Staff Reports
GQ Magazine recently published a hit piece on the chairman of Warners-Discovery, David Zaslav, and it caused quite a stir. The article, titled “How Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Became Public Enemy Number One in Hollywood,” explored the controversial moves made by Zaslav and received a lot of attention and backlash from the film community. But the drama didn’t end there.
Publishing Intrigue: Did GQ Magazine Kill a Warners-Discovery Hit Piece Due to a Movie Deal With the Studio? https://t.co/FF89NMSjQE
— RedState (@RedState) July 6, 2023
According to the Washington Post, Warners-Discovery quickly contacted GQ to complain about the piece, stating that there were inaccuracies and demanding corrections. Apparently, the freelance writer who wrote the article didn’t even bother to fact-check with Warner Bros. Discovery before publishing the piece. This is a standard practice in journalism, but it seems this writer missed the memo.
GQ initially made some significant edits to the article, removing critical elements and toning down the harshness of the tone. But then, incredibly, GQ decided to completely remove the article without any explanation. It wasn’t until there were questions and objections about this move that the magazine finally issued an explanation.
The revised article was eventually published, but the writer requested to have their byline removed. As a result, GQ chose to unpublish the entire article. They claimed it was due to an editorial error, but it seems more likely that GQ was trying to soft-peddle the piece and save face. They removed about 500 words of content, including references to Zaslav being compared to Logan Roy from “Succession” and the most hated man in Hollywood. These revisions suggest a clear attempt to paint Zaslav in a more positive light.
Furthermore, there seems to be a potential conflict of interest at play here. One of the GQ executives involved in the re-editing process and the decision to pull the piece is also producing a movie at Warner Bros. titled “The Great Chinese Art Heist.” This connection raises questions about whether GQ’s action to kill the article was influenced by personal or professional interests.
Overall, it’s clear that GQ Magazine mishandled this situation. They failed to fact-check the piece before publishing, made significant edits that softened the criticism of Zaslav, and then inexplicably removed the entire article. This incident raises concerns about the editorial integrity and journalistic standards of GQ. It seems like they were more concerned with protecting their own interests than providing accurate and honest reporting.
As a conservative news writer, I always prioritize transparency and factual accuracy in my reporting. It’s disappointing to see a prominent magazine like GQ prioritize personal and professional connections over journalistic integrity. This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of holding the media accountable for their actions and biases. The American people deserve honest, unbiased reporting, not clickbait and partisan hit pieces.
