Actors' Equity Association is denouncing the audience member who filmed a nude scene ofJesse Williamsin the Broadway revival ofTake Me Outand then posted it on Twitter.
Williams, who was nominated for a Tony Award Monday — the same day that video from the show leaked on the internet — stars as a gay baseball player in the Richard Greenberg play. Much of the Tony Award-winning piece is set in a locker room, and the actors go full-frontal during a shower scene.
AEA, made up of more than 51,000 individuals in the theater industry, addressed the video leak in a statement released Tuesday.
For more on Jesse Williams' nude video leak, listen below to our daily podcast PEOPLE Every Day.
The statement noted that the person who filmed theGrey’s Anatomyalum, 40, and other actors on stage did so “without their consent” and condemns the audience member for “explicitly violating the theater’s prohibition on recording and distribution.”
Bruce Glikas/WireImage
“At every performance, there is a mutual understanding between the audience and the performers that we are sharing an experience limited to this time and place; that trust makes it possible for us to be exposed both emotionally and physically,” the statement continued, labeling the act as “both sexual harassment and an appalling breach of consent.”
“It is a violation that impedes our collective ability to tell stories with boldness and bravery,” it concluded.
The show’s producer, Second Stage Theater, alsoreleased a statement, referencing its “phone-free” policy for the show “with locked phone cases at all performances.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“We are appalled that this policy has been violated and unauthorized footage of our acting company has been posted. It is deeply unfortunate that one audience member chose to disrespect the production, their fellow audience members and, most importantly, the cast in this manner. Taking naked pictures of anyone without their consent is highly objectionable and can have severe legal consequences,” it added in part.
“Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theatre community.”
Second Stage said that it is working on getting the posts removed and requested that the photos of Williams aren’t shared. The theater company added that it is expanding its staff to help implement its phone policy.
He added, “And truly, if nudity is what you are coming for…you are in for a long boring night. It’s within a challenging 2 and a half hour play with big ideas, beautiful language & remarkable acting from a company of 11 actors that you will have to sit thru as well. You’ll be bored. Trust.”
On Monday’s episode ofWatch What Happens Live, Williams spoke about the scene with hostAndy Cohen.
source: people.com
