President Barack Obama speaks during a nationally televised address from the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014.The Associated Press
E-MAILS EXPOSED
Suddenly the Sony e-mail hacking scandal has taken on racial overtones that reach all the way up to the White House.
As first reported by BuzzFeed, the newest group of e-mails leaked online feature Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin sarcastically speculating about the favourite films of U.S. President Barack Obama – and all their respective suggestions are movies starring and directed by African-Americans.
Specifically, the contentious conversation involves an e-mail exchange between the two Hollywood players in which Pascal asks Rudin for advice in advance of attending an Obama fundraiser hosted by DreamWorks Animation honcho Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Pascal initiates the e-mail chain by asking Rudin what to ask the American president "at this stupid Jeffrey breakfast."
Rudin's e-mail response: "Would he like to finance some movies."
Countered Pascal: "I doubt it. Should I ask him if he like DJANGO?" (referring to the film Django Unchained, obviously).
Rudin fires back: "12 YEARS" (almost assuredly a reference to the Oscar-nominated film 12 Years a Slave).
Pascal replies: "Or the butler. Or think like a man?"
(The Butler and Think Like a Man were two successful films from African-American directors Lee Daniels and Tim Story, respectively, and with predominantly African-American casts).
Responded Rudin: "Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart."
Ride Along was a successful 2014 comedy, also directed by Story, and starred Hart.
In Hollywood circles, Pascal is known as a major donor for the Democratic party and unwavering supporter of Barack Obama, according to BuzzFeed.
Rudin has since issues an apology, published on Deadline, which says, in part: "I made a series of remarks that were meant only to be funny, but in the cold light of day, they are in fact thoughtless and insensitive — and not funny at all. To anybody I've offended, I'm profoundly and deeply sorry, and I regret and apologize for any injury they might have caused."
In a separate hacked e-mail chat between Pascal and Sony executive Clint Culpepper, the latter party speaks disparagingly of Hart for reportedly demanding more money from the studio to promote his newest comedy on Twitter.
"I'm not saying he's a whore, but he's a whore," wrote Culpepper in reference to Hart. "If he doesn't do his normal routine, his film will not open as well and his brand will appear diminished and he will – in fact – be f–-ng himself because we have his next 2 immediate films."
This newest round of e-mails comes one day after the unidentified hackers leaked an e-mail conversation between Pascal and Rudin in which Pascal said actress Angelina Jolie was upset that director David Fincher was on board to direct the biopic Jobs instead of directing her big-budget remake of Cleopatra.
In that exchange, as Variety reports, Rudin calls Jolie a "minimally talented spoiled brat" and refers to producer and Annapura founder Megan Ellison as "a 28-year-old bipolar lunatic."
Last week, Sony hired forensic experts to investigate the massive cyber attack at the Hollywood studio. According to an e-mail obtained by Reuters, the experts said the security breach was unprecedented, well-orchestrated and carried out by "an organized group."
MEA CULPA
The Harvard professor who went over the top with angry e-mails to a Chinese restaurant manager has apologized. Following massive coverage in the media and on social media, Harvard Business School professor Ben Edelman went on his website late Wednesday to post the mea culpa directed toward Sichuan Garden manager Ran Duan, whom he harangued with e-mails threatening legal action when he was overcharged by $4. Wrote Edelman: "Having reflected on my interaction with Ran, including what I said and how I said it, it's clear that I was very much out of line. I aspire to act with great respect and humility in dealing with others, no matter what the situation. Clearly I failed to do so. I am sorry and I intend to do better in the future."
Source: Washington Post
LAST CALL
Mark down the date: The Late Show with David Letterman will air its final show on May 20, 2015. Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants, confirmed the date in a release sent out Thursday morning. In the same release, CBS president Leslie Moonves said, "It's going to be tough to say goodbye, but I know we will all cherish the shows leading up to Dave's final broadcast in May." Letterman's replacement, Stephen Colbert of The Colbert Report, is expected to resume his duties behind The Late Show desk this fall.
Source: Deadline
WRATH OF GOD
Kim Kardashian believes that her weight gain during pregnancy was a sign from God. In a recent interview with Elle U.K., the reality star admitted she was taken aback when she gained several pounds while expecting baby North West in late 2013. "I [would] think God was doing this for a reason," said Kardashian. "He was saying, 'Kim, you think you're so hot, but look what I can do to you." In the same interview, Kardashian, 34, said, "After five months, I swore I'd never get pregnant again. I got so huge and it felt like someone had taken over my body."
Source: Us Weekly
BABY NEWS
Keira Knightley is expecting. According to The New York Post, The Imitation Game star is reportedly three months along in her pregnancy. Knightley married English musician James Righton in 2013 and this will be the first child for both of them. The 29-year-old Knightley fuelled pregnancy rumours last weekend when she steered clear of consuming alcohol at the Moet British Independent Spirit Awards in London.
Source: New York Post