"Richard Jewell" screenwriter Billy Ray again claims Kathy Scruggs They deflect and distortopting to challenge one assertion in the movie rather than accepting their own role in destroying the life of a good man. Related: Lauren Snchez (Jeff Bezos Girlfriend), Age, Children, Husband, Family, Net Worth, Journalist. In a thread on Twitter on Thursday night, Lin Wood, the prominent defamation lawyer who represented Jewell in lawsuits against The Journal-Constitution and other media organizations, joined the movie's critics. Author Robert Coram had a front-row seat to Scruggss dealings with law enforcement in the mid '90s. What happened to Kathy Scruggs? Learn about the reporter who broke the Scruggs died of a morphine overdose in 2001. 'Richard Jewell' film under fire for depiction of journalist Kathy Scruggs For example, Bryant finds out about the FBI investigating Jewell from seeing the newspaper on the stands, not from Nayda showing it to him (as shown in the film). Disappointing that they would apply this tired and sexist trope about Kathy Scruggs, a real reporter.. At issue is the film's portrayal of the late reporter Kathy Scruggs. All of which again escapes mention in the film which its possible to come away from believing that Jewell was still basically the same sexless weirdo mamas boy that the media made him out to be in the nineties. Her former colleagues said she didn't cross ethical boundaries to land a story,as is suggested in "Richard Jewell," the movie thatincludes a portrayal of her as a reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I come from a long line of journalists my moms been a journalist for 35 years theres no way I would want to suggest that.". After the interrogation, sometime later, Shaw and other FBI members hand Jewell and Bryant a letter that states they will no longer be investigating him as a suspect. She had this big personality the kind you never forget.". Read More Ashley Willcott Court Tv Husband, Age, Height, Salary, Net WorthContinue. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. "She did not have to sleep with anyone to get a story," Kiss said. Kathy was known for her solid reporting. If there was a double standard, it was one Ron Martz complained of at the time: that Kathy Scruggs seemed to be getting all the criticism over a story on which Martz was a co-author. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In December 2019, a biographical drama film Richard Jewel was released portraying the real life of Jewell. "It's obvious to me they did not go to any great lengths to find out what the real characters were like. On July 27, 1996, Jewell was working security at concerts going on in Centennial Park. As well be discussing the plot of Richard Jewell, expect spoilers. Scruggs died in 2001 of a morphine overdose. The deputy attorney general called that morning, and said, essentially, Get that woman off the air. The guy on the other end, agent Jay Spadafore, is a part-time PR guy, intentionally kept completely away from the investigation. It crushed her like a junebug on the sidewalk., But even facing litigation over the article, Scruggs would not reveal her source in reporting that Jewell was a suspect. Why Clint Eastwood's 'Richard Jewell' is so controversial - Los Angeles The most electric character in Clint Eastwoods new film, [Richard Jewell] (https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2019/12/richard-jewell-warner-bros-legal-letter)and now the most controversialis Kathy Scruggs, the hard-charging, real-life Atlanta Journal-Constitution journalist played by Olivia Wilde. As the story went through the editing process, Scruggs, Martz and Managing Editor John Walter talked about what word to use, Scruggs would say later. Its obvious to me they did not go to any great lengths to find out what the real characters were like., Both Gugino and the creators of the limited series obviously work to offer a bit more nuance with the character. That would be an appalling and misogynistic dismissal of the difficult work she did.". Your email address will not be published. This movie that supposedly aims to set the record straight often ends up regurgitating lazy assumptions. She was the real deal when it came to being a dedicated reporter, attorney and family friend Edward Tolley told the AJC in a 2019 feature on Scruggs, adding that the portrayal of her as a floozy was complete horse [expletive]., My concern is theyre going to turn her into some sort of femme fatale who would do anything to get a story, said former AJC reporter Ron Martz, who added that no one from the film ever got in touch with him. Richard Jewell (film) - Wikipedia Nicholas Confessore of the New York Times wrote, An accurate movie script about a female reporter would involve her being constantly propositioned or harassed by people she covers, while being invited to evening meetings that somehow turn into involuntary dates with sources, and bombarded with rape threats on Twitter. Added Melissa Gomez of the Los Angeles Times, Hollywood has, for a long time, portrayed female journalists as sleeping with sources to do their job. According to one of Scruggs' bosses, assistant managing editor for Olympics Thomas M. Oliver, the source told Scruggs that Jewell fit a patternOliver did not recall whether the word used was a "profile"of a wannabe cop with troubled experience in law enforcement. The thing she was always proud of was the newspaper stood by her. Kathy Scruggs Death: How Manhunt: Deadly Games Reporter Died - Heavy.com Kathy Scruggs, the AJC, and other media had no qualms about. She was at least doing the job as it was understood; he was the unscrupulous one. Craig Herrera is an American host and meteorologist at FOX Weather. People have begun to do just that, and the criticism has, if anything, only intensified. Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen write: Witnesses repeatedly came forward to accuse [him] of twisting their words. You can access his archive of reviews here. In the 1990s, Scruggs was known for her solid reporting, her tight relationship with local law enforcement, and also her hard-partying ways, something that was exacerbated after she set off the media firestorm directed at Jewell. She was really tough and hard-nosed. The screen fades to black and the audience is informed that Jewell died at 44, Bryant and his assistant Nayda (played by Nina Arianda) were married and have two sons that Richards mother, Bobi (played by Kathy Bates) watches every Saturday. The AJCs reporter is reduced to a sex-trading object in the film, theletter says, according to the newspaper. . Jewell becomes emotional about regaining his freedom. In a new depiction of the 1996 Olympics bombing in Atlanta and its aftermath, a newspaper reporter from the time is once again portrayed in a controversial light. Kathys downfall began when she realized how her story destroyed Richard Jewells life. Scruggs' former reporting partner, Ron Martz, played by David Shae in the movie, said no one from the film contacted him. And two, that it was accurate, said Alexander. Walter decided the story should use the word "focus," Scruggs would recall. Andrew Nichols is an American bilingual journalist. This movie is about a hero whose life was completely destroyed by myths created by the FBI and the media, specifically the AJC, Ray told Deadline. Eric Rudolph eventually confessed and pleaded guilty to that bombing and other attacks. Will Cain is one of the prominent journalists for CNN. He expressed this all in a statement made upon confessing to the crimes. Portrayal of female journalist in 'Richard Jewell' is 'worst kind of She is right now the face of justice. So I had to call the district attorney, and we went through this whole back and forth and Nancy didnt end up speaking about the Olympics again.. It was Scruggs who first publicly. The suit was dismissed in 2011 when the Georgia Court of Appeals concluded the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published. But Scruggs was not alive to see her name cleared, and friends told the AJC that stress related to the case exacerbated her failing health. Her heart gave away. It was like a vacuum, she said. Scruggs was the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reporter who first wrote about . Now a movie comes along 23 years later, a perfect chance for the AJC to atone for what they did to Richard and to admit to their misdeeds. Its based on the real-life events of the 1996 Summer Olympics and the Centennial Park bombing. According to The Washington Post, Jewell stated that the lawsuits werent about the money --because most of it went to lawyer fees, taxes, and a new home for his mother-- but to ensure that the truth was told. There was NO evidence to support a storyline that Ms. Scruggs traded sex for tips about Richard. I think the people that have (criticized the films version of Scruggs) havent seen the film and certainly havent read the book. "She was aggressive. Unfortunately, Scruggs can't come forward to defend herself, either: She died in 2001 at the age of 42 from an overdose of prescription pain pills, according to Poytner. He received a public apology from Jay Leno, a $200,000 settlement from CNN, and an almost $600,000 settlement from NBC, among others. Please consider becominga subscriber. She was never at peace or at rest with this story. On Thursday, Ray defended the filmexplaining that the Atlanta Journal-Constitution seems to be pulling focus to one single minute in a movie thats 129 minutes long. Wilde also tweeted to respond to the controversy, saying,I do not believe Kathy traded sex for tips and it was never my intention to suggest she had. Ray and Brenner, among others, claim that the outsize focus on the Scruggs scene is a deliberate effort to deflect from the real story: the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions flawed, and destructive, reporting on Jewell. By the time the case ended, Richard & Ms. Scruggs had both passed away. It was the early 1980s when Scruggs arrived in Anderson to be an education reporter. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. Why doesnt the film give time to people whose conduct wouldve actually warranted the villain treatment? What Happened To Kathy Scruggs, 'Richard Jewell' Journalist? | True Once Scruggs got the scoop, she wrote up the story with her co-author, Ron Martz. Kathleen Kathy Scruggs was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who broke the story that the FBI was investigating security guard Richard Jewell as a possible suspect in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics bombing. Olivia Wilde addresses controversy around her 'Richard Jewell I didnt want to back away from or soften [Scruggs], in any way, because I wanted to give people perhaps a chance of empathy, seeing a little bit of the world through her eyes, said Gugino. The man, Richard Jewell, went from being hailed a hero to the most hated villain when Kathy Scruggs, a journalist with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, broke the news about Jewell being looked at as the main suspect by the FBI. She was just 42 when she died in 2001. Richard Jewell, a security guard, also discovered the explosives. Perhaps the subject wouldn't be as commanding as she was. When I'm not writing about pop culture, I can be found channeling Gordon Ramsay by kicking people out the kitchen. It haunted her until her last breath, her former colleague Tony Kiss told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2019 feature about her. Alex Johnson is a reporter and editor for NBC News based in Los Angeles. The film, directed by Clint Eastwood, says it is a story of what happens when what is reported as fact obscures the truth.. The polygraph seems to be the final nail in the FBIs attempt at finding evidence against Jewell. This, in turn, had actors in the movie, like Jon Hamm, when I interviewed him, urging people to see the film before passing judgment. Eric Rudolph eventually admitted to the bombing and other attacks and pleaded guilty. Richard Jewell is an interesting exploration of this fascinating case of a man wrongfully accused. "She was just out there, charging ahead," Gouch said. Who is Julia Morales? She reportedly served as the basis fora reporter inthe 2003 novel Shikar and as a young detective in the 1997 novel Atlanta Heat., Wilde has addressed the criticism surrounding the depiction of Scruggs in Richard Jewell., I have an immense amount of respect for Kathy Scruggs," Wilde told The Hollywood Reporter. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. She works as a sports anchor and reporter for AT&T SportsNet Southwest and the sideline reporter for Houston Astros. We further demand that you add a prominent disclaimer to the film to that effect.". Required fields are marked *. He noticed a suspicious green backpack, and then alerted cops and authorized authorities. As Martz told the New York Times: [Kathy] could be flirtatious, but she wouldnt have done that sort of thing, because she was very conscious of her role as a reporter and she wanted to be known as a top-notch reporter. Wilde also said in her Twitter thread that Scruggs was at the center of the "brutal and unjust vilification" of Jewell and that the film centered on the tragedy of the accusations against him. Kathy Scruggs, reporter in 'Richard Jewell,' was 'dedicated' in SC Dreams of implants An article published on Columbia colleges website entitled Richard Jewell Case Study, discussed Scruggs more and showed her in a more professional manner. Support stories like this by supporting local journalism. Richard Jewell was never officially charged with any crimes, but he spent 88 days being under investigation as the person responsible for the 1996 bombs in Centennial Park. Kiss said he is "just appalled" at the film's portrayal of Scruggs, whom he described as hardworking, fearless and a reporter who took pride"in getting the story right.". The Richard Jewell ControversyAnd the Complicated Truth About Kathy The Georgia Court of Appeals dismissed the Jewell case against the AJC in 2011. Get all your true crime news from Oxygen. She was also known for a foul mouth, low-cut dresses, and general wildness. The Suspect does*, painting him more as a rogue FBI agent whose leak infuriated his bosses. Without an inkling of self-awareness, Awful Announcing is concerned about the destruction of a dead reporter's reputation eternally. Scruggs was born and raised in Atlanta. "Nothing in my research suggested she did so, and it was never my intention to suggest she had. In a feature last month, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Scruggs was disturbed by a lawsuit naming the AJC. or the Coen Brothers. She was great at that, and I think thats one of the reasons why she was so successful working with cop sourceswhether it was beat cops or detectives in the homicide squad. How that actually played out is an interesting, quasi-Coen Brothers-esque story in itself. And what do they decide to do? TIL reporter Kathy Scruggs who broke the story of Richard Jewell being It crushed her like a june bug on the sidewalk.. Every single criminal investigation and civil lawsuit the ex-president is currently facing, including the