Jennifer Esposito Remembers a ‘Harvey Weinstein-esque’ Producer

Jennifer Esposito is recalling a time early in her profession made troublesome by a “Harvey Weinstein-esque sort particular person.” 

Whereas the actress and filmmaker, 51, didn’t title the “infamous, brutal” producer in query, she revealed on the June 12 episode of the She Pivots podcast that he virtually derailed her Hollywood profession when she was 26. 

“He fired me for no cause,” alleged the Brooklyn-born actress, who didn’t specify the function or undertaking the incident concerned. “He wished another person and he bought her.”

Moreover, she advised host Emily Tisch Sussman, the producer discouraged others who later wished to rent her. “He mentioned I used to be a drug addict. [That] by no means occurred.” The person “had the ability and used it to utterly finish a younger lady’s profession at 26 years outdated.”

Esposito recalled that she was dropped by her company, the place staffers reportedly knew in regards to the unfair remedy however advised her they couldn’t assist. “I casually bought moved to the desk of the assistant after which casually [pushed] out the door, and I could not get work. I did not have an agent and a supervisor for 2 and a half years.”

The Blue Bloods actress is the author, director and star of Contemporary Kills, a Staten Island-set crime drama that marks her feature-length directorial debut. The movie is in theaters now after a 2023 Tribeca Movie Competition premiere. 

On She Pivots, Esposito mentioned that the undertaking “actually was to that child,” in reference to her 26-year-old self. “It was a tough time. Nevertheless it was additionally a phenomenal time. As a result of if I wasn’t that child, I’d have by no means been this lady. And I am very pleased with who I’m and really pleased with what I’ve finished,” she mentioned. 

“I do know for a proven fact that if that did not occur with that producer and my street had been simpler, I’d have by no means written and directed what I simply did,” she continued. “I gave her her profession again in the best way that she might do it. Not the best way another person advised me I might do it. I wanted to proper the unsuitable once more.”

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Within the She Pivots interview, Esposito opened up about her years-long battle with celiac illness. She additionally mentioned signs in better element throughout her look on the June 11 episode of Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler’s podcast MeSsy.

Contemporary Kills, which costars Emily Bader, Odessa A’zion, Domenick Lombardozzi, Nick Cirillo and Annabella Sciorra, is in theaters now.