Key Takeaways:
– A feud between Deadline and Variety writers over who broke the exclusive news first.
– This isn’t the first time these two industry giants have butted heads.
– Earlier in the summer, they disputed over the claims involving Francis Ford Coppola on the set of “Megalopolis”.
– The heated rivalry between Deadline and Variety, which are both owned by PMC and operate from the same building in California, continues to unfold.
Let’s begin, shall we?
The Exclusive Scoop Standoff
Have you heard about the drama between two of Hollywood’s media giants? Deadline and Variety have been butting heads recently, and it’s all because of an “exclusive” story on Neon’s film, “The Life of Chuck.” You see, when it comes to showing the world who’s boss with breaking news, these two don’t play around.
Mike Fleming from Deadline was the first to publish a story on it. Then, not long after, Rebecca Rubin from Variety shared her own tale on the same topic. The kicker? She also labeled it as an “exclusive.” Now, this didn’t sit right with Mike, who already claimed it was his exclusive news. He made it known publicly by adding a note to his original article, accusing Variety of manipulating the timing to appear they broke the story.
When Friendly Competition Turns Petty
This fuss might seem like silly business to us, but in the world of high-stakes news reporting, it’s a big deal. Battling over who got the scoop first? It’s like the ultimate badge of honor. In simpler terms, imagine you got the first piece of cake at a party, and then someone else claims they got it first. Feels wrong, right?
A Summer of Controversy
This was not the first tiff between the two, though. Earlier in the months of sunshine, the two disagreed over a report involving renowned director Francis Ford Coppola, and the drama involved the set of Coppola’s upcoming project, “Megalopolis.”
Variety ignited the fuse by releasing a story accompanied by a video, showing Coppola giving a smackeroo to an extra on set. Deadline, not intimidated to step into the ring, countered with Mike Fleming Jr. labelling Variety’s story as a clickbait. Fleming Jr. even got in touch with the extra shown in the video, Reyna Menz, who claimed that the kiss was completely innocent – an act of kindness, nothing more.
But did Variety back down? Not quite. In fact, they shot back with a retort of their own, penned by Tatiana Siegel and Brent Lang. Later, Coppola decided to join the battlefield, filing a lawsuit against Variety, Lang, and Siegel for defamation.
The Underlying History
Behind the drama unfolding before our eyes, there’s a tiny bit of history. Mike Fleming from Deadline had the privilege to attend the first screening of “Megalopolis” where he shared an enthusiastic review. That lit another fuse when Penske’s Hollywood Reporter and Variety reported a contradicting view – they claimed that the film received less than stellar feedback and was deemed “unreleaseable.”
Conclusion
The squabbling between Deadline and Variety writers over exclusives and stories might not impact us directly, but it gives us front row seats to an ongoing drama offscreen. It’s like watching a soap opera, only this one’s playing out in real life and involves two of the biggest names in Hollywood reporting. Although they occupy the same building in California, the tension is undeniable, which makes you wonder – what will be their next bone of contention? And will there ever be peace in the valley of media giants?
Well, my friends, that’s a story for another day. Until then, sit back and enjoy the show!
