admin The restrictions that courts place on access to coverage I think are hurtful to the public’s understanding of the court. When you’re talking about mainstream stuff and you’re trying to balance all the misinformation out there, I mean, you have to get on the same level.
A lot of people have fought against cameras in the courtroom, arguing that they make a spectacle out of cases. Do you think that video footage could be a hindrance in cases that revolve around figures who are generally met with more scrutiny than empathy, specifically survivors of abuse?
Yeah, I do. I should emphasize that there’s a big difference between now and the ‘80s when it comes to cameras in court. Like that Twilight Zone trial, when I looked at all the footage, I couldn’t find the verbatim hour-and-a-half testimony of each witness if I wanted. It’s not like every single moment of the trial was broadcast. The journalists who are doing it have the backing of a respectable news organization. They have values that have been instilled in them, rules that they’re hopefully adhering to, versus these blogs that are just re-broadcasting trials all day and you’ll see the cameras zoom in and focus on the person. That’s a new dynamic that we’re not dealing with. I don’t blame some judges for not wanting to allow cameras in the court.
The vicious internet crowd that you see is a new phenomenon in criminal cases, but then also civil cases. We’re seeing that with some sexual assault cases that have come up and just the victim shaming and entire social media accounts dedicated to making sure that the victim recants and withdraws a lawsuit or something.
Did you think Tory dug himself a hole with his anti-Meghan online campaign and attitude in the courtroom?
I was surprised at how focused he seemed to be online. And you can even hear it in the jail call that he makes to Kelsey right after it happens, where she starts talking about the blogs. And you can hear him panic. You can just tell how important it is for him. It makes sense when you’re an entertainer and your whole livelihood depends on popularity and people being drawn to you. But it doesn’t matter in the courtroom at all. I was like, These guys seem completely gassed up on Instagram, Shaderoom comments, and the jury.
Just the way he was so dismissive of Shawn Holley, who’s really experienced as a criminal defense attorney, and eager to bring in George Mgdesyan, this big, linebacker-type lawyer without nearly as much experience that she has. The whole case is about how he’s a misogynistic abuser. It’s not lost on me that, and this should be emphasized, Shawn Holley is a woman, and she’s being cast aside and obviously being told by Tory that her strategy or her ideas about his defense he doesn’t like, and he wants to go with this guy.
Tory’s team has labeled your reporting as fake news. What’s the most outlandish accusation or message you have received from a Lanez fan?
I just think it’s hilarious when people say that I must be a Roc Nation spy. It’s just so silly. I worked at McDonald’s in high school. I have a working-class background. For the most part, it’s just hollow criticism. Lanez’s post against me came at a time when I covered a story about an attorney trying to take over his case, and it was a mess in court. I had like 70,000 Twitter followers at the time, and he had 12 million Instagram followers. I just think they were embarrassed by the article and also didn’t really consider the fact that all he was really doing was just putting a bunch of attention on me.
