The documentary was released in 2020 in the middle of the COVID pandemic. After that the legendary duo seems to have drifted away
Scottie Pippen’s discontent with “The Last Dance” docuseries is well-known, but according to director Jason Hehir, Pippen’s apparent “hatred” toward Michael Jordan might have been swayed by outside influences. Hehir suggests that external factors could have played a role in shaping Pippen’s critical stance on the documentary.
Jason Hehir’s words
Speaking on the “Pablo Torre Finds Out” podcast, director Jason Hehir shared his perspective on the controversy surrounding Scottie Pippen’s dissatisfaction with “The Last Dance” docuseries and offered insights into Pippen’s potential lack of firsthand engagement with the series.
Hehir expressed doubt about whether Pippen had watched the entire documentary. “I think he’s been told by several people they did you wrong and all that, but I would bet a lot of money that he did not sit down and watch all 10 hours of that doc,” Hehir stated, inviting Pippen to discuss the series directly on the podcast.
Hehir has previously expressed regret over Pippen’s dissatisfaction with the series. On “The Bill Simmons Podcast,” he mentioned his sadness about possibly never having the opportunity to discuss the series with Pippen again. “If everyone feels great about a documentary, then one probably did not do his job right making it,” he remarked.
Pippen’s problems with the documentary
Pippen’s main issue with “The Last Dance” was its emphasis on Michael Jordan, which he felt overshadowed his and his teammates’ contributions to the Chicago Bulls’ success. In his memoir, “Unguarded,” Pippen expressed his frustration:
“The final two episodes aired on May 17. Similar to the previous eight, they glorified Michael Jordan while not giving nearly enough praise to me and my proud teammates.“
He also claimed that Jordan had editorial control during the final post-production phase, influencing how the story was told.
Interestingly, Scottie Pippen’s stance on Michael Jordan and “The Last Dance” docuseries has been somewhat inconsistent. During an appearance on “Today,” Pippen praised the documentary, describing it as “a special moment for us to really relive some of the greatest times in basketball history and more so have an opportunity to see what team basketball was like.”
This contradictory stance lends credence to director Jason Hehir’s claim that Pippen’s opinions may have been influenced by external feedback rather than his own viewing of the documentary.
Hehir also shared a behind-the-scenes story about a controversial clip involving Pippen was ultimately cut from the final version.
