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Published by Raw Story On Tuesday, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez took to the floor to directly tell embattled fellow Councilor Kevin De León to resign his position. The city council was recently rocked by leaked audio of Council President Nury Martinez speaking to De León, Councilman Gil Cedillo, and labor leader Ron Herrera about council redistricting, during which they engaged in flagrantly racist remarks, including Martinez describing Councilman Mike Bonin’s Black son as “like a monkey” and saying the city’s district attorney is “with the Blacks,” and De León comparing Bonin’s parenting to Mart… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Toddand Julie Chrisley must go to jail as planned. The Chrisley Knows Best duo will be forced to report to prison on January 17 after a judge denied them bond on Tuesday while they fight to appeal their guilty verdicts in the $36 million bank fraud case,RadarOnline.comhas learned. The couple had been working with their lawyers overtime in a last-ditch effort to avoid serving their sentences behind bars. As RadarOnline.com reported, Todd and Julie will be checking into separate prisons on January 17. Mega This outlet told you first — Todd and Julie will be able to write letters, send emails, and possibly mail each other packages behind bars, with their wardens’ approvals. The Chrisley patriarch will be serving his 12-year sentence at FPC Pensacola in Florida, where he could make up to 12 cents per hour scrubbing toilets. Mega Julie is pushing hard to serve her 7-year sentence at the low-security Federal Correctional Institution in Tallahassee, Florida, where notorious sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell could be her best prison buddy. Despite begging for Tallahassee, the judge had reportedly recommended Julie to FCI Coleman, although it’s known for housing male inmates. If Coleman is full — or doesn’t work out — she’ll be headed to Tallahassee, which is most likely the case. Mega Julie will be required to wake up every day at 6 AM to make her bed. She’ll also be required to hold down a prison job, like folding laundry, working in the kitchen, or doing toilet duty. If she’s lucky, theChrisley Knows Best star might even be able to work alongside Maxwell for a laid-back job in the library. Todd and Julie are leaning on their faith, therapy, and family in their last days leading up to prison. They’ve also made amends with Todd’s estranged daughter, Lindsie, despite their dark and twisted past. The main focus is keeping their family together while behind bars. The couple adopted their 10-year-old granddaughter, Chloe, and following the guilty verdicts, her biological mom threatened to fight for custody. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Moira Warburton WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Representative Katie Porter on Tuesday launched a campaign for U.S. Senate in California, taking aim at a seat currently held by fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein, who has not said if she plans seek re-election in 2024. Feinstein, who has held the seat since 1992, has faced pressure to resign given that she is the oldest member of Congress at 89 years old. If she were re-elected, she would be 97 at the end of her six-year term. Porter, 49, is a rising progressive star in the Democratic Party. The former law professor has become a social media sensation for her whiteboards and rapid-fire grilling of powerful bank and drug company executives over issues like compensation. She has championed inflation-based caps for drug prices and making it unlawful to excessively hike gasoline prices. She was a top fundraiser in the House in November’s midterm elections, raising over $25 million to win her competitive district for the third time. “California needs a warrior in the Senate – to stand up to special interests, fight the dangerous imbalance in our economy, and hold so-called leaders like (top Senate Republican) Mitch McConnell accountable for rigging our democracy,” she said in a video posted to Twitter. She made no reference to Feinstein. Feinstein is a trailblazer in U.S. politics: the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco, first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee and now the longest-serving female senator. “Everyone is of course welcome to throw their hat in the ring, and I will make an announcement concerning my plans for 2024 at the appropriate time,” Feinstein said in response to Porter’s announcement. (Reporting by Moira Warburton; Editing by Scott Malone and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by AFP Coachella returned in 2022 after a three-year hiatus Los Angeles (AFP) – Bad Bunny, Frank Ocean and Blackpink will headline this April’s Coachella, the California desert festival that kicks off the summer concert circuit, organizers announced Tuesday. It’s set to be a history-making weekend, with Bad Bunny — the world’s most-streamed artist — as the first Spanish-language and first Latin American artist to headline. And K-pop group Blackpink of South Korea is the first Asian act to receive a top billing at the festival. Both acts debuted at Coachella in 2019 to great fanfare, teeing up an eventual headlining slot. Ocean was originally booked as a headliner for the 2020 edition, which organizers postponed and eventually scrapped due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Coachella returned in 2022 after a three-year hiatus. The reclusive R&B singer Ocean, who hasn’t released an album since 2016’s “Blonde,” is anticipated to debut new work at this year’s festival. Also slated to play sets are Spanish phenomenon Rosalia, Iceland’s Bjork and Nigeria’s Burna Boy. English virtual band Gorillaz will also perform, as will New Wave pioneers Blondie and the American indie rock supergroup boygenius, which includes Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker. France’s Christine and