In today's era, once news is exposed and widely covered, it's very difficult to suppress it, especially when powerful media forces drive such attention-grabbing news. Within days, it can become a major social focus.
Unsurprisingly, the news about Murphy being investigated by the LAPD quickly became a hot topic.
Since "Man of Steel," no one doubted Murphy's capabilities, his position in Hollywood, and the influence he had built over nearly a decade.
Like Steven Spielberg, James Cameron, and George Lucas, his influence extended beyond fans to the general public and the media.
Especially the media, which had bestowed numerous titles upon Murphy in recent years: "One of the Top Ten Directors in Hollywood since the New Millennium," "Leader of the Younger Generation of Hollywood Directors," "The Youngest Billionaire Director," "A Born Winner," "The Director Who Can't Make a Bad Movie," "The Most Unique Director in Hollywood in the Past Twenty Years," and so on.
Any one of these titles was enough to draw widespread attention.
Thus, the media's investment in news about Murphy was unquestionable.
Mainstream media remained relatively objective, reporting only known facts. Tabloids and gossip sites, however, quickly mocked Murphy's imminent downfall.
But whether Murphy would actually face trouble was not for them to decide.
After a day of fermenting, this news became the most searched topic on Google and the most shared on Twitter and Facebook over the past 24 hours!
It could be said that the first wave of promotional hype had achieved its purpose.
Subsequently, Murphy's agent, Bill Rossis, and lawyer, Robert, held a joint press conference at Death Star Tower in Century City. They formally announced that, based on their understanding, the LAPD's investigation of Murphy was illegal, irregular, and driven by some ulterior motives.
On behalf of Murphy, they also announced plans to file a complaint with the state prosecutor and had already reported the matter to the FBI.
The media frenzy erupted. In today's context of upholding judicial fairness, the LAPD daring to illegally investigate a renowned director and public figure was a major scandal that could shake the entire country and even the world!
Whether this would tarnish America's image was of no concern to the reporters; they needed sensational news, and the involvement of a government agency was particularly compelling.
For the sake of the film's promotion, Murphy and 20th Century Fox decided to stir up social emotions.
Among various government departments, the police had always been a media focus. Especially in recent years, with frequent shooting incidents, many media outlets were closely monitoring the police's actions. People from slums to high-end residential areas were now well aware that under the banner of law and order, American police often engaged in unsavory activities.
It's no exaggeration to say that the police had a poor reputation in much of the USA.
In the following days, the California prosecutor officially launched an investigation into the LAPD, and a senior police official admitted that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had never decided to investigate Murphy.
As a key figure in the incident, Jessica Chastain accepted joint interviews with multiple media outlets. For her, this was a rare opportunity.
"When Sheriff Gatlin Collins met me, he was alone. We met in a café, not at the police station. I don't know much about the law, but he showed me his credentials, so I thought it was a legitimate investigation. Legal documents? No, I'm sure he didn't show me any! Yes, I'm very sure he didn't present any legal documents."
Although this would likely put her on the LAPD's blacklist, Jessica Chastain knew that this would benefit her career in Hollywood. Not only would her name and pictures frequently appear in various media, but standing up for a Hollywood director would also win her much favor in the film industry.
Any circle tends to show solidarity when facing external forces. Today, the police might secretly investigate Murphy; tomorrow, it could be another director or producer. Defending those within the circle was undoubtedly the right choice.
Reporters eagerly anticipated big news, and with this major scoop, their enthusiasm needed no prompting. The media under 20th Century Fox merely provided a slight nudge, and other outlets followed suit like a swarm. Reporters and paparazzi could be seen at almost every location connected to the police in Los Angeles.
Even without using the evidence Robert had, the media managed to obtain a series of ironclad proofs of Gatlin Collins' illegal investigation into Murphy.
"According to our sources, Murphy Stanton recently met with the FBI and California prosecutors. The impact of this incident is growing, and it's uncertain how it will affect his new film, 'The Wolf of Wall Street.'"
Murphy's name frequently appeared alongside "The Wolf of Wall Street" in media reports.
"Murphy Stanton embroiled in LAPD scandal, future of 'The Wolf of Wall Street' uncertain."
"During the filming of 'The Wolf of Wall Street,' Murphy Stanton was illegally investigated by the LAPD. There might be a mastermind behind this..."
Both Murphy and "The Wolf of Wall Street" became social hot topics.
As time passed, public opinion and the results of various investigations increasingly disfavored the LAPD. Murphy and "The Wolf of Wall Street" remained the top Google search for five consecutive days!
Even President Obama commented on the incident during a recent White House press conference, emphasizing that judicial fairness is a cornerstone of America's foundation and that the law must protect citizens' legal rights.
Though such statements had little practical impact and Obama couldn't directly influence California, his addressing the issue undoubtedly increased its attention.
Not only in the USA, but the incident also spread worldwide through the internet and television, making Murphy Stanton one of the most mentioned names. Four days before Thanksgiving, media outlets reported, based on Twitter and Facebook data, that Murphy had become one of the top five most-followed individuals globally on social media, and the only male among them!
Murphy's moment in the spotlight also brought more attention to his works.
Some media published data showing that since the incident broke, within ten days, the online paid viewings of all Murphy's past films had surged, DVD sales jumped by 45%, and rental income doubled.
Unlike the media, the LAPD, due to internal division, remained silent without offering any official response.
"The police must take responsibility for their actions!"
In Los Angeles, Daisy stood on the back of a pickup truck, looking at the crowd, and shouted into a megaphone, "Comrades, we're heading to the LA County Sheriff's Department to protest! We might face riot police and tear gas, but are you afraid?"
"We're not afraid!"
Those closest to Daisy from the IMDB discussion group shouted first, "We're not afraid!"
Daisy shouted again, "Are you afraid?"
"We're not afraid!" Following the discussion group's lead, hundreds roared in unison, "We're not afraid!"
"We demand the police apologize to Murphy!"
Then, members of the Murphy Stanton Fan Club in Los Angeles distributed pre-made banners, slogans, and posters.
Led by Daisy and the fan club leaders, the group of hundreds marched towards the nearby LA County Sheriff's Department, accompanied by dozens of reporters and cameramen sent by 20th Century Fox.
Of course, such gatherings also attracted police presence, but under the media's watchful eyes, they could only maintain order without doing much else.
"There won't be riot police or tear gas."
The fan club leader whispered to Daisy as they walked, "I got confirmation that the LAPD leadership is divided over this incident."
Daisy understood immediately, "So they can't present a unified front?"
The leader nodded, "Seems like it."
Given the insider tips, he sensed that this incident was very complex, not as straightforward as it appeared. It felt like an invisible hand was orchestrating everything, with the LAPD as mere puppets.
But what did that matter to him? Supporting a favorite director while earning a decent side income from the fan club was what truly mattered.
Meanwhile, Murphy and Gale Gadot were chatting in their garden over tea.
"The protest should be reaching the LA Sheriff's Department soon," Gale Gadot said, looking in the department's direction. "Aren't you worried?"
"Worried about what?" Murphy shook his head. "According to Robert's information, the police are deeply divided internally. They're already fractured, and some supported by Robert's law firm are also trying to use this incident for their gain."
Similar to the other side of the Pacific, large law firms in the USA also had complex ties within law enforcement and judicial departments.
Murphy glanced in that direction too. "The protest will draw more attention."
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