Alleged On-Set Incident Sparks Safdie Brothers' Feud
According to a new report, the rumoured feud between filmmaking duo Josh and Benny Safdie allegedly originated from a disturbing incident on the set of their 2017 breakout film Good Time. The brothers, previously celebrated for their collaborative work on crime thrillers including Uncut Gems, reportedly ceased working together in 2023 and are said to no longer be on speaking terms.
Sources Point to Underage Casting Controversy
Page Six cites multiple sources claiming the rift began during filming of a scene involving a 17-year-old actress cast as a prostitute. The scene required nudity and simulated sex with co-star Buddy Duress, a non-professional actor with a criminal history who had recently been released from prison. Sources allege neither brother knew the actress's true age during filming.
The publication reports that during the shoot, Duress—allegedly under the influence of drugs—exposed himself to the teenager and made a sexual proposition while cameras continued rolling. An on-set source told Page Six: "Any director who had seen that should have yelled 'Cut!' and stopped the scene, but Josh let it continue."
Aftermath and Industry Rule Violations
The alleged incident would constitute a breach of Screen Actors Guild rules protecting minors from exploitative conditions. Three sources claim Josh only learned of the actress's age after filming, when the "traumatised teenager spiraled." The scene was ultimately cut from the final film, which received critical acclaim and won awards at Cannes.
Benny reportedly cut ties with Josh after learning about the actress's age in 2022, when details resurfaced during their former producing partner Sebastian Bear-McClard's divorce proceedings from Emily Ratajkowski. Bear-McClard had reportedly been romantically involved with the teenage actress after production.
Brothers' Diverging Paths
The Safdie brothers dissolved their shared production company and scrapped a planned project with Adam Sandler. Josh has since directed Marty Supreme, which has garnered nine Oscar nominations including Best Picture and Best Director. Benny made his solo directorial debut with The Smashing Machine, starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt, which received one Oscar nomination.
In interviews, Benny has downplayed any feud, describing their separation as "a natural progression of what we each want to explore." When asked about future collaboration, he responded: "I don't know." Meanwhile, Buddy Duress died in November 2023 at age 38 from cardiac arrest reportedly caused by a drug cocktail.
