The Red Hot Chili Peppers have disavowed an upcoming Netflix documentary about the iconic rock band.
The current members of the group — lead singer Anthony Kiedis, bassist Flea, drummer Chad Smith and guitarist John Frusciante — released a statement Monday slamming the streamer for falsely advertising the project.
“Dear people of the universe, about a year ago, we were asked to be interviewed for a documentary about Hillel Slovak,” began the statement, shared to the band’s official Instagram page. “He was a founding member of the group, a great guitarist, and friend.”
“We agreed to be interviewed out of love and respect for Hillel and his memory,” the group continued. “However, this documentary is now being advertised as a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary, which it is not.”
“We had nothing to do with it creatively. We have yet to make a Red Hot Chili Peppers documentary,” the musicians insisted, reiterating that “the central subject” of the Netflix doc is Slovak, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 1988
“And we hope it sparks interest in him and his work,” the statement concluded.
The Post has reached out to Netflix for comment.
“The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers” was directed by Ben Feldman and will be released March 20.
According to Variety, the documentary, which was secretly screened at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival before being bought by Netflix, “examines the gritty, formative years of the Los Angeles band, and the influence of original guitarist Hillel Slovak.”
The film will also “provide a rare, intimate glimpse into the rock music force behind songs like ‘Under the Bridge’ and ‘Californication.’”
Kiedes, 63, and Flea, 63, appear in the doc and “discuss the band’s early evolution and the deep bond of their childhood friendship,” per Variety.
Feldman said in a statement that he was “profoundly grateful to the band and to Hillel’s family for their trust and generosity.”
The filmmaker also thanked Netflix “for helping bring this story to the world stage.”
The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in 1982 by Kiedes, Flea, Slovak and drummer Jack Irons, who left the group shortly after Slovak’s death.
The band has released 13 studio albums, won three Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
“The Rise of the Red Hot Chili Peppers” premieres March 20 on Netflix.