Universal Pictures executive Josh Goldstine was fired after an internal inquiry found that he had employed a mistress as a consultant, insiders told TheWrap exclusively.
The reason for Goldstine’s firing from the studio — where he promoted films including “Jurassic World,” “The Mummy” and “Get Out” — has not been previously detailed. But three insiders said the inquiry found that the married former president of marketing hired the woman as a consultant to advise on Universal’s slate. One said the woman had also worked as a consultant for Goldstine in his previous role at Sony Pictures.
Universal employees told investigators they were often confused about the woman’s role and unsure of what purpose she served, two of the individuals said.
Evidence of the relationship was uncovered during the three-week inquiry, the three insiders said, a previously announced probe into “inappropriate conduct.”
The studio announced it was investigating Goldstine on Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day — the same day it dismissed an employee who reported to him, Seth Byers, who had also worked with Goldstine at Sony. Goldstine was fired March 7, after the investigation was completed.
One insider said Goldstine was dismissed without compensation and had four years left on his contract.
In a memo to staff at the time of Goldstine’s firing, film division president Donna Langley and chairman Jeff Shell said they had “no tolerance for harassment or other disrespectful behavior, and we will be taking any necessary steps to ensure that actions that violate our core values are dealt with swiftly and decisively.”
Goldstine spent two decades at Sony Pictures before he joined Universal in 2011 as president of domestic marketing. He was promoted in 2014 to oversee worldwide marketing.
In 2001, Sony suspended Goldstine and a second executive for 30 days without pay after they were found to have invented fictional critics to write gushing poster blurbs for films such as “Hollow Man” and “A Knight’s Tale.”
Golden Globes Red Carpet: Wisest Words on #MeToo Movement From Meryl Streep to Emma Watson (Photos)
Debra Messing
"I am wearing black to thank and honor all the brave whistleblowers who came forward and shared their stories of harassment and discrimination," Messing said on Sunday's Golden Globes red carpet. She added that she's "shocked to to hear E! doesn’t believe in paying their female hosts the same as their male hosts," referring to Catt Sadler's exit from the network after learning she wasn't paid as much as her male counterpart, Jason Kennedy. "Women are just as important as men," she said.
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Laura Dern
The "Big Little Lies" actress said on Instagram that she is "holding our mothers and grandmothers and all brave women who taught us about Voice" by wearing black on the red carpet. On the carpet, she added, "It’s time for us to make a difference, and everyone can make a difference." Dern brought along activist Monica Ramirez, who said, "When we learned about what was happening in Hollywood, our members felt very strongly they wanted to send a message… that they are not alone... Part of our work is to fight for gender parity along all lines."
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Emma Watson
The "Beauty and the Beast" star said on Twitter that she's wearing black on the red carpet "because we are grateful to the many survivors and allies who have spoken out and and forced the conversation about sexual harassment, sexual assault, and gender bias in the spotlight."
Larasi, a women's activist, accompanied Emma Watson on the red carpet. "There’s something about women in Hollywood speaking out," she said of the Me Too movement. "There is a wall of silence that surrounds women and girls [who are harassed or assaulted]. We don’t want to create hierarchies.. But we’re saying women in Hollywood have [an opportunity] to amplify [the message]. It's a fantastic platform."
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Jessica Chastain
The "Molly's Game" star said, "I wear black to stand in solidarity with my sister's and to say it's #TimesUp on this imbalance of power IN ALL INDUSTRIES " on Twitter ahead of the show.
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Meryl Streep
"The Post" star said, "People are aware now of a power imbalance... It's everywhere and we want to fix that."
As for her character in the film, Washington Post publisher Katharine Graham, Streep said she thought she would be "heartened" by the movement sweeping Hollywood and beyond for women's rights. "She was a pioneer," Streep said. "I think she’d be over the moon."
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Yvonne Strahovski
"With the women's march and now this, it really feels like a revolution is taking place. Although it's not going to solve all the problems, I'm proud to be here and to be part of it today," said the "Handmaid's Tale" star.
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Kerry Washington
"This is such an awesome night to celebrate women and celebrate all of us coming together and standing with each other and standing in solidarity to say 'Time is Up,'" the "Scandal" star said. "This is not a problem in Hollywood, the abuse of power happens everywhere."
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Billie Jean King
"We’re in solidarity about standing up for people who have been abused and have been harassed, and the industry is all staying together on this," said the tennis star, who accompanied Emma Stone on the red carpet.
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Chrissy Metz
Before the red carpet, Metz said she told her publicist "If I can't be who I am I can't do this." On the carpet, she told Ryan Seacrest "We are all meant for something bigger better greater, but we’re not always taught that."
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Alison Brie
Brie is nominated for her role in Netflix's "GLOW," but also acted alongside Meryl Streep in "The Post." She said, "Meryl Streep playing Katharine Graham was like feminism on feminism."
"It’s important to me to stand with all of the women who have come forward," Brie added, wearing a black ensemble in honor of Time's Up and the #MeToo movement. She added that's she's "so in awe of that bravery" of the women who have come forward with stories of sexual harassment and assault, and said, "It’s important for me to stand with those who don’t feel like they have a voice."
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Sarah Jessica Parker
"I think it’s an enormous show of support tonight," said the "Divorce" star, who wore a black frock in honor of the Time's Up initiative. "This is a conversation that, as complicated as it is, it seems to be very welcome by everybody," she said to E!'s Ryan Seacrest. "I know it’s affected your network," she added in reference to Catt Sadler, who left E! after learning she earned far less than her male colleague. Parker went on to say that parity and gender equality shouldn't be overly complicated. "It’s about women in all industries, and men," she said.
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Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria joined Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman in talking to Ryan Seacrest about the Time's Up initiative. Like Parker and Messing, Longoria called out E! for paying Catt Sadler less than her male colleague Jason Kennedy. "We support gender parity and equal pay, and we hope E! stands with that," she said to Seacrest.
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“A revolution is taking place”
Debra Messing
"I am wearing black to thank and honor all the brave whistleblowers who came forward and shared their stories of harassment and discrimination," Messing said on Sunday's Golden Globes red carpet. She added that she's "shocked to to hear E! doesn’t believe in paying their female hosts the same as their male hosts," referring to Catt Sadler's exit from the network after learning she wasn't paid as much as her male counterpart, Jason Kennedy. "Women are just as important as men," she said.
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