The premiere of the new Donald Trump biopic, “The Apprentice,” has ignited a firestorm of controversy at the Cannes Film Festival. The film, which follows the story of Trumps rise as a real estate magnate in the 1970s and 80s, features a scene depicting the rape of Trumps then-wife, Ivana Trump.The biopic also features several other scenes, including dealing with underworld figures to bring his dream of Trump Towe to life, reflecting Trumps life and leaving the audience aghast.What is shown in the controversial sceneIn the movie, Ivana Trump, portrayed by Maria Bakalova, shows Donald (played by Sebastian Stan) a book about female orgasm. According to Variety, the scene takes a dark turn when Donald tells Ivana he isnt attracted to her, throws her to the ground, and penetrates her, saying, “Is that your G-spot Did I find it”Audience reactionThe scene reportedly drew flak from the Cannes audience. Reviews and articles from multiple outlets, have described the incident as a rape scene, although opinions vary. Some viewers at Cannes labeled the scene as rape or sexual assault. Though some of the scenes from the film shocked the audiences, the movie has also received a thunderous 8-minute standing ovation, with many praising the brilliant performances.The storm is coming, its time to make movies political again says director of The Apprentice Ali Abbasi #Cannes pic.twitter.com/mEUVdXV8Dp— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) May 20, 2024Real-life accusation echoesThe controversy echoes real-life accusations. In a 1990 divorce deposition, Ivana Trump accused Donald of rape, an allegation he denied. Ivana later clarified, saying she felt “violated” but not raped “in a literal or criminal sense.”This depiction arrives amid ongoing legal troubles for Trump. Recently, a jury found Trump liable for sexual abuse against writer E. Jean Carroll, who alleged in her 2019 book that Trump raped her in a New York City dressing room in 1996.Will sue the filmmakers: Trumps teamThe Trump campaign has vowed legal action against the filmmakers, condemning the portrayal as blatantly false assertions. They have called it a garbage and fictional plot that sensationalizes lies that have been long debunked. They have also alleged that the plot is to defame Trump.About the ApprenticeThe Apprentice is a 2024 film directed by Ali Abbasi and written by Gabriel Sherman. The film, starring Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump, looks at Trumps career as a real estate businessman in New York throughout the 1970s and 1980s. The movie also stars Jeremy Strong, Maria Bakalova, and Martin Donovan. As the debate continues, “The Apprentice” remains a focal point of discussion at Cannes, highlighting the ongoing public and legal scrutiny surrounding Donald Trumps past. Ali Abbasi has told Trumps team to first see the film without making decisions to sue them. He said that they would rather be surprised to see the movie than disliking it.
