Hilary Swank Sacks Manager for Chechen PR Debacle
Back from her widely criticized appearance to celebrate the controversial Chechen president, Hilary Swank has begun to fire those responsible for arranging her visit.
The U.K.’s Independent newspaper reported that Swank fired her friend and manager of eight years, Jason Weinberg, whom she thanked during her speech after winning the best actress Oscar for “Million Dollar Baby.”
Swank’s rep did not respond immediately to ABC News’ requests for comment.
The two-time, Oscar-winning actress had accepted a six-figure fee for her gushing happy birthday wish to Chechnya’s autocratic President Ramzan Kadyrov, who is accused of the torture of dissidents, political assassinations and encouraging citizens to abuse immodestly dressed women.
Also in attendance at the Oct. 5 event were Seal, Jean-Claude Van Damme and violinist Vanessa Mae.
After being widely criticized, Swank, 37, pledged to donate her fee to “various charitable organizations,” and said “[she] deeply regrets attending.”
Prior to the event, Weinberg, whose clients include Madonna, Demi Moore and Lindsay Lohan, reportedly told New York-based organization Human Rights Foundation that Hilary “had no plans to attend.”
Creative Arts Agency reps Amie Yavor, Josh Lieberman and Lauren Hale, who traveled with Hilary to the Grozny event, might be next in line for pink slips, according to reports.
But the Independent said Swank, who earns up to $8 million a film, has no plans to end her relationship with CAA, since her partner of five years, John Campisi, works for the agency.