Photo by TMZ
Photo by SupportPDX at Flickr

Harvey Levin

Founder, Producer, Celebrity Reporter, Lawyer

TMZ

POSITION

Founder, Producer, Celebrity Reporter, Lawyer

COMPANY

TMZ

COUNTRY

USA

Website

TMZ

SCENE

Lifestyle & Culture

SOCIAL

Instagram

Twitter

What makes Harvey Levin a Global Shaker?

Harvey Levin founded TMZ, a celebrity news website that later evolved into TV shows and live chat programmes. TMZ stands for “thirty-mile zone,” the 30-mile radius in Los Angeles, California, that is centered at the intersection of West Beverly Boulevard and North La Cienega Boulevard. He is also the host of OBJECTified.

TMZ was the first to report, amongst other news, the deaths of Prince, Michael Jackson and Brittney Murphy, Britney Spears filing for divorce from Keven Federline, Rhianna’s assault from then-partner Chris Brown, security footage of the elevator fight involving Solange Knowles and Jay-Z alongside Beyoncé and the breakup of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

“If somebody makes it clear to us that they really don’t want to be any part of it, I’ve told our guys to back off,” he told Media Bistro. “We’re redoubling our efforts on this. Most celebrities totally play along. They love being on the show because it makes them relevant. That’s the biggest thing for celebrities.”

In 2005, AOL and Telepictures Productions collaborated to launch TMZ, with Harvey as the founder and managing editor. Mel Gibson’s DUI arrest and antisemitic rant pushed the website towards national prominence.

Prior to his career in entertainment, Harvey was a practicing lawyer for over two decades. He also served as a law professor at the University of Miami School of Law and Whittier College School of Law.

Harvey was listed on Out magazine’s list as one of the 50 most influential voices in LGBT America for several years.

Tags: entertainment, law, LGBTQ+, TV

Last updated: June 12, 2020