The Apprentice director Ali Abbasi addresses groping allegations

William Hughes

Feb. 22, 2025, 3:42 p.m.

Ali Abbasi has now issued a statement addressing allegations that he groped an unnamed “A-list actor” at a Golden Globes afterparty back in January. The Apprentice director—who’s up for a Best Director award at today’s Independent Spirit Awards, while his stars Sebastian Stan and Jeremy Strong are both nominated for Oscars for their roles in the Donald Trump-focused film—gave a statement, quoted by The Wrap today, characterizing the “over-familiar gesture,” as a “slap on the rear” while claiming that the incident in question was “intended as playful and not in any sexual way whatsoever.”

While noting that “I fully understand that my action made someone uncomfortable, regardless of my intent, and for that I am truly sorry,” Abbasi also pushed back on assertions that the incident led him to part ways with his U.S.-based representatives CAA and 360 Entertainment, as previously reported by Deadline. “The suggestion that I was dropped by my representation due to this interaction is false,” Abbasi writes. “My decision to part ways was a long-term career decision that was not shaped by short-term motivations. I believe in taking accountability for my actions.”

The Apprentice, which focuses on the relationship between Trump (Stan) and his mentor, Roy Cohn (Strong), had a rocky road to theaters, having gotten pushback from both leery distributors and Trump himself, who made noises about legal action against the film. The movie is Abbasi’s first English-language feature, having previously made a name for himself with films like Border and Holy Spider.

You can read Abbasi’s full statement here:

I want to address the recent articles about me directly and openly. I fully understand that my action made someone uncomfortable, regardless of my intent, and for that I am truly sorry. I had spent time with the person concerned on multiple occasions and had reason to think we had a friendly relationship. When I saw him at the Golden Globes party, I was excited to reconnect. I made an over-familiar gesture—a slap on the rear—which I intended as playful and not in any sexual way whatsoever. I quickly realized I had misjudged the situation. I apologized to him on the spot, and the following day I made sure my apology was reiterated through my representatives. The suggestion that I was dropped by my representation due to this interaction is false. My decision to part ways was a long term career decision that was not shaped by short term motivations. I believe in taking accountability for my actions; I made a mistake, I apologized and have learned a valuable life lesson. I remain grateful for the incredible work of our cast, crew and supporters on The Apprentice, and I hope the focus stays on their achievements.