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BREAKING… EXCLUSIVE… UPDATED: Tony Scott’s widow Donna has told police that the famed filmmaker/TV producer did 
not have brain cancer, informed insiders tell Deadline. That makes erroneous this morning’s Good Morning America report that he “had inoperable brain cancer” and quoting “a source close to him”. The ABC claim was widely picked up by media outlets globally and all the Hollywood press (but not Deadline) as the reason why Scott committed suicide Sunday by jumping off a Los Angeles County bridge at 12:35 PM. Within half an hour ABC was backing off its story (see below). This is the third time in a month that ABC News has erroneously reported on a sensitive news story. During the Aurora movie theater shooting tragedy, ABC News first claimed the gunman was a Tea Party member which was not true. And then the shooter’s mother accused ABC News of mischaracterizing a quote from her. The issues all seem the same: ABC News is not properly vetting its reporting.
Around 6:30 PM, a half-hour after Deadline corrected the ABC morning report, ABC News put out this new headline, “Tony Scott Brain Cancer Report Appears in Doubt” and this new text backing off its story:
“The family of director Tony Scott, who died Sunday after jumping off a Los Angeles bridge, was not aware Scott had cancer, Los Angeles County Coroner Ed Winter told ABC News station KABC in Los Angeles. ABC News was unable to reach Scott’s family to confirm the coroner’s statement. ABC News had reported the director of films such as Top Gun, Days of Thunder, and Crimson Tide had inoperable brain cancer, citing a source close to Scott.”
On the Aurora shooter’s identity, ABC ran this correction: An earlier ABC News broadcast report suggested that a Jim Holmes of a Colorado Tea Party organization might be the suspect, but that report was incorrect. ABC News and Brian Ross apologize for the mistake, and for disseminating that information before it was properly vetted.
Also during the Aurora tragedy, ABC News rushed out with a story quoting the shooter’s mother Arlene Holmes as saying: “You have the right person.” The media outlet said she was referring to her son. But Holmes through her attorney said later: ”I was awakened by a call from a reporter by ABC on July 20 about 5:45 in the morning. I did not know anything about a shooting in Aurora at that time. He asked if I was Arlene Holmes and if my son was James Holmes who lives in Aurora, Colorado. I answered, ‘Yes, you have the right person.’ I was referring to myself.”
Meanwhile, Lt Fred Corral with the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office tells Deadline that an autopsy was completed today on the 68-year-old Scott, but the cause of death was deferred pending toxicological and other tests. The results will take 4 to 8 weeks. The Coroner’s Office Craig Harvey also tells Deadline that his office is in possession of “part of a suicide note” found in Scott’s black Prius car found at the scene of the suicide. Harvey says “multiple” notes were found.The contents have not been made public. Harvey also said the Coroner’s Office will not be releasing any of that information at this time.
Related: Tony Scott Jumped To Death From Bridge In Suicide
Denzel Washington Among Film Community Mourning Tony Scott
Tom Cruise Among Film Community Mourning Tony Scott
Julianna Margulies, David Krumholtz, CBS Pay Tribute To Tony Scott
Pete Hammond On Tony Scott: An Appreciation
Tony Scott Left Behind Some Fine Projects
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Ah, yes, the unnamed source. Gotta love morning “news” shows. When not peddling saccharine-sweet puff and superficial caricatures peddled as investigative journalism, they smuggle in bias, trends, jargon and one-sided hit pieces.
Adam, I’ve never been on this website (linked by Drudge) but your assessment of the morning “News” shows should be quoted over and over and always be the way they’re described. When I get up in the AM, I check the Weather Chanel then turn it off. Morning shows are no way to start the day. Good job!
Don
Virginia Beach
How can you stand Stephanie what’s-her-name in the morning? Otherwise, I agree with everything you wrote. I have never watched any morning TV.
I don’t watch any “Morning” Shows, nor do I listen to —any— of the Morning Drive shows on radio. This is pablum for the sheep, and there are many. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a news service that dealt minaly in facts, and not in opinions? They’re all playing the same sick game of mis-information —- they just slant it differently, depending on their bias.
Couldn’t have said it any better!
Did you have something in mind?
BRAVO
Very well said. News reporting and journalism is in a sad state these days. It is a dog eat dog biz.
