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Ashley Judd Reassesses ‘Kiss the Girls,’ Decrying Sexual Terror as Entertainment

Her Instagram reflection questions Hollywood’s profit from stories of violence against women.

Overview

  • In a Sunday video and caption, Judd thanked fans but condemned the 1997 thriller for “making entertainment out of sexual terror.”
  • She criticized what she called “very misogynistic” dialogue and said the movie is about trauma and is not entertainment, describing it as “collective denial.”
  • Judd said her view has “evolved quite significantly,” holding the film with gratitude for its career impact yet discomfort with its portrayal of violence.
  • She challenged resilience‑focused readings by asking why narratives of male sexual violence are packaged and sold as profitable entertainment.
  • Adapted by Gary Fleder from James Patterson’s novel and co‑starring Morgan Freeman, the film was a $60 million box‑office hit, and Judd’s #MeToo history with Harvey Weinstein underscores her renewed critique.