Larry Birkhead is not happy about the upcoming biopic about his ex Anna Nicole Smith!
Nearly 20 years after the model passed away, a film is coming out called Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, which tells the story of Dr. Sandeep Kapoor. You may recall that the physician was charged with illegally funneling excessive prescription drugs to Anna Nicole after she died of a drug overdose at the age of 39 in February 2007. Dr. Kapoor was acquitted following a trial three years later, and he went on to write a book, Trust Me, I’m a Doctor: My Life Before, During and After Anna Nicole Smith, in 2017 about his experience as the late actress’s primary doctor before her death.
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Now that memoir has been made into a movie, starring Kal Penn as Kapoor, which will be released on October 16. And Larry wants to make it clear that he in no way, shape, or form supports the film. He blasted the biopic in an interview with Entertainment Tonight this week, saying:
“We don’t condone this. We’re not involved in this production. We absolutely object to any of Anna Nicole’s, my life, my daughter’s life being used in a movie. And being made characters out of someone that was a doctor that supposedly people were supposed to trust.”
Larry shared that he pleaded with Dr. Kapoor about the “harm” the movie would cause for not only himself but Anna’s 19-year-old daughter, Dannielynn:
“I actually have had conversations with this doctor and his representatives. I warned them about the harm and the emotional distress that this puts on not just myself but also, most importantly, Dannielynn, and how this could impact her and the things that she sees.”
But what makes him really upset? The dad claimed the doctor promised he would stay away from the spotlight years ago, but he ended up breaking that promise:
“I was promised by this doctor and his representatives that his days of doing press and being in the spotlight were over. But here we are. Fast forward almost 20 years later, and this doctor continues to make the rounds.”
Larry revealed he has since taken legal action to stop the film’s release:
“I have filed a complaint with the California Medical Board over Dr. Kapoor’s participation in this movie. I’m just going to let the process, you know, play itself out, and see what they have to say about that.”
Whoa…
There is no update on the complaint he made at this time. We’ll see if Larry gets his way. As for how Dannielynn reacted to the biopic, the photographer shared that his daughter “had some choice words” about Anna’s story being exploited by Dr. Kapoor:
“I don’t wanna speak for her on this, but she had some choice words for this doctor and this project.”
Ultimately, Larry is trying “to continue to protect her daily” — even though she is over 18 now. And he doesn’t want to see her hurt by this biopic, as you can imagine. He also wants to see his ex represented properly, and he doesn’t think Abbie Cornish, who portrays Anna Nicole in Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, is the right fit:
“I’m sure she’s probably a nice girl and a great actress. But I don’t think she quite embodied Anna Nicole. And that’s not really an attack on her. I have yet to see someone who actually embodied the spirit and the looks and the persona of Anna Nicole.”
Clearly, Larry doesn’t trust this film to do Anna Nicole’s story justice! Watch the entire interview (below):
Thoughts, Perezcious readers? Will you watch the biopic if it’s released? Tell us in the comments (below).
[Image via Chris Connor/WENN, Larry Birkhead/Instagram]
