Reflections on the Canceled Prince Documentary

When I first heard about the Netflix documentary on Prince, directed by Ezra Edelman, I wasn’t exactly eager to participate. His team reached out to me, and I took quite some time to make a decision. After giving it a lot of thought, I ultimately decided to do the interview, hoping to contribute a perspective grounded in respect for Prince as both an artist and a human being.

However, once I sat down for the interview with Ezra, it became clear that the direction of the documentary was not aligned with my values. It felt like there was an effort to paint Prince in a light that I wasn’t comfortable being part of—a narrative that leaned more toward sensationalism than authenticity. I didn’t give Ezra the content he seemed to be fishing for because it didn’t feel true to the Prince I knew.

Prince was human, just like any of us. Yes, he was extraordinary, but he also had the complexities and contradictions that come with being human. Some things, however, should be left unsaid, out of respect for his legacy and the man behind the music. In retrospect, I regret participating in that interview, even though I didn’t compromise my integrity.

Now that the documentary has been canceled, I can honestly say I’m relieved. According to reports, the Prince Estate and Netflix mutually agreed to pull the plug due to concerns over factual inaccuracies and sensationalized portrayals. I believe that was the right decision. Prince deserves to be remembered with dignity, not as a subject of dramatized narratives that stray from the truth.

I’m curious to hear what you think about this. Do you believe some stories are better left untold, or do you think the public deserves every detail, no matter how personal? Share your thoughts—let’s keep this conversation going in a way that honors the man, the music, and the legacy he left behind.