Rosie Perez says Spike Lee reconciled with her after speaking out against nude scenes

Rosie Perez says she and Spike Lee have made amends in the decades since she complained about appearing in a nude scene for the director in the 1989 film Do the Right Thing.

The Brooklyn, New York native, 58, told Variety Wednesday she and the filmmaker hit it off after telling a 2000 roundtable for The New York Times Magazine that it was her “first experience” of it made showing flesh in front of the camera ‘was awful.’

Perez played, wrote, directed and acted as Tina in the groundbreaking film Lee, 66.

Perez said in the 2000 round of talks, “Of course, my first experience was doing the right thing. And I had a big problem with that, mostly because I was afraid of what my family would think — that’s what really worried me.”

Perez said the problem wasn’t necessarily getting naked, but she didn’t feel good about it either because the atmosphere wasn’t right.

“And when Spike Lee puts ice cubes on my nipples, you don’t see my head because I’m crying. I thought, “I don’t want to do this.”

She continued in the 2000 chat: “I felt like Irene Cara in Fame. It was like, “Wait a minute, I feel so weak, I’m not.” So that was my first experience, and it was awful.”

The Oscar-nominated actress said in the new interview with Variety that people were upset with both her and Lee after the revelation 23 years ago.

“In our cancellation culture, some people have to be canceled,” she said. “And when I told the story, people were ready to fire Spike Lee and me because I said something. And I thought, “You know what? It’s getting out of hand.’

Perez said Lee apologized to her and the two eventually moved on when she was pictured with the Oscar winner at his birthday bash in New York City earlier this month.

“We talked about it, we made up, we hugged and we’re still friends to this day,” she said. “And sometimes people need a chance to say, ‘I’m sorry.’ Saying “I’m sorry” is enormous for a man of his stature.

“But that’s why I don’t like to talk about it — because people get too crazy.”

In an interview with Variety, Perez revealed that she didn’t know who Lee was when she first met him at a nightclub.

“I didn’t understand who he was,” she said. “And I didn’t care. I threw away the card. My friend Marian went back and got it.

“She used to joke, ‘You owe me your entire career.’ You know, I auditioned for Do the Right Thing. People think Spike just discovered me and gave me the role. No, he made me work for it.’