1 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,480 Speaker 1: Welcome to Daily Variety, your daily dose of news and 2 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,319 Speaker 1: analysis for entertainment industry insiders. It's Tuesday, October twenty eighth, 3 00:00:17,320 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five. I'm your host, Cynthia Littleton. I am 4 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: co editor in chief of Variety alongside Ramin Setuda. I'm 5 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: in LA He's in New York, and Variety has reporters 6 00:00:27,320 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: around the world covering the business of entertainment. In today's episode, 7 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: we'll hear from Variety reporter Ethan Seanfhelp on the latest 8 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: surrounding Sean Diddy cones now that it's been confirmed he 9 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: will be released from prison in May twenty twenty eight, 10 00:00:41,080 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: and Mark Malcolm gives us a Just for Variety red 11 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: carpet rundown with Hillary Duff. But before we get to that, 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: here are a few headlines just in this morning that 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: you need to know. Eighteen innings. This episode is out 14 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: late today because I was up so late last night 15 00:00:57,000 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: cheering on the Dodgers as they fought their way through 16 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: Game three of the World Series against the Toronto Blue Jays. 17 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: After an epic game, the Blue Crew won it with 18 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: a walkoff homer from Freddie Freeman. Doesn't get better than that, show. 19 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: Hey Otani also hit a homer at a key moment 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:16,440 Speaker 1: earlier in the game, and you could hear all of 21 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 1: Los Angeles screaming. The Gotham Award nominations are in one 22 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: battle after another. Is the Big Favorite grabbing six nominations. 23 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: The Gotham Awards are the cap gun going off on 24 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,840 Speaker 1: Winter Awards season, and they will be handed out in 25 00:01:31,880 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 1: New York on December First. Doctor Who is back in 26 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: the market for a global distribution partner. The BBC and 27 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: Disney have parted ways after working together on two seasons 28 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: of the Enduring British fantasy franchise. My colleague Alise Schafer 29 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:49,559 Speaker 1: has the scoop. All of these stories and so much 30 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: more can be found on Variety dot com. Right now. 31 00:01:57,280 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: Now we turn to conversations with Friday journalists about new 32 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 1: and trends in show business. We'll hear from Ethan Schonfeld 33 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:07,000 Speaker 1: on the latest for Shan Ditty Combs. Ethan spent three 34 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: months of his life covering Combs's federal trial on sex 35 00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: trafficking and prostitution charges. Combs was convicted on prostitution related 36 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,680 Speaker 1: counts in July and sentenced to a little more than 37 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: four years in prison. Ethan takes a moment to reflect 38 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: on the impact of that trial. Now that he's had 39 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: the distance of a few months, Ethan contemplates what might 40 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: await Combs in two and a half years when he's released, 41 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 1: barring any surprises with his incarceration. Ethan Shanfield, thanks for 42 00:02:35,480 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 1: joining me. 43 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: Thanks for having me. Cynthia, appreciate you. 44 00:02:37,919 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 1: Making time here because we got a little bit of 45 00:02:40,040 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: an echo of a story that you covered intensely Soup 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 1: to Nuts earlier this year, the trial of Sean Ditty Combs, 47 00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: and today we got a small bulletin from the Federal 48 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 1: Bureau of Prisons that all things being equal, he should 49 00:02:54,200 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: be released in May of twenty twenty eight. I want 50 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: to ask you, now that it's been a couple months, 51 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:03,359 Speaker 1: what is Diddy's place in pop culture, particularly with your generation. 52 00:03:03,639 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 2: I think that the public opinion on him shifted a 53 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: little bit during the trial, certainly inside and out of 54 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: the courthouse where a lot of his fans started gathering. 55 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 2: I think that he will always be at radioactive after 56 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 2: this trial, because not only because of what he was 57 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 2: convicted of, which is transportation of prostitutes essentially, but also 58 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: because of the things that he was accused of and 59 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: the things that came out in evidence. I mean, we 60 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 2: saw videos of him beating Cassie Ventura, We heard stories 61 00:03:35,040 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 2: of sexual abuse and emotional abuse, all those sorts of things. 62 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 2: I don't think that Diddy will be playing Coachella anytime soon. 63 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: That being said, I do think that he has enough 64 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,400 Speaker 2: of a fan base, and he built up such a 65 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: career before this scandal that if he wanted to, say, 66 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: play Madison Square Garden, I think he could. I think 67 00:03:55,280 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: if he wanted to do something in music or entertainment, 68 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: if he wanted to have a behind the scenes role, 69 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 2: maybe at a record label or as a consultant helping 70 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: shape the careers of artists behind the scenes, I think 71 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 2: that is a possibility. I interviewed his lead counsel, Mark 72 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:13,680 Speaker 2: Agnifilow back in August, and they've really been saying that 73 