Actress Thandiwe Newton has reportedly checked into a rehab facility after she was fired from the production of Magic Mike’s sequel Magic Mike’s Last Dance earlier this month.
According to Page Six, Newton displayed questionable behavior while on set following her split from her husband. The 49-year-old had been filming the third installment of the series in London when production team members became concerned about her health.
After her agent flew from Los Angeles to help defuse the situation, Newton was on a plane heading back to the States to check into a facility on Tuesday.
Several sources say the Westworld actress has been battling emotional and family problems after separating from her husband of 24 years, Ol Parker. The former couple has three children: daughters Ripley, 21, and Nico, 17, and son Booker, 8.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson told Variety that the actress quit for personal reasons despite previous reports.
“Thandiwe Newton has made the difficult decision to step away from the production of Warner Bros. Pictures’ Magic Mike’s Last Dance to deal with family matters.”
One source said, “Thandiwe had been acting strange on set. She has been very highly strung. Her apparent breakdown caused so much disruption, it became clear she couldn’t play the role.”
“There is a lot going on in her personal life. She and her husband have separated. She seemed so stressed. She even brought her two pet rabbits to her hotel for emotional support,” the insider continued.
The source went on to say that Newton’s behavior became worse during her time on set. “She fired her UK agent of three decades, and then her US agent Gaby Morgerman flew in from Los Angeles to try to calm things down.”
“Thandiwe’s team wants her to go to rehab for mental health support. She was supposed to leave immediately for a facility, they tried for a Malibu rehab, but they couldn’t take her. Arrangements are now being made to go to a facility in Arizona if she agrees to go.”
As Sis2Sis previously reported, Newton got into an argument with co-star Channing Tatum over Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars last month.
Tatum, the executive producer of the film, revealed that he did not want to work with Newton after clashing with the actress on set.
Since then, producers ultimately decided to replace the 49-year-old’s leading female role with Salma Hayek.
The actress’s reported rehab stint might justify her weird comments earlier this year.
In February, Newton apologized to dark-skinned women for comments regarding her position as a light-skinned Black woman in Hollywood. However, in an interview with the Associated Press, the 49-year-old said she believed colorism contributed to her roles on the big screen, per Sis2Sis.
“I now realize that my internalized prejudice was stopping me from feeling like I could play this role when it’s precisely that prejudice that I’ve received. It doesn’t matter that it’s from African American women more than anyone else,” she said. “I received prejudice. Anyone who’s received oppression and prejudice feels this character.”
She continued, “I’ve wanted so desperately to apologize every day to darker-skinned actresses. To say, ‘I’m sorry that I’m the one chosen.’ My Mama looks like you,” she said, getting emotional.
“It’s been very painful to have women who look like my mom feel like I’m not representing them that I’m taking from them. Taking their men, taking their work, taking their truth.”
