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Marlee Matlin faced backlash for abuse claims after the death of William Hurt

Marlee Matlin recounts backlash she faced after William Hurt's 2022 death for claims she made that Hurt had been physically and sexually abusive during their relationship in the ʼ80s.

"On social media, I had to look at both sides of the conversations" Matlin told The Guardian on Saturday, referring to some commenters who continued to discount the experiences with Hurt she detailed in her 2009 memoir I'll Scream Later, and others who defended her against that treatment. Matlin appears shocked but somewhat timid when Hurt, who presented her with the award after winning the previous year's Best Actor statue for Kiss of the Spider Woman, calls and then signs her name. But Matlin shared that her timidity sprung not from winning over legends like Jane Fonda, Sissy Spacek, and Kathleen Turner for her debut screen performance, but having to face Hurt to accept it.

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