‘The last thing I remembered was … going, ‘Oh, God,’ ‘ Christopher Tierney tells CBS 2 News of his 30-foot fall onstage. By Terri Schwartz Natalie Mendoza poses with “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” lead actor Reeve Carney Photo: Bruce Glikas/ FilmMagic After several weeks of intense press coverage, two of the injured stars of “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” have spoken out. Christopher Tierney, who was injured on December 20 after he fell a reported 30 feet, was released from the intensive care unit of Bellevue Hospital Tuesday and has been staying in a rehab facility since. CBS 2 News was the first to interview the dancer and stunt double in a package set to air Monday night (January 3). “I was falling and then I saw once I hit the darkness of the stage I had to just turn it real quick so I wasn’t going to fall on my head and crash on my back,” Tierney recalled. “The last thing I remembered was like, uh, just going, ‘Oh, God.’ ” Because Tierney, 32, was able to pivot his body from the headfirst fall so he landed on his right side, he prevented a potentially fatal injury. Still, the accident resulted in a hairline skull fracture, four broken ribs, a bruised lung, internal bleeding and three cracked vertebrae. Tierney underwent back surgery December 22 and wore a full-torso brace as he conducted the interview. But Tierney was only one of four “Spider-Man” actors hurt during the preview performances of the show. Natalie Mendoza, the lead actress who played villain Arachne, was hit on the head with a rope during the show’s first preview performance and suffered a serious concussion. After she was unable to resume her role due to aftereffects of the injury, it was rumored Mendoza would leave the show. The actress made her departure official when she released a statement on Thursday. “It has been a difficult decision to make, but I regret that I am unable to continue on ‘Spider-Man’ as I recover from my injury. I wish Julie [Taymor, the director] and the cast and crew every success with this production,” she said. Taymor responded, ” Natalie is a talented performer. “We’ve appreciated her contributions to the show and we wish her all the best.” On Saturday, the head of Actors’ Equity Association (which represents many of the actors), Nick Wyman, took to his Facebook account to explain his perspective on the injuries. His statement was a response against those who blamed Actor’s Equity for the injuries sustained by the actors, defending the organization by saying that “our staff spent so much time at Foxwoods Theatre during rehearsals, I’m surprised the producers didn’t charge them rent. I have no idea how many potential problems staff cleared up or how many accidents-in-waiting they forestalled; I just know they were and are a powerful force for our protection and without them, the news from the Foxwoods Theater might have been much worse.” He added, “I have been very disturbed and distraught by the serious injuries sustained by our member Chris Tierney at the December 20th performance of ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.’ … That Chris is not the first actor, nor the second, but rather the fourth to be injured on ‘Spider-Man’ is frustrating and maddening and, to some, infuriating.” A spokesperson for “Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark” had not responded to MTV News’ request for comment at press time.
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Injured ‘Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark’ Actors Speak Out
