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yellowstone

Taylor Sheridan Accused of Stealing ‘Yellowstone’ Idea From Writer’s 2016 Pitch In Copyright Lawsuit

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A writer who says she spent more than a decade developing a television series about tribal power, land disputes and casino-backed development is accusing Taylor Sheridan of taking elements from her project and using them to create his enormously successful series Yellowstone.

Lauren J. Salkin makes the allegations in a new copyright infringement lawsuit obtained by The Independent, which also names 101 Studios, Paramount Global and NBCUniversal as defendants.

At the center of the complaint is Sovereign Nation, a television project Salkin says she spent more than 10 years developing before submitting it to Sheridan’s representatives in late 2016.

Her submission to Sheridan’s representatives at Elevate Entertainment included a completed pilot script, a series bible and a pitch deck.

The series was built around “tribal governance, casino-driven economic power, and a modern war over land and development,” according to the lawsuit.

The complaint alleges that Sheridan and the other defendants later incorporated several unusually specific elements from that concept into his neo-Western hit, rather than merely relying on broader themes commonly associated with Westerns or stories about property disputes.

“When the works are objectively compared, the same coordinated design repeatedly appears: casino-centered institutions organize political power; the same unusual land-development mechanisms propel the conflict; parallel scenes perform the same dramatic functions; and the same actors appear in materially parallel roles.”

“These are not merely convergences of a shared genre. Taken together with access and timing, they support a strong inference of copying.”

Among the alleged similarities, Salkin’s attorneys point to the central role played by a tribal casino, as well as the way both projects depict land development and expansion beyond reservation boundaries.

The lawsuit claims Yellowstone “included specific expressive choices already embodied” in Sovereign Nation.

Those alleged overlaps include: “A tribal casino functioning as the institutional center of political and development power; a signature confrontation staged in the tribal chairman’s casino office over expansion beyond reservation boundaries; the use of trust land, the absence of zoning restrictions, and a 99-year lease structure as the concrete mechanism for that expansion; and recurring master-plan imagery deployed to dramatize the struggle for territorial control.”

Salkin’s attorneys also point to two actors who appeared in her pitch materials: Danny Huston and Gil Birmingham.

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Both men ultimately joined the cast of Yellowstone, and the lawsuit argues they were placed in “materially parallel structural roles” to those envisioned in Salkin’s proposed series.

“Birmingham as the tribal political leader whose authority and development strategy run through the casino, and Huston as the outside development power broker who supplies the political or commercial path for that expansion,” the complaint states.

Birmingham played Thomas Rainwater, chairman of the Confederated Tribes of Broken Rock, throughout Yellowstone. Huston appeared as real estate developer Dan Jenkins, an early antagonist whose business interests brought him into conflict with the Dutton family.

Sheridan, however, had worked with Birmingham before Salkin submitted her project. Birmingham appeared in Hell or High Water, the 2016 film written by Sheridan, while Wind River — another Sheridan project featuring Birmingham — was filmed in March and April 2016, months before Salkin says she sent her materials to Elevate Entertainment.

Salkin says she sent Sovereign Nation to Sheridan’s representatives in late 2016, only to receive a rejection several months later.

“Taylor thanks you very much for your interest. Unfortunately, he’s unavailable for TV projects,” the response from Sheridan’s representatives read, according to the lawsuit.

Salkin received that message in February 2017.

Only months later, Paramount gave Yellowstone the green light. The series eventually premiered on June 20, 2018.

The complaint further alleges that someone outside Sheridan’s circle independently noticed similarities between the two projects.

According to Salkin’s attorneys, a senior HBO television executive who had previously reviewed materials connected to Sovereign Nation later told Salkin that he recognized similarities when he encountered Yellowstone.

The lawsuit says the unnamed executive rejected Sheridan’s show for that reason.

Sheridan has offered his own account of the project’s origins. In a 2023 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he said he initially pitched the idea to HBO as a movie he described as “The Godfather in Montana” before it developed into the television series that ultimately aired on Paramount Network.

Yellowstone became one of the most commercially significant television dramas of the past decade.

The series starred Kevin Costner as ranch patriarch John Dutton, whose family controls an enormous Montana cattle ranch that becomes the focus of repeated conflicts involving developers, Indigenous tribes, government officials and other powerful interests.

Costner won a Golden Globe for his performance as Dutton.

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Much of the show’s central tension revolves around who has the right to control the land surrounding the Dutton ranch — and how far each competing group is willing to go to protect or expand its territory.

The drama ran for five seasons between 2018 and 2024 and became a ratings phenomenon, breaking cable television records while transforming Sheridan into one of the television industry’s most prolific creators.

Its success also gave rise to a sprawling franchise, with multiple prequels, spinoffs and additional projects expanding the fictional world surrounding the Dutton family.

Four spinoffs have been released so far, and three more are in development, according to Yahoo News.

That success is a major component of Salkin’s lawsuit.

She is seeking damages and a share of profits connected to the alleged infringement. The complaint also seeks injunctive relief aimed at preventing any future use of material she claims was taken from Sovereign Nation.

Salkin has also requested a jury trial, according to HollywoodLife.

Her attorney, Paul B. Lackey, characterized the dispute as a case of an individual writer confronting some of the most powerful figures and companies in the entertainment industry.

“This is a classic David-versus-Goliath situation,” Lackey told The Hollywood Reporter.

