New Details Emerge Regarding Controversial Teenage Scene That Tore Apart Hollywood’s Hottest Director Duo

Hollywood director brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, once known as an inseparable filmmaking duo, have officially gone their separate ways after years of speculation about what caused their split.

Known for tense, raw films like Good Time and Uncut Gems, the Safdies have been admired for their “realistic” and immersive style. But insiders tell Page Six that their separation was fueled by more than creative disagreements or Hollywood politics.

According to multiple sources who worked on their 2017 breakthrough film Good Time, the rift started with a controversial incident on set. A 17-year-old girl was cast in a scene where she played a pr******, involving nudity and simulated s** with non-professional actor Buddy Duress, whose real name was Michael Stathis. Duress had recently been released from prison and had a history of drug and weapons-related offenses, court records show.

“Any director who had seen that should have yelled cut and stopped the scene, but Josh let it continue,” one source told Page Six Hollywood. Duress, reportedly under the influence during filming, exposed himself and made inappropriate advances toward the teenage actress while cameras rolled. Josh monitored the scene on set, and Benny, holding the boom mic, was nearby. Sources say Josh only learned of her age later that day.

Industry insiders note that using a minor in a scene like this is a clear violation of labor rules, including Screen Actors Guild standards, which forbid work that is “detrimental to the health, morals and safety of the minor.” The scene was eventually removed before the film premiered at Cannes, officially for “creative reasons,” but tensions lingered for years.

The incident resurfaced in 2022 during the messy divorce of the Safdies’ former producer partner, Sebastian “Sebo” Bear-McClard, and actress Emily Ratajkowski. Sources say Benny learned about the girl’s age during this period, creating a permanent wedge between him and Josh. Benny reportedly ended the creative partnership shortly after this revelation.

Since then, the brothers have pursued separate projects. Josh is now behind Marty Supreme, starring Timothée Chalamet, which earned him four Oscar nominations. Benny directed The Smashing Machine with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but received no major recognition.

Concerns about Josh’s working methods have also been raised by those who witnessed other risky on-set behavior. During a 2017 Jay-Z music video shoot, he allegedly ignored child labor rules, keeping a minor actor on a rooftop past legal working hours. Chalamet later reported that background actors on Marty Supreme were often unpredictable and intense, a style that some insiders argue is unsafe.

Anne Henry, co-founder of child actor advocacy group BizParentz, criticized the industry for rewarding directors despite past controversies. “It seems Academy members have a very short memory when it comes to the on-set behavior of their ‘best directors,’” she said. “We shouldn’t be in a ‘create entertainment at all costs’ environment.”

Despite the controversy, both brothers remain connected to Hollywood’s A-list talent. But the story of Good Time and its fallout is now seen as a turning point in their careers, raising questions about how much artistic vision should weigh against ethics and safety on set.

Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!