Sebastian Stan Says He Can’t DoVariety’s ‘Actors on Actors’ Because Other Stars' Reps Are 'Afraid’ of Donald Trump Movie

Mar. 15, 2025

Sebastian Stan on Nov. 18 in L.A.Photo:JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

JC Olivera/Variety via Getty

Sebastian Stanclaims other people in Hollywood are too “afraid” to discuss his controversial movieThe Apprentice.

The formerGossip Girlstar, 42, who playsDonald Trumpin director Ali Abbasi’s film about the 45th U.S. President’s beginnings as a real estate mogul in New York City, alleged at a recent screening of the film that he was invited to participate inVariety’s ‘Actors on Actors' series, but couldn’t ultimately take part because he ran into difficulty being matched with another performer,according to Buzzfeed.

“They were too afraid to go and talk about this movie, so I couldn’t do it,” Stan claimed at the Nov. 19 event, the outlet reported. “And it doesn’t matter, that’s OK. It’s not to point a finger at anybody — I’ve got to do a lot of great things.”

Stan said there wasn’t “anyone specific,” at fault, adding, “we couldn’t get past the publicists or the people representing them because they were too afraid to talk about this movie.”

Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice.'.Briarcliff Entertainment

Briarcliff Entertainment

Stan said a lack of discussion of the movie and Trump himself is a disservice. “If it really becomes that fear or that discomfort to talk about this, we’re really going to have a problem,” he said.

Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump and Sebastian Stan as Donald Trump in ‘The Apprentice.'.Pief Weyman/Briarcliff Entertainment

Pief Weyman/Briarcliff Entertainment

PEOPLE reached out to representatives for Stan, but did not immediately hear back.

Variety’s ongoing series pairs actors for in-depth conversations about the industry. Past duos have includedMargot RobbieandCillian Murphy,Jon HammandKristen Wiig, andJennifer AnistonandQuinta Brunson.

Hours after the event,Black BirdEmmy winnerPaul Walter Hauserseemingly offered up his participation on X (formerly Twitter). “I’ll do it?”he wrote. The pair previously co-starred together in 2017’sI, Tonya.

Sebastian Stan, Renate Reinsve and Adam Pearson in ‘A Different Man.'.Matt Infante/Courtesy of A24

Matt Infante/Courtesy of A24

A Trump spokesperson previously told PEOPLE thatThe Apprentice, which was released in October, “is garbage,” adding, “this ‘film’ is pure malicious defamation, should not see the light of day, and doesn’t even deserve a place in the straight-to-DVD section of a bargain bin at a soon-to-be-closed discount movie store. It belongs in a dumpster fire."

source: people.com