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A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Monday 20 January 2020
Winfrey details her decision

to withdraw from Simmons film

NEW YORK (AP) — Oprah ute the documentary. sued a statement, saying "If
Winfrey said Friday that Winfrey, who herself has defending himself against
Russell Simmons attempted spoken openly of been sex- terrible accusations is con-
to pressure her about her ually abused, announced sidered intimidation then
involvement with a docu- she was leaving as execu- there would be no justice."
mentary in which several tive producer on Jan. 10, Speaking to The Associat-
women detail sexual abuse saying that more work ed Press on Friday, Winfrey
allegations against the rap was needed and that and disputed allegations by the
mogul, but his efforts were the filmmakers were "not makers of "On the Record"
In this March 13, 2018, file photo, actress Oprah Winfrey poses not what prompted her to aligned" in their "creative that she gave them little
for photographers upon arrival at the premiere of the film "A
Wrinkle In Time" in London. leave the project. vision." The film's producers, warning before her Jan. 10
Associated Press "He did reach out mul- Impact Partners, said in a announcement. In a story
tiple times and attempted statement earlier this week which ran early Friday, Dick
to pressure me," Winfrey that the movie was "ready and Ziering told The Holly-
told The Associated Press for Sundance. wood Reporter that they
through a spokesperson on "We have always champi- received just 20 minutes
Friday. It was not anything oned the voices of those notice before Winfrey is-
Simmons said that prompt- who have been wrongly sued her statement.
ed Winfrey to withdraw silenced. The women in this "It was very disappointing
from the "On the Record" film have made a great and upsetting," Ziering told
film, according to Winfrey, sacrifice by coming for- The Hollywood Reporter.
but rather inconsistencies in ward to tell their stories in "We were concerned
the story of one of Simmons' their own words. We are about the survivors and
accusers, Drew Dixon, that honored to support them," what the hell this is going
she felt needed to be ad- the Impact statement to do to them. That was our
dressed. reads. "We stand firmly be- first thought. 'Oh my God.
Winfrey said Friday that she hind the work of the intrep- Let's tell everybody and fig-
still believes Dixon and other id filmmakers who continue ure this out.'"
women in the film, but that to break new ground by Winfrey told the AP that
more reporting was need- advancing important sto- Dick and Ziering knew well
ed. "On the Record" direc- ries in the public interest." of her intentions. She said
tors Kirby Dick and Amy The AP does not typically she had raised concerns
Ziering have said they have name alleged victims of last month about the film
ample evidence against sexual abuse, but Dixon needing more work. Ac-
Simmons, a co-founder of has told her story publicly, cording to Winfrey, she told
Def Jam Recordings.Win- including on CBS This Morn- Dick and Ziering that "new
frey has said she wanted ing earlier this week. information" had made
to delay the release of the The communications be- her see gaps she "thought
film, scheduled to premiere tween Winfrey and Sim- needed to be filled" and
Jan. 25 at the Sundance mons and her concerns that it was better to "take a
Film Festival, but that that about Dixon's story were rest."
view was not shared by first reported by The New "They said they would go
the film's directors. "On the York Times. on with or without me," Win-
Record" had been part of Simmons has denied any frey told the AP. She said
her partnership with Apple, wrongdoing. On Friday, a the bottom line for her was
which no longer will distrib- Simmons representative is- that "The film isn't ready."q

Ahead of Oscars, Screen Actors Guild

to hand out awards

By JAKE COYLE foreign language nomi- the Oscars — "Joker," more
AP Film Writer nee after "Life Is Beautiful," of a one-man show, and
Scarlett Johansson and Ni- which received a nod in "1917," more acclaimed
cole Kidman will have two 1999), "Jojo Rabbit" and for its technical acumen
chances to win Sunday "Bombshell." Because ac- — weren't nominated for
night at the 26th Screen tors make up the largest best ensemble. On Satur-
Actors Guild Awards, but percentage of the Acad- day, "1917" won top hon-
the award show's ability to emy of Motion Picture Arts ors at the highly predictive
forecast the Oscars looks and Sciences, their picks Producers Guild Awards,
cloudy. are closely watched. But which 21 of the last 30 years
Among the films vying for the last two years, the SAG has lined up with the even-
the screen actors' top hon- ensemble winner has not tual best picture winner.
or, best ensemble, are Os- gone on to win best pic- The Screen Actors Guild
car heavyweights "Once ture: "Black Panther" last Awards will begin at 8 p.m.
Upon a Time ... in Holly- year and "Three Billboards EST and be broadcast live
wood" and "The Irishman." Outside Ebbing, Missouri" in on TNT and TBS from the
They are competing with 2018. Two of this year's top Shrine Auditorium in Los An-
"Parasite" (only the second best-picture contenders at geles. q