Celebrity News

Top publicist secures powerful backers for new firm

Top entertainment publicist Leslie Sloane’s departure from BWR after 17 years rocked Hollywood on Wednesday — and Page Six can exclusively reveal she has powerful financial backing from the Weinstein Company and MSG’s Jim Dolan to start her own company.

Sloane, a co-president of BWR, has repped A-list talent including Blake Lively, Katie Holmes and Megan Fox.

Sources say there was big drama when BWR chiefs, having heard rumors that Sloane was looking to leave, confronted her on Wednesday and asked her to resign. She and the firm then abruptly parted ways.

We’re told by sources in BWR’s office that the partners ordered the staff to start calling Sloane’s celebrity clients.

“We were told she is no longer with the company and we should call her clients to keep their business. It was like a scene out of ‘Jerry Maguire,'” said one insider.

But we’ve heard that Lively, Holmes, Sarah Michelle Geller, Chris Rock, Sebastian Stan and Chris O’Donnell were not swayed and are sticking with Sloane at her new shop.

Recently, Harvey Weinstein was overheard telling showbiz insiders that “Leslie’s next move is going to rock the industry.” Calls to Sloane were not returned on Thursday and BWR didn’t get back to us either.