Chapter 556: Shocking Headlines!

It was nearly noon when the takeout Thomas had ordered arrived at Martin's office. As the delivery person departed, Martin refreshed the TMZ webpage, eagerly awaiting the news he had been anticipating.

Louise affirmed, "Yes."

Everyone ceased their tasks and turned their attention to the projection screen.

The headlines on TMZ's front page were undeniably attention-grabbing.

"Sexual Predator Harvey Weinstein: The Shocking Saga of the Film Industry Titan!"

Judy had shockingly elevated Harvey to the status of a film industry deity, aiming to stun the readers.

Martin clicked on the video, though the content held less allure for him than the headline. He understood that these revelations were just the tip of the iceberg.

The video commenced with footage and audio secretly recorded by Anna Frank from San Diego, clearly identifying Harvey Weinstein's presence and voice.

This was followed by interviews with three consecutive victims, accompanied by photos taken during their collaborations with Harvey and signed contracts. They recounted in detail their harrowing experiences with Harvey, all of which had occurred in his long-standing private room at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Louise, seeing this for the first time, couldn't help but comment, "Considering Harvey's influence, he could have easily courted women conventionally. Yet he chose the most uncivilized approach."

Martin quipped, "People always have their unique tastes, like Leo's unwavering commitment."

Louise chuckled, "And you."

Returning to the topic, she remarked, "With so many victims, the thought of secretly recording videos and audios suggests there may be more to come forward if public opinion rises on this matter."

Martin affirmed, "Judy has blown the whistle. It's time we support her. She shouldn't have to fight this battle alone."

Bruce reached for the conference phone, dialing Emily and Jessica's numbers simultaneously, and instructed, "Begin your actions."

Both of them responded in unison, "Understood."

Bruce then pulled out an old Nokia phone and dialed Ivan's number, instructing, "Next step."

"Got it," replied Ivan concisely.

Meanwhile, Louise approached the window, dialed a number on her phone, and contacted Kelly Gray, who was with Senator Erica in Washington.

Without further ado, Kelly responded, "I understand," and promptly hung up the phone.

Martin then dialed the number of Warner Bros. executive Daniel and informed him, "Hey, old man, there's some news about your arch-nemesis on the Internet."

"Nemesis?" Daniel initially puzzled, but soon grasped the situation. "You mean that damn Harvey!"

As the distribution producer of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, he, like Barry Meyer and Alan Horn, had faced relentless criticism from Harvey Weinstein.

Martin elaborated, "You're in for a surprise when you check the top news on TMZ's homepage."

Daniel, in his office, immediately opened his computer browser and navigated to TMZ. The headlines on the homepage were already eye-catching enough to pique his interest.

"I'll appreciate it," he responded before hanging up the phone.

Martin concluded the call, and Daniel, deeply engrossed in the video, shook his head with a frown. Rumors about Harvey had circulated within the industry for years, with some even reporting him to the police. However, due to various factors such as insufficient evidence and financial influence, all previous cases had been dropped.

Surprisingly, Harvey's behavior had grown more audacious, unchecked and escalating. It was clear that a man accustomed to committing questionable acts and easily escaping consequences would only become increasingly unrestrained.

Again and again, until there were no limits left.

Daniel left his office and ascended to find Barry Meyer.

Barry Meyer, after seeing the news, pondered briefly and remarked, "Someone's taking a swipe at Harvey, that bastard!"

Daniel replied tersely, "Clearly."

"I wouldn't mind seeing Harvey brought down," Barry Meyer continued, "holding onto the rights of 'The Hobbit' and the subsequent 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy is repulsive. Let's wait and observe; if we don't make a move, that scoundrel will never rise again."

Daniel concurred, "Peter Jackson has suggested a new trilogy idea. His demands are excessive, and we cannot yield."

Barry Meyer nodded, "This might be an opportunity to completely resolve the copyright issue."

In a slightly dated office in New York, several individuals wearing Bluetooth headsets sat diligently at their computers.

Emily, stationed at a nearby computer, issued clear directives, "As per the designated assignments, upload content to all the websites immediately, now!" Her instructions spurred the team into action, deftly accessing popular forums and the backends of movie websites to unlock pre-prepared, sealed information and release it.

One of them uploaded the surreptitiously recorded video of Harvey, taken by Anna Frank, to YouTube.

Emily had some subordinates responsible for boosting the video's popularity.

Having used these tactics repeatedly in movie promotions and marketing, they were well-versed in YouTube's rules. It didn't take long for the video to appear on the hot social news list, prominently featured on YouTube's homepage.

