Sean Penn and Netflix are caught in a controversy over the docu-series of Penn’s infamous 2015 meeting with Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. The actor considers his life could Be endanger.
Netflix premiered ‘The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate Del Castillo Story,’ on Friday. Aside from the Netflix-Penn controversy, actress Kate Del Castillo dropped a bomb on Friday, igniting, even more, the whole docu-situation.
Life at risk
In 2015, actress Kate Del Castillo arranged a meeting between drug lord “El Chapo” Guzman and actor Sean Penn. At the time, the meeting ignited media frenzy, given the fact that Guzman was a fugitive.
Following the meeting, Penn published a Rolling Stone report narrating of the experience. Coincidentally Guzman was found and captured a few months later by the authorities.
Then Netflix jumped in and signed with actress Kae Del Castillo to tell her side of the story in a three-part docu-series titled ‘The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story,’ which premiered on Friday.
The docu-series of the infamous 2015 meeting haven’t seen the light when it was already wrapped in controversy. Actor Sean Penn tried to block the three-part docu-series and has turned up the heat on the issue.
On Thursday, Penn accused actress Kate Del Castillo of fabricating elements of the story in order to gain attention for the series via his spokesperson. He also pointed up how big the issue really is, considering the facts and that they’re dealing with a drug lord.
“This is not about one person’s safety. These producers are propagating false and reckless fabrications for their profit. This is nothing but a cheap, National Enquirer-esque tale spun by a delusional person whose hunger for fame is both tawdry and transparent,” said Mark Fabiani, Penn’s spokesperson.
The docu reportedly suggests that Penn alerted U.S. authorities to the fugitive drug lord’s location after Del Castillo arranged a meeting for the two in September 2015. Guzman was arrested about three months after the meeting and is now serving time in the U.S.
The actor is considering on taking legal action against Netflix and Del Castillo.
Not having it
While Penn is now taking action on the subject, Netflix states the actor had the opportunity to participate in the series and refuse to do so.
“Sean Penn was given the opportunity on multiple occasions to participate in ‘The Day I Met El Chapo’ and did not do so,” read the statement.
“The events surrounding the now-infamous meeting have been well covered. Including by Penn himself in Rolling Stone and his many public comments since.”
“The only new ground we’re breaking with this series is to give Kate a chance to finally tell her side of this stranger-than-fiction story.”
Actress Kate Del Castillo made a similar statement pointing out to Penn’s refusal to take part of the series. She also claims that Penn watched the documentary and wasn’t happy about it, but that he took too long to voice any concerns about the series.
“He was not happy about it but he had the chance,” she said.
“We reached out to him many times and he ignored us. Now he wants to be a part of it and it’s too late. I think he should do his own documentary of himself.”
Dropping a bomb
In the wake of all the docu-series related drama, Kate Del Castillo claimed she had sex with Penn while filming the series.
The actress made an appearance on ‘Good Morning America’ on Friday and spoke about the infamous meeting between Penn, “El Chapo” and herself.
And she began the interview with a not so subtle bomb. She told ABC News correspondent Juju Chang that she and Penn had sex while filming her three-part documentary on the drug lord.
“It was never a relationship. Just business. And sex,” she said later to People.
In the series, the actress is seen telling a friend that she “fell” for Penn during their time together.
However, the actress insists the documentary “is not at all about Sean or my feud with him” but rather it’s just about her truth.
“I just want people to know why I did what I did,” she added.
“There’s a reason why I did this. I’m an actress and I’m a producer and I’m a storyteller. I am always trying to look out for great stories to tell,” she explained.
“And this is a fascinating story. I risked my life for it but I never did anything illegal.”
The actress, who began interacting with Guzmán in 2012 by tweeting, was wrapped up in a controversy over the relationship.
“Today I believe more in El Chapo Guzmán than I do in the governments that hide truths from me. Even if they’re painful, who hide the cures for cancer, aids, etc., for their own benefit.”
She was criticized for sympathizing with a dangerous drug trafficker.
Source: Daily Mail