All articles tagged with #smear campaign
Prominent Hollywood litigator Bryan Freedman is accused in a defamation case of being connected to anonymous online smear campaigns used to attack opponents; the allegations link him to a broader “smear machine” in industry disputes, including ties to Justin Baldoni’s case against Blake Lively and the Alexa Nikolas defamation suit.
New court filings allege that Andrew Huberman's camp is tied to a covert online smear operation linked to a broader Hollywood disinformation network, surfacing after a 2024 New York Magazine profile. The complaint cites anonymous online activity and connections to fixer Jed Wallace and attorney Bryan Freedman, who previously represented Anya Fernald, Huberman's former partner. Alexa Nikolas's defamation suit further ties this ‘playbook’ to multiple targets, suggesting a coordinated digital takedown campaign.
Melania Trump told reporters at the White House that she was not a victim of Jeffrey Epstein and had no knowledge of his abuse, pushing back against years of fake images and statements and urging Congress to hold hearings for the victims; a White House spokesperson said the president was aware she would speak.
With six weeks before the Blake Lively–Justin Baldoni trial in Manhattan, a judge narrowed the case, tossing 10 of 13 claims, but Lively still pursues a major claim of a Hollywood smear campaign and potential breach of an anti-retaliation clause, signaling a high-stakes courtroom showdown.
Leaked audio purportedly from Rebel Wilson’s crisis-PR team suggests they plotted to smear Amanda Ghost as a ‘madame’ connected to Len Blavatnik in the defamation dispute over The Deb, with Ghost’s camp and Wilson’s lawyers both cited and comment sought. The material links Ghost to a Russian financer and mirrors another smear-related lawsuit (Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni) that is referenced in the case. The Cut notes it has reached out for comment and will update as the legal saga unfolds, highlighting troubling tactics in Hollywood crisis PR.
A leaked recording shows Rebel Wilson’s crisis PR firm discussing the creation of anonymous smear websites that accuse The Deb producer Amanda Ghost of sex trafficking, a plan tied to Wilson’s legal feud with Ghost and involving top industry PR shop The Agency Group; Ghost’s lawyer says the evidence supports the allegations, while Wilson and others deny involvement.
After a January Border Patrol shooting in Portland left two Venezuelan immigrants hospitalized, DHS claimed the victims were gang members who weaponized their vehicle. Guardian reporting and DOJ court filings show a prosecutor said the government wasn’t claiming gang membership for one victim, and an FBI affidavit contradicts DHS’s assertions about the other, prompting legal experts to describe the case as a smear campaign and underscoring calls for slower, more thorough investigations.
As Oscar season heats up, rumors about a split between Benny and Josh Safdie gain traction amid talk surrounding Marty Supreme, which is nominated for nine Oscars including best picture and acting/ directing nods. Allegations tied to a 2017 Good Time on-set incident are cited by tabloids as a driving force, though insiders say the brothers’ relationship is complex and nuanced. The coverage has sparked discussions about smear tactics in awards campaigning, with the Safdies declining to comment.
Alaa Abd El Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist, returned to the UK after being released from Egyptian jail, but old social media posts calling for violence and describing criticism as a 'smear campaign' have sparked controversy, leading to calls for his citizenship to be revoked amid concerns over national security and public safety.
Blake Lively claims she has suffered at least $161 million in damages due to a smear campaign linked to the release of 'It Ends With Us,' alleging harm to her earnings, brand, and reputation, and is set to go to trial next March against several industry figures.
Blake Lively accuses Justin Baldoni and his team of hiding evidence and orchestrating a smear campaign against her, with allegations of deleted communications and improper conduct during discovery, as the legal battle intensifies ahead of a 2026 trial.
The article explores allegations that smear campaigns against Blake Lively and Rebel Wilson's film 'The Deb' are interconnected, with Wilson accused of using PR tactics to damage her business rivals, including film producer Amanda Ghost. Legal filings suggest a coordinated effort involving anonymous websites and PR professionals, with potential links to the Lively-Baldoni case, highlighting a broader issue of manipulative PR tactics in Hollywood.
A federal judge dismissed Blake Lively's case against social media guru Jed Wallace, citing lack of personal jurisdiction as most of the alleged negative publicity occurred outside New York and Wallace was unaware of the jurisdictional contacts. Lively's case against other defendants related to a smear campaign continues, while Wallace is involved in a separate defamation suit in Texas.
Dan Patrick alleges that ESPN launched a smear campaign against him after he left the network in 2007 to start his own show, which he credits with empowering him and leading to a successful independent career. Despite initial struggles, his show has become nationally syndicated and streaming on Peacock, with plans to continue until 2027.
The Washington Post is under fire for quoting experts who cast doubt on the validity of a bullet wound sustained by Republican Senate candidate Tim Sheehy, without disclosing their ties to the Democratic Party. Sheehy, a highly-decorated Iraq war veteran, revealed that he suffered the injury while serving in Afghanistan in 2012, but the Post's report omitted critical information about the experts' political affiliations. The experts, including a trauma surgeon and a military program director, have donated to Democratic candidates and made public comments against former President Donald Trump. The Post defended its reporting, stating that it sought a variety of perspectives for a balanced account.