Fame Under Fire

A judge has thrown out several claims in Blake Lively’s lawsuit connected to the movie It Ends With Us. The decision is based on legal thresholds around where events took place and how her role was classified. Retaliation remains part of the case, based on alleged actions following complaints about working conditions. The court has allowed those claims to proceed. Both sides deny any wrongdoing. Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty talks to trial attorney Shaun Kent about the summary judgement. Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has been sacked from the BBC following allegations relating to his personal conduct. We look at what we know, and the ongoing uncertainty around the circumstances surrounding his exit.And there’s a fresh focus on the Epstein files. We examine exchanges between Jeffrey Epstein and model scout Ramsay Elkholy. Messages between the two include degrading descriptions of young women and references to arranging meetings under the guise of professional opportunities, raising questions about coercive behaviour and the blurred boundaries between modelling work and Epstein’s access to potential victims.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A full season of The Bachelorette has been cancelled days before broadcast.ABC made the decision after a video surfaced of the latest Bachelorette Taylor Frankie Paul in a domestic incident from 2023.The case had already been through the courts. Taylor Frankie Paul was arrested and later entered a plea in abeyance on a charge of aggravated assault. This means she had accepted responsibility in court and the case was effectively put on hold. But now the case is active and open as police say further allegations have been made on both sides.The series was completed but will not be shown.Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty and resident trial attorney Shaun Kent discuss what changed when the footage emerged, and whether ABC could now face legal or financial consequences.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 1114.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Junior Production Manager: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

The case against Marius Borg Høiby, the eldest son of Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, has gripped Norway throughout its seven weeks. He faces 39 charges at Oslo District Court, including four counts of rape, coercive control of a former partner, drug offences, and repeated breaches of restraining orders. He denies the most serious charges.The most serious allegations center on four anonymous women who told the court they had been sexually assaulted while asleep, discovering what had happened only when police showed them video footage filmed by the defendant during the alleged offences. He maintains all sexual activity was consensual.The trial that has shocked Norway is coming to a close. Three judges will deliberate, with a verdict expected in the coming months.A warning: this programme contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual violence. If you are affected by anything in the programme, details of help and support are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode.Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Controversial US rapper Kanye West - now known as Ye - has been ordered to pay $140,000 to a man he hired to renovate his $57m Malibu mansion.Handyman Tony Saxon claimed he was injured while working at the beachfront house in 2021, that he wasn’t paid properly and that he was fired after refusing to run generators that released carbon monoxide inside the property.West’s team had argued Saxon was an unlicensed contractor who “destroyed” the “architectural gem” while working as an independent contractor and that bank records showed Saxon was paid $240,000 during the six weeks he worked for the rapper.A jury sitting in Los Angeles Superior Court heard Saxon initially filed a lawsuit in 2023, alleging unsafe working conditions, unpaid wages and wrongful termination.In true Ye style, it’s not been a traditional trial - at one point he appeared to fall asleep while giving evidence on the stand. This claim was then refuted by his defence attorney, Andrew Cherkasky, who told the jury on Monday: “He wasn’t sleeping. He was bored. This is beneath him.”Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the details of what went down - plus what the latest legal battle means for future cases against the self proclaimed Yeezus.We love hearing from you - send us your questions or comments as a voicenote or message via Whatsapp to 0330 678 1114.Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

US singer D4vd has been named as the ‘Target’ of a Grand Jury investigation into the apparent murder of a teenage girl.The body of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, 14, was found decomposing in a car belonging to the singer in Hollywood last September - but so far there have been no arrests, no charges and no indictment.Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss the latest in the legally fraught process, why crucial court documents have been sealed, and what happens next.We also answer your pressing questions on the latest Epstein files dump - does Madeleine McCann’s name appear? And was Michael Jackson’s Neverland ranch linked to the convicted sex offender?Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer:Ben Andrews and Nicky Edwards Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

We answer your pressing questions on the biggest legal cases of the moment.First up, the Blake Lively v Justin Baldoni case in New York. How did dragons, Game of Thrones and Taylor Swift get dragged into all of this? And how might it impact Taylor?Next, your questions on the case France’s first family, the Macrons, have brought against American online commentator and provocateur Candace Owens.Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent joins Anoushka to discuss nerdiness, mean girls and how to dress for court. Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Producer: Keiligh Baker Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Tom Dunster Technical Producer: Jonny Baker and Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

As Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni head to court together for mediation behind closed doors, we look at how this process works. Legally, both must try and reach agreement before their dispute goes to full trial in May. So what happens at hearings like these? How do they work? Can they reach agreement and avoid a full public trial?Resident Fame Under Fire attorney Shaun Kent walks us through the latest legal steps.Host: Anoushka Mutanda Dougherty Series Producer: Jim Frank Senior Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Hattie Valetine Technical Producer: Cameron Ward. Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Social media has been rife with speculation about what is in the Epstein Files with stories of cannibalism, designer babies, and references to torture. But what is actually true? What more do we know? The episode answers the questions listeners most want answers to.And we hear about the latest legal developments from US lawyer Arick Fudali, who represents 11 survivors of Jeffery Epstein. What does justice now look like for them?Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Jim Frank Senior Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Lisa Baxter Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Reputations supposedly take years to build and seconds to destroy. But what if that's no longer the case? What if the normal rules about earning - and keeping - a reputation simply don't apply any more.This week, David Yelland is joined by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty, from the BBC podcast Fame Under Fire. Together, they venture into some distinctly dubious corners of the internet to see how public opinion is really being shaped.Examining the trial of rapper Diddy, they explain how he may have actually benefitted from the wild accusations being made about him on social media before the case came to court - and how his PR team realised they could capitalise on the fact he was being portrayed as the Devil. On the extended edition on BBC Sounds, David and Anoushka look at how the PR world might want to take some tips from Candace Owens - however unpalatable that may seem.The right-wing influencer promotes conspiracy theories and has repeatedly made claims about Brigitte Macron being born a male. The Macrons have filed a defamation lawsuit against her.But Candace Owens has millions of followers and arguably influences more people than many newspapers, news channels or politicians. It's why Anoushka describes her as a 'personal PR powerhouse' - and explains that whatever you think of her, the way she spreads her message should be closely examined - and followed.Producer: Duncan Middleton Editor: Sarah Teasdale Executive Producer: Eve Streeter Music by Eclectic Sounds A Raconteur Studios production for BBC Radio 4

