The future of trans lives and laws explored in ‘Heightened Scrutiny'
Sam Feder and Chase Strangio stopped by the L.A. Times Studios @ Sundance Film Festival presented by Chase Sapphire Reserve to talk about their documentary, 'Heightened Scrutiny' and how media coverage of trans issues has affected the lives, and laws, of trans people.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Russell Simmons sues HBO for $20 million over doc alleging sexual misconduct
NEW YORK — Russell Simmons has filed a lawsuit against HBO and the makers of the 2020 documentary 'On the Record,' claiming defamation for their allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. The record executive, who's seeking $20 million in damages, is also accusing them of ignoring or suppressing evidence from witnesses who 'refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made' against Simmons, according to lawsuit filed in New York. 'Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,' his attorneys, Imran Ansari and Carla DiMare, said in a written statement to Variety. In the complaint, Ansari claims the streamer ignored multiple polygraph tests that 'would have been discovered with due diligence and adherence to accepted journalistic standards.' The documentary made its debut at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2020 and detailed sexual assault and misconduct allegations against the Def Jam Records founder from multiple women. The project was originally to be produced as a part of Oprah Winfrey's deal with Apple TV, but the media mogul later withdrew from the film and it ultimately landed at HBO Max. Along with the $20 million, Simmons is requesting a court order to have the title removed from all of HBO's platforms. Simmons has faced multiple lawsuits accusing him of misconduct. More than 20 women have come forward alleging sexual assault, many of whom participated in the documentary. A spokesperson for Warner Bros., the parent of HBO, told TMZ the company 'stand[s] by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations.'
Buzz Feed
4 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
Michelle Obama Reacts To Daughter Malia Dropping Last Name
Kids dropping their famous parents' last names is nothing new in the celebrity world, and Malia Obama, the 26-year-old daughter of Barack and Michelle Obama, is among those who have made the move. For some context, Malia premiered her directorial debut, The Heart, at the Sundance Film Festival last year. She wrote and directed the 18-minute short film and made the notable decision to submit it and credit herself all under the name Malia Ann. Ann is Malia's middle name. For the record, it doesn't seem like she has filed to legally change her name, and there's currently no indication to suggest she will. And while other celeb kid name-changes might be linked to family conflicts or fractured relationships, it sounds like Malia's decision to leave off 'Obama' has more to do with her professional life than anything else. Speaking on Kate and Oliver Hudson's Sibling Revelry podcast on Monday, the former first lady opened up about how Malia and her soon-to-be 24-year-old sister, Sasha, are trying to 'distinguish' themselves as young adults. 'I mean, it is very important for my kids to feel like they've earned what they are getting in the world, and they don't want people to assume that they don't work hard, that they're just naturally, just handed things,' she said. 'They're very sensitive to that — they want to be their own people.' Discussing the name-change specifically, Michelle said that she and Barack were slightly skeptical of the move initially. 'Her first project — she took off her last name, and we were like, 'They're still going to know it's you, Malia,'' she said. 'But we respected the fact that she's trying to make her way.' Speaking more about her grown-up girls, who've remained very private since their family bid goodbye to the White House in 2017, Michelle said: 'As they're older, I think they are embracing our parenting principles. They have a clearer understanding of why we did a lot of what we did. They understand us as full human beings now, in the same way that I think I discovered that about my parents when I went away to college.' Notably, Barack echoed similar thoughts about the name-change when discussing Malia's decision not to credit herself as an Obama at Sundance. ''You do know they'll know who you are,'' he recalled telling his daughter during an appearance on The Pivot podcast in October. 'And she's all like, 'You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association [with the Obama last name].'' 'So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that,' he concluded. And you know what, good for them! You can find Michelle and her brother Craig's full appearance on the Sibling Revelry podcast here.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Warner Bros Discovery Hits Back At Russell Simmons' 'Unfounded Allegations' In Ex-Mogul's $20M Suit Over 2020 Sexual Assault Documentary
