Relativity Media#Relativity Sports

Relativity Media was founded by Ryan Kavanaugh and Lynwood Spinks in 2004. Kavanaugh convinced Spinks, a former Carolco Pictures executive to invest $1 million into the venture.{{cite magazine |last1=Bruck |first1=Connie |title=Cashier Du Cinema |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2012/10/08/cashier-du-cinema |access-date=January 30, 2022 |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 1, 2012}} Relativity began operations as a middleman brokering deals between film studios and banks,{{cite news|last=DiGiacomo|first=Frank|title=The Theory of Relativity|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2010/03/kavanaugh-201003|access-date=February 13, 2013|newspaper=Vanity Fair|date=March 2010}} private equity firms, and hedge funds to finance multi-film slates.{{cite news |last1=Butler |first1=Gerard James |title=Ryan Kavanaugh, would-be king of tinseltown |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9c2a33a8-b34a-11e0-9af2-00144feabdc0#axzz2wLe6neHP |access-date=January 30, 2022 |work=Financial Times |date=July 22, 2011}} In 2005, the funding needs of Hollywood studios became more critical when a German tax shelter that had supported them for 25 years{{cite news |last1=Epstein |first1=Edward Jay |title=Hollywood's Big Loss |url=https://slate.com/culture/2005/11/no-more-free-money.html |access-date=January 30, 2022 |work=Slate |date=November 21, 2005}} was eliminated, and Relativity Media met that need with Wall Street's plentiful funds in the early 2000s. Relativity arranged financing for slates produced by Warner Bros., Universal Pictures, and Sony Pictures. For each film, Relativity received equity and brokerage fees of $500,000 to $1 million, and Kavanaugh arranged an executive producer credit for himself.

In 2007, Kavanaugh sued Spinks after the partners had a falling out.

In 2008, Elliott Management bought 49.5% of Relativity Media for $67 million and provided access to about $1 billion in capital and a revolving credit line. The increased funds allowed Relativity to expand involvement with film production companies. In 2009, Relativity reached an output deal with Lionsgate,{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/relativity-reaches-deal-with-lionsgate-1118002881/|title=Relativity reaches deal with Lionsgate|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=April 27, 2009|work=Variety|access-date=November 14, 2017|language=en-US}} and bought Rogue Pictures from Universal Pictures for $150 million.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/business/media/05rogue.html?_r=0 | title=Universal Sells Rogue for $150 Million | work=The New York Times | date=January 4, 2009 | access-date=September 18, 2015 | last=Cieply | first=Michael}} In 2010, a deal with Netflix allowed Relativity Media-owned films to be streamed on the platform,{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/ryan-kavanaugh-showman-of-the-year-1118036637/|title=Ryan Kavanaugh: Showman of the Year|date=May 13, 2011|last=Siegel|first=Tatiana|work=Variety|access-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211231124037/https://variety.com/2011/film/news/ryan-kavanaugh-showman-of-the-year-1118036637/|archive-date=December 31, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/laceyrose/2010/09/21/relativitys-ryan-kavanaugh-on-netflix-profits-and-his-2b-plus-in-revenue/?sh=5921b0a36d42|title=Relativity's Ryan Kavanaugh On Netflix, Profits And His $2B-Plus In Revenue|date=September 21, 2010|last=Rose|first=Lacey|work=Forbes|access-date=January 21, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/netflix-pays-283-million-to-use-relativity-films-1443193619|title=Netflix Has Paid $283 Million to Use Relativity Films|date=September 25, 2015|last=Corrigan|first=Tom|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128092405/https://www.wsj.com/articles/netflix-pays-283-million-to-use-relativity-films-1443193619|archive-date=November 28, 2020|url-status=live}} and Relativity purchased Overture Films' distribution and marketing operations.{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |title=Kavanaugh Buys Overture Marketing, Distribution Arms |url=https://www.thewrap.com/relativity-acquires-overture-films-19450/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |work=TheWrap |date=July 23, 2010}}{{cite news |last1=GUIDER |first1=ELIZABETH |title=Relativity takes over Overture distribution|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/relativity-takes-over-overture-distribution-25873/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=July 23, 2010}}

