New Details Emerge About Famous Edgy Director Brothers’ Split

Hollywood is buzzing over the split between director brothers Josh and Benny Safdie, once known as an inseparable filmmaking duo. The two made a name for themselves with raw, intense films like Good Time and Uncut Gems, but sources tell Page Six that their breakup goes far beyond creative disagreements.

Insiders say the conflict began on the set of Good Time in 2017. A 17-year-old girl was cast to play a pr****** in a scene that included nudity and simulated s** with Buddy Duress, a non-actor recently released from prison.

Duress, real name Michael Stathis, had a long criminal record including drug and weapons charges. While Josh watched the monitor and Benny held the boom mic, Duress allegedly pulled down his pants and asked the girl if “he could stick it in” as cameras kept rolling, multiple sources told Page Six.

The scene was later removed before the film’s premiere at Cannes, with the Safdies’ team claiming it was done for creative reasons. But the incident reportedly created a long-standing tension.

Josh learned the girl’s age on the day of filming, and Benny later found out during the fallout. A former producing partner, Sebastian “Sebo” Bear-McClard, who had other personal controversies on set, was blamed by Josh for hiring the minor. You don’t all of the sudden develop a moral conscience six years later. Like that’s not how it works, a source familiar with the situation told Page Six.

The split became final in 2023 after Bear-McClard’s divorce from Emily Ratajkowski brought the old Good Time incident back into the spotlight. Benny ended his partnership with Josh and moved on to his own projects, while Josh went forward with Marty Supreme, earning nine Oscar nominations this year. Benny’s Smashing Machine received just one minor nod.

Despite the split, both brothers continue to work with Hollywood stars. Josh still favors working with risky non-actors, and a background performer on Marty Supreme reportedly threatened Timothée Chalamet, saying, “I was just in jail for 30 years. You really don’t want to f–k with me. You don’t want to see me angry.”

But some critics are questioning whether these risky methods should be celebrated. Anne Henry, co-founder of the child actor advocacy group BizParentz, told Page Six, “It is troubling that just a few years later Josh Safdie is being honored as a director. Maybe it is my perspective as a child advocate, but I don’t consider a director who hires a non-union kid off Instagram, skirts safety protections for minors, has a girl do a surprise nude scene, to be stellar. I would have hoped Oscar-nominated directors would be judged for their methods and professionalism as well.”

The Safdies’ story is now a cautionary tale about ambition, ethics, and the cost of pushing boundaries in Hollywood. While both Josh and Benny remain respected filmmakers, sources say the split highlights the dangers of prioritizing edgy art over safety and responsibility on set.

What do you think about the Safdie brothers’ split and the reports from the Good Time set? Share your thoughts in the comments.