“She spent years putting together the specific and multi-layered framework for a story that has become the biggest streaming success of all time. She has watched the vast commercial success of this story that was stolen from her and decided that enough was enough. We will do everything in our power to get her justice.”

Lackey also told Yahoo News that “it was not an easy decision for an individual screenwriter to decide to take on the titans of the entertainment industry.”

“She has watched the exploitation of her hard work for too long and decided that enough was enough. We will now hold them accountable.”

movie

Chris Hansen Questions ‘Hollywood’s Motive’ Behind New ‘Primetime’ Movie

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Chris Hansen says he plans to reserve judgment on the upcoming movie “Primetime” until he sees it for himself, though the former “To Catch a Predator” host is already questioning why Hollywood chose to revisit his controversial television career.

Hansen, 66, discussed the Robert Pattinson-led film during an appearance on the “Serialously with Annie Elise” podcast, saying he had no role in the production and was not consulted on the film.

Hansen said people connected to the project approached him a couple of months ago about potentially helping with the movie, but by that point it had already been made. He said he expects to see the completed movie soon.

“I’m going to get a private screening in the next week or so, and then I’ll be able to tell you whether I like it or don’t like it, and how dramatized it is. My suspicion is that they used my name because it helps in a commercial enterprise. And until I see the full movie, as a reporter, it’s sort of silly for me to talk about something that I haven’t seen yet.”

The A24 film, directed by Lance Oppenheim, is set in 2006 and dramatizes Hansen’s work on “To Catch a Predator,” the controversial series of “Dateline NBC” investigations that became a pop culture phenomenon in the 2000s.

Robert Pattinson portrays Hansen in “Primetime,” which traces the show’s rise in popularity. The film’s brief official synopsis reads: “In 2006, ‘To Catch a Predator’ host Chris Hansen sets out to make television history.”

Although Hansen has not watched the movie itself, he has seen its trailer, which he described as “very dramatic.”

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He also said the project has left him wondering what filmmakers hope to accomplish by revisiting the story.

“I know that [Robert Pattinson is] a very popular actor. I know that the director’s a popular guy. But I also have some questions. What’s Hollywood’s motive here? We don’t know. But I’ll find out, and I promise I’ll let you know.”

Hansen also made clear that he had no input into who would portray him onscreen.

He “didn’t get to choose” the actor playing him, Hansen said. Asked whom he might have selected himself, he offered another possibility.

“Denis Leary would be a good guy to play me, depending on the age of it all.”

Hansen said the idea of Denis Leary portraying him actually dates back years, when Hansen had developed a script of his own and pictured Leary in the role.

Despite the renewed Hollywood attention surrounding his career, Hansen indicated that he remains focused on his own work, saying he is “busy being the real Chris Hansen.”

Pattinson is joined in “Primetime” by Merritt Wever, Skyler Gisondo, Phoebe Bridgers, Matthew Maher, Bokeem Woodbine and Anna Faris.

The movie revisits one of the most recognizable—and controversial—stretches of Hansen’s career. Hansen hosted “To Catch a Predator” as part of “Dateline NBC” from 2004 until 2007.

The investigations were conducted alongside the watchdog group Perverted-Justice. Adults working undercover posed as minors in online chat rooms and communicated with men suspected of seeking sexual encounters with children.

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Those men were then invited to a house under the impression that the minor was there alone. After arriving, they would instead encounter Hansen, who confronted them about their online conversations. Police were also involved in the operations, and suspects were arrested.

The format drew major attention and helped make Hansen nationally recognizable. Still, it also attracted criticism over the methods used in the investigations and the relationship between television producers and law enforcement.

Controversy intensified following a 2006 investigation involving Bill Conradt, an assistant district attorney in Texas.

Conradt died by suicide when police, accompanied by a camera crew, arrived at his home to execute a search warrant connected to a “To Catch a Predator” investigation. NBC later settled a $105 million lawsuit stemming from the case out of court.

“To Catch a Predator” eventually ended, but Hansen continued pursuing similar work after leaving the NBC series, hosting other programs focused on identifying suspected child predators across online and streaming platforms.

The journalist and television personality has also remained in the public eye for reasons unrelated to the show. In 2021, Hansen turned himself in after a warrant was issued when he missed a Michigan court date. He was later released.

Now, nearly two decades after the height of “To Catch a Predator,” “Primetime” is bringing that chapter of Hansen’s career back to the screen through a dramatized version of the story.

For Hansen, exactly how closely that version resembles what actually happened remains an open question, at least until he watches it.

The film is scheduled to premiere at the Venice Film Festival before arriving in theaters Sept. 25.

Kennedy Center

Kennedy Center Must Pay $252,000 to Musician It Sued Over Trump Name Protest

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A judge in Washington, DC, has ordered the Kennedy Center to cover more than $250,000 in legal fees for jazz musician Chuck Redd, months after the institution unsuccessfully sued him over his decision to pull out of a Christmas Eve performance.

Redd had been scheduled to host the Kennedy Center’s annual holiday jazz concert, an event he has led for nearly two decades. The drummer and vibraphonist withdrew from the Dec. 24 performance after the center’s board voted to add President Donald Trump’s name to the performing arts venue. Redd told CNN at the time that he “was saddened to see this name change.”

In an email to a Kennedy Center employee, Redd also said he would feel deeply uncomfortable performing at the venue while Trump’s name remained on the building.

The Kennedy Center responded by suing Redd in March, alleging that his withdrawal less than a week before the concert amounted to a breach of contract and caused financial and reputational harm to the institution. The lawsuit sought an unspecified amount in damages.