00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:15,720 Speaker 2: he wants to just get out of prison and spend 74 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:19,240 Speaker 2: time with his family, and that any career in music 75 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 2: or entertainment is sort of way down the line. But 76 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 2: you know, he'll be out before he turns sixty, and 77 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 2: he has a whole chapter of his life and career 78 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 2: ahead of him. 79 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 1: Of course, there's also been some discussion in the last 80 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 1: couple of months. Will President Trump find his way to 81 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: pardoning or offering some clemency to Ditty? What do you 82 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 1: know from reporting on this in terms of the level 83 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 1: of lobbying by Sean Combs's team. Is there any chance 84 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,320 Speaker 1: that we will see President Trump take some step to 85 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 1: lessen the impact on Ditty. 86 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 2: I've spoken to his legal team and they've confirmed that 87 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: they have been in contact with the administration about a 88 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: potential pardon, but they've also made it clear that that's 89 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:04,479 Speaker 2: not sort of a pillar of their legal strategy. I 90 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 2: think it would be very surprising if Trump pardoned him. 91 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,960 Speaker 2: I don't see a benefit there for Trump, and Trump 92 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 2: tends to grant clemency to people who have sort of 93 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 2: pledged their allegiance to Trump. And while Ditty's tune might 94 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: have changed while he's been behind bars, you know, Didty 95 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: was not a Trump supporter beforehand, and Trump himself has 96 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:27,279 Speaker 2: made that clear in interviews with the press that being said, 97 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,240 Speaker 2: with Trump, anything can happen at any time. We know 98 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:33,240 Speaker 2: that Combs's legal team has already filed an appeal to 99 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: the sentencing. They filed various appeals over the last few months, 100 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 2: the judge has pretty much swatted down all of them. 101 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 2: The sentencing is something that I think his team is 102 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:46,719 Speaker 2: somewhat happy with, considering that the sort of seriousness of 103 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,240 Speaker 2: the charge. The judge said at the sentencing hearing, he 104 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 2: has to take into account all of the things that 105 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 2: he's heard about. Even though the sentencing is not on 106 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: the charges that he was acquitted of, there are still 107 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,760 Speaker 2: things such as the video of him beating Cassie Ventura, 108 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 2: that are relevant when it comes to sentencing, such as 109 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 2: whether he's a danger to other people. And Cassie sent 110 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:10,400 Speaker 2: a letter to the judge essentially saying the same thing, 111 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,600 Speaker 2: that she's scared of potential repercussions. 112 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 1: Let me close by asking you Ethan. I know you're 113 00:06:14,920 --> 00:06:17,120 Speaker 1: not a lawyer. I know you've read a lot of 114 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 1: commentary about the entirety of the case and the legal ramifications. 115 00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 1: With the benefit of hindsight, do you think that the 116 00:06:25,400 --> 00:06:30,359 Speaker 1: prosecutors fundamentally overreached? Have you come to any conclusions on 117 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 1: the merits of the case and the way it was 118 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: executed from the prosecution side. 119 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: So I definitely feel that a potential mistake on half 120 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,719 Speaker 2: of the prosecution was not charging him with domestic violence. 121 00:06:42,880 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 2: There was so much evidence of domestic violence, and there 122 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: could have been a case there in California and potentially 123 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: New York as well that would have likely landed him 124 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 2: behind bars for several years. But because that was not 125 00:06:55,160 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 2: something he was directly charged with, it allowed the defense 126 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,920 Speaker 2: to admit it. You know, he was a domestic abuser. 127 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: He did beat his girlfriends. It was something that they 128 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: called out as disgusting and disturbing, but they were able 129 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 2: to use that strategy having sat through the trial every day. 130 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: The case might have been more strong if it focused 131 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:20,400 Speaker 2: just on Cassie. It's easy to play Monday morning quarterback. 132 00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 2: But there were two alleged victims at the center of 133 00:07:23,720 --> 00:07:26,200 Speaker 2: this case, and it was Cassie and then a pseudonymous 134 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:29,239 Speaker 2: a victim named Jane. And I think that the general 135 00:07:29,280 --> 00:07:32,120 Speaker 2: feeling was that the case as it pertained to Cassie 136 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 2: was much stronger than Jane. But I was not in 137 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 2: the deliberation room. I was not part of the jury, 138 00:07:37,480 --> 00:07:39,080 Speaker 2: so I don't know if these were the sorts of 139 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:41,560 Speaker 2: things they were talking about, but I would not be 140 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: surprised if the murkiness of the Jane side might have 141 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: bled into their feelings about the sex trafficking charges in general. 