In a classic MADtv sketch featuring Bob Newhart, the legendary comedian plays a therapist who has a simple solution for problems ranging from irrational fears to forming self-destructive relationships … “Stop it!”
This would seem like the obvious response to Hollywood’s current rash of bullying and abuse scandals. But in an industry that never saw an issue it couldn’t complicate with psycho-babble (or responsibility it couldn’t evade with therapy-speak), The Hollywood Reporter says studios and networks are instead turning to another remedy: rage counselors.
The alleged bad behavior they are hiring specialists to address would be unthinkable in any other business. Examples include Oscar-winning producer Scott Rudin smashing an assistant’s hand with a computer monitor and Marvel director Joss Whedon telling actress Charisma Carpenter she looked fat when she was pregnant and implying she should have an abortion.
As THR details, a British survey found that 84 percent of professionals in the U.K.’s film and TV industry report experiencing or witnessing bullying or harassing behavior. No similar studies appear to have been conducted in U.S. entertainment, but headlines suggest the findings would be equally, if not more, damning.
Yet THR’s story indicates Hollywood views the problem much like any other sort of addictive behavior, requiring treatment rather than clearly defined and enforced standards of conduct.
Putting something of a positive spin on it, rage coach Lacey Leone McLaughlin told THR Tinseltown executives are “putting a huge amount of pressure on themselves to do better and recognizing they need support sooner.” In the past, studio executives would come to her in reaction to an HR problem, now, she says, there’s “an expectation leaders are putting on themselves because of things they’re reading.”
While THR’s reporting is heavy on therapeutic comments, it’s vague on what qualifies someone to offer rage counseling or what kind of rubric the counselors use for measuring outcomes. McLaughlin’s LinkedIn page lists no counseling education (she has an MBA, with an undergrad in political science). Cynthia Oredugba, another counselor the story quotes, doesn’t seem to have any psychology background either, though her website describes her as “sunshine personified” and says her clients are “enfolded with the full force of her love, energy, encouragement and strength.” Before offering her rage counseling service to Hollywood’s heavy-hitters, Oredugba was a talent agent.
Mike Bayer, the most legitimate-seeming of the coaches THR profiles, started as a drug and alcohol counselor and has some certifications, but no medical degree. A check of Bayer’s website lists a cafeteria menu of treatment, including services to “help you live your best life and overcome the fears and uncertainty brought on by the Coronavirus pandemic.” Mostly, the site seems to highlight Bayer’s celebrity connections and personal brand business through books and speaking engagements. His testimonials include endorsements from Joe Jonas and Jennifer Lopez.
Randy Spelling, former actor and son of the late TV producer Aaron Spelling, is likely the most famous of the rage counselors, though he calls himself a “freedom strategist.” He mentions that he is a credentialed life coach but does not offer details.
The counsel Spelling tells THR he offers sounds like little more than the kind of common sense one would expect to hear from a friend. “If you continue to say this and do this and act this way, at some point you won’t get to do the work that you love,” he tells clients resistant to his training, before asking them, “Do you want to trade places with Harvey Weinstein?”
But the few concrete results the coaches point to wouldn’t have done much, if anything, to stop the kind of abusive behavior Weinstein engaged in. McLaughlin touts getting one executive to direct more of the company budget to social issues following staff trauma over the death of George Floyd. Even as Harvey Weinstein was raping actresses, his company was always generous in donating to left-wing causes.
One thing the story makes clear, when Hollywood needs to do damage control, there will always be those willing to collect a paycheck to say the industry is working on the problem.