Josephine Director Alludes to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrest, Channing Tatum Talks Parenting

Filmmaker Beth de Araújo and actor Channing Tatum discuss their new film 'Josephine' and share personal insights on childhood trauma and parenting

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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At the Berlin Film Festival, 'Josephine' director Beth de Araújo touched on the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the UK, seemingly alluding to the case while discussing how society handles childhood psychological trauma. Meanwhile, Channing Tatum, who stars in the film as the father of the titular 8-year-old witness to a violent assault, opened up about drawing from his own experiences as a parent to prepare for the role.

Why it matters

De Araújo's veiled comment about the Mountbatten-Windsor arrest highlights the wider societal reverberations of high-profile cases involving alleged sexual misconduct, particularly those connected to the late Jeffrey Epstein. Tatum's candid remarks about parenting and protecting one's child also resonate with the film's themes of trauma and the challenges of supporting a young witness to violence.

The details

The drama 'Josephine' revolves around an 8-year-old girl who witnesses a violent sexual assault in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Director Beth de Araújo, who was inspired by her own childhood experience witnessing a similar event, spoke about the lack of progress in how society handles such trauma. During the press conference, she seemed to allude to the recent arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor in the UK, which has reignited calls for greater accountability. Meanwhile, Channing Tatum, who plays Josephine's father in the film, discussed drawing from his real-life experiences as a parent, including an incident where his daughter defended her friend at school, which he proudly recounted.

  • On Thursday, February 20, 2026, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

The players

Beth de Araújo

The director of the film 'Josephine', who was inspired by her own childhood experience witnessing a violent event.

Channing Tatum

The actor who stars as the father of the titular 8-year-old witness in the film 'Josephine'.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor

The former prince who was recently arrested in the UK on suspicion of misconduct in public office linked to his relationship with the late Jeffrey Epstein.

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What they’re saying

“It depends what country I think, but I don't think we're better equipped to handle it now. I think maybe this week the UK is.”

— Beth de Araújo, Director (Deadline)

“Apparently, there was a boy that was being very physical with them, and she told the teacher. The teacher scolded the boy, and then eventually, the boy did something to her best friend, and she spider monkey tackled this kid to the ground and bit his ear. I'm in the office, and like, 'F**k yeah.'… I took her to get an ice cream right afterwards.”

— Channing Tatum, Actor (Deadline)

What’s next

The judge in the case against Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will decide on Tuesday whether to allow him out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in addressing childhood trauma and sexual misconduct, as well as the need for greater accountability and support for victims. The personal experiences shared by the filmmakers and actors also underscore the complex emotions and protective instincts that arise when a child is faced with violence or abuse.