Makers Defend The Delayed Release of 'The Banker' on Apple TV

There was an uproar for several reasons in the past few days pertaining to the release of Apple's film, The Banker. The film witnessed a delay in its scheduled release amid sexual abuse claims against Bernard Garrett Jr, the son of one of the subjects of the drama and a co-producer on the film.

However, the makers have now decided to open up on and have released a statement on the same.

"We set out to tell a story we were very passionate about, recounting the remarkable lives of Bernard Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris, and their groundbreaking achievements combating racial inequality in the 1950s and '60s," reads the statement, which was signed by director and writer George Nolfi, as well as stars and producers Anthony Mackie and Samuel L. Jackson. The cast and crew behind the movie, including Nia Long, Nicholas Hoult and below-the-line crewmembers, also signed the statement. 

It continues: "Though we have no way of knowing what may have transpired between Mr. Garrett’s children in the 1970s, including the allegations of abuse we have recently been made aware of, our hearts go out to anyone who has suffered. The film itself is not based on the recollections of any of Bernard Garrett Sr.’s children, but rather, on recorded interviews with Bernard Garrett Sr. himself, conducted in 1995, supported by congressional transcripts, court rulings and other media articles from the era. We stand by the film and its positive message of empowerment."

Apple canceled the AFI Fest premiere of The Banker and then delayed the film's planned Dec. 6. theatrical release after Cynthia and Sheila Garrett alleged that they were sexually molested by their half-brother, Garrett Jr., over the course of a few years. The sisters also claim that the timeline of the film was tweaked in order to leave the girls and their mother out of the story, even though Garrett Sr. (played by Mackie) had already divorced her by the time of some of the events depicted in the movie.

The Banker follows businessmen Garrett Sr. and Joe Morris (played by Samuel L. Jackson), who recruited a white man to front their growing Los Angeles real estate empire in a pre-Civil Rights America. 

Initially, the film was set to have a debut in January on the giant's streaming service, Apple TV+ but now due to the delay in theatrical release, the streaming debut has also been pushed ahead indefinitely.