David Edelstein, film critic, fired by NPR for ‘Last Tango in Paris’ rape joke

National Public Radio fired a film critic Tuesday for making a joke about a rape scene in a 1972 classic movie.

David Edelstein, upon the death Monday of director Bernardo Bertolucci, had posted a picture from a notorious scene in his “Last Tango In Paris” to mark the death. In the scene, the character played by Marlon Brando, whose wife has killed herself before the film begins, lubricates young actress Maria Schneider before having sex without her character’s consent.

“Even grief is better with butter,” Mr. Edelstein, who appears regularly on “Fresh Air” and other outlets, wrote on Facebook.

That was “offensive and unacceptable,” NPR said in a statement, cited in Variety.

“The post does not meet the standards that we expect from Fresh Air contributors,” NPR said. “We have decided to end Fresh Air’s association with him, and have informed David accordingly.”

Schneider claimed in an interview before her 2011 death that it was a real rape onscreen that made her “cry real tears.”

Bertolucci said some details such as the butter, which became a joke in the 1970s even among people who had not seen “Last Tango,” were improvised by Brando, but said Schneider knew from the script that this scene would have her character being raped. The sex in that scene, and all others in the film, was simulated.

Mr. Edelstein deleted the post, saying on Facebook that he “was not aware of” Schneider’s claims. “I now realize the joke was in poor taste and have removed it, and apologize for the remark,” he wrote.

Mr. Edelstein is also a CBS “Sunday Morning” commentator and film critic for New York magazine.