Rita Moreno Opens Up About Marlon Brando’s Abusive Behavior

Renowned actress Rita Moreno recently revealed the dark side of her relationship with fellow actor Marlon Brando during a candid conversation with Jessica Chastain on Variety's “Actors on Actors” series.

Moreno discussed the abuse she endured throughout their nearly eight-year-long relationship.

Reflecting on her time with Brando, Moreno admitted that being with him was initially exhilarating.

She described him as an extraordinary individual in many ways.

However, she did not shy away from labeling him as a bad guy when it came to women.

Moreno confessed that she herself was a different person back then and often found herself in submissive roles.

Their affair began in 1954 when Moreno was just 22 years old and lasted for several years.

In her memoir, “Rita Moreno: A Memoir,” published in 2011, she detailed the traumatic experience of undergoing an abortion at Brando's insistence after becoming pregnant with his child.

The constant infidelity and emotional turmoil inflicted by Brando eventually pushed Moreno to the brink of suicide.

Moreno shared that she had tried to end her life with pills while at Brando's house, unaware of the consequences it would have on her own existence.

She admitted that she failed to comprehend that by destroying the vulnerable and oppressed version of herself, she would also be erasing the resilient and empowered Rita.

It was merely an attempt to escape her suffering.

The couple finally ended their tumultuous relationship in 1962 but crossed paths again on the set of “The Night of the Following Day.”

Despite Brando's desire to reconcile, Moreno declined his proposal.

During this time, Moreno had already moved on and was happily married to Leonard Gordon, with a daughter named Fernanda Luisa Gordon.

She had overcome her past struggles and had found stability.

“He lost a significant part of himself, I believe.

The good part of him that Rita loved,” Moreno confessed.

“It was a very complex situation.

Really, really complicated.”

Moreno also delved into her unconventional perception of humor in men, admitting that she had a primitive belief that someone who possessed wit and humor could take care of her.

She saw it as a form of protection.

She acknowledged the irrationality of this notion but couldn't help but question its origins.

This is just one of the many stories that shed light on the complexities of relationships and the challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry.

It serves as a reminder that behind the glitz and glamour, there can be a darker reality.