British journalist Nick Wallis on the celebrity trial of the century (so far), the cultural fault lines running through this spectacle, and why his kind of reporting is an endangered species
As someone who is only following Depp-Heard via "Smoke 'Em If You Go 'Em", I enjoyed hearing this podcast and the two different cultural perspectives from opposite sides of the Atlantic. I think that since Wallis said he was not used to be interviewed made this even more interesting.
I might be too old to see this as the "trial of the century", but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. I remember seeing the 1994 "live TV chase down the freeway of OJ Simpson" and I watched a lot of that trial in 1995; that seems more like the trial of the century to me (which means, also, define what "century" means., maybe it means 'in my lifetime').
And I've read a book or two on the Lindbergh Kidnapping, another Crime of the Century, or so it was said. Lindbergh is another fascinating person from history; extremely brave, innovative, and not without his flaws.
That's a great pic of the two of you! -- what's the background?
As an aside -- Sarah -- just listened to your Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders podcast series -- I had known none of that and it was all interesting.
I think it's tough to label this as the trial of the century when we're only a few decades into it. Still a lot to happen in the next nearly 80 years.
It felt like the OJ trial went on forever. Wikipedia says it lasted nearly ten months and I know it had a lot more international press covering it. My class even paused to hear the verdict (over radio) when I was in high school. I only heard about Depp-Heard through The Fifth Column and then Smoke 'Em, don't see much on Twitter and definitely not on Facebook. I think there will be higher profile cases to happen.
I need to learn more about the Lindbergh baby, the original “trial of the century”! The background was a large black and white picture of Venice hanging in the apartment where he was staying.
I find it interesting there are so few journalism outlets on the ground at this trial, but my Facebook feed this morning is full of articles from all the big news sources summing up the trial as it ends. It’s obvious they are piggy backing on the few journalism sources that are there, including the video feed.
Yes! And they’re deriding the YouTubers and TikTokers while the coverage proves it’s their primary news source! I’ve read so many stories on this, and they all have that quality of having been written by studying Twitter.
Hello Sarah Hepola (may I call you "Sarah Hepola"?). I want to begin by saying that I am a huge fan of yours. I could go on and on about how much Blackout means to me, but to be succinct, let me just say that it means a whole lot. I am now a fan of Nancy's as well and I absolutely love this podcast.
However, I have to respectfully disagree with your take on Harvey Weinstein as a scapegoat. After reading Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, and She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (recommended reading, if you haven't read them already), I just can't see Weinstein as anything other than an out-and-out rapist. You mentioned the "transactional" nature of Hollywood, which I understood you to mean as a sort of old fashioned, Hollywood Babylon (if you will) casting couch situation - young actress knows what she has to do to be cast, and does so more or less willingly. I really don't think this was the case with Weinstein. He was a violent aggressor. Many of the actresses he assaulted clearly told him to stop, etc.. He raped Annabella Sciorra in her apartment.
If I misunderstood your comments, or if you have read the works I mentioned above and still see Weinstein as a scapegoat of #metoo, could you please clarify why? Thank you so much.
Well let me dwell on the meaning of scapegoat for a moment. I think of it as a person whose sins carry the sins of a community. I’m not saying Weinstein wasn’t guilty. I’m saying lots of people were; corruption was rampant. I suspect “scapegoat” might not be the best term here, and maybe my usage is wrong, but that’s what I meant.
And I’m glad the book meant a lot to you, and yes Nancy is the best. Thanks for joining our party.
Thank you for clarifying, Sarah. Yeah, Weinstein's not the only guilty party in Hollywood, that's for sure. Also, I can't believe I'm (sort of) having a conversation with Sarah Fucking Hepola!!!
As someone who is only following Depp-Heard via "Smoke 'Em If You Go 'Em", I enjoyed hearing this podcast and the two different cultural perspectives from opposite sides of the Atlantic. I think that since Wallis said he was not used to be interviewed made this even more interesting.
I might be too old to see this as the "trial of the century", but I'm prepared to be proven wrong. I remember seeing the 1994 "live TV chase down the freeway of OJ Simpson" and I watched a lot of that trial in 1995; that seems more like the trial of the century to me (which means, also, define what "century" means., maybe it means 'in my lifetime').
And I've read a book or two on the Lindbergh Kidnapping, another Crime of the Century, or so it was said. Lindbergh is another fascinating person from history; extremely brave, innovative, and not without his flaws.
That's a great pic of the two of you! -- what's the background?
As an aside -- Sarah -- just listened to your Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders podcast series -- I had known none of that and it was all interesting.
Thanks!
--Mark
I think it's tough to label this as the trial of the century when we're only a few decades into it. Still a lot to happen in the next nearly 80 years.
It felt like the OJ trial went on forever. Wikipedia says it lasted nearly ten months and I know it had a lot more international press covering it. My class even paused to hear the verdict (over radio) when I was in high school. I only heard about Depp-Heard through The Fifth Column and then Smoke 'Em, don't see much on Twitter and definitely not on Facebook. I think there will be higher profile cases to happen.
I need to learn more about the Lindbergh baby, the original “trial of the century”! The background was a large black and white picture of Venice hanging in the apartment where he was staying.
I find it interesting there are so few journalism outlets on the ground at this trial, but my Facebook feed this morning is full of articles from all the big news sources summing up the trial as it ends. It’s obvious they are piggy backing on the few journalism sources that are there, including the video feed.
Yes! And they’re deriding the YouTubers and TikTokers while the coverage proves it’s their primary news source! I’ve read so many stories on this, and they all have that quality of having been written by studying Twitter.
Hello Sarah Hepola (may I call you "Sarah Hepola"?). I want to begin by saying that I am a huge fan of yours. I could go on and on about how much Blackout means to me, but to be succinct, let me just say that it means a whole lot. I am now a fan of Nancy's as well and I absolutely love this podcast.
However, I have to respectfully disagree with your take on Harvey Weinstein as a scapegoat. After reading Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill, and She Said by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey (recommended reading, if you haven't read them already), I just can't see Weinstein as anything other than an out-and-out rapist. You mentioned the "transactional" nature of Hollywood, which I understood you to mean as a sort of old fashioned, Hollywood Babylon (if you will) casting couch situation - young actress knows what she has to do to be cast, and does so more or less willingly. I really don't think this was the case with Weinstein. He was a violent aggressor. Many of the actresses he assaulted clearly told him to stop, etc.. He raped Annabella Sciorra in her apartment.
If I misunderstood your comments, or if you have read the works I mentioned above and still see Weinstein as a scapegoat of #metoo, could you please clarify why? Thank you so much.
Well let me dwell on the meaning of scapegoat for a moment. I think of it as a person whose sins carry the sins of a community. I’m not saying Weinstein wasn’t guilty. I’m saying lots of people were; corruption was rampant. I suspect “scapegoat” might not be the best term here, and maybe my usage is wrong, but that’s what I meant.
And I’m glad the book meant a lot to you, and yes Nancy is the best. Thanks for joining our party.
Thank you for clarifying, Sarah. Yeah, Weinstein's not the only guilty party in Hollywood, that's for sure. Also, I can't believe I'm (sort of) having a conversation with Sarah Fucking Hepola!!!