142 00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: Interesting. Well, Ethan, as I said, you are not a lawyer, 143 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 1: but you are as of today, nominated for Online Journalists 144 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:00,520 Speaker 1: of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club at 145 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: their National Arts and Entertainment Awards. No one is more 146 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: deserving of this nomination and I am going to be 147 00:08:07,760 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: rooting for you with everything we have. Your work on 148 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 1: the Diddy trial that definitely distinguished you and certainly helped 149 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,680 Speaker 1: you get that nomination. So congrats to you. Thanks for 150 00:08:17,760 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: doing the hard work and pounding the pavement. 151 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:26,320 Speaker 2: Thanks Cynthia. 152 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: Next up, we have a Variety Red carpet rundown with 153 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:33,679 Speaker 1: the hardest working guy on the red carpet, Variety's Mark Malcolm. 154 00:08:33,960 --> 00:08:37,040 Speaker 3: Thanks Cynthia. After more than a decade since her last 155 00:08:37,040 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 3: studio album, Hillary Duff is getting ready to put out 156 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 3: new music. I caught up with the singer actress on 157 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:46,280 Speaker 3: Sunday night here in Los Angeles at Vogue World Hollywood. 158 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:47,680 Speaker 4: We're getting something really soon. 159 00:08:48,200 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, a full album single. What's your plan? The 160 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:54,160 Speaker 3: fans need to know. 161 00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,760 Speaker 4: I have been part at work in the studio with 162 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:03,200 Speaker 4: my husband Ji and a few other amazingly talented people 163 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 4: and like they're going to hear something so silling, like 164 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 4: in the blink of an eye. 165 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 3: Duff, who released her fifth studio album, Breathe In, Breathe 166 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,280 Speaker 3: Out in June twenty fifteen, said she had always planned 167 00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:17,000 Speaker 3: on getting back into the studio. 168 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 4: I always knew I was going to return to music, 169 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 4: and I just needed to feel safe, and I just 170 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 4: needed to have the right people in my corner and 171 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 4: you know, be be like absolutely one percent ready. I 172 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 4: needed ten years of life under my belt. Honestly, I 173 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 4: needed like a lot to say, and this album feels 174 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 4: like the inner workings of my brain. And I really 175 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 4: am so excited to like connect with people again on 176 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 4: that level, that like very forward. 177 00:09:44,920 --> 00:09:45,680 Speaker 1: Amazing level. 178 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,559 Speaker 3: In September, it was announced that Duff had signed with 179 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 3: Atlantic Records. At the same time, she revealed that she 180 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,240 Speaker 3: was filming a docuseries about her music, comeback and her 181 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,080 Speaker 3: personal life. 182 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,560 Speaker 4: All of the things are happening, and I can't give 183 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:00,760 Speaker 4: up too much informature where everyone gonna kill me, but 184 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,800 Speaker 4: I am chancing and everything's in Moschez. 185 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:07,920 Speaker 3: For more of my interview with Duff, check out my 186 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:19,480 Speaker 3: column Just for Variety at Variety Dot com. 187 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:17,520 Speaker 1: As we close out today's episode, here's a few things 188 00:10:17,559 --> 00:10:20,839 Speaker 1: we're watching for. Actually, there's really only one thing on 189 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,800 Speaker 1: my radar, and that is Variety's Power of Women event 190 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,679 Speaker 1: in Beverly Hills tomorrow night, October twenty ninth. We're looking 191 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:31,400 Speaker 1: forward to celebrating five great stars and dozens of senior 192 00:10:31,440 --> 00:10:35,800 Speaker 1: female leaders in the entertainment industry. And on that note, 193 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: some important news came from Variety this morning. Michelle Sabrino Stearns, 194 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 1: Variety's longtime leader, CEO and publisher, is stepping down after 195 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:50,280 Speaker 1: twenty eight years with our storied company. Michelle is making 196 00:10:50,320 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 1: a big career shift. She's about to become a founder 197 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,920 Speaker 1: of a startup fashion brand. This is a huge milestone 198 00:10:57,960 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 1: for Variety. Michelle's legacy is incredible and it includes the 199 00:11:02,520 --> 00:11:05,199 Speaker 1: Power of Women event that we are hosting on Wednesday. 200 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,079 Speaker 1: I have to express my gratitude because Michelle has been 201 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: an amazing friend and supporter of me personally. With Michelle's departure, 202 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,640 Speaker 1: Dea Lawrence is stepping up from Chief Operating and Marketing 203 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: Officer to co president and publisher. My partner in journalism, 204 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: Ramin Situta, will take on a co president role In 205 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: addition to remaining co EIC with me, Raemen will work 206 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: with DEA to further grow varieties, reach and influence. We 207 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:37,839 Speaker 1: are all so lucky to lead this Sui Jennaris Institution 208 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:42,160 Speaker 1: of Journalism and Hollywood Before we go, Congrats to Amanda Cruz. 209 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,319 Speaker 1: She has been named Head of Business Development for Blumhouse Games. 210 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:49,480 Speaker 1: She joins the company from Devolver Digital and before that 211 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: she worked for Lionsgates Games Division. Thanks for listening. This 212 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:57,480 Speaker 1: episode was written and reported by me Cynthia Lyttleton, with 213 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:02,720 Speaker 1: contributions from Ethan Shanfeld. Stick Snicks hick Picks. Please leave 214 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:05,199 Speaker 1: us a review at the podcast platform of your choice, 215 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,240 Speaker 1: and please tune in tomorrow for another episode of Daily 216 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,760 Speaker 1: Variety and most definitely Go Dodgers