the Queens, who has been performing under the name Redcar, will also return for the mammoth event, after wowing audiences there in 2019. Domi and JD Beck, the rising jazz duo comprised of a French keyboardist and American drummer, will also take the stage, months after they’re slated to compete for a prestigious Best New Artist Grammy in early February. Coachella will take place over two three-day weekends, from April 14-16 and 21-23. Organizers of Bonnaroo, a June festival in rural Tennessee, also announced their lineup Tuesday, with headliners including Kendrick Lamar and Foo Fighters. View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA; Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA Beyoncé had tried to recruit Britney Spears for an appearance in her upcoming music video, but the collaboration ultimately fell through, RadarOnline.com has learned. It’s unknown why the rumored project won’t be coming to fruition after the CUFF IT songstress reached out to the pop star with the opportunity. Avalon / Avalon/Newscom/The Mega Agency Insiders broke the news to Page Six about their potential plans which came nearly two decades after Beyoncé and Spears starred in a 2004 Pepsi commercial with fellow singer Pink. Beyoncé is set to go on tour with hits from her Renaissance album this summer after topping the charts with her release and earning nine nominations ahead of the 2023 Grammy Awards. She will be competing against other fan-favorite artists for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Dance/Electronic Recording, and more during the star-studded event to be held on Sunday, February 5, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. As for Spears, she released a popular duet with Elton John which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 following the end of her conservatorship in November 2021. Spears has not posted about the rumored collaboration, however, she did name drop Beyoncé during a recent social media spat with her younger sister. MEGA Spears vented on Instagram after Jamie Lynn gave an emotional confession during the premiere episode of the reality competition series Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test, detailing how it was tough growing up in her sibling’s shadow. “This is not a victim story yet but it’s definitely a heart-wrenching and humbling way to share tears and complain for hours and hours FOR CAMERAS supporting you which I never had,” the Gimme More hitmaker wrote in response to the claims. Avalon / Avalon/Newscom/The Mega Agency “There are things people don’t know and I’ve never shared because it’s sad as f— and embarrassing!!!” Spears added, before referencing Beyoncé. “It makes it worse when I share because people ask more questions like my mom !!! AS IF SHE DOESN’T KNOW !!! What the f— do you think Beyoncé’s mom would do if they did that to her daughter?” View the full article

Published by ScreenCrush A year after the Golden Globes were pulled from their annual broadcast by NBC after numerous scandals, the traditional Oscars prelim is back. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association now has some new members, a new owner, and is in the process of becoming a for-profit group. And their awards show, the Golden Globes, are back on network television. The show is hosted by Jerrod Carmichael from the Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles, California. You can watch the show live on NBC and streamed on Peacock starting at 8PM ET. Here is the full list of this year’s winners: (NOTE: This post will be updated l… Read More View the full article

Published by PopCrush We finally almost got a long-overdue Beyoncé and Britney Spears collaboration. Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll have to keep waiting. According to a Page Six report, Beyoncé recently asked Britney to appear in a new music video, but the plans fell through. “The Britney and Beyoncé collab could’ve been a big big moment for everyone and now I will be upset for the rest of the day,” one fan tweeted of the news of the latest missed collaboration between the two pop stars. “Britney knew seeing both her and Beyoncé in the same scene would cause the world to combust so really she saved our lives… h… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Ellen Chang Musk had an amazingly rough year in 2022 thanks to Tesla’s abysmal performance. Elon Musk continues to break new records though not always the kind he wants to. Now the notorious billionaire has set a Guinness World Record for losing the most money ever. Musk, who is CEO of both Tesla and Twitter, had a tough year in 2022 and his fortune dwindled by a massive $182 billion or 153 billion euros since November 2021 based on Forbes estimates, according to Guiness World Records. Musk’s losses might be as high as $200 billion according to other sources, the organization said. Guiness … Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), the former chair of the far-right House Freedom Caucus and an extremist whose own family members called for him to be removed from office over his activities surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection, on Monday labeled First Lady Dr. Jill Biden “compromised” and said she must be investigated. Congressman Biggs, who just last month was one of 28 House Republicans voting against legislation to protect child sex abuse victims, has a long history of extremism. Before his congressional career Biggs served as a policy advisor to United Families International, which for a… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Tony Owusu At least one state had a record setting 2022 when it comes to marijuana, but other states saw declines in sales to close out the year. Just how popular is consuming marijuana in America? A new federal survey suggests that 52.5 million Americans ages 12 and older, or about 20% of that age group, reported using cannabis at least once in 2021. