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=George Floyd Original Booking Press Release Feels like a good time to re-read the George Floyd press release before the video… Police put lies out to the media including: –“He was ordered to sept from his car. After he got out he physically resisted officers.” –“Officers were able to get the suspect into handcuffs and noted he appeared to be suffering medical distress. Officers called for an ambulance. He was transported to Hennepin County Medical Center by ambulance where he died a short time later.” — “At no time were weapons of any type used by anyone involved in this incident” Standard operating procedure for police covering abuse and excessive force as described 2 months ago in excellent Pro Publica piece about “covering charges” –editor Original release from Police on day of George Floyd murder. Has been removed from their site, but available at the Internet Archive Published by Reuters By Jonathan Allen ST. PAUL, Minn. (Reuters) -Pinning George Floyd face down on a Minneapolis road in a May 2020 arrest seemed reasonable in the moment, Thomas Lane, one of three former Minneapolis police officers on trial for violating the handcuffed Black man’s civil rights, testified on Monday. Lane was the third of the three defendants to take the stand in his own defense at the federal trial in the U.S. District Court in St. Paul, charged with denying Floyd’s right to receive medical aid once in police custody. Answering questions from his lawyer Earl Gray, Lane told the jury how he had called over the radio for an ambulance to come after seeing Floyd’s mouth was bleeding after he struggled against Lane and another officer trying to get him in the back of a police car. He became emotional as he recalled helping Floyd onto a stretcher and saw Floyd’s face several minutes after he fallen unresponsive beneath Lane and two other officers. “He didn’t look good,” Lane said, his voice beginning to waver. His co-defendants Tou Thao, 36, and J. Alexander Kueng, 28, took the stand last week to say they deferred to the authority of Derek Chauvin, the most senior officer at the scene. Lane, who was on Floyd’s ankles, and Kueng, who was on Floyd’s thighs, were rookies only a few days out of training. Cellphone video of Chauvin, who is white, kneeling on Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes while Floyd begged for his life triggered huge protests against racism and police brutality. Chauvin was convicted in a separate state trial last year of murdering Floyd and sentenced to 22-1/2 years in prison, and in December he pleaded guilty to the federal charges of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Prosecutors have said the officers have a duty of care to anyone in their custody, and the three men breached their training and common sense in not doing more to help Floyd. Lane, 38, can be heard on body-worn camera videos asking his colleagues if they should roll the prone Floyd onto his side, something officers are trained to do to avoid positional asphyxia. Chauvin, 45, rebuffs the suggestion, and continues to kneel on Floyd’s neck as Floyd falls motionless while bystanders scream at the officers to check his pulse. “OK, I suppose so,” Lane recalled responding. “It just seemed reasonable at the time. This guy is out of control.” He said he believed the ambulance would be “here any minute.” He said he was unable to see Floyd’s face for the entire nine-minute restrain. Lane got in the back of the ambulance and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Floyd under a parademic’s isntruction. Prosecutors have previously called medical experts who said Floyd would almost certainly had lived if rolled on his side once he had been restrained. Thao and Kueng face an additional count of violating Floyd’s rights in their role of police officers by failing to intervene to stop Chauvin’s use of excessive force. Both have said they assumed Chauvin knew what was he was doing from his nearly two decades on the force and did not realize the force was excessive. Minneapolis Police Department fired all four officers. “I found out I was terminated the next day in a Subway parking lot,” Lane said, referring to the chain of sandwich stores. “I read a news article. That’s how I found out I got fired.” (Reporting by Jonathan AllenEditing by Alistair Bell) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Aidan Lewis CAIRO (Reuters) – Tackling climate change is a security threat that requires accelerated action even as international attention is focussed on Russia and Ukraine, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry said on Monday during a visit to Cairo. Egypt will host the COP27 climate conference in November and Kerry said the task for this year was to bring more countries, including Russia and China, on board to set ambitious climate goals, as well as implementing pledges made at COP26 in Glasgow. Kerry, a former secretary of state, said the crisis between Russia and Ukraine made him concerned over issues such as the principles of international law and respect for borders. “But I am concerned in terms of the climate efforts that a war is the last thing you need with respect to a united effort to try to deal with the climate challenge,” Kerry told Reuters. “Obviously we hope that we can compartmentalise, but it’s just made that much more difficult without any question.” After meeting Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who will chair COP27, Kerry told reporters that climate change was a “national, international security threat to all of us.” Egypt and the United States have created a working group to set priorities for COP27 and to support Egypt’s energy transition, Shoukry and Kerry said. Egypt has set a goal of generating 42% of its power from renewables by 2030, though experts have suggested the target could be more ambitious. The government is preparing a new strategy for 2050. Kerry cited work to help provide finance and technology to Indonesia, and to support China in accelerating its reduction of coal consumption, as examples of a push to secure new commitments ahead of COP27. But he also said the energy transition had not reached the speed required. “We’re not moving fast enough, not enough is happening.” Asked about the risk that companies “greenwash” their activities with net-zero announcements, Kerry said rules agreed in Glasgow to ensure transparency would help, as would satellites tracking carbon and methane emissions. “We have accountability that we’ve really never had before, and we have to make sure we’re applying it,” he said. (Additional reporting by Sherif Fahmy; Editing by Janet Lawrence) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jane Lynch thinks it’s “harder to work your way up as a woman” in comedy. The 61-year-old actress – who stars in the hit TV series ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ – believes that female comedians need to be “exceptional” in order to make a meaningful impression. Speaking about the series – which is set in the 1950s and 60s, and follows a housewife who becomes a stand-up star – Jane explained: “In order to break through, you had to have material that spoke to men because the club owners were men, the TV producers, the late-night hosts.” Jane acknowledges that the landscape has massively improved for female comics. But she thinks they still face big challenges, compared to their male counterparts. The actress – who previously played Sue Sylvester in ‘Glee’ – told the Guardian newspaper: “Any time you look at a comedy club, the headliners are guys. Every once in a while, they might throw a woman in there. “It’s harder to work your way up as a woman and, like anything else where you’re trying to break a mould, you have to be exceptional.” Many of Jane’s past roles were originally written for men. But the actress actually relishes playing so many stern, authoritarian figures. She said: “I’m obsessed with that random exercise of power, power for power’s sake.” Jane used to think she was a “depressed child”. But after watching some home movies of herself, she now has completely different impression. She explained: “Always dancing to the camera; air guitar. I was a real free spirit and I loved to perform. And then, of course, high school happens, and maybe even before that when you start to realise: ‘Oh my God, I may be gay but I don’t even have a word for it.’” View the full article

Published by Al-Araby In another attack against artistic freedom, a lawyer filed this week an official complaint in Egypt, calling on the government to strip a director of his Egyptian citizenship for making a Germany-produced film) that portrays a gay couple. “The Egyptian people will not accept this type of films,” lawyer Ayman Mahfouz told Egyptian ETC satellite TV channel, accusing filmmaker Mohamad Shawky Hassan of “promoting homosexuality”. Directed and written by Hassan, ‘Bashtaalak Sa’at (I, sometimes, miss you)’ was screened during the Forum of the 72nd round of the Berlin International Film Festival. It i… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Britney Spears is continuing to speak out after her 13-year conservatorship was terminated in November 2021. Britney took to Instagram on Wednesday, February 16, to reveal she received a letter from U.S. lawmakers, Democrats Charlie Crist of Florida and Eric Swalwell of California, inviting her to meet with them at Congress and share her story. The Princess of Pop admitted she was flattered when she first got the letter a few months ago, but she was not “nearly at the healing stage I’m in