Could never apologize or admit she got it wrong, and put someone through utter hell for it It was just hard living, her brother toldthe AJC. He filed several lawsuits against media companies and others, like The Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NBC, and his former employer Piedmont College. Requiem for a Reporter: Kathy Scruggs - Atlanta Magazine and Eastwood's direction. As Hamm told me during our interview, I really do think that the movie is an exoneration of a man who did his job and was wrongfully accused of something that he didnt do and is still thought of as something that he isnt.. By discovering the device and swiftly reporting it, Jewell helped ensurethe area was able to be cleared enough to avoid mass casualties, although two people still died and 111 were injured when it exploded. The FBI Confirms Its Brett Kavanaugh Investigation Was a Total Sham. When you reach the Richard Jewell ending, you feel a deeper understanding of him as a human and his friendship with lawyer Watson Bryant. ", Olivia Wilde as Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs in the movie 'Richard Jewell. Kathy Scruggs: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know | Heavy.com In Eastwood's highly-anticipated film, "Richard Jewell," reporter Kathy Scruggs is depicted as trading sex for stories and information. She was born on Sept. 26, 1958, in Atlanta. Centennial Olympic Park bombings are depicted in a film. That is entirely false and malicious, and it is extremely defamatory and damaging.. The Complete Guide to All the Ways Donald Trump Is Legally Screwed. or the Coen Brothers. Y'all stay away from each other, if at all possible. Ya know?, Brenner never reported on rumors about Scruggss romantic life. Scruggs died in 2001, so she cant dispute the films portrayal of her, but she might not have been as ruthless as shown in Richard Jewell. The other questionable element of Richard Jewell is the portrayal of Kathy Scruggs, played in the movie by Olivia Wilde. ET. And what do they decide to do? Richard Jewell is a case study on how the media can make or break a person, and how ordinary people can be thrust into extraordinary situations. He appeared on the 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list all five years, and there was a million-dollar reward offered for any info. Why is that anyones business? Brenner told Vanity Fair. "Contrary to a swath of recent headlines, I do not believe that Kathy 'traded sex for tips,'" Wilde tweeted. 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. According to the Columbia article, they also tried to be careful with the wording. She became famous after breaking the story that security guard Richard Jewell was considered a possible suspect by the FBI. The story contributed to her stress and failing health. Oh, well, its not like he received a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court or anything. Kathy did not personally apologize to Richard Jewell, However, the story haunted her until her death. Ad Choices. Scruggs, who died in 2001, was working for the Atlanta . But she was a good reporter. And two, that it was accurate, said Alexander. The AJC and other media were suedafter Jewell was cleared. They launch a distraction campaign. 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. One of the things I love about directing is the ability to control the voice and message of the film. Someone saw him running from the scene and took down his license. On July 30, 1996, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the FBI investigation of Jewell as the potential bomber. This was his reason for the Olympics bombing: The purpose of the attack on July 27th was to confound, anger and embarrass the Washington government in the eyes of the world for its abominable sanctioning of abortion on demand. When she died, she was facing possible jail time though eventually, the Journal-Constitution was cleared, with the Georgia Court of Appeals finding that the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published.. In January 2002, Craig was issued an American Meteorological Society Broadcast Seal of Approval, Indoor Cycling Instructor AFAA. Its based on the real-life events of the 1996 Summer Olympics and the Centennial Park bombing. Craig Herrera is an American host and meteorologist at FOX Weather. In hindsight, its easy to cast Scruggs as the villain, but Gugino said its not that simple. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. At issue is the film's portrayal of the late reporter Kathy Scruggs. 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. Richard Jewell movie accuracy: Fact vs. fiction in Clint Eastwood's The film also takes liberties with how information and events unfolded. Author Robert Coram had a front-row seat to Scruggss dealings with law enforcement in the mid '90s. Even highly respected journalists like Katie Couric tracked Jewell down when he canceled an interview with her. However, that dismissal came 10 years after Scruggs died. Or at least, one FBI agent in particular fed her the story. Warner Brothers has fired back at the AJC, saying that having been a part of the rush to judgment of Richard Jewell, [the AJC] is now trying to malign our filmmakers and cast., Olivia Wilde, who plays Scruggs in the film, defended the films depiction of her character on feminist grounds, saying the films critics were holding it to a sexist double standard., She was incredibly successful as a cop reporter. In a statement, Warner Bros. called the AJC's claims in the letter "baseless" and said the film was based on "a wide range of highly credible source material," according to Variety magazine. In addition to Eastwood and the movie's production team, Olivia Wilde, the actor who played Scruggs in the movie, has also come under criticism. ", Olivia Wilde defends her 'Richard Jewell' character amid backlash, Olivia Wilde said she heavily researched her role in "Richard Jewell," emphasizing Kathy Scruggs' "dynamic, multidimensional, nuanced personality.". Her mother owned a travel agency. 