Ozy Media Faces Withering Criticism After NY Times Expose: ‘What an Obvious Scam’

Leo Barraclough International Features EditorGlobal Screen has secured a presale of the female-led drama “Lost Transport” to Menemsha Films for the U.S. and Canada ahead of the European Film Market in Berlin.Inspired by true events, the film tells the story of the final days of World War II when German soldiers abandon a deportation train, leaving the fate of its occupants in the hands of advancing Russian troops.

Tom Hanks, Gerard Butler, Evan Rachel Wood and Rosamund Pike headline projects being brought onto Berlin’s virtual European Film Market.Just how large its top-tier offers may be is, and the volume of deals, are still open for debate.“Very compact,” Constantin’s Martin Moszkowicz said mid-last week of the EFM, which swelled somewhat thanks to a flurry of title announcements on Feb. 4, followed by a steady trickle of big unveils.“The EFM does not look like it will have the comparable volume of the AFM,” Mister Smith’s David Garrett said.

Elsa Keslassy International CorrespondentFrançois Ozon, the prolific and provocative French director who won the Berlinale’s 2018 Golden Bear Award with “By the Grace of God,” is returning to the festival with “Peter von Kant” which will world premiere on opening night. A twist on Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s cult film “The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant,” Ozon’s movie has Denis Menochet playing the tormented filmmaker, opposite Isabelle Adjani, who stars as his muse. Like the original film, “Peter von Kant” is about a film about love, jealousy and domination.

J. Kim Murphy Hollywood Teamsters Local 399 have voted in favor of ratifying a new three-year contract with the industry’s major employers.

The January transfer window signings at Bolton Wanderers have made a big difference at the club and standards have been lifted, defender Will Aimson believes.

Spotify-exclusive podcast The Joe Rogan Experience this week, both on-stage and during an episode of the podcast itself.Rogan’s podcast recently prompted protest from the likes of Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Graham Nash and Nils Lofgren, with the musicians pulling their catalogues from the streaming platform.Young sparked the exodus late last month, when he requested his music be taken off Spotify, citing the platform “spreading false information about vaccines” and specifically targeting Rogan.It came after hundreds of scientists and medical professionals asked Spotify to address COVID misinformation on its platform, sparked by comments made on Rogan’s podcast – calling the host’s actions “not only objectionable and offensive but also medically and culturally dangerous”.In response, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek said that, while the platform wouldn’t be severing ties with the controversial figure, they would be adding content advisories to podcast episodes which discussed COVID-19, directing users to their dedicated information hub.Rogan himself addressed the boycott on Instagram, telling fans: “I don’t always get it right. I will do my best to try to balance out these more controversial viewpoints with other people perspectives so we can maybe find a better point of view.”Shortly after, Rogan found himself embroiled in controversy again when songwriter India.Arie shared a video that compiled instances the podcast host had used the N-word on his podcast.

PENTAGON’s Yeo One will be temporarily halting his scheduled activities after sustaining injuries in a car accident.The K-pop idol’s agency, CUBE Entertainment, released a statement earlier today (February 10) announcing that Yeo One would be absent from the group’s upcoming activities, as well as updating fans on his condition following the incident.“On the early morning of February 9, while returning home after wrapping up an individual scheduled activity, [Yeo One] suffered a car accident from the vehicle of a drunk driver,” CUBE Entertainment said, as translated by Soompi. CUBE Entertainment noted that the singer visited the emergency room and received medical treatment immediately after the accident, but had proceeded with the planned live broadcast of Idol Live School: Homecoming Day on the day same day due to “a diagnosis of minor symptoms and Yeo One’s personal strong will”.[공지] 안녕하세요. 큐브 엔터테인먼트입니다.

Jack Antonoff has elaborated on his issues with Damon Albarn in a new interview, following the latter’s controversial comments about Taylor Swift two weeks ago.The producer and Bleachers frontman was recently a guest on The What, a podcast hosted by broadcaster Brad Steiner, to promote his upcoming appearance at the 2022 Bonnaroo Festival. During the conversation, however, the topic of Albarn was raised when Antonoff and Steiner got into a discussion on songwriting.Albarn, best known as the frontman of Blur and Gorillaz, was interviewed by The LA Times last month to promote his recent solo album ‘The Nearer the Fountain, More Pure the Stream Flows’ and his upcoming shows in the city.During the interview, Albarn falsely claimed that Taylor Swift doesn’t write her own songs, and that co-writing “doesn’t count” towards being called a songwriter.“Obviously, it’s completely absurd and everyone knows that,” Antonoff said during the podcast with regards to Albarn’s comments.“You’re talking about one of the greatest songwriters of our generation who has her name as the only name on many songs.