now” at the time. MEGA STRONGER THAN YESTERDAY! A DEFINITIVE TIMELINE OF EVENTS THAT LED TO BRITNEY SPEARS’ CONTROVERSIAL CONSERVATORSHIP: PHOTOS “I’m grateful that my story was even ACKNOWLEDGED!!!” she went on. “Because of the letter, I felt heard and like I mattered for the first time in my life !!!” “In a world where your own family goes against you, it’s actually hard to find people that get it and show empathy !!!!” she added. “Again, I’m not here to be a victim although I’m the first to admit I’m pretty messed up by it all.” MEGA Britney said she wants to help other people who are vulnerable to be brave. “I wish I would have been … I was so scared and nothing is worse than your own family doing what they did to me,” she admitted. “I’m lucky to have a small circle of adorable friends who I can count on … In the mean time thank you to Congress for inviting me to the White House,” she concluded. ‘I JUST WANT TO HELP’: CHRISTIAN SIRIANO, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, BETTE MIDLER REACT TO BRITNEY SPEARS’ CONSERVATORSHIP AFTER DOCUMENTARY MAKES WAVES MEGA In the letter, the Congressmen applauded the singer and her attorney Mathew Rosengart for their “historic victories.” They said they were “elated” when her father, Jamie Spears, was suspended from the conservatorship in September before it was terminated two months later. “There is no doubt that your story will empower countless others outside the millions that are already inspired by your and your art,” the letter read. “Please know that you have absolutely no obligation to do anything more but fight for yourself, but if you are willing, we would appreciate learning more about the emotional and financial turmoil you faced within the conservatorship system.” View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Jeffrey Epstein‘s alleged pimp Jean-Luc Brunel was reportedly found hung in his prison cell in La Sante, Paris. Prison guards found Brunel’s body during a nighttime check-in of inmates. This comes three years after Epstein died in prison under similar circumstances. Mega The French modelling agent, who reportedly procured more than a thousand women and girls for Epstein, died today in what is currently ruled as prison suicide. His death comes days after Prince Andrew settled Virginia Robert’s lawsuit accusing him of sex abuse after they allegedly met through Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Brunel was arrested by French authorities after Roberts accused the 76-year-old of procuring more than a thousand women and girls for Epstein to sleep with. The alleged pimp was also awaiting trial for several charges for sexually abusing minors himself. Conspiracy theories swirled around Epstein’s death under similar circumstances. Both sides of the political aisles thought the billionaire’s death was suspicious as prison therapy records showed that Epstein was allegedly NOT suicidal. The conspiracies were also fueled by the fact that prison video cameras at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Correction Center – where Epstein was being held – were not running at the time of his death. Prince Andrew’s Ex-Lover Lady Victoria Hervey Says Jeffrey Epstein & Bill Clinton ‘Were Like Brothers,’ Despite Former President’s Claim He Wasn’t Close With Convicted Sex Offender Mega Homayra Sellier, the founder and president of the France based Innocence in Danger which has led the charge in uncovering the Epstein scandal released a statement claiming, “I never heard someone being hung in a prison in France especially since he was in a VIP cell. I think Brunel was going to talk because we were expecting the courts to announce a date for the trial. Things here were accelerating now because of the deal cut by Prince Andrew (with Virginia).” “I don’t believe Brunel hung himself – and if he did – he was helped just like Epstein was helped!” Sellier explained. “We could hope for a thorough investigation for both deaths – but I don’t think that will ever happen.” Brunel was indicted in December of 2020 after two days of nonstop interviews by French special police from an anti-pedophilia unit. He was arrested at Charles de Gaulle airport where Brunel was trying to board a plane to Dakar, Senegal. The accused sexual predator told detectives he was “going on holiday” — but police worried Brunel was trying to reach refuge in another country to avoid his charges. Mega Several other parties in relation to Epstein’s alleged sex empire are still awaiting trial. Most notability Epstein’s ex-girlfriend Maxwell, who also allegedly dated Prince Andrew, is hoping for a judge to approve for a retrial for her conviction of grooming and trafficking underage girls. Ghislaine Maxwell: Prosecutors Offer To Drop Perjury Charges If Sex Trafficking Conviction Is Denied A Retrial