For a number of years now, Netflix’s Untold has tackled varied sports-related tales from steroid scandals to catfishing conditions to Johnny Manziel’s fall from grace. With its newest installment, it seeks to dive into the highs and lows of celebrated quarterback Brett Favre. Whereas creating The Fall of Favre, director Rebecca Gitlitz spoke to numerous folks, together with media character Jenn Sterger, who accused Favre of misconduct years in the past. CinemaBlend spoke with Gitlitz, who make clear how she chronicled Sterger’s story.
Jenn Sterger rose to prominence within the early 2000s after going viral for showing at school soccer video games in revealing clothes and cowboy hats. She ultimately made her method into sports activities journalism, establishing herself as a much-sought-out pundit. The trajectory of her profession modified in 2010, nonetheless, as Deadspin leaked a narrative about Brett Favre allegedly sending Sterger suggestive texts, voicemails and images. All of that allegedly occurred in the course of the 2008 NFL season, at which level Sterger was a New York Jets sideline reporter.
Untold: The Fall of Favre spends a substantial period of time detailing the previous Sports activities Illustrated author’s hyperlink to Favre, who she says she nonetheless hasn’t really met in particular person. I had the chance to talk with Rebecca Gitlitz about her doc, which is a part of the 2025 TV schedule. Throughout our dialog, she additionally talked about her discussions with Sterger. Gitlitz opened as much as me about being entrusted to inform the previous journalist’s story in earnest for the primary time:
I feel that in the beginning in my life, in my life and profession, I would like folks to…. I don’t take flippantly that individuals hand me their deepest, darkest moments and say, you already know, please do proper by them. And that takes a number of belief, and I used to be deeply grateful to Jen that she trusted me to have the ability to do that, once I’m positive lots of, if not hundreds, of individuals have come to Jen over time and requested to do that.
Contemplating that this newest installment within the collection of well-received documentaries marks Jenn Sterger’s first time really opening up about her aspect of this example, Rebecca Gitlitz was conscious that she needed to take a number of care when telling this story. She went on to inform me precisely how she sought to distinguish herself from some other documentarians or pundits who would possibly’ve approached Sterger prior to now:
I feel that the massive distinction was that I listened, proper? Like, ‘What would you like on the market? What hasn’t been heard? Right all of the wrongs.’ We had lots of of conversations earlier than I ever turned on a digicam. And I feel that there have been numerous issues that stunned me, though I assumed I knew the story that I’d, I’d say out loud, after which I would say, ‘I wager different folks can be stunned by this additionally.’
Apart from the misconduct allegations, The Fall of Favre additionally highlights the Inexperienced Bay Packers icon’s involvement within the Mississippi welfare funds scandal. He was accused of being immediately concerned in a scenario that concerned funds meant for the state’s welfare providers reportedly being diverted into the previous athlete’s personal pocket or causes that he had a vested curiosity in. The corridor of famer has since denied being conscious of any monetary misappropriation. As for the Sterger scenario, Rebecca Gitlitz additionally mentioned:
I feel that she and I wished to proper a number of the wrongs of her story. And I feel she did this as a result of, in any small method, when the Mississippi story broke, I feel it was a validation for Jen and the bigger swath of ladies which might be on the market saying, ‘Please imagine me.’ And, you already know, she did. In order that’s why I ended the [opening] with, ‘When folks inform you who they’re, pay attention.’ As a result of that’s the epitome of the Jen Sterger piece of this puzzle.
The seasoned documentary producer – whose credit embrace One & Performed, Below Stress and The Story of Diana – appeared to take immense care when telling Jenn Sterger’s story. Rebecca Gitlitz informed me that she sought to create a balanced piece and, as a part of that, she aimed to humanize Sterger, who says she was lengthy seen as merely a “image” by most people. Sterger’s story is out there to find out about now, as Untold: The Fall of Favre is streamable with a Netflix subscription.