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Senior writer at The Hollywood Reporter, covering the circus. | Have a tip? gary.baum@thr.com. DMs open. On Signal too; ask for #
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Articles by Gary Baum
Nithya Raman Projected to Win Los Angeles Mayor’s Race, Defeating Karen Bass Original
Nithya Raman spoke at a campaign celebration with volunteers and supporters marking her advance into the general election on June 13, 2026, in North Hollywood, California.
Nithya Raman Projected to Win Los Angeles Mayor’s Race, Defeating Karen Bass
Nithya Raman is projected to be the 44th mayor of Los Angeles, according to one outlet, unseating incumbent Karen Bass, a fellow Democrat who struggled with credibility as constituent anger surged over various municipal ills, including housing and affordability, the entertainment production exodus and her response to the Palisades wildfire.
How Pro-Palestine Activists Attempted to Ignite a Boycott of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Sequel Original
Sacha Baron Cohen attended the L.A. premiere of his new movie "Ali G: Who Iz I?" as his character Ali G. Kevin Winter/Getty Images One of the most intriguing things about Sacha Baron Cohen’s satirical sequel Ali G: Who Iz I? — out in limited theatrical release, to mixed reviews, and now streaming on Amazon Prime Video — occurred off-screen. The film’s first trailer debut on Aug. 25 triggered plenty of online backlash about the iconic character, which has long functioned as a Rorschach test.
How Pro-Palestine Activists Attempted to Ignite a Boycott of Sacha Baron Cohen’s Ali G Sequel
The wait is finally over. Editor's Note: Layne's Chicken Fingers will be giving away free chicken for one year to the first 50 customers at the grand …
Frank Capra Was Darker Than You Think, Says Author of New Biography Original
Frank Capra on the set of 1941's 'Meet John Doe.' Courtesy Everett Collection Sam Wasson, one of Hollywood’s preeminent historians and biographers, has published searching books on the lives and works of Francis Ford Coppola, Paul Mazursky, Blake Edwards and Roman Polanski. Now, with Frank Capra, out Oct. 27, he’s delivered a 752-page doorstop chronicling the arc and art of a filmmaker whose surname is adjectival shorthand for heartfelt, humanistic American storytelling.
Influencer falsely accused of involvement in Matthew Perry's death
Hollywood's secret smear machine has sparked further legal fallout. Paige Jimenez, an influencer and model, is suing the same alleged industry perpetrators - lawyer Bryan Freedman publicist Melissa Nathan and fixer Jed Wallace - who were already implicated in related court claims contending the three were behind anonymous defamatory campaigns which targeted actress Blake Lively, producer Amanda Ghost, publicist Stephanie Jones and activist Alexa Nikolas.
In Latest Smear Scandal Suit, an Influencer Falsely Accused of Involvement in Matthew Perry’s Death Original
Paige Jimenez Courtesy of Paige Jimenez Hollywood’s secret smear machine has sparked further legal fallout. Paige Jimenez, an influencer and model, is suing the same alleged industry perpetrators — lawyer Bryan Freedman, publicist Melissa Nathan and fixer Jed Wallace — who were already implicated in related court claims contending the three were behind anonymous defamatory campaigns which targeted actress Blake Lively, producer Amanda Ghost, publicist Stephanie Jones and activist Alexa Nikolas.
Fixer in Hollywood Smear Machine Scandal Spoke of Other Clients: Elon Musk, Jake and Logan Paul
Jed Wallace Illustration by Christopher Hughes Jed Wallace is the formerly mysterious Hollywood fixer who this year has been under an increasingly bright legal spotlight for his alleged role as a co-conspirator in a secretive industry smear machine meant to undermine and even destroy the targets of his clients.
‘You Can See Everything’ Is a Gothic Romance for the Ages
'You Can See Everything' A24 [This story contains spoilers for You Can See Everything.] Much has been made of Nathan Fielder and Lance Oppenheim’s hit hybrid documentary You Can See Everything as a cutting-edge inquiry into truth, performance and authenticity. But that deserved attention, along with the dull focus on whether convicted Theranos fraudster Elizabeth Holmes meant to commit her crimes, may obscure the film’s grandest achievement.
Justin Baldoni‘s Crisis PR Firm Linked to Smear of Consumer Safety Advocate Original
Justin Baldoni Alberto Rodriguez/Variety/Getty Images Tamara Rubin is an Oregon-based consumer product safety advocate who runs a popular online resource called Lead Safe Mama which focuses on exposure risks. She’s bewildered to have found herself apparently targeted by the same Hollywood smear machine that has allegedly specialized in entertainment industry players, from a film producer and a former child star to a music financier and a soap opera actress.