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration revealed the results for its 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health earlier this month. “Harnessing the power of data and evidence is critical to ensuring policies and programs… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega It has been alleged that conservatives in the Vatican have set out on a “secret plan” to apply pressure on the liberal Pope Francis to force his resignation, RadarOnline.com has learned. Francis, 86, has served as the head of the Catholic church, the Bishop of Rome, and sovereign of Vatican City since 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI after a child sexual abuse scandal plagued the church. Francis’ reign has been a stark contrast to his predecessor’s. The current head of the Catholic church has been criticized by conservatives and celebrated by liberals for leading the religious establishment in an unprecedented modern direction. Pope Francismega Since 2013, Francis has made shocking statements that ruffled feathers amongst conservative members in Vatican City. The current pope has openly supported gay marriage and same-sex unions, as well as his claim that atheists can still go to heaven. He also stated in the past that he would step down should his health merit the decision; however, it was believed to be an unlikely event while his predecessor was still alive. Potential resignation was believed to be avoided at all costs to prevent three living popes residing at the Vatican at the same time. The alleged “secret plan” to force his resignation was believed to be contrived within the days following Pope Benedict XVI’s death on New Year’s Eve 2022. According to the Italian publicationLa Stampa, a cardinal allegedly told the newspaper that the conservative members are ready to make a move toward the “communist” pope. Pope Benedict XVI mega The anonymous cardinal stated, “The secret plan will be formulated on various axes and phases, but it will have one objective – to place the pontificate under such stress that Francis will have to resign. “The opponents of Francis know that right now they are in a minority, that they will need time to both win a consensus and to weaken [him],” the cardinal’s alleged remarks continued. “The progressive weakening of the Holy Father as well as his doctrinal choices, which will create a great deal of discontent which can be used against him,” the cardinal added. A recent meeting with Francis and an Archbishop fueled rumors that conservatives were working behind the scenes to oust the Bishop of Rome. Funeral services for Pope Benedict XVImega Francis met with Archbishop Georg Gänswein on January 2. Gänswein was a right-hand man to Pope Benedict XVI and served as his secretary for 19 years. The late pope’s former secretary also played a key role in his funeral services. Gänswein has also been outspoken in his criticism of the current pope and included a scathing review of Francis in his memoir. Other than confirming that the meeting took place, the Vatican did not elaborate on the purpose of the private meeting or other figures who may have been present. View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) Body positivity has been in vogue for a while, with more and more images of different body types advertising the clothes we buy. But whether you are shopping on the high street or scrolling online, when was the last time you saw menswear advertised on anyone who doesn’t have a gym-honed physique? On TikTok, a small group of plus-size influencers are trying to make menswear more inclusive. They are using the platforms to call for different size options and even breaking down the idea of what menswear even is. “There has been such an eye opening moment to the world of fashion for plus-size women… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Eminem turned down a $8 million payday to perform at the football World Cup last year. That’s according to 50 Cent, who claims there was a $9 million offer for the 50-year-old rapper – who he performed alongside at last year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show – and him to play at the Qatar tournament, and he would’ve taken $1 million, while the other $8 million would’ve gone to the ‘Sing For The Moment’ hitmaker. He said: “Because of the Super Bowl, I got an inquiry about World Cup and they had a budget of $9 million. “I would’ve taken one and then the other eight would have been for him.” 50 Cent – whose real name is Curtis Jackson III – tried to negotiate with Eminem’s management, but he wasn’t keen to play. Speaking on radio station Real 92.3’s ‘Big Boy’s Neighbourhood’ show, he added: “They’re like, ‘He’s not gonna do it.’ “If you would do a one-off show, maybe you would do the biggest live sporting event in the world.” The tournament faced controversy for being held in Qatar, which has been the subject of international condemnation over its human rights record including criminalisation of homosexuality. Robbie Williams performed in Qatar during the tournament, at Doha Golf Club, and he defended his decision, insisting it would’ve been “hypocritical” not to have played in the country. He said: “Of course, I don’t condone any abuses of human rights anywhere. “That being said, if we’re not condoning human rights abuses anywhere, then it would be the shortest tour the world has ever known. I wouldn’t even be able to perform in my own kitchen. “Anybody leaving messages saying ‘no to Qatar’ are doing so on Chinese technology. It would be hypocritical of me to not go [to Qatar] because of the places that I do go to. “I think that the hypocrisy there is that if we take that case in this place, we need to apply that unilaterally to the world … Then if we apply that unilaterally to the world, nobody can go anywhere.” Robbie’s decision to perform comes after it was revealed that Dua Lipa, Sir Rod Stewart and Shakira all turned down requests to play in the country. View the full article