“As a result of Defendant Redd’s malfeasance, the Center was forced to cancel the Christmas Eve Jazz Jam concert at the last minute, depriving hundreds of members of the public the Christmas Concert offered by the Center, and causing the Center reputational, marketing, and concert preparation damages.”

The dispute had already escalated shortly after Redd canceled. Richard Grenell, then president of the Kennedy Center, sent the musician a letter condemning the decision and tying it directly to Redd’s objections to the renaming.

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Before the Kennedy Center ultimately filed suit, Grenell had threatened to seek $1 million from Redd and characterized his withdrawal as a “political stunt.”

“Your decision to withdraw at the last moment—explicitly in response to the Center’s recent renaming, which honors President Trump’s extraordinary efforts to save this national treasure—is classic intolerance and very costly to a non-profit Arts institution,” Grenell, a longtime Trump confidant, wrote.

Grenell was replaced as head of the Kennedy Center in March.

The case did not survive. In June, Judge Tanya M. Jones Bosier, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, dismissed the Kennedy Center’s lawsuit after concluding that it had failed “to state a valid breach of contract claim.” Redd, she found, had never signed an agreement before canceling the performance.

Jones Bosier also found that the Kennedy Center did not appear to have suffered financial harm from the cancellation, noting that the Christmas Eve concert was free.

On Monday, Bosier issued another ruling in the dispute, awarding Redd more than $252,000 in legal fees and ordering the Kennedy Center to pay within 45 days.

Lisa Banks and Debra Katz, the attorneys representing Redd, are prominent employment lawyers who have previously represented Christine Blasey Ford, who testified during Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation process.

Banks told CNN in a statement the ruling was a rejection of the institution’s effort to punish the musician for opposing the name change.

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“The Trump-controlled Kennedy Center tried to silence opposition to its illegal name change by filing a meritless lawsuit against jazz musician Chuck Redd. The court rightly dismissed that breach of contract lawsuit, finding there was no contract and no damages, and was brought against Mr. Redd based on his protected opposition.”

In a separate statement Tuesday, Banks said people should not have to spend their time and money defending themselves against lawsuits she described as baseless and politically motivated.

Redd’s attorneys later sought more than $258,000 in legal fees and related costs. Kennedy Center lawyers challenged that request ahead of the ruling, arguing in court filings that the amount was excessive and calling the calculation “astonishing.”

The controversy surrounding the center’s name also continued outside the courtroom. In May, a federal judge ruled that Trump’s name had been added to the institution without the required congressional approval and ordered it removed. The Kennedy Center appealed that ruling.

Later in June, following a legal back-and-forth, Trump’s name was removed from both the exterior of the Kennedy Center building and the institution’s website. The letters were taken off the marble facade as scaffolding and tarps were erected around part of the building, temporarily obscuring portions of the original name.

The dispute with Redd came amid a wider backlash to Trump’s changes at the Kennedy Center during his second term. Artists and audience members boycotted the institution, particularly after its board voted to add Trump’s name, while center officials criticized performers who withdrew from scheduled appearances. The lawsuit against Redd marked the most aggressive action the institution had taken against an artist who backed out of a planned performance.

The Kennedy Center has also faced uncertainty over its immediate future, with a largely empty performance calendar since July as its board considers Trump’s proposal to close the venue for two years of renovations.

A spokesperson for the Kennedy Center said the institution plans to appeal the decision.

LA General

Perez Hilton Hospitalized After Apparent Self-Harm During Livestream

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Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized after appearing to harm himself during a TikTok livestream Tuesday, authorities said.

“We can confirm that Perez is receiving medical care, and our family’s focus right now is on his well-being,” a statement published Wednesday on Hilton’s website said.

The message, attributed to the Perez Hilton Team and Family, continued: “Many of you have reached out with concern for Perez, and we are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming outpouring of love, support, and prayers.”

In a subsequent update, Hilton’s family said he was able to communicate, a development that had given them reason to remain hopeful about his condition.

“Our family wants to once again thank everyone who has reached out with prayers, kind messages, and support for Perez. Your compassionate humanity during this profoundly heartbreaking time has meant more than words can express.”

The family described the situation as “incredibly difficult and emotional” and said it would release further updates once additional information had been confirmed.

“We respectfully ask for your continued prayers, understanding, and grace as Perez continues to recover,” the statement said.

Deputies went to Hilton’s home Tuesday evening after the sheriff’s office received multiple calls regarding a disturbing livestream, according to a statement issued by the agency Wednesday morning. After arriving, officers spoke with Hilton’s family members and determined that he was alone inside the residence.

Dispatch audio obtained by People indicated that emergency responders were sent to investigate reports of a “possible suicide.” According to the audio, authorities entered Hilton’s home at approximately 11 p.m. and were traveling to a nearby hospital with him about 30 minutes later.

Hilton was hospitalized under Florida’s Baker Act, a sheriff’s office spokesperson confirmed. The law permits authorities to involuntarily hold a person for up to 72 hours when that individual is believed to pose a threat of harm to themselves or others.

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Rather than immediately engaging with Hilton, deputies monitored the situation and worked to “prioritize de-escalation by creating time, distance, and opportunities for communication,” the sheriff’s office said. The agency described the strategy as an approach intended to reduce the possibility of further harm.

Mental health professionals were later brought in to provide support to Hilton’s family.

