They compared him to noted mass murderer Wayne Williams. Kathy Scruggs was an American reporter working for Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). A few days before Richard Jewells release, King was unsure whether he would see the film. "She had very good contacts with. And just in time for awards season, can you imagine that. His motives were because he was against abortion and didnt want homosexuality normalized. Without an inkling of self-awareness, Awful Announcing is concerned about the destruction of a dead reporter's reputation eternally. 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. They editorialized wildly and printed assumptions as facts. The Georgia Court of Appeals dismissed the Jewell case against the AJC in 2011. It was like a vacuum, she said. or the Coen Brothers. Stream it here (opens in new tab). Centennial Olympic Park bombings are depicted in a film. "The AJCs reporter is reduced to a sex-trading object in the film, the letter states, according to AJC. Shewas young and driven, according to those who knew her. To play this as Kathy Scruggs willingly burning her source and jeopardizing an investigation is unfair. This is very specific to female characters, weve seen it over and over again, and I think that Kathy Scruggs is an incredibly dynamic, nuanced, dogged, intrepid reporter. By no means was I intending to suggest that as a female reporter, she needed to use her sexuality. 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. They had her back. 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. And what do they decide to do? Eric Rudolph eventually confessed and pleaded guilty to that bombing and other attacks. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Scruggs died of a morphine overdose in 2001. It was heart-wrenching for Richard, Alexanders co-author, Kevin Salwen adds. Age, Height, Salary, Net Worth, PodcastContinue, Who is Andrew Nichols? 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. The Idaho Murders, Part 1: How 4 College Kids Lived and Loved. Her own brother said of her, I loved Kathy, but she was crazy.. The thing she was always proud of was the newspaper stood by her. How this story and source was gotten was never my interest., When Brenner read the rumor about Scruggs trading sex for stories in Alexander and Salwens book, she felt it was deeply problematic: Inevitably men get it wrong when they try to write about a womans sexuality., Both Brenner and Billy Ray, though, say the focus on Scruggs is a diversionary tactic. 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.. 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. Martz, who made the call to confirm the story with the FBI, said he wanted to make sure that, one, the story wasnt going to screw up the investigation. The Georgia Court of Appeals dismissed the Jewell case against the AJC in 2011. 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 Vanity Fair article only briefly discusses Scruggs, and calls her an FBI "groupie. It also mentions her being kind of a tough journalist, but never demonizes her in the way the film does. But the truth being obscuredis something that'sbeing brought up for another reason in relation to the film:Many are furious with its depiction of journalist Kathy Scruggs, who broke the Jewell FBI investigation story. Fair enough, and certainly Jewell deserves that, but Jewell already received the benefit of being exonerated during his lifetime. Later, movie-Scruggs is moved to tears at a Jewell press conference, apparently humbled by the Jewells plight and ashamed at her own actions the movies way of showing that Scruggs had learned a lesson about being so aggressive (uppity?). 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. The New York Times wrote a 3,000-word cover story about his poor treatment after the FBI cleared him. But she was a good reporter. Columnist Hollis Gillespie went on a date with Jewell after meeting him on an airplane, only to write up the whole thing in Atlanta Magazine, along with a follow-up piece in which she appeared on the cover. 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. Then-AJC columnist Dave Kindred, who wrote a column comparing Richard Jewell to murderous pedophile Wayne Williams, does not. And Law And Order. She really always felt like they were supporting her.. 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. That is entirely false and malicious, and it is extremely defamatory and damaging.. Carla Gugino as Kathy Scruggs in 'Manhunt: Deadly Games'. "He called the paper, and the editor told her she needed to apologize. Her soul was gone. Richard Jewell was under FBI scrutiny for about three months before he was cleared. She became famous after breaking the story that security guard Richard Jewell was considered a possible suspect by the FBI. Many journalists have strongly criticized the portrayal as perpetuating a pernicious and false stereotype that some female journalists trade sex for information, which U.S. news organizations. All the cops knew her and respected her and kidded her a lot, said Coram, who based a character in Atlanta Heat on Scruggs. 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. I never heard any of them, even when they were drinking, say anything negative about her personally or professionally. The police caught on to Rudolph when he did a bombing in Birmingham. Im thinking D-cups, movie-Scruggs growls, cupping her breasts for effect. By then, Scruggs had been dead for a decade. ", 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.". She was charming and kind, generous and profane, according to Tony Kiss, a former colleague at the newspaper in Anderson, South Carolina, who became her longtimefriend. She was never at peace as she was facing possible jail time together with the media blaming her for destroying Jewells life and reputation. In 1996, after security guard Richard Jewell discovered a bomb at Atlanta's Centennial Olympic Park, helped clear the crowd and saved hundreds of lives, Jewell was declared a hero by the. Heres how it works. 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 . 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 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. In January 2002, Craig was issued an American Meteorological Society Broadcast Seal of Approval, Indoor Cycling Instructor AFAA. He received a public apology from Jay Leno, a $200,000 settlement from CNN, and an almost $600,000 settlement from NBC, among others. 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. In the film, Atlanta-Journal Constitution reporter Scruggs, played by Olivia Wilde, is depicted as offering sex in exchangefor information about the case from an FBI agent, NBC News reports. 