Has nothing to do with competition and everything to do with incompetence and dishonesty
Well said, sir.
Could not have put it any better myself. Well stated.
Oh god, the coverage is like an episode of The Newsroom.
Sad to admit it but earlier today when Deadline would not say anything regarding “the cancer” and other friends were telling me, I went elsewhere online to find the further details. I was annoyed with NF’s admission she was holding back–and THIS serves as a valuable reminder about news coverage in the modern era (again–this was a friggin plot point on The Newsroom, a show I’ve been highly critical of and annoyed with).
Guess I’ve got to say kudos Deadline. For now, anyway, as this is obviously developing.
“This is a person’s life.”
Very suspicious when someone from the shadows is so immediately peddling such a neatly-wrapped, stop-the-questioning-folks explanation.
One that happens to be totally false disinformation.
I don’t think Tony, in his films or his lost-too-soon life, would want the audience to miss that point plot.
Anytime you have someone from the shadows so quickly peddling a neatly-wrapped, question-ending, nothing-else-to-see-here-folks story that turns out to be entirely baseless, be suspicious.
In his movies, as well as his ended-too-soon life, Tony Scott would want the audience to pick up on that key plot point and pay commensurate attention.
Abc is either in too big of hurry to be the breaking source or they have irresponsible people working for them. Either way is wrong like they a lot of the time.
Unfortunately, when there’s a major news story, the media immediately go into a feeding frenzy to get a scoop. Accuracy doesn’t matter. Getting a headline or new angle is all important.
Only later does accuracy matter. Then, the media gradually stop reporting certain things or, rarely, admit that they were wrong.
It happened with the shooting of Congresswoman Giffords in Phoenix, with the shooting of Trevyan Martin in Florida and, apparently, now with the circumstances surrounding the death of Tony Scott.
Is it really too much to demand journalistic accuracy or, when they just don’t know something, that they actually admit, directly or indirectly, that they just don’t know?
Yes, and apparently, we do not hold ourselves to a very high standard, either. You can check twitter for evidence of this. In the early aftermath of Tony Scott’s death, reports began circulating of cancer, then inoperable brain cancer. In a flash, they were being retweeted. No one was bothering to check sources. People were casually commenting about it on various websites as though they had personal knowledge of it before any actual story had broken. So the public is not much better than ABC News, I am afraid. (Former journalist here who fact-checked everything to a fault …)
FormerJournalist, and your point is? The public on twitter is not held to a standard of truth and accuracy. The NGOs do not get a pass on the plank in their eye by pointing to the splinters in the eyes of the general public. Your point was lame, but I expect that from someone with a journalistic background.
Can’t media outlets just let the investigative process take its course without trying to get “ahead” of the story ? There is a family involved here.
ABC is not even reporting at the low bar set by tabloid journalism. It more closely resembles the junior high rumor mill.
No. There is money to be made if they are correct and very little downside for them to really take a hit if they are wrong.
I disagree. I for one (and I cannot be the only one) will no longer consider ABC a credible news source unless and until sweeping changes are made in its news organization, from the very top down. It is clear with this most recent episode that ABC is not taking a political stance (which many thought based upon the Aurora Tea Party claim). ABC News has now shown itself to be a consistently pathetic news organization more interested in breaking a story, even if it is completely false, than journalistic integrity. That is enough for me. I am finished with them.
The problem really is that the journalist are no longer into reporting. They want to create news based on their agenda. They do not investigate. It appears that the public has accepted their version of the news and have been manipulated and reacted to it that it has given the media amazing power. That is why everyone from every background need to never accept any news at face value. You have to do your own investigation. Many people don’t care and don’t have a clue what is happening in this country, others are so biased in their view they will not consider any other opposing view, and others will argue because of their biases even it if it is false. I don’t trust the mainstream media..and always look at any news I see or read with a critical eye..looking at who wrote and how much is fact, biase and lie.
So many major news organizations have been reporting inaccuracies. The journalistic profession is not held in high regard anymore, and more and more people are tuning out the media noise.
Well said!
After the shock I said WHY? I can only speculate on why and I will most assuredly be wrong. PEACE
Thanks Nikki for pausing while others did not. He will be missed whatever the reason. Gods speed.
Oh yes, by all means: “Gods” speed.