Justin Baldoni’s Former Crisis PR Firm Linked to Smear of Consumer Safety Advocate
Justin Baldoni’s Former Crisis PR Firm Linked to Smear of Consumer Safety Advocate The actor worked with an executive at a vitamin company, which appears to have hired the same agency now at the center of the Hollywood smear scandal. Add us as a Google Preferred Source Tamara Rubin Lead Safe Mama, LLC Tamara Rubin is an Oregon-based consumer product safety advocate who runs a popular online resource called Lead Safe Mama that focuses on exposure risks.
Non-Alcoholic Drink Pairings Up Their Game (and their Prices) at L.A.’s Top Restaurants
The Tokyo Fizz, a signature cocktail at Somni made with pine water, yuzu and ginger beer, comes in alcoholic and nonalcoholic versions. Andrea d’Agosto Photography Kim Stodel, bar director at three-Michelin-starred Providence a few blocks west of the Paramount lot in Hollywood, steeps charred sweet corn in jasmine green tea on a recent afternoon.
Non-Alcoholic Drink Pairings Up Their Game (and their Prices) at L.A.’s Top Restaurants
The Tokyo Fizz, a signature cocktail at Somni made with pine water, yuzu and ginger beer, comes in alcoholic and nonalcoholic versions. Andrea d’Agosto Photography Kim Stodel, bar director at three-Michelin-starred Providence a few blocks west of the Paramount lot in Hollywood, steeps charred sweet corn in jasmine green tea on a recent afternoon.
The Restaurateur Behind One of Hollywood’s Favorite Haunts Makes His Directorial Debut Original
Josh Loeb Mariana Schulze Josh Loeb has spent the past two decades surviving the high-risk, low-margin, passion-driven local restaurant business with his pioneering farm-to-table restaurant Rustic Canyon, which has become a Santa Monica classic. Now, he’s turned to a similarly precarious second act: independent filmmaking, with his directorial debut, In Spite of Ourselves, debuting Friday in limited release at the Quad Cinema in Manhattan and the Westside’s Landmark Nuart Theatre to follow Oct.
‘Nobody Wants This’ Consulting Rabbi Slams Star Adam Brody’s Gaza “Genocide” Comments as “Ignorant” Original
Adam Brody in 'Nobody Wants This.' Stefania Rosini/Netflix Nobody Wants This onscreen rabbi Adam Brody recently weighed in on the Israel-Gaza war, and now a real rabbi who consulted on the series is responding to what he calls “ignorant” comments by the actor. “You by your own admission are a relatively ignorant Jew, and your ignorance really showed the other day,” said Rabbi Steve Leder in a message to Brody shared on Instagram (below).
In Leaked Audio, Hollywood Fixer Tells Billionaire Client of Plan to Smear Fiancée (Listen) Original
Leonardo Maria Del Vecchio and Jessica Michel Serfaty attend the Versace fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week on September 22, 2023 in Milan, Italy. Daniele Venturelli/WireImage New audio recordings obtained by The Hollywood Reporter provide a rare unvarnished view of modern crisis PR, explaining from the inside both how and why covert campaigns have been pursued across the entertainment industry and beyond in recent years amid myriad high-stakes feuds.
In Leaked Audio, Hollywood Fixer Tells Billionaire Client of Plan to Smear Fiancée (Listen)
New audio recordings obtained by The Hollywood Reporter provide a rare, unvarnished view of modern crisis PR, explaining from the inside both how and why covert campaigns have been pursuedacross the entertainment industry and beyond in recent years amid myriad high-stakes feuds. The likes of Justin Baldoni, Andrew Huberman, Scooter Braun and Travis Scott have been caught up in revelations about the practice.
Top Hollywood Publicist Alleged to Have Hid Evidence About Role In Celebrity Smear Sites Original
Melissa Nathan Months after Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their It Ends with Us dispute, a related case involving top Hollywood publicists continues to offer its own fresh revelations. Stephanie Jones, who handled PR for both Baldoni and the movie’s production company Wayfarer Studios, has been pursuing a suit in federal court against Baldoni’s crisis communications strategists and former clients on the film project, alleging defamation as well as other claims.
