434 Twists and turns

Renly, who was engrossed in filming in Seattle, was suddenly rumored to be seriously ill?

What on earth was going on? Why did this unexpected calamity befall him? How did the National Enquirer manage to fixate on Renly? What was the source of this information? What was the reasoning behind that photo they released? Or was this just a stunt orchestrated by the film crew? Was everything a staged act?

For a moment, countless speculations began to buzz around.

The timing was quite unique. With the voting deadline, the intense academy PR had momentarily ceased, and everyone was winding down. However, there was still some time before the award ceremony commenced. In the calm before the tension of the evening, people could afford to relax for a bit.

In simple terms, this was a vacuum period right after the fervor had subsided and before the next wave could rise. Currently, everyone was warming up for the upcoming gala, and there were hardly any significant focal points worth attention. Out of the blue, a tumultuous piece of gossip erupted, exciting the reporters as if they were vultures spotting a carcass and swarming over it impatiently.

As a result, a large group of reporters embarked on their journey towards Seattle, humorously referred to as the "Hollywood Expedition Team".

Everyone was awaiting the reporters to unearth the truth behind the situation and anticipating the subsequent developments. Yet, the reporters had barely arrived in Seattle, and they hadn't even reached the hospital when Seth Rogen's side stepped forward, issuing an official statement on behalf of the film crew.

"Firstly, we want to thank everyone for their concern about Renly and the film crew. Currently, Renly is wholeheartedly immersed in the filming of our work. His condition is excellent, apart from a minor cold, there are no significant issues. The entire crew has been working diligently, eagerly looking forward to presenting this production to the wider audience.

"50/50" is a comedy, but it's not something like "Pineapple Express" or "Knocked Up". We're striving to create a comedy like "(500) Days of Summer" or "Annie Hall". However, whether we can achieve that depends on our capabilities. Looking at our current progress, there are some concerns. Apart from Renly, the reliability of our other crew members is somewhat in question. Renly is shouldering the entire crew's progress by himself, which is indeed challenging.

Regarding certain false criticisms and defamatory statements online, Renly has chosen not to respond, and the crew believes there's no need to collaborate with their publicity stunt. Time will naturally prove everything. So, thank you to everyone who cares about Renly."

This so-called official statement clearly seemed to be written by Seth himself. The language was colloquial, devoid of formalities, and between the lines, one could sense his self-deprecating humor. It not only answered recent absurd rumors but also offered a brief introduction to the movie, seemingly serving as a counter to the voices of doubt.

Even though Seth had announced the movie's name, it still remained unclear what kind of movie it was, let alone that it dealt with cancer. Of course, this was exactly what Will and Seth intended.

After the official statement was released, the clamor on the internet immediately subsided.

This is a typical characteristic of the internet era. Netizens enjoy spectacles, especially those melodramatic dramas, as they can stand on the moral high ground to criticize others or use their misfortunes to accentuate their own happiness.

Their focus isn't on the genuine social reasons behind tragedies or the truth behind gossip; they merely seek an outlet for negative emotions. This way, they can reassure themselves that their lives aren't the most miserable. There are others who are worse off, more pitiful, and more tormented. Then they can continue their unchanging, serene lives, numbed and complacent.

This time was no different. Upon learning that Renly might not have long to live, regardless of knowing him or not, everyone expressed concern.

Some sympathized with Renly's situation. His career was on the rise, yet he encountered such misfortune. His splendid life might come to an abrupt halt, even though they might not have known who "Renly Hall" was before today.

Others sighed at the unpredictability of life and shouted, "We must seize the present and not continue to squander it." Even though these were mere slogans, they never genuinely acted on them.

Some mourned and offered blessings, hoping Renly would recover quickly and reappear on the big screen. Even though they might not have seen any of Renly's works.

Only a truly small fraction were Renly's genuine fans, nervously monitoring the situation, secretly praying that the news from the National Enquirer was false, and that Renly would be safe.

