Paul Hutchinson — an executive producer on Sound of Freedom, the film loosely based on anti-trafficking expert Tim Ballard — has admitted to touching the breasts of a possibly underage trafficking victim during a 2016 sting operation in Mexico.
At the time, Hutchinson was working with Operation Underground Railroad (or Our), the anti-trafficking group founded by Ballard in 2013. According to a Vice report, footage catching Hutchinson in the act was captured by videographers working with Our on a documentary and subsequent TV series called The Abolitionists. This footage was then reviewed by investigator Bryan Purdy of the Davis County Attorney’s Office, who wrote detailed descriptions of it as part of an FBI investigation into Ballard and Our that was closed earlier this year without any charges being brought forward.
Documents obtained through a public records request from Vice News include descriptions showing that Hutchinson and Our believed the trafficking victim was 16 years old at the time.
At the time, Hutchinson was working with Operation Underground Railroad (or Our), the anti-trafficking group founded by Ballard in 2013. According to a Vice report, footage catching Hutchinson in the act was captured by videographers working with Our on a documentary and subsequent TV series called The Abolitionists. This footage was then reviewed by investigator Bryan Purdy of the Davis County Attorney’s Office, who wrote detailed descriptions of it as part of an FBI investigation into Ballard and Our that was closed earlier this year without any charges being brought forward.
Documents obtained through a public records request from Vice News include descriptions showing that Hutchinson and Our believed the trafficking victim was 16 years old at the time.
- 9/19/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Film News
The release of Sound of Freedom should’ve been a victory lap for Tim Ballard, founder and former CEO of the anti-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad. A fictionalized version of Ballard, played by actor Jim Caviezel, is the protagonist of the film, which depicts him as a crusading avenger for abducted children. The movie — made on a small budget but a runaway hit with conservative audiences this summer — also doubled as a public relations coup for Our, whose supposed real-life trafficking rescue expeditions are highlighted in an epilogue.
But shortly...
But shortly...
- 9/7/2023
- by Miles Klee
- Rollingstone.com
Since The Sound of Freedom was released in theaters last week, the inspiration for the film, Tim Ballard, the CEO of the anti-trafficking organization Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), has been getting quite a bit of attention — and not all of it has been positive. The film, which has grossed nearly $50 million, has been subject to criticism from anti-trafficking experts, many of whom claim it is an inaccurate depiction of child trafficking and that the tactics espoused in the film may actually put trafficked kids in danger. Others have...
- 7/13/2023
- by Rolling Stone
- Rollingstone.com
WWE.com
Big Show believes every wrestler accepts a responsibility when they work in the wrestling business and that people suing WWE about a loved one dying prematurely are wrong to do so, according to comments he made to TMZ.
Show was asked about the wife of Doink the Clown (real name Matt Osborne) suing WWE and blaming them for the problems that led to his death.
Here’s how Show explained his opinion on the matter:
“I think everybody that steps through those ropes knows what could possibly happen. It takes one hit to end a career, one hit to end your life. You gotta accept that responsibility when you step through those ropes whether you’re a boxer, ultimate fighter or sports entertainer…football, this is what people are trained to do, and you accept your lot in your life. I have nothing but good things to say...
Big Show believes every wrestler accepts a responsibility when they work in the wrestling business and that people suing WWE about a loved one dying prematurely are wrong to do so, according to comments he made to TMZ.
Show was asked about the wife of Doink the Clown (real name Matt Osborne) suing WWE and blaming them for the problems that led to his death.
Here’s how Show explained his opinion on the matter:
“I think everybody that steps through those ropes knows what could possibly happen. It takes one hit to end a career, one hit to end your life. You gotta accept that responsibility when you step through those ropes whether you’re a boxer, ultimate fighter or sports entertainer…football, this is what people are trained to do, and you accept your lot in your life. I have nothing but good things to say...
- 7/11/2015
- by John Canton
- Obsessed with Film
WWE.com
The spectre of drug abuse has haunted the world of professional wrestling for decades. In the boom of the eighties, with little to no regulation or intervention, drug use spiraled out of control; in the upswing of the Monday Night Wars and the Attitude Era, the problem became more severe than ever.
There are three main areas with drug abuse that affect wrestlers: performance enhancement drugs like anabolic steroids; recreational drugs like alcohol, cocaine, crack and crystal meth; and the abuse of prescription painkillers. This last is probably the most pervasive throughout the industry, and has been for a very long time. Wrestlers work long, late hours with very few holidays, always work hurt, and often work injured – it’s considered to be an occupational hazard.
Managing chronic pain with drugs is the real hazard however, and tragically many wrestlers don’t ever get well enough to move...
The spectre of drug abuse has haunted the world of professional wrestling for decades. In the boom of the eighties, with little to no regulation or intervention, drug use spiraled out of control; in the upswing of the Monday Night Wars and the Attitude Era, the problem became more severe than ever.
There are three main areas with drug abuse that affect wrestlers: performance enhancement drugs like anabolic steroids; recreational drugs like alcohol, cocaine, crack and crystal meth; and the abuse of prescription painkillers. This last is probably the most pervasive throughout the industry, and has been for a very long time. Wrestlers work long, late hours with very few holidays, always work hurt, and often work injured – it’s considered to be an occupational hazard.
Managing chronic pain with drugs is the real hazard however, and tragically many wrestlers don’t ever get well enough to move...
