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EXCLUSIVE: Last night, at 9:13 PM, outgoing ABC Entertainment Group President Steve McPherson’s pit bull litigator Marty Singer faxed the following letter to The Hollywood Reporter. It accuses THR of becoming an “outrageous scandal sheet” now that former US magazine editor Janice Min and new publisher Lori Burgess are in charge. “It appears that with a new editor and publisher, THR is adopting tabloid-like behavior”. According to my own reporting, McPherson worked at Disney/ABC without any sexual harrassment-related complaints brought to the company’s attention until 2010. This year, however, one sexual harassment complaint was made by a woman against McPherson, and HR conducted an investigation. My sourcing indicates that McPherson’s resignation was voluntary and unrelated to the probe:
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Am I the only one who feels THR has gone so far tabloid, that it’s no better than Entertainment Weekly or even perezhilton.com? It’s always been 2nd rate for a trade, but there’s no reason to keep paying for content when we have deadline & other blogs who get the same story — AND get it right.
Wait a second, what are you saying here, George? That SM did NOT act like a pig?
The fact is, SM and Singer are threatening a lawsuit against THR when, from the sounds of it, the paper have at least some documentary evidence to back up their claims, especially when it comes to e-mail. SM has hired Singer not to get his job back but to keep his name from being dragged through the mud.
And if SM did behave badly, and that’s what lead to his firing, sorry, the creative community who does business with ABC needs to know about it. Where were you when THIS blog (which I love) was talking openly about Ben Silverman using drugs, his drug tests, etc. This is no different, and not really different than the reporting HERE about Albrecht’s workplace issues. There’s nothing tabloid about reporting on how a very powerful buyer loses his job.
Sure hope THR’s Min, Burgess and Masters figure out quickly that even though sex sells, bad journalism can kill.
The major difference between THR and perezhilton.com is that Perez actually has an Audience!
Sounds like you work for Deadline, George. What’s that on your nose?!
Um, did you really just compare Entertainment Weekly with PerezHilton.com in terms of how far tabloid they are? Last I checked EW isn’t really a tabloid, more just a magazine that does reviews and opinion articles on upcoming movies, books, TV shows and music. The magazine itself devotes a miniscule fraction of its pages to comments on the personal lives of Hollywood players, and even when they do it’s usually just one or two lines on stars’ marriages, births etc.
I agree. Now that Variety is charging a ridiculous amount and THR is harkening back to the days of yellow journalism, I’ll be getting most of my news from Deadline.
Nope, George, you’re not alone. I 2nd.
THR is making a tactical mistake, with these sensationalized, unsourced stories, there is too much of this these days so this hardly separates them from the pack and in fact hurts them with the industry they supposedly still cover. The industry already is collectively turning its back on them and hiring Kim Masters doesn’t help, but hurts them all the more, look at her track record.
It looks like people have forgotten that both trades used to be scandal sheets back in what’s fondly referred to as the good old days. Frankly, this is nothing new–the THR is TMZ reference, that is.
Both papers have gone corporate in their quest for ad $.
I kinda miss the old days.
While I’m not surprised all this shit is going on (everyone LOVES to knock successful people down a notch after all), it nonetheless is still disheartening. First off, NO ONE has a reliable source. Everyone is commenting on here-say and innuendo. That’s horseshit. Did the entire reporting world make a pact that they would throw out ALL their values? All these “unconfirmed” sources are just fucked. But now that the story is out there there’s no turning back. Even NPR was running this crap yesterday. How pathetic. What if it turns out is WAS BS and none of this is true? Then what? You can’t un ring a bell and Steve has to carry the pallor of this around with him forever.
Is it true he has a big personality and can be volatile at times? Of course! What SUCCESSFUL person in these jobs doesn’t — Kevin Reilly, Les Moonies, Barry Diller, Fred Silverman, Joel Silver on the film side, etc., etc., etc., etc. The drive to win and be the best is what gets them the jobs in the first place.
