Warner CEO ‘helped’ actress land roles after affair with her
LOS ANGELES: Warner Bros CEO Kevin Tsujihara is being investigated for allegedly helping an actress land roles in the company’s productions after having an affair with her.
Hundreds of leaked text messages between Kevin Tsujihara, actress Charlotte Kirk and partners Brett Ratner and James Packer show the powerful executive, under pressure, said repeatedly he would push for auditions as accusations of “extortion” and a proposed settlement agreement followed.
WarnerMedia says it will investigate.
The studio’s parent company was forced to act after the Hollywood Reporter had published a lengthy report detailing the history between Tsujihara and Kirk. The studio previously investigated the allegations in the autumn of 2017 and found no wrongdoing or abuse of power by Tsujihara, who is married.
Tsujihara and Kirk met in 2013 through mutual acquaintances, Australian media mogul James Packer and director-producer Brett Ratner. At the time Packer and Ratner were negotiating a US$450 million film financing pact with Warner Bros. through their RatPac investment venture.
Kirk issued a statement to the trade paper denying that there was any “inappropriate behaviour” on the part of Tsujihara, Ratner or Packer, and she asserted “Kevin never promised me anything.” However, text messages included in the report indicate Kirk later accused Ratner and Packer of using her with Tsujihara to help close the RatPac deal.
A WarnerMedia spokesman
Through her spokesperson, the actress has publicly denied any impropriety in her casting, and our prior investigation did not find otherwise. WarnerMedia representative
emphasised that Kirk has made no claims against Tsujihara or the studio. A source close to the situation said that Tsujihara first brought the issue to the attention of his bosses at Time Warner out of concern about Kirk’s behaviour after the alleged sexual relationship ended. Warner Bros. and Time Warner investigated the situation but took no action against Tsujihara. Tsujihara’s behaviour and his stewardship of Warner Bros. was scrutinised again when AT&T acquired the media giant last year.
“Through her spokesperson, the actress has publicly denied any impropriety in her casting, and our prior investigation did not find otherwise,” the WarnerMedia rep said. “Whenever we receive new allegations, it is our standard practise to conduct an appropriate investigation. And that is what we will do here.”