Newsmax anchor and journalist Greta Van Susteren recently shared an incident when Netflix asked her for an interview regarding the controversial case of Natalee Holloway. Greta took to Twitter to explain what happened, revealing how the casting team reached out. Each party spoke about ‘evidence’ Greata had to help with the case of Natalee. Unsurprisingly, she rejected the request, recalling how one representative remarked:
“It’ll make you famous.”
After being in journalism for more than three decades, Greta Van got prime-time shows and also had the chance to interview people related to the case including journalists, family members, and lawyers; the thought of her wanting fame baffled her completely. In her words:
Oh brother…I just got a call to give @Netflix an interview and surrender my ‘evidence’ in Holloway case and I said,why should I do that? And person said,it will make you FAMOUS. that is pretty funny…famous? After 30 yr nightly on tv I need that? They just don’t want me to do my…
— Greta Van Susteren (@greta) December 6, 2024
It has become exceedingly obvious how Netflix wished to leverage the Holloway situation to profit throughout the mix. The case beautifully highlights how the streaming platform sought to foster propaganda for financial gain.
Oftentimes, journalism is brutal and working hard for your credibility is not a walk in the park; history has shown us how many have suffered due to false fame with nothing but empty promises, it seems Greta does not belong to that category.
While users like @OliviaFLNative supported Greta Van Susteren’s professionalism and questioned Netflix’s approach toward her:
Good grief. Sounds like the sort of people you really do not want to do a project with anyway.
— Florida Native (@OliviaFLNative) December 6, 2024
Others cracked jokes about it, as one of the Twitter users quickly noted:
Did they know who they were talking to? Lol
— Renatta Michele Oxendine (@RenattaOxendine) December 6, 2024
Public’s Reaction to Netflix’s Request
The response of the public to Greta Van’s tweet is further evidence of divided opinion with regards to the way Netflix has conducted some of its interviews. Most respondents supported her stance on not participating in the interview with Netflix by pointing to the unfortunate reputation that the network was acquiring.
One user @irata2009 showed his surprise and criticized Netflix for offering Greta Van Susteren fame as an incentive even though she has a well-established career and public recognition:
Famous? They didn't know who you are? What ignorant intern did they have call you?
— Irata (@irata2009) December 6, 2024
Van’s admirers defended her against the critics saying that standing while attempting to clear out the spot was irrelevant to her as long as her integrity and journalistic principles were concerned. Sygney Olson (@lllbreak) praised Greta Van for being principled and not compromising her values for Netflix’s offer. She even reminded the documentary where Van was deeply engrossed in her coverage of the Natalee Holloway case:
Thank you for being principled and not selling your soul for fame! I can't wait to watch your documentary. I was glued to the TV when you reported on the case. I really wanted justice for Natalee's family. If Netflix offered you a dog/cat show, you would have given in to them.
— Sygney Olson (@lllbreak) December 6, 2024
While one user @CindyGood198860 pointed out that Netflix is losing subscribers and much of their programming is terrible:
Hold your ground. Netflix is losing subscribers and the programming is mostly unwatchable. You do not need Netflix. I think they need you
— Cindy Good (@CindyGood198860) December 6, 2024
One more Twitter user @jacksfriend25 noted, adding to the already prevailing belief that this media company is slowly losing interest in producing high-quality content.
Why should Netflix benefit from your hard work? Netflix “fame” doesn’t seem to be such a positive thing anyway. . .
— Colt45 🇺🇸 (@jacksfriend25) December 6, 2024
Media Ethics vs. Entertainment Profits
The case regarding Natalee Holloway, an 18-year-old American girl who disappeared while holidaying in Aruba in 2005, is still surrounded by a lot of controversy and debate. While many documentaries and news reports have tried to address the case, it is clear Netflix would also like to leverage the case which has never been solved.
On the other hand, Van Susteren firmly slams the doors on such suggestions. This request emphasizes how larger issues have come to dominate the headlines in the Internet age. Such as the popularization of sensitive cases for entertainment.
According to Van Susteren’s words, there is indeed such a risk, in telling the story with a condescending approach; journalism as an industry should not hold on to such essential values; independence, degradation, and truth should remain at the heart of the story. Indeed, her unwillingness to share the ‘evidence’ that she possesses until the point at which she so chooses to emphasize the responsible aspect of storytelling in today’s age where media houses engage in yellow journalism.
One user @randytherepub echoed the same sentiment:
Keep up the great work and never sell out. We appreciate what you do.
— randytherepub (@randytherepub) December 7, 2024
A New Era of True Crime
Van Susteren’s style indicates the increasing interest in original as well as independent narratives, especially in the sub‐genre of true crime the audience has grown tired of. Unvarnished storytelling without any embellishments has become a lot more popular as some large media entities have come under fire for over-dramatizing events.
True crime fans often blame dramatizations of the documentary storytelling but then many think that the author of the film should be a professional like Van Susteren who is trying to make it as factual as possible.
Some people in the Twitter thread recommended that Van Susteren try out a project for herself. One of them said:
You do it yourself Greta!
— sandrab 🇺🇸🇮🇱🇺🇸 (@bogeyb666) December 6, 2024
You (&Beth) know this story better than anyone.
Sadly, Natalie deserves it.
It represents a particular group of viewers who are losing faith in the models that she credits and trusts as highly disciplined and precise instead of the glamorous corporate ones on which they have relied for some time. The thought of her making a documentary or a series based on her years of decorated career is also encouraging for those who want a plot instead of just a feast.
Her vast knowledge and experience covering crime stories qualify her to lead such a project and allow her to advance in what has been an unfathomable use of her talents until now. It is interesting to see the kind of angle she would put on some of the unresolved but sensitive issues regarding the victims and their families, which significantly differ from what the commercial networks do.
Another user @PWall045 who wanted to see the real version of the story in Greta Van’s words aptly commented:
Don’t surrender anything! You know the case better than anyone. Write the book. Do your own podcast. Don’t let someone else tell the story.
— P. Wallace (@PWall045) December 6, 2024
Fame or Integrity? The Bold Choice Shaking Up True Crime Storytelling
This interaction raises an important question about the intersection of fame, media, and the truth. In a world where the quest for clicks is often greater than the quest for stories, Greta Van’s rejection of the offer by Netflix shows the effectiveness of resisting the vanity of being famous in the name of being real. The resolution to keep the stamp for her future work indicates that true journalism is still alive, where reputation, honesty, and justice should be the priority rather than the prospect of quick fame.
The main plot is not rooted in a phone call from Netflix, or that fame is exactly what was on the table. Rather, it lies in the quiet determination that stands firmly in the value that truth cannot be for sale. In an era when big media companies are after profits, that kind of refusal from Greta Van should tell us all what: It is unacceptable to trade justice and truth for a newspaper headline or views.
Last Updated on by Icy Tales Team
