Sean Penn is taking issue with Netflix over a documentary it released Friday, saying it could put him in danger of bodily harm by misrepresenting his actions.
“The Day I Met El Chapo: The Kate del Castillo Story” focuses on a time in October 2015 when Penn and Mexican actress del Castillo met with Joaquin Guzman, known as El Chapo, according to The New York Times.
Penn subsequently wrote about the meeting in Rolling Stone, and the article was published just one day after Guzman was captured by Mexican authorities, The New York Times reported.
The actor and activist did not participate in the documentary, however, and is worried because it implies that he had a part in leading authorities to Guzman.
Penn claims he had no part in Guzman’s capture and wants Netflix to change the film to reflect this reality, Fox News reported.
Last week, Penn’s attorney Theodore J. Boutros Jr. sent a letter to Netflix telling the streaming service “blood will be on their hands if this film causes bodily harm,” Fox News reported.
Mark Fabiani, a spokesman for Penn also told The New York Times, “It is reprehensible that, in their ongoing, relentless efforts to gain additional attention and publicity, Ms. del Castillo and her team (who have zero firsthand knowledge) have sought to create this profoundly false, foolish, and reckless narrative.”
Penn also denied he had anything to do with Guzman’s capture in an interview with Charlie Rose last year.
Netflix said that Penn was offered a chance to participate in the documentary “on multiple occasions” but did not, Fox reported. The streaming service also said the documentary did not offer any new information.
Some on Twitter suggested Penn’s first mistake was meeting with El Chapo at all.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.