Hollywood Trial Of The Century: Eisner Recounts Ovitz's Final Days
In Wednesday's testimony at the Hollywood Trial of the Century, Disney CEO Michael Eisner spun a fascinating account of failed president's Michael Ovitz's last days with the company. Even though Eisner claimed that his No. 2 "would not accept being fired" and needed to be told several times that Disney no longer required his services, Eisner still managed to paint himself as Ovitz's victim.
"People think because you make fuzzy, cute little cartoons that you are fuzzy and cute, and they try to take advantage of you," the chief executive said.
Eisner swallowed hard and mopped his brow with his pocket square before continuing. "And just because you may model the occasional fluffy bunny costume in your own office, and the door accidentally opens a crack as your No. 2 man walks by, well, that's not exactly an invitation to be taken advantage of. And when he enters into the office, unbidden, breezing past the empty reception desk, and sees that someone has left a dry-cleaned Country Bears costume on the couch... Well, I have to say that only a psychopath would take that as a sign that he should put on the bear suit and chase the fluffy little bunny around his oak desk until the helpless bunny twists his ankle... Um, yeah, it was quite clear that Mike had to leave the company."