- 6/19/2015
- by Ben Cooke
- Obsessed with Film
Copyright: WWE Legends Of Mid-South Wrestling Blu-ray
When most wrestling fans think of New Orleans these days, they think of WrestleMania 30, coming up on April 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
What many younger fans may not realize is that New Orleans was one of the hottest cities in the old Mid-South territory back in the early ’80s, with Ted Dibiase, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Kamala, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, and announcer Jim Ross being among the prominent names who left an indelible mark on professional wrestling.
With athletic, bruising matches orchestrated by no-nonsense promoter “Cowboy” Bill Watt, Mid-South garnered national attention for its evocative storytelling and Superdome Extravaganzas, featuring the Road Warriors, the Midnight Express, the Von Erichs, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Andre the Giant.
In recent years, WWE purchased the Mid-South Wrestling video library — more than 1,200 hours of TV programming from...
When most wrestling fans think of New Orleans these days, they think of WrestleMania 30, coming up on April 6 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
What many younger fans may not realize is that New Orleans was one of the hottest cities in the old Mid-South territory back in the early ’80s, with Ted Dibiase, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Junkyard Dog, King Kong Bundy, Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Kamala, Steve “Dr. Death” Williams, and announcer Jim Ross being among the prominent names who left an indelible mark on professional wrestling.
With athletic, bruising matches orchestrated by no-nonsense promoter “Cowboy” Bill Watt, Mid-South garnered national attention for its evocative storytelling and Superdome Extravaganzas, featuring the Road Warriors, the Midnight Express, the Von Erichs, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and Andre the Giant.
In recent years, WWE purchased the Mid-South Wrestling video library — more than 1,200 hours of TV programming from...
- 2/11/2014
- by Marshall Ward
- Obsessed with Film
Ex-wwe star Doink the Clown died from a toxic overdose of morphine and hydrocodone ... this according to officials in Collin County, Texas. TMZ has obtained the autopsy report for Matthew Wade Osborne -- whose body was discovered at his girlfriend's home on June 28. According to the report, the medical examiner discovered "high levels of the opiates morphine and hydrocodone" in Osborne's system at the time of his death. Fyi -- hydrocodone is the key ingredient of the painkiller Vicodin.
- 7/19/2013
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Matt Borne, the original Doink The Clown, has been found dead at the age of 55-years-old.
F4WOnline.com and PWInsider.com have both confirmed that Borne (full name Osborne) was found dead on Friday by his girlfriend he had been staying with in Texas. No reason for the cause of his death has been announced as of yet.
The WWE have issued a statement regarding Borne’s passing;
“Reports indicate that Matt Osborne, aka the original Doink the Clown, has passed away. A rugged brawler in promotions like Mid-South Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling, Osborne made a major impact in WWE under the greasepaint of a prankster named Doink — one of the most enduring personas of the early ’90s.
“WWE is saddened by the news of Osborne’s passing. Our deepest condolences go out to Osborne’s family, friends and fans.”
Osborne, by far the best performer as the infamous crazed clown,...
F4WOnline.com and PWInsider.com have both confirmed that Borne (full name Osborne) was found dead on Friday by his girlfriend he had been staying with in Texas. No reason for the cause of his death has been announced as of yet.
The WWE have issued a statement regarding Borne’s passing;
“Reports indicate that Matt Osborne, aka the original Doink the Clown, has passed away. A rugged brawler in promotions like Mid-South Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling, Osborne made a major impact in WWE under the greasepaint of a prankster named Doink — one of the most enduring personas of the early ’90s.
“WWE is saddened by the news of Osborne’s passing. Our deepest condolences go out to Osborne’s family, friends and fans.”
Osborne, by far the best performer as the infamous crazed clown,...
- 6/28/2013
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
We are now one week away from the 29th edition of Wrestlemania – the biggest and grandest PPV in the history of the wrestling industry. For almost three decades Wrestlemania has been the scene of some of wrestling’s greatest feuds and most memorable moments. Stars have been made and careers etched in the annals of time. But as big as it has become the original Wrestlemania was far from being “The Grandest Stage of ‘em all” as it has become know. It wasn’t even given full national PPV exposure! Unbelievable when you think of how huge the event is today.
For those of you that are new to WWE or perhaps weren’t around when it all began What Culture show’s its age and goes back to 1985 to bring you a full run down of all 28 previous Wrestlemanias. If this doesn’t get you in the mood for...
For those of you that are new to WWE or perhaps weren’t around when it all began What Culture show’s its age and goes back to 1985 to bring you a full run down of all 28 previous Wrestlemanias. If this doesn’t get you in the mood for...
- 4/2/2013
- by Matt Aspin
- Obsessed with Film
Let’s go back to a simpler time, a time when Hockey Players and Garbage men, gathered together to do battle inside the squared circle. That’s right, I’m talking about the professional wrestling in the 1990s. A time where talented wrestlers were given over the top, ridiculous gimmicks that did nothing other than destroy their careers. Many men fell victim to the 90′s desire for goofy wrestlers with stupid back stories, but none more so than Doink the Clown.
Doink is a veritable legend in the world of professional wrestling, he also isn’t real. Doink is a character, one that has been played by no less than three people since his debut in 1992. So to be a little more accurate I should say that Doink’s career was not squashed by the absurd gimmick, Doink was the absurd gimmick that squashed the career of a talented wrestler.
Doink is a veritable legend in the world of professional wrestling, he also isn’t real. Doink is a character, one that has been played by no less than three people since his debut in 1992. So to be a little more accurate I should say that Doink’s career was not squashed by the absurd gimmick, Doink was the absurd gimmick that squashed the career of a talented wrestler.
- 2/7/2013
- by Chris Librizzi
- Obsessed with Film
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