Linda Blair was just 14 when the movie Exorcist was released. The movie generated considerable flak for the alleged horrific treatment of the young cast member on the set and the excruciating conditions she was subjected to.
Years after its release, Joe Rogan spoke up against how the makers treated the young actress. He called them out in his podcast for their brutality on the set.
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Joe Rogan Speaks Up Against The Brutal Treatment Of Linda Blair
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Released in 1973, The Exorcist was a huge commercial success. Even the critics and viewers applauded the movie for its intense storytelling, directing, and acting. It even won and was nominated for multiple accolades. Despite the success, the makers were called it for its brutal conditions on the set and the way they allegedly treated its young lead, Linda Blair.
Blair was forced to shoot the movie in freezing conditions, was tied up with a harness that eventually ended up fracturing her lower spine, had to sit through 4-5 hours of makeup process, and so much more. In his popular podcast, Joe Rogan stated,
“That girl got f*cked up doing that movie, you know.”
His guest Joe Diaz then added,
“I saw that in a movie theater, shame on them. Like if I could sue the Union City cinema today, I would sue them… They threw me to the f*cking wolves.”
However, despite the ‘controversy’ it generated for how the creators treated Linda Blair, the actress had already read the book and was aware of it all.
Linda Blair Already Knew What She Was Signing Up For
When the late William Friedkin was looking for a young actress to cast, he came across Linda Blair and was shocked to see her having already read the book.
“She sat down with her mother, and I said, ‘Linda, do you know anything about The Exorcist?’ She said, ‘Yeah, I read the book. It’s about a little girl who gets possessed by the devil and then does a whole bunch of bad things.'”
Furthermore, the only terrific experience and brutal treatment she received was from the press who would over and over typecast her as a victim and ask uncomfortable questions. The set of the movie, however, was a fun atmosphere as the director made sure the young actress was cared for.
“If she was bothered by it during production, the rest of the cast couldn’t function and nor could the crew… I’d say cut, and then one of the prop men would hand her a milkshake and she’d be laughing.”
Even Linda Blair admitted that she wasn’t aware of what was going on on the sets. But the subsequent death threats and uncomfortable interviews were more terrifying for the young actress. She even stated that all the rumors of her being a ‘victim’ on set were not true and returned years later for its sequel.
The Exorcist can be streamed on Hulu Plus.
Source: YouTube and Entertainment Weekly
