Invoice Belichick
Ebook Publicist Assured
CBS Convo Would Be ‘About The Ebook’
Printed
Invoice Belichick was assured by his guide publicist simply days earlier than his now-infamous sitdown with “CBS Sunday Morning” that his interview for the present would intently persist with subjects associated to his new guide … TMZ Sports activities has realized.
Sources accustomed to the state of affairs inform us … again on April 9, Simon & Schuster’s senior director of publicity, David Kass, wrote to Belichick, “I can assure you that the conversation [will be] about the book.”
“This is a book segment,” Kass added, “that looks at your life in football and what people can learn from you to achieve success in their own lives.”
On April 21, simply lower than two weeks after that message was despatched, Belichick fielded no fewer than six questions from Tony Dokoupil for the CBS section that gave the impression to be unrelated to his new “The Art Of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football” work.
4 of them surrounded his relationship with Robert Kraft — who was not talked about within the Belichick tome. Others, we’re advised, concerned Belichick’s portrayal in “The Dynasty: New England Patriots,” a well-liked 2024 TV miniseries. A minimum of two different inquiries centered round his private connection along with his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.
Invoice Belichick opened as much as @tonydokoupil about his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, who he calls his “creative muse,” although each stay largely non-public about their connection. https://t.co/wXR3Mk07GS pic.twitter.com/9y5tlBeD6I
— CBS Sunday Morning 🌞 (@CBSSunday) April 28, 2025
@CBSSunday
Our sources say Belichick was livid … as despite the fact that it was anticipated there could be potential questions on Kraft and Hudson, he anticipated them solely being associated to their roles in his guide, or in Kraft’s case, lack thereof.
Sources say Belichick had truly shot down a number of interview alternatives Kass had put in entrance of him over issues the media retailers would use his guide promotion as a strategy to pry into topics not associated to the precise guide.
We’re advised Belichick had even at factors wished to show down CBS … however Kass was adamant he do it, writing to the 73-year-old, “I wouldn’t be this insistent if this wasn’t so important to book sales and without risk.”
Kass, our sources say, truly flew to North Carolina on March 20 to encourage Belichick to associate with their advertising technique. Then, within the days following their in-person meet-up, Kass ensured Belichick in writing that he had talked to a CBS producer “about sticking to the book and shared that if they do, they’ll get a great interview, and he was really open, saying he’s not interested in going beyond the book.”
Kass did warn Belichick on March 26 “there would likely be one question about what you’re up to now.” Moreover, on April 8, he said CBS wouldn’t present any inquiries to them prematurely, clearly making Belichick conscious there was at the very least some likelihood of surprises. Kass additionally, we’re advised, provided at the very least as soon as to arrange a name with a present producer so they may “talk things through” earlier than Belichick received within the interview chair.
However based on sources, Kass finally wrote to Belichick the “CBS Sunday Morning” section could be a “puff piece” that was “designed to make everyone look good and sell books.”
We’re advised Kass didn’t go along with Belichick to the interview, which happened at Invoice’s former highschool, Annapolis H.S. in Maryland. Our sources say Kass opted out, writing to the coach’s staff he “had asked Bill if he wanted me there and he didn’t seem to care, so I thought it best to stay back and not lose all that time in transit.”
In Kass’ absence, Hudson — who sat close to present producer Gabriel Falcon throughout filming — took it upon herself to talk out and attempt to steer the Dokoupil interview again towards guide subjects. Our sources say Hudson truly tried to name Kass as issues received off observe, however she couldn’t get in contact with him.
The ultimate lower ended up airing on April 27 … and it drew a lot adverse publicity, Belichick launched an announcement to attempt to clarify what he believed triggered all of it to go so sideways.
“Prior to this interview,” he wrote, “I clearly communicated with my publicist at Simon & Schuster that any promotional interviews I participated in would agree to focus solely on the contents of the book.”
“Unfortunately, that expectation was not honored during the interview. I was surprised when unrelated topics were introduced, and I repeatedly expressed to the reporter, Tony Dokoupil, and the producers that I preferred to keep the conversation centered on the book. After this occurred several times, Jordon, with whom I share both a personal and professional relationship, stepped in to reiterate that point to help refocus the discussion.”
He continued, “The final eight-minute segment does not reflect the productive 35-minute conversation we had, which covered a wide range of topics related to my career. Instead, it presents selectively edited clips and stills from just a few minutes of the interview to suggest a false narrative — that Jordon was attempting to control the conversation — which is simply not true.”
Hudson, too, tried to make clear the state of affairs after the present aired … posting on her Instagram web page an April 10 e-mail Belichick had despatched to Kass and others that confirmed her boyfriend emphasizing he wished to advertise “The Art Of Winning” with out addressing “all the current events that don’t have anything to do with the book.” She added a Taylor Swift music to the IG publish that gave the impression to be a jab at Kass — “Look What You Made Me Do.”
CBS ended up releasing its personal assertion on every thing, writing, “When we agreed to speak with Mr. Belichick, it was for a wide-ranging interview. There were no preconditions or limitations to this conversation. This was confirmed repeatedly with his publisher before the interview took place and after it was completed.”
Kass has but to publicly deal with the state of affairs. Simon & Schuster, in the meantime, declined to remark after we reached out on Tuesday.
Previous to becoming a member of Simon & Schuster, Kass labored because the vice chairman government director of publicity at Hilsinger Mendelson, the place he described himself as “a straight shooter whose word can be relied upon.”
In his bio on Simon & Schuster’s web site, Kass — who as soon as helped Jeff Benedict‘s Robert Kraft-themed guide, “The Dynasty,” attain the New York Instances’ bestseller checklist — said he has a ardour for “orchestrating meaningful publicity campaigns for titles that serve a larger propose, uncover truths, and tell great stories.”
“He sees book publishing and the associated media campaigns as an opportunity to truly change minds,” the bio reads.
Makes an attempt to achieve Belichick for remark this week have been unsuccessful.
