Robert Pattinson Slammed: 'Primetime' Film Called Exploitative and Predatory

Investigative journalist Chris Hansen has publicly condemned A24's latest film, Primetime, which tells his story, calling it "exploitative and predatory". He stressed that the production team never contacted him to seek his consent or verify the facts.

In the film, Robert Pattinson plays Hansen, a figure known for the show To Catch a Predator. According to the official synopsis, the Hansen character is described as "an intense and unstable television host obsessed with fame and civilian sting operations". Hansen expressed his disappointment to The Hollywood Reporter, stating that the film is "a complete work of fiction attached to a real name".

Hansen argued that the film actually distorts the reality of the hard work of thousands of people who protect children from predators every day. "They turned something positive, challenging, and full of risk into a kind of horror film," he said. Nevertheless, he stressed that he has no personal problem with Pattinson. "I have no problem with Robert Pattinson. I think he's a great actor and a good man. But they put him in a difficult position," Hansen said. He suspects the studio and director deliberately did not want to know the truth because they already had a certain vision and wanted to exploit his name.

On the other hand, Robert Pattinson revealed that he agreed to star in Primetime after the project developed into something "more esoteric and strange". He was initially involved as a producer and had no intention of playing Hansen. However, as the film's concept shifted toward the surreal and mystical, Pattinson felt the role suited him. "I like things that are more esoteric and strange," he told The Au Review. He added that the film moves away from the traditional biopic, and the more he understood its surreal direction, the more interested he became.

"This is an insult to the thousands of men and women who work hard every day to protect children from predators." - Chris Hansen

This controversy is not the first to occur in Hollywood. Adaptations of true stories often draw protests from the subjects or their families who feel they were not involved or respected. In recent years, films such as The Social Network and Bohemian Rhapsody have also faced similar criticism. The issue of ethics in retelling someone's life has become a heated debate, especially when it concerns reputation and privacy.

For the Indonesian entertainment industry, this case can serve as a mirror. With more and more films and series taking on true stories, it is important for filmmakers to consider the ethical aspects and the involvement of the subjects. Regulations on copyright and privacy in Indonesia are indeed not as strict as in the United States, but awareness of the importance of consent and factual accuracy is beginning to grow. Producers and screenwriters in the country can learn from this controversy not to simply chase dramatization without respecting the people whose stories are being told.

Going forward, will Primetime still be released as scheduled or face legal action? And how will A24 and Lance Oppenheim respond to Hansen's condemnation? What is clear is that the discussion about the boundary between creativity and exploitation in biopics will continue to roll on, and audiences are becoming more critical in assessing works that tell other people's stories.