I’ve worked with Steve and yes; I’ve seen him be a dick at times. But seriously, none of us live in a glass house, right? But let me tell you, he also is one of the most loyal fucking people out there. No matter what. Even when you are not in the position to do anything for him, he will avail himself to help you. He literally just did something for me weeks ago when none of us had any idea what was coming down the pike. How many of you fucking haters out there would truly do the same?!? He’s proven himself time and time again and there’s no disputing his successes. Building a SUCCESSFUL entire comedy night when there was none? Little shows like Grey’s, Desperate Housewives, Lost, Brothers and Sisters? Has he had failures too? Of course! But no one ever has any of those, right? Get real. Wanna compare it to sports? Home run hitters are glorified. But guess what? When you swing for the fences you also strike out a lot. The difference is, you have to have the guts to try.
Look, I don’t work for ABC so like almost all of you, I have no idea of what the truth is. But I do know Steve. If he did anything wrong, then so be it. But what I can say is that it’s only fair for ANYONE to judge a person on what they DO KNOW. I know Steve to be a fun, compassionate, and loyal person. I also have seen and felt his anger so I feel it IS fair for me to comment. And my comment is that I’d rather have all the CONFIRMED facts come out before all the sycophants out there can gleefully jump on the tearing down bandwagon.
Well thank you for that inspiring defense. I know and have worked for him too which is why I know for a fact that he has slept with executives, tried to sleep with others and sent sex-fueled emails to others. I know people who have personally been targets of his harassment. Most of these people have been scared shitless to come out and say anything but thank god someone did and now Steve is exposed for the dirtbag he is.
Those of us at ABC have all witnessed it, to varying degrees, at retreats. It makes me sick that he is pretending he’s innocent in all this.
“malicious recklessness” not negligence? nor malice? but some how both
Too many people have worked with him that have seen his behavior first hand. Too many ABC employees have the same stories about him. If he’d never done anything inappropriate, these stories would’ve bounced away years ago as nothing but rumors.
If it pours like ketchup and looks like ketchup, it’s ketchup. No replace “ketchup” with “incompetent, bi-polar, frat boy, sex hound.”
How could a smart guy like Iger let this clown loose for so long and do such a bad job?
There is a conspiracy of silence around these high level men. They protect their own. Iger knew this was happening. The guy is not an idiot.
I have been chased around the desk many times but I have a child to support. So although I’ve been harassed I’ve never filed a claim because I know I could never get hired anywhere again.
This one president of a studio had a whole system worked out so he couldn’t get caught because clearly he had in the past. Credit card bills to PO Boxes, he called from company phone lines so it couldn’t be traced. One hotel where he frequented he had paid off everyone. So he had keys to various linen closets and gardening sheds so he could take women in there. Everyone in town knew. But he was responsible for the employment of so many that people were reluctant to say anything. People sort of felt sorry for him after a point.
As they get old they get desperate.
Nothing like a good Marty letter. MARTY! If you’re reading this, how about some pro bono work for Shirley Sherrod???
For what it is worth, it appears the lawyer is misapplying the Khawar case. That ruling was specific to the fact that the plaintiff was deemed a PRIVATE citizen rather than a public figure. Not sure you could make the same claim about McPherson.
Not only that, but the quote used seems out of context based on my reading of the ruling…the line is used as BACKGROUND to the introduction of the neutral reporting immunity, which I assume would serve as THR’s defense to the defamation claim (in addition to the general idea that you it would be tough to prove “actual malice” since other outlets have run with a sex probe story AND the source has not been identified as obviously anti-McPherson).
The claim in the Paramount case is a bit more favorable to the lawyer, but it again appears to be misappropriating a build to why journalists HAVE some degree of immunity as some sort of case law. Plus, again, to my understanding, they would still have to prove that THR is even guilty of defamation, which does not appear to be an easy victory.
Everyone is too afraid to comment now?
Thank you.
