A diary entry from Dr Anthony Fauci, newly released by Republican senator Rand Paul, reveals that Hollywood super-agent Ari Emanuel repeatedly tried to sign the former US COVID adviser as a client. The revelation comes just as Fauci is due to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which Paul chairs, in an ongoing investigation into his handling of the pandemic response, adding a celebrity angle to what is likely to be a politically charged hearing.

According to the entry, WME chief Emanuel called Fauci "once every several weeks" around 2021, telling him he was missing out on significant earnings from books, speeches, television and film deals, and even proposed visiting his home to make the case in person. Fauci had already featured in a 2021 National Geographic documentary and a 2023 PBS "American Masters" profile, and published a memoir, "On Call", in 2024. The diary also notes contact with celebrities including Julia Roberts, Matt Damon and Trevor Noah, details that critics of Fauci have seized on, though it remains unclear how far he pursued Emanuel's proposal.