Netflix cancels Prince documentary with abuse claims by former partner due to new agreement with deceased star’s estate

A Netflix documentary centering on the life and accomplishments of the late music icon Prince, which was under production for over five years, has been put on hold due to allegations of abuse against the deceased artist.

Following a recent agreement with the musician’s estate, Netflix will now shift its focus towards creating a fresh film highlighting the iconic career of the Purple Rain star.

The Prince Estate and Netflix have reached a joint decision that permits the estate to work on a new documentary incorporating exclusive materials from Prince’s archives. Consequently, the previously planned Netflix documentary will not see the light of day, according to a statement cited by People.

Following the announcement, Prince’s estate shared a video on X with the caption, ‘The Vault Has Been Freed.’ 

The original nine-hour doc by filmmaker Ezra Edelman has been under scrutiny since the new executors of the estate were shown a cut of the film that included accusations of physical and emotional abuse levied against the late star, according to a New York Times Magazine article last September.

In one interview, Prince’s ex-lover Jill Jones claimed he punched her in the face ‘over and over’ one night in 1984, while another former lover, Susannah Melvoin, reportedly said the Little Red Corvette singer-songwriter told her not to leave the house, while monitoring her calls, in an effort to keep her away from her sister after moving in with the musician.

The Times reporter, Sasha Weiss, saw the cut of the film and confirmed that other interviews allege the Prince suffered abuse as a child and could be emotionally controlling.

After being approached to do the documentary Edelman was told he and Netflix would have final cut, but with the stipulation that the musician’s estate would be able to review it for factual accuracy, the New York Times piece reported.

As a result attorney L. Londell McMillan, an estate administrator, handed over 17 pages of notes demanding changes after seeing an edit of the film

Edelman agreed to some of the suggestions, but would not budge on some of the others. 

‘How can you tell the truth about someone who, when you’re talking to people, they all had different things to say? How can you tell the truth about someone who never told the truth about himself?’ the American producer and director told the Times.

The scrapped documentary, which had included both vault footage and interviews with more than 70 people, also covered the devastating loss of his Prince’s son with ex-wife Mayte Garcia and his difficult childhood.

A Variety story reported that the project was ‘dead in the water’ after the screening in July 2024, resulting in estate reps to describe the film as ‘sensationalized.’ 

‘We have a duty to honor and protect his legacy with a story that fairly shows him complexities as well as his greatness. #no9hourhitjob,’ Prince’s friend and former business advisor, Charles Spicer, reportedly posted on X in a since-deleted post.

After news that the documentary wouldn’t see the light of day McMillan offered up a further explanation while coming to the defense of Prince.

‘He had human flaws, as we all do, but he was a great man, greatest artist ever, philanthropist, innovator, and he helped many people including me,’ he shared, before adding, ‘People can say what they want but won’t use his platform to do it.’

The acclaimed musician and songwriter (born Prince Rogers Nelson) died in April 2016 after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota at the age of 57. 

During his storied career the Purple Rain star released 39 albums, but ultimately left a vast catalogue of unreleased material in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home. 

As a result, a numerous posthumous collections of his previously unheard songs have been issued by his estate. 

The Minneapolis, Minnesota native stood out amongst his musical contemporaries since the late 1970s by infusing a mix of funk, rock, R&B, soul, pop, synth-pop, new wave, jazz, blues and hip-hop to his songs – some of which were recorded by other artists. 

After having sold more than 100 million records worldwide, the Sign O’ The Times legend is among the best-selling musical artists of all time.

Among his many accolades, Prince received seven Grammys, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award, and was inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2004.