Top Hollywood Publicist Alleged to Have Hid Evidence About Role In Celebrity Smear Sites
Months after Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni settled their It Ends with Us dispute, a related case involving top Hollywood publicists continues to offer its own fresh revelations. Stephanie Jones, who handled PR for both Baldoni and the movie's production company Wayfarer Studios, has been pursuing a suit in federal court against Baldoni's crisis communications strategists and former clients on the film project, alleging defamation as well as other claims.
Historic Malibu Winery Closes After Losing Tasting Room to Palisades Fire Original
A view of the vineyards at Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate in Newton Canyon. Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate A four-decade-old Los Angeles County winery started and run by a Hollywood family is closing. Mark Rosenthal says his Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate is winding down operations. The winery’s Pacific Coast Highway tasting room, which was the brand’s primary distribution mechanism, was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades wildfire.
Historic Malibu Winery Closes After Losing Tasting Room to Palisades Fire
A four-decade-old Los Angeles County winery started and run by a Hollywood family is closing. Mark Rosenthal says his Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate is winding down operations. The winery's Pacific Coast Highway tasting room, which was the brand's primary distribution mechanism, was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades wildfire. Located on California state land through a lease, the government has not indicated when or even if it may allow commercial tenants to return.
Historic Malibu Winery Closes After Losing Tasting Room to Palisades Fire
A view of the vineyards at Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate in Newton Canyon. Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate A four-decade-old Los Angeles County winery started and run by a Hollywood family is closing. Mark Rosenthal says his Rosenthal — The Malibu Estate is winding down operations. The winery’s Pacific Coast Highway tasting room, which was the brand’s primary distribution mechanism, was destroyed in the 2025 Palisades wildfire.
Nick Reiner pushes for trust money release to fund criminal trial
In new civil court filings, lawyers for incarcerated Nick Reiner continue to fight for access to his trust money to pay for his criminal defense as he stands accused of killing his parents, Rob and Michele. Reiner, 32, wants to rehire Alan Jackson, who has represented the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read. The star attorney previously withdrew from the Los Angeles case for lack of funding.
In New Court Filings, Nick Reiner Pushes for Release of His Trust Money to Fund Criminal Trial Original
Nick Reiner appears during his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Feb. 23, 2026. Chris Torres / AFP via Getty Images In new civil court filings, lawyers for incarcerated Nick Reiner continue to fight for access to his trust money to pay for his criminal defense as he stands accused of killing his parents Rob and Michele. Reiner, 32, wants to rehire Alan Jackson, who has represented the likes of Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read.
In New Court Filings, Nick Reiner Pushes for Release of His Trust Money to Fund Criminal Trial
1:42 2 days ago James Ransone's widow slams Television Academy for leaving late actor out of Emmys tribute. StringersHub • 2d During the 2026 ceremony in Los Angeles on Monday night, actors and industry figures who had died over the past year were honoured. The list included James Van Der Beek, Eric Dane, Hayden Panettiere, Dolly Parton, Tim Curry and Rob Reiner, among others.
Mellody Hobson Departs Embattled L.A. Olympics Board Ahead of Lucas Museum Opening (Exclusive) Original
(L-R) Mellody Hobson and George Lucas speak onstage during the Special Preview at Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on September 03, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images Mellody Hobson, the prominent business executive and wife of George Lucas, has resigned from the board of L.A.’s embattled 2028 Olympic Games organizing committee, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Hobson and the committee, known as LA28, didn’t respond to THR.
Paul Verhoeven on U.S. Space Force’s ‘Starship Troopers’-Inspired Uniforms: “It’s Based on Leni Riefenstahl” Original
"The actor Neil Patrick Harris has a uniform that’s precisely, clearly Nazi" in 'Starship Troopers,' its director Paul Verhoeven tells The Hollywood Reporter. TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection On Sept. 6, President Donald Trump posted a design mockup for the U.S. Space Force’s “next generation” military service dress.
Paul Verhoeven on U.S. Space Force’s ‘Starship Troopers’-Inspired Uniforms: “It’s Based on Leni Riefenstahl”
On Sept. 6, President Donald Trump posted a design mockup for the U.S. Space Force's "next generation" military service dress. The severe black-and-gray outfit was accompanied by language explaining that it's "inspired by the discipline and functionality of the Starship Trooper uniform." Starship Troopers, the 1997 sci-fi action film, was a critical and commercial fiasco on release. However, it's now widely regarded as a cult classic.
