Juicy Crimes with Heather McDonald

I’m joined by journalist Allen Salkin to dive into his new Hollywood Reporter podcast, Gerbil, which investigates the origins of the infamous, long-running Hollywood urban legend surrounding Richard Gere. We trace my own vivid memory of hearing the wild ER rumor back in the summer of 1989 and break down how pre-internet viral rumors, celebrity gay panic, mass media psychology, and deep-seated Hollywood jealousy fuel these unstoppable urban legends. Along the way, we connect it to the mechanics of public lies, touching on his Vanity Fair work behind Bad Vegan, Hilaria Baldwin’s accent controversy, and even my own personal experience facing a career-damaging, completely false tabloid rumor during my Chelsea Lately days. -For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to https://smalls.com/JUICYCRIMES  Subscribe now to Juicy Crimes so you don't miss an episode!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/juicycrimes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald on iTunes, the podcast app, and get extra juice on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/juicyscoop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ See me Live: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://heathermcdonald.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Me on Social Media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heathermcdonald/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@heathermcdonald⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeatherMcDonaldOfficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I sit down with Sharon Yitzhaki, a guest whose unbelievable life story inspired a bestselling book and a feature film centered around a 10-kilo cocaine setup. Sharon shares how leaving Jerusalem at 18 for Amsterdam's artistic freedom led her straight into a whirlwind romance with an older man named Ronnie, who surprised her with a trip to South America only to abandon her in Bolivia. After discovering ten kilos of cocaine hidden inside the custom luggage Ronnie bought her, she was arrested at the airport and sentenced to years inside the notorious Miraflores prison in La Paz. Sharon recounts her dramatic survival story, from overcoming cruel hazing to establishing herself as a respected prison leader, initiating romance with a high-profile cartel boss, falling in love with her transgender cellmate, and raising an abandoned baby inside her cell for three and a half years. Finally, she opens up about her harrowing escape on foot to Brazil after facing an unexpected 17-year sentence, processing her trauma through writing, and warning young people about the hidden dangers of trusting the wrong partner. -Go to https://RO.CO/juicycrimes to see if you qualify. -Shop now at https://fabletics.com/juicycrimes to get 70–80% off everything when you sign up as a new VIP. Take a quick style quiz and be sure to select juicycrimes when prompted to unlock this offer. -Use code JUICYCRIMES at https://jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad  Subscribe now to Juicy Crimes so you don't miss an episode!: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/juicycrimes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to Juicy Scoop with Heather McDonald on iTunes, the podcast app, and get extra juice on Patreon: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/juicyscoop⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ See me Live: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://heathermcdonald.net/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow Me on Social Media: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/heathermcdonald/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@heathermcdonald⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@HeatherMcDonaldOfficial Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices