New Details Emerge About Famous Edgy Director Brothers’ Split

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News is spreading in Hollywood that filmmaking brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, who were once very close collaborators, have parted ways. They gained recognition for their gritty and compelling films like “Good Time” and “Uncut Gems,” but according to sources, the reasons for their split are more complex than just differences in artistic vision.

I first heard whispers about this whole situation back when “Good Time” was being filmed in 2017. Apparently, they cast a 17-year-old girl in a really difficult scene – it involved nudity and what was described as a simulated sexual act with Buddy Duress, who wasn’t a professional actor and had just gotten out of prison. It’s a deeply troubling story, and it’s been circulating within film circles ever since.

Michael Stathis, known as Duress, has a history of criminal activity, including charges related to drugs and weapons. According to multiple sources who spoke with Page Six, while a video was being filmed, Duress allegedly exposed himself to a woman and made a sexually suggestive remark, all while being recorded by the film crew.

The scene was cut from the film before it premiered at Cannes, and the filmmakers said it was a creative decision. However, reports suggest this caused lasting friction within the team.

Josh discovered the girl’s age while filming, and Benny found out afterward, when the situation became public. Josh blamed Sebastian “Sebo” Bear-McClard, a former producer who had previously caused issues on set, for hiring someone underage. A source told Page Six, “It’s convenient to pretend you’ve suddenly developed a conscience after six years. That’s not how things work.”

The professional split between Benny and Josh became official in 2023, resurfacing after Josh’s divorce from Emily Ratajkowski and a past disagreement. Benny started focusing on his own work, including his project ‘Smashing Machine,’ which received limited awards attention. Meanwhile, Josh continued with ‘Marty Supreme,’ earning nine Oscar nominations this year.

Even after their professional separation, both brothers are still involved in projects with famous actors. Josh continues to prefer casting people without a lot of acting experience, and there was a concerning incident on the set of Marty Supreme where a background actor reportedly threatened Timothée Chalamet, saying, “I just got out of jail after 30 years. You don’t want to mess with me, and you definitely don’t want to see me get angry.”

However, some people are raising concerns about whether these filmmaking techniques deserve praise. Anne Henry, who co-founded the child actor advocacy group BizParentz, explained to Page Six that she finds it concerning that Josh Safdie is being honored as a director so soon after reports of unsafe practices on set. As a child advocate, she believes a director who hired a young, non-union actor through Instagram, bypassed child safety regulations, and unexpectedly asked a minor to perform a nude scene doesn’t deserve accolades. She hopes that directors nominated for Oscars will be evaluated not only for their work, but also for how they conduct themselves professionally.

The Safdie brothers’ experience serves as a warning about the importance of balancing creative ambition with ethical considerations and safety on a film set. Though still well-regarded as filmmakers, their recent difficulties show the risks of focusing too much on pushing artistic limits and not enough on responsible production practices.

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2026-01-26 18:45