Elliott Management's funding eventually allowed Relativity Media to begin operating its own studio, producing and distributing its own films.{{cite news |last1=Rainey |first1=James |title=Major Relativity Lender Faces Struggle to Collect $137 Million Loan |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/relativity-media-lender-elliott-due-137-million-1201555820/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |work=Variety |date=August 3, 2015}} The studio distributed its first film on December 3, 2010.{{Citation needed|date=January 2022}}

In 2011, Elliott Management pulled its financial backing from Relativity amid reports of tension between the companies.{{cite news |last1=Rainey |first1=James |last2=Lang |first2=Brent |title=Relativity in Ruins: Is it Too Late for Ryan Kavanaugh to Save His Studio? |url=https://variety.com/2015/film/news/relativity-financial-troubles-ryan-kavanaugh-1201549697/ |access-date=January 30, 2022 |work=Variety |date=July 28, 2015}} In May 2011, Relativity's president Michael Joe moved to Elliott Associates to manage their investment in Relativity{{cite news|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=Elliott Finally Reins In Ryan Kavanaugh: Moves Relativity Prez Michael Joe In-House|url=https://deadline.com/2011/05/elliott-finally-reins-in-ryan-kavanaugh-investor-moves-relativity-president-michael-joe-in-house-insists-more-senior-execs-upped-or-hired-131117/|access-date=January 19, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021163621/https://deadline.com/2011/05/elliott-finally-reins-in-ryan-kavanaugh-investor-moves-relativity-president-michael-joe-in-house-insists-more-senior-execs-upped-or-hired-131117/|archive-date=October 21, 2020|url-status=live}} after Elliott had invested hundreds of millions of dollars with very little in return.{{cite news|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=Ryan Goes off the Rails! Kavanaugh Trying To Sell Elliott's Stake In Relativity When Investment Group Isn't Selling|url=https://deadline.com/2011/05/ryan-goes-off-the-rails-kavanaugh-trying-to-sell-elliotts-stake-in-relativity-when-investment-group-isnt-selling-136416/|access-date=January 19, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022013924/https://deadline.com/2011/05/ryan-goes-off-the-rails-kavanaugh-trying-to-sell-elliotts-stake-in-relativity-when-investment-group-isnt-selling-136416/|archive-date=October 22, 2020|url-status=live}} Kavanaugh had structured a slate deal between Elliott and Universal titled "Beverly 2" that comprised the majority of Elliott's investment in Relativity at the time, but the investment turned out poorly for Elliott and further enormous losses were forecasted. Relativity was also scheduling their own movies opposite Universal's, including competing Snow White adaptations,{{cite news|last1=block|first1=Alex Ben|title=Relativity, Elliott Spin Off Universal Movie Fund|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/relativity-elliott-spin-universal-movie-194001/|date=June 1, 2011|access-date=February 1, 2022|work=The Hollywood Reporter}} which Universal executives saw as Relativity using "Beverly 2" funds to gain a competitive advantage. Elliott put pressure on Kavanaugh to hand Beverly 2 over to Elliott in exchange for releasing Michael Joe from his non-compete.{{cite news|last=Finke|first=Nikki|title=UPDATE: Elliott Claims Only "Single Digit" Investment Left In Relativity After Takes Back Kavanaugh's Film Fund With Universal|url=https://deadline.com/2011/06/universal-refuses-to-do-business-directly-with-relativity-anymore-forces-elliott-to-erect-chinese-wall-136767/|access-date=January 19, 2022|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=June 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224210918/https://deadline.com/2011/06/universal-refuses-to-do-business-directly-with-relativity-anymore-forces-elliott-to-erect-chinese-wall-136767/|archive-date=February 24, 2021|url-status=live}} Two weeks before the opening of Relativity's first big-budget epic Immortals, Elliott reportedly threatened to further reduce its investment unless Kavanaugh made significant concessions when Relativity was already short on funds.