Full House star passed away last month aged 65.Saget was found dead by authorities in a Florida hotel room on January 9, the day after he had performed a stand-up comedy set in Jacksonville. While no cause of death was shared at the time, the sheriff’s office noted no signs of foul play or drug use had been found.In a new statement shared by Saget’s family, authorities had confirmed he died as a result of head trauma.

Jennifer Lopez, 52, has worn many hats in the entertainment industry, including actress, singer, dancer, producer, clothing designer and perfumer — but no title means more to her than “mom.” The Bronx native is the mother to twins Max and Emme, 13, with her ex-husband Marc Anthony, 53. Find out everything you need to know about the teenagers here.

Jennifer Aniston, 52, has famously never settled down with a family of her own. After years of scrutiny and questioning about her decision to not have children, we’ve gathered all the moments the Friends actress has spoken out against the rampant sexism still prevalent in our culture and how her not having kids shouldn’t even be a “famous” thing to take note of in the first place.

Idris Elba had a bit of a wardrobe malfunction during his appearance at the 2022 BRIT Awards.

according to USA Today, he was found by his parents shortly before noon on Wednesday.The news was announced by the Oakland Athletics. “We are heartbroken to learn of the passing of a member of our Green and Gold family, Jeremy Giambi.

Nathan Chen has won Olympic gold!

Jose Mourinho has claimed Alexis Sanchez was 'not happy' playing for Manchester United in England.

The family of late Los Angeles rap legend Nipsey Hussle has announced plans to reopen his popular Marathon clothing store in a new location. “This second location is a dream that Nipsey always had, and it’s important that his kids are able to see his plans fulfilled,” Nipsey's brother and business partner, Samiel Asghedom, told The Guardian. The Asghedom brothers hosted the grand opening for the original Marathon in June 2017.

Patrick Wilson has made a confession that will probably gross you out.

Maluma is in good company as he makes his feature film acting debut in. The 28-year-old Colombian superstar co-stars alongside Jennifer Lopez and Owen Wilson in the upcoming rom-com, out Friday. While chatting with ET's Nischelle Turner, Maluma shared why was the perfect first film."[It's] pretty surreal, that's the right word, pretty surreal.

Bob Odenkirk is sharing how scary his on-set heart attack really was, and the role his co-stars played in saving his life.On July 27, the celebrated actor was rushed to the hospital after collapsing on the New Mexico set of his acclaimed drama series. Now, speaking with, Odenkirk, 59.

Kevin Hart got Nick Cannon in some hot water with his latest prank. Earlier this week, Hart gifted Cannon a vending machine full of condoms as part of his latest prank in the pair's «prank wars» challenge, but the prank didn't go over too well for the talk show host at home.Cannon was joined by his  co-stars earlier this week, and he spoke about how the stunt caused him some «baby mama drama.»«I still think me wrapping his face on my private plane is better than his sending me a vending machine full of condoms,» Cannon told ET's Kevin Frazier of Hart's NSFW prank.«Vending machine full of condoms is a much bigger hassle to get out of a dressing room and takes up all the space,» Hart chimed in. «And one thing that was brilliant about it, it was the mystery of it, because I had up some baby mama drama, 'Who sent you that? Who sent you that?'» Cannon said. «So, I did have to do some real life stuff, and then when he came out and said it was him, everybody relaxed.»Hart's prank came just days after Cannon announced that he's expecting his eighth child with model, Brie Tiesi.«It's about complicating a person's day, how do I make your day difficult? That's a beautiful prank,» Hart added of the hilarious moment.A post shared by Kevin Hart (@kevinhart4real)The friends and co-stars have a couple more shenanigans in store on their BET+ original series, .

Jeremy Giambi, who was portrayed in the film and book versions of Moneyball and played for four teams, including the Oakland Athletics, Boston Red Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies, has died. He was 47 and no cause of death was released.

In the first of what may well become a string of lawsuits against embattled Ozy Media, a fund manager that invested in the site accused it of fraud and asked for compensatory and punitive damages in a jury trial.

