TV Producer Teaches Jenna Ortega About ‘Legal’ and ‘Toxic’ Comments
The TV producer who called Jenna Ortega “justified” and “toxic” for “publicly giving a shit on the writers of.” Wednesday has clarified his comments.
Ortega previously said she sometimes got “almost unprofessional” by “changing lines” on the set of the Netflix hit show because she felt “very, very protective” of her character.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had to gas on a set like I did on Wednesday because it’s so easy to fall into that category, especially on this type of show,” Ortega said of her initial pushback on the script.
“Everything she does, everything I had to play, didn’t make any sense to her character at all. Being in a love triangle made no sense. There was a line about this dress she has to wear to a prom and she was like, ‘Oh my god, I love it. Ugh, I can’t believe I said that. I literally hate myself.” And I had to say, ‘No, there’s no way.'”
Steven DeKnight who worked on the Netflix series daredevil And Jupiter’s Legacy and directed Pacific Rim: Uprisingcriticized Ortega’s interventions earlier this week, suggesting she could have approached the issues she was having more professionally.
“She’s young so maybe she doesn’t know any better (but she should),” DeKnight wrote on Twitter. “She should also ask herself how she would feel if the showrunners did an interview and talked about how difficult she is and refusing to perform the material.”
He added: “That kind of statement is more than justified and toxic. I love their work but life is too short to deal with people like that in the industry.”
She’s young, so she might not know any better (but she should). She should also ask herself how she would feel if the showrunners did an interview and talked about how difficult she is and refusing to perform the material.
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) March 7, 2023
However, after facing backlash for his comments, DeKnight took the opportunity to elaborate on what he meant in another tweet.
“My comments were about breaking the trust we all have on set and during the production process that our creative differences will stay in the family,” DeKnight wrote in response to a tweet criticizing him, he wrote “shit” Ortega.
“It was never about their creative concerns that were valid. Or about her performance, which was fantastic. I sincerely hope that is resolved.”
He continued, “I can’t stress it enough again, she’s an incredible talent. It was just an unfortunate situation to openly reveal creative differences, and I also admit that writers, myself included, are nervous about the imminent strike. A perfect storm.”
My comments were about breaking the trust we all have on set and throughout the production process that our creative differences run in the family. it was never about their creative concerns, which were legitimate. https://t.co/bl98cnjJCr
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) March 15, 2023
Absolutely! Again, I can’t stress this enough: she’s an incredible talent. It was just an unfortunate situation to openly reveal creative differences, and I also admit that writers, myself included, are nervous about the imminent strike. A perfect storm. https://t.co/hQw6qBseIn
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) March 15, 2023
Members of the Writers’ Guild of America may go on strike [via Variety] as new terms are negotiated for their contracts with the Alliance of the Motion Picture and Television Producers.
In another tweet, DeKnight said, “Back to work. As always, try to be friendly to one another, even if we strongly disagree. And yes, there are times when I have to heed my own advice. We are all emotional works in progress. Greetings to all of you.”
Back to work. As always, try to be friendly to one another, even if we strongly disagree. And yes, there are times when I have to heed my own advice. We are all emotional works in progress. Greetings to you all.
— Steven DeKnight (@stevendeknight) March 15, 2023
Last week, Ortega said she turned down Wednesday’s part “a few” times because she’s “done so much TV in my life” and “all I’ve ever wanted to do is film.”
