The Controversial Story Behind Netflix’s New Docuseries The Manhattan Alien Abduction

As a lifelong enthusiast of all things extraterrestrial and unexplained, I must say that Netflix’s latest docuseries, “The Manhattan Alien Abduction,” has certainly piqued my interest. Having spent countless nights poring over UFO sightings and abduction claims, I can confidently say that this series is a must-watch for any true believer or skeptic alike.

either we’re the only intelligent life in the universe or there’s someone else out there. Either scenario is equally scary.

I recently delved into Netflix’s intriguing documentary titled “The Manhattan Alien Abduction“. It delves into the possibility of alien abductions, but leans more towards skepticism – at least with regards to Linda Napolitano’s (previously known as Linda Cortile) experience. This three-part series, masterfully directed by Vivienne Perry and Daniel Vernon, scrutinizes the account of a New York City housewife who alleged that on the early morning of Nov. 30, 1989, three extraterrestrial beings snatched her from her 12th-floor downtown apartment, whisked her through the sky to their spaceship, conducted experiments on her, and then returned her to her bedroom.

In the 1997 book “Witnessed: The True Story of the Brooklyn Bridge Abduction” written by the late author Budd Hopkins, who was a well-known ufologist and had a close connection with Napolitano before his passing in 2011, the incident was described from what appeared to be a believer’s perspective. However, the evidence presented in “Witnessed” that supported Napolitano’s claims has been challenged in “The Manhattan Alien Abduction,” written by Hopkins’ late ex-wife Carol Rainey, who was a filmmaker and documented her husband’s investigation into Napolitano’s experience at the time. Rainey claimed that the incident was either a hoax orchestrated by Napolitano herself, a version of events she shared with Netflix before her passing in 2023.

The docuseries leans heavily on interviews with Napolitano, now 77, and Rainey—who clearly had a contentious relationship with one another—as well as previously unseen footage captured by Rainey, and dramatic reenactments to reconstruct the events surrounding the alleged abduction and its aftermath. Napolitano’s story has also been documented in the 2018 podcast Somewhere in the Skies and the 2022 Apple TV+ documentary The Alien Abduction Case of the Century: The Linda Napolitano Story.

What supposedly happened to Linda Napolitano?

The Controversial Story Behind Netflix’s New Docuseries The Manhattan Alien Abduction

In the month prior to her suspected kidnapping in November 1989, Napolitano wrote a letter to Hopkins detailing an alleged extraterrestrial encounter from 13 years prior, which she claimed happened during a weekend in the Catskills. Shortly after this, she started attending meetings for abductees led by Hopkins.

Following this alleged initial meeting, Napolitano asserted she discovered an unusual lump on the side of her nose. Upon examination via X-ray, it seemed to show a small foreign entity. Hopkins interpreted this as alien interference, labeling it the “radiological smoking gun.” However, when a specialist later attempted to extract it, the object was said to have vanished.

After the event that occurred in November 1989, Hopkins’ argument for Napolitano’s allegations mainly revolved around the claim that 23 individuals had reported seeing her seemingly float through Manhattan skies. In an interview with Vanity Fair in 2013, Napolitano said, “If I was hallucinating, then the witnesses saw my hallucination. That sounds more far-fetched than the entire abduction scenario.

Nevertheless, it’s important to note that the identities of the witnesses have never been authenticated, and there’s no solid proof supporting the testimonies from individuals known as Richard and Dan, who claimed to be security officers and were said to have been with UN Secretary General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar at the time in question. These two individuals only interacted with Hopkins through letters. Subsequently, Cuéllar himself denied any involvement in such an incident when he issued a statement to PBS.

In his words, “I firmly refute the suggestion that I’ve ever had an abduction experience. I have repeatedly stated that such claims are entirely fabricated, and I trust that my denial will effectively silence these baseless speculations.

In the TV series, some clips from Rainey’s filming suggest that the accounts given by the alleged eyewitnesses about what they perceived that particular night were quite diverse. For instance, one woman asserted that she merely observed a bright flash of light peeking through her window curtains.

Rainey points out that Hopkins overlooked damaging aspects of the case, as Budd selectively focused on strong points while disregarding challenging issues.

What’s the truth?

The Controversial Story Behind Netflix’s New Docuseries The Manhattan Alien Abduction

Ultimately, viewers are free to form their own opinions about who and what they trust in the show. However, it’s been evident that Judge Napolitano is not satisfied with her representation in the series. Prior to its October 30th debut, she even took legal action against Netflix, aiming to prevent the project from airing.

In her court filing made in New York State Supreme Court on Monday, it is alleged that the documentary wrongly harms Napolitano’s reputation by portraying her unfavorably and giving Rainey significant screen time as a “skeptic” in the field, when in reality she was an embittered, alcoholic ex-wife seeking revenge against her former husband.

The lawsuit claims the doc was Rainey’s “last dying act of retribution to get even with her ex-husband, rather than exhibit the actual truth as investigated and written about…in Witnessed.”

After the premiere of “The Manhattan Alien Abduction“, it seems that a judge has declined Napolitano’s plea to prevent Netflix from broadcasting the show. Netflix has yet to provide a comment regarding this lawsuit when approached by TIME.

2024-10-31 22:07