Published by The Philadelphia Inquirer PHILADELPHIA — M3gan was bound to capture online queer fandom from the moment she sashayed across the blood-splattered room. We’re talking about M3gan — part android, part doll, part meme legend — the main character in Blumhouse Productions’ and Universal Pictures’ new film, “M3gan.” After a girl’s parents die in a car accident, her aunt (Allison Williams), an engineer, becomes her caretaker and tasks the robot she’s working on, M3gan, to help keep her niece safe. This is a horror film, so you can imagine that plan goes poorly. But the internet doesn’t care about that. The internet cares about… Read More View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Bad Bunny is bringing to Netflix an adaptation of the popular LGBTQ young adult novel “They Both Die at the End.” The Puerto Rican superstar, born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, is joining forces with Chris Van Dusen, creator of Netflix’s smash hit “Bridgerton,” and Drew Comins, executive producer of Showtime’s Emmy-nominated “Yellowjackets” to bring Adam Silvera’s book to the small screen, Deadline reported Monday. Set in the near future, the book centers on the last living hours of Mateo and Rufus, two teenagers who receive a bureaucratic call from a corporation called Death-Cast, informing… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Kevin McCarthy woke up on Saturday morning with a long-held dream fulfilled: After a four-day standoff, he was elected speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the most powerful member of the Republican Party. But that role could turn into a nightmare because it requires leading a caucus that strongly rejects leadership. Conservatives have regularly excoriated top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell for agreeing to compromises of any kind with Democrats and earlier this week rejected former President Donald Trump’s call to quickly fall in line behind McCarthy. The 57-year-old Californian showed tenacity in pushing through 15 rounds of voting and dismantling what had been a cadre of 20 right-wing hardline opponents, finding compromises that would pull most of them into his camp. He told reporters on Friday night that he would be a more effective leader because of the drawn-out process. “Because it took this long, now we’ve learned how to govern. So now we’ll be able to get the job done,” McCarthy said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to be more effective, more efficient and definitely government is going to be more accountable.” McCarthy agreed to major concessions to secure a role that is second in line to the Oval Office behind Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris, including a rule that means that any of the 435 members of the House could force a vote for his removal at any time. Republicans’ weaker-than-expected performance in the November elections left them with a narrow 222-212 majority and gives outsized power to a small group of right-wing hardliners. They railed against McCarthy, who served as minority leader since 2019, accusing him of being soft and too open to compromise with President Joe Biden and his Democrats, who also control the U.S. Senate. “We do not trust Mr. McCarthy with power, because we know who he will use it for. And we are concerned that it will not be for the American people,” said Representative Matt Gaetz, who dealt McCarthy one final humiliation on Friday night when he cost him the second-to-last vote by withholding his support. But compromise will be necessary in a divided government, and McCarthy’s concessions raise the risk that the two parties could fail to reach a deal when the federal government comes up against its $31.4 trillion debt limit later this year. Failure to reach agreement, or even a long standoff, could bring a default that would shake the global economy. McCarthy shrugged off suggestions that the deal could weaken his power. “That gives me no problem or concern whatsoever,” McCarthy told reporters, describing his deal with critics as a “very good” agreement that “empowers the members.” CUTS TO SPENDING He also agreed to pursue deep cuts in government spending to achieve a balanced federal budget in 10 years, beginning in October, and promised his hardline critics greater influence on key committees. The week-long stalemate over his candidacy has emboldened individual lawmakers, at a time when the thin Republican majority affords him the loss of no more than four votes to enact legislation. McCarthy has spent his adult life in politics, first as a congressional staffer and then state legislator before being elected to the House in 2006. He made an unsuccessful run for speaker once before, in 2015, and the election represents the pinnacle of his career. But the speaker’s post has proved to be a formidable challenge for Republicans in recent years, with John Boehner resigning from the position in 2015 after a struggle with rebellious conservatives. Boehner’s successor, Paul Ryan, a frequent target for conservatives, decided not to seek reelection in 2018 as then-President Trump shifted the party focus from Ryan’s fiscal priorities to immigration and culture-war issues. McCarthy ran afoul of hardliners when he publicly acknowledged that Trump bore responsibility for the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, days after the violence. He later repeatedly voiced allegiance to the former president. On Saturday, Trump sought credit for the new speaker’s election, posting video on his Truth Social network of McCarthy thanking Trump for his support, captioning it: “Thank you Kevin. It was my great honor.” The White House said Biden spoke with McCarthy on Saturday to congratulate him. McCarthy visited at least 34 states to campaign for more than 165 candidates ahead of the midterms. