The owners behind Bob Ross' brand have slammed the new Netflix documentary, Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed, that aims to shed light on the painter's legacy. The documentary details the late art instructor's success and the legal battles that ensued after his death. His son, Steve Ross, appears in the documentary to express his disappointment over how his father's life work has been commercially exploited by the artist's business partners who now control his company. The documentary is directed by Joshua Rofé and produced by actress Melissa McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone.
Bob Ross was a landscape painter and TV instructor who is known for his soothing voice, permed hair, and his "happy little trees" -- Ross' laidback technique that used simple and quick brush strokes. He hosted PBS' The Joy of Painting which ran from 1983 to 1994. Ross has filmed hundreds of videos that were later streamed on Netflix and YouTube, leading to his renewed popularity. Ross' business partners, Annette and Walt Kowalski, turned his art into a multi-million dollar empire by selling art kits, videos, and other merchandise under Bob Ross, Inc. After Ross' death in 1995, the Kowalskis gained full ownership of the company.
After Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed debuted on Wednesday, the Kowalskis called out the Netflix documentary for being "inaccurate and heavily slanted." In a public statement posted on the company's website, Bob Ross, Inc. asserted that the film's creators had not been forthright when they first reached out for their participation. The company also denied pursuing any legal action against Steve Ross, the painter's son, as was suggested in the documentary. Read an excerpt of the company's statement below:
Had the filmmakers communicated with openness in their correspondence, Bob Ross Inc. could have provided valuable information and context in an attempt to achieve a more balanced and informed film. However, as the director and producers carried on with the production without the perspective of Bob Ross Inc., the final narrative lacks considerable nuance and accuracy and carries a clear bias in favor of those who were interviewed. After seeing media reports about the film’s summer release, Bob Ross Inc. attempted to reach out to the filmmakers in May 2021 to offer comment. They did not return calls or emails and finally responded through their attorney. We provided a comprehensive statement, and the filmmakers chose not to use it.
A brief text at the end of the documentary noted Bob Ross, Inc.'s statement denying the controversies raised by the film. Despite the backlash, producers McCarthy and Falcone stood by their documentary's message. The husband-and-wife duo told NPR that director Rofé was successful in creating a complicated but balanced movie. "We found out things about him that we didn’t expect. Nobody’s perfect,” Falcone said. Meanwhile, many of those who've seen the documentary have begun to call boycotts on the Bob Ross brand, unless the piece is vintage and is not under the Kowalskis' company.
Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal, and Greed emphasizes that turning art into a business does complicate matters. However, it is a necessary step in order to reach a wider audience. It's just saddening to see how Ross' landscape paintings have become a battlefield among his son, business partners, and the filmmakers. If anything, Ross was characterized by his calmness and desire to make painting a happy experience.
Source: Bob Ross, Inc., NPR