Starsuckers
Starsuckers exposes the underbelly of celebrity culture and media manipulation in the United Kingdom. Directed by Chris Atkins, it aims to uncover the deceptive practices involved in creating and perpetuating a celebrity-obsessed society. The film employs various investigative techniques to demonstrate how easily false information can be disseminated through mainstream media channels.
One of the documentary’s key strategies involves planting fabricated celebrity-related stories in UK tabloids. The production team successfully placed several fictitious articles, including a claim that singer Avril Lavigne had been spotted asleep in a nightclub. These stories were accepted and published by various tabloid newspapers without proper fact-checking or corroboration, highlighting the media’s willingness to prioritize sensationalism over accuracy.
The documentary also features undercover footage of tabloid journalists attempting to purchase medical records, revealing unethical practices within the industry. Additionally, Starsuckers includes secretly recorded footage of publicist Max Clifford boasting about his clients, further exposing the manipulative nature of celebrity management.
The film’s controversial content led to legal threats from Max Clifford, who hired a law firm to attempt an injunction against its release. Despite these challenges, the documentary premiered at the British Film Institute’s 53rd Film Festival and was subsequently released in British cinemas to critical acclaim.