View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Kanye West could face some serious battery charges now that police have the evidence they need. The rapper allegedly attacked a fan outside of his hotel in Los Angeles Thursday, January 13. Now the police have finished their initial investigation and charges are about to fly. Mega Sources say “cops have nearly completed their investigation into the case and will soon ship their findings off to the L.A. City Attorney’s Office, who will decide on whether to file any criminal charges against Kanye.” Officers arrived on the scene at 3 a.m. near Soho Warehouse, a members-only club and hotel. Police initially reported it as misdemeanor battery clarifying that there were no serious injuries. The artist now known as Ye allegedly got into an argument with a man who asked for an autograph outside the club. West allegedly pushed and hit the man who fell to the ground after the rapper’s supposed attack. Mega A video from TMZ shows the man laid out on the street as Kanye yelled at his guards and security. It was also reported that the man broke his nose as a result of the confrontation. Now that the initial investigation is done, Los Angeles City Attorney must now decide whether or not to file charges against the rapper, call involved parties in for an informal hearing to go over their findings, or just reject the case all together. If the parties were to meet up with authorities they could come to an agreement with certain conditions to make this whole situation go away. West’s camp have yet to speak out about the potential charges against the Heartless rapper. Mega If charges are made against the Grammy winner, this wouldn’t be the only time in recent days he’s have to stand before a judge. Ye rushed to court earlier this week to object to his wife, Kim Kardashian, wanting to become legally single for the rest of the duration of their divorce. With news about the investigation concluding, West might have more pressing matters to deal with than his split from the socialite. Kanye West & Kim Kardashian’s Prenup Keeps Property Separate, Rapper’s Objection To Divorce Plans BS (radaronline.com) View the full article

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Federal agencies are investigating the crash of a helicopter with three passengers into the Atlantic Ocean close to swimmers and sun bathers in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday. A Robinson R44 helicopter plunged into the ocean close to a crowded beach at 1:20 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The agency is investigating the cause of the crash with the National Transportation Safety Board. The Miami Beach police and fire departments responded to the scene and said on Twitter that two of the passengers were transported to a local hospital “in stable condition.” Video footage of the crash showed the helicopter diving into an area that was full of swimmers. (Reporting by Valerie Volcovici in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Paris Jackson “doesn’t write happy songs.” The 23-year-old singer – who is the only daughter of late superstar Michael Jackson and Debbie Rowe, and sister to Prince, 25 and Bigi, 19 – revealed that she stays away from writing “happy” songs and most songs end up being about her death. She said: “I don’t write happy songs When I do try to write a song, it usually ends up being a song about me dying.” Speaking to the crowd at the St. Regis Resort in Aspen while promoting her new EP ‘The Lost’ , Paris went on to tell the audience how her song ‘Yellowbird’ was inspired by a break up. According to TMZ, she said: “We broke up two years ago on Valentine’s Day. and then I wrote this song, so I hope you like it. I know he won’t!” It comes soon after the ‘let down’ hitmaker – whose father Michael suffered a fatal cardiac arrest brought on by a drugs overdose aged 50 back in 2009 – admitted that she would “not be opposed” to the idea of collaborating with her superstar aunt Janet Jackson, who is known for hits such as ‘That’s the Way Love Goes’ and ‘Love Will Never Do Without You.’ Back in January 2022, she said: “We haven’t talked about it, but I’m not opposed to it! I love collaborating with all kinds of artists. The genre doesn’t really turn me off, doesn’t matter what genre it is. I can’t say that I see myself doing trap music anytime in the near future, but I’m open to everything.