Embattled Ozy Media continues to make headlines as founder-CEO Carlo Watson tell the Today show that the company is not in fact shutting down in the wake of a fast unfolding financial scandal last week as it previous announced.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThe board of Ozy Media, the media and entertainment company accused of deceiving investors and advertisers, has had a change of heart and will not be shutting its doors, CEO Carlos Watson said Monday.“This is our Lazarus moment, if you will,” Watson said in an appearance on NBC News’ “Today” show.The about-face comes after Ozy announced Friday, Oct. 1, that it would wind down the business, following a series of damaging reports about the company’s faking its audience metrics and its now-ousted COO impersonating a YouTube executive on a call with potential Goldman Sachs investors.

less than a week since The New York Times piece, the digital media company that raised a reported $83 million since 2012 is being abandoned by employees, senior executives and investors, including respected TV journalist and producer Katty Kay, investors Laurene Powell Jobs, Ron Conway and Marc Lasry, who resigned this week as chairman of the board just weeks after joining.Ozy billed itself as a modern media venture that was “ahead of the curve.” This week it has faced a daily onslaught of accusations that it falsely claimed Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne were investors and produced a Carlos Watson-hosted TV talk show while falsely claiming to guests and corporate partners that it would air on A&E. The company also claimed that “The Carlos Watson

reported that Watson’s resignation letter arrived to the board’s chairman just prior to the governance committee meeting later in the day to determine his status. Watson joined NPR’s board in 2016 and was re-elected for his second, three-year term on the board, which would have begun this month.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeFormer BBC News anchor and correspondent Katty Kay, who had just joined Ozy Media in late June, has announced her exit following the recent controversy swirling around revelations of the digital company’s practices.“Yesterday morning I handed in my resignation to Ozy Media,” Kay wrote on Twitter. “I was looking forward to working with the talented young reporters but I did not expect this!”Kay’s exit comes after a New York Times column, by Ben Smith, who revealed that Ozy Media chief operating officer Samir Rao impersonated a YouTube executive on a call with potential Goldman Sachs investors.

New York Times report on Sunday revealed that he had impersonated a Google executive on a fundraising call with Goldman Sachs.Harry Hawks, the former executive president and chief financial officer of Hearst Television, will serve as interim CFO during this transition period.“Following reports of conduct that is not in keeping with our standards or values, OZY has engaged Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP to conduct a review of the company’s business activities. We have also asked Samir Rao, Chief Operating Officer, to take a leave of absence pending the results of the investigation,” the Ozy board of directors said in a statement.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeA day after a New York Times article revealed that Ozy Media chief operating officer Samir Rao impersonated a YouTube executive on a call with potential Goldman Sachs investors, the company has announced that the exec will take a leave of absence.Also as part of the news, Ozy’s board of directors has hired a law firm to review the company’s practices.

Ozy CEO Carlos Watson has stepped back as host of the documentary portion of the 42nd News & Documentary Emmy Awards slated for Wednesday in the wake of a weird revelation that his company’s co-founder impersonated a YouTube executive during a fundraising call with Goldman Sachs bankers.

Michael Schneider Variety Editor at LargeOzy Media CEO Carlos Watson has informed the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences that he will no longer host the documentary portion of the 42nd News & Documentary Emmy Awards on Wednesday night.Watson’s decision to step down comes following a New York Times report on Monday questioning the validity of Ozy’s various traffic claims, and revealing that Ozy co-founder Samir Rao had posed as a YouTube executive, touting Ozy’s success, during a conference call with Goldman Sachs bankers in February.“Carlos Watson has graciously reached out to us and asked to be removed from his hosting duties tomorrow night so as not to distract the focus from the talented nominees in the documentary

a New York Times exposé on the operations of his company. “Carlos Watson has graciously reached out to us and asked to be removed from his hosting duties tomorrow night so as not to distract the focus from the talented nominees in the documentary categories of the 42nd News & Documentary Emmy Awards,” a representative for the program told TheWrap.

New York Times.The site was founded in 2013 by Carlos Watson, its CEO, and Samir Rao, now COO. According to the article by media columnist Ben Smith, who said he previously met Watson when he was the editor of Buzzfeed, Rao impersonated a Google executive on a fund-raising call with Goldman Sachs, supposedly vouching for the success of Ozy’s YouTube channel.