Apple’s Chief Design Officer Jony Ive has spoken out against the upcoming Steve Jobs movie’s portrayal of the late co-founder of the tech giant, criticizing the negative impact it’s had upon the Jobs’ grieving family members, whilst claiming that Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of him does not represent the true personality of the former CEO.
Speaking during Vanity Fair’s New Establishment Summit yesterday, Ive discussed his feelings on the upcoming movie after being asked for his thoughts by an audience member. Much like Apple’s current CEO Tim Cook, he also expressed that he was not happy with his friend’s life being brought to the big screen in a potentially unflattering manner.
While Ive stated that he had not seen the film, he described how he felt saddened by Steve Jobs’ life being told by people who did not know the tech visionary. “You know there’s an awful lot I can say,” Ive said, continuing: “I haven’t seen the film. I’ve talked at length with friends, both of Steve and of me, who have seen the film. I just think there is a.. I don’t know, this is sort of a primal fear of mine, it touches quite deep for me, in that how you are defined and how you are portrayed can be hijacked by people with agendas that are very different from your close family and your friends.
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“And I really don’t know what more to say. But there are sons and daughters and widows and very close friends who are completely bemused and completely upset. And yet again, we’re celebrating, we’re remembering Steve’s life, and at the same time, beautifully choreographed is the release of a movie, and I don’t recognize this person at all.”
He concluded: “I’m sorry to sound a bit grumpy about it but I find it ever so sad, because he had his triumphs and his tragedies like us all, and like most of us, he’s having his identity described — defined — by a whole bunch of other people. And I think that’s a bit of a struggle personally.
Jony Ive at the Vanity Fair Summit. (Image Credit: Michael Kovac / Getty Images)
On the fourth anniversary of Jobs’ death, Cook sent out an email to Apple staff which vaguely referenced the upcoming film, encouraging colleagues who did not know the man to stop those who did and ask them “what he was really like.”
The movie’s writer Aaron Sorkin has now claimed that a screening was set up for Cook which he attended, though he has not heard any word from the CEO since he watched the film. Sorkin also said that Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, had yet to see the movie, though added: “When she does, if she does, I think she’ll be pleasantly surprised. I don’t think it’s what she expects it to be.”
