Kjersti Flaa

Kjersti[a] Flaa is a Norwegian junket reporter and journalist known for her promotional interviews with celebrities.

In 2020, Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after it did not elect her as a member. Her suit was dismissed, but inspired an investigation that led to changes in the organization.

She gained public attention in August 2024 after she reuploaded a 2016 interview with actresses Blake Lively and Parker Posey promoting the film Café Society, where Lively showed hostility towards Flaa.[2] The uploading coincided with controversy surrounding the film It Ends with Us involving Lively, who starred in the film, as well as the film's director Justin Baldoni.[3][2][4][5]

Early life and career

Kjersti Flaa was born in Norway. Her journalism career began primarily in New York before she relocated to Los Angeles in 2015 to focus on entertainment reporting.[6] Flaa has written for Norwegian magazines and newspapers and has contributed to TV2's God kveld Norge (Good evening Norway).[6] She founded Content Now TV, a production company, in 2018, making entertainment videos for Viaplay.[7]

In 2019, she won third place for One-on-One Interview, TV Personalities at the 12th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards for her interview with Henry Winkler.[8] She was 2nd place for the 2019 SoCal Journalism Award Personality Profile (foreign correspondents) for her interview with Jane Fonda[7] as well as the Foreign Correspondents Best Entertainment News or Feature for her interview with Diane Keaton[9] at the 61st and 62nd SoCal Journalism Awards (held in 2019 and 2020 respectively).[10][9]

Interviews

Flaa has published several of her interviews on YouTube, which has led to some media attention.[1] As of late 2024, her YouTube-channel had over a hundred million views.[11]

Anne Hathaway

In 2012, Flaa interviewed actress Anne Hathaway regarding the film Les Misérables. When Flaa uploaded this video in 2024, Hathaway sent her an apology via her publicist.[12][13]

Blake Lively and Parker Posey

Flaa received attention for a 2016 interview with actresses Blake Lively and Parker Posey during the press tour for their film Café Society.[3] The interview resurfaced in August 2024 when Flaa uploaded a clip to her YouTube channel, describing the encounter as "the most uncomfortable interview situation I have ever experienced".[3][2] During the interview, Flaa congratulated Lively on her pregnancy and "little bump", to which Lively responded by saying "congrats on your little bump."[14] Flaa later stated that the comment was hurtful due to her struggles with infertility at the time.[15]

Flaa also asked the actresses about the film's costumes, leading Lively to question whether male actors would be asked similar questions.[15] Flaa replied that they would.[14] Flaa later mentioned that she would welcome an apology from Lively but expressed doubt that it would happen.[16]

The reupload happened shortly after the release of It Ends with Us which Lively was starring in, which was mired in controversy. This heightened interest in the video,[4][17] which as of late 2024 had more than five million views.[1] The New York Times mentioned Flaa in their reporting on the film's director Justin Baldoni's alleged smear campaign against Lively.[18] Flaa responded to the Times, contesting what she described as the "insinuation" of her involvement.[19] The Times then expanded the online version of their article, adding a statement from Flaa that the reupload "was neither coordinated nor influenced by anyone associated with the alleged campaign".[1] Elsewhere, she has said that "I posted the video after I had seen the movie", and "And I had a bad experience with Blake Lively, and at that time I was like 'I've kind of had enough of Hollywood' ... so I decided to post the video."[17][20]

Claudia Kim

In November 2018, Flaa faced criticism after an interview with Korean actress Claudia Kim, during the press tour for Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. During the interview, Flaa asked Kim whether she had read the Harry Potter books in English when she was in middle school. The question was perceived by some as racially insensitive. Flaa issued public apologies, explaining that her question was based on curiosity and was not intended to be offensive, since she herself learned English as a second language later on in her life.[21] HFPA brought up this incident in the 2020 suit.[22]

Diane Keaton

Flaa won a 2020 62nd SoCal Journalism Award for an interview with Diane Keaton. The judges commented that it was "an engaging interview with a fascinating and thoughtful range of topics. The interviewer and Keaton maintained an endearing chemistry in their exchanges, which seemed to elicit authentic responses that surely resonate with viewers."[9]

Lawsuit against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association

In August 2020, Flaa filed an antitrust lawsuit against the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), then-organizers of the Golden Globe Awards, after being denied membership in 2018 and again in 2019. The lawsuit alleged that the HFPA operated as a cartel, using its influence to monopolize entertainment journalism and exclude qualified journalists from joining the group. Flaa claimed that certain members opposed her membership due to concerns that she would compete with them for access to Hollywood coverage in Scandinavian outlets.[23]

The lawsuit accused the HFPA of maintaining a culture of corruption and using its control over the Golden Globe Awards to maintain its power. The HFPA denied these claims, describing the lawsuit as a "publicity stunt" and asserting that membership could not be obtained through intimidation.[23]

The lawsuit inspired an investigation by the Los Angeles Times which highlighted issues within the HFPA, including its lack of diversity—most notably, the absence of Black members.[24] The controversy led to a Hollywood-wide boycott of the HFPA, with major studios cutting ties with the organization and NBC canceling the planned telecast of the 2022 Golden Globes.[24] The HFPA implemented reforms, including adding new members and diversifying its ranks.[25]

The suit was dismissed in November 2020. The judge found that Flaa had achieved professional success without HFPA membership.[7] In December 2022, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the federal district court's decision to dismiss, finding no evidence to support her claims of antitrust violations.[25]

