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Hollywood speculates on fate of Deadline's Nikki Finke Hollywood speculates on fate of Deadline's Nikki Finke
(4 months later)
She has been called the most feared, despised, and uncompromising journalist in Hollywood, the "reigning queen" of entertainment industry news and gossip.She has been called the most feared, despised, and uncompromising journalist in Hollywood, the "reigning queen" of entertainment industry news and gossip.
But on Monday Nikki Finke, the founder and editor of Deadline Hollywood, was herself the story when she was allegedly fired from the news site which makes studio executives tremble.But on Monday Nikki Finke, the founder and editor of Deadline Hollywood, was herself the story when she was allegedly fired from the news site which makes studio executives tremble.
A rival site, The Wrap, reported that Jay Penske, the chief executive of Penske Media Corp, which owns Deadline Hollywood, had sacked Finke and that she would be out the door as soon this week.A rival site, The Wrap, reported that Jay Penske, the chief executive of Penske Media Corp, which owns Deadline Hollywood, had sacked Finke and that she would be out the door as soon this week.
The claim jolted Hollywood, delighting Finke's enemies and dismaying allies. Was the queen dethroned? Or was it a false story planted by a would-be usurper? The truth was shrouded in a haze of denials, insults, threats and feuding.The claim jolted Hollywood, delighting Finke's enemies and dismaying allies. Was the queen dethroned? Or was it a false story planted by a would-be usurper? The truth was shrouded in a haze of denials, insults, threats and feuding.
"Right now I am not going to discuss my Deadline Hollywood contract or my relationship with my boss Jay Penske. Why? Because I don't have to," Finke wrote in an angry post which scorned the claim but left her fate unclear."Right now I am not going to discuss my Deadline Hollywood contract or my relationship with my boss Jay Penske. Why? Because I don't have to," Finke wrote in an angry post which scorned the claim but left her fate unclear.
A self-described "bitch" and master of the take-down, she tore into her rival Sharon Waxman, whose The Wrap is a direct competitor, saying it had "crapped" on her yet again with a bogus scoop.A self-described "bitch" and master of the take-down, she tore into her rival Sharon Waxman, whose The Wrap is a direct competitor, saying it had "crapped" on her yet again with a bogus scoop.
"The desperate Sharon Waxman and her revolving door staff have been writing inaccurately about me for years, and doing it to drive traffic to her failing website, and refusing to correct even the most blatant errors.""The desperate Sharon Waxman and her revolving door staff have been writing inaccurately about me for years, and doing it to drive traffic to her failing website, and refusing to correct even the most blatant errors."
She said Waxman emailed her and Penske on Sunday night requesting comment about the alleged firing and posted it online two minutes later before either had a chance to respond. "So, to summarize, readers: If you want the truth, come to Deadline Hollywood. If you want crap, you know where to go."She said Waxman emailed her and Penske on Sunday night requesting comment about the alleged firing and posted it online two minutes later before either had a chance to respond. "So, to summarize, readers: If you want the truth, come to Deadline Hollywood. If you want crap, you know where to go."
Both women, who previously worked for the New York Times and other national publications before setting up rival entertainment industry portals in Los Angeles, have traded barbs for years, accusing each other of smears, dirty tricks and jealousy.Both women, who previously worked for the New York Times and other national publications before setting up rival entertainment industry portals in Los Angeles, have traded barbs for years, accusing each other of smears, dirty tricks and jealousy.
Finke, 60, began her blog in 2006 and drew readers with scoops and reputation-shredding attacks on industry figures, including "live snarking" commentaries during award ceremonies.Finke, 60, began her blog in 2006 and drew readers with scoops and reputation-shredding attacks on industry figures, including "live snarking" commentaries during award ceremonies.
She sold her site to Penkse in 2009 reportedly for $14m and stayed on as editor and head of a small team of writers.She sold her site to Penkse in 2009 reportedly for $14m and stayed on as editor and head of a small team of writers.
The same year Waxman set up The Wrap which has survived but been overshadowed by its bigger competitor. In 2011 it accused Finke of "poisonous maneuvers" against it.The same year Waxman set up The Wrap which has survived but been overshadowed by its bigger competitor. In 2011 it accused Finke of "poisonous maneuvers" against it.
Waxman struck back with her report saying Penske told several top Hollywood executives last week that he was firing Finke, complaining she had crossed the line one too many times in sending abusive emails to sources over scoops lost to The Wrap. "She's been sending emails saying, 'I'm going to f--- you,' and Jay says he's had it," one executive was quoted.Waxman struck back with her report saying Penske told several top Hollywood executives last week that he was firing Finke, complaining she had crossed the line one too many times in sending abusive emails to sources over scoops lost to The Wrap. "She's been sending emails saying, 'I'm going to f--- you,' and Jay says he's had it," one executive was quoted.
The scoop in question was about the talent agency UTA seeking an equity investor.The scoop in question was about the talent agency UTA seeking an equity investor.
Finke denied sending such an email. "True, I've occasionally lost my temper and sent nasty emails to Hollywood. And not once has Jay Penske ever complained to me about them. (He knows I'm a bitch. That's why he bought me.)" She included email exchanges between her and UTA which made no mention of the F-word.Finke denied sending such an email. "True, I've occasionally lost my temper and sent nasty emails to Hollywood. And not once has Jay Penske ever complained to me about them. (He knows I'm a bitch. That's why he bought me.)" She included email exchanges between her and UTA which made no mention of the F-word.
Penkse emailed The Wrap to say the story was untrue. In an official response His company, PMC, called the story libellous and with no ounce of truth, saying the company would "continue its obligations" under its multi-year contract with Finke.Penkse emailed The Wrap to say the story was untrue. In an official response His company, PMC, called the story libellous and with no ounce of truth, saying the company would "continue its obligations" under its multi-year contract with Finke.
"It is sad when a rival business feels the need to fabricate stories to create traffic and notoriety. Due to the defamatory and disparaging nature of some of the completely inaccurate statements made by Waxman, PMC has turned this matter over to our attorneys.""It is sad when a rival business feels the need to fabricate stories to create traffic and notoriety. Due to the defamatory and disparaging nature of some of the completely inaccurate statements made by Waxman, PMC has turned this matter over to our attorneys."
Waxman stuck to her guns in an updated post and said Penske had refused to answer repeated queries about whether his star writer was leaving Deadline Hollywood. She said an additional source of tension between the tycoon and Finke was was her disappointment at not being given a position in Variety, the industry magazine which Penske bought last year.Waxman stuck to her guns in an updated post and said Penske had refused to answer repeated queries about whether his star writer was leaving Deadline Hollywood. She said an additional source of tension between the tycoon and Finke was was her disappointment at not being given a position in Variety, the industry magazine which Penske bought last year.
Commentaries beneath the Deadline and Wrap stories underlined Hollywood glee at the row and polarisation over Finke. Even her supporters, however, voiced concern that the wording of her employer's statement left open the possibility she would be marginalised and edged out. The Los Angeles Times said she told friends last week that she wanted to go back into business for herself.Commentaries beneath the Deadline and Wrap stories underlined Hollywood glee at the row and polarisation over Finke. Even her supporters, however, voiced concern that the wording of her employer's statement left open the possibility she would be marginalised and edged out. The Los Angeles Times said she told friends last week that she wanted to go back into business for herself.
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