The latest release from the Epstein files has once again thrown the spotlight on numerous famous names such as Bill Gates, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and President Trump. But within the millions of documents, other famous names have appeared, so what does it actually mean if your name is connected to the files? One of those mentioned is rapper Jay-Z, included after an FBI tip off many years ago. It’s provoked a big social media interest but is this really a significant development?And in a series of shocking social media posts, rapper Nicki Minaj has made some wild allegations about child abuse involving Jay-Z. In the past Jay-Z has always strongly denied any wrongdoing.Fame Under Fire gets the legal lowdown from resident trial attorney Shaun Kent and separates the fact from the fiction.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Jim Frank Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Editor: Lisa Baxter Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Hollywood film-maker Tyler Perry is facing a second sexual assault lawsuit by an actor employed on one of his productions. Actor Mario Rodriquez claims Perry carried out a series of unwanted sexual advances, some of which happened in Perry’s Los Angeles home. The claims follow an existing sexual assault claim by another actor called Derek Dixon. He was also employed by Perry and is suing for $260 million in damages. Both claims have been filed by the same lawyer. Tyler Perry’s legal team has strongly denied all the allegations in both lawsuits, saying they are a “scam.” Responding to the Rodriquez claim, Perry’s lawyer, Alex Spiro, says it will be “another failed money grab.” New York based attorney and legal analyst Terri Austin walks presenter Amber Haque through the two cases. Host: Amber Haque Series Producer: Jim Frank Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Hattie Valetine Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Liam Neeson appears as the narrator of a controversial film promoted as an investigation into pharmaceutical wrongdoing and Covid-era decision-making. The narration includes claims about Covid lockdowns and vaccines described as “dangerous experiments”, raising the question of what it means when a beloved movie star becomes associated, even indirectly, with polarising health narratives.Host Amber Haque discusses reputational risk with Crisis PR Manager Molly McPherson and BBC Journalist Madeline Halpert.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Host: Amber HaqueSeries Producer: Louise ClarkeSenior Impact Producer: Daniel RazaProduction Coordinator: Hattie ValentineTechnical Producer: Richard HannafordEditor: Clare FordhamAssistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial MillerCommissioning Producer: Adam ElandAssistant Commissioner: Will DrysdaleCommissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A very public and very personal fallout places the Beckham family under renewed attention after Brooklyn Peltz Beckham publishes a series of Instagram statements to his millions of followers. He alleges that family relationships have been shaped by what he calls Brand Beckham, including claims about public promotion, social media expectations and long-standing tensions surrounding his marriage to Nicola Peltz.The Beckhams have yet to respond.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Host: Amber Haque Series Producer: Louise Clarke Impact Producer: Daniel Raza Production Coordinator: Hattie Valentine Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

Will Smith is accused of predatory behaviour by a violinist, Brian King Joseph, who played on Smith's 2024/25 tour to promote his latest album, "Based on a True Story."Smith's lawyers say the allegations are "false, baseless and reckless."King says that he and Smith had become close friends with the star once confiding in him that: "You and I have such a special connection that I don't have with anyone else." The violinist, who came to public attention on the "America's Got Talent" show, also alleges that Smith groomed him for sex. He's also claiming damages from Smith and his company for wrongful dismissal.So what happens next? Fame Under Fire's own in-house lawyer, Shaun Kent guides us through the key legal issues at play.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Jim Frank Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Harriet Valentine Technical Producer: Richard Hannaford Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts

A writer convicted of cyber-bullying the French president’s wife has told the Fame under Fire podcast he doesn’t regret it.Bertrand Scholler posted an edited photo of Brigitte Macron in a swimming costume. Her head had been cut out and a man’s torso edited in.He was one of 10 defendants in France accused of spreading false claims about Mrs Macron’s gender and sexuality as well as making “malicious remarks” about the 24 year age gap between her and her husband.They were found guilty at a Paris court. Scholler was handed a suspended sentence of six months.Speaking after his conviction, he said he was in “shock”, adding that the law which led to his conviction was a “nuclear bomb for freedom of speech”.We also hear from the BBC’s Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield about the court case and what’s next for the Macrons.Got questions? Send us a Whatsapp message on 0330 678 111 4.Subscribe to Fame Under Fire on BBC Sounds and turn on push notifications so you never miss an episode. We’ll let you know as soon as new episodes are available.Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Series Producer: Vicky Farncombe Senior Impact Producer: Melanie Stewart-Smith Production Coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross Technical Producer: Mark Burrows Editor: Clare Fordham Assistant Commissioning Producer: Rechmial Miller Commissioning Producer: Adam Eland Assistant Commissioner: Will Drysdale Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts