Primary Wave Music and Prince Legacy, two companies tied to Prince’s estate, released a statement Monday afternoon in response to reports of an unreleased documentary accusing the late musician of physical and emotional abuse.
“Those responsible for carrying out the Prince’s wishes will honor his creativity and genius,” the statement read. “We are working to resolve issues surrounding the documentary so that his story can be told in a way that is factually accurate and does not misrepresent or sensationalize his life. We look forward to continuing to share the Prince’s gifts and celebrate his profound and lasting impact on the world.”
Sunday, a long report from New York Times Magazine revealed that an unreleased nine-hour documentary from OJ: Made in America Director Ezra Edelman interviewed dozens of Prince’s former business associates, lovers, friends and associates, including multiple allegations of physical and emotional abuse.
The article reported a tug-of-war between the film's production team and Prince's estate in a battle over the documentary's release. The New TestamentThe project has been in development with Netflix for nearly five years.
The film allegedly includes an interview with Prince's former lover, Jill Jones, who recalls a night in which he slapped her and repeatedly punched her in the face. Another former relationship, Susannah Melvoin, allegedly told the filmmakers that after she moved in with the musician, he monitored her phone calls, told her not to leave the house, and tried to keep her apart from her sister. In another interview, his ex-wife Mayte Garcia allegedly recalls being left alone after the death of Prince's son.
Other interviews claim that the famous singer showed an authoritarian nature and that he was abused as a child. However, other sources also recall positive memories of the singer, who created what Edelman described as one of the most difficult projects of his career.
“How can you tell the truth about someone when, when you talk to them, everyone has different things to say?” she said.
In a statement to The New TestamentNetflix said that “this documentary project has proven to be as complex as Prince himself. We have meticulously archived Prince's life and worked hard to support Ezra's series. But there are still significant contractual issues with the estate that are delaying the documentary's release.”