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a group tied to him, contributed more than $160 million to help Republican House candidates. McCarthy sent candidates $6.5 million from his own campaign and four other entities under his control, according to his campaign team. But to reach the speakership, he also agreed not to interfere in future Republican primaries, even if it meant boosting candidates that he thought were likelier to win a general election than right-wing rivals. “Kevin is a good man. He’s a man of God,” Republican Representative Mike Garcia said in a speech nominating McCarthy on Friday. “He’s a patriot. He’s a leader who has led this conference to our current majority over the last four years. Those things are unassailable.” (Reporting by David Morgan; Editing by Scott Malone, Cynthia Osterman and Daniel Wallis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Brendan Fraser says obesity is one of the final accepted forms of “prejudice and bigotry”. The 54-year-old actor – who met with people from Florida’s Obesity Action Coalition as he prepared to play Charlie in 2022’s ‘The Whale’ – hopes the movie can help change the way society looks at people who are obese. He told Empire magazine: “Obesity is among the last accepted norms of prejudice and bigotry that we have in our society now. “I think [the film] might be able to help turn the tide of that dialogue. It might change some hearts and minds.” Brendan also reflected on comparisons between himself and his character, who a reclusive English professor. He said: “I stepped away from Hollywood, from filmmaking for a while because I did have some chips and dings in the paint, and the hinges needed to be repaired. “And it did take a… it took a lot more out of me than I was really ready for, but I had to do it, and it took a while.” However, the ‘Mummy’ star noted he’s in a “good” place now, and he didn’t hit the same lows as Charlie in the film. He explained: “The good news is I’m out of pain, I feel good. So… no, I did not retreat to a room alone and harm myself in any way. “But… in its most extreme examples, yeah, I can see how Charlie would have some issues.” Long after filming finished on the movie, Brendan still can’t stop thinking about his character. In November, he said: “I think about this guy all the time. I interviewed people on Zoom calls in researching for this, connections made possible by Dr. Goldman at the Obesity Action Coalition. It’s a support and resource group that has a huge following and membership online. “It’s essentially a place where families and people who live with people who are obese, or are obese, can go to when they need health services, referrals, everything. It’s a wonderful organisation. “The people I talked to gave me something so honest that I really questioned if I was qualified to have this information. Something I learned, as heartbreaking as it is, is that each person who told me their story had one thing in common: There was someone in their youth who was very cruel to them by the way they spoke to them, and it set in motion the rest of their life. Sadly, it most often was a father, I noticed.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Sam Mendes thinks it is “inevitable” that awards shows will move to gender-neutral categories. The ‘Empire of Light’ director thinks it is “perfectly reasonable” to scrap separate male and female categories when it comes to giving out honours in order to make the film industry more inclusive. He told the BBC: “I have total sympathy with it, yeah, and I think it might well be inevitable in the end. “I think that’s the way it’s moving and I think that it’s perfectly reasonable.” The 57-year-old filmmaker- who won an Oscar in 2000 for ‘American Beauty’ and a BAFTA for ‘1917’ in 2020 – insisted awards shows are mainly about “selling” movies and entertaining viewers with a TV show. He added: “For me, people forget with awards, I think this happens all the time, they use it as a bellwether for the industry but the truth is awards are a TV show. “You know, awards are there to promote films. If that film wins an award, I’m more likely to go and see it and that’s what you’re doing there. It’s not about yourself, it’s not about the art or craft of the industry, especially, it’s about selling films.” But Sam insisted he wasn’t dismissing the accolades he has received in the past. He continued: “I’m not dismissing the importance of them but I’m saying they were there to promote films and the craft and art of films. They’re the shop window but they’re not the thing itself.” Sam’s comments come after Emma Corrin – who identifies as non-binary and used gender-neutral pronouns – previously called for gender to be abolished at awards ceremonies. The ‘Crown’ star said: “I hope for a future in which that happens. I don’t think the categories are inclusive enough at the moment. “It’s difficult for me at the moment trying to justify in my head being non-binary and being nominated in female categories. “When it comes to categories, do we need to make it specific as to whether you’re being nominated for a female role or a male role?” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Adam Rich has passed away at 54-years-old, a family member has confirmed. The former child star known for his role as Nicholas Bradford, the youngest son on ’70s classic Eight Is Enough, was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Saturday, January 7. No cause of death has been confirmed, but law enforcement sources stated there was believed to be no evidence of foul play. mega Rich was born in 1968 in Brooklyn, New York, and shot to fame in the mid to late 1970s before he was even 10-years-old. The child actor starred alongside TV dad Dick Van Patten, who credited Rich for the widespread success of Eight Is Enough. ALLISON HOLKER BREAKS SILENCE ON HUSBAND STEPHEN ‘TWITCH’ BOSS’ DEVASTATING DEATH: ‘WE MISS YOU SO MUCH’ “People loved him! [Fans] named a child Nicholas and everything because of him,” Van Patten gushed in a 2011 interview with the Television Academy Foundation. “He was cute, and he was a good actor. He was very natural.” mega Later known for his work onCode Red, Dungeons and Dragons and CHiPS, Rich primarily stepped away from his