Jesse Williams opens up about nude scenes in Take Me Out after Twitter videos go viral

10 May 2022, 12:27

Jesse Williams opens about doing full frontal nude scenes on Broadway

By Sam Prance

Phones are banned at all Take Me Out performances but videos and photos of Jesse naked on stage have leaked online.

Grey's Anatomy star Jesse Williams has opened up about his full-frontal nude scenes in Take Me Out on Broadway.

Jesse Williams may be best known for playing Jackson Avery in Grey's Anatomy but the 40-year-old actor is now making his Broadway debut as Darren Lemming in a 2022 production of Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out. Darren is a fictional, major league, baseball player who comes out as gay and the play revolves around how his teammates react to his sexuality.

Yesterday (May 9), Jesse received a Tony nomination for Best Actor for his performance as Darren. However, the moment has been overshadowed by leaks from his performance. Jesse has several completely nude scenes in Take Me Out and, even though phones are banned at showings, videos of Jesse's naked shower scenes have started going viral online.

Now, Jesse has opened up about his Take Me Out nude scenes and how he feels about being naked on stage.

READ MORE: Jesse Williams is leaving Greys Anatomy after 12 seasons

On Watch What Happens Live, Andy Cohen asked Jesse: "Does the audience react to the nudity on stage?" Jesse replied: "A non-reaction is a really interesting reaction. The quiet. Creates a lot of insecurity." Andy then responded: "Do you like a reaction?" Jesse then said: "I don't like any of it. I've learned, don't read into it because it just creates more insecurity."

Following up, Andy asked: "How insane is it that this is your stage debut and you're totally naked?" Jesse then said: "I'm told it's quite insane. It's a first so I've got nothing to compare it to. I won't be scared of anything after this. For sure."

Andy added: "Your agents come to see you, your family members, your siblings, you are presenting yourself to everyone." Jesse then explained: "Also we got held up with Covid so we had two years of this. Everyone around me going: 'Are you serious? Are you sure? Nude nude? Naked naked?' It's a body. Once you see it, you realise, 'Whatever. It's a body'."

Andy finished asking: "Isn't it much better when you feel good about your penis?" and Jesse said: "I would imagine so. I don't so I don't know." Andy replied: "You don't feel good about your penis?" and Jesse said: "I'm just kidding."

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As it stands, Jesse is yet to comment on the leaks. However, the company behind Take Me Out, Second Stage Theatre, has taken to Instagram to release a statement calling out the videos. They state: "Second Stage Theater has worked to ensure the privacy of the Take Me Out company by creating a phone-free space with locked phone cases at all performances."

They add: "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."

Second Stage Theatre continue: "Taking naked pictures of anyone without their consent is highly objectionable and can have severe legal consequences. Posting it on the internet is a gross and unacceptable violation of trust between the actor and audience forged in the theater community."

They end by writing: "We are actively pursuing takedown requests and ask that no one participates in the distribution of these images. Second Stage is also adding additional staff at the theater to enforce the policy."

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