Chapter 322: Warning Depp

That evening, a video surfaced on TMZ showing Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron being abused by her boyfriend. The public outcry was immediate, with nearly everyone naturally siding with Charlize.

Matthew's intervention and the subsequent throw he gave Stuart Townsend also earned widespread praise.

By the next day, print media and television stations were extensively covering the incident, featuring both the Oscar-winning actress and a popular actor.

Unsurprisingly, public sentiment was overwhelmingly in favor of Charlize. Matthew's protective actions were lauded, and even feminist organizations voiced their support, although their influence wasn't as strong as it would be in the future.

The part of the TMZ video that showed paparazzi provoking Stuart was cut. After a detailed discussion between Elena Boyar and Helen Herman, it was completely removed.

Meanwhile, Charlize's agent and spokesperson held a press conference where she officially announced her breakup with Stuart. Generously, she declared that she would let Stuart keep the car and other items she had purchased but he had used.

Subsequently, Helen Herman, Heidi Shafer, and Aziva Gosman had a private meeting, and more news began to surface.

TMZ revealed that over the years, Charlize had been financially supporting Stuart. The fact that they weren't married only solidified Stuart's reputation as a "kept man."

Entertainment Weekly disclosed that this was not the first time Stuart had been violent towards Charlize; there had been several instances of abuse, which Charlize had endured for the sake of their troubled relationship.

Other media claimed that Matthew, Johnny Depp, and Keanu Reeves had long been displeased with Stuart's behavior and had been contemplating teaching him a lesson.

Interviews with the three actors confirmed their support for Charlize.

Most reports mentioned the movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" that Charlize and Matthew were working on, capitalizing on the current situation for publicity.

Stuart Townsend had completely disappeared from the public eye. According to information Matthew received, Stuart had negotiated a house in Malibu from Charlize before the breakup. Wishing to rid herself of him quickly, Charlize had simply handed over the house.

Even if Stuart wanted to speak out, he had no platform. The TMZ video was explicit, and eyewitness interviews backed it up. The entire crew of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" supported Charlize and condemned the abuser.

It appeared that Stuart, possibly benefiting from the breakup financially, had wisely chosen to lay low.

The news of Charlize Theron, an Oscar-winning actress, being abused by her boyfriend and Matthew's gallant intervention spread like wildfire across the U.S., and the movie "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" they were filming also became a focal point of media attention.

The production company and Summit Entertainment invested significant resources into leveraging this incident for promotional gain, and it proved highly effective.

In the week following the incident, most entertainment media headlines were related to this story.

Online, there was a flood of criticism towards Stuart, particularly from Charlize's fans, who spared no mercy in their comments.

Although the filming of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" was temporarily halted due to the incident, the promotional exposure and attention far outweighed any losses.

After a week's break, Charlize began to recover, and filming resumed. Matthew, Charlize, Aziva Gosman, and their agents had several meetings to align their strategies moving forward.

"Frankly, Sally," Keanu Reeves said in the VIP room of the Black Mamba Bar, "I've been wanting to hit Stuart for a long time."

He raised his glass to Matthew. "You did what I always wanted to do but never did. Cheers to you."

Matthew raised his glass to Keanu. "In that situation, you'd have done the same."

Charlize lit a cigarette. "Let's not talk about the past anymore."

Johnny Depp burst into the room with a bottle of wine. "I just got back from France and heard the good news. Worth a celebration."

He plopped down next to Matthew on the sofa. "If I could beat that jerk, I would have done it long ago."

Charlize rolled her eyes. "Seems like you guys never liked him."

Keanu shook his head. "Honestly, we never did."

Johnny mimicked a pout. "Still, I think you guys are more interesting."

Matthew opened the bottle Johnny brought and poured everyone a small glass. "Let's not talk about him anymore. Today, we're celebrating Sally's return to single life."

"Here's to being single!" Johnny raised his glass. "From personal experience, being single is precious."

He downed his drink. "May you always remain single!"

Matthew also finished his drink. "That sounds more like a curse, but I like it!"

Keanu put down his glass. "You guys are going to corrupt me."

Charlize laughed. "All four of us have had our share of painful

 relationships."

"No way?" Johnny looked around the group. "Sally, you, me, plus Keanu, it's like you said. But Matthew, this playboy, he's had heartache?"

"Stop, Depp!" Matthew held up a finger. "The number of girls you've been with must be ten times mine."

As the conversation drifted, Charlize intervened. "Matthew, Depp, both of you are enough!"

She picked up the bottle to pour more drinks. "Tonight, we're here to drink, not to dredge up old scars."

Matthew lounged on the sofa. "When are you moving back to LA? Planning to settle in France?"

"I'll probably live in France for the next couple of years," Johnny replied, accepting a cigarette from Charlize. "I'm here mainly for post-production voiceover work for 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' and to discuss a business deal with a financial investment firm."

"Financial investment?" Matthew recalled many celebrities falling for such schemes. "Depp, I've heard from Helen that many of these investment firms are actually just out to take our money."

Charlize was surprised. "I've never heard about that."

Keanu was also puzzled. "My agent has never mentioned anything like that."

Matthew invented a reason on the spot. "Several financial firms approached me too. Helen had someone investigate them and found out they were supposedly investing our money but were actually transferring assets and pocketing the cash."

Johnny, Keanu, and Charlize listened intently, realizing this was relevant to them.

"We're high earners, dealing with sums starting in the eight figures just for one commercial movie. We have a lot of cash on hand, know the dollar is depreciating, and need to invest quickly, but we know nothing about finance. If someone colludes to deceive us, it's hard for us to notice," Matthew explained.

He chuckled. "We're like those sports stars who focus on one thing but have money. Those with intentions to deceive will definitely target us."

Keanu nodded. "Makes sense! If I were into financial fraud, I'd target Hollywood stars too."

Johnny tapped his head. "I'll remember that!" He assured Matthew he would be cautious.

Matthew was very careful; he hired PwC for financial auditing to prevent insider theft. Given that no one is ever completely safe, trusting PwC was a sound choice compared to Hollywood accountants.

His mention of these issues tonight was also a way to alert his friends, to prevent them from ending up like Nicolas Cage.

After discussing finances for a while, Charlize went to the restroom.

Johnny suddenly asked, "Matthew, are you planning to pursue Sally?"

Matthew didn't deny it, stating plainly, "Yes, I really like Sally."

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