She worked for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a reporter. She had a very close relationship with the cops and the FBI helping to tell their story, and yes, by all accounts she had relationships with different people in that field, Wilde told Deadline. So he said, Yeah, the names out there and I dont really know the details. So he couldnt really say it was accurate, but he said, Im not going to quibble with it. And then, will it screw up the investigation? IE 11 is not supported. It haunted her until her last breath, her former colleague Tony Kiss told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in a 2019 feature about her. 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. Photo: Lionsgate. The book describes Scruggs as the kind of woman who packed perfume and a pistol in her purse, wore leather miniskirts and fishnet tights to the office, and kept her blouse unbuttoned beyond what some might feel was workplace-appropriate. 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 prohibit as unethical. Kathy Scruggs would walkinto the Independent Mail newsroom anddrop her purse and notebook on her desk, a daily effort that caused two loud, distinct thuds. 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. Longtime friend Lisa Griffin told the Journal-Constitution that she spoke with Scruggs on the phone shortly before she died. Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 1, Scene Stealer: The True Lies of Elisabeth Finch, Part 2. 'Richard Jewell' film under fire for depiction of journalist Kathy Scruggs She was never at peace or at rest with this story, said Scruggss former co-worker Tony 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. "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. Prior to this meeting, Jewell undergoes a polygraph test that proves hes telling the truth. She liked a good party, too. Clint Eastwoods film is based on the Vanity Fair profile piece (linked earlier) American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell and the book The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle. Richard Jewell movie accuracy: Fact vs. fiction in Clint Eastwood's 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. 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. READ NEXT: New Reality Star Lost Her Son to a Drug Overdose in 2009, The Sad End to Atlanta Bombing Reporter Kathy Scruggs Life, Copyright 2023 Heavy, Inc. All rights reserved. She really always felt like they were supporting her.. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Kathy had an elder brother called Lewis Scruggs Jr. who worked in the insurance business. Once Scruggs got the scoop, she wrote up the story with her co-author, Ron Martz. Her mother owned a travel agency. People who knew her called her a true journalist. Read More Julia Morales (Astros) Husband, Daughter, Age, Height, Salary, Net worthContinue. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. In the upcoming fictional film Richard Jewell, based on the true events surrounding the 1996 Summer Olympics bombing in Atlanta, there are a lot of real-life people depicted unfavorably, including, most distressingly to some,journalist Kathy Scruggs. Thats just bullshit.. Perhaps, but its hard to have that discussion when the movie unfairly paints one of the players in it as an unscrupulous news ghoul. However, there are some things that dont quite come across in the film that are stated in the article. The movie actually does Scruggs worse than that. Wilde concluded her string of Twitter posts on Thursday by saying that Scruggs "unfortunately became a piece of the massive puzzle that was responsible for the brutal and unjust vilification of. 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. He received a public apology from Jay Leno, a $200,000 settlement from CNN, and an almost $600,000 settlement from NBC, among others. Should they call Jewell a "suspect," "focus" or "target?" But as Beyer would soon realize, Finchs past wasnt what she claimedand Beyers own difficult history was up for the taking. Stream it here (opens in new tab). 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. 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. But according to various sources, including Kevin Riley, the current. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Eric Rudolph eventually admitted to the bombing and other attacks and pleaded guilty. 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). We never made such a false & damning claim. The film explores Jewells crucifixion by the media and the FBIs manipulative quest to incriminate him. Tom Brokaw, who said the FBI probably had enough to convict Jewell but were just trying to collect all the evidence, does get a soundbite in the film. 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. It was as much a contributor of her death than anything, her brother Lewis Scruggs Jr. told the AJC. But what I resented was this character being boiled down to one inferred scene and I dont hear anyone complaining about Jon Hamms character as being inferred that he also had a relationship with a reporter. Alex Johnson is a reporter and editor for NBC News based in Los Angeles. Scruggs is not. Someone saw him running from the scene and took down his license. The second season of "Manhunt: Deadly Games'' takes on the saga of Eric Rudolph and Richard Jewell. 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. 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. The other questionable element of Richard Jewell is the portrayal of Kathy Scruggs, played in the movie by Olivia Wilde. Based on the Vanity Fair article, the film follows the facts told in it pretty closely. 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. TIL reporter Kathy Scruggs who broke the story of Richard Jewell being It also started her downward spiral. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, ", He went on to say that Scruggs was "one of the better reporters I ever worked with.". 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. His own FBI partner, Agent Thomas Dauenhauer, complained to higher-ups that [he] rarely, if ever, took out a notepad when interviewing witnesses and suspects, and would then craft his official reports from memory. Reading through [his] 302s, Dauenhauer would fume this is bullshit, and refuse to add his initials. The police caught on to Rudolph when he did a bombing in Birmingham. Its true we shouldnt boil the character to one sexual act (which, again, doesnt seem to have actually happened), but the film doesnt present much that would flesh out the picture. Within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBIs number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart, a Warner Brothers press release obtained by Oxygen.com states. ", It really, really bothered her. Support stories like this by supporting local journalism. Richard Jewell Controversy: Fact, Fiction, And Reporter Kathy Scruggs Carla Gugino as Kathy Scruggs in 'Manhunt: Deadly Games'. Shewould wear that frustration on her sleeve. She liked white wine and Johnnie Walker Red, and she smoked "like a chimney," Kiss said. