Sean Penn Fears for His Safety After Release of Netflix's 'El Chapo' Documentary Series
Sean Penn is fearing for his life after Netflix released the documentary surrounding his meeting with Mexican drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.
Penn's lawyers reportedly warned Netflix that the new "El Chapo" documentary could put the Academy Award-winning actor's life in danger. Acording to the New York Times, Penn's legal team issued a notice to the streaming network pointing out false claims made in "The Day I Met El Chapo" — a documentary series produced by Mexican actress Kate del Castillo.
One of Penn's attorneys, Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., wrote a letter to Netflix explaining the release of the documentary could put Penn in harm's way because the series implied he helped the Department of Justice track and arrest the notorious drug cartel leader. Boutrous Jr. also told Netflix that "blood will be on their hands if this film causes bodily harm.
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"The notion that Mr Penn or anyone on his behalf alerted the Department of Justice to the trip is a complete fabrication and baldfaced lie. It never happened, nor would there have been any reason for it to have happened," Penn's spokesperson Mark Fabiani said in a statement.
In a press release, Netflix responded to Penn's legal team by saying the actor was given the chance "on multiple occasions to participate" but he declined. The streaming giant also reiterated the series does not offer new information about the case. Instead, it gives del Castillo her chance to reveal her side of the story.
With del Castillo's help, Penn made headlines in October 2015 after he interviewed the Mexican drug lord for Rolling Stone. El Chapo was apprehended by authorities just a day after Penn's story was published, leading many to suspect he had a hand in capturing the drug lord.
El Chapo was extradited to the United States in January. He currently faces criminal charges related to his leadership of the Sinaloa Cartel, a violent drug-trafficking syndicate.
