Disgraced X-Men Director Leaves United States Permanently
Filmmaker Brett Ratner, best known for his work on Rush Hour and X-Men: The Last Stand, has permanently immigrated to Israel. The news, via The Hollywood Reporter, comes amidst a career marred by controversy and scandal, with Ratner facing allegations of sexual misconduct during the #MeToo movement.
Brett Ratner shared an Instagram story featuring his Israeli immigration certificate and national insurance documents alongside a Hebrew caption saying, “Brett Shai Ratner.” The filmmaker’s connection to Israel runs deeper than immigration, as he has a close relationship with Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
Brett Ratner, director of X-Men: The Last Stand has permanently immigrated to Israel
The pair recently met in New York during Netanyahu’s visit to the United Nations for the 78th General Assembly. Reports from Israeli media suggest that Brett Ratner and Harvard Law School professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz were guests of honor during Netanyahu’s speech to the General Assembly. After the event, Ratner shared a photo of himself with Netanyahu, Sara Netanyahu, and Dershowitz.
Brett Ratner’s career came to a standstill in 2017 when he was accused of sexual misconduct at the height of the #MeToo movement. The allegations were brought forward by several women, including actresses Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, who accused Ratner of various forms of inappropriate behavior.
Natasha Henstridge, known for her roles in movies like Species, claimed that Brett Ratner had sexually assaulted her in the 1990s by forcing her to perform oral sex on him in his New York apartment. Actress Olivia Munn, who worked with Ratner on the 2004 film After the Sunset, alleged that Ratner had masturbated in front of her without her consent on the movie’s set.
Brett Ratner’s career came to a standstill in 2017 when he was accused of sexual misconduct at the height of the #MeToo movement
Brett Ratner responded to the allegations by vehemently denying all charges. He released statements through his legal representatives and in public forums, asserting that the accusations were false and defamatory. Ratner maintained that he had never engaged in any non-consensual sexual behavior with anyone and characterized the claims as part of a smear campaign against him.
Despite his denials, the allegations significantly impacted Brett Ratner’s career. In 2018, Warner Bros. severed all ties with him and did not renew their deal with his company, RatPac-Dune Entertainment. This decision resulted in the termination of a $450 million slate financing facility covering the costs of some major Warner Bros. projects.
Brett Ratner’s reputation took a severe hit, and efforts to stage a comeback were met with obstacles. In June 2018, he expressed interest in directing a fourth movie in the Rush Hour franchise. However, he was met with rejection from Warner Bros. Additionally, Ratner’s name surfaced in a March 2019 investigation regarding Warner Bros. executive Kevin Tsujihara’s relationship with British actress Charlotte Kirk.
In 2021, Brett Ranter made another attempt at a career comeback with a biopic about the fraudulent R&B duo Milli Vanilli. However, the project faced opposition from Time’s Up, which issued a statement opposing his return to the industry.
As Brett Ratner begins a new chapter in Israel, it remains to be seen if he will stay on the sidelines of Hollywood. The move may offer a fresh start for the disgraced director, but the shadow of his past misconduct allegations is likely to loom over his career forever.
