CrosswordNewsletters
DAILY BEAST
ALL
  • Cheat Sheet
  • Obsessed
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Entertainment
  • Media
  • Innovation
  • Opinion
  • World
  • U.S. News
  • Scouted
CHEAT SHEET
    POLITICS
    • Fever Dreams
    • Biden World
    • Elections
    • Opinion
    • National Security
    • Congress
    • Pay Dirt
    • The New Abnormal
    • Right Richter
    • Trumpland
    MEDIA
    • Confider
    • Daytime Talk
    • Late-Night
    • Fox News
    U.S. NEWS
    • Identities
    • Crime
    • Race
    • LGBT
    • Extremism
    • Coronavirus
    WORLD
    • Russia
    • Europe
    • China
    • Middle East
    INNOVATION
    • Science
    TRAVEL
      ENTERTAINMENT
      • TV
      • Movies
      • Music
      • Comedy
      • Sports
      • Sex
      • TDB's Obsessed
      • Awards Shows
      • The Last Laugh
      CULTURE
      • Power Trip
      • Fashion
      • Books
      • Royalist
      TECH
      • Disinformation
      SCOUTED
      • Clothing
      • Technology
      • Beauty
      • Home
      • Pets
      • Kitchen
      • Fitness
      • I'm Looking For
      BEST PICKS
      • Best VPNs
      • Best Gaming PCs
      • Best Air Fryers
      COUPONS
      • Vistaprint Coupons
      • Ulta Coupons
      • Office Depot Coupons
      • Adidas Promo Codes
      • Walmart Promo Codes
      • H&M Coupons
      • Spanx Promo Codes
      • StubHub Promo Codes
      Products
      NewslettersPodcastsCrosswordsSubscription
      FOLLOW US
      GOT A TIP?

      SEARCH

      HOMEPAGE
      Media

      Morgan Freeman’s Lawyers Retreat From Battle With CNN

      STAND DOWN

      Sources tell The Daily Beast that last week the law firm will no longer represent Freeman on matters related to his CNN beef.

      Maxwell Tani

      Media reporter

      Updated Jun. 13, 2018 1:07PM ET / Published Jun. 13, 2018 12:25PM ET 

      Gustavo Caballero/Getty

      Morgan Freeman’s legal team is apparently standing down in its war of words with CNN.

      Last month, the cable-news network dropped its bombshell probe detailing how the actor allegedly harassed or behaved inappropriately towards at least eight women. The story prompted Freeman’s attorney Robert Schwartz to issue a harsh letter insisting the article was flawed, calling for its immediate retraction.

      A source familiar with the situation told The Daily Beast that last week Irell & Manella, LLP, the firm that employs Schwartz, will no longer represent Freeman on matters related to CNN.

      It is unclear why the decision was made, but CNN previously said that the firm had a conflict of interest in any legal action against the network, as it simultaneously represented the cable channel in unrelated intellectual-property lawsuits.

      Reached by phone earlier this week, Freeman’s attorney Robert Schwartz said he still represents Freeman, but would not elaborate on whether that includes matters related to the CNN ordeal. On that same question, a spokesperson repeatedly replied: “We do not comment about legal strategies.”

      As such, Freeman’s publicity team declined to say whether the actor plans to find new legal representation against CNN in light of Irell & Manella’s decision to exit the case.

      Since the story was published last month, Freeman has offered several apologies, attributing his behavior to “misplaced compliments or humor.” But he also maintained his innocence, going on offense against CNN by saying he was “devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye.”

      After CNN released its bombshell report detailing allegations of harassment against multiple women, Schwartz released a public letter to CNN president Jeff Zucker saying the story—written by Chloe Melas and An Phung—was filled with “malicious intent, falsehoods, sleight-of-hand, an absence of editorial control, and journalistic malpractice.” The letter claimed that the network “baited and prodded” witnesses, and took interactions out of context.

      CNN’s senior legal VP David Vigilante sent his own letter to Schwartz several days later, pointing out that other women had come forward after the network’s piece. Freeman’s claims, according to Vigilante, were “designed for press consumption, it is rife with empty speculation, overheated rhetoric, and in some instances plainly false assertions.”

      “The overheated protestations in your letter do not cast any shadow on the central gravamen of CNN’s story—that Morgan Freeman engaged in a pattern of behavior that demeaned and sexualized women, whether or not they were in his employ,” Vigilante added.

      Schwartz dismissed CNN’s letter in a brief statement.

      “CNN’s letter is long on saber-rattling but short on substance,” Schwartz said. “It fails to address the compelling evidence we provided that the story was tarnished by manipulation of the facts and conflict of interest. Enough is enough.”

      Maxwell Tani

      Media reporter

      @maxwelltaniMaxwell.Tani@thedailybeast.com

      Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here.

      READ THIS LIST

      DAILY BEAST
      • Cheat Sheet
      • Politics
      • Entertainment
      • Media
      • World
      • Innovation
      • U.S. News
      • Scouted
      • Travel
      • Subscription
      • Crossword
      • Newsletters
      • Podcasts
      • About
      • Contact
      • Tips
      • Jobs
      • Advertise
      • Help
      • Privacy
      • Code of Ethics & Standards
      • Diversity
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Copyright & Trademark
      • Sitemap
      • Best Picks
      • Coupons
      • Coupons:
      • Dick's Sporting Goods Coupons
      • HP Coupon Codes
      • Chewy Promo Codes
      • Nordstrom Rack Coupons
      • NordVPN Coupons
      • JCPenny Coupons
      • Nordstrom Coupons
      • Samsung Promo Coupons
      • Home Depot Coupons
      • Hotwire Promo Codes
      • eBay Coupons
      • Ashley Furniture Promo Codes
      © 2023 The Daily Beast Company LLC