Cookies help us deliver our Services. When other victims come forward against Ailes, the movie portrays Kelly as keeping herself separate from them. Landing in theaters just as awards season nears its frenzied, Christmas release apogee, Bombshell has been steadily racking up the pre-Oscars accolades: a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Golden Globe nods for Theron and Robbie in the Best Actress and Supporting Actress movie categories, and a Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble among them. Megyn Kellya Fox host who published allegations against Ailes in her 2016 memoiris played by Charlize Theron. Erica Gonzales is the Senior Culture Editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage on TV, movies, music, books, and more. Jay and I had a couple of times where we were like, Maybe we can tone this down. Right: Nazanin Boniadi. Bombshell 's miniskirt-harassment scene between John Lithgow's Roger Ailes and Margot Robbie's Kayla Pospisil was the most "excruciating" sequence director Jay Roach has ever filmed . Left: Nancy Erika Smith. She accepts a cup of coffee offered by her driver, only to fall violently illbefore the debate is about to begin. It was clear that Ailes was able to keep tabs on everyone he employed, and Camerota was informed by her agent that no more offers would be forthcoming. Yes? last updated October 14, 2021 In Bombshell, 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. With a clean updo, thick eyeliner, and a stern smile, she's almost entirely transformed into the former Fox News anchor. Slate is published by The Slate New York, There was an overwhelming consensus during asit-down discussion between Megyn Kelly, former Fox News host Juliet Huddy, former Fox News reporter Rudi Bakhtiar, and former "FoxNews Live" associate producer Julie Zann that the atmosphere that Roger Ailes created in the workplace was much more extreme than portrayed in "Bombshell." The Slate Group LLC. It is through Kayla that the horrors and humiliations of sexual harassment are brought to the films screen. This fabricated moment was addressed in the Kelly panel by former "Fox News Live" associate producer Julie Zann: "This is shameful because it is unfactual it is victim shaming this is sending the wrong message.". The movie leaves out the fun detail that when it became clear that Ailes was on his way out at Fox, Estrich, meaning to send a statement to the Drudge Report, accidentally sent a draft of his $40 million separation agreement, which Drudge then published, and unpublishedthough some questioned whether this was a mistake or negotiating tactic. A character named Kayla Pospisil (played by Oscar nominee Margot Robbie) is called before Fox News chief executive Roger Ailes (John Lithgow beneath layers of prosthetic jowl and wattle), who has . Some of them were still working at Fox. "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). Although there were eventually 23 victims who gave their names and stories to construct a . But there is some truth to the way the character becomes one of Ailes victims in the film: Kayla first meets with Ailes alone in his office because she sees it as a chance to advance her career, whereas he uses it as a chance to harass her. For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for theMarie Clairenewsletter. The movie is also faithful in its depiction of the relationship between Kelly and Gretchen Carlson, who kicked off Ailes eventual ouster by publicly accusing him of sexual harassment: The two were collegial but not friends. Kayla Pospisil, the ambitious young evangelical millennial producer (played by Margot Robbie) who works for Carlsons show when she is introduced, is a composite character invented for the movie. Watch the full trailer above. This is one of those situations where you have to let Charlize and other female producers lead the way. " Randolph says. Likewise with Kayla: Her willingness to look the other way creates this dynamic, and she realizes at the end that it affects herself. Right: Richard Kind. The scene is intimate. 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. Only the bravest celebs will go full catboy at 2023s Met Gala. We learn that this is a rule enforced by Ailes and it was a bigger issue than explored in the film. A scene with Kayla and Megyn displays a case of victim shaming from Kayla with her placing the blame on Megyn for her own assault because she did not speak out. Does she support Gretchen and stand by the countless other victims? The other terrific scene, which illustrates whats really the thesis of the film, is a conversation between Kayla and Therons Megyn Kelly. She was previously an editor at HarpersBAZAAR.com. The software that cloned Drake and the Weeknds voices is easy to useand impossible to shut down. .css-gegin5{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#9a0500;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;}.css-gegin5:hover{color:#595959;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}For Bombshell, a trio of A-listersNicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, and Margot Robbiewere Fox-ified. On her first day on The O'Reilly Factor, Kayla Pospisil meets fellow female staffer Jess Carr, and the two sleep together. The U2 singer called his Zelenskyy portrait a few squiggles and I just got out of the way.. 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. But she does as shes asked. 