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Report: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Considered Buying American Media aka National Enquirer to Catch Leaker of Sex Photos

Roger Friedman
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Report: Amazon’s Jeff Bezos Considered Buying American Media aka National Enquirer to Catch Leaker of Sex Photos

Vanity Fair’s Gabe Sherman has a startling tidbit buried in his filing today: Jeff Bezos seriously considered buying American Media, parent of the National Enquirer. Why? To find the leaker of his sex photos with Lauren Sanchez. Lauren’s brother Michael tells that to Sherman in the piece.

Sanchez: According to Michael, they discussed various options regarding how to respond to the story. One option even included Bezos buying A.M.I.—not such an outlandish consideration given the seriousness of the breach and the fact that, for Bezos, the price of the tabloid company is essentially a rounding error—to find out the source of the leak. “We discussed the possibility to buy A.M.I.—not to kill the story, but to find out the source. They said that’s not a bad idea. We discussed numbers and the name of the LLC that we’d use. It would be called BOBO LCC”—short for Lauren’s helicopter filming company, Black Ops, and Bezos’s space company, Blue Origin—“that’s the level of detail we went into.”

VF is more excited that Sanchez spoke to Sherman. But I think this is the great scoop. Bezos is worth billions. AMI is in the red, in the hundreds of millions. Bezos could have bought their debt and put them out of business, and found the leaker in their files. I’m glad he didn’t though! We can’t live without the fun of the National Enquirer!

Shocker! Famed NYC Art Dealer Mary Boone Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Tax Fraud

Roger Friedman
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Shocker! Famed NYC Art Dealer Mary Boone Sentenced to 30 Months in Prison for Tax Fraud

Famed NYC art dealer has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for tax fraud. If you have lived in New York or the art world for the last 30 years, Mary Boone’s was a celebrated name. She rubbed shoulders with the rich, mighty, powerful, famous. This is a tragic turn of events.

 

from the press release (keep refreshing):

Geoffrey S. Berman, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced today that Manhattan art gallery owner MARY BOONE was sentenced to 30 months in prison for filing false tax returns as part of a multi-year tax fraud scheme that cost the U.S. Treasury over $3 million.  BOONE previously pled guilty to two counts of filing false tax returns in 2011 before U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein, who imposed today’s sentence.

Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said:  “As Manhattan art gallery owner Mary Boone has admitted, her personal tax returns were more a work of impressionism than realism.  Seemingly in order from afar, the picture Boone painted of her profits, losses, and expenses was, upon closer inspection, a palette of lies and misrepresentations mixed together to avoid paying over $3 million in taxes.  Today, Boone was sentenced to 30 months in prison for failing to pay her fair share in taxes.”

According to allegations in the Information to which BOONE pled guilty, court filings, and statements made in public court proceedings:

BOONE, the owner of Mary Boone Gallery (the “Gallery”) in Manhattan, engaged in a multi-year scheme to evade paying millions of dollars in federal income taxes for the calendar years 2009 through 2011.  During each of these years, BOONE regularly provided false records to her accountant and thereby caused the accountant to prepare false tax returns for BOONE and the Gallery. 

BOONE’s tax fraud scheme had two principal components.  First, BOONE converted the Gallery’s funds to her own personal use and then falsely claimed these personal expenses as business deductions.  In 2011, BOONE used business funds to pay approximately $1.28 million in personal expenses, including $793,003 to remodel BOONE’s Manhattan apartment; $120,856 for rent and expenses for a second Manhattan apartment; and approximately $300,000 in personal credit card charges.  To evade paying federal income taxes on this personal income, BOONE fraudulently characterized these expenses as tax-deductible business expenses on the handwritten check registers that BOONE provided to her accountant.  For example, BOONE falsely characterized a $500,000 payment to a contractor for remodeling BOONE’s apartment as a “commission.”  In addition, BOONE withdrew over $560,000 in cash from the Gallery’s accounts between 2009 and 2011.  BOONE either falsely reported the withdrawals as business payments to a printing company or failed to report them at all.

Second, BOONE artificially inflated the Gallery’s stated expenses and, to a lesser degree, the Gallery’s stated income, in order to fraudulently generate business losses when, in reality, the Gallery was generating profits each year.  In furtherance of this aspect of the tax fraud scheme, BOONE engaged in complex financial machinations and further falsification of the check registers that BOONE provided to her accountant.  For example, in 2011, BOONE transferred approximately $9.5 million from one business bank account to another, and falsely characterized these transfers as tax-deductible business expenses, such as commissions to artists, on the check registers that Boone provided to the accountant.

In all, BOONE caused the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) to incur losses of over $3 million, not including penalties and interest.

