Brett Ratner returns to directing with Melania documentary amid past misconduct allegations

Documentary premiere revives scrutiny of director accused by multiple actresses during #MeToo

The premiere of Melania, a documentary centered on First Lady Melania Trump, has brought renewed attention to director Brett Ratner, who is reentering Hollywood years after multiple actresses accused him of sexual misconduct.

In 2017, during the height of the #MeToo movement, six women told the Los Angeles Times that Ratner engaged in sexually aggressive or inappropriate behavior. Actress Natasha Henstridge alleged he forced her to perform oral sex. Olivia Munn said Ratner masturbated in front of her and later falsely claimed they had a sexual relationship. Jaime Ray Newman accused him of sexual harassment during a flight, while Katharine Towne said he followed her into a bathroom after making unwanted advances. Jorina King said she hid from Ratner in a bathroom and claimed he entered her trailer under the pretense of a film role and asked to see her breasts. Eri Sasaki alleged that Ratner repeatedly pressured her to join him in a bathroom on set and implied her career prospects depended on it.

Ratner has denied all allegations and has not been criminally charged or found liable in court. Nevertheless, following the accusations, he was dropped by Warner Bros., and several planned projects—including films related to Hugh Hefner, Milli Vanilli, and Rush Hour 4—were shelved.

Ratner’s return to directing comes with the release of Melania: 20 Days to History, which documents the period leading up to Donald Trump’s 2025 inauguration. The film premiered Thursday at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, following a private White House screening attended by business leaders, celebrities, and international figures. The Hollywood Reporter previously reported that Amazon spent approximately $40 million to acquire the documentary and is investing tens of millions more in marketing.

Ratner’s reemergence has been linked to support from President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Semafor. Trump has reportedly pushed for the revival of Rush Hour 4, while Netanyahu has publicly associated with Ratner, who emigrated to Israel in 2023 and accompanied the prime minister to the United Nations.

The film’s release has also drawn criticism from advocacy groups. Elisa Batista of UltraViolet Action said in a statement that the project reflects misplaced priorities amid ongoing demands for transparency related to the Epstein files. Ratner has appeared in a previously released Epstein-related photograph alongside Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of Jeffrey Epstein who died in 2022.

According to Rolling Stone, some crew members involved in Melania described Ratner as difficult to work with, though no new allegations of sexual misconduct have emerged. One worker told the outlet that while the project’s political tone was uncomfortable, Ratner’s behavior on set was cited as a major concern.

Melania Trump has previously spoken about sexual assault allegations in a 2018 ABC News interview, saying she supported women being heard while also cautioning against what she described as unfair media portrayals.