acting career over the late ’80s and ’90s, only snagging 10 small roles between 1986 and 2003. Following struggles with substance abuse and mental illness, the former actor became an outspoken mental health advocate, who often touted the importance of selfcare and “stomping the stigma” surrounding mental illness. FLEETWOOD MAC’S CHRISTINE MCVIE DEAD AT 79, FAMILY PAYS TRIBUTE TO LATE MUSICIAN Rich’s latest social media activity was in December 2022, when he retweeted a post he originally wrote in early September. “Human beings weren’t built to endure mental illness,” he wrote at the time. “The mere fact that some people consider those to be weak, or have a lack of will is totally laughable… because it’s the total opposite! It’s takes a very, very strong person… a warrior if you will… to battle such illnesses.” Another mid-December tweet read: “The only thing those suffering from a mental illness know how to do is pretend to be ok. Enough! The stigma is killing people. Be yourself. Ok, or not ok, is the only way to create change, & stomp the stigma! Heal your truth!” TMZ was first to report Rich’s passing. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Prince Harry once had a “naked encounter” with a dominatrix. The 38-year-old royal – who stepped down from his official duties in 2020 and moved to L.A with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex – is set to release the controversial memoir ‘Spare’ on Tuesday (10.11.22) but is said to have left his “fumble” with Las Vegas stripper Carrie Royale, 51, out of the book. She told The Daily Star on Sunday: “I was with him for a good 20 minutes, with lots of kissing and fumbling. I was wearing a dress over a string bikini and and the dress soon came off, leaving only my bikini. He was already naked. He’s a coward, I knew he wouldn’t tell the whole truth in this book!” Harry – who now has children Archie, three, and 20-month-old Lili with the former ‘Suits’ actress – is thought to have met the Sin City worker a decade ago and Carrie went on to add to the outlet that she and her friends had been “invited to party” at a hotel with the Duke of Sussex and “laughed” when she heard his claims that he had lost his virginity to an older woman. She added: “Harry was already naked and running around laughing by the time we got to his room and he was giving people naked hugs. Maybe because I was talking about from Britain, he took me by the hand and led me to his room. We kissed for about 20 minutes and he said afterwards ‘That was really nice’ and then we went back to the party. “I always knew he had a taste for a cougar!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lizzo thinks that cancel culture is “appropriation.” The 34-year-old pop star took to social media on Sunday (08.01.23) to explain that even though it is a “random” time for her to express her feelings, she believes that the act of cancel culture – which usually sees a person ostracised from society or their profession for holding certain views – has become “trendy” and “misused” in recent years. She tweeted: “This may be a random time to say this but it’s on my heart.. cancel culture is appropriation. There was real outrage from truly marginalized people and now it’s become trendy, misused, and misdirected. “ The ‘About Damn Time’ hitmaker w tent on to add that she wants to move on from the current nature of cancel culture and begin to focus on the “real problems” within society. She added: “I hope we can phase out of this and focus our outrage on the real problems.” Her comments come just days after the GRAMMY Award-winning star – whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson – claimed that the discourse around bodies was “tired” and pointed out that as an artist it is not her job to “fit into” beauty standards. She said: “The discourse around bodies is officially tired. I have seen comments go from: ‘Oh my gosh, I liked you when you were thick. Why did you lose weight?’; to ‘Oh my gosh, why did you get a BBL [Brazilian butt lift]? I liked your body before’; to ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so big. You need to lose weight, but for your health’; to ‘Oh my gosh, you’re so little. You need to get a** or titties or something’; to ‘Oh my gosh, why did she get all that work done? It’s just too much work.’ “Are we OK? Do you see the delusion? Do we realize that artists are not here to fit into your beauty standards? Artists are here to make art. And this body is art!” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Prince Harry believed Princess Diana’s death was a hoax until he was 23. The Duke of Sussex was just 12 years old when his mother died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 but he admitted it was “many years” before he accepted she was really gone, and it took retracing her steps from that fatal night to truly understand she wasn’t going to get in touch with him again. Speaking to Anderson Cooper on ’60 Minutes’, he said: “For a long time. I just refused to accept that she was gone. Part of [it was] she would never do this to us. “But also, part of it maybe [felt like] this is all part of a plan “For a time [I believed she was alive] and then she would call us, and we would go and join her.” Harry, now 38, claimed his brother Prince William shared his hope Diana was still alive and living a quiet life away from scrutiny. He said: “William and I talked about it as well. He had similar thoughts..” When Harry was 20, he asked to see the police report about the crash – which also killed Diana’s boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and their driver Henri Paul – which included photos of the accident scene. Asked why he wanted to see the report, he said: “Mainly proof. Proof that she was in the car. Proof that she was injured. And proof that the very paparazzi that chased her into the tunnel were the ones that were taking photographs– photographs of her lying half dead on the back seat of the car.” But Harry’s private secretary urged