Apple Canceled 'The Banker' Premiere at AFI Fest 2019 for This Reason

The reason behind Apple’s decision cancel the premiere of The Banker has been revealed.

The upcoming movie starring Samuel L. Jackson and Anthony Mackie was set to premiere during closing night of the 2019 AFI Fest, but was canceled on Wednesday (November 20) amid sexual abuse claims against the real-life subject’s son.

Bernard Garrett Jr.‘s half sisters recently shared with Apple that he allegedly sexually molested them over the course of several years when he was a young man living in their home, THR reports.

The sisters, Cynthia and Sheila, made the claim in connection with “separate allegations that the timeline of the film was tweaked in order to leave the girls and their mother out of the story and instead feature Bernard Garrett Sr.’s first wife, even though he had already divorced her by the time of some of the events depicted in the film.”

Apple has declined to comment on the specifics of the sisters’ claims, but released a statement saying, “We purchased The Banker earlier this year as we were moved by the film’s entertaining and educational story about social change and financial literacy. Last week some concerns surrounding the film were brought to our attention. We, along with the filmmakers, need some time to look into these matters and determine the best next steps.”

The film follows Bernard Garrett, a black man, who builds a small financial empire in the 50s and 60s by using a white man as the face of the business.

Bernard later testified before a Senate committee and was sent to prison and is considered instrumental in civil rights legislation involving the banking industry.

The Banker is set for a theatrical release on December 6th before heading to Apple TV+.