Director of Trump MovieThe ApprenticeDenies Being Dropped by Agencies After Allegedly Groping A-List Actor: ‘I Apologized’

Ali Abbasi on Jan. 4, 2025.Photo:JC Olivera/Variety via Getty JC Olivera/Variety via Getty Ali Abbasi, director of the recentDonald TrumpmovieThe Apprentice, is no longer with the agencies representing him in the U.S. after he allegedly groped an A-list actor, according to multiple reports. However, Abbasi claims that the separations and the alleged groping incident are unrelated. In a statement to PEOPLE on Saturday, Feb. 22, Abbasi described the incident with the actor as “an over-familiar gesture — a slap on the rear” and said he “apologized to him on the spot.

Director Paul Haggis Found Liable in N.Y. Rape Case, Jury Awards $7.5 Million in Damages

Photo: Salvatore Laporta/AP/Shutterstock Paul Haggis, the Oscar-winning writer/director of 2004’sCrash, has been found liable of raping a publicist at his apartment back in 2013. A New York jury made up of four men and two women reached the verdict Thursday, according toVarietyandThe New York Times, finding Haggis, 69, liable on all counts of rape and sexual abuse in the civil case. Haleigh Breest, the now-36-year-old plaintiff, was awarded at least $7.

Director Ryan Coogler Explains Daniel Kaluuya Character's Absence in 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever'

Daniel Kaluuya inBlack Panther(2018).Photo: Marvel Studios Ryan Coogleris explaining what happened toDaniel Kaluuya’sBlack Panthercharacter and why he isn’t shown in the sequel. Speakingwith CinemaBlend, director Coogler shared where W’Kabi is now in the events of the new sequelBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever. “That’s a great question. He’s basically banished, but still within Wakanda’s borders, if that makes sense. It’s one line that refers to him still being alive,” said Coogler. Ryan Coogler.

Director Slams Prince's Estate for Scrapping His 9-Hour Doc and Says They're 'Afraid' of the Late Icon's 'Humanity'

Prince in June 2011.Photo: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty The director ofNetflix’s scrapped Prince documentaryis speaking out. After the streaming service and Prince’s estate announced Ezra Edelman’s long-in-the-works film would be shelved in favor of a different documentary onthe “Purple Rain” singerlast month, the Oscar-winning filmmaker reacted to the news ina March 4 appearance on thePablo Torre Finds Outpodcast. “The estate, here’s the one thing they were allowed to do: Check the film for factual inaccuracies.

Director Stephen Gyllenhaal, Father of Jake and Maggie, Files for Divorce from Wife After 11 Years

Left: Stephen Gyllenhaal and Kathleen Gyllenhaal in 2016; Right: Maggie Gyllenhaal and Jake Gyllenhaal in 2021.Photo:Vivien Killilea/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Vivien Killilea/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Stephen Gyllenhaalhas filed for divorce from wife Kathleen after being separated since spring 2022. Stephen listed March 26, 2022, as the date of separation from fellow filmmaker Kathleen (née Man), 49, whom he married on May 7, 2011. He listed “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for divorce.