. One allegation from Coles claimed Rudin smashed an Apple computer monitor on an assistant's hand.

"I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior has caused and I take this step with a commitment to grow and change," Rudin told Variety.

Read the original article on Insider