New York Magazine – August 05, 2019

august 5–18, 2019 | new york 63

PHOTOGRAPHS:

PATRICK

MCMULLAN

The cornerstone of SpottedRisk’s insurance product is its patent-pending Public Outcry Index. The insurance start-up will pay out to Hollywood studios and other financial backers according to a five-tiered system based on public surveys in the aftermath of “disgrace events.” On a $10 million policy, each tier would pay out $2 million. Based on a year of simulations, here’s how they’d rank your favorite scandals, and why.

Public-Rage Actuarial Table

Jussie Smollett

Louis C.K.

Roseanne Barr

Lori Loughlin

Felicity Huffman

Large alleged bribes; pleaded not guilty and refused to apologize; dropped from Fuller House and edited out of a Hallmark Channel show.

$4 million

Payments were lower than Loughlin’s; pleaded guilty and issued an abject apology; is more popular than Loughlin.

Although police suggested he had staged a beating, the news in the immediate aftermath was murky and criminal charges against him were dropped.

Offense was moderately severe, but he apologized; still a working comic (albeit with a potentially damaging new set).

Had to be removed from her own show; apologized only because her contract required it; kept raving.

the disgraced the disgrace tier of outcry rationale

Allegedly paid $500,000 to create fake evidence that her two daughters rowed crew, facilitating admission to USC.

Paid $15,000 to have her daughter’s SAT score “fixed.”

Allegedly staged a hate crime against himself.

Masturbated in front of many female comedians without their consent.

Racist and conspiracy- theorizing tweets, one aimed at Valerie Jarrett.

Kevin Spacey

R. Kelly

Bill Cosby and Harvey Weinstein

Semi-apologized in a defensive message blaming it on drunken behavior and declaring himself an out gay man; already unlikable, having played smarmy villains.

Documentary Surviving R. Kelly was a Tier 3 disgrace; subsequent arrest promoted him to Tier 4.

Allegations of drugging and raping women destroyed Cosby’s image; Weinstein abuse accusations destroyed a movie studio.

Accused by multiple men of having molested them when they were underage.

Many charges of statutory rape and long-term imprisonment of sexual partners.

Dozens of accusations of abuse, including nonconsensual sex, over decades.

$2 million

$4 million

$6 million

$8 million

$10 million

payout

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august5–18, 2019 | newyork 63

PHOTOGRAPHS:

PATRICK

MCMULLAN

ThecornerstoneofSpottedRisk’sinsuranceproductis itspatent-pending PublicOutcry Index.Theinsurancestart-upwillpay outtoHollywood studios and other financialbackersaccordingtoa five-tieredsystembasedonpublicsurveys in the aftermath of“disgraceevents.”Ona $10millionpolicy, eachtierwouldpay out $2 million. Basedona yearofsimulations,here’showthey’drankyourfavorite scandals, and why.

Public-Rage Actuarial Table

Jussie Smollett

LouisC.K.

Roseanne Barr

Lori Loughlin

Felicity Huffman

Large allegedbribes;pleaded notguiltyandrefusedto apologize;droppedfrom FullerHouseandeditedoutof a HallmarkChannelshow.

$4million

Paymentswere lowerthan Loughlin’s;pleadedguilty and issuedanabjectapology;is morepopularthanLoughlin.

Althoughpolicesuggestedhe hadstageda beating,thenews intheimmediateaftermathwas murkyandcriminalcharges againsthimwere dropped.

Offensewasmoderatelysevere, butheapologized;stilla workingcomic(albeitwitha potentiallydamagingnewset).

Hadtoberemovedfrom herownshow;apologized onlybecausehercontract requiredit;keptraving.

the disgraced the disgrace tier of outcry rationale

Allegedlypaid$500,000 tocreatefake evidence thathertwodaughters rowedcrew,facilitating admissiontoUSC.

Paid$15,000to haveherdaughter’s SATscore “fixed.”

Allegedlystageda hate crimeagainsthimself.

Masturbatedin frontofmanyfemale comedianswithout theirconsent.

Racistandconspiracy- theorizingtweets, oneaimedat ValerieJarrett.