In 2003, Sevigny starred in “The Brown Bunny,” a movie that follows motorbike racer Bud Clay, who is tormented by memories of a former lover during a cross-country journey.
In this scene, Sevigny’s character performs oral sex on Bud, portrayed by Vincent Gallo, who was also the film’s director and writer.
Unusually, instead of simulating the act as is common in filmmaking, Sevigny actually performed the act with Gallo, with whom she was in a relationship at the time.
Despite concerns that the scene could negatively impact her career, Sevigny has expressed no regrets, although she admits the scene did cause some personal difficulties.
Sevigny said at the Provincetown Film Festival in 2017:
“I think it was a way of kind of reclaiming myself, which sounds odd, but after the celebrity and stuff, being like: ‘No, that’s not who I am, I’m this other thing, and this is what I stand for.’ Or wanting to push the envelope,”
“I don’t think it really hurt me, necessarily. I mean, it hurt me, in a lot of ways…
“Some relationships have had trouble with it. Of course, my mom and I don’t talk about it.”
Further reflecting on that time, Sevigny mentioned to The Independent her feelings of insecurity while filming “The Brown Bunny,” yet she maintains that she doesn’t regret the film.
And I know that they want me to say The Brown Bunny, but I won’t.”
I was like, ‘I’m not a pro skater but I’m pro skaters, so yes.”
