I really think the Today Show producers made TWO huge mistakes with this whole Amy Adams mess. Their first mistake was kicking her off the show after she told them she didn’t want to discuss the Sony Hack. The second mistake was trying to make Amy sound like some kind of deranged diva and blaming her for the entire incident. I’m sorry, but no one is buying it. Amy has the reputation as one of the nicest, most polite and most hard-working people in Hollywood. She is very definition of “no drama.” And no one will take the word of Today’s producers that Amy is some kind of unhinged, tantrum-prone jackass.
Last we heard, Harvey Weinstein – the producer of Amy’s current film, Big Eyes – was on the warpath. He’s Twihard Proof-ing the Today Show, trying to break down their claims that Amy pitched a fit and made a staffer cry. Harvey wants an investigation. Harvey wants Matt Lauer on his knees, apologizing to Amy in person. Well, Page Six says that Weinstein Company people were in “tense negotiations” with Today Show people late into Christmas Eve (merry Christmas, NBC employees!). And Harvey sent Amy out to say something about the situation directly:
Amy Adams says she is still “really confused” about having her live interview on The Today Show dramatically pulled minutes before it was due to take place Monday morning. Adams told USA TODAY on Tuesday night that she was “surprised” that the segment was unceremoniously canceled after she expressed misgivings over discussing aspects of the Sony hacking scandal on live television.
Speaking at a Los Angeles screening for her new film Big Eyes, Adams says she was supposed to be discussing her movie on The Today Show. But the show producers made a point of telling her team that the Sony hacking fallout would be added to the four-minute TV interview.
“I expressed that I was uncomfortable. I said I would rather not add my voice to this conversation,” Adams said. “But it was clear they were drawing a hard line. That this would be part of the conversation.”
Adams said she assumed the interview would still go on even after her discussion with the producers.
“I walked away from the conversation and went up to the room to do the interview,” Adams said. “I assumed they were going to ask me about (Sony hacking). And I was prepared for that, to whatever degree I was prepared.”
Minutes later Adams was told that the interview was not going to air.
“I was informed that they had decided to pull the interview,” said Adams. “I was confused and definitely frustrated. I still don’t understand.”
The New York Daily News cited unnamed sources saying that Adams “got aggressive” in the discussions.
Adams said she did the unusual step of speaking to the producers rather than media representatives.
“I feel like I don’t have trouble standing up for myself. This was situation I chose to speak for myself,” Adams said.
The Daily Beast reported Dec. 12 that leaked e-mails from Sony Pictures Entertainment chairman Amy Pascal revealed that American Hustle stars Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence received salaries 2% lower than their male co-stars, Bradley Cooper and Christian Bale. Even on Tuesday night, Adams declined to discuss the topic when asked by USA TODAY.
“I am not going to add my voice to that conversation. Even in this room,” said Adams. “You can add that to your story. And that’s fair.”
[From USA Today]
See, that’s what I said at the beginning – Amy is a professional, and she wasn’t “demanding” to not be asked any questions about the Sony Hack, she stated her preference and she was told that she would still get the questions. And she was prepared to answer the questions in a noncommittal, ambivalent way because she really didn’t want to talk about it. After hearing her side of it, it sounds more like Today producers were “punishing” her for simply not wanting to talk about the Sony Hack and for being prepared to say “I don’t want to comment on that” on live television.
Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet.
Special thanks Cele Bitch
