The Greatest Showman - Chapter #905: Burn One’s Boats

The next day, US Weekly published a special report, written by Gavin Hunter.

The report, as detailed and rich as it was, stretched over eight pages. It came with a vigorous tone, fiercely countering Entertainment Weekly's coverage from 48 hours ago. This exchange reignited the "hype door" scandal, once again propelling it to new heights of media frenzy. It felt like an atomic bomb detonating across North America, echoing the devastation of Nagasaki and Hiroshima during WWII.

Unlike Entertainment Weekly, which had used a concert as the launch point for its story, US Weekly began its investigation with the Toronto Film Festival two years ago. It took an unexpected turn, revisiting the scandal involving Natalie Portman—an issue that had continued to linger until now.

Chapter One: The Toronto Gossip Hype Incident

Two years had passed quickly, and the original issue had largely settled. Natalie Portman had maintained her status as a first-generation Y actor to win an Oscar. Her relationship with Benjamin Millepied had become public, and they now had their first child. The initial accusations about a stand-in for the film gradually faded, leaving little to discuss. Natalie's career, however, had hit a plateau—her box office performances in Thor and No Reward hadn't impressed, and there was no new art film news to report.

Now, US Weekly revisited the past and unveiled the full story behind the original scandal. Both Entertainment Weekly and US Weekly were key players in launching the hype, but their approaches diverged. While Entertainment Weekly focused on Natalie's romantic life and the stand-in accusations, US Weekly followed Renly's story, highlighting his role in the success of Buried Alive.

In other words, Renly was not behind the scenes stirring the pot but rather a victim of the entire ordeal. The so-called "malicious hype" was nothing more than a calculated PR move by the Black Swan team and Entertainment Weekly.

Chapter Two: Oscar's Absence

The issue gained traction when paparazzi uncovered Renly's health problems, which led to rampant speculation. After I'm Anti-Cancer and Andy Rogers publicly responded, Entertainment Weekly escalated the situation. The media portrayed it as a "news event" intended to promote the movie and push for Oscar recognition. As reporters from Los Angeles delved deeper, they unearthed the truth: Renly missed the Oscars due to health reasons and had no involvement in any Academy PR strategies during the awards season.

Despite this, Entertainment Weekly persisted, stretching the story all the way to the premiere of Anti-Cancer Me.

Chapter Three: The Fast and the Furious Sequel Drama

Salary negotiations in Hollywood are no secret, and it's common for actors to seek higher pay in commercial films. Renly had never pressured the crew publicly, nor used his internet presence to drive his salary higher. In contrast, Vin Diesel repeatedly painted Renly as a rebellious figure in the media.

After Renly's decision to drop out of the Fast & Furious sequel, rumors of internal conflict within the cast surfaced, with Diesel at odds with not only Renly but other members of the cast as well. Ultimately, Universal raised salaries for all actors in the sequel. What appeared to be a battle between actors was, in reality, a negotiation between agents and studios.

Even after Renly's departure, Entertainment Weekly continued to stoke the flames, criticizing Renly for using the situation as a "salary stunt" while disparaging Edge of Tomorrow and Warner Bros.

Chapter Four: The Concert Incident

At its core, the concert incident was a simple misunderstanding: neither Renly nor Eleven Studios had issued any official announcements for a "solo concert." In fact, there was no rapid promotion, no media contacts, and no fan collaboration to build anticipation.

Yet Entertainment Weekly was the first to report on the concert, framing it as a deliberate publicity stunt. The media quickly turned the event into a sensational news frenzy, stirring up negative press around the concert.

In just a few hours, Entertainment Weekly spun the story into a moral crusade, generating an extraordinary sales spike in the process.

The US Weekly Report: A Comprehensive Analysis

Gavin's special report in US Weekly was divided into five chapters. The first four chapters painstakingly outlined the facts of the case, correcting the record and providing a clear chronology of events.

There were no personal opinions or extraneous commentary—just a recounting of the facts, often citing Entertainment Weekly's original articles for credibility. In the final, fifth chapter, Gavin honed in on the true center of the storm: Renly Hall.

Chapter Five: Renly Hall: The Center of the Storm

In less than three years, Renly had skyrocketed to fame across the United States. His rise, as a young Generation Y actor, was staggering—almost as if he were a shooting star. This rapid ascent, while awe-inspiring, also bred controversy. His meteoric success garnered attention and speculation, but Renly himself never lost his focus. From his first screen appearance in Pacific War to his breakout role in Fast & Furious 5, Renly had mostly focused on literary and independent films. His roles in Buried Alive, Love Is Crazy, I'm Fighting Cancer, and Detachment displayed his immense range as an actor.

Despite controversies swirling around him, Renly kept his focus on his craft. Behind each scandal, there was a calculated push from powerful figures in the entertainment industry, namely Entertainment Weekly and its editor, Cornell McGregor. As the industry fractured under the weight of profit-driven decisions, these figures became ever more apparent.

Gavin's report, however, wasn't just about Renly's rise—it was a commentary on the industry's darker side, where news was manipulated for profit. In doing so, he deftly pointed the finger at Entertainment Weekly and McGregor for orchestrating much of the media drama, framing it as a paradox: while these publications accused Renly of "hype," they were the ones manipulating the narrative from behind the scenes.

This report was one of the most incisive and courageous pieces Gavin had ever written—challenging the entertainment industry's ethics and the often murky line between truth and sensationalism.