'The Banker' cast and crew defend Apple TV+ film amid abuse allegations
Apple's film 'the Banker' has been defended by its cast and crew as having a 'positive message of empowerment,' in response to a decision to delay the film's release following allegations of sexual abuse from the daughter of the film's subject.
Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson in "The Banker."
The film was originally scheduled to debut in theaters on December 6, along with a premiere at AFI Fest in November that was pulled at the last minute. The cancelled premiere and delayed release plans were instigated following accusations by Cynthia Garrett, daughter of protagonist Bernard Garrett, claiming there was sexual abuse performed by film producer and her half-brother Bernard Garrett Jr. against her.
A statement signed by a number of key cast members and production crew received by Variety attempts to defend the film's creation, and to distance the work from the allegations.
"Though we have no way of knowing what may have transpired between Mr. Garrett's children in the 1970s, including the allegations of abuse we have recently been made aware of, our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered," the statement reads. It goes on to point out it was based on "recorded interviews with Bernard Garrett Sr himself, conducted in 1995, supported by congressional transcripts, court rulings, and other media articles from the era," and not from the recollections of Garrett Sr's children.
Referencing the "remarkable lives of Bernard Garrett Sr and Joe Morris, and their ground-breaking achievements combatting racial inequality in the 1950s and 60s," the statement ends by insisting "We stand by the film, and its positive message of empowerment."
The statement is signed by 54 people, including writers, heads of departments, ad producers. Heading up the list is George Nolfi, the director, writer, and a producer for the film, with key cast members Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long, and others also signing the article.
"The Banker" is based on the true story of two African American businessmen who trained a working class white man to become the figurehead of a successful empire in real estate and banking. Mackie plays Garrett Sr. in the film, with Jackson taking the role of Morris.
It is unclear what Apple's plans are for the film's release following the delayed theatrical debut and premiere failure. While it was slated to be made available on Apple TV+ sometime in 2020, it is unknown when exactly that will be, nor how much of an impact the allegations made to delay its streaming availability.
The statement in full reads:
Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson in "The Banker."
The film was originally scheduled to debut in theaters on December 6, along with a premiere at AFI Fest in November that was pulled at the last minute. The cancelled premiere and delayed release plans were instigated following accusations by Cynthia Garrett, daughter of protagonist Bernard Garrett, claiming there was sexual abuse performed by film producer and her half-brother Bernard Garrett Jr. against her.
A statement signed by a number of key cast members and production crew received by Variety attempts to defend the film's creation, and to distance the work from the allegations.
"Though we have no way of knowing what may have transpired between Mr. Garrett's children in the 1970s, including the allegations of abuse we have recently been made aware of, our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered," the statement reads. It goes on to point out it was based on "recorded interviews with Bernard Garrett Sr himself, conducted in 1995, supported by congressional transcripts, court rulings, and other media articles from the era," and not from the recollections of Garrett Sr's children.
Referencing the "remarkable lives of Bernard Garrett Sr and Joe Morris, and their ground-breaking achievements combatting racial inequality in the 1950s and 60s," the statement ends by insisting "We stand by the film, and its positive message of empowerment."
The statement is signed by 54 people, including writers, heads of departments, ad producers. Heading up the list is George Nolfi, the director, writer, and a producer for the film, with key cast members Anthony Mackie, Samuel L. Jackson, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long, and others also signing the article.
"The Banker" is based on the true story of two African American businessmen who trained a working class white man to become the figurehead of a successful empire in real estate and banking. Mackie plays Garrett Sr. in the film, with Jackson taking the role of Morris.
It is unclear what Apple's plans are for the film's release following the delayed theatrical debut and premiere failure. While it was slated to be made available on Apple TV+ sometime in 2020, it is unknown when exactly that will be, nor how much of an impact the allegations made to delay its streaming availability.
The statement in full reads:
We set out to tell a story we were very passionate about, recounting the remarkable lives of Bernard Garrett Sr and Joe Morris, and their ground-breaking achievements combating racial inequality in the 1950s and 60s. Though we have no way of knowing what may have transpired between Mr. Garrett's children in the 1970s, including the allegations of abuse we have recently been made aware of, our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered. The film itself is not based on the recollections of any of Bernard Garrett Sr's children, but rather, on recorded interviews with Bernard Garrett Sr himself, conducted in 1995, supported by congressional transcripts, court rulings, and other media articles from the era. We stand by the film, and its positive message of empowerment.
Comments
Personally, I think if the movie is well written, the message oughta be "Yeah, the guy did bad stuff, but he also did a bunch of good stuff, and that's what we're concentrating on here. Let he who is without sin cast the first stone, and all that."
But that seems to be a foreign concept these days.
Gosh I wish there was more emphasis on early to mid 20th century history in school...
The accusation involves molestation of family members. Do you consider not molesting family members to be an impossible standard to be held to?
People are complicated messes. They are admixtures of admirable and shameful characteristics, especially if you bring their entire life under scrutiny. We need to be able to detach the admirable character from the flawed human underneath, and that's what a good story does.
Ultimately, the story isn't about the man and his failings, it's about a character who did something amazing.
That subtitle could use a re-write. There is a near implication that it is the abuse was by the film's subject. I knew that wasn't the case from prior reporting.
Incredible that some people still defend sex abusers with rationale such as "but they also did some good stuff"
Sexual assault is a heinous crime regardless of how much other good someone has done, and I'm sure if it was your daughter or son that had been abused you'd agree.
That's for Apple to decide since it owns the film.
Do you find it strange Apple still carries Guardians of the Galaxy movies with all that James Gunn has said of little boys? How about all those Roman Polanski films?
Apple failed to properly vet the producers, especially the accused as Cynthia Garrett's allegations against Bernard Garrett, Jr. were detailed in her 2016 book. She claims attempts to contact the production company and producers (including Samuel L. Jackson) before the movie was made. And looking at the actual players in the real-life story, the script goes out of it's way to erase Cynthia and her mom; not surprising as she claims that once they told others about BGJ's assaults, Bernard Garrett, Sr. sided with his son. Sr. supposedly didn't attend Cynthia's wedding because she understandingly wouldn't permit Jr. to attend.
Our legal system is founded on proven guilt for a reason. We start going down this path of proving your innocence, and it won't be long before we're in early 20th century Russia or Germany.
they could have let The Banker ride and let the courts settle it.
the blowback is going to be extra severe.
I was disappointed by I understood. When Oprah was onboard I was like "she hasn't had a winner in years but ok...let's see what she gots"
Apple TV+ and Apple has already stepped in shat. This is a critical mistake in a new service given the options we have for streaming.
No offense or whatever, but, why is this a story? If the guy did it, and that's proven, and is within the statute of limitations, he should be punished according to the law. Now that I realize the allegations aren't even about the people that the story is about... why on earth would Apple can the show? I got confused over the names. I thought the controversy was that, here they went and made a show about the accomplishments of a guy and it turns out he was also sexually abusing someone 45 years ago. I thought, well that's bad, but, when we admire a hero, we're not really admiring a person, but a sort of propped up fiction about a person. We're admiring a certain archetype of a hero.
Now I realize the allegations are regarding a producer of the show? That shouldn't taint the show.