Mr. T’s New Documentary Tells His Story, But He Says Netflix Got it Wrong

For a man who has spent decades as one of pop culture’s most recognizable tough guys, Mr. T has become surprisingly private. At 74, the actor, wrestler and star of “The A-Team” rarely gives interviews. So when he does talk, people tend to listen – especially when he has something to say about a documentary about his life.

That’s what happened ahead of the Sept. 8 premiere of Netflix’s “Untold Mr. T: I Pity the Fool.” Although the film is a look at his life, he’s not exactly giving it a five-star review. In a new interview with The Guardian, he breaks down exactly what he thinks the film gets wrong.

Here are some of the biggest takeaways.

It Portrays a Violent Past

Born Laurence Tureaud, Mr. T was the second-youngest of 12 children growing up in Chicago. He says protecting his mother and sisters was simply part of growing up in his family. That instinct became particularly powerful after his mother was robbed at knifepoint.

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He told PEOPLE, “I wasn’t at home when it happened, so I felt that I didn’t do my job, because if I was right there that minute, that wouldn’t have happened. And so I went into almost saying crazy mode.”

Mr. T said he felt he had failed to protect her, and according to the documentary, that incident subsequently set the stage for his career as he went after the people responsible.

The film describes Mr. T confronting the men responsible for robbing his mother. He now acknowledges that his actions conflicted with his Christian beliefs, but maintains that his mother’s safety was his priority. He told The Guardian that any attempt to portray him as violent was misguided. In fact, other kids in his neighborhood teased him because he tried to stay out of trouble.

“Growing up in the ghetto, even though I played football and wrestled, the thugs called me a sissy. You know why? Because I never robbed nobody,” he said. “They called me a sissy for listening to my mother, for listening to the teachers, for doing my homework… I told my mother I was going to be something in life. I was going to buy her a house and pretty dresses. They wasn’t going anywhere.”

He Stepped Away from Fame On His Own Terms

The documentary explores Mr. T’s transformation from a poor Chicago kid into a cultural phenomenon, but he strongly rejects the idea that his career faded because he made poor business or professional decisions. He told The Guardian his original goal was to buy his mother a house and nice clothes – something he accomplished in the 1980s.

Once he had fulfilled that promise, he says, he was comfortable stepping away from Hollywood.

His Pastor Didn’t Get Enough Screen Time

Now, this is where the documentary controversy really begins…

Mr. T says the film spends too much time on the violent episode and other sensational aspects of his life while overlooking his faith, charity work, military service and efforts to help young people. He was particularly unhappy that an extensive interview with his pastor was reduced to a brief appearance.

“It’s garbage,” he told The Guardian. “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].”

As for a cameo by his former agent, Peter Young, Mr.T says he had previously sued Young and specifically asked filmmakers not to include him. The agent criticizes some of Mr. T’s career choices, including his appearance as the Bearded Lady in the bizarre 1993 film “Freaked.”

“I didn’t have no problem playing Freaked, because we were going against the typecast,” Mr. T told The Guardian. “Brooke Shields was in it, Keanu Reeves was in it, Randy Quaid was in it. It was a fine role, but he’s putting me down for being in it. He wants to cut Mr. T down.”

Controlling the Narrative

And his reaction to the entire documentary? Brutally honest.

“That’s what we call, in the Black community, a white man wanting to change the story and control the narrative,” he continued to The Guardian. “If you don’t know me, you’re gonna think I’m some monster.” He believes the film had an agenda and that it failed to tell the fuller story of who he is – a man of faith and family values whose Hollywood legacy has shaped generations.

Mr. T’s public challenge to the way that life has been packaged by Netflix is an unusual move, particularly because he so rarely speaks at length these days. Ironically, his objections may end up being almost as fascinating as the film itself.