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‘Romeo and Juliet’ Stars Claiming ‘Child Pornography’ Have Second Lawsuit Dismissed

Franco Zeffirelli's 'Romeo and Juliet' stars Olivia Hussey, Leonard Whiting called 2023 Blu-Ray release 'child pornography' due to alleged enhancement

In a declaration to the court signed in July, Hussey said she considered the scene “sexual abuse of minors” and “child pornography.” She also said she believed Paramount “engineered” the Blu-ray release “to embarrass [her] in retaliation” for her participation in the prior lawsuit. Asked about that assertion after the hearing, Hussey’s lawyer William Romaine told Rolling Stone that his client was more concerned with alleged manipulation of the original film. “Plaintiffs’ argument on the subject is limited to cherry-picked language from federal and state statutes without offering any authority regarding the interpretation or application of those statutory provisions to purported works of artistic merit, such as the award-winning film at issue here.”

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