Insulting biographies: These biopics scandalized their real-life subjects

The film about Christy Martin, produced by and starring Sydney Sweeney, has been a massive commercial failure and has drawn harsh criticism for ruining the original project. Although the boxer has defended the movie, other biopics have had to face rejection from the real people they were meant to honor.

Biopics hated by the people they portray

Mark Zuckerberg described The Social Network as “hurtful” and “inaccurate,” rejecting the idea that he created the website to “meet girls or gain entry into some social circle.” Likewise, Ray Manzarek, keyboardist for The Doors, criticized Oliver Stone when he released his biopic about Jim Morrison, saying: “The film portrays Jim as a violent, drunken fool.”

Pamela Anderson, meanwhile, has made it clear that she did not authorize the 2021 series Pam & Tommy, which focuses on the scandal surrounding the release of her private tape. “It really gives me nightmares,” she said. The Monaco royal family also issued a statement about the 2014 film Grace of Monaco, emphasizing it’s “based on erroneous and dubious historical references.”

“Please take Nina’s name out of your mouth. For the rest of your life,” wrote Nina Simone’s family to Zoe Saldaña, who portrayed the singer in the controversial 2016 biopic. Hunter Doherty, the doctor whose life inspired Patch Adams, also strongly criticized the film and took issue with Robin Williams’ salary. “Patch Adams, the person, would have, if I had Robin’s money, given all $21 million to a free hospital in a country where 80 million cannot get care,” he said.

Finally, Margaret Thatcher’s relatives declined to attend the premiere of The Iron Lady, and her former colleagues described the film as “insensitive” and “irrelevant” for focusing on her health and old age. Even so, they could not deny the widely acclaimed performance by Meryl Streep as the British prime minister, a role that earned her a third Oscar.

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