No: never had that experience (thankfully!) though I did once have an older stage hand who refused to take direction from me (the younger PSM). The director and I had a conversation about it and she spoke to him, which resolved the issue. On the whole my experience with talent has been largely respectful, and I've been fortunate to work for places where arts management is clearly behind you.
I would dearly love the reporter to have found someone backstage to speak to about this incident, since I am sure there is way more to the story than is being said. But it brings up the issue I've seen in many places: who's going to speak out against wrong behavior when it could be your career you're sacrificing?