Jenna Ortega Talks ‘Wednesday’ Co-Star’s Sexual Assault Scandal

Final yr, “Wednesday” star Percy Hynes White confronted allegations of sexual misconduct and assault, which surfaced in a now-deleted Twitter thread. As a result of accusations, White, who performed Xavier Thorpe in season one, is not going to be a part of the second season of the hit Netflix present.

As “Wednesday” season two begins manufacturing, star Jenna Ortega has addressed the absence of former co-star Percy Hynes White from the present.

On the time of the allegations, the actor launched an announcement, firmly denying the claims, asserting that the accusations have been primarily based on “underage photographs” and “examples of me appearing in character.”

“There’s one thing I must make clear. Earlier this yr, someone I’ve by no means met began a marketing campaign of misinformation about me on-line,” he mentioned, per Variety, in June 2023 following the allegations. “Due to this, my household has been doxed, and my buddies have acquired demise threats.”

“The rumors are false. I can’t settle for the portrayal of me as somebody bigoted, or criminally negligent of individuals’s security,” he added. “These are the sort of baseless, dangerous claims that may create distrust towards victims. I’m actually grateful for everybody who’s stood by me and helped share the info. Harassment of my household, buddies, and coworkers must cease, please. Thanks for taking the time to learn this.”

After the accusations surfaced, #CancelPercy trended on social media.

“I can’t settle for the portrayal of me as somebody bigoted or criminally negligent of individuals’s security. These are the sort of baseless, dangerous claims that may create distrust in direction of victims,” White mentioned of the backlash and accusations. “It’s very distressing to know that this misinformation has upset folks. I’m actually grateful for everybody who’s stood by me and helped share the info.”

He added, “Harassment of my household, buddies, and coworkers must cease, please. Thanks for taking the time to learn this.”

One yr after the accusations surfaced, Ortega has lastly addressed the state of affairs at hand and the way the Netflix present will transfer ahead with out White.

Based on Variety Fair, Ortega mentioned that shedding White has been “a bizarre redirect, however we’re introducing so many various characters that I believe it sort of will get misplaced.”

She added that “Wednesday”’s “world does really feel barely askew anyway.”

In that very same interview, the actress addressed her goals to provide “Wednesday,” which have gotten a actuality because the present enters its second season of manufacturing. Taking over the position of producer, Ortega, who has been concerned in filming since earlier this yr in Dublin, now holds the reins to affect key elements of the present.

This consists of all the pieces from the design of prosthetics to the number of the present’s dramatic cello compositions.

Tim Burton, who directed the primary season, praised the actress and is happy to see what Ortega does with the present. “She’s very direct. She’s very no-nonsense, and I discover that very refreshing and delightful and creative,” Burton mentioned of the 21-year-old. “She may direct it if she wished to.”

“I noticed, from day one, she’s very conscious,” he continued. “She’s extra conscious, generally, than I’m.”

“She’s a creepy, little freak,” Ortega mentioned of her character. “However her influence is totally unparalleled. I’ve by no means seen a traditional individual convey a bunch collectively like this, and create a household like this, and create a legacy like this, and that is only a testomony that we want weirdos on the earth, they usually’re what make the world go round.”

“Be bizarre, watch the present like do what you need to do,” she added. “And one other stunning factor too, about cinema and movie is it must be reflective of what the true world is, but it surely’s a break from actuality. We need to go dwelling and, you already know, go away our jobs and watch one thing that makes our mind flip off for just a little bit and provides us adrenaline and makes us glad and makes us unhappy, and for a present like this, it has such all kinds of characters it actually does convey a lot emotion and that’s the intention.”

“And once more, simply sit again, benefit from the present. Relate, do not relate, that is your corporation, not mine,” she concluded.