Ryan Millsap, former CEO and proprietor of Blackhall Studios, made a reputation for himself in Atlanta as an govt who inspired range. However, per a report in ProPublica, he could not have been as pro-diversity and inclusion as he appeared.
This week, ProPublica staffer Nicole Carr and Atlanta Journal-Structure reporter Mike Jordan revealed an investigation that seemed into a whole bunch of pages of textual content messages between Millsap and his ex-girlfriend, Christy Hockmeyer, that had been submitted as proof in a lawsuit in opposition to him.
His texts, principally from 2019, included feedback about “Fucking Black folks” and “nasty Jews,” in addition to different racist and antisemitic views. The pages had been launched as a consequence of a authorized dispute, which incorporates varied filings, between the true property developer and his former lawyer, John Da Grosa Smith.
“Ryan’s public persona is completely different from who he’s,” Smith wrote in one of many filings. He added, “Ryan works onerous to mislead and conceal the reality. And he is superb at it.”
The Hollywood Reporter reached out to a consultant for Smith for remark.
The texts and extra courtroom data within the story made it clear that Hockmeyer, who was an investor in Millsap’s actual property firm, performed an lively position in his enterprise dealings, in accordance with ProPublica.
In one in every of their conversations, the 2 had been discussing Millsap’s want to rent an govt who was well-known in Atlanta’s movie business, and Hockmeyer instructed he poach somebody from Tyler Perry Studios, the 12-stage lot named after the enduring Black filmmaker. “Taking somebody from Tyler Perry could be effective too,” Hockmeyer wrote in a textual content, in accordance with a courtroom submitting, including, “So long as they’re white.” She additionally stated she knew the “teeny tiniest Jew,” who could also be good for Millsap to contemplate.
When the reporters reached out to the movie exec about an interview tied to their investigation, he advised them that this “seems like an odd state of affairs” and requested “how this got here up.” He requested to evaluate the fabric that they had gathered, which they offered, after which he stopped responding to their a number of requests for remark.
Hockmeyer, alternatively, did reply. She defined that she severed all ties with him years in the past as a result of their “values, ethics and beliefs didn’t align.” She added, per the story, “I constantly inspired Mr. Millsap to deal with his buyers and group supporters with equity and respect.”
In one other e-mail, she apologized for her half within the racist and antisemitic conversations she had with the true property developer. “I made feedback and used language that was inappropriate,” she wrote. “I referred to folks in methods I shouldn’t have. I’m sincerely sorry for what I stated. These feedback don’t replicate who I’m, and I disavow racism and antisemitism as a complete.”
Blackhall Studios attracted large productions — together with Venom, Lovecraft Nation and Godzilla: King of Monsters — and was seeking to broaden in 2019 by means of a land swap with the county. Millsap’s pitch to the group for the growth included a $3.8 million plan that featured public enhancements, like a brand new park, in accordance with ProPublica. He additionally famous the growth, which might triple the studio’s soundstages, would assist create 1000’s of jobs for group members.
In 2021, Millsap offered Blackhall Studios for $120 million, and the next 12 months, he introduced he was planning on constructing a brand new advanced in Newton County, Georgia, about 40 miles east of Atlanta.