TomSpace: Inside Ex-Viacom CEO Freston's Crib
[THE ORIGINAL PHOTO ABOVE HAS BEEN REMOVED: We were asked by Arianna Huffington (her statement below*) to remove a photo of a desk taken at the home of ex-Viacom CEO Tom Freston. We’re not happy about it, but out of respect to both Huffington and Freston, and having been a guest in Mr. Freston’s home, it has been removed. To us, it’s a gray area, and raises the issue of what’s fair in party reporting these days. What do you think? E-mail us at fishbowlny AT mediabistro.com or drop your thoughts in the tip box, and we will post them here.]
Ex-Viacom CEO Tom Freston hosted a party for Ariana Huffington‘s On Becoming Fearless on Saturday at his townhouse on the Upper West Side. See our related story about what turned out to be a contentious evening between Freston and FishbowlNY over these party photos:
Freston’s impressive bookshelves surrounded the party.
[PHOTO REMOVED: See above, below for explanation.]
Freston’s desk. Notice the Mao trinket. He has a lot of those.
Freston’s equally-impressive wetbar is a mere arm’s length away from his desk.
Freston’s wife, Kathy, a spiritual advisor, feted Huffington.
Lynn de Rothschild co-hosted.
More Mao on the mantle above one of numerous fireplaces in Freston’s townhouse.
Books.
A coffee table with — naturally — more books.
[THIS PHOTO HAS BEEN REMOVED: Were were asked by Ariana Huffington to remove this photo taken at the home of ex-Viacom CEO Tom Freston. It showed framed photographs on a bookshelf, including a picture of Bono and one of Mr. Freston and his wife, Kathy. We’re not happy about it, but out of respect to Huffington and Freston, and having been a guest in Mr. Freston’s home, it has been removed. To us, it’s a gray area, and raises the issue of what’s fair in party reporting these days. What do you think? E-mail us at fishbowlny AT mediabistro.com or drop your thoughts in the tip box, and we will post them here.]
Freston counts Bono among his friends — and bookshelf.
Huffington had a singer-songwriter to sing a song called “Fearless.”
Clearly, Freston enjoys looking at books.
Revelers enjoy being surrounded by Freston’s books.
Freston’s wood for the aforementioned fireplace.
Walter Kronkite showed up to fete Huffington. That, or to borrow some books.
* Arianna Huffington sent us the following about the photo that was removed, above: “I invited Dylan Stableford to my book party at Tom and Kathy Freston’s home. When friends so generously and warmly open their home to not only mutual friends but to my guests whom they do not know, I obviously feel responsible for making sure that certain conventions are observed — and that certain boundaries are respected. Taking pictures of party guests is obviously completely acceptable — and expected — but taking pictures of the host’s personal effects, including his To Do list on his desk, is a violation of trust and journalistic etiquette — especially when concern was expressed about such pictures being taken. I’ve given many, many parties in my life — and had many given for me — and have never had anyone take pictures of personal effects.”
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