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Looks like trouble for the much-anticipated release of Apple TV Plus’ first major film project, ‘The Banker‘ starring Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Mackie and Nia Long.
It’s a true story about Bernard Garrett Sr. — portrayed by Jackson — a Black man who had a white man be the face of his business before the 1964 Civil Rights Act was passed. Mackie plays Bernard Garrett Jr. in the film.
The Hollywood Reporter says the LA premiere of the film was abruptly canceled last week over serious sexual assault allegations against the REAL LIFE Bernard Garrett Jr.
According to HR, “Garrett Jr.’s half-sisters who are about 15 years younger, claim that when he was younger and living in their home, he allegedly molested them for several years.”
One of the half-sisters issued a statement to IndieWire saying, “They omitted my mom and my siblings and I entirely. Stole our mom and our life story and did so with our abuser. It hurts. Deeply.” Read more here.
The younger Garrett is was credited as a producer on the film but that has changed.
Apple officials are all in a tizzy over the fallout for the first major film and are said to be working on the next best course of action.
(Cover photo: Image released by Apple TV Plus shows, from left, Nicholas Hoult, Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie in a scene from “The Banker.” (Apple TV Plus via AP)
Anthony Mackie Apple PLUS TV Bernard Garrett Jr. Bernard Garrett Sr Big-Screen Civil Rights era Nia Long Samuel L. Jackson The Banker
