News spread like wildfire over the weekend in regards to the infamous “butter scene” in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris, starring Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider. The story resurfaced from a comment made by the director some time ago when he told a fan that he had spoken to Marlon Brando prior to filming about using butter in the scene and not telling his scene partner Schneider so that her response would be authentic. This led many to speculate that Bertolucci and Brando entered the actress into a non-consensual sexual situation.

Brando was 48 years old at the time of filming, 29 years older than his 19-year-old co-star. In a 2007 Daily Mail interview, Schneider addressed filming the scene, saying: “I felt humiliated and to be honest, I felt a little raped, both by Marlon and by Bertolucci.”

Schneider passed away in 2011 from cancer. Bertolucci also addressed the impact of his decision in 2013 with The Telegraph, sharing his mixed feelings on the subject:

No, I don’t feel guilty, but when she died I thought, God, I’m so sorry that I can’t apologize for what Marlon and I did with that scene and we decided not to tell her. Her sense of humiliation was very real, but I think what really offended her was that she didn’t feel she’d been allowed to prepare for the scene as an actress. But I wanted her reaction as a person, not as an actress.

Since resurfacing over the weekend, several celebrities have sounded off on their disgust with Bertolucci and Brando’s actions.

To all the people that love this film- you’re watching a 19yr old get raped by a 48yr old man. The director planned her attack. I feel sick. https://t.co/qVDom2gYf6

— Jessica Chastain (@jes_chastain) December 3, 2016

I second that. This is heartbreaking and outrageous. The 2 of them are very sick individuals to think that was ok. https://t.co/Ft4SArjcgd

— #EvanRachelWould (@evanrachelwood) December 3, 2016

Inexcusable. As a director, I can barely fathom this. As a woman, I am horrified, disgusted and enraged by it. https://t.co/voGRhafy9K

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 4, 2016

Wow. I will never look at this film, Bertolucci or Brando the same way again. This is beyond disgusting. I feel rage https://t.co/uvaLogvv7I

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 3, 2016

@AnnaKendrick47@colliderfrosty had no idea. Woulda felt rage then too. They should be in jail.

— Chris Evans (@ChrisEvans) December 3, 2016

Today, Bertolucci broke his silence again, also stressing the fact that all of his quotes have been translated from Italian. His statement reads:

I would like for the last time to clear up a ridiculous misunderstanding that continues to generate press reports about ‘Last Tango in Paris’ around the world. Several years ago, at the Cinematheque Francaise, someone asked me for details on the famous butter scene. I specified, but perhaps was not clear, that I decided with Marlon Brando not to inform Maria that we would [use] butter. We wanted her spontaneous reaction to that improper use [of butter]. This is where the misunderstanding lies. Somebody thought, and thinks, that Maria had not been informed about the violence on her. That is false,” also adding, “Maria knew everything because she had read the script, where it was all described. The only novelty was the idea of the butter.

Last Tango in Paris has been lauded by the film community since its release in 1972, earning both Bertolucci and Brando Oscar nominations for the film. Regardless of one’s perspective on the situation, the film will in the very least have a shadow over it moving forward.