Archive for the ‘George Zimmerman’ Category

George Zimmerman's brother talks to GQ

Would you watch a reality TV show starring George Zimmerman? That was his brother, Robert's "ultimate goal," according to an in-depth interview with GQ magazine.

Robert Zimmerman Jr. said his family wanted to "rebrand" George after he was acquitted of murder last year for the 2012 shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford.

Robert told GQ he wanted to turn George into a reality star modeled after "America's Most Wanted's" John Walsh, and the Kardashians.

The younger Zimmerman brother said the trial forced him to take on a role of "family savior" in an attempt to defend his brother and family to the media. Before the shooting of Trayvon Martin, which his family refers to as "the incident," Robert said he felt he was a disappointment to his parents, describing himself as an "unemployed, college dropout with a DWI and a boyfriend."

Even after George's acquittal more than a year ago, Robert Zimmerman said his entire family has continued to live in hiding, prepared to flee in a hurry with pre-packed "go-bags" in case they were attacked.

Robert said George and his ex-wife, Shellie, wore disguises to avoid being recognized in public. He said George called his disguise, consisting of a blond wig and sunglasses, as his "Bieber look."

GQ contributor Amanda Robb even tagged along with Robert and George's mother, Gladys, to a concealed weapons certification class, which George had arranged for his mother and brother to take in Orlando. The Zimmermans said they had to draw up their own security protocols, including using a color-coded threat system and keeping guns close by at all times. Robert said he still sleeps with his gun.

Robert said his brother hated the media, blaming them for "turning him into a national villain," and refused to give any interviews. The one exception was Sean Hannity, to whom George Zimmerman gave his first TV interview in July 2012.

George eventually agreed to an interview with CNN in February 2014 after the network agreed to pay for a hotel room and expenses.

According to Robert, a hotel manager handed him a $3,600 for room expenses, and a CNN producer accused the Zimmermans of "splurging" on their dime, telling Robert, "You and your brother are evil!"

The rest is here:
George Zimmerman's brother talks to GQ

Robert Zimmerman speaks about life after verdict in GQ article

George Zimmerman's brother recently described what life was like after his brother was found not guilty of murdering Trayvon Martin, according to GQ Magazine.

In an interview with GQ, Robert Zimmerman talked about his family trying to capitalize off the situation and how theyd hoped to turn George into a reality television star.

"I learn a lot from watching Keeping up with the Kardashians," said Robert Zimmerman.

Robert Zimmerman said his brother hated the media except for the Fox News show "Hannity."

Robert Zimmerman said the family had arranged to do an interview in New York on the anniversary of Trayvon Martin's death, but were afraid of traveling.

"Its like 9/11 for my family. We cant travel together that day. It's like having the whole royal family travel together," said Robert Zimmerman.

Robert Zimmerman said that although the threats against his family have diminished, he expects they will be in fear for the rest of their lives.

"I understand you may consider us uncooperative or somewhat paranoid. We live with a situation that cannot easily be imagined. We have known the results when various individuals have realized one of us is a Zimmerman," he said after canceling an interview with the GQ reporter at a rental home in Seminole County.

Top video: 911 caller: 'We placed 3 bombs in schools'

The author said George Zimmerman refused to take part in the interview because GQ Magazine would not agree to provide a week at a luxury hotel.

Original post:
Robert Zimmerman speaks about life after verdict in GQ article

Robert Zimmerman opens up about his brother

ORLANDO, Fla. -

George Zimmerman's brother, Robert, opens up to GQ magazine about what life was like for the Zimmerman family before, during and after George's murder trial.

In an upcoming issue, Robert Zimmerman explains how his family discussed making George the star of a Zimmerman family reality show.

He also says George Zimmerman arranged for his mother to take a concealed weapons class before the trial.

Robert Zimmerman also told GQ that his brother hated the media and did not want to give any interviews. However, when he finally agreed to an interview with CNN, the network put him in a hotel and paid for his expenses. In return, the Zimmermans gave CNN a room-service bill totaling $3,600.

George Zimmerman and his wife, Shellie, were also forced to wear disguises to avoid being spotted in public. Robert said George referred to his wig and glasses as his "Bieber look."

The entire article is available in next month's GQ issue.

GQ says George Zimmerman refused to be interviewed for the article unless he was given a hotel room. The magazine declined.

George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder last year in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Continued here:
Robert Zimmerman opens up about his brother

GQ: George Zimmerman's family hoped for reality show

In an in-depth interview in GQ, George Zimmerman's brother discloses that his family wanted to "rebrand" the former Neighborhood Watch volunteer after his murder acquittal and make him the star of a reality TV show.