Dante Rusciolelli, a representative for Hilton, said Wednesday that he had no further information about the blogger’s condition.

“Our focus remains on Perez’s health, recovery, and the privacy of both him and his family during this incredibly difficult time.”

Golden Artists Entertainment said in a separate statement that its representatives had not been able to reach Hilton directly Tuesday, despite repeated attempts. The company later said it still had no additional confirmed information about his condition.

TikTok said its automated moderation technology detected that Hilton’s livestream violated the platform’s community guidelines within minutes of the broadcast beginning. The company’s U.S.-based human moderation team was then notified to review the stream.

The initial livestream was shut down after approximately 15 minutes, TikTok said. Several additional streams that Hilton started were removed within 90 seconds. TikTok also said it contacted law enforcement about the situation.

Before the livestream was removed, graphic footage that appeared to show Hilton covered in blood had begun circulating on other social media platforms. His account was deactivated before TikTok formally banned it for violating rules prohibiting self-harm content.

Dan Romer, research director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, told The New York Times that he could not determine why Hilton chose to broadcast the apparent act. Romer has published research examining the relationship between self-harm and social media.“Often when people do self-harm, they are reaching out for help,” he said.

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Such attempts to attract attention are more commonly directed toward friends or relatives, Romer said. Hilton, however, may regard his sizable internet audience “as part of his social circle.”

Referring to the numerous viewers who contacted authorities about the livestream, Romer added, “they intervened and got him some help.”

Bryan Freedman, an attorney and friend who previously represented Hilton for two decades, told People he was working to verify that Hilton was receiving appropriate care.

“I, like many others, feel very concerned for Mario’s health, and I am trying to confirm that he is receiving the care that he needs to fully address the causes and conditions which led to this incident. It feels like a moment that deserves kindness and compassion.”

Hilton, whose legal name is Mario Lavandeira, became one of the best-known figures in online celebrity gossip during the mid-2000s through PerezHilton.com. The website’s blunt commentary about celebrities and popular culture helped turn its creator into a recognizable public figure in his own right.

Hilton, the older of two children raised in a working-class Cuban-American family, initially pursued a career as an actor. He later worked as a publicist and became a reporter for Star magazine before finding widespread fame through his website.

His rise was propelled by relentless self-promotion and provocative public statements that frequently attracted media coverage. As his audience grew, Hilton produced a steady stream of unrestrained commentary about entertainers, relationships and celebrity scandals.

By 2006, Hilton said he was spending 17 hours each day creating and publishing items for the website. The business had become highly lucrative by the following year, when a single advertisement on the site could bring in $9,000 per week.

“I’m like Madonna, I’m not afraid to offend,” Hilton said in a 2007 interview with The New York Times.

Hilton’s relationship with TikTok has been turbulent in the past. The platform banned him in 2020 for violating its community guidelines.

Hilton said at the time that losing his account had been emotionally difficult. He said he had been “very depressed” and that the social media app “gave me something to really look forward to every day.”

Earlier this year, Hilton publicly discussed another serious health crisis. In March, he said on social media that he had spent three weeks in the hospital while being treated for an ulcer and sepsis.

Hilton said that during the hospitalization, “God presented himself to me.” The following month, Hilton announced through social media that he had returned to TikTok. In the announcement, he expressed gratitude to both the platform and Jesus.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande Plans Break From Public Eye After Eternal Sunshine Tour

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Ariana Grande has stepped away from a forthcoming London revival of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George” as she prepares to retreat from public-facing work following the conclusion of her current tour.

The tour is Grande’s first in six years. It comes after a particularly eventful period for the 33-year-old singer and actor, who spent the past year promoting the second “Wicked” movie, while also ending a three-year relationship.

Empire Street Productions announced that Grande has “decided to step back” from the musical, which is scheduled to open at London’s Barbican Center next summer. The production company said the revival will still move forward as planned, with replacement casting to be revealed “in due course.”

Grande had been expected to portray both Dot and Marie opposite Jonathan Bailey, her co-star in the “Wicked” films.

“We know this cannot have been an easy decision, and she makes it with our complete understanding and support. We wish her nothing but the best.”

The change comes amid renewed public discussion about Grande’s appearance and health. Her representative told People that the singer and actor intends to take “a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour,” which is scheduled to conclude in London next month.

Much of that attention has unfolded on social media, where users have repeatedly speculated about Grande’s weight and overall health.

Grande’s final performance on the tour is set for Sept. 1. Her representative described the tour as a positive experience but said the intense attention surrounding Grande has contributed to her decision to temporarily withdraw from public life.

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“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny. This tour has been a beautiful experience for her. She loves her fans and has loved every minute of this tour so much.”

Discussion of Grande’s body and health has followed her for several years, with the scrutiny intensifying around the release of “Wicked: For Good” last year. Grande responded at the time by sharing a clip from a 2024 interview in which she pushed back against the idea that people should feel entitled to comment on another person’s appearance.

In the interview, Grande said that, in society, “there’s a comfortability that we shouldn’t have, at all” when it comes to discussing how other people look. She described that behavior as “dangerous for all parties involved.”

Grande also said that invasive commentary can encompass everything from assumptions about a person’s health to criticism of their clothing, face or body. She argued that people have become far too comfortable publicly analyzing what they believe may be happening in someone else’s private life.

The conversation resurfaced following Friday’s release of “Petal,” Grande’s eighth studio album, as well as the accompanying music video for its title track. The video presents a violent satire of the entertainment industry and the standards imposed on performers.