Relativity took out a $200 million loan from Ron Burkle, who had other entertainment investments including with Bob and Harvey Weinstein through his associated firm Colbeck Capital. The loan was taken in part to cover the multi-million dollar marketing costs for Immortals.{{cite web|last1=Waxman|first1=Sharon|title=Ryan Kavanaugh's 9 Lives: $200M Loan From Ron Burkle Saves 'Immortals' (Exclusive)|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/column-post/ryan-kavanaugh%E2%80%99s-9-lives-200-m-loan-ron-burkle-saves-%E2%80%9Cimmortals%E2%80%9D-exclusive-33097|date=November 27, 2011|access-date=February 1, 2022}} In January 2012, as Relativity continued to struggle financially, Kavanaugh sought a new major investor, and Burkle, and his invested between $600 million and $800 million{{cite news|last1=block|first1=Alex Ben|title=Ron Burkle Buying Elliott Out of Relativity|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ron-burkle-buying-elliott-relativity-278774/|date=January 5, 2012|access-date=February 1, 2022}} and became a shareholder.{{cite news | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ron-burkle-relativity-media-ryan-kavanaugh-284085 | date=June 28, 2012 | access-date=July 6, 2010 | first=Paul | last=Bond | work=The Hollywood Reporter | title=Ron Burkle Closes Multiple Investments in Relativity Media}}

In May 2012, Relativity announced that Colbeck structured $350 million in debt financing for the company, with Elliott departing from its investment in the company. Later that month, it signed a co-production and co-financing deal on two movies with EuropaCorp that Relativity would distribute in the United States.{{cite news | url=https://variety.com/2012/film/markets-festivals/europacorp-relativity-ink-for-co-prods-1118054359/ | title=EuropaCorp, Relativity ink for co-prods deal, includes U.S. distribution | work=Variety | date=May 20, 2012 | access-date=September 18, 2015 | last1=Keslassy | first1=Elsa | last2=Hopewell | first2=John}}{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2012/05/relativity-deal-with-luc-bessons-europacorp-277833/|title=Relativity Deal For Luc Besson's EuropaCorp}} Relativity also has co-production deals with Atlas Entertainment including Project.

On June 12, 2012, Relativity Media and Rogue sold 30 of their films to Manchester Library Company,[http://www.copyright.gov/ US Copyright Office] Document No V3617D065 June 12, 2012 which was acquired by Vine Alternative Investments in April 2017.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/vine-alternative-investments-manchester-film-library-the-fighter-limitless-1202078374/|title=New Village Roadshow Co-Owner Vine Acquires Manchester Film Library|first1=Patrick|last1=Hipes|date=April 27, 2017}}

In July 2012, Relativity merged its Rogue Sports, a Maximum Sports Management basketball agency, a football agency, and SFX Baseball into Relativity Sports.{{cite web|title=New Sports Power: Relativity Media, Ron Burkle Form Relativity Sports|url=https://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/new-sports-power-relativity-media-ron-burkle-form-relativity-sports-47926|work=The Wrap|date=July 16, 2012|access-date=December 24, 2012}} Relativity Sports represented more than 400 clients including Amar'e Stoudemire.{{cite news|last=Abrams|first=Rachel|title=Relativity raises $150 mil from investors|url=https://variety.com/2012/film/news/relativity-raises-150-mil-from-investors-1118063051/|work=Variety|access-date=December 24, 2012}}

In 2013, hedge fund investor Carey Metz made a $10 million investment in Relativity Media based on what he later described as Ryan Kavanaugh's lies.{{cite web|last=Maddaus|first=Gene|date=June 22, 2018|title=Relativity Media Investor Claims $12.5 Million Fraud|url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/carey-metz-12-5-million-fraud-1202854286/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

In April 2013, Relativity partnered with Glenn Kalison to create a film and performing arts school called Relativity School.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/relativity-media-partners-new-film-432569|title=Relativity Media Partners in New Film & Performing Arts School (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 3, 2013|language=en|access-date=November 16, 2019}}

Most of the studio's movies performed poorly at the box office.{{cite news|last1=Faughnder|first1=Ryan|last2=Fleming|first2=Charles|title=The mini-mogul behind Relativity Media said he'd change Hollywood, now studio files bankruptcy|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-relativity-media-bankrtupcy-20150730-story.html|access-date=December 31, 2021|work=Los Angeles Times|date=July 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211223210040/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-relativity-media-bankrtupcy-20150730-story.html|archive-date=December 23, 2021|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2016/01/relativity-media-ryan-kavanaugh-c-v-r.html|title=The Epic Fail of Hollywood's Hottest Algorithm|date=January 24, 2016|author=Benjamin Wallace|website=Vulture|access-date=November 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211203114304/https://www.vulture.com/2016/01/relativity-media-ryan-kavanaugh-c-v-r.html|archive-date=December 3, 2021|url-status=live}} The movie slate financing Relativity Media brokered for Wall Street investors also fared poorly for equity holders.