"I learned a lot from watching 'Keeping up with the Kardashians,' " Robert Zimmerman Jr. told GQ in a story in its October editions.

George Zimmerman, 30, would not take part in the interview unless he was offered a week's stay in a luxury hotel, something the magazine would not do, it reported.

Still, the magazine reported some fascinating details about his pre- and post-trial life and that of his spokesman brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., and parents Robert Sr. and Gladys, who moved out of their Lake Mary home shortly after their son George killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black 17-year-old in Sanford Feb. 26, 2012.

Although a Seminole County jury acquitted George Zimmerman last year, he and his family continue to live in hiding and typically carry guns, fearful that they would be attacked, the magazine reported.

After the shooting but before his arrest, George and his now-estranged wife, Shellie, moved from the Lake Mary home of a close friend to a trailer on an island off the coast of Maryland, according to the report.

At the same time, his parents and adult sister, Grace, moved from Orlando-area hotel to hotel, trying to stay out of sight, always paid cash and tore up their garbage and distributed it to various Dumpsters.

They carried prepacked "go-bags" that included all their essentials such things as cellphones, laptops and other electronic devices should they need to flee an oncoming assault.

They gave each other code names and developed a warning system, the magazine reported. "Code blue" meant law enforcement was at the door. "Code brown" meant draw your weapon, and "code black" meant open fire. .

Gladys Zimmerman also carries a gun, the story reported.

Continued here:
GQ: George Zimmerman's family hoped for reality show

George Zimmermans Brother Models The Zimmerman Brand After Kardashians

In show business, the clich is no publicity is bad publicity. But George Zimmerman, who fatally shot unarmed teenager Trayvon MartinFebruary 26, 2012, in an event that outraged the world, might be an exception to the rule. In a GQprofile of the family, Georges savvier, more telegenic brother Robert said he envisioned George as leveraging his notoriety not only to market products, but also to become a reality television star. The profile provides a glimpse into the strange and sometimes delusional world of a family living in the shadow of one member's infamy.

In the wake of George Zimmermans fatal shooting of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin, he and his extended family have gone into hiding. When theyre not the targets of death threats from outraged American citizens, or looking over their shoulders for people who want the $10,000 bounty the Black Panthers put on Zimmermans citizens arrest, theyre cooking up get-rich quick schemes and brainstorming reality television ideas.

Robert Zimmerman told GQ among the money-making ideas considered was George starting a line of home-security products aimed at women called Z Security Products. But his ultimate goal, writes Amanda Robb, was to turn George into a reality-TV star. His models were John Walsh, who made a career out of hosting Americas Most Wanted after his 6-year-old son was abducted and killed, and Kim Kardashian, who launched a media empire from a leaked sex tape.

"I learn a lot from watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Robert said to GQ. Like, use the sh*t you got. In the George Zimmerman version of reality television fame, Robert imagined episodes in which George would show up as a surprise guest, Candid Camera-style.

Robert Zimmerman has been on television quite a bit, including appearances on HBOs Real Time With Bill Maher in February 2013, Fox TV and Piers Morgan. (The $800 he was paid to be on Bill Maher, Robb notes, was the first bit of income hed received in 2013.) Recently, he talked George into being interviewed on Univision. Because it went smoothly, CNN invited the family, including George, to a taping in Miami. The network agreed to pay for two hotel rooms for three nights, but balked when the family ran up a $3,600 hotel bill for room-service, minibar use, clothes laundering, spa trips and a dinner for 10 to the hotel restaurant. When Robert called CNN, outraged he was presented with a bill, the producer, he alleges, screamed at him for being so extravagant. You and your brother are evil! he recalled her saying. CNN eventually relented and paid the bill.

If Keeping Up With the Zimmermans ever comes to fruition, it will be the first time George Zimmerman has been employed since he fatally shot Trayvon Martin. GQ reports the Zimmermans are broke and in debt -- George alone owes his attorneys $2.5 million. For most of the past two years, all three of the Zimmerman adult children have been unemployed. George still is, and his father Bob told GQ he can understand why. "[H]e may never be able to work. He may never be able to get Social Security. He may never get Medicare. If he buys a house, then people can go on the Internet and find out exactly where he lives."

While Robert brainstorms ways of rebranding the Zimmerman name, an uphill battle, says Robert, since "talking to George about media is like talking to the Pope about gay sex, George has resumed his self-appointed post as a neighborhood watchman. This summer, Amanda Robb reported, police found him sitting in his truck at night outside a friends gun and motorcycle shop, and the owner told police he had not asked Zimmerman to do so.

Excerpt from:
George Zimmermans Brother Models The Zimmerman Brand After Kardashians