Last year, Frankenstein star Mia Goth was sued by a background actor she worked with on A24's horror sequel, MaXXXine, and the actress has now spoken about the incident for the first time.
Goth was accused of deliberately kicking James Hunter in the head while filming a scene, and then taunting him about it afterwards. In the lawsuit, Hunter stated that he was hired for three days of work to play the role of “Dead Parishioner” in the movie, which takes place years after the events of Ti West's X.
On the first night of shooting, Hunter says he was asked to lay on the ground for several hours covered in fake blood, “enduring ants and mosquitoes." In the scene in question, Goth was supposed to run past him without making contact, but after she "almost stepped on him" during the fourth take, Hunter is said to have complained to the second assistant director.
On the next take, the suit alleges that Goth deliberately kicked him in the head with her boot, then followed him into the bathroom and “taunted, mocked and belittled” him, daring him to do anything about it.
Hunter also alleges that the fake blood and robe required for the scene were "painful to peel off," and due to the then-undiagnosed concussion, he “nearly passed out twice” prior to leaving the set. He later sought private medical attention.
The suit accused Goth of battery and also included a wrongful termination claim against A24, Goth and West.
While speaking to Elle.com, Goth said couldn't go into much detail about what happened or the status of the case, but did add: "I think if anyone was to do a simple search, they would see what the facts are."
Goth is most likely referring to the following Rolling Stone report that was published last year.
"MaXXXine is an upcoming American slasher film written and directed by Ti West. It is the final installment of the X trilogy, following X and Pearl. The film stars Mia Goth, who reprises her role as Maxine (and also serves as producer), alongside Elizabeth Debicki, Moses Sumney, Michelle Monaghan, Bobby Cannavale, Lily Collins, Halsey, Giancarlo Esposito, and Kevin Bacon. In the film, as the only survivor of a massacre, Maxine sets out for fame and success in 1980s Los Angeles."