Olivia Munn Reflects on Turning Down a Major Offer to Silence a Traumatic Experience on Set
Actress Olivia Munn, known for her roles in series like New Girl and The Newsroom, recently revealed that she declined an offer of over a million dollars in exchange for silence regarding a distressing incident that occurred during a film production. Munn shared the story during a conversation with Monica Lewinsky on the latest episode of her podcast, Reclaiming.
While Munn chose not to disclose specifics about the incident or the film involved, she mentioned that the event took place around the onset of the #MeToo movement, which gained significant traction in 2017. “There were troubling occurrences on set that were deeply personal and quite traumatic, prompting me to file complaints with the studio,” Munn recounted. “Eventually, I was offered a substantial sum—seven figures—along with an NDA in exchange for accepting their apology.”
Munn emphasized that her motivation wasn’t financial but rather the desire to move on from the ordeal. “I would have never spoken out about it; my goal was to simply put it behind me,” she stated. “However, I was adamant about not signing the NDA. They insisted that it was a requirement, but to me, it felt morally wrong. At that time, especially as the #MeToo movement was unfolding, there was a significant focus on individuals who accepted NDAs, often seen as doing so for financial gain. I feared that signing an NDA could undermine my credibility and that the studio might leak that information, attempting to silence me.”
Even as her lawyer suggested she take some time to reconsider, Munn remained resolute, insisting on communicating her decision personally to the opposing legal team. Recalling the moment, she noted, “One person told me, ‘This is a lot of money; you’d be foolish not to accept.’ I replied, ‘This may seem like a lot of money to you, but it’s not worth losing my voice.’ Walking out of that meeting, I felt an immense sense of pride in my choice.”
In a twist of fate, she later found out that California subsequently made NDAs in such circumstances unenforceable, meaning that if she had accepted the offer, it wouldn’t have held any legal power.
While Munn acknowledged that anger played a significant role in her decision-making process, she doesn’t express regret. She reflected, “I realize now that while I might have made the same decision ultimately, it was fueled by emotion. I’ve learned to channel my feelings constructively and take the time to think things through.”
Munn has been vocal about issues of misconduct in the entertainment industry, previously speaking out against director Brett Ratner, who faced multiple allegations of sexual harassment, including Munn’s own claim that he exposed himself to her during a visit to the set of his film After the Sunset. Additionally, during the filming of Predators in 2018, Munn brought her concerns to 20th Century Fox regarding working with a registered sex offender whom director Shane Black had on set.
This experience has shaped Munn’s advocacy in the industry, reinforcing her commitment to addressing harassment and empowering other voices.
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Olivia Munn Rejected Millions to Stay Quiet About Movie Set Incident