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. The Atlanta Journal-Constitutions decision to publish the storyimmediately recasting Jewell as a villain in the minds of millionswas so journalistically problematic and personally devastating to Jewell (and his mother, Bobi) that the case continues to be taught as a cautionary tale in journalism schools. "You always knew when Kathy was in the room," said her former colleagueJohn Gouch. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Kathy Scruggs was the colorful and controversial Atlanta Journal-Constitution news reporter who broke the story that the FBI was investigating hero security guard Richard Jewell in the 1996 . After 88 days of public scrutiny, he was cleared as a suspect. "Contrary to a swath of recent headlines, I do not believe that Kathy 'traded sex for tips,'" Wilde wrote. The FBI did in fact investigate Jewell, wrongly suspecting that he might have planted the bomb, and a court even ruled that AJC's reporting was . (Perhaps not coincidentally, The Suspect reports that Bryant teamed up with Jewells mother to sell the movie rights.) "He was a suspect at the time she reported that he was. 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). It all happened in 1996 when security guard Richard Jewell alerted police during the Centennial Olympic Park bombing at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Scruggs died of "acute morphine toxicity," Kiss said, and he believes the stress of the Jewell story and the related litigation contributed to her death. Jewell died in 2007 at age 44. IE 11 is not supported. "Nothing in my research suggested she did so, and it was never my intention to suggest she had. Kathy Scruggs, who died in 2001, was working at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution when she broke a story that the FBI was investigating security guard Richard Jewell for the bombing in Centennial . Kathy Scruggs herself wrote follow-up stories about Jewells shabby treatment and interviewed criminal profilers about how criminal profiling had been mishandled in the Jewell case. Jewell, a security guard at the park, helped to evacuate the area after the bomb was discovered. And she would get frustrated if people were keeping something from her. Eric Rudolph eventually admitted to the bombing and other attacks and pleaded guilty. For our 29th annual Hollywood cover, a dozen captivating young stars gather for the after-party of our dreams. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Jewell and Bryant confront Scruggs, demanding a retraction and apology, but she stands . In addition to the park, he bombed a gay nightclub and abortion clinics. "Her heart gave away. And just in time for awards season, can you imagine that. Ezra Millers Messiah Delusions: Inside. The most important rule of reporting is never to reveal a suspects name without corroborating evidence. It feels unfair that Kathy has been minimized in this way. [] Its a misunderstanding of feminism to assume that all women have to be sexless.. He received a public apology from Jay Leno, a $200,000 settlement from CNN, and an almost $600,000 settlement from NBC, among others. 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. 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.". Shestruggled with chronic health issues and had been on medical leavefrom the newspaper for about a year when she died, Kiss said. According to the 1997 Vanity Fair piece by Marie Brenner that the movie is partially based on, the case was being handled by an FBI division that had been formed to fight the Cold War, whose strength was intimidation and manipulation rather than the deliberate gathering of evidence to be presented in court.. As an actor, its more complicated, and I want to share my perspective on my role in the film Richard Jewell. Such a portrayal makes it appear that the AJC sexually exploited its staff and/or that it facilitated or condoned offering sexual gratification to sources in exchange for stories. Richard Jewell takes an interesting real-life character and flattens her into a lame trope of reporter-who-sleeps-with-sources, not to mention a woman who uses her sexuality to get what she wants and needs to be humbled and tamed. I would encourage people to see the movie and read the story behind it and then come to that conclusion, Hamm told me, referring to The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, The FBI, The Media, And Richard Jewell, The Man Caught In The Middle, by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen, another source for the movie. Without an inkling of self-awareness, Awful Announcing is concerned about the destruction of a dead reporter's reputation eternally. Despite the fact that he was never charged, Jewell was subjected to a trial by media, which had a negative impact on both his personal and professional life. Eventually, Jewell becomes fed up with all the questioning and says they dont have any evidence to charge him. It's so deeply wrong, yet they continue to do it. (Ed: note: The sources name, according to The Suspect, was Don Johnson. Kathy was known for her solid reporting. Richard Jewell Case Study When she went after a story she did what was necessary to get the story, within legal and ethical bounds., Her friend Susan Parke called her luminous, adding she was so, so alive.
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