ones youve probably never heard about. ", Olivia Wilde as Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs in the movie 'Richard Jewell. Richard Jewell movie accuracy: Fact vs. fiction in Clint Eastwood's Nikki Battiste is an American journalist working as a correspondent anchor as well as a reporter for CBS News in New York City. The reporters outside his home would even yell and harass Bobi and Richard to try to get a reaction to catch on film. They launch a distraction campaign. At the time, the coroner said it could not be determined if the overdose was suicidal or accidental. Richard Jewell is a 2019 American biographical drama film directed and produced . Scruggs writes a story saying just that, which turns Jewell (and the implication of his guilt) into a global news event. Bryant also had help from other lawyers to clear Jewells name. I have been a life long lover of pop culture, especially television, turned that passion into writing about all things entertainment related. Through social media posts, court records, and other primary sources, author Kathleen Hale forensically reconstructs their lives before the crime, and the night they were killed. In addition to suffering from depression, she had a chronic back problem. Mike King, a former Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor who worked with Scruggs for about eight years, said that, save for that glaring implication, Richard Jewell largely seems to get Scruggs right. Specifically, Riley has pointed to a scene in Richard Jewell that implies Scruggs, who died in 2001, traded sex for storiesa scene that has incited an internet firestorm and prompted the AJC to demand a disclaimer on the movie. "She would announce herself. All the cops knew her and respected her and kidded her a lot, said Coram, who based a character in Atlanta Heat on Scruggs. This led to him being scrutinized and ridiculed by the media before he was cleared as a suspect. Someone saw him running from the scene and took down his license. Related: Eirianedd Munro (Adam Peaty Girlfriend) Bio, Age, Height, Family, Boyfriend, Son, Artist, Job, Net Worth. Marie Brenner, who wrote the Vanity Fair feature on which the film is based, hopes that Richard Jewell might impact audiences the way the story affected her in 1996. While there were a number of bad actors this includes journalists who did considerable damage to Richard Jewell's reputation, I've not seen where Kathy Scruggs' reporting went beyond the facts. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. She became popular in the 1990s for breaking the story that the FBI was investigating security guard Richard Jewell as a possible suspect in the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics bombing. NY 10036. the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reporter, Gwyneth Paltrow Says She's 'Proud' Years Later Of Bringing Conscious Uncoupling Into The Mainstream, Credits It For Making Divorces 'Easier', Baby Fever Is In The Air As Bonnie Wright Is The Latest Harry Potter Star To Announce A Pregnancy, Pete Davidson And Chase Sui Wonders Were Both At The Bupkis Premiere, But Totally Avoided Taking Red Carpet Photos Together, Following Controversy Surrounding Netflix's Queen Cleopatra, Egypt's Council Of Antiquities Weighs In. Again, a chapter that goes unmentioned in the film. She broke the story that security guard Jewell at that point a hero for saving countless lives in the Centennial Olympic. The police caught on to Rudolph when he did a bombing in Birmingham. Want to get a room or just go to my car? Scruggs asks after he reveals Jewells name. Clint Eastwood slanders reporter Kathy Scruggs in "Richard Jewell," his otherwise powerful and honest film. Says a prayer directly after the bombing not for the victims, but for the murderer to be interesting The film also takes liberties with how information and events unfolded. The movie actually does Scruggs worse than that. "He was a suspect at the time she reported that he was. That would be an appalling and misogynistic dismissal of the difficult work she did. "She was upset, and she sort ofimplied tothe bar owner she could put him in the newspaper," Kiss said. He was given life in prison without parole. Eric Rudolph, an American domestic terrorist, was later found to have been responsible for setting off the bomb, which killed one person and injured 111 other people at the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta in July 1996. Support stories like this by supporting local journalism. MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES Official Trailer (HD) Cameron Britton, MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES 2020 TRUE CRIME DRAMA CAMERON BRITTON MANHUNT: DEADLY GAMES will chronicle one of the largest and most complex manhunts on U.S. soil the search for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Park Bomber and the media firestorm that consumed the life of Richard Jewell in its wake. "There was NO evidence to support a storyline" that Kathy Scruggs traded sex for tips about Richard Jewell, his attorney