In July 2015, Relativity Media filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. With estimates of $500 million to $1 billion in liabilities and only $100–$500 million in claimed assets, the company's unpaid debts were reportedly paralyzing the company.{{cite web|last1=Patten|first1=Dominic|last2=Fleming|first2=Mike Jr.|date=July 30, 2015|title=Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media Finally Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy|url=https://deadline.com/2015/07/relativity-bankruptcy-ryan-kavanaugh-chapter-11-filing-1201485656/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} The bankruptcy filing came after a last-ditch effort from investors to salvage the company by preventing Ryan Kavanaugh and Relativity from carrying out any unsupervised transactions.{{cite web|last=Busch|first=Anita|date=June 25, 2015|title=Relativity Gets 10-Day Extension As Lenders Take More Control|url=https://deadline.com/2015/06/relativity-extension-financial-mess-ryan-kavanaugh-1201456037/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} The Hollywood Reporter later called it "one of the most notorious Hollywood bankruptcies ever."{{cite news |last1=Gardner |first1=Eriq |title=Ryan Kavanaugh's New Mind Bender: When Is a Lawsuit Not a Lawsuit? |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/ryan-kavanaugh-podcaster-lawsuit-1235054660/ |access-date=December 29, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 30, 2021}} The company would remain in U.S. Bankruptcy Court reorganizing itself for nearly 8 months until March 2016.{{cite web|last1=Busch|first1=David Lieberman, Anita|last2=Lieberman|first2=David|last3=Busch|first3=Anita|date=March 18, 2016|title=Relativity Media & Ryan Kavanaugh: A Walk Down Memory Lane Of Hype|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/relativity-media-ryan-kavanaugh-bankruptcy-claims-fact-check-1201717186/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

As a result of the bankruptcy, the company sold off previously acquired films including Suffragette, Jane Got a Gun, The Bronze, Love the Coopers, The Space Between Us, The Foreigner, Solace, Collide, Kidnap, Before I Wake, Animal Crackers, Shot Caller, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise, Fallen and The Secret Scripture. Suffragette was sold to Focus Features and as a result Ryan dropped out of producing the film due to financial struggles with his company; Jane Got a Gun was sold to TWC, The Bronze was sold to both Sony Pictures Classics and Stage 6 Films, Love the Coopers was sold to CBS Films, The Space Between Us and The Foreigner were both sold to STX Entertainment, Solace was sold to Lionsgate Premiere, Collide was sold to Open Road Films, Kidnap was sold to Aviron Pictures, Before I Wake and Animal Crackers were both sold to Netflix, Shot Caller was sold to Saban Films, Hillsong: Let Hope Rise was sold to Pure Flix Entertainment and Fallen and The Secret Scripture were both sold to Vertical Entertainment and transferred its distribution rights of EuropaCorp to STX Entertainment in January 2017.

In September 2015, three women who were involved in a Relativity Media reality show filed a lawsuit alleging the company never followed through on promises to support the women in escaping sex work and gaining improved housing, educational, medical and legal situations. The first litigant said she was paid $250 for her appearance and assured the "real" compensation would come in the form of assistance after the show. Two of the women also sued Relativity Media for not blurring their faces in footage as they had promised to do for the women. One of these women said she "has suffered incessant humiliation and embarrassment which continues to this day".{{Cite news|last=Corrigan|first=Tom|date=October 12, 2015|title=Sex Workers Say 'Life-Changing' Relativity Show Never Delivered|work=The Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-BANKB-21417|access-date=December 22, 2021}}{{Cite news|last=Rainey|first=James|date=March 2, 2016|title=Sex Workers Who Sued Relativity Media Press for Case to Be Heard|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/news/relativity-media-sex-workers-8-minutes-1201721226/|access-date=December 22, 2021}}

