Casey Anthony Interview Latest: Which TV Networks Want the Exclusive?
Less than two weeks after Casey Anthony, recently acquitted of murdering her two-year old daughter, was released from federal custody, television networks are battling for her first tell-all interview.
Almost one week before Anthony’s release, Paradigm, an entertainment talent agency signed a deal with her lawyer, according to International Business Times. Jose Baez, Anthony’s lawyer, reportedly signed a contract for broadcasting, book, TV and motion picture rights before having it annulled five minutes later.
“We have informed Jose Baez tonight that we will not be representing him,” Paradigm representative said last Tuesday, according to Deadline.com. “It was not who we are.”
Representatives from numerous television networks have met with Baez one week after his client’s release to discuss an exclusive interview, according to The New York Post. Although it is claimed that Anthony would not make any television appearances until up to nine months after her release, The New York Post reports that Baez is interested in pursuing his career as a legal analyst.
However, Baez vehemently denied the reports last Friday, according to The Denver Post.
"I am not negotiating paid interviews with anyone," Baez said.
Al Taylor, however, who is a producer for Private Elevator Productions, spoke with Jeanine Pirro of Fox News Channel on Sunday about being in talks with Baez concerning a $1 million interview with Casey Anthony.
Baez appeared on the same television network Sunday night to refute Taylor’s statements. Despite Baez’s claims, The New York Post reported that the lawyer met with Matt Lauer for a steak dinner in New York City, where his hotel is allegedly being paid for by the NBC network.
An NBC spokesperson told The New York Post that a Casey Anthony interview may be possible “under NBC News standards and conditions--no payment, and absolutely no job offers for any member of her defense team.”
Unlike NBC, TMZ reported that ABC and CBS are offering top dollar for Casey Anthony’s first interview. Although it is not standard to pay for interviews, licensed photographs and other material could benefit the networks, according to The Denver Post.
After the public backlash concerning ABC allegedly offering the Anthony family $200,000 for the rights of videos and photography, both ABC and CBS have denied monetary arrangements for Casey’s first interview.