Rise To Stardom - Chapter 187

Chapter 187: Demolition, Destruction, Annihilation
JUSTIN KING: PETTINESS BEYOND MEASURE – HOW ONE ACTOR NEARLY DERAILED [LEVEL UP 2] (THANK FUCK HE DIDN’T!)

Hollywood, loves their rising stars, don’t they?

––Yes Kyle, you’re the man.

But, every so often, a troublemaker emerges—hell bent on reminding you just why some celebrities, cannot be stood with their, oh-so-mighty egos and expectant entitlements, unbefitting of them… or their achievements for that matter (So he won a rigged award, so what?).

Enter Justin King, the young musician who is presumably (at least by his fans), still considered one of Hollywood’s most promising talents, but also an absolutely unbearable actor to be around.

First off, it was the Diva’s Dance Refusal.

Early on in production, Justin King had flat-out refused to perform a key dance routine, claiming it “Didn’t showcase his full potential.” (Oh, you mean that absolute killer of a cyborg move Lance pulled in the movie’s restaurant against T-pain… sure Justin… sure…)

The choreography, designed by the well-acclaimed Danny Rock (a Director who studied dance extensively in college, mind you), had been carefully crafted to fit the movie’s narrative at that point in time.

But King, reportedly threw a tantrum, demanding it be scrapped altogether. Sources say his label even pressured director Danny Rock to rewrite the routine, nearly derailing the production schedule. “He acted like he was the lead when he wasn’t even the third-most important character,” one insider shared.

––Seriously? How old are you, Justin? Five?!

Anyway… we’re just getting started as we move on to… drumroll please… King’s verbal tirades and toxic energy on set!

When co-stars Reggie and Maya Lopez tried to intervene and encourage ‘wonder’ boy to cooperate, things took an even uglier turn.

King allegedly lashed out at them in a heated on-set argument, hurling insults that left everyone stunned. One crew member described the incident as “shocking and unprofessional,” saying, “He doesn’t just cross the line—he erases it entirely.”

Director Danny Rock wasn’t spared either, enduring verbal abuse when he tried to mediate the situation. “I’m here to make ‘art’ not deal with amateurs,” King reportedly sneered during one altercation.

––Yeah… this isn’t gonna be your day, is it Justin?

Well, if you thought the last two parts were juicy, wait till you hear about his partying, tardiness, and zero accountability on set.

If Justin’s on-set behavior wasn’t bad enough, his off-set antics only added fuel to the fire.

The Hollywood nightlife as we know it, provides a crap ton of celebrities with the opportunity to cut loose and King, became infamous for showing up late to rehearsals and shooting days, often hungover and unprepared.

“He treated the set like an afterthought,” a production assistant revealed. “Meanwhile, everyone else was busting their butts to make this film work.”

––I mean, Miami’s freaky, we get it but uh… do your job first, I guess?

For this next part though, you guys are gonna wanna grab a popcorn because damn do ladies hate a man who makes unwanted advances on their Co-Star!

Sharon Winters, is sexy and sensual beyond typical standards, we know.

But even King’s behavior extended beyond professional misconduct to personal boundaries when, reportedly, he repeatedly kept flirting with his co-star, despite her clear lack of interest.

According to sources, King’s advances ranged from annoyingly persistent to downright uncomfortable. One crew member shared, “Sharon handled it with class, but it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with him. He just wouldn’t take the hint.”

––Oh I’m sure he did. Probably just wanted to believe ladies like a man who’s persistent (Not every lady, guys! Just saying! It can be creepy for some of us, okay?!).

Eventually, all these, as you may have expected, led to an inevitable fallout between Justin and the production team. And thank fuck it did, ladies and gents!

Because if not, we’d never have gotten Kyle Kestis as Lance Knight!

In fact, an intern on set reported, “Apparently Danny was planning to write off Lance’s character, just to meet up with the deadlines, but then, just the next day, he’d informed us that we’d be keeping him in. I’d never expected Kyle Kestis to be taking up the role though!”

––GOODBYE! GOOD RIDDANCE JUSTIN!

Seriously though, for a film titled [Level Up 2] it seems Justin King did everything but level up.

The young artist may have started his music career as a rising star but, this legacy of pettiness he keeps building up, might land his reputation in an irreversible freefall.

There’s a fine line between confidence and arrogance, and as an artist in Hollywood, you’re expected, not, to leap over it.

Hollywood after all, is a very small town and behavior like Justin’s, doesn’t get forgotten.

––Speaking of being forgotten… Justin, where’s your Grammy Nominations?

–

The article hadn’t spent past fifteen minutes on the internet before it rapidly went, absolutely bonkers viral!

This time around, Gwen hadn’t play around one bit.

Instead of contacting small Hollywood tabloids and magazines as she previously did, she instead, contacted a big, reliable and well-known Hollywood Publication called the Daily Burglar, reputed for not giving a shit about anyone as long as the information was true.

Having given them all the proofs and evidences of her anonymous conversations with the crew on the set of [Level Up 2] to verify the credibility of the article, the big publication had vowed to make it their number one post on their website for the day.

Yet, Gwen, as if she had just gotten started, also contacted the popular internet celebrity ‘Loki Won’t Miss’, dropping some information about the soon to be released article to his TweetTalk DM.

A few minutes later, the internet celebrity, posted the link to the website on his page and pinned it with the caption; GRAB A COFFEE GUYS. THIS IS PEAK, HOLLYWOOD GOSSIP AT IT’S FINEST. #Level Up 2.

