It’s been a tough year for infamously reclusive Hollywood blogger Nikki Finke. About 10 months ago, Finke officially left the website she founded, Deadline Hollywood, after ongoing contract disputes with Jay Penske, who bought the site from her in 2009. Months later, she launched her own NikkiFinke.com over Penske’s objections, insisting her contract did not contain a non-compete clause.
Today, Finke was forced to shut down the still-nascent site down, removing all its content and posting this short message to readers:
The prolific Twitterer also removed nearly everything she had posted to her account since May, though she left up one message posted yesterday in response to a tweet from Reuters media columnist Jack Shafer, who suggested Finke try covering politics if her contract does in fact prohibit her from the Hollywood beat:
Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Nikki Finke (@NikkiFinke) August 28, 2014
Shafer later replied to Finke, saying he looked forward to watching her “terrorize” Congress:
I look forward to @nikkifinke terrorizing members of Congress when she brings her blog to DC. Like the offspring of Winchell and Pearson!
— Jack Shafer (@jackshafer) August 28, 2014
Several other members of the East Coast media establishment seemed to agree:
yes! RT @NikkiFinke: Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Rosie Gray (@RosieGray) August 28, 2014
YES RT @NikkiFinke: Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Jack Mirkinson (@jackmirkinson) August 28, 2014
.@NikkiFinke @jackshafer Words cannot express how happy this would make me. I happen to know Nikki has some pretty solid 2016 sources.
— Hunter Walker (@hunterw) August 28, 2014
You would be a force to be reckoned with RT @NikkiFinke Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC" Should I?
— Page Six Emily (@PageSixEmily) August 28, 2014
Yes please RT @NikkiFinke: Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Jonathan L. Fischer (@jon_fischer) August 28, 2014
Please do. RT @NikkiFinke: Esteemed @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Elon (@elongreen) August 29, 2014
It'd be interesting MT @NikkiFinke: @jackshafer thinks I should "pack up my act and bring it to DC". Others saying the same thing. Should I?
— Eddie Scarry (@eScarry) August 28, 2014
So far, Finke has a nonfiction book about Hollywood in the works with Simon & Schuster, but seemingly little else on her plate. While she could always return to Deadline or the Penske-owned Variety under the conditions of her contract, the apparent animosity between the two parties makes that outcome seem rather unlikely.
So perhaps it’s time Washington, D.C. starts preparing itself for some “Toldja!” moments.
[Photo via screengrab]
— —
>> Follow Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein) on Twitter
Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com