Grande plays an actor named Pepper who repeatedly auditions for casting executives and is repeatedly told she is “not good enough.” The character eventually kills the executives with a chainsaw. At the end of the video, however, a director calls “cut,” revealing that the killings are part of a production. Grande then leaves the set as members of the crew praise her performance and talent.

In an interview with Apple Music, Grande characterized the new album as “very experimental and different.” She also said the project allowed her to access the “unfiltered rage that I think we all feel sometimes.”

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The debate surrounding Grande is part of a wider conversation about increasingly thin beauty ideals in Hollywood. In May, actor and activist Jameela Jamil warned that an alarmingly thin standard had begun taking hold in society, echoing concerns raised by some dietitians, celebrities and social media users.

Dr. Sarah Gupta, a psychiatrist and the medical director of the mental health platform Modern Health, told People the current tension follows years of progress toward body positivity and body neutrality. The size-inclusivity movement of the 2010s encouraged brands to feature a broader range of bodies while helping normalize fat acceptance and common physical features such as cellulite and stretch marks.

According to Gupta, the apparent reversal may be fueling fears of a return to the diet culture of the 1990s and 2000s, when extreme thinness was often treated as the dominant beauty standard. She said those broader concerns can be worth examining, but the discussion should support health without imposing additional pressure on individuals.

Social media can also influence body image and the development of eating disorders, making the language used beneath photographs and videos consequential. Lizzy Pope, a University of Vermont associate professor who studies diet culture in popular culture, has observed a renewed willingness to openly express a desire for thinness. She contrasted that language with the wellness-focused terms that had become more common in recent years.

Experts cautioned, however, that attempting to challenge harmful beauty standards by dissecting a particular person’s appearance can reproduce the same damage. Gupta recommended shifting attention away from whether an individual celebrity looks “too thin” and toward systemic issues, including the growing visibility of GLP-1 medications, their promotion by drug companies, unequal access to the drugs and the role social media algorithms play in amplifying them.

She also advised people to avoid comments about body shape or size and to remember that comments, whether online or in person, may affect how others view their own bodies, particularly among children and teenagers.

Although Grande plans to limit her visibility after the Eternal Sunshine Tour ends, she still has a major film project awaiting release. She is scheduled to appear alongside Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro in “Focker-in-Law,” the next installment in the “Meet the Parents” franchise. The movie is set to arrive in theaters Nov. 25.

parkinsons

Carly Simon Shares Parkinson’s Disease And Cancer Diagnoses: ‘I Have Not Stopped Living’

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Carly Simon recently opened up about what she’s been enduring throughout the past few years as she stayed out of the public eye in order to prioritize her health, while also reconnecting with her art.

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bbc

Jared Leto Faces Sexual Misconduct Allegations From 10 Women in BBC Documentary

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Ten women have accused Jared Leto of sexual misconduct in a new BBC documentary, with four alleging conduct that could constitute criminal offenses because they were teenagers at the time of the alleged encounters.

Nine of the women featured in “Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret,” which airs Wednesday, are publicly sharing their accounts for the first time, according to the BBC. The alleged interactions span from 2002 to 2016, when Leto was in his 30s and 40s.

Leto, now 54, has denied the accusations.

“I have never sexually assaulted anyone in my entire life. These claims are absolutely and categorically false,” the Oscar-winning actor and Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman said in a statement provided to Variety through his representatives.

The BBC said it corroborated “a number of the women’s accounts with friends and family who were told about the encounters with Leto at the time.” The broadcaster also said it reviewed photographs and messages that “support the women’s accounts” in some instances.

One woman alleges that Leto repeatedly made sexually explicit phone calls to her when she was 16. She claims that during at least one of those conversations, he suggested that the two of them should have sex. The woman characterized Leto’s alleged behavior toward her as grooming.

According to the documentary, the BBC reviewed a nondisclosure agreement that the woman was later asked to sign to prevent her from discussing her relationship with Leto. She declined to sign it.

A second woman alleges that Leto assaulted her inside the bathroom of a motel when she was 17. She claimed Leto pulled open a shower curtain and began kissing her before taking her hand and using it to masturbate himself.

“I don’t think there was many words exchanged, and he opened the shower curtain and started kissing me,” she said in the documentary.

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The woman said she had agreed to meet Leto at the hotel. She alleged that she pulled away during the encounter and told him she wanted to leave. According to Isabel, Leto then wrapped himself in a towel and appeared to check whether anyone was nearby before allowing her to exit what she described as a “dingy gross motel” room.

Another participant claims the actor threatened to sexually assault her inside a hotel room in 2002, when she was 19.

A third woman says she had sex with Leto in California when she was 17, below the state’s age of consent. She alleged that the encounter occurred at Leto’s home. The alleged encounter would consequently be classified as statutory rape. She claims Leto “shrugged off” a discussion about California’s age of consent being 18.

The woman, identified as Clara, said Leto was 34 at the time and that one of her friends waited elsewhere inside the house during the encounter.

“It wasn’t a huge concern for him. He told me, ‘I would like you to call me daddy.’ And it was either pretend to be a little girl or ‘my little girl.’… It was only as time went on that I [realized] more and more how scary that really was.”

Clara described herself at the time as “naive and vulnerable” and said she did not know whether Leto’s alleged behavior was typical in an adult relationship.

“There is no well-adjusted man in his 30s who’s going to look at a teenager and think … she would be a great partner.”

