Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman AddressMay DecemberCriticism from Vili Fualaau

Mar. 15, 2025

Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman.Photo:Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Matt Baron/BEI/Shutterstock; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage

Julianne MooreandNatalie Portmanare responding to criticism fromVili Fualaau, a man whose real life story loosely inspired their latest project.

Moore toldETshe was “sorry” to learn that Fualaau, 40, was not pleased with the film.

“I mean, Todd [Haynes] was always very clear when we were working on this movie that this was an original story, this was a story about these characters,” Moore said referring to theMay Decemberdirector. “So that’s how we looked at it, too. This was our document, we created these characters from the page and together.”

Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman, Charles Melton.Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/Getty

Monica Schipper/GA/The Hollywood Reporter via Getty; Jon Kopaloff/WireImage; Kevin Mazur/Getty

InMay December, Moore portrays a woman named Gracie Atherton-Yoo, who, when she was 36, began an affair with 13-year-old Joe Yoo at a pet shop where they worked, sparking a tabloid obsession.RiverdalealumCharles Meltonstars as the former pet shop employee, and Portman as Hollywood actress Elizabeth Berry, who comes to town to research their relationship as she prepares to portray Gracie in a movie about the scandal. Elizabeth’s prodding into their lives causes Joe to rethink his dynamic with Gracie.

May Decemberpromo shot.Francois Duhamel /Netflix

Francois Duhamel /Netflix

On Sunday, Portman also spoke withETabout Fualaau’s disapproval of the film.

Charles Melton, Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman.Natasha Campos/Getty

Natasha Campos/Getty

“I’m still alive and well. If they had reached out to me, we could have worked together on a masterpiece. Instead,they chose to do a ripoffof my original story,” said Fualaau.

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Fualaau said “my story is not nearly as simple as"May Decemberportrays it.

Spokespersons for Netflix did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment. A rep for Haynes had no comment.

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source: people.com