'Proud Mary' producers respond to John Fogerty's complaint over the use of his famous song's title
"This movie has nothing to do with me," he wrote.
— -- Screen Gems has responded after John Fogerty posted a message online Thursday revealing that he was upset that the name of his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival song "Proud Mary" was being used as the title for a new movie about a hit woman and that altered lyrics from the tune appear on the poster promoting the film.
Screen Gems, the producers of Proud Mary, responded to the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer's complaint in a statement provided to ABC News.
"We would love Mr. Fogerty to come see the film," Screen Gems said. "He would see that his complaint that the film has nothing to do with the song's message as 'a metaphor about leaving painful, stressful things behind for a more tranquil and meaningful life' is inaccurate. That is precisely what our Mary is looking to do, and ['Proud Mary' star] Taraji [P. Henson] nails it perfectly."
A rep for Screen Gems also told ABC News that the film company worked closely with the music publisher of "Proud Mary" and had fully cleared the rights to use the song, as well as its title and lyrics, in the movie and its marketing.
The "Proud Mary" film tells the story of a hired killer portrayed by Henson who undergoes a change of heart about her chosen occupation.
In his statement, posted on his official Facebook page, Fogerty wrote, "It irks me when people seek to capitalize on the popularity of my music and the goodwill it has earned with the public for their own financial gain…This movie has nothing to do with me, or my song."
He also maintained that the meaning behind the song was "[f]ar from a story about killing people for money."