Donald Trump denies bullying his way to appearing in 'Home Alone' sequel: 'They were begging me to make a cameo'
It seems that Donald Trump's surprising cameo in the sequel to the Christmas comedy film Home Alone has some scandalous issues behind the scenes.
In a past interview that had resurfaced, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York director Chris Columbus recalled the details of how the former US president ended up having a brief appearance in the 1992 film in a scene filmed at the Plaza Hotel, which he owned at the time.
According to him, aside from paying a customary fee, Trump allegedly wanted to have a cameo appearance in the story, which turned out to be someone who Macaulay Culkin's character bumps into and asks for directions in the hotel.
"We paid the fee, but he also said 'The only way you can use the Plaza is if I'm in the movie.' So we agreed to put him in the movie," Columbus said.
While he recounted that audiences "cheered" and had a positive reaction when Trump was shown in screenings, he claimed that the politician "did bully his way into the movie."
Columbus' comments were initially made in a 2020 interview with Business Insider, but it has received renewed attention on social media over the holiday season. Because of this, Trump decided to finally address the accusations in a lengthy statement on his social media platform Truth Social.
Countering Columbus' claims, Trump wrote, "Director Chris Columbus, and others, were begging me to make a cameo appearance in Home Alone 2. They rented the Plaza Hotel in New York, which I owned at the time. I was very busy, and didn’t want to do it. They were very nice, but above all, persistent.
"I agreed, and the rest is history! That little cameo took off like a rocket and the movie was a big success, and still is, especially around Christmas time. People call me whenever it is aired," he added.
Trump stressed that "nothing could be further from the truth" regarding the bullying accusations.
"That cameo helped make the movie a success, but if they felt bullied, or didn’t want me, why did they put me in, and keep me there, for over 30 years? Because I was, and still am, great for the movie, that’s why! Just another Hollywood guy from the past looking for a quick fix of Trump publicity for himself!" he wrote.
Donald Trump denies Home Alone 2’s director claims that he bullied his way into the movie and claims his 3-second cameo made the movie a success. pic.twitter.com/nJLuN2RExq
— Pop Base (@PopBase) December 28, 2023
Columbus has yet to give a response to Trump's statement.
Considered by many to be a classic Christmas film, the Home Alone franchise revolves around children who find themselves alone and faced with the challenge of defending their family's house from burglars and criminals. The first film premiered in 1990 and was followed by two sequels as well as three television films.