'Let's start by killing her in the ratings. Left: Abby Huntsman. ", Review: Charlize Theron transforms into Megyn Kelly, blasts the Fox News patriarchy in 'Bombshell', 'I want my voice back': Gretchen Carlson calls for change on big 'Bombshell' day. As in the movie, he was known for asking women to stand up and spin around for him as well as justifying his actions by calling television a visual medium. Even the horrible details of his parents divorcethey are said to have broken up and moved out of his childhood home while he was away at collegeare real: That one appears in Gabriel Shermans book. Randolph highlighted his various interviews with victims who wished to share their stories, noting that through this, he was able to create the character of Kayla to represent them in a fictional but authentic way. Margot Robbie is getting Oscar buzz already for her role as Kayla Pospisil. She also launched and managed the sites virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. The benefit of Cat Person was that those discussions could be had about people who did not exist. The following article includes allegations of sexual assault and misconduct. That freedom, however, also allows a story about sexual harassment to wander, at times, into the realm of the fanciful. Self-described as a "evangelical millennial," she explains that she comes from a family that is fully entrenched in the world of Fox News to the point that they "watch it every Thanksgiving." In real life, Ailes had at least one employee, Laurie Luhnwho eventually publicly accused him of harassment herselfwhose job included luring young female Fox employees into one-on-one meetings with Ailes that Luhn knew would likely result in harassment, as New York magazine reported. Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman take on Fox News in 'Bombshell'. Photo illustration by Slate. The dried-out husk of Kendalls soul is up, Roman is spiraling down, and the game of. A number of other recognizable stars appear in the film that we didn't get to see in the trailer. Most recently, she was the Managing Editor at Coveteur, where she oversaw the sites day-to-day editorial operations. Former Fox News anchor Juliet Huddy allegedly met with "Bombshell" screenwriter Charles Randolph to consult on the film in her own words and to share her own experience with Fox News. Spencer Garrett (Air Force One) portrays conservative talk show host and commentator Sean Hannity. But Kayla, a figure informed by everyone and therefore by no one, also makes the movie smoother and easier than it might be. She is basically an attractive, conservative, Jesus-loving Instagram influencer turned research assistant for Gretchen Carlson and later Bill OReilly. 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. More recently, The Guardian reported in July 2020 on new allegations of sexual abuse and assault against former national correspondent Ed Henry and a few other big Fox personalities. For example, Anne Ramsay (Mad About You) plays news anchor Greta Van Susteren. While we cannot be sure what is true, it appears that the women were not given much freedom in regards to their appearance. Similarly, Is Kayla supposed to be Tomi Lahren? You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. But McKinnons character allows Bombshell to do something else, as well: to serve up a scene in which Jess and Kayla are lying in Jesss bed, ostensibly having slept together. As in the movie, Kelly really was violently ill that day, and she really did have to contend with competing agendas from Ailes and Rupert Murdoch, owner of the companys corporate parent, over how hard to question Trump. Additionally, in a Time magazine article about "Bombshell," it's said that Ailes' personality was overwhelming and intimidating, helping to create a climate in which his employess worked in a constant state of fear. 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.". 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.. That is the challenging conversation in Bombshell, and like this season of Apple TVs The Morning Show, it goes to complicity. The short answer is no one person. Margot Robbie's Fictional Bombshell Character Is Based on 20 Real Fox News Staffers, The Best, Craziest, Weirdest Moments From Cannes, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. In "Bombshell," the film outlines the first account of allegations as appearing in 2016 from Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson. Carlson and Kelly both deny having involvement with the film, though Carlson has started a campaign about the necessity of throwing out NDAs in relation to cases of sexual assault and harassment. 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. (The sons, it must be said, arent quite as handsome in real life as the movie makes them out to be.). ", The film shows a competitive work environment at Fox News for female anchors and producers, many of whom rarely spoke or befriended each other. Why Does Kim Kardashian Do This to Christmas? Right: John Lithgow in, Left: Douglas Brunt. There were good arguments about how disturbing Rogers breathing [should] be. Obviously, the blonde. While not allowed to speak on the record about their experience, women instead .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}shared information anonymously, allowing filmmakers the ability to create a character out of their shared experiences. Why is Fox News being sued again over alleged sexual harassment? Toward the beginning of "Bombshell," Kayla has a drunken hookup with Jess ( Kate McKinnon ), a fellow Bill O'Reilly producer who is a closeted lesbian and, more damningly at Fox News, a secret. By Dustin Rowles | Film | December 21, 2019 |. 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. Theron's resemblance to Kelly is especially shocking. There is an inherent challenge in that arrangement: To tell the story of workplace sexual harassment through the experience of Megyn Kelly is to tell the story of workplace sexual harassment through the experience of Megyn Kelly. Apparently making Ailes out to be a villain didnt require much embellishing. There is a 75 percent chance she's listening to Lorde right now. All the dance numbers! Its understandable, in some ways, that the character doing that work in the film would be fictional. Photos by Hilary Bronwyn Gayle SMPSP/Lionsgate and Wesley Mann/FOX News via Getty Images. This incident is shown accurately in the film, down to the specific words used by Wilson.