On January 6, 2016, Relativity Media acquired Trigger Street Productions. Owners Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti were given the roles chairman and president of Relativity Studios, respectively.{{cite web|last1=Fleming | first1=Mike Jr. |title=Relativity Media Acquires Trigger Street; Sets Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti To Run Studio As It Emerges From Chapter 11|url=https://deadline.com/2016/01/relativity-media-kevin-spacey-dana-brunetti-trigger-street-1201677412/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=January 6, 2016|access-date=January 7, 2016}} That March, Spacey announced that he would not accept Relativity's offer; Brunetti's position is still in place.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/kevin-spacey-relativity-dana-brunetti-chapter-11-1201719567/|title=As We Told You, Kevin Spacey Won't Be Running Relativity Post-Bankruptcy| first1=Mike Jr. |last1=Fleming|date=March 13, 2016}}

On January 26, 2016, Relativity Television, Relativity Media's television division, became an independent company named Critical Content after the post-bankruptcy.[https://www.thewrap.com/relativity-television-rebrands-as-critical-content-post-bankruptcy/ Relativity Television Rebrands as Critical Content, Post-Bankruptcy] Joshua Rich thewrap.com, Retrieved on July 27, 2016

On March 18, 2016, the company reemerged from the supervision of U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Wiles. In the wake of the bankruptcy, Ryan Kavanaugh chose to pay himself $2.6 million between April and November 2016 while his company failed to pay bankruptcy fees or file tax returns.{{cite web|last=Maddaus|first=Gene|date=June 6, 2018|title=Ex-Relativity CEO Ryan Kavanaugh Paid Himself $2.6 Million as Company Struggled|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/relativity-ryan-kavanaugh-paid-himself-bankruptcy-1202834390/|access-date=December 5, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US}}

On September 8, 2016, it launched R2 Entertainment which will be based in Canada and is now an independent film distributor focused on releasing films with budgets under $15 million. It will be co-headed by Mark Kassen and Dana Brunetti.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2016/film/markets-festivals/relativity-mark-kassen-1201854374/|title=Toronto: Relativity Launching Indie Division, Taps Mark Kassen as Co-President (EXCLUSIVE)|first1=Brent|last1=Lang|date=September 8, 2016}}

On October 28, 2016, Kavanaugh announced that he was selling Relativity to Singapore-based social networking platform YuuZoo for $250 million.{{cite web|work=Business Wire|title=ADDING and REPLACING YuuZoo Signs Agreement to Become Biggest Shareholder of Relativity Media, One of the World's Largest Independent Movie Studio & Entertainment Groups|date=October 30, 2016|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161030005018/en/ADDING-REPLACING-YuuZoo-Signs-Agreement-Biggest-Shareholder|access-date=January 12, 2017}}{{cite web|work=Los Angeles Business Journal|title=Ryan Kavanaugh's Relativity Media To Be Sold|date=October 28, 2016 |url=http://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/oct/28/ryan-kavanaughs-relativity-media-be-sold/|access-date=January 12, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Frater|first1=Patrick|title=Relativity Sets $200 Million Production Pact With Storyoscopic|url=https://variety.com/2016/biz/asia/relativity-200-million-pact-with-storyoscopic-1201918024/|access-date=January 5, 2017|work=Variety|date=November 14, 2016}} Other companies have attempted to bid, including Chinese technology company Lenovo. On March 2, 2017, YuuZoo announced they were canceling the investment in the fledgling studio saying "conditions precedent to the investment had not been met".{{cite web|url=http://www.shareinvestor.com/news/news.html?source=sg_stbt&nid=108299 |title=YuuZoo drops investment in American movie studio |publisher=ShareInvestor.com |date= |accessdate=2022-08-07}}

In May 2018, the company filed for bankruptcy once again and arranged to sell all of its assets. The U.S. Trustee's office expressed concern at the bankruptcy filing, saying that it appeared "designed to benefit Kavanaugh and lender UltraV Holdings at the expense of other creditors" and advocated for a robust investigation. This concern was partially based on the negligence of Relativity to satisfy even the administrative fees owed from the 2016 bankruptcy. Greg Zipes, the attorney for the U.S. trustee's office in New York wrote "the Debtors [Relativity Media] have apparently been unable to pay even the administrative claims owed under the confirmed (bankruptcy) plan" of 2016... In summary, while the Debtors appear to have raised some capital and paid down some debt, their finances are largely a mystery, apparently even to themselves." The filing from the trustee's office also uncovered the $2.6 million Kavanaugh paid himself between April and November 2016 while remaining delinquent on what Relativity owed from the bankruptcy agreement. The trustee's office also expressed concern that this 2018 bankruptcy filing might be an "arm's length transaction", as Kavanaugh continued to have inappropriate access to computer systems, email, bank accounts, and servers at Relativity after the filing stated Kavanaugh had left the company.