UPDATE: A lot of time has passed since Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering's documentary expose of Russell Simmons and allegations of sexual assault by the famed music executive aired on HBO Max, over five years. Today, with court filings certain to follow, it didn't take Warner Bros Discovery that long at all to respond to Simmons' $20 million defamation suit against On the Record – and give no quarter. More from Deadline Channel 4 Says It Doesn't Use NDAs, But Documents Reveal Company Is Curbing Free Speech Of Aggrieved Ex-Employees Sean "Diddy" Combs' Faces New Accuser "Jane" Wednesday; Trial Dominated Today By $100K Payment For "Only Copy" Of 2016 L.A. Hotel Footage Of Cassie Ventura Beating Jury In Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial Set To Start Deliberations Wednesday - Update 'We dispute Mr. Simmons' allegations, stand by the filmmakers and their process, and will vigorously defend ourselves against these unfounded allegations, a WBD spokesperson told Deadline this morning, as a new round of layoffs hit the company's cable TV units. Maybe the Bali-residing Simmons will even show up in court to press his own case vigorously against that vigorous defense. PREVIOUSLY, 10:59 AM: With Oprah Winfrey very publicly exiting as a producer, Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering's documentary On the Record, about the women who accused hip hop impresario Russell Simmons of rape and more, was controversial even before its debut at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Now, years later, Simmons is claiming again he had proof the allegations cited in OTR were false or at least questionable in their truth. Living in Bali of late, the much-accused Def Jam co-founder is going after HBO, parent company Warner Bros Discovery and the filmmakers for $20 million in a defamation action filed today in NYC – and he's naming names, past and present. 'The Defendants willfully, intentionally, negligently, and/or recklessly, disregarded and/or suppressed evidence and information, including interviews, and over twenty witnesses, that were supportive and favorable to Plaintiff, and/or refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made against Plaintiff in the film,' exclaims the complaint placed in the Supreme Court of the state of New York docket late Tuesday by attorneys Imran Ansari and Carla DiMare. The duo not only want a hunk of cash for their much-accused client, but they also want the Drew Dixon (a former Def Jam exec), Sheri Sher, Sil Lai Abrams, Jenny Lumet, and Kelly Cutrone featuring On the Record, which HBO Max picked up in February 2020, essentially scrubbed from 'all platforms, networks and media outlets in the Defendants' control' so to never be seen again. Naming those names, Simmons' complaint adds: 'The evidence and information were made available to Defendants, including then CEO of WarnerMedia John Stankey, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, Casey Bloys, and the company's board members, by the Plaintiff, and/or others on his behalf, however, the Defendants disregarded and/or suppressed said materials.' 'Defendants further disregarded nine consecutive credible and favorable CIA-grade polygraph results, and/or information favorable to Plaintiff that was provided to them or would have been discovered with due diligence, and adherence to accepted journalistic standards, and that Defendants willfully, and/or recklessly, disregarded and suppressed said information and evidence, and published, and continue to republish defamatory content,' it goes on to state. HBO and WBD's scarce communications boss (and ex-Obama press secretary) Robert Gibbs had no response when reached out to by Deadline over Simmons' new swipe at the docu. While repetitive of what was in their actual filing, the same cannot be said of Simmons lawyers. 'Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,' Ansari and DiMare told Deadline this AM of the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Dick and Ziering. In the overlapping nature of #MeToo lawsuits, it is worth noting that Ansari is a partner and chief of the civil litigation practice of Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins – a firm founded by longtime Harvey Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala, who literally is in court for his ex-producer client's NYC rape retrial as it goes to the jury today. That trial is taking place not far from where Sean 'Diddy' Combs, a clear protégé of Simmons on may levels, is on trial in federal court on charges of sex-trafficking and more. Corporately, On the Record was supposed to screen on AppleTV+ under the streamer's deal with Winfrey, but when the talk show queen pulled out of the film over concerns about 'some inconsistencies in the stories,' that avenue became a dead-end. After a strong reception at the Robert Redford founded Sundance, just as Covid-19 was hitting the world, the film was bought by HBO and aired on what was then called HBO Max on May 27, 2020. While Simmons has denied the allegations against him from a variety of women, it seems he has not been so prompt to pay up sums he agreed to. A trio of women who reached settlements with Simmons said in filings earlier this year that he still owes them around $8 million. To be specific, after reaching deals in 2023 and paying up initially, Simmons still owes Alexia Jones $190,000 with 20% annual interest, journalist Toni Sallie $2,940,000 with 20% annual interest, and $4,950,000 to singer Tina Klein-Baker. Living in Bali, Indonesia since 2018, around the time the allegations against him began to peak, and having founded an upmarket retreat. Simmons is out of the reach of U.S. justice. There is no extradition treaty between the world's fourth most populous nation and America. Best of Deadline 'Nine Perfect Strangers' Season 2 Release Schedule: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? List Of Hollywood & Media Layoffs From Paramount To Warner Bros Discovery To CNN & More
