Was that the long-awaited reaction from Moore on the lurid sex allegations that have lead to the downfall of film producer Harvey Weinstein?
Nope.
That comment was part of Moore's reaction in May 2017 to the deal he made with Harvey Weinstein and his brother, Bob. The Weinstein brothers personally acquired the worldwide rights to Moore’s surprise documentary “Fahrenheit 11/9,” currently in production. The Weinsteins bought the film through their Fellowship Adventure Group.
According to a statement issued in May announcing the deal, “Fahrenheit 11/9” will feature “the mix of outrage and mischievous humor that has made Moore the most successful documentary filmmaker in the world.
“The filming has been done under a strict cloak of secrecy and is expected to be key in dissolving Trump’s ‘teflon’ shield and, in turn, his presidency.”
The Weinstein brothers previously released Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11” in 2004 with more than $200 million in worldwide grosses. The Fellowship Adventure Group together with Lionsgate distributed “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
In February 2011, Moore sued the Weinsteins, claiming the brothers agreed to split profits from the film 50-50 but then diverted at least $2.7 million in profits from the documentary to avoid paying him.
Moore claimed he conducted an audit of the 2004 film, which grossed $222 million worldwide, and “discovered substantial irregularities in the accounting” that resulted in a “gross underpayment to [Moore],” the lawsuit alleged.
Those alleged irregularities included a secret deduction of $2.5 million in revenue that the Weinsteins claimed was paid to acquire an interest owned in the film by a predecessor company called Icon Entertainment International; a 7.5% “override” fee on advertising costs in the amount of $1.2 million, “despite the fact that [the Weinsteins] did not incur the advertising costs and the [deal] did not permit [them] to deduct these costs”; as well as additional improper deductions of fees paid to distribution consultants, accountants, residuals, foreign taxes and travel expenses, including what Moore says are the “grossly excessive and unreasonable” costs of hiring a private jet to carry a single passenger to Europe.
The case was settled out of court, just days before the scheduled March 28, 2012 trial was scheduled to begin in Los Angeles Superior Court. Terms were not disclosed.
The Weinstein Company issued a statement on the settlement: “Bob and Harvey Weinstein’s Fellowship Adventure Group and Michael Moore have amicably settled the lawsuit involving an accounting dispute on Fahrenheit 9/11, and they look forward to the prospect of working together on future projects.”
I guess it's a lot easier to mock Donald Trump's Puerto Rican paper towel toss than it is to bite the hand the feeds you.
Tick tock, baby!
(Lena Dunham on Line 2.)