That aside, what an incredible producer and director Tony was! Such a terrible loss – first to family, and second, to so many of us who appreciated his incredible cinematic talents.
My prayers for his loved ones!
This is just horrible. RIP Tony Scott….I loved your movies. Thank you for your contributions to America & beyond.
Well said.
So tragic, condolences to the family.
A.B.C. = ALWAYS BEING CORRECTED!!!!
Loved his movies. “The Last Boy Scout” is still one of my favorites. RIP Mr Scott, condolences to his family & friends.
thanks tony for all your work. and thank you abc for proving once again everything abc/cbs/nbc news produce is subject to vetting.
Kudos to deadline for not jumping the gun.
Not only is abc at fault but so are the ones that jump aboard without at least qualifying the report or rumor
And therein lies the biggest problem of misreporting. Others jump on the report and suddenly it is a confirmed ‘fact’. I suspect the other news outlets don’t condemn ABC because this type of false reporting benefits them all, giving them fodder for further speculation.
Had a college class recently where the instructor showed us a piece of 20/20 from the late 1990s with Barbara Walters telling the viewers that journalist integrity is important and how they do this blah blah blah. Well, afterwards I rather passionately told the instructor that, “ABC still does this! They still have sensationalism, inaccuracies, and add unnecessary bias in their reporting.” The instructor was rather befuddled, but another student backed me up and said the same thing I said (to my surprise). Not sure what it says about society if only two students out of thirty realized this (though maybe not confident enough to speak up).
Your professor doesn’t sound very qualified…
All in an attempt to be ‘First!’ with an exclusive, they just add salt to the wounds of those who knew and loved Tony Scott the most. ABC is fucking reckless and should be ashamed!
Why can’t all of us just leave his family alone out of respect? I am not suggesting that we just ignore them. Meditate, pray, or do whatever you do. We share their grief, but we should not pick our way through the reasons or circumstances because we admired the man. Dying is personal.
Yes dying is personal. And ABC should not be airing lies about the circumstances of someones death. This article is about ABC not about Tony Scott.
So sad. Thoughts and prayers to Donna and the twins. Loved your movies, Tony. May you find peace..
True Romance was always one of my favorites! RIP friend.
“If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs…”
Nice job Nikki. It looks like “Deadline” is slowly becoming the “go-to” source to check the veracity of any entertainment related story.
My understanding is that ABC has a bet with CNN to see which will hit bottom first.
LOL!
Good Morning America either needs to get back in the news business, meaning re-familiarize themselves with the basics of journalism, or just go ahead and turn into “Celebrity Circus A.M.”
Does ABC get anything right? NO.
I am so sick of supposedly “real” news outlets relying on ” a close friend, “an insider who spoke off the record” and so forth being used as sources. Gosh where are the standards these days? In the toilet is where. You have a tragedy and for goodness sake, give it a rest and respectfully pause for minute and let things settle. Ridiculous.
People like him just don’t jump off a bridge like the Vincent Thomas, something must have been wrong. I wonder why it takes 4 to 8 weeks to find out why? I know LA is a big city but 4 to 8 weeks how slow can they be at the coroner’s office.
This makes me ashamed to admit that I have a journalism degree…but, in my defense, I was taught (some 30 years ago) to actually get two sources before reporting a story! Today, however, the urgency of getting the story first, especially amidst competing internet sites (which don’t have scheduled shows at fixed times) has driven traditional, broadcast media to reckless reportage. It’s very, very sad.
I was taught the same thing as well. Not being snarky but I truly wonder how many people in network news divisions have journalism degrees. I suspect that the percentage is a lot less than it was 20 years ago.
Um, a journalism degree is one of the last things you’d want a reporter to have. The journalism major is so touchy-feely and devoid of hard courses that it turns out people without much knowledge of anything, while thinking they actually understand reporting. Of course, I only worked in a newsroom for 40 years. Much preferred would be history or even English, where the cub reporter is actually willing to listen to somebody about how to cover and write a story. Most of the best reporting was done by smart people who either couldn’t afford to go to college or drank too much at college and dropped out, and were insecure enough about either that they paid attention to spelling, writing, getting the facts right, etc.
Wow, quite profound actually!
Very good point.
I think the same reasoning applies to filmmakers and film schools, I’m afraid.