Famous figures who weren't happy with their portrayals in films and TV

Jerry West, a legendary figure in the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA, has expressed his strong dislike for the way he is portrayed in HBO's drama series 'Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty.' In fact, he has taken legal action and demanded an apology from HBO and the show's producers for what he considers a deliberate misrepresentation.

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Gucci family -

The heirs of Aldo Gucci (played by Al Pacino), who served as chairman of the Gucci fashion house from 1953 to 1986, were not satisfied with the result of Ridley Scott's crime biopic 'House of Gucci.' According to Variety, the family released a statement on November 29, 2021, expressing their criticism of the production. They argued that the film did not consult with them before portraying Aldo Gucci and the members of the Gucci family as thugs, ignorant individuals who lacked sensitivity towards the world around them.

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Patrizia Reggiani -

Patrizia Reggiani, an Italian socialite, was imprisoned for almost twenty years for hiring someone to kill her ex-husband, Maurizio Gucci (played by Adam Driver in the movie). She expressed her displeasure with Lady Gaga's portrayal of her in the Ridley Scott film. Reggiani criticized Gaga for not meeting her beforehand, stating that it was a matter of common sense and respect.

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Amanda Knox -

Amanda Knox has taken to social media to express her dissatisfaction with the film 'Stillwater' and its director Tom McCarthy. Knox criticized the movie for using her story without her permission. McCarthy, in an interview with Vanity Fair, stated that while the film is fictional, it draws inspiration from Knox's wrongful conviction for the murder of Meredith Kercher, with Rudy Guede being the actual perpetrator. Knox raised concerns about how her name is being exploited to gain attention for the film, and how the numerous fictional elements in 'Stillwater' warp the public's perception of her story and her reputation.

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Jada Pinkett-Smith -

The biopic 'All Eyez on Me' faced criticism from many, especially Jada Pinkett-Smith, a close friend of the late rapper Tupac Shakur. Pinkett-Smith was unhappy with the film's portrayal of their relationship, expressing her dissent publicly.

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Frank Abagnale -

The well-known man, who served as the inspiration for the movie 'Catch Me If You Can' featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, had previously complimented the film which portrayed his fraudulent activities in an alluring manner. However, as time passed and he contemplated his ethics, he has openly voiced remorse that his darkest years are now forever preserved in cinematic history.

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Hunter S. Thompson -

The deceased author expressed unhappiness with the semi-biographical film 'Where the Buffalo Roam,' labeling it as "horrible," while still praising Bill Murray's performance.

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Joni Mitchell -

The biopic 'Girls Like Us' has yet to be made and she already hates it! The singer-songwriter dislikes her biographies because they allegedly spew nonsense about her. When rumors arose of Taylor Swift playing her in a biopic, Mitchell squelched it immediately, saying “All you've got is a girl with high cheekbones.”

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Michael Oher -

'The Blind Side' tells an uplifting real-life story, but one that Michael Oher, the real troubled African American youth who made it into the NFL, took issue with. He didn't like how simple it made him look, or how it took credit away from his own effort.

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Dr. Hunter "Patch" Adams -

The doctor upon whom Robin Williams' character in 'Patch Adams' was based had some reservations about the film. Firstly, he felt that it emphasized his comedic qualities rather than his advocacy efforts and personal challenges. Secondly, he expressed disappointment that Williams earned a significant sum for portraying him without contributing any portion of the proceeds to the hospital.

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Lil' Kim -

According to Hip Hop Weekly, the rapper watched Naturi Naughton's audition tape for 'Notorious' and expressed her opinion that Naughton was a highly unsuitable choice for the role. However, despite her objections, Naughton is now firmly established as Lil' Kim in the movie.

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David Letterman -

The movie 'The Late Shift,' released in 1996, recounts the retirement of Johnny Carson, the beloved host of the 'Tonight Show.' It focuses on the rivalry between Jay Leno and David Letterman as they strive to succeed Carson. Letterman commented that Michael Higgins' impersonation of him resembled a "psychotic chimp."

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Mark Zuckerberg -

Zuckerberg highlighted that the accuracy in the acclaimed film depicting Facebook's origin, 'The Social Network,' only pertained to his clothing. Furthermore, he expressed discontent with the portrayal of him initiating the site solely to attract girls, as he had been in a relationship prior to Facebook's inception.

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Julian Assange -

According to reports, the creator of WikiLeaks allegedly contacted Benedict Cumberbatch, urging him not to accept the role due to its negative impact and perceived distortion of historical events.

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Marc Schiller -

A victim of the Sun Gym Gang expressed dissatisfaction with Michael Bay's adaptation of his book. The book contained actual brutal killings, but was transformed by Bay into a lighthearted action comedy called 'Pain & Gain,' featuring Mark Wahlberg, Dwayne Johnson, and Anthony Mackie.

