Donald Trump’s lawyers have sent a cease-and-desist letter to the producers of “The Apprentice” in an attempt to block the film’s sales and release in the United States. shocked audiences at its world premiere.
The Trump campaign said earlier this week it would take legal action against Ali Abbasi’s film, with spokesman Stephen Chang vowing to “address the blatantly false claims made by these fake filmmakers.”
“This garbage is pure fiction, and its sensational lies have long been exposed,” Zhang told Variety on Monday. “This ‘movie’ is pure malicious slander and should not see the light of day or even deserve a spot in the direct-to-DVD section of the bargain bin at a soon-to-be-shuttered discount movie store.” It’s a dumpster fire.
Dan Snyder, the former owner of the NFL’s Washington Commanders, a billionaire backer of the film and a Trump supporter, is also said to be preparing his own cease-and-desist letter to block a U.S. distribution deal. Snyder, who invested in “The Apprentice” believing it would portray Trump in a positive light, reportedly felt “outraged” after seeing a rough cut of the film, Variety reported.
In response to the cease-and-desist letter, the film’s producers said it was a “fair and balanced portrayal of the former president,” according to multiple media reports. “We want everyone to see it and make a decision.”
Abbasi’s film, starring Sebastian Stan as Trump, was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on Monday. The opening statement states that the events described are purely fictional. According to reports, the audience was uncomfortable with scenes such as Trump’s liposuction and scalp reduction surgery. Amazed.
The rape scene in the film is a fictionalized account of a 1989 assault that was detailed in the couple’s 1990 divorce proceedings. The incident, she said, occurred shortly after her husband’s scalp reduction surgery.
Ivana initially described what happened next as rape, but she later retracted that statement.
The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the letter. Abbasi seemed unfazed by the threat of legal action in recent interviews with the media. “Donald’s team should watch this movie before they start suing us,” he said. “Everyone talks about him prosecuting a lot of people. However, they don’t talk about his success rate.
