CNN took another credibility hit this week after it seemingly ran defense for Kathleen Kennedy in what now appears to have been a blatant PR move, according to information shared by Puck’s Matt Belloni. The network published an article contradicting Puck’s report that Kennedy is planning her exit from Lucasfilm—citing a vague, anonymous “source close to the situation” who claimed there was “nothing there right now.”
Now, Belloni has exposed exactly who that source likely was—Kennedy’s personal publicist, Simon Halls.
A screenshot from CNN – YouTube, CNN
This raises a glaring issue. If Belloni’s report is accurate, that means CNN didn’t get tricked into running spin for Kathleen Kennedy—they knowingly participated in it.
Belloni Identifies Simon Halls as the Likely Source of CNN’s Story
In Belloni’s latest rebuttal to Deadline’s Mike Fleming Jr.—who ran an embarrassingly sycophantic interview with Kennedy to push back against Puck’s reporting—Belloni revealed a critical detail about the PR machine behind the scenes.
“Partial blame here goes to Kennedy’s personal publicist Simon Halls,” he said, “who’s been busy this week spinning journalists that Kathy’s timetable is ‘all speculative’ and ‘there’s nothing new here.’”
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
That language is eerily identical to what CNN’s “source close to the situation” told the network when they attempted to contradict Puck’s report.
“There’s nothing there right now,” was the direct quote CNN cited.
If Belloni is correct—and given his deep industry connections, it’s hard to imagine he’s wrong—this means CNN wasn’t reporting news, they were publishing PR spin directly from Kennedy’s team without disclosing the source’s agenda.
This is a serious breach of journalistic integrity.
CNN Knew Exactly What It Was Doing
The key issue here isn’t that CNN was misled—it’s that if what Belloni said is true and this verbiage came directly from Kennedy’s publicist, they knew exactly what they were doing and still chose to run the story.
A network with CNN’s resources knows full well that a personal publicist is not an impartial source—their entire job is to shape public perception in favor of their client. Yet instead of disclosing that the information came from Kennedy’s PR team, CNN hid the source behind vague phrasing to make it seem like an objective insider.
This is not journalism—it’s corporate propaganda.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: (L-R) Alan Bergman, Co-Chairman, Disney Entertainment, Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm, Leslye Headland and Asad Ayaz, Chief Brand Officer, The Walt Disney Company and President, Marketing, The Walt Disney Studios and Disney attend the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
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Would the network have done the same if a studio executive had leaked the opposite story, confirming Kennedy’s exit? Unlikely.
Instead, it appears as though CNN chose to shield this Kathleen Kennedy PR narrative behind the illusion of neutral reporting.
Why CNN Would Carry Water for Kennedy
This raises another question: Why would CNN rush to Kennedy’s defense in the first place?
One possible explanation is access journalism—a common but unethical practice in which media outlets trade favorable coverage for continued insider access. Kennedy has long been a Hollywood power player, and her team undoubtedly has deep media connections. By running a defensive piece for Lucasfilm’s president, CNN likely ensured they remain in good standing with her and Disney for future coverage.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy onstage during the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images for Disney)
In other words, CNN didn’t “report” the news—they knowingly ran PR spin as fact to maintain industry relationships.
The Broader Problem: Corporate PR Masquerading as News
This situation isn’t just about Kennedy—it’s part of a larger media credibility crisis.
If Belloni’s report is accurate, CNN’s decision to launder a publicist’s talking points as insider reporting is a textbook example of why public trust in mainstream media has plummeted. Audiences expect journalism to be rooted in truth, not corporate messaging. When networks like CNN willingly blur that line, it further erodes confidence in their ability to report honestly.
The facts remain unchanged:
- Kennedy herself admitted that succession planning is happening.
- An announcement will come within the next year.
No amount of CNN spin will change that.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 23: Kathleen Kennedy, President, Lucasfilm attends the launch event for Lucasfilm’s new Star Wars series The Acolyte at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on May 23, 2024. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)
What this really proves is that Hollywood and its media allies will go to extreme lengths to control the narrative—even if it means deceiving the public.
And CNN was seemingly more than happy to play along.
Do you think CNN ran cover for Kathleen Kennedy? Sound off in the comments below and let us know!
“CNN” and “journalistic integrity” don’t belong in the same sentence. In fact any MSM outlet and “journalistic integrity” don’t belong in the same sentence. The Babylon Bee is more reliable than most every other outlet.
Which is why I fully believe CNN ran the story *knowing* it was PR and nothing more. Their viewership numbers and site hits are some of the the lowest among legacy media outlets. They’re desperate for relevance and will do anything in their blind panic to get it. ABC, NBC, and CBS are approaching similar lows. Even Fox News is getting about a seventh of what they did just ten years ago (two-million now vs fifteen-million in ’15).
“What I find most surprising is that CNN still exists.” – Elon Musk
Kathleen Kenney is a DEI manager. Incompetent, and destructive. We’ve all seen her like, those of us who worked for a big organisation. They’re everywhere, destroying wealth and morale.
CNN, the Shill Media, the MSM, got exposed during the Trump election. Not only exposed for lying, claiming Biden, then Kamala, were somehow anything but monsters, (globalist puppets)… But exposed for having lost their once-iron grip on the opinions of most of the population.
Whatever they write is controlled by globalists, never believe a word of it.