The scene mostly works because who is not going to love pillow talk between a closeted lesbian played by Margot Robbie and a closeted Democrat played by Kate McKinnon (also, its impossible not to think of Bari Weiss at this moment). This password will be used to sign into all, a Vulture senior reporter who covers Hollywood. Its understandable, in some ways, that the character doing that work in the film would be fictional. This is telling, from an ABC News piece in November 2016: I now know the number of women who were targeted, and its disturbing, she said. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. Slate is published by The Slate However, Dargis does go on to comment that the film "does a good job of presenting the ordinary assaults that women, even those with great privilege, can endure simply to get through a day.". Connie Britton takes on the role of Beth Ailes, Roger Ailes's wife. The case against Ailes snowballed shortly after . Idon't have anything.". This is not something the film necessarily got wrong, but more an extension of Ailes' ability to control his employees. Her character is also informed by interviews Bombshells filmmakers conducted with many of the women who made those claims. Bombshell nods to that tension. Why Does Kim Kardashian Do This to Christmas? Is Kayla Pospisil real? 'Bombshell' fact vs. fiction: What really happened at Fox News? - USA Today That makes sense, considering Kayla Pospisil isn't a real person, but rather a composite character based on not one but multiple very real people. Right: Connie Britton. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What would the film have looked like had her character not been part of its universehad Bombshell reckoned more directly with its real and deeply flawed heroines? Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Drew Angerer/Getty Images. The movie Bombshell is based on the Fox News scandal involving former CEO Roger Ailes and while the film features many real-life . Photo illustration by Slate. In some ways, thats a productive thing. Following her confrontation with Wilson, she rejoined Fox News on "Fox and Friends." When it came time to go, Ailes did agree to a noncompete clause, and indeed didnt get his wish to say goodbye and address the newsroom along with Rupert Murdoch, who did that on his own, locking Ailes out unceremoniously. You know that this is very important to this experience that the audience goes through it being as gut-wrenching as it was., Theron personally enlisted Roach for the job, after he provided the Oscar-winning actress a detailed critique of an early version of the Bombshell script (which was initially set up at Megan Ellisons Annapurna Pictures). According to the Los Angeles Times, the book described how Ailes was willing to pay a female producer an additional $100 a week to have sex with him. Left: Elizabeth Ailes. Who is Margot Robbie Portraying in 'Bombshell'? Is it a - Distractify She pulls up the hem of her dress. She also launched and managed the sites virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. One of those women who could participate in the suit is Kayla Pospisil (Margot Robbie, who also snagged a Golden Globe nomination), a Christian woman whose ambitions get her a meeting with. Robbieplays an ambitious, wide-eyed staffer named Kayla Pospisil. "I was pulled off the air and suspended for a few days because I wore a what I thought was cute denim jacket. All rights reserved. Right: Malcolm McDowell. It was two years later that Carlson made her first statement against Ailes and the scandal spilled out into the public eye, leading to much more extensive coverage. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman take on Fox News in 'Bombshell'. Kayla Pospisil Isn't A Real Person, But She's A Stand-In For - Bustle Robbie plays Kayla Pospisil, a fictional composite. Kelly may be the star of the show; Kayla, however, is its moral center. And the lead women weren't the only actors who spent hours in the makeup chair. Fox News has made its reputation and its money by delighting in divisionby insisting that some women are more deserving than others. While you're still processing that Pospisil is fake, allow us to take a moment of appreciation for how much Theron and Kidman look like Kelly and Carlsonthe former Fox News anchors who actually helped take down Ailes IRL. While Kelly and Carlson's characters are recognizable from the jump, Kayla Pospisil (Robbie) is a creation that initially feels so authentically Fox News that it seems like she must exist in real life. The real Megyn Kelly addressed this in the discussion mentioned above after watching the movie for herself,describing it as a "fantasy." This is one of those situations where you have to let Charlize and other female producers lead the way. The embattled Ailes asks thepolitician/attorney how to handle the fallout of his sexual harassment allegations. Pospisil is also one of Ailes' victims. Kayla makes the case that she'd be great on camera, and the Fox CEO responds by suggesting she prove her determination. The Bombshell Cast Looks Just Like Their Real-Life Counterparts, What to Know About 'The Hunger Games' Prequel. The True Story Behind Bombshell and the Fox News Scandal | Time Although there were eventually 23 victims who gave their names and stories to construct a . There were good arguments about how disturbing Rogers breathing [should] be. "Bombshell" exploded into the awards race last week, leading the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations with four nods, including best ensemble, actress (Charlize Theron) and supporting actress (Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman). Kayla is one of three women at Bombshells center; the other two are Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman). In a Vanity Fair article by ex-staff member Alisyn Camerota, she describes a conversation she had with Ailes wherein he had allegedly threatened the safety of Carlson. Charlize Theron plays Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly in Bombshell, and the movie opens as she is preparing to host a 2015 Republican presidential primary debate that would go on to cause a monthslong feud between her and future President Donald Trump. Kayla is devastated that Ailes pressured her, that she gave in to the pressure, and that people know about it, and when Kelly asks Kayla to come forward, Megyn uses that empathy tool that journalists often use to elicit cooperation. Now that Fleishman is out of trouble, Caplan can go back to catering. