Oscar Pistorius
Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius attends his sentencing for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp at the Pretoria High Court, South Africa June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Phill Magakoe/Pool/Files

Home » Pistorius’ and Steenkamp’s Families Horrifed by Oscar Movie

Pistorius’ and Steenkamp’s Families Horrifed by Oscar Movie

The two families connected to the forthcoming ‘Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer‘ have been left shocked by news of the forthcoming Lifetime movie. Reeva Steenkamp’s parents said they were horrified to learn about the movie through social media, while they are still mourning the death of their daughter, and demand a public denial that they […]

04-10-17 09:05
Oscar Pistorius
Former Paralympian Oscar Pistorius attends his sentencing for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp at the Pretoria High Court, South Africa June 13, 2016. REUTERS/Phill Magakoe/Pool/Files

The two families connected to the forthcoming ‘Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer‘ have been left shocked by news of the forthcoming Lifetime movie. Reeva Steenkamp’s parents said they were horrified to learn about the movie through social media, while they are still mourning the death of their daughter, and demand a public denial that they were involved. Meanwhile Oscar Pistorius’ family say they will sue the filmmakers.

RIP Reeva Steenkamp. Source: FacebookThe American film chronicles the events leading up to the tragic night, when Pistorius shot and killed his then girlfriend, Steenkamp, in the early hours of Valentine’s Day, as well as the courtroom saga afterwards… which ultimately resulted in Pistorius being given a six-year sentence for murder (which he is currently serving). Pistorius is played by South African expat Andreas Damm in the film, and Steenkamp by German model Toni Garrn. (Watch trailer below.)

Steenkamp’s mother June told South African media that the movie was a “real smack in the face” for her family, and that they are “devastated”.

Reeva Steenkamp’s family statement

The Steenkamp family issued a statement through their lawyer Tania Koen, saying: “June Steenkamp had no knowledge of the making of the film ‘Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer’. She was not approached… to participate, comment or be part of the making thereof. Any impression that is created that this is her view or endorsed by the Steenkamp family, is factually incorrect.”

It appears some people have taken the words that the movie is told from the perspective of Reeva’s mother seriously… when in movie terms this simply means the angle of the movie is told from the imagined perspective of June.

The statement reads: “June Steenkamp was not approached by Lifetime to participate, comment or be part of the making of the film, and did not give the producers any assistance. Any impression that is created that this is June’s view, or that this is endorsed by the Steenkamp family, is untrue and incorrect…”

Koen calls the claims made in Dateline Hollywood “damaging and misleading” and has called on Lifeline to deny them.

“Mr and Mrs Steenkamp politely request that Ms Nancy Dubac, President and Chief Executive Officer of A+E Networks, issue a public denial of the claim in Dateline Hollywood and distance her respectable network from such a disreputable statement.”

Carl Pistorius statement

Pistorius’ brother, Carl, issued a statement saying the Pistorius family “distances themselves from the Lifetime ‘film'”.

The statement says: “The ‘film’ was made with blatant disregard of both the Steenkamp and Pistorius families, as well as complete disregard for Reeva and Oscar. Neither Oscar, the defence or the family were involved in the production of this ‘film’ in anyway.

“The ‘film’ is not [a] true reflection of what happened on the day of this tragedy and the subsequent trial of the matter.”

Carl said the film is a “gross misrepresentation of the truth. The ‘film’ is rather a representation of what the prosecution tried to portray”.

He said “we will be taking legal action”.

The movie is scheduled for release in November 2017.

Watch trailer – Oscar Pistorius: Blade Runner Killer

Carl Pistorius Statement re: Oscar Movie

https://twitter.com/carlpistorius/status/915137429522255872