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Latest Gossip on Mischa Barton Turns Ugly
Mischa Barton by Tyler Coleman/WireImage.com
Mischa Barton's about to find out that there is such a thing as bad publicity.
Shortly after I posted my story on Friday about Gossip Girl courting Barton for a juicy arc, her reps began issuing blanket denials to various media outlets, insisting that, although their client was indeed approached by the show, she turned the gig down.
There's just one problem: She didn't. Turn them down, that is. At least not formally.
Reliable sources close to the CW phenom tell me that the recent statements made by Barton's camp took Gossip execs Stephanie Savage and Josh Schwartz by surprise since, as far as they were concerned, Barton was still in the running to play schemer Georgina Sparks.
That begs an obvious question: If Barton had indeed opted not to participate in Gossip, why would her camp tell the press before informing the very folks who extended her the offer — particularly when one of those folks is her former O.C. boss?
For publicity, theorizes one insider, who believes Barton's peeps — desperate to get their client's name in a headline that didn't include the letters "DUI" — likely leaked the Gossip offer to remind the public of what an in-demand actress she is. "They leaked it as publicly as they could, and then turned around and passed on it as publicly as they could," whispers my spy. "Real classy, huh?"
One thing can be said for Barton: at least she's consistent — particularly when alienating Schwartz. Two years ago, on the eve of her character's death on The O.C., the loose-lipped former model spoiled the big twist when she "accidentally" told a reporter that Marissa was going to die the day before the episode aired. At the time, Schwartz described the slip of the tongue as "unfortunate."
We're left to wonder how Schwartz might describe Barton's latest indiscretion since my e-mails to him seeking comment have, thus far, gone unreturned. Meanwhile, Barton's spokesperson declined to comment, save for this statement: "Mischa will not be appearing on Gossip Girl. She is on a press tour for the film which she stars in, Closing the Ring, directed by Sir Richard Attenborough."
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Mar 3, 2008 4:05 PM
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Wow, what a class act!
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Mar 3, 2008 4:23 PM
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why would they want such a terrible actress on the show, she looks bored while acting
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Mar 3, 2008 5:34 PM
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I've never seen anything she's been in...and I've never wanted to. That doesn't look likely to change any time soon.
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Mar 3, 2008 5:50 PM
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Good. I, for one, was not looking forward to having her on the show. She's not a good actress and she's not even cute to look at.
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Mar 3, 2008 6:18 PM
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What the hell?
Is it your prime objective in life to continue painting Mischa Barton as some kind of villain?
I know you think people hate Mischa Barton cause you endorse that kind of thinking with your twisted articles. But she does have fans. Very loyal fans. And your blatant bias is now finally getting to the point where its a joke.
She'd finally moved on from the debacle that was The OC. And if there is a publicity conspiracy here, it's Josh trying to get more than 2 million people watching his precious Gossip Girl.
Mischa doesn't need the publicity. She's not a struggling producer of a struggling TV Show that needs to up its game to stay on the air.
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Mar 3, 2008 6:36 PM
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mischa barton can't act and i really do not see the fascination. i love gossip girl and i'm sooo glad she's staying out of it! she was the worst thing on OC.
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Mar 3, 2008 7:29 PM
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Forget Mischa. Hire Alexis Bledel or Rachel Bilson.
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Mar 3, 2008 8:46 PM
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She must think she is to "big" for tv now. Just wait in a couple of years or maybe months she will be begging for a part in a commercial.
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Mar 3, 2008 11:36 PM
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This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever read. I know you've enjoyed picking on Mischa with your posts in the past, but this is seriously an all-time low. This isn't criticizing someone's work, this is an all-out character assassination. One that's not really based on any factual evidence.
I seriously doubt Mischa's reps put in a call to the Gawker, who is as keen as dogging Mischa as you are. And if they did, I'm sure Gawker would've let the readers know it. And you were the first person I read the story from. Did Mischa's people call you?
And why do you think Mischa owes Josh Schwartz anything? I seem to remember an interview with you where he admitted to letting her go. Mischa's been quoted several times as saying that she'd have gladly continued the show and her castmates, particularly Rachel Bilson, have sounded out about it too.
Also, if she is promoting her new movie, that is an obligation. She is not in anyway obligated to appear on Josh Schwartz's show after he killed her off the last one. I know you and a lot of the online fanbase don't like her, but she is liked by many fans, and I think posting your wild speculations is disrespectful to both Mischa and her fans who enjoy her work.
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Mar 4, 2008 12:49 AM
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Mischa Barton is a talentless idiot who has no class. What has she done lately? What fans? She is truly awful at acting and can't even get a modeling job either.
Michael, I think it may be below you to write about F-Listers like her who are not famous for being talented but for gossip and bad acts.
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Mar 4, 2008 7:53 AM
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Seriously, does anyone really care...I honestly don't think any of the true fans of the show want her on it anyway...those who watched the OC were happy to see her go...she had long over stayad her welcome there...just as I think she has in Hollywood...she is a D list actress trying to get onto a show that has much potential! and knows it and that is why she is trying to spin it that she is the "one" that wants out...what a loser!
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Mar 4, 2008 9:51 AM
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I am so glad she Mischa Barton is not joining Gossip Girl! She would have ruined a perfectly good show...she is a horrible actress. And even if she had nothing to do with her reps releasing that information, it still just shows that they want people to think she is still in demand when she's not.
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Mar 4, 2008 4:58 PM
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Rolfe: "Forget Mischa. Hire Alexis Bledel . . ."
Gilmore Girl Goes to Gossip Girl?
D'OH!
Dude, that soooooo would not go over any better than Mischa Barton trying to get onto Go-Girl as long as Gilmore Girls continues to not have a series finale, particularly not since conventional wisdom (aka the in-reality Kristin Bell-less Gossip Grind  ) suggests that the Gilmore Girl in question may just be the sole reason that that show ended 13 episodes prematurely. (Or is it 8? Lost's numbers have me confused.)
-- Rob
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Mar 5, 2008 2:33 AM
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S & S show great restraint and class. I don't believe all that I read, and I certainly don't believe all that I think I see, or hear.
MB is still inexperienced. Thankfully, she is still young and beautiful, and hopefully has time to recover from her possible mistakes. I certainly wish her the best, as well as a speedy recovery from the harsh blondeness she appears to be suffering from.
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Mar 5, 2008 1:47 PM
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