In June 2018, Netflix sued Relativity Media for breaching an exclusivity agreement after five films that were to be exclusively featured on Netflix were provided to Amazon and Starz. According to the suit, Netflix paid Relativity Media for licensing fees and exclusive rights to stream The Lazarus Effect, The Woman in Black 2, Beyond the Lights, And So It Goes, and Hector and the Search for Happiness, but Relativity's led to their loss of control over the titles which third parties then distributed to Amazon and Starz. Netflix also alleged Relativity Media failed to provide their contracted number of films. Relativity Media promised to provide Netflix with 22 films between 2016 and 2018, including eight in 2017, but allegedly delivered only three.{{Cite news|last=Maddaus|first=Gene|date=June 1, 2018|title=Netflix Sues Relativity Over Breach of Exclusivity Deal|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/netflix-sues-relativity-exclusivity-deal-1202828163/|access-date=December 21, 2021}}

In June 2018, an arbitration case found that executives from Relativity Media, including Kavanaugh, had fabricated a memo alleging sexual harassment by a former co-president of the company. A forensic audit of Relativity Media found that the memo had been altered by a user named "kav kav".{{cite news|last=Lopez|first=Ricardo|date=June 4, 2018|title=Relativity Media Fabricated Memo Containing Claims of Sexual Harassment by Former Co-President Adam Fields|work=Variety|url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/relativity-media-fabricated-memo-1202830211/|access-date=August 24, 2021}} Kavanaugh stated that the finding was "patently false" and filed a counterclaim alleging a violation of the arbitration process.{{cite web|last=Maddaus|first=Gene|title=Ryan Kavanaugh Sues Adam Fields Over Fake Harassment Memo Claim|url=https://variety.com/2018/biz/news/ryan-kavanaugh-adam-fields-arbitration-1202836276/|access-date=August 5, 2021|website=Variety|date=June 7, 2018|language=en-US}}

Also in June 2018, investor Carey Metz filed a lawsuit against Relativity's CEO Ryan Kavanaugh alleging Kavanaugh's deceptive representations of his proprietary algorithm had defrauded Metz of $12.5 million. After a 5-year relationship with Relativity, Metz described Kavanaugh's algorithm as a poor predictive tool which Relativity used only inconsistently in determining which films to finance.

In August 2018, the US Bankruptcy court approved the sale of the company to Ultra V Holdings.{{cite web |title=Bankruptcy Court OKs Sale Of Relativity Media To UltraV Holdings |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/relativity-media-sale-bankruptcy-court-approves-ultrav-holdings-1202446713/ | date=August 16, 2018 | access-date=August 16, 2018 | last=Chmielewski|first=Dawn|work=Deadline Hollywood}}

In 2020, Lex Miron, CEO of Relativity Media, announced that Come Away would be the first commercial release of the "new Relativity Media" under Ultra V Holdings. Miron gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter about taking two years after the 2018 bankruptcy to "quietly and deliberately rebuild the studio and its industry relationships" and said Relativity Media's strategy going forward would be to focus on smaller to mid-budget films.{{cite news |last1=Vlessing |first1=Etan |title=Relativity Media Acquires Angelina Jolie, David Oyelowo Fantasy Adventure 'Come Away' (Exclusive) |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/relativity-media-acquires-angelina-jolie-david-oyelowo-fantasy-adventure-come-away-exclusive-4074125/ |access-date=January 9, 2022 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 9, 2020}}

{{Main|List of Relativity Media films}}

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

• {{official website|http://www.relativitymedia.com/}}
• India Operations [https://www.thewrap.com/media/article/relativity-media-expands-india-17008]

{{Film Studio}}

Category:2004 establishments in California

Category:American companies established in 2004

Category:American independent film studios

Category:Companies based in Beverly Hills, California

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2015

Category:Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2018

Category:Entertainment companies based in California

Category:Film distributors of the United States

Category:Film production companies of the United States

Category:Mass media companies established in 2004

Category:Re-established companies