Hundreds of text messages between Warner Bros. top executive and an actress appear to show he promoted her for roles in company films while they carried on a sexual relationship.
After being invited to a hotel rendezvous by Australian billionaire James Packer, a partner with director Brett Ratner in RatPac Entertainment, actress Charlotte Kirk met Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara.
From there, Tsujihara, who is married, and Kirk began a sexual relationship that led to him pressuring for her to be cast in Warner Bros., according to The Hollywood Reporter.
“You’re very busy I know but when we were in that motel having sex u said u would help me and when u just ignore me like you’re doing now it makes me feel used. Are u going to help me like u said u would?” reads a 2015 text from Kirk to Tsujihara.
He responded: “Sorry you feel that way. Richard will be reaching out to u tonight.” Subsequent texts reveal the reference was to Richard Brener, then president of production at Warners’ New Line label.
The studio previously looked into allegations against Tsujihara in the fall of 2017 and found no wrongdoing or abuse of power by the executive.
That investigation will begin again.
“Through her spokesperson, the actress has publicly denied any impropriety in her casting, and our prior investigation did not find otherwise,” a WarnerMedia rep said in a statement to THR. “Whenever we receive new allegations, it is our standard practice to conduct an appropriate investigation. And that is what we will do here.”
Tsujihara will remain in his role as CEO while the new investigation is conducted.
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