Sony Hack: Amy Pascal & Scott Rudins racism-tinged emails about Pres. Obama

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I doubt we’re going to get anything else as major as those emails between Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal where Rudin was having a complete hissy fit about Angelina Jolie. But there’s still some interesting stuff to be sorted through with the Sony Hack documents. Here are some stories percolating through the interwebs:

*George Clooney is going to be working with Sony on a film about the Rupert Murdoch/News of the World hacking debacle. The Sony hackers got their hands on some emails between Clooney and Amy Pascal – go here to see. Apparently, George already assumed he’s being hacked, and acts accordingly.

*Joel McHale is really nice. He sweetly emailed a Sony mid-level executive and asked for a discounted TV that he was promised.

*Kevin Hart has been making comedies with Sony and they’ve been increasingly profitable and popular. So, Kevin wanted a little extra money to do a little extra promotion for one of his films – his manager asked Sony to include some extra pay for Kevin to promote his film on social media, because his contract to promote the film (probably Think Like a Man Too) was just for interviews and TV appearances, not for social media. So, obviously, some Sony executive wrote about Hart: “I’m not saying he’s a whore, but he’s a whore.” There’s a discussion about what kind of precedent it sets if they give Hart a little bit more for social media shilling – go here to read.

*And here’s one of the more disturbing exchanges:

Before Sony Pictures chair Amy Pascal attended a breakfast of Hollywood bigwigs last November with Barack Obama, she emailed her friend Scott Rudin for suggestions on what she should ask the president.

In what has become the latest embarrassing email uncovered in a trove of messages leaked by hackers who attacked Sony, Pascal wrote Rudin: “What should I ask the president at this stupid Jeffrey breakfast?” She was referring to a breakfast hosted by DreamWorks Animation head and major Democratic donor Jeffrey Katzenberg.

Rudin, a top film producer responsible for films like No Country for Old Men and Moneyball, responded, “Would he like to finance some movies.” Pascal replied, “I doubt it. Should I ask him if he liked DJANGO?” Rudin responded: “12 YEARS.” Pascal quickly continued down the path of guessing Obama preferred movies by or starring African Americans. “Or the butler. Or think like a man? [sic]”

Rudin’s response: “Ride-along. I bet he likes Kevin Hart.”

At a fundraiser later that evening at DreamWorks’ studio, Obama didn’t express a particular preference for the films Rudin and Pascal listed, telling a crowd of Hollywood executives, “Believe it or not, entertainment is part of our American diplomacy.”

Pascal is a major Democratic donor; she gave $5,000 to Obama’s re-election campaign and cut a $30,800 check to the Democratic National Committee, according to OpenSecrets.

[From Buzzfeed]

So… Amy Pascal is a Democratic donor who likes to “joke” about how the president of the United States only likes movies about slavery or movies starring Kevin Hart? Good lord. How embarrassing for them.

Meanwhile, I’ve been sort of surprised by the lack of formal statements from the people involved – however unwillingly – in these controversies. Angelina Jolie hasn’t made a statement. Neither has Amy Pascal. But Rudin did tell the NYT: “This is not about salacious emails being batted around by Gawker and Defamer. It’s about a criminal act, and the people behind it should be treated as nothing more nor less than criminals.” Sure. I don’t think there’s any question that the hack was a criminal act. But it’s also a HUGE gossip story.

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Photos courtesy of WENN.

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