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. Should they have known what the unprecedented 24-hour news cycle would do with Jewell? Days later, Scruggs was told by a trusted law-enforcement source that Jewell was also the FBIs foremost suspect. 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. Theyre one of Hollywoods brightest starsand most troubled actors. Hes a composite. Disappointing that they would apply this tired and sexist trope about Kathy Scruggs, a real reporter.. However, Jewell soon became a public villain when it was leaked that the FBI was investigating him (Jewell would quickly be cleared of all suspicion). 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. People have begun to do just that, and the criticism has, if anything, only intensified. The guy on the other end, agent Jay Spadafore, is a part-time PR guy, intentionally kept completely away from the investigation. The movie doesnt address these lawsuits, but they play an important part in Jewells continued quest to have his name cleared and repaired. She was blamed for ruining Jewells life who was once considered a hero. How that actually played out is an interesting, quasi-Coen Brothers-esque story in itself. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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 media hounding of Jewell was shown as being pretty bad, but it was worse in real life. While the movie portrays an FBI case agent leaking Jewell's name to Atlanta Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs, who has since died, there is no basis for the claim. He was caught in 2003 when a police officer saw him behind a dumpster searching for food. Always Marlboro Lights. After the bombing fiasco, Jewell went on to get married, realized his dream of becoming a cop (The Suspect details a later incident in which Jewell performed CPR on a dying infant, saving its life), and bought a 26-acre farm in rural Georgia. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Scruggs was 43 years old at the time of her death. Scruggs writes a story saying just that, which turns Jewell (and the implication of his guilt) into a global news event. 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. The other questionable element of Richard Jewell is the portrayal of Kathy Scruggs, played in the movie by Olivia Wilde. Eric Rudolph eventually admitted to the bombing and other attacks and pleaded guilty. Coverage of the latest true crime stories and famous cases explained, as well as the best TV shows, movies and podcasts in the genre. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. That wouldve been a fun movie. Kathy did not personally apologize to Richard Jewell, However, the story haunted her until her death. When Elisabeth Finch met Jennifer Beyer in 2019, the two women forged a fiercely loyal friendship, and eventually got married. Her heart gave away. But she was always agood reporter with a tremendous work ethic, said Gouch and Kiss. In 2011, the suitsnaming the AJC weredismissed as the Georgia Court of Appeals concluded the articles in their entirety were substantially true at the time they were published. Scruggs isnt alive to defend herself, but Richard Jewells depiction of her had Scruggs colleagues at the AJC calling foul before theyd even seen the film. The newspaper, in turn, has criticized the film's depiction of Kathy Scruggs who broke the story with Ron Martz that the FBI was eyeing Jewell as its prime suspect as a promiscuous crime. However, that dismissal came 10 years after Scruggs died. In an interview with Collider, Gugino acknowledged that Scruggs was known for partying hard, but she was also known as a great reporter and what intrigued Gugino about the part was the notion that everything can look a certain way, depending on the point of view youre looking at it from, and that we all have a sense of what our truth is and it might be very different than somebody elses., Gugino went on to say that the scoop about Jewell basically fell in her lap and Scruggs was pressured to do it quickly, otherwise somebody else was gonna run the story, which is the nature of that profession, and she ended up in very deep.. We further demand that you add a prominent disclaimer to the film to that effect.". Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. In hindsight, its easy to cast Scruggs as the villain, but Gugino said its not that simple. She was just 42 when she died in 2001. 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.. Download the NBC News app for breaking news. Scruggs was the Atlanta Constitution-Journal reporter who first wrote about . Kiss, who worked with Scruggs in Anderson and then later at the Asheville Citizen-Times in western North Carolina, is livid about the film's portrayal of his co-worker and one of his dearest friends. And she could be loud and brash if the mood struck her. Jewell died in 2007 at age 44. (This post will contain both spoilers for the movie Richard Jewell and historical facts. "Shes no longer with us, she died very young, and I feel a certain responsibility to defend her legacy which has now been, I think unfairly, boiled down to one element of her personality, one inferred moment in the film. Richard Jewell is an interesting exploration of this fascinating case of a man wrongfully accused. Spent most of my life in various parts of Illinois, including attending college in Evanston. All rights reserved. This, in turn, had actors in the movie, like Jon Hamm, when I interviewed him, urging people to see the film before passing judgment. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. The small changes here and there are understandable because its a film that needs to entertain as much as its trying to inform. 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. She was never at peace or at rest with this story, said Scruggss former co-worker Tony Kiss. Richard Jewell is one of the great movies currently available to stream on HBO Max. Shes flawed, and really complex, and really interesting. Yes, Jewell deserves to be better remembered as a hero, but the movie only does a middling job of helping that case, presenting Jewell largely as a sad sack defined by his victimhood rather than a lovable good ol boy who showed up to his interrogation in a stars-and-stripes fanny pack, loved karaoke, and sang Free Bird in a cover band. That would be an appalling and misogynistic dismissal of the difficult work she did.". However, the film was criticized for its portrayal of a real-life reporter, Kathy Scruggs. NBC even featured him on an SNL skit to joke about the incident. At the 2020 Television Critics Associaton winter press tour, creator/executive producer Andrew Sodroski said of the character, We portray her as a fully well-rounded character.

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