Supercut: Watch the Media Worship at the Altar of Avenatti

Last year the media came down with a fever and the only cure was Michael Avenatti. 

The fame-fueled solicitor was riding high, representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whom he had talked into suing President Trump — and then, later, an obscure woman Avenatti claimed attended several gang-rape parties with now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. 

The media couldn’t get enough. Over the course of last spring, Avenatti, according to the Media Research Center, was invited on national TV for 147 separate interviews, with 131 happening on CNN and MSNBC. The combined haul of all that earned media is estimated at over $175 million, according to the Washington Free Beacon.

Today the media seem to be treating Avenatti like an embarrassing ex they’re trying to shake from their collective memory. No doubt that’s because since his heyday pinnacled, the belligerent barrister began a campaign of self-destruction. Over the six months he’s been sued multiple times — by both former business partners and clients. His premiere client, Stormy Daniels, dumped him. He was arrested for hitting his girlfriend (despite still being married). And, most recently, he was arrested again, this time for attempting to extort the fitness apparel company Nike (in New York) as well as well bank and tax fraud (in California). There’s more, but you get the idea. 

But the media’s Avenatti obsession really happened. And it’s worth recalling, especially as some — such as CNN’s Brian Stelter — actually held him up as a viable 2020 candidate to run against President Trump.

For a trip down memory lane, please enjoy the supercut above.