The 48-year-old producer, Brett Ratner, finds himself in hot water as controversial remarks he made in the past resurface, stirring up trouble.
Last week, Ratner, who was accused of s**ual harassment and assault by six women in a shocking Los Angeles Times article, came under scrutiny once again.
A recently discovered video shows Ratner engaging in an awkward exchange with businessman Gene Pagotzi in a 2014 clip from the now-defunct Esquire Network’s My Friends Call Me Johnny.
In the video, Ratner passionately discusses his love for old cinema and his preference for the company of veteran show business personalities over glamorous starlets, some of whom have faced allegations of s**ual impropriety themselves.
Ratner proudly declares his admiration for iconic Hollywood figures such as Bob Evans, Warren Beatty, James Tabak, and Roman Polanski, despite their age ranging from their 60s to 80s.
He expresses his inclination to spend time discussing movies with them rather than pursuing relationships with attractive women.
Even with Polanski under house arrest, Ratner emphasizes his choice to engage in intellectual conversations over superficial encounters.
Ratner’s stance on valuing wisdom from older generations is commended by Pagotzi, who contrasts it with Ratner’s reputation as a playboy.
During the conversation, Pagotzi questions Ratner’s behavior of alternating between seeking intellectual connections and engaging in frivolous interactions with women.
Ratner humorously acknowledges the difference between himself and his friend, Johnny, who can appreciate intelligent women, while Ratner admits to never having been involved with one.
Although Ratner does not mention any names, he had notable relationships with actresses Lindsay Lohan, Maggie Q, Rebecca Gayhard, Victoria’s Secret model Alina Puku, and tennis player Serena Williams before the 2014 video surfaced.
This revelation follows Ratner’s controversial interview with Howard Stern in 2011, which led to his resignation as the producer of the 2012 Oscars.
Despite the public uproar surrounding Ratner’s past comments and behavior, his attorney Marty Singer vehemently denies all the allegations against him.
Ratner, who recently received the Jewish National Fund’s Tree of Life Award for his humanitarian efforts, faced further repercussions after Playboy Enterprises expressed distress over the allegations.
Production on a Hugh Hefner biopic that Ratner was set to direct and produce was halted in light of the controversy.
In response, Ratner voluntarily stepped away from his commercial ties with Warner Bros to avoid negative repercussions on the studio.
Amidst the turmoil, Ratner faces legal action from one of his accusers, Melanie Kohler, who accused him of rape in a Facebook post.
Ratner filed a defamation lawsuit against Kohler in Hawaii, emphasizing his innocence and expressing confidence that he will be vindicated once the truth comes to light.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Ratner remains committed to addressing the serious issue of s**ual assault in the entertainment industry.
As the dust settles on the media frenzy surrounding Ratner, his attorney remains optimistic that his name will be cleared, highlighting the importance of confronting such allegations responsibly.
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