NYC Theater Adds Infrared Cameras After Jesse Williams Nude Video Leak

LOS ANGELES - NOV 1: Jesse Williams at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy Fall Soiree at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on November 1, 2018 in Beverly Hills, CA. (Credit: Shutterstock)

A New York City theater has stepped up security and installed an infrared camera system to track people who violate its “no phone” policy after an audience member leaked nude video of Jesse Williams in the play “Take Me Out.”

“This will allow us to focus on an audience member who looks like they’re doing something suspicious, and assess whether they’re just going through a purse to get a breath mint or pulling out a phone,” Peter Dean, director of production for Second Stage Theater, said in a statement to the New York Times.

Related StoryTheater Union Blasts Fan Who Leaked Jesse Williams Nude Scene From Broadway’s ‘Take Me Out’

Second Stage has a strict phone policy, which was violated over the weekend by someone who posted footage of Williams on social media.

On Tuesday, Second Stage and the Actors’ Equity Association, the union representing performers and stage managers in live theater, condemned the audience member who recorded the video and uploaded it to Twitter.

“Second Stage Theater has worked to ensure the privacy of the ‘Take Me Out’ company by creating a phone-free space with locked phone cases at all performances. We are appalled that this policy has been violated and unauthorized footage of our acting company has been posted,” the theater said in a statement.

As for Williams, the Grey’s Anatomy alum recently told Andy Cohen on Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live, what it’s like to do nude scenes. “It’s a body, once you see it, you realize it’s whatever, it’s a boy! I just have to make it not that big of a deal,” he said.

The play tells the story of a baseball player dealing with having to come out to his team and explores homophobia, racism, class and masculinity in the world of sports. It contains multiple instances of full frontal nudity.

Williams picked up a Tony nomination this week for his performance in the play.

“Take Me Out” will run until June 11.


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About Maria Leal

Maria Leal is a bilingual, multi-media journalist based in Los Angeles. She can be reached on Twitter @MariaLealNews.