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“Paparazzi King,” a docuseries about Italian media personality Fabrizio Corona — who is known for capturing celebrities in compromising moments — is set to drop globally on Netflix Jan. 9. The news comes as the prominent paparazzo is making headlines by leveling accusations of sexual misconduct against a local host of reality show “Big Brother.”
Corona, who has been involved in many of Italy’s most sordid scandals over the past two decades, alleged on his YouTube show “Falsissimo” in December that “Big Brother” host Alfonso Signorini “carried out a system of sexual favors” in exchange for several contestants’ participation on “Big Brother.” Signorini – who has vehemently denied Corona’s accusation – reacted by suing Corona for “revenge porn” after the paparazzo showed “Falsissimo” viewers what he claimed were private text messages and images involving Signorini and a former “Big Brother” contestant.
Corona’s accusations subsequently led to former “Big Brother” contestant Antonio Medugno taking legal action against Signorini which, in turn, has prompted Italian prosecutors in Milan to open an investigation against the “Big Brother” host for alleged sexual violence and extortion. In essence, the Milan court is now investigating separate charges reciprocally leveled against Corona and Signorini, who both claim they are innocent.
Meanwhile, “Big Brother” Italy broadcaster Mediaset announced on Dec. 30 that Signorini has voluntarily “suspended himself” from his role at the network while the alleged sexual abuse case is pending. Mediaset is reportedly seeking another host for the upcoming edition of “Celebrity Big Brother” Italy in March.
Endemol Shine, the Banijay-owned company which retains the “Big Brother” format, said in a statement on Dec. 26 that they had “initiated the required internal audits to ensure compliance with the code of ethics and the procedures governing the selection of contestants for the program.” The company also noted they would “take any action against anyone who may have caused damage to the reputation of the format and the good name of those who have dedicated their professionalism to its great success over the years.”
The totally tatoo-clad Corona has been jailed several times in Italy for extortion and blackmail related to celebrity photos, most notably during Italy’s so-called Vallettopoli scandal in 2007, which involved showgirls who appeared on Silvio Berlusconi-era Mediaset shows as well as TV and movie actors, soccer players and politicians.
This latest scandal prompted by Corona is certainly well-timed to promote his Netflix docuseries.
“Communication genius or shameless manipulator?” asks Netflix’s promotional materials for “Paparazzi King.”
The five-episode show, Netflix adds, “spans the Berlusconi era, the rise of social media and the contradictions of Italian justice, with an unfiltered story that is not intended to be a biography of the ‘King of Paparazzi,’ but a portrait of a country that, from the 1990s to today, has ceased to distinguish between reality and reality TV.”
English (US) ·