French Director Allegedly Asked Jane Fonda to Share Intimate Moments for Film Role

Jane Fonda recently disclosed that the late French director René Clément made a request for her to engage in intimate activities with him to better understand her orgasms, citing it was necessary for a role in their 1964 movie, Joy House.

Fonda revealed this during her appearance on the talk show Watch What Happens Live, in response to host Andy Cohen's question about men in Hollywood who had made advances towards her that she had declined.

According to Fonda, Clément expressed his desire to be physically involved with her as he believed it was crucial for the character in the film to portray an orgasm, and he needed firsthand experience of Fonda's reactions.

Despite his explicit request, delivered in French, Fonda chose to feign ignorance of his intentions at that time.

At 27 years old, Fonda starred in Joy House alongside actors Alain Delon and Lola Albright, while Clément, a prominent figure in French cinema during the 1950s and 1960s, was 51 at the time of the movie's release.

His passing occurred in 1996 at the age of 82.

When questioned about the biggest misogynist in Hollywood, Fonda opted not to disclose any specific individual by invoking her right against self-incrimination, a response commonly associated with the Fifth Amendment in the U.S. legal system.

Fonda's revelation emerges amidst heightened scrutiny of the French film industry during the Cannes film festival, where criticisms have surfaced regarding the perpetuation of misogyny and s–ual misconduct within the sector, in contrast to the global impact of the #MeToo movement on other nations.

The festival's decision to feature Johnny Depp's film, Jeanne du Barry, as its opening presentation sparked controversies due to Depp's contentious legal dispute with ex-wife Amber Heard.

While supporters of Depp welcomed his return, critics accused Cannes of inadvertently endorsing an alleged domestic abuser.

In response to the festival's actions, journalist Eve Barlow initiated the #CannesYouNot social media campaign, condemning the event for allegedly supporting individuals accused of abusive behavior and juxtaposing images of Depp with those of Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski, both known figures at Cannes in previous editions.

Recent events took a dramatic turn when Adèle Haenel, known for her role in Portrait of a Lady on Fire, released a public statement announcing her withdrawal from the film industry, criticizing Cannes for seemingly protecting individuals accused of s–ual offenses.

Haenel specifically mentioned Polanski and actor Gérard Depardieu, who faced allegations of misconduct by multiple women, with Depardieu's legal team vehemently denying any criminal wrongdoing.

Haenel had previously accused French director Christophe Ruggia of assaulting her when she was a minor, leading to the initiation of a formal investigation into the matter.

Despite these serious allegations, Cannes chief Thierry Frémaux dismissed Haenel's criticisms, suggesting that her continued involvement with the festival contradicted her implied stance against supporting alleged offenders within the industry.