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. What Happened To Kathy Scruggs, 'Richard Jewell' Journalist? | True In addition to suffering from depression, she had a chronic back problem. Im thinking D-cups, movie-Scruggs growls, cupping her breasts for effect. ", Eric Rudolph, the actual bomber, was found in 2003, rummaging through trash behind a grocery store in Murphy, North Carolina. I never heard any of them, even when they were drinking, say anything negative about her personally or professionally. The other questionable element of Richard Jewell is the portrayal of Kathy Scruggs, played in the movie by Olivia Wilde. 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. They editorialized wildly and printed assumptions as facts. He filed several lawsuits against media companies and others, like The Post, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, NBC, and his former employer Piedmont College. 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 . Jewell becomes emotional about regaining his freedom. ", Olivia Wilde as Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter Kathy Scruggs in the movie 'Richard Jewell. The real bad guy turned out to be someone else, caught 7 years after the bombing. Richard Jewell Case Study That adjective haunted Richard Jewell long before he became known as the FBI's leading suspect in the Centennial Olympic Park bombing on July 27, 1996. And two, that it was accurate, said Alexander. When. 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. Burns her source, breaking her promise to be off the record and jeopardizing an ongoing investigation. Richard Jewell (film) - Wikipedia "There was NO evidence to support a storyline" that Kathy Scruggs traded sex for tips about Richard Jewell, his attorney tweeted. Richard Jewell is an Academy Awards nominated film directed and produced by Clint Eastwood. 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. The trial by the media seemed vicious and not shown nearly as intense in the film. All rights reserved. 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. 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. "Nothing in my research suggested she did so, and it was never my intention to suggest she had. Kathy Scruggs was an American reporter working for Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC). Kathy Scruggs, reporter in 'Richard Jewell,' was 'dedicated' in SC Reporters Enraged Over Media Portrayal in 'Richard Jewell' Required fields are marked *. But in the end, it actually did screw up the investigation because nobody among the FBI supervisors had any intention of letting word out that Richard Jewell was a suspect.. 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. As for the bar scene, Kent Alexander and his co-author Kevin Salwen have declined to discuss their input, saying in a statement, We have been asked repeatedly whether we found evidence that Scruggs traded sex for the story. And Law And Order. Her soul was gone. Its both incorrect and unfair, blaming her for things she didnt do and turning her into a less compelling character in the process. 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. Doha Madani is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News. We further demand that you add a prominent disclaimer to the film to that effect.". Shewas young and driven, according to those who knew her. One wonders if it was because none of them were attractive, foul-mouthed women who wore fishnets and miniskirts. 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 of a morphine overdose. As well be discussing the plot of Richard Jewell, expect spoilers. It starts with them in a conference room conducting an interrogation of Jewell. He joined the station in September 2021 from KING 5. In the film, Kathy is portrayed as a ruthless reporter who is willing to use any means necessary to get a story, even sleeping with an FBI agent, and not showing empathy for the victims after the bombing. 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. 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. (This post will contain both spoilers for the movie Richard Jewell and historical facts. If you couldnt f*ck it out of them, what makes you think you can f*ck it out of me? Hamms character asks her. ", 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.". 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. Fair enough, and certainly Jewell deserves that, but Jewell already received the benefit of being exonerated during his lifetime. 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. Oh, well, its not like he received a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court or anything. The media as a whole certainly wasnt innocent in the case. According to the Columbia article, they also tried to be careful with the wording. Y'all stay away from each other, if at all possible. Ya know?, Brenner never reported on rumors about Scruggss romantic life. Presumed Guilty - Atlanta Magazine It was in 1998, and he then spent over five years on the run living and surviving in the wilderness. "The perspective of the fictional dramatization of the story, as I understood it, was that Kathy, and the FBI agent who leaked false information to her, were in a pre-existing romantic relationship, not a transactional exchange of sex for information," Wilde continued. Ad Choices. Want to get a room or just go to my car? Scruggs asks after he reveals Jewells name. "The AJCs reporter is reduced to a sex-trading object in the film, the letter states, according to AJC. The Georgia Court of Appeals dismissed the Jewell case against the AJC in 2011. As for Olivia Wildes notion of why people arent complaining about Jon Hamms character, thats an easy one: Tom Shaw isnt a real person. We did not.. 6+ Thoughts I Had Watching When Harry Met Sally For The First Time, How Wolf Entertainment's New Cop Drama Will Be Fundamentally Different From Chicago P.D. There was NO evidence to support a storyline that Ms. Scruggs traded sex for tips about Richard. 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.. Jewells biker pal who stuck by him throughout the ordeal, Dave Dutchess, appears in a single scene. Jewell, a security guard at the park, helped to evacuate the area after the bomb was discovered. And by the way, I will stand by every word and assertion in the script., Said Brenner, I was appalled by the reflexive snobberies and obliviousness of consequences that the AJC never addressed. The Complete Guide to All the Ways Donald Trump Is Legally Screwed. 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. 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. They had her back. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. I just wish they hadnt smeared Kathy as part of the Hollywood telling of it., And even though the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is engaged in a full-blown battle with Warner Bros., King said that a group of his colleagues from the newspaper have plans to see the movie, covertly, on Saturday: They don't want to give Clint the benefit of movie ticket sales, so theyve cut a deal with movie theaters to buy tickets for another movie., 2023 Cond Nast. On July 27, 1996, Jewell was working security at concerts going on in Centennial Park. Richard Jewell was under FBI scrutiny for about three months before he was cleared. Did kathy scruggs apologize to richard jewell Those who were either directly involved in the incident or were dragged into the subsequent FBI investigation are featured in the show.
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