A “horrifying” sequence particularly angers Netflix subscribers in the new Marilyn Monroe film Blonde.

Filmmaker Andrew Dominik’s latest divisive effort is based on a 2001 work of fiction by Joyce Carol Oates about Marilyn Monroe.

The film has been marketed as a disturbing experience due to the involvement of Ana de Armas, who played a leading role in Knives Out. The film has been given an NC-17 rating in the United States.

This is the equivalent of an 18 in the United Kingdom. However, American filmmakers often cut their films to avoid receiving this rating. Doing so usually results in lower box office receipts when the picture is shown in theatres.

Many people assume that Blonde is a straightforward biopic about Monroe when, in fact, the film contains numerous fictionalized accounts of the life of the Hollywood actress, at least one of which has been criticized for being excessively sensational.

It involves former US President John F. Kennedy, with whom Monroe is widely thought to have had an affair in the 1960s. This affair has been the subject of many rumours, which have never been confirmed.

Later in the film, Monroe is drugged and brought to a man called “the president,” who looks much like John F. Kennedy (the actor, Caspar Phillipson, previously played him in Jackie).

Here, he pushes Monroe to perform a sex act on the phone. At the same time, he denies sexual assault allegations, while a voiceover by de Armas depicts Marilyn trying to distance herself from the situation.

Even though there is no record of such an incident, some viewers unfamiliar with the source material seem to think it occurred.

One of the reasons the scene’s placement has been called into doubt is because of this. The narrative of Monroe is being “exploited,” according to some.

Viewers of ‘Blonde’ have complained that a specific scene involving JFK goes too far (Netflix)

Those who have seen ‘Blonde’ feel the film’s portrayal of JFK in a particular sequence is over the top (Netflix)

A viewer questioned the integrity of the claim, saying, “I don’t know if this has been validated or not.”

Another viewer chimed in, asking, “why would the film #Blonde create a graphic rape of #MarilynMonroe by #JFK?” and labelling the sequence “disgusting exploitation” of the Hollywood star’s life.

Others believed that the sequence “should never have made it” and was likely responsible for the film receiving an infamous “R” rating.
One user said, “I’m thinking why it’s NC-17 then comes the JFK scene for the most humiliating depiction of Marilyn Monroe.”

Customers of Netflix have been complaining about the film Blonde, with many claiming they had to turn it off after only 20 minutes.

A one-star review by Jessie Thompson for The Independent argued that “Blonde is not a poor picture because it is humiliating, exploitative, and misogynist.” However, it is all of those things. It’s terrible because it lacks originality, bores the listener to tears, and boasts to itself about how smart it is.