Peggy Siegal, the well-connected publicist and go-to awards-season strategist, is reportedly being ostracized by studios and networks over her connection to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced billionaire intercourse offender who has been accused of intercourse trafficking of minors. Netflix has reportedly lower ties to Siegal, based on Selection, as have FX and Annapurna. Representatives for Siegal haven’t responded to Self-importance Truthful’s request for remark.
Siegal, a key determine within the New York movie scene who steadily invited Epstein to screenings and occasions, was employed by Netflix as a marketing consultant for the streamer’s Emmy marketing campaign technique. She has since been let go from the position, per Selection. Siegal may even not do promotional and Emmy-centric campaigning for FX. A number of sources advised Selection that Siegal labored on a show-by-show foundation for the community; she beforehand threw “tastemaker” occasions for exhibits like Belief and Feud.
Movie distributor Annapurna has additionally reportedly eliminated Siegal from overseeing the August 12 New York premiere of the Cate Blanchett movie The place’d You Go, Bernadette. Because the outlet famous, the film-awards season—Siegal’s extra in-demand interval—is just not but totally in swing; studios like Warner Bros., Amazon, and Sony Footage Classics reportedly don’t presently have any occasions deliberate along with her. Nonetheless, different studios privately advised Selection that in addition they plan to chop ties with the famed publicist, given her connection to Epstein.
Siegal is without doubt one of the extra famend publicists in New York, famed for throwing occasions that carry collectively Hollywood stars and the jet set. She’s additionally recognized for her relentless awards-season work, typically credited with being the strategist who helped Leonardo DiCaprio lastly win his first Academy Award.
Nonetheless, Siegal additionally had ties to Epstein, the infamous billionaire who was arrested in July on intercourse trafficking prices. Because the scandal exploded there have been a number of nightmarish stories about his alleged exercise. He has pleaded not responsible to the intercourse trafficking prices and has denied all allegations of “unlawful involvement with underage girls.”
Siegal beforehand spoke to the New York Instances about her relationship with Epstein, summing it up this fashion: “I used to be a sort of plugged-in woman round city who knew lots of people. And I feel that’s what he wished from me, a sort of social goings-on about New York.”
She additionally orchestrated occasions for Epstein, as soon as throwing a cocktail party in 2010 at his Higher East Facet house for Prince Andrew, attended by company like Chelsea Handler, Katie Couric, George Stephanopoulos, and Woody Allen and Quickly-Yi Previn. The dinner passed off not lengthy after Epstein was launched from a Florida jail. (He was charged for intercourse crimes, however pleaded responsible to lesser prices and was required to register as a intercourse offender.) Because the Instances reported, the occasions helped rehabilitate Epstein’s picture within the metropolis.
In an announcement to the Hollywood Reporter, Siegal responded to questions on her ties to Epstein, saying, “Had I recognized that he had been accused of abusing underage ladies, I’d not have maintained a friendship with him.”
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