Filmmaker Ali Abbasi , known for directing 'The Apprentice,' has publicly apologized after being accused of inappropriate behaviour at a Golden Globes party earlier this year.
On Saturday morning, Abbasi shared a statement on social media addressing the situation. He admitted that his actions had made someone uncomfortable and expressed regret. While explaining his perspective, he said he had spent time with the person involved on multiple occasions and believed they had a friendly relationship.
At the Golden Globes party, Abbasi said he was happy to see this individual again and made what he described as an 'overly familiar' gesture—a slap on the rear—which he insisted was meant 'playfully' and 'without any sexual intent'. However, he quickly realized that his action had made the other person uncomfortable. He claimed that he apologized immediately and followed up with another apology through his representatives the next day.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abbasi is no longer represented by CAA and Entertainment 360 following the accusation. However, the director denied that his departure from these agencies was linked to the incident. He stated that his decision to leave was based on his long-term career plans rather than recent events.
Abbasi also emphasized that he takes full responsibility for his mistake, acknowledging that he learned an important lesson from the experience. He hoped that the focus would remain on the achievements of The Apprentice team rather than on this controversy.
The film, which stars Sebastian Stan as a young Donald Trump, has been well-received and earned two Oscar nominations.