The documentary also includes footage from a 2013 Thirty Seconds to Mars concert at Ex’Pression College in Emeryville, California, during which Leto invited a young woman on stage.

“Give me a hug, first of all,” Leto told her before asking for her name and where she was from. After she said she was from Los Angeles, Leto imitated Matthew McConaughey and quoted a line from the 1993 film “Dazed and Confused”: “That’s what I like about high school girls. I keep getting older, they just stay the same age. Alright, alright, alright.”

Four additional women interviewed for the documentary accuse Leto of placing “strange and often very sexual” phone calls to them when they were younger. Altogether, the documentary includes accounts from 10 women, including the four who allege conduct that may have been criminal.

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One of the women said she decided to speak publicly because she believed Leto had avoided accountability for decades. “This was 25 years ago… he has gotten away with it,” she said.

Two men who previously worked with Leto’s band, Thirty Seconds to Mars, were interviewed for the documentary. Both claim that members of the band’s staff felt uneasy about Leto’s alleged interactions with teenage girls.

The men allege that Leto would sometimes invite teenage girls backstage to his dressing room or to the residence where he was recording music. One former worker said the age difference between Leto and the girls caused concern among those around him.

“I think everyone thought the age gap was way too big,” he said.

The BBC said it identified more than 120 separate accusations concerning Leto’s alleged behavior toward women while researching the documentary. Many had appeared online, and some dated back years.

The accusations presented in “Jared Leto: Hollywood’s Dark Secret,” which is being sold internationally by BBC Studios, follow earlier public claims concerning the actor’s behavior.

In 2025, Los Angeles DJ Allie Teilz accused Leto of sexual misconduct, alleging that he assaulted and traumatized her when she was 17. Her accusations prompted other women to come forward with similar accounts.

A month before the Air Mail report was published, Teilz reposted a Facebook status she had originally shared in 2012. “You’re [sic] not really in L.A. until Jared Leto tries to force himself on you backstage… In a kilt.. And a snow hat,” the post read.

Teilz also wrote on Instagram: “I was assaulted and traumatized by this creep when I was 17 … He knew my age and didn’t care. What he did was predatory, terrifying and unacceptable.”

A June 2025 report published by Air Mail subsequently detailed accusations from nine women who alleged that Leto had engaged in inappropriate behavior over a period of years. Leto also denied those allegations. His representatives described the claims at the time as “demonstrably false.”

jurassic park

Sam Neill, One Of Hollywood’s Great Leading Men, Dies At 78 

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Sam Neill, the iconic Oscar winning New Zealand actor known for blockbuster movies like “Jurassic Park” and “The Piano,” has passed away at the age of 78. 

Neill’s death was announced on Monday in a statement shared on his Instagram account. 

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney Australia. Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” the statement read. 

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“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private hospital for their incredible care.”

“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Manager Philip Grenz confirmed later on that the cause of death was from pneumonia. “Prior to becoming sick, Sam had valiantly fought and beaten lymphoma through a new treatment called CAR-T therapy.” 

In March 2023, Neill revealed that he was being treated for stage 3 blood cancer while he was promoting his memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” 

He was specifically diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, “a rare, often but not always, aggressive form of peripheral T-cell lymphoma,” according to the Lymphoma Research Foundation. 

The statement released on Wednesday also said that the family would be holding a private memorial service to honor Neill. 

“As Sam was an intensely private man who loathed a fuss, his family will honor him with a private family memorial at his farm in New Zealand at a still-undetermined later date,” the statement said.

Neill was born Nigel John Dermot Neill in 1947 in Northern Ireland. In 1954, his family moved to New Zealand where he eventually took the name Sam because there were several Nigels at his school.

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When he got older, he initially started studying law, which he previously described as “catastrophic,” prompting him to pivot into acting. He worked in theaters before moving into some smaller local TV roles. His breakout role was the 1977 film “Sleeping Dogs,” which was the first New Zealand movie to open in the US.

Shortly after, he landed the leading role in “My Brilliant Career” in 1979, and spent the next decade making appearances in many iconic films such as “Omen III,” “Possession,” “Evil Angels,” “Ivanhoe,” and more. 

In 1993, Neill became a major household name by starring in both Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning movie “The Piano,” and Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” where he played Dr. Alan Grant, a role he revived in both “Jurassic Park III” and “Jurassic World Dominion.”

Neill lived on a farm and winery that was called Two Paddocks in the Central Otago wine region. He described it as “a ridiculously time and money consuming business. I would not do it if it was not so satisfying and fun, and it gets me pissed once in a while.” He also famously named a lot of his farm animals after his co-actors like Laura Dern (a chicken), Kylie Minogue (a duck), and Helena Bonham Carter (a cow). 

Neill first publicly opened up about his illness and treatment in 2023 in his memoir “Did I Ever Tell You This?” 

By the time the book was published, his cancer was in remission, but he had to undergo monthly chemotherapy for the rest of his life. The actor also signed a contract with the drug company he was using that said if he was still alive after four months, his treatment would be free. 

In 2023, Neill actually spoke to the Guardian regarding the end of his life after enduring his treatments. 

“I’m not afraid to die, but it would annoy me. Because I’d really like another decade or two, you know? We’ve built all these lovely terraces, we’ve got these olive trees and cypresses, and I want to be around to see it all mature. And I’ve got my lovely little grandchildren. I want to see them get big. But as for the dying? I couldn’t care less.” 

