Brant Pubs Under Financial Fire â€" Even From Ex-Top Ed Director
Brant Publications, which produces such titles as Interview and Art in America, has been the brunt of some major criticism by people who've claimed that they weren't getting paid. Now there is corroboration from Glenn O'Brien, who, up until recently, was the company's editorial director.
"They're not paying anybody -- even people under contract," O'Brien told Page Six yesterday. "They owe everybody -- retouchers, printers, photographers, writers . . . It's been horrible for months. You don't want to assign stories if the writers won't get paid."Apparently, the dollars have been tight and the complaints forthcoming for a while this year, at least. An anonymous freelance writer posting on Mediabistro.com complained in February of checking on an invoice and being told that "'funds are tight' and that all the writers will be paid, but 'not right now'." Other writers mentioned that the magazine had a reputation for slow payment. In March, Gawker.com noted a tip that Interview wasn't paying then because "they just don't have the cash."
There are other indications that money has reportedly been tight over at Brant. For example, ad pages at Interview fell a reported 27 percent in 2008.
It's been a rough time for company owner Peter Brant, who has been going through a reportedly messy divorce from former Victoria's Secret model Stephanie Seymour. It sounds as though things have been getting ugly out in Greenwich.
Before feeling too sorry for the plight that owner Peter Brant must be feeling, you can be relieved that apparently he was at least able to start yet another magazine as well as buy a $50 million private jet. Maybe those who are unpaid can take what they're owed in frequent flier miles. But, good news, he's found a way to tighten the corporate belt -- bring in 17 unpaid interns. Wait, isn't everyone an intern there?
Image via Flickr user miguelb, CC 2.0.