him not to look at all of the photos, and he is thankful he didn’t. He said: “All I saw was the back of my mum’s head– slumped on the back seat. There were other more gruesome photographs, but I will be eternally grateful to him for denying me the ability to inflict pain on myself by seeing that. Because that’s the kinda stuff that sticks in your mind forever.” Although the BetterUp CIO still doesn’t think he has the “answers” he wants about his mother’s death, he no longer wants to have her inquest reopened. He said: “William and I considered reopening the inquest. Because there were so many gaps and so many holes in it. Which just didn’t add up and didn’t make sense.” Asked if he still wants to do that, he said: “I don’t even know if it’s an option now. But no, I think – brrrr – would I like to do that now? It’s a hell of a question, Anderson. “Truth be known, no. I don’t think I do [have the answers I need]. And I don’t think my brother does either. I don’t think the world does. “Do I need any more than I already know? No. I don’t think it would change much.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday struck down a rule the Trump administration had adopted following a 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting that banned “bump stocks,” devices that allow people to rapidly fire multiple rounds from semi-automatic guns. In a 13-3 decision, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said that despite “tremendous” public pressure to impose a ban, it was up to the U.S. Congress rather than the president to take action. While the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms (ATF) and Explosives had interpreted a law banning machineguns as extending to bump stocks, U.S. Circuit Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod said the law did not unambiguously prohibit them. Elrod, writing for the majority, said the law also did not give “fair warning that possession of a non-mechanical bump stock is a crime.” One of the dissenting judges, Stephen Higginson, wrote that the majority employed reasoning “to legalize an instrument of mass murder.” Three other federal appeals courts have rejected challenges to the ban. While the Supreme Court in October declined to hear appeals from two of the earlier decisions, Friday’s ruling raises the prospect the court could eventually decide the issue. “The resulting circuit split should bring this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court’s attention promptly and supply a suitable vehicle for deciding this issue once and for all,” said Mark Chenoweth, the president of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a conservative group that litigated the case. ATF, the arm of the Justice Department that adopted the rule, declined to comment. A bump stock lets a gun’s stock, which rests against the shoulder, slide backward and forward, letting users take advantage of the gun’s recoil to fire rapidly. Though gun restrictions are often championed by Democrats, former President Donald Trump’s Republican administration imposed the ban on bump stocks through an ATF rule after a gunman used them in killing 58 people at an October 2017 country music concert in Las Vegas. Democratic President Joe Biden’s administration also supports the ban, which took effect in 2019. In December 2021, a three-judge 5th Circuit panel had upheld the ban, ruling against Texas gun owner Michael Cargill, who opposed it. Friday’s decision reversed that ruling. Most of the judges in the majority were appointed by Republican presidents, while the dissenting judges were appointed by Democratic presidents. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Jacqueline Wong and William Mallard) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Lisa Richwine LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – A year after Hollywood boycotted the Golden Globes, Brad Pitt, Steven Spielberg and other big names are set to return as organizers try to restore the luster to what had been one of the biggest stops on the industry’s awards circuit. Most of this year’s nominees are expected to attend the red-carpet ceremony in Beverly Hills on Tuesday, said Helen Hoehne, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that hands out the Globes. “We’ve gotten a really great response from the nominees,” said Hoehne, a German journalist elected in late 2021 to lead the group through diversity and ethics scandals. “We have very few not coming, so we are thrilled.” She vowed the night would be “the party of the year.” Now in their 80th year, the Globes had been known as a festive, alcohol-fueled ceremony that kicked off Hollywood’s awards season and helped propel nominees and winners in their quest for Academy Awards. The future of the Globes was thrown into doubt after a 2021 Los Angeles Times investigation revealed the organization had no Black journalists in its ranks. Some members were accused of making sexist and racist remarks and soliciting favors from celebrities and movie studios. Longtime broadcaster NBC dropped the 2022 telecast, but the Comcast Corp network agreed to air the ceremony again this year after the HFPA instituted changes and new ethics rules. Among roughly 200 current voters, nearly 52% are racially and ethnically diverse, including 10% who are Black. “The organization really went through a total reform process in the last 18 months,” Hoehne said. “We increased diversity, transparency, accountability.” The lineup for Tuesday shows Hollywood appears ready to give the HFPA a shot at redemption. Comedian Jerrod Carmichael, who is Black, will host the three-hour ceremony, while Eddie Murphy will receive a lifetime achievement honor. Director Quentin Tarantino and actor Jamie Lee Curtis are listed among presenters. SOME STARS MAY PASS Nominees expected to attend include Pitt and his “Babylon” co-star Margot Robbie, Spielberg and cast from his coming-of-age film “The Fabelmans,” “The Woman King” star Viola Davis, “Avatar” director James Cameron and