Amazon and Vice Studios Sued Over ‘Hollywood Hustler’ Documentary
7 reported
A producer has sued Amazon Studios, Vice Studios, and director Rebecca Chaiklin, alleging he was falsely portrayed as an accomplice to convicted fraudster Zach Horwitz in the documentary series “Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam, Scam.” The producer, Julio Hallivis, contends his reputation has been ruined by the implication that he acted as an informant and was complicit in Horwitz’s crimes. Horwitz is serving a 20-year sentence for a $650 million Ponzi scheme, having pleaded guilty to forging contracts with Netflix and HBO to defraud about 250 investors. Hallivis was Horwitz’s business partner in 1inMM Productions, but the lawsuit states Hallivis was not involved in financing and knew nothing about the scheme until Horwitz’s arrest. The three-episode docuseries, which premiered Oct. 17 on Prime Video, repeatedly suggests Hallivis was involved in the fraud, according to the suit. Hallivis declined to be interviewed for the documentary and is represented by attorney Alexander Rufus-Isaacs.
What’s reported
Julio Hallivis sued Amazon Studios, Vice Studios, and director Rebecca Chaiklin on Thursday.
The lawsuit alleges Hallivis was falsely portrayed as an accomplice and informant in the documentary “Hollywood Hustler: Glitz, Glam, Scam.”
Zach Horwitz is serving a 20-year sentence for a $650 million Ponzi scheme involving forged contracts with Netflix and HBO.
Hallivis was Horwitz’s business partner in 1inMM Productions but was not involved in financing and knew nothing about the scheme until Horwitz’s arrest.
The documentary includes an interview with civil attorney Alex Loftus, who said Horwitz “couldn’t do this alone” and that Hallivis “could possibly not know that this was a fantasy.”
The lawsuit states Hallivis was interviewed once by the FBI and SEC and was never told he was suspected of wrongdoing.
Hallivis has been shunned by former business associates, and his own brother said they cannot work together due to reputational damage.
Key figures
Julio Hallivis: Producer and plaintiff
Zach Horwitz: Convicted fraudster
Rebecca Chaiklin: Director of the documentary
Alex Loftus: Civil attorney quoted in the documentary
Alexander Rufus-Isaacs: Attorney representing Hallivis
Sources: Variety
