In January 2018, actor
Johnathon Schaech accused Zeffirelli of sexually assaulting him during the production of
Storia di una capinera (1993) in 1992. Schaech, now 48, wrote in People magazine that he was 22 years old when Zeffirelli pestered him during the day, verbally abused him, and tried to enter his room at night, forcing him to lock the door. Then one night in Sicily, Schaech wrote, the director got a key, entered Schaech's room and his bed and assaulted him. Zeffirelli denied the allegation.
Bruce Robinson, who acted in Zeffirelli's
रोमियो और जूलियट (1968), had made similar allegations many years previously.