Former To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen has publicly criticized the biopic Primetime, which features actor Robert Pattinson portraying him. Hansen watched the film in a Times Square AMC theater and said most of it is pure fiction. He described the movie as detached from reality and called it a 'fever dream' in his podcast interview.
Hansen gave Pattinson's performance a grade of D and said the film misrepresented his work, according to Rolling Stone. The film was directed by Lance Oppenheim and is set in 2006 during the height of Hansen’s To Catch a Predator segment, according to a report from news.google.com. Hansen’s show involved working with law enforcement and a group called Perverted Justice to catch men who tried to meet minors online for sex.
The series drew criticism over concerns about entrapment and the blurred lines between journalism and justice. Hansen said he had not been consulted about the film’s content or premise before its release. He criticized the director for not wanting to hear anything positive about his work or the impact it had over the years. Hansen also said the film portrayed him as an aloof parent, which he denied being true.
He expressed frustration that the movie did not reflect his efforts to protect children from predators. Hansen noted that scenes involving Jeff Zucker and Stone Phillips were not accurate to real events. He said the film made it seem like To Catch a Predator was a small-time show trying to get on primetime, which he disagreed with.
Hansen also questioned the motives of the director for not reaching out to him or his team before making the film. He said the movie was an insult to all those who work to protect children from predators.
Hansen has continued his work on Takedown with Chris Hansen and recently released a documentary trailer for a new project called I’m Chris Hansen. He also discussed the film's legal implications, wondering if Pattinson’s portrayal could be considered defamation. Hansen said he is a public figure and that defamation laws are difficult to prove in such cases.
Despite his criticism, he acknowledged the film’s creative direction was dark and dramatic as he had expected.