Julianne Moore, Natalie Portman Deny That ‘May December’ Is Based On Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau’s Life Story: “It’s Not Meant To Be A Biopic”

Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman responded to Vili Fualaau’s criticisms of their hit Netflix drama May December, which is loosely inspired by his life story.

Just a month after May December‘s release, Fualaau spoke out critically about the film, saying it was a “ripoff” of his life story because no one involved with the film reached out for his input.

Fualaau made headlines when he was just 12 years old after news broke that he was being sexually abused by his 34-year-old teacher, Mary Kay Letourneau. The two swiftly got married after she was released from prison, and had two children together, though he later filed for separation in 2017. Letourneau died at age 58 in 2020.

Not long after Fualaau blasted the film, stars Portman and Moore have denied that May December is based on Letourneau and Fualaau’s scandalous story.

“It’s not based on them,” Portman told Entertainment Tonight. “Obviously their story influenced the culture that we all grew up in and influenced the idea. But it’s fictional characters that are really brought to life by Julianne Moore and Charles Melton so beautifully.”

She continued, claiming that May December is “its own story — it’s not meant to be a biopic.”

Moore also claimed that director Todd Haynes “was always very clear” that May December is an “original story.”

“This was a story about these characters. So that’s how we looked at it too. This was our document. We created these characters from the page,” she said.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter recently, Fualaau revealed that he had seen the movie and was “offended” by the result, considering the close similarities it has to his own life. “I’m offended by the entire project and the lack of respect given to me — who lived through a real story and is still living it,” he said.

“I’m still alive and well,” he said. “If they had reached out to me, we could have worked together on a masterpiece. Instead, they chose to do a ripoff of my original story.”

Fualaau maintained that his story “is not nearly as simple as this movie [portrays].”

May December is now streaming on Netflix.

If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.