Former Prosecutor Linda Fairstein Sues Ava DuVernay Over Netflix Series ”When They See Us”
#Socialites, get into this! Just nearly a year after Ava DuVernay released “When They See Us,” the filmmaker is now being sued over the Netflix docuseries!
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As we previously reported, ”When They See Us” tackled the story about the investigation, prosecution, and exoneration of the “Central Park Five” — five black men who were wrongfully convicted of a 1989 sexual assault. Linda Fairstein, the prosecutor depicted in Ava DuVernay’ mini-series is now suing Netflix and the director over her portrayal in the project.
According to Variety, Fairstein filed the federal suit on Wednesday, explaining that she was wrongfully portrayed as the racist mastermind behind the wrongful prosecution of five black and brown men. “In the film series, which Defendants have marketed and promoted as a true story, Defendants depict Ms. Fairstein — using her true name — as a racist, unethical villain who is determined to jail innocent children of color at any cost,” the suit alleges.
Fairstein, who was portrayed by actress Felicity Huffman, was in charge of the sex crimes unit at the Manhattan D.A.’s office at the time of the case, in 1989. The suit alleges that the script invented fictional dialogue in order to make her look like a “racist.”
“Throughout the film series, Ms. Fairstein is portrayed as making statements that she never said, taking actions that she did not take — many of them racist and unethical, if not unlawful — in places that she never was on the days and times depicted,” the suit states. “On a number of occasions, Ms. Fairstein is portrayed using inflammatory language, referring to young men of color as ‘thugs,’ ‘animals’ and ‘bastards,’ that she never used,” Variety quotes.
Meanwhile, Netflix has quickly responded to the suit, saying,
“Linda Fairstein’s frivolous lawsuit is without merit,” Netflix said in a statement to multiple outlets. “We intend to vigorously defend ‘When They See Us’ and Ava DuVernay and Attica Locke, the incredible team behind the series.”
Press Play Below To Watch Ava DuVernay Talk About The Award-Winning Series:
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