tweeted. Powered by. Richard Jewell ended with a quiet showdown between Jewell (played by Paul Walter Hauser) and Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), and the FBI agents in charge of his case, led by Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm). Hes a composite. The movietells the story of Richard Jewell, a security guard who should have been hailed a hero after he found a pipe bombpacked with nails and screwsin Centennial Olympic Park. They compared him to noted mass murderer Wayne Williams. The second season of "Manhunt: Deadly Games'' takes on the saga of Eric Rudolph and Richard Jewell. Kathy Scruggs reporter death: age, apology, wikipedia - Wothappen His newscasts can be seen during weekdays at 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM ET on the CBC News Network. Its like, well, the names out there. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Unlike Tom Shaw, Kathy Scruggs, who died in 2001, was a real reporter at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution who really did break the news that Jewell was the focus of the FBI investigation. She was never at peace as she was facing possible jail time together with the media blaming her for destroying Jewells life and reputation. Rolling Stones film critic Peter Travers wrote in his review, The attempt to slut-shame a reporter whos not around to defend herself stands as a black mark in a film that otherwise hews close to the proven facts of the case." Nichols, who resides and works in Toronto, has been a newsroom reporter, a field reporter, as well as an anchor for the CBC News Network, Read More Andrew Nichols CBC Salary, Age, Height, Wife, College, Net WorthContinue. The case wasnt dismissed until 2011, on the grounds that they were substantially true at the time they were published. None of the lawyers who pursued Scruggs get mentioned in the film. With The Good Doctor Losing A Character, How Worried Should Fans Be For The Season 6 Finale? In addition to the park, he bombed a gay nightclub and abortion clinics. By then, Scruggs had been dead for a decade. Could never apologize or admit she got it wrong, and put someone through utter hell for it Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! If you wanted to draw a Hollywood stereotype of a hard-charging female cops reporter, Kathy would fit that bill pretty well, King said during a phone call with Vanity Fair on Wednesday. In fact, nine law. Richard Jewell: Roommate Objects to Portrayal of Journalist - Variety Heres a guy who hadnt had a date in a year and the first time he goes out, it turns out the woman is a reporter that writes a story about him, Alexander says. We never made such a false & damning claim. Wilde seems to infer that Richard Jewells critics are basing their criticisms of the Kathy Scruggs character solely on the idea that the movie infers that Scruggs had sex with a source for a story (true, the film doesnt show the actual penis going in, but when two people say theyre going to have sex and leave for a hotel room its not much of a leap to assume that they did). When. Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. She liked white wine and Johnnie Walker Red, and she smoked "like a chimney," Kiss said. To say that Kathy Scruggs had sex with an FBI agent (or at the very least fondled his crotch) to get the Jewell scoop when theres no evidence of that is defamatory enough, and that has nothing to do with sexism or double standards. They had her back. The film flashes six years later and Bryant informs Richard Jewell that the FBI has finally got the real bomber: Eric Rudolph. ", 1/ I handled Richard Jewells case against AJC for 16 years. He is well known for his role as co-host of FOX News Channels (FNC) FOX & Friends Weekend which airs on Saturdays and Sundays from 6 a.m 10 a.m ET. The implication about Scruggs in Richard Jewell is seemingly rooted in the films extra source material, the book by Georgia U.S. Attorney Kent Alexander and Wall Street Journal reporter Kevin SalwenThe Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle. The attorney for Richard Jewell, who came under suspicion in the 1996 Olympic Park bombing before he was exonerated, criticized the movie "Richard Jewell" on Thursday night, calling its depiction of a reporter at the center of the movie "false and damning.". Initially hailed as a hero by the media, Jewell was quickly identified as a suspect by the FBI and local law enforcement based on psychological profiling. Y'all stay away from each other, if at all possible. Ya know?, Brenner never reported on rumors about Scruggss romantic life. Her choice of boyfriends was not great. While King was clear that Scruggs had never slept with sources, he told Vanity Fair that the reporter had in-house romances [at the paper] that caused us to have to say, You stay over here, you stay over there. She was born on Sept. 26, 1958, in Atlanta. Perhaps, but its hard to have that discussion when the movie unfairly paints one of the players in it as an unscrupulous news ghoul.
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