The Tyrant Billionaire

Hardy's speech not only stunned the celebrity guests present, but it also caused a massive stir when it was aired on the "Irina Tonight Show."

The "casting couch" practice is incredibly common in Hollywood, having become an open secret that has harmed countless people.

Now, Hardy was challenging the entire entertainment industry, promising to stop this practice if he became the president of the Actors Guild.

No one had ever wanted to stop it before, no one even dared to mention it.

The next day, Hardy's statements were featured in the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and countless tabloids.

The newspapers first introduced Hardy.

Enlisting in World War II, he earned combat medals, returned home after a severe injury, and came to Los Angeles in the winter of 1945. Within two years, he became a millionaire through his ventures.

He is now the owner of HD Security, HD Films, chairman of ABC Television, owner of Playboy magazine, and the Hardy Grand Hotel in Las Vegas.

In addition, he owns several publicly listed companies.

To others, Hardy's resume seemed like a fantasy, straight out of a fairy tail, where luck isn't just by his side, but drinking with him every night.

Of course, this is just the Hardy known to the public.

Those who truly understand him know that Hardy is even more formidable than the newspapers depict.

Regarding Hardy's comments, the newspapers offered various opinions.

"Producers, directors, investors, and those in power have emperor like control over actors. A single word can decide an actor's opportunity, even their future. Actors can only grovel to please them, many even sacrificing their bodies."

"A former actress who left the industry revealed that in her three years in showbiz, she encountered over a hundred casting couch situations, sleeping with countless men. Although she landed a few roles, she became depressed after being subjected to perverse abuse for a role. She questioned the meaning of life and eventually left the entertainment industry in silence.

The casting couch has become the norm in the entertainment industry."

"The chaos in showbiz has long been recognized. Many hope someone can change this. Can Jon Hardy do it? Hopefully, he can."

"Does sleeping with female fans count as a casting couch? This too should be condemned!"

In the entertainment industry, many discussed Hardy's remarks, often being victims of the casting couch themselves.

They understood firsthand.

In a modest apartment in Los Angeles, two young girls watched Hardy's speech on TV, with one suddenly bursting into tears.

"What's wrong, Luna?" her companion asked, hugging her for comfort.

"If Mr. Hardy's words are true, our agent wouldn't dare force us to sleep with men. I feel like a prostitute, not an actress," the girl sobbed.

The other girl cried too, as they had both been deceived into signing with an agency and coerced into selling their bodies.

"Luna, we are also members of the Actors Guild. If Mr. Hardy takes office, we can file a complaint with the guild. They should handle it," her friend said.

"Will they really? This is a tough issue to handle."

"Maybe."

The girl nodded vigorously, "I'll definitely vote for Mr. Hardy, for a glimmer of hope."

Not just small time actresses, even some who had made a name for themselves felt deeply about this. Even now, they had to make sacrifices to get roles.

They too hoped to change the status quo.

Voting for Hardy represented hope.

Of course, certain producers, directors, agents, and even movie company bosses resented Hardy's remarks, as he unveiled something they had been deliberately hiding, threatening their interests.

If it were an ordinary person, these powerful figures in Hollywood would unite against them, through verbal attacks or using connections to suppress them, eliminating anyone who dared to challenge them.

But facing Hardy, they didn't dare, nor did they have the ability.

Anyone who dared to act against Hardy would end up miserably and tragically.
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Still, someone couldn't hold back and secretly released a statement. A tabloid published an article titled "Stirring up the Casting Couch Issue is Disrespectful to Colleagues."

The article claimed that most instances didn't involve coercion. Everyone is an adult, and many women voluntarily stripped for benefits.

Hardy was merely exploiting this issue for election purposes, disrespecting the entertainment industry, which could harm its popularity. Such a person becoming the president of the Actors Guild would not be a blessing for actors.

Hardy just laughed after reading the article. Was this a rebuttal? It only made things worse. Nevertheless, he instructed an investigation into who wrote the article.

Henry reported that the newspaper received an anonymous letter. The editor found the topic sensational and published it to boost sales and visibility.

Hardy nodded.

"After the election, two weeks later, have that newspaper office experience a fire. No fatalities," Hardy said.

Henry nodded with a smile.

Regardless of your intentions, you attacked Hardy, and a counterattack is only fair.

When you decide to offend someone, you should anticipate retaliation.

If not, you're a fool and unfit for survival. Next time, it might not be a fire, but a catastrophe.

Andy had assembled the management team for the 'Venetian Hotel' project, including a supervisor, two accountants, and two lawyers. The company opened an account with Wells Fargo, with funds from various families deposited into this account, ensuring proper and lawful use of the funds.

Hardy wasn't Sigel, he would do things legitimately, avoiding the mob approach, ensuring everything was legal and above board, leaving no room for criticism.

Funds were already starting to come in. The first was from the Corleone family. Hardy called New York to speak with the old Godfather.

"Rest assured, this investment will not disappoint the Corleone family. I am confident," Hardy said with a smile.

The old Godfather chuckled, "Hardy, I have more confidence in you than you do in yourself."

"Thank you for your trust."

"No, your abilities have already told everyone. I can sense that this is not your limit. You will achieve even greater things," the old Godfather said.

Being praised by someone he once admired made Hardy very happy.