Ex-TMZ Employee Alleges Levin Removed Kanye's Hitler Comments to Preserve Access
A former TMZ staffer told GQ that Harvey Levin edited out Kanye West's praise of Adolf Hitler from a 2018 interview, a decision the source called unusual for a serious newsroom. The claim suggests Levin prioritized maintaining celebrity access over publishing controversial remarks. The GQ investigation also details other editorial moves, including paying $80,000 to shelve a video of Justin Bieber using a racial slur.
The GQ investigation, conducted by Joshua Hunt, drew on interviews with over two dozen current and former TMZ employees. Evan Rosenblum, a 15-year veteran, confirmed that Harvey Levin personally ordered the removal of West's Hitler remarks from the 2018 taping, aligning with earlier claims made by Van Lathan Jr.
The report also highlights a pattern of editorial decisions, including paying $80,000 to suppress a video of Justin Bieber using a racial slur, which Levin framed as ethical. Additionally, TMZ maintained its UFC coverage despite obtaining footage of Dana White's altercation with his wife around the time Levin interviewed White.
This revelation could further erode public trust in entertainment news outlets, suggesting that access to celebrities may sometimes outweigh journalistic responsibility. Readers may question the integrity of other reported stories, while celebrities might feel emboldened to expect favorable edits. The pattern of suppressing harmful content could normalize a culture where powerful figures shield themselves from accountability, potentially influencing how audiences perceive the reliability of celebrity journalism.