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Ike Turner -

Regarded as an oppressor who inflicted physical and psychological harm, it is understandable that the late Ike Turner would take issue with how Laurence Fishburne portrayed him in 1993's 'What's Love Got to Do With It,' a biographical depiction of his relationship with former spouse Tina.

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Aaliyah's family -

The family of the deceased singer sought to prevent the creation of the television film 'Aaliyah: The Princess of R&B,' believing that her story held significant importance that should not be used for profit by a network. Released in 2014, the film faced widespread criticism, including backlash over Zendaya's initial casting, the subsequent recasting with Alexandra Shipp, and the exclusion of Aaliyah's music.

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Johnny Cash's family -

'Walk the Line' is widely regarded as one of the top biopics. However, Kathy Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash, strongly disapproved of how her mother was depicted as a loud and unstable antagonist who despised her father's career. So much so that she left the screening.

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Art Howe -

Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of the former team manager in 'Moneyball' was criticized for inaccuracies such as his depiction as a slightly heavier man and the inclusion of several incorrect details.

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Madonna -

Though the film seems to be stuck in production, perhaps because of Madonna, the Material Girl has had a lot to say about it. She wrote on her Instagram that only she can tell her story, and that anyone who tries is “a charlatan and a fool.”

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Whitey Bulger and Kevin Weeks -

The film 'Black Mass' is a biographical drama centered around the life of Whitey Bulger, a notorious gangster portrayed by Johnny Depp. Jesse Plemons plays the role of Kevin Weeks, Bulger's associate. Bulger, currently imprisoned for two life sentences, claims that the film unfairly assigns him blame, while Weeks shares a similar view, stating that it exonerates the federal government from any involvement in the events depicted.

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H. Richard Hornberger -

The TV show 'M*A*S*H' was adapted from Hornberger's semi-autobiographical novel with the same title, where he portrayed the character Hawkeye Pierce. However, the writer strongly disliked the anti-war and liberal traits given to his character in the series.

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Winnie Mandela -

The primary issue Winnie Mandela encountered with her biographical film, titled after her, was the lack of consultation despite filming in her home country of South Africa. Residing there herself, she deemed the portrayal of her life overly idealized and unsuitable.

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MC Ren -

MC Ren expressed his disappointment with the film 'Straight Outta Compton' as he felt that his significant role in NWA was not adequately portrayed on-screen. However, he did not criticize the film as a whole.

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Nina Simone's family -

The family of the singer was unhappy with the casting of Zoe Saldana, who used makeup and a fake nose to portray the character. They were also displeased with the storyline that focused on a romantic relationship between her mother and manager, Clifton Henderson, when in fact he was gay.

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Sarah Palin -

The politician has shown that she can handle being mocked on 'Saturday Night Live,' but she expressed strong dissatisfaction with the inaccurate portrayal of the 2008 presidential campaign in the movie 'Game Change.'

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Olivia de Havilland -

The iconic actor filed a lawsuit over the unauthorized commercial use of her name and identity in the television series 'Feud: Bette and Joan,' clearly left unmoved by her portrayal by Catherine Zeta-Jones.

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Jessica Lynch -

The American soldier, who was held captive in Iraq and later had her story portrayed in the TV movie titled 'Saving Jessica Lynch,' expressed discontent with the way her story was depicted and the significant embellishments made by the production company while telling it.

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Philip Zimbardo -

The well-known psychologist responsible for the notorious Stanford prison experiment expressed disapproval of the film 'The Experiment' released in 2001. According to him, the movie cast a negative light on Stanford, himself, and the field of psychology.

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Mark Schultz -

The wrestler, who won an Olympic gold medal, was approached by John DuPont, a millionaire with mental instability. Unhappy with how he was portrayed in the movie 'Foxcatcher,' played by Channing Tatum, the wrestler expressed that his legacy was tarnished. He strongly disagreed with the suggestion that he had a close relationship with DuPont, who eventually went on to kill another wrestler.

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Jack Dunn -

The film 'Spotlight', featuring a notable cast, sheds light on the Boston Globe's investigation into the horrific sexual abuse and subsequent concealment by the Catholic Church. A character felt unjustly portrayed and morally ambiguous, leading to a defamation lawsuit. The filmmakers apologized and compensated for their wrongdoing.

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Andrew Greene 1. -

A small character in the movie 'Wolf of Wall Street,' which portrays the deceitful ascent of corporate fraudster Jordan Belfort, attempted to take legal action over his portrayal as Nicky "Rugrat" Koskoff, a lawbreaker, drug user, and morally bankrupt individual.

More about movie curiosities: Authors who appeared in movie adaptations of their books

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NL Beeld

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Jerry West -