*                *                *

In addition to the prison term, Judge Hellerstein ordered BOONE to serve one year of supervised release, including 180 hours of community service.  Boone previously paid court-ordered restitution to the IRS in the amount of $3,097,160, which represents the additional tax due and owing as a result of BOONE’s filing of false individual and corporate income tax returns for calendar years 2009, 2010, and 2011.

Mr. Berman praised the outstanding investigative work of IRS Criminal Investigation in this case.

This case is being prosecuted by the Office’s Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga I. Zverovich is in charge of the prosecution.

Michael Jackson Broadway Musical Postponed From This Fall to Summer 2020 to Avoid Association with Documentary

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson Broadway Musical Postponed From This Fall to Summer 2020 to Avoid Association with Documentary

The Michael Jackson Broadway musical “Don’t Stop til You Get Enough” has been postponed from its Fall 2019 opening to Summer 2020.

Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is writing the script and Christopher Wheeldon is directing/choreographing.

Producers are obviously doing what Motown and CBS did two nights ago when the omitted Michael from their TV special. They’re trying to distance themselves from the upcoming HBO documentary that accuses Jackson of child molestation.

The planned Chicago tryout for this summer has been canceled, a press release says, because of an Equity strike. Anyway, that’s what they say. But the reality is the HBO doc “Leaving Neverland” is now an issue.

Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage is writing the script and Christopher Wheeldon is directing/choreographing.

But the show is called “The Life of Michael Jackson” and I really don’t think they can ever do it. I’m sorry. But Michael is “hot” right now in a bad way. Telling his real life story would have to include trials and payoffs and hyperbaric chambers and so on. Otherwise, they’re going to have a lot of PR trouble, too much for even the most clever flack.

 

 

Amazon Abandons Plans for Massive Headquarters in Long Island City After Residents Tell Them to Go Away

Roger Friedman
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Amazon Abandons Plans for Massive Headquarters in Long Island City After Residents Tell Them to Go Away

Amazon will not be coming to New York’s Long Island City in Queens. We will have to go out to the corner and buy our toothpaste in person.

The company abandoned plays for a massive headquarters here after just about every single person in New York told them not to come here. They will be not be receiving a $3 billion tax credit. Now we can fix the potholes, the subway, and get rid of the $2.50 surcharge just added to taxis.

Amazon should have gone to a rural place where $25,000 jobs are needed and the infrastructure wouldn’t be ruined. As Paul Simon says, Remember one man’s ceiling is another man’s floor.

As it is, they’re not going to look for another site.

Here’s their statement.

After much thought and deliberation, we’ve decided not to move forward with our plans to build a headquarters for Amazon in Long Island City, Queens. For Amazon, the commitment to build a new headquarters requires positive, collaborative relationships with state and local elected officials who will be supportive over the long-term. While polls show that 70% of New Yorkers support our plans and investment, a number of state and local politicians have made it clear that they oppose our presence and will not work with us to build the type of relationships that are required to go forward with the project we and many others envisioned in Long Island City.

We are disappointed to have reached this conclusion—we love New York, its incomparable dynamism, people, and culture—and particularly the community of Long Island City, where we have gotten to know so many optimistic, forward-leaning community leaders, small business owners, and residents. There are currently over 5,000 Amazon employees in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island, and we plan to continue growing these teams.

We are deeply grateful to Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, and their staffs, who so enthusiastically and graciously invited us to build in New York City and supported us during the process. Governor Cuomo and Mayor de Blasio have worked tirelessly on behalf of New Yorkers to encourage local investment and job creation, and we can’t speak positively enough about all their efforts. The steadfast commitment and dedication that these leaders have demonstrated to the communities they represent inspired us from the very beginning and is one of the big reasons our decision was so difficult.

We do not intend to reopen the HQ2 search at this time. We will proceed as planned in Northern Virginia and Nashville, and we will continue to hire and grow across our 17 corporate offices and tech hubs in the U.S. and Canada.

Thank you again to Governor Cuomo, Mayor de Blasio, and the many other community leaders and residents who welcomed our plans and supported us along the way. We hope to have future chances to collaborate as we continue to build our presence in New York over time.

 

Billionaire Dan Pritzker’s $100 Million-plus Jazz Movie Ready for Release 11 Years After It Was First Shot, Then Re-Shot

Roger Friedman
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Billionaire Dan Pritzker’s $100 Million-plus Jazz Movie Ready for Release 11 Years After It Was First Shot, Then Re-Shot

Good news!
Billionaire hotel heir Dan Pritzker is finally releasing his jazz movie, “Bolden.”

He started shooting it in 2008. Pritzker filmed a whole version starring Anthony Mackie as jazz great Buddy Bolden. But then he scrapped his $100 million movie and started over.

Now Gary Carr plays Bolden. There’s still a Branford Marsalis soundtrack. It’s unclear how much more Pritzker spent. But it looks like he’s self releasing on May 3rd. I’m surprised he’s not waiting two more weeks for Cannes.