A Legendary L.A. Eatery Reinvents Itself
Josh Migdal (left)and Jonah Freedman, the new owners of Mistral. Shelby Moore A pair of next-gen restaurateurs has rebooted Mistral, the nearly four-decade-old French bistro along Ventura Boulevard in the Valley.
Nick Reiner and the Problems Money Can’t Solve
Rob, Michele and Nick Reiner attend an event at The Grove on August 9, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Teen Vogue Nick Reiner’s next pretrial hearing in the apparent patricide of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner is Sept. 15. Their son, who struggled with drug addiction and severe mental health issues, has pled not guilty.
Why George Lucas’ Museum Building Mogs LACMA’s New David Geffen Exhibition Hall Original
The exterior of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art on August 30, 2026 in Los Angeles, California. I RYU/VCG/Getty Images The new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art is a Rorschach test for the value of mass culture, the future of Los Angeles and the legacy of founder George Lucas. Its arrival also happens to highlight LACMA’s epic flop of a main new exhibition hall, the David Geffen Galleries building, which debuted across town four months ago.
Six Movies Show How Hollywood Has Grappled With 9/11 Original
Nicolas Cage in 'World Trade Center.' Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection The 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 has brought with it a fresh round of major-milestone documentary programming. This includes a three-part National Geographic series focused on reunions between survivors and rescuers as well as a two-hour MLB Network effort exploring how baseball helped restore a sense of normalcy to the nation after the attacks.
Lucas Museum Review: A Bold Throwback to Gilded Age Patronage
An aerial view of the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art before a media preview of the 300,000 square foot structure in Exposition Park on Sept.r 2 in Los Angeles. Mario Tama/Getty Images George Lucas knew he needed a hook — the requisite fan service — at his new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in downtown Los Angeles. That’s why there’s a large main gallery full of Star Wars crown-jewel production pieces, from R2-D2 and Darth Vader’s suit to podracers galore.
Lucas Museum Review: A Bold Throwback to Gilded Age Patronage
George Lucas knew he needed a hook — the requisite fan service — at his new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in downtown Los Angeles. That's why there's a large main gallery full of Star Wars crown-jewel production pieces, from R2-D2 and Darth Vader's suit to podracers galore.
New Operator of L.A.’s Bruin Theatre Says His Antisemitic Comments Are “Distractions From Reopening” Original
Exterior view of the Mann's Bruin Theater during the Los Angeles film premiere of "Waiting" at the Mann's Bruin Theater on September 29, 2005 in Westwood, California. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images A comeback for Los Angeles’ iconic 88-year-old Bruin Theatre in Westwood is now in doubt. Information about its new operator, Canadian exhibitor Rui Pereira, may kill the revival. On Aug.
Raquel Lee Reached Secret Settlement With Mark Curry Years Before Suing Disney Over Alleged Sexual Abuse Original
Raquel Lee Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images The former child actress Raquel Lee has sued The Walt Disney Co. for negligence, alleging an unidentified “middle-aged, male employee who was involved in the filming of” the 2001 Disney Channel original movie The Poof Point sexually abused and assaulted her. At the time, she was 14 years old. The Hollywood Reporter has separately learned that Lee reached a confidential settlement agreement with actor Mark Curry in 2015.
Former Child Actress Raquel Lee Alleges Disney Negligent in On-Set Sexual Abuse Original
Raquel Lee Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images In a new court filing, the former child actress Raquel Lee alleges she was repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted by a Disney worker during production of The Poof Point, a 2001 Disney Channel original movie. The suit, which doesn’t name the perpetrator, accuses the studio of negligence.
Life of M: Rachel Cusk, Natalie Portman literary scandal of the year
The acclaimed writer Rachel Cusk's controversial new novel Life of M is an intimate, unvarnished character study of an A-list movie star who is depicted as hollow, immature and cynical, an intellectual poseur and an artist wannabe.
How Natalie Portman Got Caught in Novelist Rachel Cusk’s Autofiction Trap Original
Rachel Cusk, left, and the apparent inspiration for her latest novel, Natalie Portman STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images/Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images) The acclaimed writer Rachel Cusk’s controversial new novel Life of M is an intimate, unvarnished character study of an A-list movie star who is depicted as hollow, immature and cynical, an intellectual poseur and an artist wannabe.
How Natalie Portman Got Caught in Novelist Rachel Cusk’s Autofiction Trap
The acclaimed writer Rachel Cusk's controversial new novel Life of M is an intimate, unvarnished character study of an A-list movie star who is depicted as hollow, immature and cynical, an intellectual poseur and an artist wannabe.