Sam Neill is survived by his four children and eight grandchildren.

broadway

Josh Grisetti Withdrew From ‘Legally Blonde’ Production Days Before His Death, Citing ‘Personal Reasons’

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Broadway actor and director Josh Grisetti had withdrawn from an upcoming production of Legally Blonde: The Musical for “personal reasons” only days before his death by suicide at age 44 on Friday.

Grisetti’s close friend and Something Rotten! costar Rob McClure announced the news Sunday in an emotional Instagram post. The two appeared together both on Broadway and during the musical’s national tour, which lasted more than a year.

“It is with a shattered heart that I share that the brilliant Josh Grisetti took his own life on Friday. I’m not ready to even attempt to understand,” McClure wrote.

“My heart is with his wife and family as they try to deal with the reality of this. Some of my all-time favorite memories were by this man’s side, playing his brother onstage for years, watching him inspire students while transforming the Musical Theatre program at Cal State Fullerton …and having the honor of being the Best Man at his wedding. Maggie and I are beyond heartbroken. Communities around the world will never be the same without him.”

He continued, “We love you Josh. Just a cataclysmic loss,” adding that information about a memorial would be shared at a later date.

Grisetti’s agent, Rick Ferrari, also addressed the actor’s death in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. “I’m absolutely devastated. That’s all I can say,” Ferrari said.

News of Grisetti’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes from across the Broadway community, including messages from performers who had worked with him, knew him personally or had admired his work onstage. Rachel Zegler, Caissie Levy, Lea Salonga and Drew Gehling were among the performers who shared condolences in the comments of McClure’s tribute.

Tony Award winner Donna Murphy described his death as “truly devastating & heartbreaking news.” She also remembered Grisetti as “a beautiful, gifted human and artist.”

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Erika Henningsen, who appeared alongside Grisetti in Sheryl Crow’s musical Diner, thanked him for “changing my life” and “making me believe in myself.”

Boggess, who starred opposite Grisetti in It Shoulda Been You, also shared a tribute remembering the creativity, humor and curiosity he brought to his work and relationships.

“We all loved him so unbelievably much. He created light and thought and humor everywhere he went. He was a BRILLIANT actor and director and writer. I loved the way he looked at the world and how he challenged ideals and norms. I loved his humor and his brain and deep, deep philosophical conversations.”

She described the cast of It Shoulda Been You as an especially close-knit group and said Grisetti’s death would be something she and the show’s extended family would be processing for a long time.

Just days earlier, Grisetti had shared what would be his final Instagram post, explaining that he was leaving his directing role in Legally Blonde: The Musical shortly before its opening night. The production was staged as part of the Trentino Music Festival at the Fiera di Primiero in Italy.

Despite having to leave, he expressed gratitude to the cast and creative team and shared a group photo in which one performer held up a photo of him so he could still be included.

“When you have to leave a production for personal reasons before getting to see the show open, and the cast and team do stuff like this,” he wrote.

“Literally cried on the plane,” Grisetti continued. “Little gestures go a long way when your heart is hurting… Love this group of misfits right back!!”

The Instagram post also featured a video of the cast members calling out together, “We love you, Josh!”

Grisetti ended his message by celebrating the production and encouraging the performers ahead of their opening.

“Happy opening, LEGALLY BLONDE!!! I’m so proud of you all. Knock their pink socks off!!” he wrote.

Students and members of the production’s cast later filled the comments beneath the post with messages thanking Grisetti for his guidance, humor and kindness.

“We missed you and are still missing you so dearly,” one person wrote.

“Thank you so much for pouring your knowledge into our gardens, you have grown so many flowers in me just throughout this last month… So insanely grateful to have you as a director and teacher.”

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Another commenter called Grisetti “Director supreme,” adding, “It has been so wonderful working with you. Grateful for your hilarity and kindness throughout this process.”

A third wrote, “Love you so so much Josh!!! Thank you so much for everything!! Best director EVAAAA!!”

Born in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, 1981, Grisetti established a wide-ranging career across Broadway, television and regional theater. He grew up in Southwest Virginia and attended the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he earned a diploma in drama in 2000. He later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory in 2004.

He made his Broadway debut in 2015 as Marty Kaufman in It Shoulda Been You, earning nominations for both a Drama Desk Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award.

The following year, Grisetti succeeded John Cariani as Nigel Bottom in Something Rotten!, appearing opposite McClure as his character’s brother, Nick Bottom. His other stage work included productions of Broadway Bound, Camelot, Peter and the Starcatcher, Matilda and Spamalot.

On television, Grisetti appeared as Ralph Emerson in eight episodes of the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Earlier in his career, he starred in the short-lived ABC sitcom The Knights of Prosperity. His film credits included The Immigrant, Revolutionary Road and The Namesake. He was also the author of the book God in My Head.

Alongside his performing career, Grisetti worked extensively as a musical theater educator. He served as the head of the Musical Theatre program at California State University, Fullerton, and previously taught acting, musical theater and the business of theater at Fullerton College and Loyola Marymount University.

Grisetti is survived by his wife of six years, Mackenzie, a Los Angeles-based real estate agent.

merger

Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Hit With Multistate Antitrust Lawsuit

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A coalition of 12 state attorneys general sued Monday to stop Paramount Skydance’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, arguing that the merger would reduce competition across the film, television, streaming and cable industries.