YouTube was now the largest video website in North America, boasting a vast user base and the highest concurrent online users. The video garnered countless clicks upon its listing, rapidly gaining immense popularity.

In London, within a makeshift office, Jessica urged her team members proficient in French, German, Spanish, Italian, and other languages, "Quickly, upload all relevant videos to the most popular European forums, video-sharing platforms, and news websites, following the plan!"

Sixty-seven individuals in the room retrieved file bags, unsealing them and connecting the storage disks to their computers.

Similar to Emily's team, they understood the gravity of their task but remained unaware of their target until they saw Harvey Weinstein's name.

Compensated generously by the studio and bound by confidentiality agreements, they harbored questions but refrained from asking. They followed Jessica's instructions from their earlier meeting, disseminating video material and press releases across their respective departments on various websites.

The subsequent task involved becoming well-acquainted with the process of generating buzz, which proved effortless for Emily's team.

Within a brief span, the video and news of Harvey's transgressions soared to the top of the trending news lists in both Europe and the United States.

Meanwhile, in a worn-out rental house nestled within downtown Los Angeles, Ivan ended his call with Bruce and opened his email client, which was primed for dispatching messages.

He double-checked the content and selected "Send All."

Distinct from TMZ's news coverage, Ivan's email contained crucially edited videos and images, meticulously curated by Judy. These visuals left no room for ambiguity, conclusively demonstrating Harvey's involvement in crimes like coercion.

Ivan moved swiftly, sending the email in multiple batches, one after the other. He didn't waste any time, sending it out five times in total.

The recipients encompassed hundreds of European and American media outlets, all carefully compiled by Ivan. As a freelance paparazzi, he possessed an array of telephone numbers and news delivery email addresses, facilitating communication with numerous media entities.

Unlike regular email accounts, these were owned by professionals who diligently monitored their inboxes and even set up alerts to receive breaking news promptly from the extensive paparazzi network.

Having sent hundreds of emails in groups, Ivan powered down his laptop, disassembled it into several parts, meticulously cleaned his rented room under an assumed identity, and left with his lone bag slung over his shoulder.

The neighborhood, a vast and aging one, was teeming with scavengers, so he divided the components and discreetly disposed of them in different trash cans.

Wearing the hood of his sportswear, Ivan strolled to a nearby residential area, where he slipped into a shabby car and drove away.

During his journey, he eventually abandoned the car.

...

In Washington, D.C., inside Hilary's office, an assistant knocked and entered, gently reminding her, "Ma'am."

Hilary, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them and inquired, "Is it time?"

"Yes," the assistant replied softly, "You should change into your attire and prepare to attend Senator Ellie Card's private party."

Hilary switched into slightly more casual clothing, requested her assistant to summon a car, and left the office accompanied by her aide and special security detail, heading towards a club on the east side of Washington.

Recently, within the Democratic Party, Senator Erica from Georgia had been exceptionally active, drawing significant attention to her proposal aimed at safeguarding women's workplace rights.

Hilary was equally passionate about this cause, as female support constituted a significant part of her base, and she aspired to attain the Oval Office in the future.

While Erica and Hilary had differing viewpoints on some aspects of women's rights, they shared a common overarching goal.

Upon arriving at the club, Hilary engaged in a lively discussion with Erica regarding their respective advocacy for women's rights and their views on the burgeoning women's rights movement. Erica also delved into the MiTu movement.

Hilary commented, "I've reviewed information about Me Too movement. They seem to have three prominent influencers, namely Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, and Meryl Streep. Given their ties to Hollywood, they wield significant influence."

Some time ago, when Erica visited Los Angeles, Martin had introduced her to Jolie and Aniston, and they had a fruitful conversation.

Erica remarked, "Hollywood possesses considerable persuasive power. When harnessed effectively, it can greatly bolster our cause."

Hilary also had influential connections in Hollywood. During her internal competition against Guanhai for candidacy last year, she garnered substantial support, with several Hollywood stars rallying to her side, underscoring the importance of this platform.

Erica added, "The women's movement in Hollywood has been gaining momentum. In recent years, their voices have grown louder, especially with organizations like Mee too emerging as a formidable force. Don't underestimate their impact. I'll introduce you to Jolie and Aniston when the opportunity arises."

Hilary smiled, "I'm acquainted with them, although not very familiar."

Seizing the moment, Erica introduced Kelly Gray.

The discussion around women's rights had transitioned into mainstream discourse. Their private conversation hinted at their shared commitment to this cause, sparking intrigue regarding their potential collaboration.

Hilary was, indeed, courting Erica, positioning herself for the future.