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for American Magazine Media Conference. NY 10036. "Roger said, 'How dare you have a cup of coffee from a guy you don't know. Privacy Policy and Megyn Kellya Fox host who published allegations against Ailes in her 2016 memoiris played by Charlize Theron. Does she come forward with the truth? In the aftermath, Kayla tells Jess, "Oh, I'm not a. Ailes did have friends and allies, too, including Rudy Giuliani (played by Richard Kind in the movie) and his lawyer, Susan Estrich (played by Allison Janney), despite her background as a staunch feminist. Bombshell is a fine enough film it's competently made, the performances are terrific, and it is sufficiently crazymaking but there are two phenomenal scenes in the film that make it well worth seeing. Left: Susan Estrich. Malcolm McDowell plays mogul and longtime Ailes enabler Rupert Murdoch in the movie, and his sons, James and Lachlan, are portrayed by real-life Aussie brothers Josh and Ben Lawson, respectively. "Megyn has a good ear for absurdist details.". Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. However, some viewers did feel that this was glossed over to make sure that audience members of different political or spiritual persuasions would still root for them. So, progress? (Theron also helped develop the material and co-produced Bombshell.) The long sweep of America has been defined by forward motion, President Obama said in his farewell speech three years ago. Maybe we can take this shot out, take that breathing down. And the women on the team universally said, Do not touch a frame. This, of course, acts as the catalyst for the downfall of Roger Ailes, but it's not exactly how things went down. While the three leading stars appeared in the initial teaser released in August, the full-length preview gave a deeper look at the whole ensemble. All the show tunes! Adam McKay Has Sold His Next Celebrity Hangout. Terms of Service apply. Ailes himself tried to weaponize the Fox News apparatus to attack and discredit Carlson and eventually Kelly. Bombshell is rendered in the style of Vice and The Big Short (its screenwriter, Charles Randolph, also wrote the screenplay for the latter). In an article atThe Ringer,Sherman wrote:"Although he may not have intended it, Ailes' confrontational response to the reporting of this book was as revealing as any comment he would have made in the course of an extended interview.". Photo illustration by Slate. Read: Cat Person and the impulse to undermine womens fiction. But we tried to communicate as much as we could with everybody." Roy Wood Jr.s Best Jokes at the 2023 White House Correspondents Dinner. The film outlines an extremely important time in the U.S. surrounding the 2016 presidential race, and highlights the right-wing bias of Fox News, which is depicted as being riddled with misogyny and enabling inappropriate power dynamics. Its also true that there was longstanding tension between the brothers and Ailes, which is part of why they supported quickly conducting an internal investigation at Fox News. Megyn Kelly (Theron) acts as the primary narrator of the film that kicks off with Gretchen Carlson's (Kidman) initial allegations against Ailes. Ailes was in charge of what she said on air, and would frequently berate her for her opinions. What the Bombshell Movie Cast Looks Like in Real Life - Harper's BAZAAR If Kayla, a self-described "evangelical millennial," feels familiar, it's because the inspiration for her comes from actual accounts. ", The film shows a competitive work environment at Fox News for female anchors and producers, many of whom rarely spoke or befriended each other. Ive never filmed anything as excruciating.. Here, see just how close Bombshell's cast came to looking like the real Fox employees who inspired the film. If the rest of the year keeps up at this pace, podcasting will be in a good creative place. Rudi Bakhitar agreed, stating,"It really puts people in our shoes." Her other panelists labeled her as a support system during the tumultuous time in real life. That freedom, however, also allows a story about sexual harassment to wander, at times, into the realm of the fanciful. T he new film Bombshell, which recently snagged two Golden Globe and four SAG Awards nominations, tells the true story of the sexual harassment scandal that took down Roger Ailes, the head of Fox . Fox News spokesperson Caley Cronin declined to comment on the film to USA TODAY beyond confirming that "Bombshell"producers "never reached out to Fox News during any part of the production.. We learned really quickly what was OK.", "Bombshell" does not precisely ignore the fact that most of these women were and are conservative and right-wing, while some are also religious. Visit our corporate site. Margot Robbie plays a fictitious news producer named Kayla Pospisil. Here are the women who have publicly accused Roger Ailes of - Vox Right: Nicole Kidman as Carlson in. But in reality, there is no singular person that the Pospisil character is based on. Nor was a secret lesbian tryst between an Ailes victim and a veteran producer. There isn't an Oscars category for casting directors, but whoever was in charge of assembling the cast of Bombshell deserves some type of award. Connie Britton is Roger's wife Beth Ailes. Carlson didnt owe anybody shit, but had she not said something, men like Ailes; his successor; Bill OReilly; Bill Shine; and Charles Payne would still be at Fox News, and they would still be harassing women, and Brian Kilmeade and Steve Doofus would still be openly harassing their Fox & Friends co-host on air. For Kayla, the episode ends in tears. Megyn Kelly's Most Controversial Moments Ever (opens in new tab), Margot Robbie Wore Sharon Tate's Jewelry in 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' (opens in new tab). The lawsuit filed against the men made its point clear, stating, "Fox News would have the public believe that it is a different place from the Fox News that was run by former disgraced Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. 