Award season, a special time filled with an inexplicable allure for most Hollywood stars, even someone as commercially successful as Will Smith couldn't escape its charm.
"You're saying..."
As a white agent, Kevin Huvane hadn't thought about it this way before. However, coming from CAA, he was quickly moved by Will Smith's words. "Seizing this opportunity, using..."
He clenched his fist and coughed lightly, some words being quite sensitive to say out loud. After a pause, he nodded, "Indeed, this will create a favorable external condition for you during the award season."
Will Smith opened the drawer of the coffee table, took out a printed paper, and handed it to Kevin Huvane. "This is what I asked Jada to prepare, mainly to build momentum and also to take a jab at Matthew Horner, as a response to him taking the lead role in 'I Am Legend'."
Kevin Huvane glanced at the paper and nodded, "Some words need to be more cautious. Do you have a pen? Let me help you revise it."
Will Smith retrieved a pen from the drawer and handed it to Kevin Huvane. "What do you think?"
"Go ahead with it. It should garner a lot of support." Kevin Huvane said while making adjustments. "Be subtle when attacking Matthew Horner. Until the situation is fully determined, be careful with your approach. Don't make an appearance yourself, or it will limit your options."
"I understand." Will Smith nodded slightly, having clearly thought this through. "If the situation reverses, I'll apologize publicly, claiming I was unaware. After all, everyone knows Jada... well, she tends to speak her mind."
Kevin Huvane handed back the revised paper. "Take a look." Then he responded to Will Smith's plan. "It's a good approach. It can work."
Will Smith took the paper and read through it.
Kevin Huvane stood up to leave. "I'll contact the media."
At almost the same moment, a mixed-race man with a shiny bald head walked into a West Hollywood café. After ordering a latte, he opened the newspaper he was carrying and began to read.
Seeing the entertainment section, the bald man suddenly laughed. The person on the front page of the entertainment section was someone he recognized, a small-time actor he had once dismissed from a crew. However, that actor was now a big star.
Unfortunately, this big star recently got into big trouble. A group of black actors, led by Spike Lee, was accusing him of racial discrimination.
"You've got it coming..."
Muttering to himself, the bald man unconsciously touched his chest, recalling the punch he received on set a few years ago, which still seemed to hurt.
On set, it was always Vin Diesel who bullied others, never the other way around. That punch from Matthew Horner was something he still remembered vividly.
The waiter brought his latte, and Vin Diesel took a sip before continuing to read the newspaper.
"Matthew Horner's Racial Discrimination Confirmed with Key Evidence!"
Vin Diesel was holding a tabloid, not a major paper like the Los Angeles Times, so the news was written to be as attention-grabbing as possible.
"Do they really have key evidence?"
Curious, Vin Diesel, who always believed the world revolved around him, couldn't forget Matthew Horner and wanted to see that jerk fall.
His eyes moved down the page, reading the so-called evidence.
"Listing all the women Matthew Horner has dated or been rumored with, from Britney Spears to Charlize Theron, and from Jessica Alba to Adriana Lima, not one of them is black..."
The paper featured photos of all the women Matthew had been linked with, including Britney Spears, Scarlett Johansson, Rachel McAdams, Eva Green, Jessica Alba, and Charlize Theron. Except for Jessica Alba and Adriana Lima, who had slightly darker skin, all were white.
"As a typical Hollywood playboy, Matthew Horner has never dated a black woman. If this isn't racial discrimination, what is?"
Vin Diesel nearly spit out his coffee. The tabloid was really trying hard. If this counted as racial discrimination, how many people in America weren't racially discriminating?
He shook his head. Even though he didn't like Matthew Horner, he thought the tabloid was completely making things up.
Vin Diesel folded the paper and called the waiter, giving him a tip to get a copy of The Hollywood Reporter.
