Shell Shocked: How a Sex Scandal, Big Egos and Putin Led to Jeff Shell’s Sudden, No Payout Exit From NBCU

Ed Meza @edmezavar In the four years since roaring to life, Leonine Studios has reshaped Germany’s film and television landscape, becoming a leading player in Europe’s biggest and most competitive market. The company is receiving Variety’s International Achievement in Film Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Built by industry veteran Fred Kogel with financing from U.S. private equity group KKR, Leonine Studios is an entertainment conglomerate that has brought together some of Germany’s most successful production and distribution companies under one roof. “I always wanted to establish and create a company as a home of talents – the best people in the German business and then internationally – and create a new company for the digital age,” says Kogel, Leonine’s CEO. “That was the reality behind bringing Leonine to life in 2019 as that was the first time that German content could travel the world. That was the rationale.” 

Erling Haaland's quiet night in Madrid didn't go unnoticed by his Manchester City teammates, who are already plotting how to ensure the striker is more effective at the Etihad next week.

Sex Education star and West End powerhouse Hannah Waddingham last night sent Eurovision fans wild after making a cheeky dig at the expense of Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.Ted Lasso star Hannah, 48, was seen joining forces with Amanda's BGT co-star Alesha Dixon - as well as Ukrainian singer Julia Sanina - to present the first semi-final of the much-loved singing contest last night. It was during her hosting stint that Hannah left viewers in hysterics following a jibe at 52-year-old Amanda, whose role it was to award points on behalf of the United Kingdom during the 2021 ceremony. Mum-of-three Amanda previously came under fire during her Eurovision stint after making a joke that didn't go down well with viewers, quipping that she didn't know the difference between French and Dutch, leading some fans to dub her "arrogant".

Hadley Gamble, whose complaints led to the firing of ex-NBCUniversal boss Jeff Shell late last month, is leaving CNBC, the network said today.

Brian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Hadley Gamble, a CNBC reporter who ended up as part of the headlines involving the business-news outlet’s corporate parent and the ouster of its most recent CEO, is departing the company herself. “CNBC today announced that Hadley Gamble, Anchor and Senior International Correspondent, is leaving the company,” the network said in a statement. “Gamble has been a distinguished journalist for more than a decade for CNBC, undertaking highly visible and challenging assignments, and developing deep expertise in the Middle East and beyond. Her initiative and drive have secured valuable interviews with several world political leaders. We wish her every success in her future endeavors.”

A Beijing student at a Scottish university who laundered ten of thousands of pounds for a Glasgow-based Chinese crime lord wept as she was jailed today. Xiaotong Huang, 28, laundered nearly £85,000 for the "Mr Big", or "main nominal", who travelled round Scotland in a Mercedes handing bags of cash to associates to clean.

The irony? Raquel Leviss offered Ariana Madix advice about her sex life — while secretly having an affair with Tom Sandoval.

Scott Disick has suffered a double whammy as two of his exes hit the headlines with their new men, leaving him “heartbroken”.The reality star is said to be licking his wounds after his former girlfriend Sofia Richie tied the knot with music executive Elliot Grainge in April – the same month that Kourtney Kardashian’s wedding to Travis Barker premiered on television. Now a source close to the former Keeping Up With The Kardashians regular, 39, has told OK! that Scott doesn’t know who to turn to for a shoulder to cry on now that Kris Jenner is focused on Kourtney’s husband.

Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny stepped out for a stylish date night in New York City on Saturday. The couple was spotted at Pergola hookah bar in the Big Apple ahead of Monday's Met Gala. Kendall wore a sheer brown top, a leather miniskirt and knee-high boots with shearling and buckle details, while her beau -- whose real name is Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio — opted for an all-black shirt-and-pants look with a black-and-yellow jacket. Kendall, 27, and Bad Bunny, 29, have been getting increasingly public with their romance in recent weeks after they were first linked back in February.

