Mr T slams his own Netflix documentary: ‘It’s garbage’

Let us explain.

So, Mr T (real name Lawrence Tureaud) has taken aim at a new Netflix documentary about his life, accusing the film of misrepresenting him and focusing on his tough-guy persona at the expense of his faith, charity work and personal values.

The 74-year-old actor and former wrestler is the subject of Untold: Mr T – I Pity the Fool, which premieres globally on Netflix on 8 September.

But despite participating in the documentary, Mr T told The Guardian he was deeply unhappy with the finished film.

“The documentary pissed me off, because they didn't cover a lot of stuff,” he said.

“When I saw it I was like: ‘What the heck?’ It's garbage. You build me up, then you try to punk me out. I said: ‘Wow man, I'm more than that.’ Two days they interviewed my pastor, and he gets 30 seconds [on screen].”

READ MORE: Netflix sends $1bn of its Australian-made revenue overseas

READ MORE: Netflix subscribers paying more despite less original content

‘You’re gonna think I’m some monster’

Mr T said the documentary placed too much emphasis on the larger-than-life image that made him one of television's most recognisable stars during the 1980s.

He argued the film failed to properly capture the importance of his Christian faith and humanitarian work, while giving prominence to elements of his past that he believes distort his story.

“That's what we call, in the black community, a white man wanting to change the story and control the narrative. If you don't know me, you're gonna think I'm some monster,” he said.

The actor was particularly unhappy that the documentary included his former agent, Peter Young.

Mr T told The Guardian the pair had fallen out and claimed he later sued Young after discovering his former agent had allegedly put his name to contracts without his knowledge.

Young appears in the Netflix documentary and criticises some of Mr T's career choices, including his decision to appear as the Bearded Lady in the 1993 comedy Freaked.

Mr T says he nearly confronted Netflix

Mr T said his reaction to seeing the finished documentary was strong enough that he turned to prayer to stop himself from confronting Netflix.

“I said: ‘Lord, don't let me go off. Don't let me go off.’ 'Cos I wanted to go off on Netflix. And I thought: ‘If I go off in here, it's not going to be pretty.’ I said: ‘Take the high road.’ So I took the high road.”

The interview also revealed that a Netflix representative was listening to the conversation and, as Mr T continued criticising the documentary, reportedly messaged The Guardian journalist to ask him to change the subject.

Mr T wasn't finished.

He also challenged the documentary's treatment of claims that he insisted on having a white limousine booked for appearances.

“What's wrong with white limousines? Shouldn't I have a choice of colour? I wear white underwear. That makes me a bad guy? Let's get real here,” he said.

From Rocky III to The A-Team

Mr T became an international star after playing Clubber Lang opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III (1982).

A year later, he began playing BA Baracus in The A-Team, which aired in more than 70 countries and turned the actor, his mohawk, and his trademark gold jewellery into fixtures of 1980s popular culture. He later became a prominent figure in the US anti-drug movement, including Nancy Reagan's ‘Just Say No’ campaign.

Before Hollywood, he served in the US military and worked as a bodyguard, with clients including Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Steve McQueen.

Untold: Mr T – I Pity the Fool premieres globally on Netflix on 8 September.