Whatever Is Going on with TMZ and Savannah Guthrie Feels Gross
Details are still coming to light surrounding the disappearance and possible abduction of Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie. The 84-year-old has reportedly been missing since Saturday night… and a new wrinkle in the ordeal has once again put TMZ in the hot seat.
On Tuesday morning, TMZ reported on the contents of a ransom note appearing to be tied to Guthrie’s disappearance. The captors demanded millions of dollars in Bitcoin to be sent to a certain address, allegedly referenced items found in Guthrie’s home, and placed a deadline on when the money needed to be turned in by. Their reporting added that they “forwarded the alleged ransom demand to the Pima County Sheriff.”
According to new reporting from CBS News, authorities in Pima County, Arizona had already received the note on Monday, and agreed not to report on it right away. As Sheriff Chris Nanos put it, “It’s like any piece of evidence. You give it to us, you give us a lead, we’re going to look at every aspect of that lead.”
Nanos continues to say that, once the FBI reviewed the note, it shared the information with Savannah… but had hoped to keep the contents of it private in the immediate. Once TMZ reported on the note before forwarding it to the sheriff’s office, the circumstances changed.
Shortly after TMZ’s reporting went live, the Sheriff’s Department issued a statement saying: “We are aware of reports circulating about possible ransom note(s) regarding the investigation into Nancy Guthrie. We are taking all tips and leads very seriously. Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”
This is far from the first (or honestly, last) time that TMZ has crossed a line with a recent celebrity case. Accessing legal documents to dox celebrities’ babies before their births are publicly announced, reporting incorrect information before it could be verified, and sensationalizing violent celebrity deaths have all unfortunately become the norm for the outlet. Nevertheless, it is still disappointing… especially in a case that is still ongoing, like Guthrie’s disappearance.
(featured image: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images)
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