Ouch. This morning brings not just one blow, but a series of slaps on American Media editorial director and Star leader Bonnie Fuller. WWD is reporting that if the notorious editrix does get her contract with AMI renewed, it won’t be for the close to $2 million she was promised for leaving Us Weekly.
Besides rumors that her expected $500,000 bonus fell short in 2005; Bonnie’s bonus reportedly added up to $74,851. And with single copy sales on the slump, some industry folk (whispering on their favorite topic) think that rejected contract is all David Pecker should expect. And as if that weren’t enough, her book’s not doing so hot, either.
If Fuller was counting on being able to fall back on her book-writing career, she’ll need a new plan B. According to Nielsen BookScan, Fuller’s self-help memoir, “The Joys of Much Too Much,” has sold only 3,262 copies since April. BookScan tracks roughly 70 percent of the market, meaning the book has almost certainly sold fewer than 5,000 copies total.
Apparently, walking away from $2 million offers and balking at $80K is a tough philosophy for some ladies in this industry to cling to.
Tough Bargaining [Jeff Bercovici, WWD]