Leading the pack was Brandomania. They even took the initiative to call for calm, urging people not to start any "prayer threads". Doing so would only make the news even bigger, and the National Enquirer's scheme would succeed. Brandomania repeatedly used their influence to stress, "Let's calm down first, wait for Renly's official statement, and not easily believe those rumors."

Nevertheless, within a short twelve hours, the view count of the National Enquirer's news had exceeded three million. In eighteen hours, it had surpassed six million, its rocket-like ascent clearly showcasing the public's interest in this news.

When Seth released the official statement, about twenty hours had passed since the news from the National Enquirer, and it had only been less than thirty minutes since the Hollywood Expedition Team arrived in Seattle. Yet, the news article's views had already surged past ten million, and it even showed an escalating trend.

Merely a decade ago, it would have taken at least twenty-four hours for a piece of news to spread and ferment, and another forty-eight to seventy-two hours for the subsequent reactions. But in the era of the internet, within twenty-four hours, it could sweep across the globe. The development of events could easily escape control. With just a slight mishandling, the consequences might be unimaginable.

After the "50/50" crew's official statement was released, within just an hour, the view count had broken three million. It was palpable that people were closely following this event. However, the statement didn't gain momentum; instead, the view count gradually declined. After three hours, it reached five million, and only after twelve hours did it barely surpass seven million. Its growth rate presented a cliff-like dive.

Even on Yahoo's bustling and lively community forums, there was an evident silence. Though many discussion threads still appeared, the difference from when the National Enquirer broke the news was like night and day.

The bystanders outside were still puzzled: why could a tabloid like the National Enquirer survive and be so popular? How could websites like TMZ, which thrived on gossip, rise to prominence and even surpass the influence of professional magazines like the Hollywood Reporter and Variety?

This was the answer.

The truth? Reporters weren't chasing after truth, but sensational stories, because no one cared about the truth hidden behind those sensations. "Entertainment to Death", this phrase was more than just an empty chant.

Since Renly was alright and the previous news had been proven false, people stopped paying attention. Many only remembered the "Renly diagnosed with terminal illness" part. There was no follow-up on the truth. Perhaps, in their minds, Renly was probably as good as dead, or more likely, "Who's Renly again?"

Only that small fraction of Renly's loyal supporters celebrated with tears in their eyes. Brandomania even drew a "Like Crazy" poster of Renly, and his smile under the setting sun burst forth with boundless joy, making the world seem pale in comparison.

This artwork was posted on Instagram, attracting nineteen thousand likes within twenty-four hours, setting a new record for Brandomania.

The online onlookers simmered down, thinking that this spectacle had come to an end. But for the journalists, things were far from over. They had traveled all the way from Los Angeles to Seattle, a mere three-hour flight, only to be dismissed by Seth's statement?

They wouldn't just give up that easily! If they retreated like this, the name Hollywood Expedition Team would change from praise to mockery.

Thus, the Hollywood Expedition Team set off toward the "50/50" crew, attempting to uncover the truth behind the matter.

Seth and Jonathan appeared, intercepting the journalists and granting interviews. What's intriguing was that Renly never showed his face.

In response, Seth's reply echoed the official statement, "Renly believes that there's no need to avoid these rumors. He's completely devoted to his work. This isn't an easy film to shoot, and our entire crew's hopes are pinned on Renly. I don't want anything to go wrong for him."

Between the lines, Seth showered Renly with praise. He even boasted, "Among the actors I've worked with, Renly has the most solid acting skills and the most outstanding work ethic."

The reporters seized onto this opening and attacked Seth, "Is that even true when compared to James Franco?"

Unexpectedly, Seth was unfazed and replied with a smile, "Of course." James Franco was never known for his acting skills. Moreover, his lack of dedication was widely known, and he had been criticized for his work ethic. Thus, Seth's words were spot on.

Furthermore, Seth and James' friendship wasn't so easily shaken by the reporters' words.

Now, the reporters were at a loss. They stayed in Seattle, trying to blockade, but this crude method didn't yield much, and as time passed, the Oscars grew nearer. They were running out of time.

However, as the unofficial rulers of their realm, would they really surrender so easily?