Chapter 714: Oscar Buzz!

In Hollywood's unforgiving spotlight, "Variety" flaunts wealth while "People" bares it all about sex and scandal.

"I can't wait to unveil Martin's well-endowed secret to the entire nation," Jessica exclaimed, brimming with anticipation. "This guy isn't just another fraud, he's packing quite the surprise—definitely more than his measly two and a half centimeters of Dega's."

Martin, the epitome of nonchalance, brushed off any notion of embarrassment. "Why hide what everyone already knows?" he quipped, embodying the carefree persona of a perpetual playboy.

"But he lacks Leonardo's passion," Jessica observed.

While Martin exuded calm, Leonardo seethed with fury. Slamming his fist onto the desk, he bellowed in anger, his face contorted with frustration.

Jessica couldn't help but wonder, a pang of jealousy creeping in. In Hollywood, envy was reserved for those on the receiving end of Leonardo's success since '98.

"Fakes! Both these rags are just that!" Leonardo roared, his fist meeting the magazine once more. "They've exposed your ace in the billionaire deck, Martin. How do I make you squirm again?"

Nicholson interjected cautiously, "No real harm done, is there?"

"My entire scheme's gone belly-up, boss!" Leonardo snapped, tossing the magazine towards Nicholson. "Martin's been preyed upon by countless women, bleeding billions in the process. Misery loves company, doesn't it?"

As Leonardo slumped onto the sofa, the weight of failure seemed to crush him momentarily.

Nicholson sighed in disappointment.

But Leonardo rallied, his determination resurfacing. "I've invested blood, sweat, and tears into this scheme," he declared, echoing Martin's rhetoric. "These scoundrels know no honor, no boundaries!"

Martin, sensing Leonardo's distress, tried to reassure him. "It's fine, really," he insisted.

But Leonardo remained unconvinced. "Your Best Actor Oscar is as good as gone now," he lamented.

Martin inwardly acknowledged the unreliability of their treacherous plan. "Thankfully, I came prepared," he thought, as he replied, "Is it, though?"

Leonardo shook his head. "Oh, it's more than just a setback," he emphasized. "You're about to lose it all—looks, wealth, women, fame, and the business allure. Everything!"

He yanked Nicholson in front of him, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do relics like Jack here feel threatened? When they do, they'll do anything to undermine you. But when it comes to the Oscars, I still hold some sway!"

Martin, recognizing the familiar pattern, spoke up. "Leo, you're not fooling anyone. You're projecting your own insecurities onto me."

Nicholson chimed in, seizing the moment. "You and Martin are poles apart. He embraced academia as soon as he hit fame. But you, Leo, your arrogance was palpable from the get-go."

Leo, avoiding eye contact, massaged his bloated face. "My scheme to exploit misfortune has backfired. What's our next move?"

Martin interjected, his tone grave. "We need a better strategy, not just a band-aid fix. The media onslaught has left us in disarray."

Nicholson, a veteran of Hollywood chaos, remarked, "This Oscar PR disaster takes the cake."

The crew rolled up their sleeves, ready to tackle the crisis. The attacks were relentless, with at least ten films caught in the crossfire of slander and praise.

Leo eyed Martin suspiciously, feeling his involvement in the debacle, especially after his critique of Leo's failed plan.

Impatient, Leo prodded, "What's the plan?"

Martin laid it out succinctly. "We go after our main competitors, like we discussed. We don't need to be better, just make sure they look worse."

Nicholson seized on a key name. "Matt Damon!"

Martin nodded. "Exactly. He's our biggest threat for Best Actor. If we tarnish his image enough, he won't stand a chance against us at the Oscars."

Leo was eager to start. "What are we waiting for? Let's do it!"

Martin glanced at the clock, motioning for Jessica to turn on the TV. "Pulitzer Prize winner, Ms. Helen, is interviewing Weinstein scandal survivors..."

At noon, "The Helen Show" aired, featuring several survivors in the studio.

Viewers familiar with the Weinstein scandal recognized them instantly—these were Harvey Weinstein's victims.

Helen's questions delved into their journey towards healing after the trial, highlighting the ongoing struggle to overcome physical and emotional trauma.

"When Harvey's goons pressured you, who were they?" Helen probed, shifting the focus to the perpetrators.

