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PEOPLE & ARTS Friday 16 March 2018
Harper Lee estate sues over 'Mockingbird' Broadway version

By JAY REEVES Rudinplay paid Lee
Associated Press $100,000 after she ap-
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) proved Sorkin as the
— The estate of "To Kill a screenwriter in November
Mockingbird" author Harp- 2015, the suit said. Carter
er Lee has filed suit over an first saw a draft of the play
upcoming Broadway ad- in September, according
aptation of the novel, argu- to the lawsuit, and she later
ing that screenwriter Aaron spoke with Rudin by phone
Sorkin's script wrongly alters to express numerous con-
Atticus Finch and other cerns about Sorkin's script.
characters from the book. "Mr. Rudin assured Ms. Cart-
The suit, which includes a er that he wanted to do
copy of a contract signed the Play right and that he
by Lee and dated about would make sure that the
eight months before her Estate would be satisfied
death in February 2016, with the final product," the
contends Sorkin's script suit said.
violates the agreement by The two talked again in
portraying Finch, the noble February about the script,
attorney who represents suit said, adding: "At times,
a black man wrongly ac- the conversation was heat-
cused of rape in "Mocking- ed." Carter sued after Ru-
bird," as someone else in din's attorney wrote earlier
the play. In this Feb. 5, 2018 file photo, Aaron Sorkin arrives at the 90th Academy Awards Nominees Lun- this month saying exten-
Filed against the theater cheon at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills, Calif. sive changes to the script
company of New York pro- Associated Press weren't possible, the suit
ducer Scott Rudin, the com- said.
plaint cites an interview "Go Set a Watchman." faithful adaptation of a sin- lieve that it is without merit," Sorkin has won multiple Em-
with the online publication But the lawsuit contends gular novel which has been said the statement. "While mys for his work on the dra-
Vulture in which Sorkin was the script would violate the crafted well within the con- we hope this gets resolved, ma series "The West Wing,"
quoted as saying the small- contact by changing Finch straints of the signed agree- if it does not, the suit will be and he won an Academy
town lawyer would evolve and other characters and ment" between the pro- vigorously defended." Award for his screenplay
from a racist apologist at adding still more people ducers and Lee. The play is scheduled to of "The Social Network" in
the start of the show to be- who aren't in the novel. It The statement also took a open in New York in De- 2011.
come "Atticus Finch by the asks a judge to enforce a jab at the "history of litigious cember. Rudin's credits include
end of the play." section of the agreement behavior" of Lee's estate, The suit names as its plain- "Lady Bird," which was nom-
Such a change during that states the play won't overseen by attorney Tonja tiff Carter, who represented inated for an Academy
a play could fit with the "depart in any manner from Carter of Lee's south Ala- Lee during the final years Award as best motion pic-
character evolution shown the spirit of the Novel nor al- bama hometown of Mon- of the author's life. Carter ture this year, and "Fences,"
between the Pulitzer Prize- ter its characters." roeville. handled Lee's will and is which was a 2017 nominee.
winning "Mockingbird" and A firm that represents Ru- "This is, unfortunately, simply listed in the lawsuit as the He won a best picture Os-
Lee's first draft of the novel, din's company, Rudinplay another such lawsuit, the personal representative of car for "No Country for Old
finally released in 2015 as Inc., said Sorkin's script "is a latest of many, and we be- Lee's estate. Men" in 2008.q

Report: ESPN president resigned over cocaine extortion plot

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The lem. He said he used drugs He also said "rumors and
former president of ESPN recreationally and that it speculations" that mistreat-
said he resigned from the never impacted his work at ment of women contribut-
sports network after an ex- ESPN. ed to his resignation were
tortion plot by someone "Look, it was inappropriate untrue, and he denied
who sold him cocaine. for the president of ESPN having any inappropriate
John Skipper told the Hol- and an officer of The Walt relationships or sexually ha-
lywood Reporter in an in- Disney Co. to be associat- rassing anyone.
terview published Thursday ed in any way with any of Skipper said he has re-
that the drug seller, whom this," he said. ceived drug abuse treat-
he did not name, tried to "My drug use never had ment and therapy, and
extort him in December. He any professional repercus- that process is ongoing.
said he hadn't had deal- sions, but I still have pro- He hopes to re-enter sports
ings with the seller before, found regret," he said. "I media as a consultant.
and previously had been accept that the conse- "I'm actually quite excited,"
"careful" about buying co- In this Oct. 6, 2014, file photo, ESPN President John Skipper smiles quences of my actions are he said. "In some ways I
caine. "They threatened during a news conference in New York. my responsibility and have have no choice but to
me, and I understood im- Associated Press been appropriate. I also make the best of it. And I
mediately that threat put have to accept that I used do intend to make the best
me and my family at risk, situation with Walt Disney position." He resigned on very poor judgment." of it. I've been meeting
and this exposure would Co. CEO Bob Iger on Dec. Dec. 18 after leading ESPN Skipper did not return a with people, and that has
put my professional life at 15, 2017, and they agreed since 2012, saying he was message seeking com- gotten me even more ex-
risk as well," Skipper said. Skipper "had placed the going to seek treatment for ment from The Associated cited. I'm healthy, and I'm
He said he discussed the company in an untenable a substance abuse prob- Press on Thursday. ready to plunge back in."q