Sony Hires Real-Life Olivia Pope to Manage Hacking Scandal

As Sony Pictures continues to deal with fallout from the North Korean-based cyber-attack that exposed their private information and ultimately led to the cancellation of The Interview’s Christmas release, the company has turned to a crisis expert best known for her work in the political sphere: Judy Smith.

Of course, now Smith is best known as the inspiration for Kerry Washington’s character Olivia Pope on ABC’s hit drama Scandal.

The Hollywood Reporter confirmed that Sony has retained Smith, who bills herself as a Crisis Management Expert who has worked on the prosecution of former Washington D.C. Mayor Marion Barry, the Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Justice Clarence Thomas, President Bill Clinton’s Monica Lewinsky scandal and many other high profile incidents. Before those cases, she worked as a deputy press secretary for President George H.W. Bush.

Smith will help advise Sony co-chair Amy Pascal and other execs on their response to the hacking itself as well as the decision to delay The Interview.

Watch this video about Smith’s role as inspiration for Scandal below, via ABC:

[Photo via ABC]

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