Appalling: Orlando Bloom's threesome scene with Mara sisters sparks backlash

Actor Orlando Bloom discussed a threesome scene with real-life sisters, Rooney and Kate Mara from Bucking Fastard, at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His remarks triggered sharp online reactions, while others noted the film is based on a true story.

In Short

• Orlando Bloom's film Bucking Fastard features a threesome scene with sisters Rooney and Kate Mara
• The scene sparked mixed reactions online, some calling it appalling and others defending it
• Bloom described the scene as sincere with innocence and simplicity in characters

Actor Orlando Bloom’s forthcoming film, Bucking Fastard, has drawn strong reactions online after the actor spoke about a threesome scene featuring real-life sisters, Rooney and Kate Mara, at the San Sebastin Film Festival in Spain over the weekend. Some viewers criticised the scene as “appalling”, “disgusting” and “weird”, while others defended it as part of the actors’ work and pointed out that the film is based on a true story.

Bloom, 49, described the scene with Rooney, 41, and Kate, 43, as “sincere”, while director Werner Herzog said it was a moment in which he had to step back. Bucking Fastard had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on September 3.

Viewers react to the scene

Several viewers expressed their discomfort with the premise on Reddit. Some called the scene “appalling” and “disgusting”, while others described it as bizarre and questioned why the Mara sisters had agreed to take part.

The reaction, however, was not entirely negative. Other viewers defended the actors, arguing that Rooney and Kate are portraying fictional characters and that intimate scenes are part of their profession. Some also noted that the film is based on a true story.

Here are some reactions:

What Orlando Bloom said about the scene

Bloom plays Gareth Mulroney, a man caught between twin sisters Joan and Jean Holbrooke, portrayed by Rooney and Kate respectively. Speaking about the intimate sequence, the actor said there was “such simplicity” to the characters and their desires, while also pointing to the innocence he saw in the sisters.

Bloom described the threesome as a “very sincere sort of moment” created by the three actors. At the San Sebastian Film Festival, Bloom said as quoted by Variety, "[There is] such simplicity to the characters and [their] carnal desires, but also an innocence to the sisters."

Herzog recalled the conversation he had with Bloom before the filming of the scene and said, "You are in bed, and you have two women in your arms. How you deal with it, I cannot give instructions." He described the resulting sequence as “beautiful” and said it had “charm and depth”.

"What I love about Bucking Fastard is that it refuses to judge its characters and offers any kind of easy answers. That is something that Wener focused on," Bloom added.

More about Bucking Fastard

Bucking Fastard premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 3 before screening at San Sebastin. Bloom plays Gareth Mulroney, while Rooney and Kate Mara portray twin sisters Joan and Jean Holbrooke. The film does not yet have a confirmed wide theatrical release date.

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