(Bloomberg Politics) — Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired crisis manager Judy Smith, the inspiration for the character of Olivia Pope on the popular television show "Scandal," to help manage the controversy around the decision to pull the satirical movie "The Interview." 

According to the Hollywood Reporter,, Sony has brought on Smith to help advise film chief Amy Pascal on strategy and next steps following a cyber-attack believed to be launched by North Korea. 

The attack has been a public-relations disaster for the company. Employees, who blame Sony for failing to adequately secure its computer network, have filed at least four class- action lawsuits against the company. A number of inflammatory and embarrassing private emails about studio business have been made public, including racially insensitive remarks about President Barack Obama exchanged between Pascal and producer Scott Rudin.

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