You can read an old interview I did with Pritzker here

Remember: “Bolden” is a passion project. It’s taken 11 years to come to fruition. Plenty of people want it to fail. I don’t. I’d like to see it be a surprise. Pritzker has his heart in the right place, that’s for sure.

Bill Cosby Compares Himself to Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Says Judge Was Corrupt and District Attorney “Low Life”

Roger Friedman
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Bill Cosby Compares Himself to Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Says Judge Was Corrupt and District Attorney “Low Life”

Andrew Wyatt, Bill Cosby’s PR rep, has sent out this statement from Cosby regarding a report on NBC 10 in Philadelphia about Cosby’s incarceration:

“I heard about Ms. Coleman’s (NBC 10) interview from the residents here. Here’s why I, [Mr. Cosby] have “no” remorse and will never have remorse. I was given a deal; I settled out of court for $3.8 million dollars; I waived my 5th amendment rights; I was declared Not Guilty in 2005 by the Commonwealth – never charged. However, a low-life District Attorney and a corrupt Judge needed me Guilty now. Not for justice, but for their political aspirations. They say, Mr. Cosby you must attend these classes. Why? One word. Entrapment! My political beliefs, my actions of trying to humanize all races, genders and religions landed me in this place surrounded by barb wire fencing, a room made of steel and iron. So, I now have a temporary residence that resembles the quarters of some of the Greatest Political Prisoners – Martin Luther King, Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Randal Robinson, and Dr. Benjamin Chavis. I stand upright as a Political Prisoner and I Smile. The Truth is Strong!” Bill Cosby”

This is a response to a report on NBC 10 in which Cosby was said not be to be remorseful for his attacks on women including Andrea Costand.

“Motown 60” TV Special: Smokey, Stevie, Diana, But Nary a Mention of Michael Jackson or the Jackson 5 Plus Lionel Richie Drops Out

Roger Friedman
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“Motown 60” TV Special: Smokey, Stevie, Diana, But Nary a Mention of Michael Jackson or the Jackson 5 Plus Lionel Richie Drops Out

When they edit together the three hour “Motown 60” for CBS (to air in April) it will have some brilliant moments and some headscratchers.


Mary Wilson, still Supreme

Just about completely missing from the show is anything about the Jackson 5 or Michael Jackson. I found it stunning that there was no nod to Michael’s Moonwalk from the 1983 “Motown 25” show. It felt like the producers of tonight’s show– taped at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles– missed a poignant opportunity to feature the Jacksons (Jermaine, Marlon, Jackie, Tito) as adults. One can only surmise that with the current Michael documentary airing soon on HBO, CBS wanted nothing to do with him. At least Michael’s face was shown in the In Memoriam section.

There were many other glaringly weird things going on at the show, but let’s concentrate on the good stuff. Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson demonstrated why they are premiere artists. The whole show could have been about them and it would be fine. Diana Ross was in fine voice but they will have to cut her fawning over Berry Gordy, which was surreal.

A surprise blast from the past was Thelma Houston, who kind of stole the show singing her massive 1977 hit “Don’t Leave Me This Way.” You will want to see that.

There are also two excellent filmed segments– one with the Motown writers Valerie Simpson, Eddie Holland-Lamont Dozier-Brian Holland, and Mickey Stevenson, along with Smokey. It’s the one time the show feels real. There’s also a very good filmed piece on the racism Motown groups encountered when they toured the South.

There are some things that would be best left on the cutting room floor including pieces with Cedric the Entertainer, and an audience karaoke segment that I thought was a waste of time– considering that many legacy Motown performers were in the audience, didn’t sing, and weren’t introduced including Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Otis Williams of the Temptations.

Again, when it’s all put together, “Motown 60” will look seamless, I’m sure. But where was Lionel Richie? I’m told he dropped out at the last minute. Gladys Knight is also not mentioned despite a run of massive hits like “Neither one of Us” and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine.” Well, you can’t have everything.

Despite the politics and scandals, one thing is true. Berry Gordy stamped his label “Motown” and invented a signal term for a kind of popular music. No one ever says ‘let’s put some on Columbia or RCA or Capitol Records.’ They say let’s hear some Motown. Six decades later, that’s quite a legacy.

R&B Star Usher Attacked in Hollywood Recording Studio While Working with Controversial Rapper Rich the Kid

Roger Friedman
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R&B Star Usher Attacked in Hollywood Recording Studio While Working with Controversial Rapper Rich the Kid

R&B star Usher is in trouble right now.

TMZ reports that he was attacked at a Hollywood recording studio while working with a rapper called Rich the Kid. TMZ says Rich the Kid was the target of a robbery, and that his entourage was shot at and pistol whipped. Usher is ok.