Tom Cruise, Winnie the Pooh and Dame Joan Collins are a few of the acts who will feature during the Coronation Concert celebrating the crowning of the King and Queen Consort.

Scheana Shay is setting the record straight about whether Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval ended up fertilizing her eggs.

Jeff Shell, the ousted CEO of NBCUniversal, forfeited compensation valued at $43 million for 2022 after being fired for cause last Sunday.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Jeff Shell, the former chief executive of NBCUniversal, forfeited stock grants and options worth $43.3 million after he was fired for cause earlier this week, according to a Comcast regulatory filing. Shell was terminated as CEO of NBCU over the past weekend after an internal investigation into his relationship with Hadley Gamble, an international correspondent for CNBC. “As previously disclosed, Mr. Shell’s employment was terminated with cause on April 23, 2023. As a result, he did not receive any supplemental payments or benefits in connection with his termination,” Comcast said in its 2023 proxy statement. “He will receive only his accrued but unpaid base salary and vacation time, vested employee benefits and reimbursement for any unreimbursed business expenses in accordance with his employment agreement.”

Cynthia Littleton Business Editor The first rumblings about Comcast considering a major change involving NBCUniversal started this time last year.Now, in the wake of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell’s abrupt firing, industry speculation about what may be in store for the network-studio conglomerate has gone into what-if overdrive. Maybe NBCU merges with Hulu to become a stand-alone company. Maybe the cable operations of Comcast and the satellite business of the U.K.-based Sky are separated from NBCU.

Jennifer Maas TV Business Writer Top Comcast execs made their first public comments on the departure of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell Thursday, remarks that came as the company reported its Q1 earnings results. Comcast CEO Brian Roberts opened a call with investors by saying Shell’s exit due to “inappropriate relationship” with a subordinate was “obviously a tough moment” adding, “we are so fortunate to have a fabulous and tenured leadership team at NBCUniversal.” “When you go down the list, you’ll see many of them have been leading their divisions within the company for at least 10 years and are the best in the business,” Roberts said. “We are also lucky to have Mike Cavanagh stepped in to help NBCUniversal while also remaining president.”

in a video for the collab, in which he stone-coldly joked that he romanced his wife Kourtney Kardashian, 44, by using the kit. “What’s my secret? How did I marry the woman of my dreams?” Barker asks in the clip, which zooms in on Kardashian’s eyes tattooed on his thigh.The Liquid Death Enema of the State Collectible Enema Kit, which is a nod to Blink’s 1999 album “Enema of the State,” includes a premium enema bulb and a can of Liquid Death Mountain Water signed by Barker.For those unaware, an enema is a device used to inject fluids used to cleanse or stimulate the emptying of the bowels.“How have I had such a successful career in music? I use Liquid Death Mountain Water in my [bleeped],” he quipped in the promotion, appropriately referencing his butt.Commenters had mixed reactions to the product.“You’re not a true Blink fan unless you do enema shots of LD before the show,” one claimed.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer Jeff Shell was forced out as CEO of NBCUniversal after an internal investigation into his relationship with Hadley Gamble, an overseas correspondent for CNBC, two sources confirmed to Variety on Monday. In a securities filing on Monday, Comcast said that the company received a complaint of “inappropriate conduct,” including sexual harassment. During the investigation, “evidence was uncovered that corroborated the allegations,” leading to Shell’s termination “with cause.” Gamble is based in Abu Dhabi, where she anchors the “Capital Connection” broadcast. She has worked for the network since 2010. Her previous jobs included stints at CNN in Abu Dhabi and at ABC News and Fox News in Washington.

NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell was dismissed “with cause” due to “inappropriate conduct” and “sexual harassment” of an employee, according to a new SEC filing from parent company Comcast.

Fox, Comcast and Warner Bros Discovery shares each took a dip Monday after the media companies took turns generating industry-shaking headlines over less than 24 hours.