We think we have found a new topic of fascination here at Jossip: socialite reporter Peter Davis. (In addition, we also love the term "socialite reporter" and are going to start throwing it around the way Davis throws around his sister-in-law's name to get writing assignments.)
After his New York Times "Socialite Boys" story, which favorably featured his boyfriend/arm candy Christian Leone, we thought it was pretty funny/pathetic that he thought maybe nobody would notice. But then we realized his preferential writing style, not to mention personal climb up the social Himalayas of New York, didn't end there. He's wiggled into the Mortimer clan, writes about Tinsley Mortimer for every magazine including Fashion Week Daily, and went to college with Jared Paul Stern.
Davis also trumps up more ink for Leone in Avenue Magazine, that uptown real-estate cum socialite rag that rich people get in their doorman buildings. In his Avenue column this month, Davis snaps a photo of a smiling Leone and also of his family: socialites sisters-in-law Tinsley Mortimer and Dabney Mercer replete with glowing mentions of what they are wearing.
If, in fact, the rumors are true (Avenue has not yet returned calls or e-mails) it is quite interesting that Davis is not only talking up his family, but also trying to score a few point with his editors by glowing over them in the Times
.
"People have their pose down," Mr. Leone said, watching as Mr. Saffir grinned for the cameras with yet another woman, Debbie Bancroft, a society columnist for Avenue magazine.
The next morning, many of those images appeared on the Web site of the photographer Patrick McMullan, and perhaps would later show up in the party pages of glossies like Quest, Avenue, Vogue, Gotham and W. The site patrickmcmullan.com has page after page of pictures of men about town (578 for Mr. Saffir) or, for lack of a better term, male socialites.
So do you think the Times should also include an editor's note on how he works for Debbie Bancroft and that he himself appears on Patrick McMullan's site more than MisShapes end up on Last Night's Party?
Our tipsters full e-mail, stuffed with amazing "I heard" quotes and tons of "elitists suck" sarc, after the jump.
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Peter Davis not only props up Christian Leone, his super-cool and popular boyfriend as a "male socialite" (what a deplorible expression. yucky!) on the cover of The New York Times Styles section, but Davis also trumps up more ink for Leone in Avenue Magazine, that uptown real-estate cum socialite rag that rich people get in their doorman buildings.
In his Avenue column this month, Davis snaps a photo of a smiling Leone and also of his family: socialtes sisters-in-law Tinsley Mortimer and Dabney Mercer replete with glowing mentions of what they are wearing. My question is Davis getting paid for all these boldface mentions or is he just doing it because he seems to have only
about 5 friends he writes about constantly and they are all his pals.
I heard he is rich from his family who started the Davis Cup so maybe he does it because he likes being the official vibrator to vapid, rich society kids who love seeing their name in print. Also notice in The Daily Mini that Davis included his boyfriend again in a photo story about Double Seven, that lame velvet rope club on 14th street. Someone must be at the very least must be buying Davis a lot of drinks.
I've heard he is a hard drinker/partier, never missing a night at Double 7 or Bungalow 8. It's about time Peter Davis lay low for a while and try and write some real articles. He has enough pictures on PatrickMcMullan.com
The Socialite Wore a Black Tie [Peter Davis, New York Times]
The Sunday Styles Writer and His Boldface Boyfriend
Update: Avenue did confirm that Davis is a contributor to the magazine. "He writes a social column for us covering numerous people and events." The declined, however, to send over a copy of his contributions for us to compare Tins coverage to the time spent on the rest of the B-List socialites. And our doorman always steals our copy … anyone else out there have an issue?
Peter Davis may be missing his arm candy, but like a
squirrel, he stored nuts for the winter.
Unfortunately his NY Times blowup, ruined more than
the vermin's reputation. Let's just say Mr. Leone
wasn't the only entree on Peter Davis weekly diet.
Winter is over, and Mr. Davis is out of
nuts………… So much for the surplus!
What no one may realize, is Mr. Davis grew up in society, is NY society. He has known all these people since he was 5 or earlier. He does not social climb. If anything, he climbs down because he loves crazed B list celebs and everything hot and trendy.
Davsi does not even have to work; he works because he loves to write and search out what is hot. He is loaded.
There is no secret PR connection between McMullan and Davis, other than McMullan kisses Davis's ass because Davis is the real thing (born into Manhattan society), writes, and McMullan is a photographer who has had to work his way up FOR DECADES to hang out with the people he photographs, and even then they only accept him because they like seeing their photo published. Plus McMullan was seeing Davis's ex lover Rye Taz for a while and taking photos of him, which was no fun for Davis. Of course McMullan is a legend for documenting parties, but he is not in cahoots with Davis.