Tippi Hedren: My Alleged s**ual Assault by Alfred Hitchcock

Actress Tippi Hedren has come forward with shocking allegations of s**ual assault against renowned director Alfred Hitchcock.

These claims were revealed in her new autobiography, Tippi: A Memoir, where she provides fresh details about the abuse she endured during their collaboration on The Birds and Marnie.

Hedren has previously spoken about Hitchcock's mistreatment towards her, which was also depicted in the 2012 HBO movie The Girl.

However, in her memoir, she goes into further depth about the director's abusive behavior.

According to Hedren, the abuse began when she was cast in The Birds, her debut film following Hitchcock's iconic Psycho.

The actor alleges that Hitchcock instructed other cast members not to socialize with her or make physical contact.

He would become irritable if he witnessed her conversing with other men.

Hedren claims that one incident occurred when Hitchcock threw himself on top of her and attempted to kiss her while they were traveling in his limousine.

The following day, during the filming of a pivotal scene in which Hedren's character is attacked by birds inside a phone booth, shards of supposedly shatterproof glass struck her face after one of the mechanical crows malfunctioned.

Additionally, Hedren recounts another distressing scene involving live birds attacking her character in a bedroom.

It was initially intended to use mechanical birds, but due to technical issues, live birds were used instead.

She endured five days of shooting with live birds being thrown at her and attached to her body using elastic bands.

Hedren recalls reaching her breaking point when a bird attached to her shoulder almost pecked her eye.

The traumatizing experience left her bedridden and exhausted for the following week.

Hedren suspects that Hitchcock's actions were a form of punishment for rejecting his s**ual advances.

Their working relationship continued with the film Marnie, in which her character is raped by her new husband.

Hedren believes this scene fulfilled Hitchcock's personal fantasy involving her as an unattainable and beautiful bride.

Hitchcock's inappropriate behavior persisted, with him commissioning a replica mask of Hedren's face for his personal use, despite it not being required for the film.

He also strategically placed her dressing room adjacent to his office, granting him easy access via a connecting door.

In her autobiography, Hedren reveals that Hitchcock continuously found ways to express his obsession with her, almost demanding reciprocation from her.

He even confessed his love for her directly.

One day, he summoned her to his office, where he allegedly assaulted her, describing the encounter as “s**ual, perverse, and ugly.”

As Hedren resisted his advances, Hitchcock grew frustrated and threatened to ruin her career.

He prevented Universal Studios from submitting her performance in The Birds for an Oscar nomination and spoke negatively about her to others in the industry.

With two more years remaining on her contract, Hitchcock forbade her from working with other directors.

Unfortunately, due to the studios' reluctance to confront Hitchcock, Hedren's career suffered irreparable damage.

Reflecting on the situation, Hedren expressed her helplessness, stating that during that era, the power lay with the studios, leaving her with no legal recourse.

She believes that if these events had occurred today, she would have been able to seek justice and receive appropriate compensation for the trauma she endured.