One of the survivors, a blonde, spoke up. "I've spoken to many victims. The usual suspects include Ben Affleck and one of Weinstein's assistants."

Another brunette stepped forward, her voice steady with resolve. "I faced warnings and pressure from none other than Matt Damon himself."

Helen's eyebrows shot up in disbelief. "The Hollywood megastar, Matt Damon?"

The black-haired girl nodded emphatically. "Yes, it was him. He called me, cautioning against speaking out, threatening to derail my acting career and bring trouble upon me."

A brown-haired woman chimed in, her tone tinged with bitterness. "I too felt the heat from Matt Damon's influence. I was a reporter for 'California Entertainment' at the time. I had recorded evidence, but Matt Damon personally intervened, coercing the publishing house's editor-in-chief to silence us. They made it clear: we were not to publish anything on the matter."

Helen's expression turned somber. "I remember whispers about this during the Weinstein trial, but they vanished swiftly. The rumors were true?"

The brown-haired woman sighed, her smile tinged with resignation. "The rumors faded thanks to Matt Damon's efforts, his PR team, and the agency's spin. While media attention was fixated on Weinstein, the Affleck brothers, and Brad Pitt, Matt Damon slipped through unscathed. When I persisted in my reporting, I lost my job."

Helen pressed further. "Do you have proof?"

"We do," they replied in unison.

"I possess a recording of my conversation with Matt Damon," the brunette revealed.

"And I have video evidence of Damon and Ben Affleck applying pressure on me," the black-haired girl added.

Helen seized the moment. "Do you have it with you?"

"Absolutely."

The evidence was presented live on air.

With his distinctive voice and recognizable presence, Matt Damon's involvement was undeniable as the recording played. Additionally, a short video captured both Damon and Affleck in the act.

Helen's rise to fame began with her coverage of the Burbank High School incident, culminating in a Pulitzer Prize win and the creation of "The Helen Show."

Today, her show commanded a massive audience across the nation.

As the revelations aired, Matt Damon's once-untouchable image among Oscar nominees was tarnished, dominating headlines.

Simultaneously, TMZ and other media outlets released additional recordings implicating Damon.

Unlike during the Weinstein scandal, where public and media focus remained fixed on Weinstein, the spotlight now shifted decisively onto Damon and his entanglements.

Matt Damon's meteoric rise to infamy was undeniable.

"The stark contrast between him and Harvey is that he's evading legal consequences," remarked Jolie and Aniston, the Me too movements powerhouses, urging Damon to retreat from the limelight if he had any shred of conscience left.

A tidal wave of public outrage threatened to engulf Damon within moments.

In the American entertainment sphere, the usual Oscar contenders' spats faded into obscurity, overshadowed entirely by Damon's scandal.

"How can a scandal involving Damon capture the attention of Oscar contenders with such limited audience appeal?" queried media reports. "Moreover, with evidence implicating him as Weinstein's accomplice, stepping on him seems like a surefire way to gain popularity."

In a Malibu mansion's living room, Damon sat in a stupor.

"Why dredge up the past now?" he mused aloud. "We were all at each other's throats before. Why single me out now?"

His frustration boiled over. "I may not have broken any laws, but they're ready to crucify me!"

His agent interjected urgently, "It's Oscar season! We need to address this now; it's crucial for the next ceremony."

Despite the impending damage to his reputation, Damon, a seasoned industry veteran, remained resolute. "Summon the PR team. We need a strategy, and fast."

Swiftly, a video surfaced of Damon being interviewed, reminiscent of reports Martin had seen in his previous life—powerful stars deflecting blame with arrogant impunity.

"I was clueless about Harvey's actions. In fact, I was a victim," Damon asserted. "He abused his power to coerce me. I thought it was just a minor spat, so I intervened with Ben."

The ensuing uproar surpassed all expectations.

"The Hollywood Reporter" penned a scathing critique: "Damon's interview was a train wreck, showcasing the unchecked arrogance of a Hollywood elite. It's no wonder such heinous acts were committed!"

Even Martin, Leonardo, and Nicholson were taken aback by Damon's audacious response.

Amidst the Oscar race, Martin refrained from boasting about his own performance but remained convinced that his competitors paled in comparison.