Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore’s Golden Globe-nominated movie Might December is dealing with backlash over its portrayal of Mary Kay Letourneau’s ex-husband Vili Fualaau. The actual-life inspiration behind Charles Melton’s character, who’s now 40 years outdated, slammed the film as a “ripoff” of his life and defined why he’s “offended” by it.
“I’m offended by your complete challenge and the dearth of respect given to me — who lived by an actual story and continues to be dwelling it,” Vili instructed The Hollywood Reporter throughout an interview printed on January 4. “I like motion pictures — good motion pictures. And I like ones that seize the essence and problems of real-life occasions. You already know, motion pictures that assist you to see or understand one thing new each time you watch them. These sorts of writers and administrators — somebody who can do this — can be excellent to work with, as a result of my story just isn’t practically so simple as this film [portrays].”
Vili additionally revealed that nobody from Netflix — the studio that distributed the movie — “reached out” to him although Charles’ character, Joe Yoo, is predicated on him.
“I’m nonetheless alive and nicely,” Vili identified. “If they’d reached out to me, we may have labored collectively on a masterpiece. As a substitute, they selected to do a ripoff of my unique story.”
Primarily based on Vili and Mary Kay’s controversial previous relationship, Might December follows Elizabeth (Natalie), an actress researching a brand new film position a couple of former 36-year-old instructor named Gracie (Julianne) who seduced her 13-year-old scholar Joe (Charles) within the Nineties. Within the story, Gracie and Joe at the moment are married with excessive school-aged kids.
All through the movie, viewers see Joe query his and Gracie’s marriage. In a single scene, the character smokes a joint together with his son and admits to by no means attempting it earlier than. Towards the top of the story, Joe and Elizabeth have intercourse, however she insults him by implying that he by no means skilled an grownup relationship.
Within the ultimate scene of Might December, Elizabeth shoots a scene in character as Gracie whereas grooming Joe. Whereas the director notes that they’ll transfer on, Elizabeth asks to movie another take, insisting that the expertise is “getting extra actual” for her.
The actual-life story of Mary Kay and Vili occurred once they have been found getting intimate in a automobile when she was 34 years outdated and he was solely 12. She pleaded responsible to second-degree little one rape. Whereas serving her jail sentence, Mary Kay gave beginning to her and Vili’s kids. In 2005, the pair obtained married.
In 2020, Mary Kay died from colorectal most cancers at 58 years outdated. Regardless of her and Vili having separated on the time, he remained by her aspect when she died.