1 segundo ago. In a week where a reality TV favourite finally addressed its known colorism problem, Netflix UK dropped The Strays (February 22) a psycholo, Over the decades, popular culture has created dominant narratives of the Dominican Republic that are most often synonymous with poverty, crime, or state vi, This story contains spoilers for Ant-Man: Quantumania. Rupert Murdoch, the media magnate at the helm of a global empire, is played by veteran actor Malcolm McDowell. A small handful of women who do have their names attached to the project may have violated their NDAs, but as of now, there has been no retaliation taken against them, according to THR. Cookies help us deliver our Services. The "Saturday Night Live" favorite is a scene-stealer as Kayla's savvy co-worker Jess Carr, a closeted lesbian and liberal who has complicated feelings about working at a network that preaches against her values and lifestyle. Ailes resigned in 2016 and died a year later at the age of 77. Kate McKinnon has a big role as well, but her character, like Robbie's, is fictional. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. "Each hair is hand-tied one by one," hairstylist Anne Morgan told the Washington Post, explaining the level of care and labor that went into them. Right: Allison Janney. Kayla is surprised to learn this, but even more surprised to learn that its happened to so many other women, none of whom came forward. Get ready to turn that frown upside down. Robbies performance is masterful, and Kaylas lack of specificity makes her an apt stand-in for the many people at Fox News who are not part of the story Bombshell is telling. She makes few demands, of her screenwriters or of her audience. Malcolm McDowell portrays Rupert Murdoch, media mogul and owner of News Corp., whose many properties include Fox News. That is an important argument, and Kayla, ambitious and vulnerable and fictional, expresses it well. Both involve Margot Robbie, whose role is small here but pivotal and terrific. 2023 In the panel with Megyn Kelly, Juliet Huddy commentedthat the film"did a good job trying to give a realistic portrayal of what it's like." The objective: to ensure the films balance of levity and gravity in which strong female characters are shown accepting a baseline level of sexual degradation and coarse behavior to get ahead in the cutthroat, male-dominated world of cable news wouldnt turn off viewers. When Camerota attempted to branch out and explore new opportunities outside of Fox News, Ailes stopped this from happening. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. I just wanted to make sure the emotional levels were there and that the empathy you would feel for this is just devastating. leading the Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations, accused of sexual harassment by more than 20 women, Charlize Theron transforms into Megyn Kelly, blasts the Fox News patriarchy in 'Bombshell', Gretchen Carlson calls for change on big 'Bombshell' day, Megyn Kelly approves of Charlize Theron's 'Bombshell' casting. Veteran actor Malcolm McDowell portrays Rupert Murdoch, the media tycoon at the top of a worldwide empire. Margot Robbie also stars as a fictional Fox News producer named Kayla Pospisil, who appears in the trailer with Kelly and Carlson as they head to the network's executive suite on the second floor. It was about taking something from her, taking her dignity, and then having her feel ashamed enough that she doesnt want anybody to ever know about this, Bombshells director Jay Roach tells Vulture of the scene. It chroniclesthe efforts of a group of women including on-the-outs host GretchenCarlson (Kidman) and star anchor Megyn Kelly to expose a culture of misogyny, leadingto the ousterof Machiavellian CEO Roger Ailes (John Lithgow), who was accused of sexual harassment by more than 20 women. Portrayed in "Bombshell" by Nazanin Boniadi, Rudi Bakhtiar was a Fox News journalist who came out with allegations against Brian Wilson (via New York), the former Fox News Washington bureau chief. A lifelong Fox News fanatic and young evangelical ("I see myself as an influencer in the Jesus space," she says), Kayla soon catches the eye of Ailes, who promises to promote herto on-air talent in exchange for sexual favors. Gretchen Carlson, and Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson. Good for them (and us!). But I do think that as men capturing this sense of muscular predation, how that dynamic works is something that maybe we would not have come to so quickly had we been women.. Margot Robbie plays a fictitious news producer named Kayla Pospisil. InBombshell, the buzzy, upcoming movie based on the downfall of Fox CEO Roger Ailes at the hands of the women he'd harassed, Margot Robbie plays a character named Kayla Pospisil. The Stand up and give me a twirl sequence required a particular form of self-awareness. Both women are not real people being portrayed in the film, as Charlize Theron's Megyn. This woman's career was controlled by Ailes and she had no way of stopping it. (Carlsonwho was the first to come forward with allegations of sexual harassment against Ailesis something of the side character in the trio.) It is, however, important to recognize that this abuse of power from Ailes may have dated back more than 10 years before Carlson spoke out. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hollywood Reporter.

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