The transaction is valued at approximately $111 billion, making it one of the largest media mergers ever proposed. The states’ case also focuses specifically on the market for “tentpole” films, costly blockbuster releases that generate a significant share of major studios’ revenue.

The antitrust lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California and is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta. Attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington also joined the case.

“The unlawful merger of these two entertainment behemoths would lead to higher prices, lower quality, and less content for film and television, harming movie theaters, basic cable distributors, and ultimately, audiences on every sofa and movie theater seat in the U.S.,” Bonta said in a release.

“The coalition has asked Warner Bros. and Paramount not to close the merger until after the judicial process concludes, and if they do not agree, the coalition will be filing a temporary restraining order.”

Paramount pushed back against the allegations, saying it was willing to address genuine competition concerns but did not believe the WBD transaction presented any.

“We are confident the facts and the law support this transaction, and we will continue to defend it vigorously,” a Paramount spokeswoman said.

The lawsuit represents the most substantial remaining legal threat to the merger in the United States after the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice completed its review in mid-June and declined to challenge the deal.

“The Division has completed its analysis of the proposed merger of Paramount and Warner Bros. and determined based on the evidence received in its investigation that the transaction is not likely to result in harm to competition or American consumers.”

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The states’ action also reflects a broader effort by state attorneys general to pursue antitrust cases independently as federal regulators under President Donald Trump have approved major transactions or settled other competition lawsuits.

In April, state officials obtained a restraining order temporarily halting the proposed combination of broadcasters Nexstar and Tegna. That same month, a coalition of states secured a jury verdict finding that Live Nation, the owner of Ticketmaster, had operated as a monopoly after the Justice Department settled its portion of the case.

Internationally, Paramount has received clearance from more than 20 countries and regions, including China and Australia. The European Union is still reviewing the transaction, however, and the European Commission has set a new provisional deadline of July 22.

The commission said in a public filing this month that Paramount had submitted concessions intended to address concerns about the merger. Britain is also among the jurisdictions that have not yet approved the acquisition, and a British government official said in June that the country was leaning toward conducting its own examination.

If completed, the merger would unite Paramount and Warner Bros., two of Hollywood’s oldest and most recognizable film studios, under one corporate owner. It would also combine the companies’ major streaming services, Paramount+ and HBO Max.

The deal would create the largest collection of television networks in the United States. Paramount’s portfolio includes the CBS broadcast network and cable channels such as MTV and BET, while Warner Bros. Discovery owns CNN, TNT and several other major networks. The resulting company would bring CBS News and CNN under a single media organization.

In their lawsuit, the states pointed to the scale of the proposed company, alleging that it would control nearly one-third of the film market and close to one-third of basic cable television programming.

Paramount has argued that a company of that size is necessary to compete with streaming heavyweights such as Netflix and Amazon. It has also said that savings from combining the two businesses would allow it to spend more on programming and deliver stronger content to consumers.

Concerns about the transaction have grown across Hollywood, where actors, documentary filmmakers and producers have warned that further consolidation could lead to fewer theatrical releases, reduced spending on film and television projects and significant job losses. More than 1,000 writers, performers and directors signed a letter in April opposing the merger.

Paramount CEO David Ellison has said he is committed to protecting jobs after the transaction. In sworn declarations filed last month in a separate lawsuit brought by streaming subscribers, Paramount executives said the combined company planned to release at least 30 movies in theaters each year.

The executives also said new films would remain exclusively in theaters for at least 45 days before becoming available on streaming platforms.

Paramount additionally floated potential investments in California while attempting to avoid a state challenge. One proposal involved creating a $50 million training fund for unionized workers whose jobs could be disrupted by emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, according to people familiar with the discussions.

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Bonta has publicly indicated that he favors “structural remedies” to address his competition concerns, a term that generally refers to requiring a company to sell or spin off part of its business rather than relying solely on promises about its future conduct.

Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the transaction in April. Ellison said during a recent earnings call that the deal remained on schedule to close by September.

Under the agreement, Paramount would owe Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders roughly $650 million in cash for every quarter the transaction remains unfinished beginning in October.

Ellison first turned his attention to WBD last September. Within weeks of the Paramount-Skydance merger closing, the newly combined company made its initial approach, triggering multiple bids and eventually prompting a formal sale process.

David Ellison, a producer whose credits include “Top Gun: Maverick,” acquired Paramount last year with financial backing from his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. He later mounted a campaign to outbid Netflix for Warner Bros. Discovery and reached an agreement to buy the company in February.

Warner Bros. Discovery had initially agreed to sell its film studio and streaming businesses to Netflix. Paramount later disrupted that agreement by launching a hostile takeover effort and revising its offer.

Netflix ultimately abandoned its deal, leaving Paramount with an agreement to purchase all of Warner Bros. Discovery for $31 per share.

Lawmakers in the United States and Europe subsequently scrutinized the transaction, including the foreign financing involved in Paramount’s bid.

The acquisition has also renewed attention on the Ellison family’s relationship with Trump. Larry Ellison is a friend of the president, and David Ellison attended a CBS News dinner in Washington in April where he sat with Trump and Paramount Chief Legal Officer Makan Delrahim.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche was also present at the event, which was held while the Justice Department was still reviewing the merger.

Paramount has expanded its legal team in preparation for a possible court battle. Its hires include Jeffrey Kessler, the Winston Taylor attorney who represented the states in their successful Live Nation case, and Paul Clement of Clement and Murphy, who is known for arguing cases before the Supreme Court.