Personal life

Originally from Haslum, Norway, as of 2020 she lives in California.[26][6] Flaa continues her work in entertainment journalism, maintaining a presence on her YouTube channel and in Norwegian media outlets.[6] As of 2023, she is in a relationship with Swedish journalist Magnus Sundholm.[27] Sundholm was a HFPA-member, but was expelled in 2021.[28]

Notes

  1. ^ Pronounced ÇER-shty[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jessica, Roy (October 16, 2024). "Has a Celebrity Interview Made You Cringe? It Was Probably Hers". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 12, 2025. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Crosbie, Eve. "Reporter from resurfaced Blake Lively interview says the actor's 'little bump' comment 'was like a bullet' as she was struggling with infertility". Business Insider. Retrieved August 18, 2024. A video of Blake Lively acting hostile toward [Flaa] in a 2016 interview resurfaced this week." ... "Amid the rumors of behind-the-scenes drama on her new movie "It Ends With Us," Blake Lively faced backlash this week after a clip of her acting hostile toward a journalist [Kjersti Flaa] during a 2016 interview went viral.
  3. ^ a b c Blanchet, Brenton. "Blake Lively Faces Backlash Over 'Uncomfortable' 2016 Interview, Source Blasts Journalist's 'Rude Statement' (Exclusive)". People Magazine. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Sophie, Hessekiel (August 14, 2024). "Journalist Reposts Awkward Blake Lively Interview Amid Controversial 'It Ends With Us' Press Tour". Newsweek. Retrieved March 3, 2025.
  5. ^ Kjersti Flaa (2024-08-10). The Blake Lively interview that made me want to quit my job. Retrieved 2025-03-04 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ a b c d Maddaus, Gene (2020-08-04). "Norwegian Reporter on Her Fight With the Hollywood Foreign Press Association". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  7. ^ a b c Perman, Stacy (25 November 2020). "Judge dismisses antitrust suit against Golden Globes organization". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  8. ^ "National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards" (PDF). Los Angeles Press Club. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  9. ^ a b c "SoCal Journalism Awards - Past Winners" (PDF). Los Angeles Press Club. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 12, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  10. ^ "SoCal Journalism Awards - Past Winners" (PDF). Los Angeles Press Club. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 25, 2024. Retrieved March 2, 2025.
  11. ^ Borge Fredriksen, Håkon (2 November 2024). "Kjersti Flaa ble verdenskjent: - Tjener mer enn noen gang". TV 2 Direkte (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  12. ^ Muir, Ellie (9 October 2024). "Anne Hathaway apologises to journalist after 'rude' 2012 interview goes viral". The Independent. Retrieved 5 March 2025.
  13. ^ Mills, Simon (16 October 2024). "Anne Hathaway, no need to apologise to an interviewer: the ruder the better". The Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  14. ^ a b Parkel, Inga (August 17, 2024). "Blake Lively interviewer was struggling with infertility during 'traumatizing' press junket". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  15. ^ a b McGuigan, Molly (2024-08-16). "Reporter Reveals Why Blake Lively's 'Little Bump' Joke Was 'A Bullet'". Us Weekly. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  16. ^ "Blake Lively interviewer would 'welcome' an apology after 'rude' chat goes viral". The Independent. 2024-08-17. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  17. ^ a b Parkel, Inga (2024-12-23). "Blake Lively interviewer denies involvement in alleged It Ends With Us smear campaign". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  18. ^ Roxborough, Scott (2025-01-03). "The Norwegian Journalist Caught in the Crossfire of the Blake Lively-Justin Baldoni Battle Takes on Her Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  19. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (2024-12-23). "Journalist Who Went Viral for Criticizing Blake Lively Denies Being Part of Justin Baldoni's Alleged Smear Campaign: 'I Would Never Do That'". Variety. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  20. ^ Kaufman, Anna. "She posted a video of Blake Lively. Now this journalist is accused of helping smear the star". USA Today. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  21. ^ Min-ho, Jung (9 November 2018). "Norwegian reporter apologizes over 'racist' question for Korean actress". The Korea Times. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  22. ^ Maddaus, Gene (5 October 2020). "Hollywood Foreign Press Association Seeks to Dismiss Norwegian Reporter's Lawsuit". Variety. Retrieved 9 March 2025.
  23. ^ a b Desta, Yohana (2020-08-04). "New Lawsuit Compares Golden Globe Voting Body to a 'Cartel'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  24. ^ a b Maddaus, Gene (2021-05-18). "HFPA Rejects $2.5 Million Settlement Offer From Norwegian Reporter". Variety. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  25. ^ a b "Dismissal of journalists' lawsuit against Golden Globes is upheld". Los Angeles Times. 2022-12-09. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  26. ^ Reffhaug Craig, Elin (27 June 2021). "Haslum-dame skaper Hollywood-historie". Budstikka (in Norwegian). Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  27. ^ Røssland, Vilde Holta (26 February 2023). "Norske Kjersti tar et knallhardt oppgjør med Hollywood: – Folk er feige". Nettavisen (in Norwegian). Retrieved 7 March 2025.
  28. ^ Feinberg, Scott (21 October 2021). "Golden Globes: HFPA Member Whose Girlfriend Sued Organization Expelled for IRS Mishap". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 March 2025.
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