Usher is unlikely to have enemies. But Rich the Kid does. According to Wikipedia:
Rich The Kid began dating Tori Hughes (professionally known as Tori Brixx) shortly following the filing of their divorce. On June 15, 2018, Rich The Kid was hospitalized following a home invasion at Hughes’ home. According to a police report, several men entered Hughes’ home carrying firearms and demanded money. When Rich The Kid attempted to confront them, he was beaten and the men left with a “significant” amount of money and jewelry. On December 29, 2018, Rich the Kid got into a UTV accident in Calabasas, CA, when Dimitri and his friend were driving around in a Polaris RZR 4-wheeler. Based on sources from TMZ, it seems that Dimitri lost control of it and fell off of his RZR 4-wheeler and severely injured his hand. He was taken to the hospital shortly after

Poor Usher. He’s such a nice guy. He’s picked the wrong people to hang with over the years. He should not be recording with rappers. Usher is a SINGER. He’s wasting his time with hip hop. He should go find a real producer, and songs, and get away from this environment.

Nominee Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”) Speaks Out on Academy Awards Newest Public Argument Over Oscar Show

Roger Friedman
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Nominee Alfonso Cuaron (“Roma”) Speaks Out on Academy Awards Newest Public Argument Over Oscar Show

Oscar winner and now new nominee Alfonso Cuaron, director and choreographer of “Roma,” is mad. He’s angry with the Motion Picture Academy for not including cinematography and editing plus two more categories in the live flow of the Oscars show.

Instead, four categories will be delivered during the commercial breaks. The winners will make their speeches then. Later, the Oscars will show all four speeches by the winners in a taped package. They feel this will speed up the show. The Tony Awards have done this for years.

This isn’t such a bad idea. But it was handled poorly. The news also comes after a series of PR mishaps for the Oscars which we needn’t reiterate here. Why can’t these decisions be marketed in more felicitous ways? The Academy seems to have no sensitivity to the ultra touch social media.

Below Cuaron’s Tweet is a letter sent by the head of the Cinematographers Union. They’re pretty unhappy, too.

On top of that, last year’s Best Director and maker of Best Picture, Guillermo del Toro has said succinctly: “I’m pissed.”

What’s next? Many people are angry about certain omissions from the Grammy Awards In Memoriam section. Please, Oscar producers, go over your list carefully. Make sure everyone is included!

Dear members of the ASC,

Yesterday afternoon the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences announced that the Best Cinematography presentation — as well as the awards for Film Editing, Live-Action Short and Make-up and Hair Styling — would not be broadcast live but presented in a delayed and edited version during the televised Oscar ceremony. This decision was apparently made in order to shorten the length of the Academy Awards broadcast.

After receiving many comments on this matter from ASC members, I think I speak for many of them in declaring this a most unfortunate decision. We consider filmmaking to be a collaborative effort where the responsibilities of the director, cinematographer, editor and other crafts often intersect. This decision could be perceived as a separation and division of this creative process, thus minimizing our fundamental creative contributions.

The Academy is an important institution that represents our artistry in the eyes of the world. Since the organization’s inception 91 years ago, the Academy Awards have honored cinematographers’ talent, craft and contributions to the filmmaking process, but we cannot quietly condone this decision without protest.

Kees van Oostrum
ASC President

Michael Jackson’s Niece Reveals 7 Year Relationship with King of Pop’s Accuser: “He’s not a victim. He’s an Opportunist”

Roger Friedman
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Michael Jackson’s Niece Reveals 7 Year Relationship with King of Pop’s Accuser: “He’s not a victim. He’s an Opportunist”

Brandi Jackson is one of two children whose father is Jackie Jackson, a member of the Jackson 5 and Michael’s brother.

On Twitter today Brandi revealed that she once had a seven year relationship with Wade Robson, who now accuses Michael of molesting him during his childhood.

She wrote: “Wade: You constantly talked about wanting to be “relevant”. You’ve burned so many bridges that now the only time you are #relevant is when you headline with my family’s name next to yours. It’s time to stop these lies and live your own life.

“I found out Wade cheated on me with multiple woman who he hoped would advance his career. You might know one of them, because it was a huge pop music scandal. Wade is not a victim, he’s an #Opportunist,” she wrote.

Brandi continued: “Wade and I were together for over 7 years, but I bet that isn’t in his “documentary” because it would ruin his timeline. And did I mention, it was my uncle, #MichaelJackson, who set us up? Wade is not a victim, #WadeRobsonIsaLiar”

Brandi finished with: “I pray he comes at me for these #truths cause I will happily put him in his place.”

She also posted a picture of her and Wade with Michael when they were children.

The impetus for this is the airing on March 3rd and 4th of “Leaving Neverland,” in which Robson makes his claims. I don’t know how to reach Brandi. But she can email me at showbiz411@gmail.com. We’d love to hear the whole story.

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