Thursday, March 28, 2024

Woody Allen Publicist Absolutely Right to Ban Trade Rag– They Ambushed Him

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Woody Allen’s publicist, Leslee Dart, has banned The Hollywood Reporter from today’s press lunch in Cannes for “Cafe Society.” She’s absolutely correct.

The Hollywood Reporter is run by an editor who used to edit US Weekly, Janice Min. Take that into account for how that site now works. I often criticize THR myself because they liberally sample stories from other publications without credit– or a minimal one that makes them look like they wrote it.

This week, Woody Allen is on the cover of their magazine. The cover story is a fawning Q&A, and the magazine begged for it. They used Woody to give themselves a prestigious look for Cannes. Only they benefited from it.

So what a surprise yesterday when Woody’s estranged son, Ronan Farrow, failed MSNBC show host, attacked Allen in a piece on The Reporter’s website. It was designed solely to embarrass and humiliate Woody for the opening of his film at Cannes. Farrow is manipulated by his mother, Mia Farrow, who suggested a couple of years ago that Frank Sinatra was really Ronan’s father. If only. Ronan certainly demonstrates Sinatra’s spitefulness. That’s not a Woody Allen trait.

If Ronan Farrow really believed all the things his mother and sister say about Woody, he could confront him privately. They could go for counseling. Instead, Ronan (and Mia) use the press for shock value to hurt Allen. They have no interest in getting to the truth or getting closure. It’s despicable.

And the Hollywood Reporter– that’s not journalism, that’s just trash. They’re no better than a supermarket tabloid, or US Weekly. And they turned against their cover subject for no reason. Other celebrities should take note of what happened. That’s the REAL Hollywood Reporter. Blech.

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.
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