Pepe Le Pew was cut from the upcoming sequel “Space Jam: A New Legacy,” and now a representative for actress Greice Santo is offering a $100,000 reward to anyone that can provide footage of Pew’s scene with Santo.
The rep believes there is footage of the hybrid animated/live-action exchange, the Chicago Tribune reported.
The scene in question involves the animated skunk approaching the live-action character portrayed by Santo in a bar. Santo pushes the skunk away when he tries to kiss her arm and then pours her drink on him before backhanding the persistent animal.
Santo was upset to learn that the scene was cut from the film. She feels the scene sends a meaningful message on sexual harassment, a subject she has spoken on.
“For me, it was so important to have this scene in a movie to inspire the younger generations, and also the older generations, so we can correct that behavior,” said Santo, who is best known for portraying the telenovela character Blanca in “Jane the Virgin.” “I felt that this scene was a way to show kids that this kind of behavior is wrong.”
Despite it being cut from the film, she remains hopeful that it can be released in one way or another, but if it isn’t, she says she will not be deterred from continuing her work for the cause.
Santo recorded a single about standing up to sexual harassment and created Glam with Greice, a charity that works to empower women who have been victims of abuse and/or bullying by giving Hollywood makeovers.
Space Jam director Malcolm D. Lee chose to cut the scene before the troublesome skunk became under renewed scrutiny, which included a New York Times column accusing the character of normalizing “rape culture.”