Flipping to the entertainment section, he immediately saw a large half-body photo of Spike Lee. Reading the related news, he found out Spike Lee had issued another public statement, calling for Hollywood to boycott racial discrimination and urging major studios and producers not to give work to those suspected of racial discrimination, aiming to make such criminals disappear from the industry.
It seemed the tide of public opinion was very unfavorable to Matthew Horner.
Over the past few days, Vin Diesel had read a lot of reports about Matthew Horner. Like Tom Cruise a few years ago, Matthew Horner was being attacked by many in the media and the industry. But unlike Tom Cruise, who had been entrenched in the industry for over twenty years and faced a less severe issue, Matthew was accused of a far more serious offense. He might end up like Mel Gibson.
If that jerk had no movies to make, it would be interesting, wouldn't it? If he didn't kick him while he was down now, when would he?
Vin Diesel considered himself a big star and knew his words could influence many people and media outlets.
So, he left the café and immediately contacted a familiar media reporter to express his views on Matthew Horner's alleged racial discrimination.
Another day passed, and the torrent of public opinion didn't slow down. Instead, it grew stronger. Spike Lee issued two more public statements, directly targeting Matthew.
Some unknown black extras also continued to attack Matthew in the media. And if someone looked into it, these people indeed had worked on films starring Matthew.
An invisible, well-planned web had ensnared Matthew, with people even voluntarily helping Spike Lee tighten the net.
Matthew's rise to the top in Hollywood, stepping on many competitors' heads, and taking countless opportunities from others, had always been met with envy and resentment. When he was on top, people watched with jealousy. But now that he seemed to be falling, many couldn't wait to jump out and stomp on him.
Kicking a man while he's down is something everyone loves to do, not just Matthew.
A video recorded by Jada Smith in her mansion appeared online. In the video, she said, "At the Oscars, we always see black presenters and performers but rarely winners. Does this mean black people can't act or make movies? We are a marginalized group whose artistic achievements are seldom recognized. Even today, there are people who discriminate against black people, using their influence to interfere with crews and replace black actors. This is shameful! I agree with Director Spike Lee; such people should be kicked out of Hollywood."
On the same day, Vin Diesel's interview video also appeared online.
"Matthew Horner was also in the 'Fast and Furious' crew. We had a conflict because one day I was sleeping in my car and heard someone outside calling someone a 'nigger' on the phone. I got out and found it was Matthew Horner. I demanded an apology, but he refused and said it again. We almost fought, and eventually, the crew fired Matthew Horner..."
The net tightened, seemingly ready to completely ensnare Matthew.
Of course, Hollywood is deeply intertwined with the media, especially entertainment media. The two circles are closely connected and cannot live without each other.
Like Elaine Boyar, a veteran entertainment media professional, who can easily see through many of Hollywood's truths. Many in Hollywood, working their way up, can see through the chaos of the entertainment media to its essence.
"It's clear, Matthew Horner has offended a black group."
In Disney Studios' post-production studio, Jerry Bruckheimer said to Gore Verbinski, "To be precise, that guy Matthew has somehow provoked Spike Lee, who is now rallying people he's offended before to give him a hard time."
Gore Verbinski was worried, "If Matthew is really discriminating against blacks..."
Jerry Bruckheimer asked, "You've worked with Matthew for so long, have you ever seen him discriminate against black people?"
"No," Gore Verbinski confirmed after thinking, "No. Before this, I'd never even heard of such rumors."
He was still worried, "So far, on Matthew's side..."
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. A staff member opened it and said, "Helen Herman is here, in the lounge."
Jerry Bruckheimer nodded and said to Gore Verbinski, "Let's go meet Helen and see what she says."
Half an hour later, Helen Herman walked out of the Disney Studios' gates, crossed South Bowe Street, and entered the Walt Disney headquarters opposite. She first went to the floor where Disney Studios' film division was located and then met with the pre-arranged Robert Iger.
Matthew had several contracts for major productions with budgets over $100 million. If the scandal was proven true, the losses would be enormous, not just for him.
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