The Unfolding Drama of Smear Campaigns in Hollywood

This chapter explores the evolution of smear campaigns in Hollywood, focusing on recent controversies involving Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni during their film's promotion. It highlights how social media amplifies public perception and discusses the legal complexities arising from serious reputational attacks.

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Thank you so much to Jose Cuervo for sponsoring this episode. Buy Jose Cuervo here: https://www.danmurphys.com.au/list/jose-cuervo

In this week's episode, I explore the Hollywood smear campaign through the lends of the 'It Ends With Us' legal battle between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. I look at the history of smear campaigns, politically and culturally, before questioning how the internet's mob mentality and our obsessive pursuit for virality aid in conducting these targeted attacks.

Timestamps:

5:47 Definition & history of smear campaigns

7:34 Bye Sister (lol of course)

8:34 Political smear campaigns

9:57 Red Scare

11:57 Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni: Breaking down the lawsuits

21:46 How and why social media normalised the smear campaign

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