Sterling K. Brown Defends Olivia Munn After 'Predator' Sex Offender Controversy
Olivia Munn has been feeling extremely isolated ever since she got Steven Wilder Striegel kicked off Predator — but Sterling K. Brown has come to her defense.
This Saturday, the actress was honored at the Creative Coalition's Spotlight Awards Dinner at the House of Aurora in Toronto, Canada. While on stage, she discussed the segregation she's endured from the film's cast after blowing the whistle on Striegel, 47.
As RadarOnline.com readers know, Striegel was fired from the film and his scenes cut after Munn, 38, mentioned to producers that he was a registered sex offender.
"The interesting thing is not one of my cast members reached out to me to say 'Are you ok?' or 'thanks' or anything," said a teary-eyed Munn. "At the premiere that night I look over and the other five cast members are giving the director Shane Black a standing ovation, but they didn't even give me a call that day.
Black, 56, the film's director is a longtime friend of Striegel. After the actor's firing, Black apologized for having casted him in the first place, saying he "chose to help a friend" rather than do what was morally correct.
"I keep pushing forward and keep going knowing that at least you did the right thing, even if you're not getting that support. The only reason I'm talking about this publicly when usually I wouldn't talk about something so personal is because today, in the middle of an interview a cast member walked out and refused to do any more interviews with me because they said questioning when they're with Olivia is too draining for them… I'm trying not to cry," continued Munn. "I'm not crying because I'm sad, it's a very frustrating feeling to be treated like you're the one who went to jail for a crime against a child when all I did was the right thing."
Her comments eight years after Striegel pleaded guilty to attempting to lure a 14-year-old female into a sexual relationship via the internet.
Munn added that while her co-stars had shunned her, fans and loved ones have been extremely supportive—and that is what keeps her going.
Hearing Munn's touching speech, This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown, 42, took to Twitter to defend her views and praise her for coming forward.
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"I'm sorry you're feeling so isolated, my dear. And I'm sorry you've been the only one to speak up publicly. I was not at #TIFF so I didn't have an opportunity to be there with you. There are two main issues as far as I see it," he tweeted.
"First, what is and is not forgivable? That's gonna vary from individual to individual. You and @BonafideBlack may differ when it comes to that issue. I don't have all the details regarding his friend's crime, but I know it involves a minor, and he spent time in jail. With regards to forgiveness, I leave that to the individual," the actor added, referring to Striegel's underage sex attempt.
"What I take issue with, (& I believe Shane addressed this in his apology), is that we all have the right to know who we're working with! And when someone has been convicted of a crime of a sexual nature involving a child, we have the right to say that's not okay!" Brown continued.
He also addressed the movie director and the film company, saying that they did the right thing after Munn brought the issue to light.
"Our studio was not given that opportunity, and neither was our cast. Especially @oliviamunn who was the only member of the principal cast who had to work with him. I so appreciate that you 'didn't leave well enough alone,' & again, I'm sorry you feel isolated in taking action," tweeted Brown.
"Thank you to @20thcenturyfox for taking quick action in deleting the scene. @oliviamunn I hope you don't feel quite so alone. You did the right thing," he concluded.
Olivia Munn's other Predator co-stars have yet to speak out.
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