Filmmaker Sets Up Undercover Sting Operation To Expose 'Hypocrisy' Among Celebrity Environmentalists
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A controversial journalist set up an undercover sting operation to try and expose the so-called "hypocrisy" among celebrity environmentalists.
In hidden camera video obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, actors Ed Begley Jr. and Mariel Hemingway, along with movie producers Josh and Rebecca Tickell, met with a man named "Muhammad," who offers millions to fund an anti-fracking documentary as long as they keep it silent that it will be funded by Middle East oil interests.
"You're in with us on this, Ed, right?" Muhammad said on the video.
"Oh, yeah," Begley responded.
CBS2's Brittney Hoppers reports that filmmaker James O'Keefe staged the meeting as part of a documentary that will be unveiled Wednesday at the Cannes Film Festival.
A spokesperson for the Tickells, the owners of Green Planet Productions, said the truth will come out.
"They did nothing wrong and they are very clear on that," Jonathan Franks said. "It was a first meeting and long before any money was taken there would have been detailed due diligence."
In a statement, Begley Jr. said, "I was not there to take any money. I was there to support a friend."
"You know, they're trying to find who's being dishonest or hypocritical, and yet, they do this, and they have a secret guy, a fake guy, that's not dishonest?" Hemingway told Fox News.
