Chapter 297: Discerning
Andrew was a man of great integrity.
In the news industry, maintaining one's credibility was crucial; without it, one could hardly survive. Besides, he had taken the money. If he didn't follow through, what would others think? Would they continue to send him money?
In this circle, there were countless secret transactions happening behind the scenes. Stirring up scandals and generating buzz was just the most basic operation.
So, he accepted the money with a clear conscience.
He could also guess who had approached him.
He was even preparing to take this one on personally, and amidst his excitement, he was planning to get directly involved.
Back in the day, his copywriting at the Los Angeles Times had even been approved by the editor-in-chief.
As a result, a freshly-baked article titled "Shocking! Another Case of Casting Couch: What's the Secret Behind the Private Meeting of Actress Monica Bellucci and Director Mel Gibson Behind the Glamour of Hollywood?" was published.
It was prominently featured on the main page of Yahoo's USA Today entertainment section, showing his importance, and he felt at ease with the money he had received.
One advantage of the internet over print media was that the photos were clearer.
"On the afternoon of March 26th, someone spotted Monica Bellucci, the female lead of the currently screening 'The Passion of the Christ,' meeting privately with the film's director, Mel Gibson. They not only shared dinner but also displayed intimate behavior during the meal. Afterwards, they were seen leaving together in a car, heading to Mel Gibson's lavish mansion in Beverly Hills...
According to some crew members from the film production, they had been seen laughing and joking around during the shooting, regardless of others' presence...
Even in Marilyn Monroe's autobiography, she lamented the helplessness of such rules. Could it be that Monica Bellucci promised something to secure her role? Beneath the glamour of Hollywood, how do actresses really secure their positions..."
Quoting classical references, citing extensively, and adding a lot of filler words, the article essentially confirmed the illegitimate nature of their relationship. It even introduced elements of emerging feminist ideology, showing that it was meticulously crafted.
As the internet gradually developed, Yahoo's website had no shortage of daily traffic, and their news updates were influential.
As soon as the article was published, the click count soared.
Colleagues, including some from print media, immediately began to repost the article or release even more sensational news.
For a moment, it gained significant attention.
Hoping for unethical media to uncover something was wishful thinking.
Some people were happy to indulge in gossip.
Why not do something that both parties were willing to engage in?
Early in the morning, many newspaper enthusiasts who still subscribed to physical papers, if they were interested in the entertainment section, could basically find reports about Mel and Monica, and even news about Vincent Cassel, the husband of one of the parties. If it weren't for the fact that they were married, it might not have attracted as much attention.
People always enjoyed a good laugh, simply for the sake of amusement. Some even found satisfaction in satisfying their curiosity about celebrities' private lives. This was why tabloid news always seemed to attract attention.
"At first, Vincent Cassel and Monica Bellucci met on the set of "The Apartment". They collaborated on several projects and eventually entered the realm of marriage. But now, with this kind of scandal emerging, it's hard to believe if these two can continue down the same path..." – The New York Daily.
These veiled words hit someone's heart like a stab. While Vincent understood the dirty secrets of the entertainment industry and could comprehend his wife's willingness to cooperate, he still couldn't help but feel uneasy.
Of course, this was not to be discussed for now. The audience was enjoying their drama.
During their leisure time, this news topic was the perfect gossip material.
What's the deal with all this scandal? The lush green fields, the starlets, the casting couch – everything that's been gossiped about in the past is now up for discussion.
Moreover, "Malèna" is red hot in the DVD market. Many people know Monica Bellucci, and they've watched those "beautiful" scenes repeatedly. The revelation of some of her privacy undoubtedly piqued people's curiosity.
Or perhaps, the value of tabloid news lies in the fact that viewers love to read about it, a part of the entertainment culture aside from celebrity worship?
"It's her? She's in another movie? I have to go check it out."
Many viewers who had seen her work but didn't know much about the stars became interested in "The Passion of the Christ" currently in theaters. This was the positive effect of publicity.
A wave of promotion was unleashed, and it helped boost the box office of "The Passion of the Christ".
Of course, after seeing it, people still had plenty of criticisms. The excessive gore was the biggest flaw of the movie.
...
The only victim in this whole incident was Vincent Cassel?
Yes and no.
When news spread like wildfire, the journalists certainly wouldn't let go of such a valuable interview subject. They swarmed like sharks that had smelled blood.
Most of them wanted an exclusive interview.
Perhaps everyone wanted to ask this man who had probably been cuckolded what he had gone through emotionally. For a man, this was undoubtedly a grave insult.
Since he agreed to the interview, it meant that not only had Twentieth Century Fox, his wife, and Mel given him a heads-up, but also that he could grab some attention and earn a nice sum in appearance fees.
Anyway, he couldn't refuse such a well-planned publicity stunt. So why not cooperate?
Furthermore, they had promised to clarify the facts in a while. By then, any negative perceptions would vanish, and the burden would be lifted.
Alright, all of that was nonsense.
Since Vincent married Monica, he had rarely interfered in her private life.
When they were shooting "Irreversible", he was even the producer of that film, which had more explicit scenes than "Malèna", and he even had a role in it.
Or perhaps, foreigners were quite indifferent to this kind of thing. As long as the feelings between them were right, rumors and nudity didn't matter?
Freedom and space were what foreigners valued the most.
They were basically doing their own thing, apart from cohabitation, and there wasn't much to say about their relationship. Even because Monica often went to Hollywood, they didn't spend much time together.
Vincent took it all in stride, and when he heard the news, he trusted his wife. He didn't jump to conclusions. Even if it was true, he reckoned he could accept it.
Their so-called "open relationship" was a testament to the bond between them.
In other words, "I allow you to have bedmates or lovers, but our relationship can still continue. We won't interfere with each other, and our feelings are genuine."
In such a situation, he didn't need to step forward for an interview. Firstly, it wasn't suitable for him to do so, and secondly, it was more intriguing and had more room for imagination and discussion if it remained ambiguous.
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