Marty Singer recently destroyed the life of a holocaust survivor. Marty Singer uses the LAPD’s threat management unit to do his dirty work now that Pellicano is imprisoned. Marty Singer is a piece of crazy shit.
Dear Mr. Singer,
We are in receipt of your July 29 letter. Thank you for taking the time to correspond with us. We have looked at and researched the citations in your letter and have come to the following legal conclusion.
“BLOW ME!”
The above is not intended to be a complete defecation of the facts or law, and we expressly reserve any and all rights and remedies available.
Sincerely,
Mel
THR is not even good enough to line a bird cage. Total trash. Good for Steve McPherson! I hope his lawsuit helps to get rid of Janice Min and the shitty excuse they call news.
Wow, Nikki. How you get your hands on these things so quickly is fantastic. Keep it up.
Marty Singer is a liar. Oh yeah he’s a lawyer. He’s lucky he doesn’t get sued himself. He should. The lies he’s spread about people. Thank God for karma. May he burn in hell with all the rest.
Marty Singer is a sociopath. Look what he did in the Tig Notaro case. What destruction for a grade z comedianne. Become a Lavely and Singer client and watch him and his rabid dogs destroy everything in the adversaries path. Sick.
An apology and retraction?? Um, if what they said is really not true, why would Steve not sue? This letter is as good as an admission of guilt.
So… there was a sexual harassment complaint, and then there was a sexual harassment investigation, and then McPherson suddenly and abruptly resigns from his job… and those things have absolutely nothing to do with each other. Okay. I get it.
Really? People still fax?
so, “accurate reports” are those that have varying reports (some of them exclusive to other reports) on what Mr. McPherson is going to do next (new spirits business, existing spirits business, some or another “new media.”
George, you’re not the only one who thinks THR has become a birdcage liner. The behavior of the ” new team” is aggregious, at best. People should save their $$ and avoid subscribing – hit ‘em in their wallets and shut them down.
Agreed. Not to mention Deadline & other blogs are free with an internet connection.
THR has been on it’s way out longer than rap music.
notwithstanding your blatant suck up to dh, do you actually read entertainment weekly george? to put them in the same camp as perez demonstrates a comical level of naiveté. why is everyone so upset with THR headline? clearly it got everyones attention and we should be careful about the glass houses we reside in.
Just because individuals did not step forward in the past does not mean that harassment did not take place. There is a strong culture of fear at The Walt Disney Company: if you make a claim, you are settled out and then blackballed throughout the company and the industry. There are only so many of these types of jobs in town and most require specific skill sets that don’t translate well to other industries. The perpetrators of harassment are rarely, if ever, dismissed.
Further, often times, incidents with senior executives are not officially recorded. It’s akin to someone “leaving to pursue other opportunities” instead of saying “they were fired.”
I don’t care how many cases Mr. Singer cites. Not only did I see and hear Mr. McPherson’s unacceptable deportment at the company, many victims over the years tried to warn others whenever his behavior was in an erratic cycle. He personifies the stereotype of a privileged frat boy who never grew up and self medicates with alcohol.
His career has been based on taking excessive advantage of his power, fear, wanton cruelty, intimidation and taking credit for other people’s work.
Did he try to make himself look like a good guy with parties and promotional items? Yes. He knew how to play the game. Karma just finally caught up to him.
It’s true. That is the culture at Disney. Incompetent executives with a serious sense of entitlement run around abusing their power and taking credit for others work in order to keep playing in their giant, private playground. They have no rules or morals, and if you come forward, you’re as good as gone.
How did you get your hands on this, Nikki? You’re amazing.
Man I hope this explodes into a showdown. Masters vs. Singer. She’s gonna have her ass handed to her on a platter. I believe McPherson won’t be the only celebrity dancing on that grave.
I couldn’t agree more. The HR has become STAR! or National Enquirer… Their Mel Gibson coverage is atrocious, they even had an article about why his attorney HASN’T fired him yet. HR sucks, I’m sticking with Deadline and Variety from now on!
This letter has a few typos in it. Doh!