Nick Reiner Frustrated By Lack of Access to $1.5 Million Trust as Star Lawyer Sits on Sidelines Original
Nick Reiner appears during his arraignment in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Los Angeles, California, on February 23, 2026. Chris Torres / AFP via Getty Images Nick Reiner’s lawyers sought to extract money from his dwindling trust in L.A. Superior Court on Monday to pay a star defense attorney’s fee. He’s accused of killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner at their Brentwood home in December 2025. A judge pushed the decision to October.
If Hollywood Is Dying, Why Are L.A.’s Cinemas Roaring Back?
Sony is restoring the Cinerama Dome, to be operated by Alamo Drafthouse. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images Glendale’s historic Alex theater is back in the picture business. For 35 years, since Terminator 2: Judgment Day debuted in 1991, the venue — where Walt Disney liked to test his cartoons — hadn’t screened first-run films. Then the Alex’s artistic director, Miles Williams, invested $500,000 in time for its centennial last year so that it could host state-of-the-art screenings.
Comedian Eric Wareheim Is a Grower and a Shower (of Weird, Rare Plants)
Mega-hyphenate Eric Wareheim — actor, writer, director, producer, author, winemaker and, now, horticulturist — at his East L.A. rare-plant shop, Serpentine, where he was photographed Aug. 5.
Billionaire Rick Caruso Brings Back Palisades Village After Wildfire: “This Is One Chapter of the Comeback Story” Original
Rick Caruso Gilbert Flores/WWD/Getty Images On Aug. 15, twenty months after the Pacific Palisades wildfire, which destroyed more than 5,000 homes and displaced tens of thousands of residents, the L.A. neighborhood’s signature luxury shopping center will reopen.
The Highest-Grossing Theater for ‘The Odyssey’ in 70MM Hadn’t Screened a New Movie in 35 Years Original
A 70mm screening of 'The Odyssey' at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. Photo by Erik Bakshi for Film Leader Co. Glendale’s century-old Alex Theatre installed its 70mm presentation system six weeks ago, just ahead of the July 17 premiere of The Odyssey. Now the venue, which hadn’t shown a first-run movie for 35 years, has announced it’s the highest grossing theatre in the country for Christopher Nolan’s mythological epic on the film format.
Sony Eyes Revival of Cinerama Dome and ArcLight Hollywood Original
The entrance to the theater in April 2021 Genaro Molina/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Sony and Alamo Drafthouse, the upmarket cinema chain the studio acquired in 2024, are in talks with the ownership of Los Angeles’ iconic Cinerama Dome theatre and adjacent ArcLight Hollywood multiplex about reopening the shuttered venues, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The movie houses closed at the onset of the pandemic in 2020. Their operator, Pacific Theatres, later filed for bankruptcy.
Peter Thiel’s AI Tribunal Put Journalists on Trial. Now It’s Pivoted to Scoreboard Model Original
Peter Thiel Visual China Group/Getty Images Objection has overruled itself. This spring, Peter Thiel’s high-profile new startup had sought to disrupt journalism by establishing a tribunal in which reporters would be dragooned into AI-powered arbitrations paid for by the unhappy subjects of their articles. Now, the company has been renamed The Primary, pivoting to a system in which journalists are ranked on a digital scoreboard by the expertise of a large language model.
PEN America’s Report on Jewish Writers Divides Literary World as President Resigns In Protest Original
Dinaw Mengestu Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images PEN America’s president has resigned after the free speech group released a report detailing how Israeli and Jewish writers have faced “rising isolation and exclusion” in the aftermath of 2023’s Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The Ethiopian novelist Dinaw Mengestu had held the organization’s leadership position since December 2025.
George Lucas’ New L.A. Museum Will Offer Free Access to Neighbors Original
Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Courtesy of Lucas Museum of Narrative Art Los Angeles’ Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, opening to the public Sept. 22, has announced that it’s offering free annual passes as well as an early preview to its closest residential neighbors in South L.A.’s 90037 ZIP code.
Pizza Power! First Official ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Pizzeria Opens in L.A. Original
The new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria in Santa Monica, California Photo courtesy Ron De Angelis The IP-oriented restaurateur Andy Nguyen, who’s previously opened concepts based on Hello Kitty and Sonic the Hedgehog, has spent more than a decade chasing his “dream project”: producing a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pizzeria.
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