The director behind a forthcoming documentary about Melania Trump is under renewed scrutiny as historical sexual misconduct claims against him have re-emerged in the public discourse.
Allegations Resurface Ahead of Film Release
Brett Ratner, once a prominent Hollywood figure, finds his past under the spotlight once more. In 2017, a major exposé by the Los Angeles Times detailed accusations from six women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, who alleged sexual misconduct by the director. Ratner, now 56, denied all allegations "categorically" at the time and was never charged with any crime.
After several years away from major projects, Ratner is preparing for the release of his documentary, Melania, scheduled for January 30. However, the controversy has followed him. The issue was thrust back into the public eye during a recent episode of ABC's The View, where co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin questioned the decision to involve Ratner.
Griffin stated, "What bothered me about this doc, the director has been accused of sexual misconduct by many prominent actors... I wouldn't, as a staffer, put the first lady in a position of working with somebody who had that history. It's a distraction." She added that it made her hesitant to watch the film, though she later conceded she might consider it once it arrives on streaming.
A History of Denials and Legal Action
The 2017 allegations against Ratner encompassed a range of serious acts, from harassment and inappropriate touching to forced oral sex. His legal representative responded forcefully at the time, saying, "Brett Ratner vehemently denies the outrageous derogatory allegations... we are confident that his name will be cleared."
In a separate 2017 incident, Hawaii resident Melanie Kohler publicly accused Ratner of rape. Ratner's legal team stated he did not know Kohler and had no recollection of meeting her. Ratner filed a defamation lawsuit against Kohler, which he dropped a year later in 2018.
More recently, in 2023, actress Rebecca Romijn referenced significant difficulties while working with Ratner on 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand. While not detailing specific incidents, she told Independent.co.uk, "I was not happy working with him. But he's been cancelled... I know the two people that I worked with had it coming, and they got theirs."
Unprecedented Access for a Controversial Project
Ratner had not directed a project for a decade before being chosen for the Melania Trump documentary. According to sources, the former First Lady was a fan of his work and even liked the idea that he had been 'cancelled'. The production reportedly involved over 30 days of filming in the Trump White House, with Ratner being granted 'unfettered' access, a situation that reportedly caused unease among some Secret Service agents.
The documentary, for which streaming platform UTA is said to have paid around $40 million, now approaches its release date under a cloud of renewed controversy, ensuring the focus remains as much on its director as its subject.
