Is Sony trying to pull the plug on The Brothers Grimsby over this Donald Trump scene?
Promotions for The Brothers Grimsby maybe coming to a stop over a scene in the movie, according to an anonymous source quoted by The Huffington Post.
“Three industry sources” told the online website that the Sacha Baron Cohen film’s lack of promotion is due to a scene in which Donald Trump “accidentally contracts HIV.” Cohen reportedly has final approval over the movie, and is refusing Sony’s pleas to have the scene cut. So, because they’re “concerned about the reaction from the real Donald Trump,” they’re hoping it gets completely ignored after the movie is released.
According to one source, “there isn’t one billboard” for the film “anywhere in North America.” The only high-profile attention the movie appears to be getting is from people like Kim Kardashian.
Our reaction to @sachabaroncohen‘s movie “The Brothers Grimsby”‘. You guys are gonna die!!!!! You have to go see it! pic.twitter.com/MIp5GJ1HhD
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) March 2, 2016
Sony is pretty smart to be worried. It was only a year ago that they struggled through the controversy over The Interview’s killing of Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump has a history of suing people.
The film now includes a disclaimer indicating that Trump did not, in fact, participate in making the movie. “If you were told that they’re shying away from the movie because of the political implications, I can tell you that’s 100 percent true,” said a well-placed source.
But who knows! This could actually be a way to make the movie go viral. Or the movie is just really bad and Sony doesn’t want to waste their money.