singer Rihanna, a nominee for a song from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Some celebrities will stay away. Brendan Fraser, nominated for his leading role in “The Whale,” has said he will not attend after accusing a former HFPA president of groping him. Tom Cruise is not expected to appear even though his blockbuster movie “Top Gun: Maverick” is nominated for best drama film. Cruise returned his three Globe statues in protest of the organization’s practices in 2021. Chris Beachum, managing editor at awards website Gold Derby, said producers likely will stage a lively show, but there is a risk that some of the winners might skip the ceremony. “It’s a matter of how many people are getting their name called and not going on stage because they’re not there. That’s more of a an issue,” he said. Cameron’s “Avatar: The Way of Water” and Baz Luhrmann’s “Elvis” biopic are among the contenders for best drama film. Dark comedy “The Banshees of Inisherin” leads all movies with eight nominations, and “Abbott Elementary” tops the field of TV contenders. Even with the recent controversy, Beachum believes most actors, studios and publicists would be happy to have a Globe honor to tout as they head toward the Oscars in March. “You want to be winning awards in this period of December, January and February,” Beachum said. “You hardly ever see somebody go through an entire cycle, losing most everywhere and then winning the Oscar. It just doesn’t happen.” (Reporting by Lisa Richwine in Los Angeles; Editing by Mary Milliken and Sandra Maler) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Nate Raymond (Reuters) – The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday asked President Joe Biden’s administration to weigh in on whether the justices should decide whether a publicly funded charter school in North Carolina may have violated the rights of female students – deemed “fragile vessels” by the school’s founder – by requiring girls to wear skirts. The justices are considering whether to hear an appeal by Charter Day School, located in the southeastern North Carolina town of Leland and operated by a private educational management company, of a lower court’s ruling that found that the dress code ran afoul of the U.S. Constitution’s 14th Amendment civil rights protections. The justices asked U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar to file a brief expressing the Biden administration’s view on the litigation and whether the Supreme Court should take up the matter. Aaron Streett, a lawyer for the school, called the Supreme Court’s decision to seek the solicitor general’s input rather than reject its appeal a “positive sign” that “indicates that the court views this as an important case that may merit further review.” Charter Day School, which enrolls students from kindergarten through the eighth grade, emphasizes what it calls “traditional values” and has implemented a dress code that its founder, businessman Baker Mitchell, has said would “preserve chivalry” and ensure that girls are treated “courteously and more gently than boys.” Mitchell, as explained in the lower court’s ruling, viewed chivalry as “a code of conduct” under which women are “regarded as a fragile vessel that men are supposed to take care of and honor.” Charter schools are publicly funded but operated separately from school boards run by local governments. Lawyers for the school said the ruling last year by the Richmond, Virginia-based 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals posed an “existential threat” to a conservative-backed movement to increase alternatives for parents who want their children to receive public education by expanding the numbers of charter schools. After being hit with a civil rights lawsuit by three female students backed by the American Civil Liberties Union, Charter Day School argued that the 14th Amendment does not apply to it because it is a private entity, not a “state actor” like public schools operated directly by North Carolina school districts. The 4th Circuit on a 10-6 vote decided that the school was a “state actor” because North Carolina delegated to it its duty to provide free, universal education to students. The 4th Circuit found that the school violated the rights of the plaintiffs to equal protection with a dress code based on gender stereotypes about the “proper place” for girls in society. Charter schools usually are independently run as a stand-alone entity but can also be managed by for-profit companies or nonprofit organizations running multiple schools, as in this case, with Charter Day School among a group of schools operated by the private Roger Bacon Academy. The plaintiffs argued that the dress code violated their 14th Amendment rights and subjected them to discrimination and denial of the full benefits of their education in violation of the civil rights law Title IX, which bars sex discrimination in education. The 4th Circuit ruling did not make a conclusion on the Title IX claim. “Courts may not subjugate the constitutional rights of these public-school children to the facade of school choice,” wrote U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Milano Keenan, in a decision joined by her fellow Democratic appointees on the 4th Circuit. The six dissenting votes on the 4th Circuit came from Republican-appointed judges including Judge A. Marvin Quattlebaum Jr, who wrote that the decision would stifle “innovative alternatives to traditional public education.” Judge J. Harvey Wilkinson called the ruling a “shame” and said the school’s “chivalric approach should neither be legally banished from the educational system, nor should it be legally imposed.” The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Ten Republican state attorneys general, led by Ken Paxton of Texas, backed the school in briefs to the Supreme Court, saying the 4th Circuit’s ruling threatens charters school independence. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) View the full article