And as if the stars truly aligned in the worst way to screw over Justin, the first two people to have respond to the post, were as follows;

DannyTheRock: I have to admit, this is probably the most no-hold bars article I’ve read in years. Thank you @DailyBurglar for keeping things truthful. We don’t see much of that in mainstream media these days.

SharonF’ingWinters: Oh wow… I guess karma, really, just doesn’t give a shit now, does it @TheOne_TheOnlyKing? Have a terribly cloudy day with a chance of hailstorms.

–

That was the final nail in the coffin.

One that cemented that the article, was in fact, legit.

Instantly, people piled into the comments section of the post, each ready to exercise their right to free speech.

–

Princess Peach: Take a deep breath though the nose! Do y’all smell that?! The smell of karma, violence and Ha! Take that, Justin! We all know you ain’t worth shit on Kyle.

Gladiator’s Gator: Whoever wrote this article, clearly had it in mind to drag Justin’s name through the mud and into a pit of dung. I have to say, it was a successful mission. I am entertained.

HashbrownNotHashtag: So you’re telling me, that this petty mf would’ve almost ruined my favorite movie of the year 2021 so far, just because he couldn’t keep his ego in check?! Thank fuck Kyle was casted!

SnackSizedSassy: Flirting with Sharon Winters when she clearly wasn’t interested? Newsflash, Justin: ‘No’ is a full sentence. Do good to remember that you petty, asshole. Honestly, it also kinda reminds me of DreamLand’s Gala when they were both onstage for the auction. I knew something felt off about that joke he made towards her dress code.

Mamma Mia: Refusing to do the dance routine in a dance movie?? That’s like refusing to act in a movie about acting. Make it make sense, please. Also, am I wrong to think Justin should just stick to his music. Clearly, acting doesn’t seem to be his strong suit. Not everyone can be like Kyle.

Dao of Violence: @Mamma Mia; You’re so right. I mean, at this rate, he really should just stick to his music career alone and do well to not go on some virtue signaling speech at Award Shows. Oh wait… he already did. That, little, fucker.

Celebrity Sniper: @Dao of Violence; And yet, without even lifting a finger, Kyle has crushed him in that aspect too! Hollywood Star Awards can go shove their nominations up their ass. Their Awards and Nods, pales considerably in comparison to the Grammies! The big leagues!

Studying Forex: Once again, Justin fumbles another box office success and Kyle, makes his mark stronger in Hollywood. [Level Up 2] is currently seating at $36 million in returns and it’s just the opening week!

WeDoABitOfTrolling: Kyle is an actor. Kyle was casted by Danny Rock for [Level Up 2]. Kyle did his job. Kyle didn’t cause no drama on set. Kyle levelled up. Be like Kyle, kids. Don’t trip over and level down like Justin. Thank you for listening to my Ted Talk.

ChronicallyOnline: @WeDoABitOfTrolling; Best three second Ted Talk of my life.

Kratos Speaks: Justin, Justin, Justin… acting like a brat is not a personality trait, boy. Be better.

404HumorNotFound: From one of Hollywood’s rising star to one of its more avoidable problems in recent memory. This dude is speedrunning his career’s destruction like it’s a game while Kyle is maxing his limited resources to pinpoint perfection! And guess what, I’m all for it!

–

As Justin read the comments section in fury, he let out a bellow of anger at his team, his innocent smartphone flying across the room!

“Why isn’t the record label covering this article up?!”

The phone smacked right into the head of one of his assistants and landed on the plush rug of the modernly arranged office, a thin trail of blood, slowly drizzling down the lady’s forehead.

This sight, had everyone else in the room, instantly on edge as the lady clutched her head with a pained wince, her legs swaying a bit.

Yet, as if that was a commonplace incident, Justin’s agent walked in, his tone casual as he spoke while plopping onto one of the couches in the room;

“Relax, Justin. Calm down. It’ll be sorted out soon. Just like all the others.”

Hearing those words, Justin’s bubbling anger, simmered a bit, after which he then went over to pick said phone without even apologizing to his assistant whom was currently leaning on the wall in support as she struggled while wobbling, to make her way out the door for some first aid.

Reading through the article and the comments section again, Justin’s focus soon narrowed to the singular name of the person, everyone kept comparing him to.

‘Kyle! It’s all his fault!’ Justin inwardly stated, a strong hint of hatred in his gaze.

Even here, at Widescope Records, despite the record label treating him like their golden boy, he was still, always compared by the Execs to Kyle Kestis.

The actual talent they had wanted but could never have.

He, on the other hand, felt like a cheap replacement.

A cheap replacement that could never be compared to the real deal, but was more or less, a trophy that the record label was seemingly using, just to spite the young star for rejecting their offer.

That tactic, obviously, had no effect on the young star’s rapid ascent to stardom, regardless of whatever they pulled.

And that exactly, was why Kyle’s existence, infuriated Justin King to no ends.

For him, whom had cut off ties with his previous record label solely because he felt that Widescope Records really felt that he was the next big thing, the reality he was met with instead, came like a punch to the gut.

Ruthless and unsympathetic.

Meanwhile, as Justin was still trying to suppress his anger, one of the main event planners coordinating the Grammies, having realized whom the winners in all the brackets were, had a pretty amused expression on her features as she spoke to her assistant;

“Contact Widescope Records.”

“We might have an offer for them if they’re willing.” she added with a hint of mischief in her eyes.