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By Steve Scherer and Carlos Osorio OTTAWA (Reuters) -Canadian police on Saturday used pepper spray and stun grenades, and made dozens of arrests as they cleared demonstrators from the street in front of parliament, where they have been camping for more than three weeks to protest against pandemic restrictions. A total of 170 arrests have been made in two days, Ottawa’s interim police chief, Steve Bell, told reporters. Police by afternoon had dispersed the main portion of the blockade in front of parliament and the prime minister’s office. After nightfall, police sent a message on Twitter to demonstrators saying: “Get out of the cold and cease further unlawful activity” or risk arrest. City crews were now engaged in cleaning up and towing away remaining vehicles, Bell told a news conference. But other pockets around the city had yet to be cleared, and there was a risk that demonstrators might change location, he said. “We are aware of protesters leaving the parliamentary precinct moving to surrounding neighborhoods. We are not going anywhere until you have your streets back,” Bell said, addressing Ottawa citizens. Using bullhorns, police warned the crowd to disperse or face arrest. For a second day, police also urged protesters to remove young children from the area. “This is dangerous and is putting young children at risk,” Bell said. Protest organizers for the so-called Freedom Convoy said they had asked trucks to withdraw because of what they called heavy-handed police tactics, and many trucks did exit the downtown core on Saturday. Fifty-three vehicles have been towed, police said. Officers smashed vehicle windows to arrest people locked inside. Some of those arrested on Saturday wore body armor and had smoke grenades and other fireworks in their bags and vehicles, police said. Police confirmed the use of stun grenades and pepper spray. Protesters threw smoke canisters, but no tear gas has been used, police said. As part of the ongoing protests, several border blockades had been put in place in recent weeks, but all had reopened until Saturday, when demonstrators again closed the Pacific Coast Highway border crossing south of Vancouver. Many of the main organizers in Ottawa have been taken into custody, and some have reportedly left. On Saturday, organizers said on Twitter they were “shocked at the abuses of power by the law enforcement in Ottawa” and so had “asked our truckers to move from Parliament Hill to avoid further brutality.” The protest organizers said protesters had been “horse-trampled” on Friday, which police deny. “We hear your concern for people on the ground after the horses dispersed a crowd. Anyone who fell got up and walked away. We’re unaware of any injuries,” police said on Twitter. The protesters initially wanted an end to cross-border COVID-19 vaccine mandates for truck drivers, but the blockade has gradually turned into a demonstration against the government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “This is our final stand. … When it ends, it ends and it’s in God’s hands,” said Jeremy Glass, a protester from Shelburne, Ontario. Trudeau on Monday invoked emergency powers to give his government wider authority to stop the protests. He authorized banks and financial institutions to temporarily freeze the accounts of those suspected of supporting the blockades, without obtaining a court order. “An ongoing effort to blockade that port of entry (south of Vancouver) really shows why the Emergencies Act continues to be a necessity,” Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino told the Canadian Broadcasting Corp on Saturday. Financial services providers have used the emergency powers to freeze at least 76 accounts with a total of C$3.2 million ($2.5 million), Mendicino told reporters earlier in the day. The federal government said on Saturday it would provide up to C$20 million to Ottawa businesses that have suffered losses due to the blockades. Debate in parliament over the emergency powers resumed on Saturday, and a final vote is scheduled for Monday. Trudeau’s Liberals and opposition New Democrats have indicated their support, which should ensure its passage. Protesters, who have been filmed by police, will be held accountable, Bell said. “If you are involved in this protest, we will actively look to identify you and follow up with financial sanctions and criminal charges. … This investigation will go on for months to come.” ($1 = 1.2749 Canadian dollars) (Reporting by Steve Scherer and Carlos Osorio in Ottawa, Additional reporting by Kyaw Soe Oo, Blair Gable and Shannon Stapleton in Ottawa, and Jennifer Gauthier in Surrey, B.C. Editing by Sandra Maler, Matthew Lewis and Richard Chang) View the full article

Published by AFP The once-taboo party drug ketamine is growing as an at-home treatment against depression, but some experts worry it's happening too fast Washington (AFP) – Americans are paying to get a star of the psychedelic medicine movement –- ketamine -– shipped to them for at-home mental health treatments that are being called both a breakthrough and a gamble. A pandemic-spurred easing of prescription rules helped fuel a jump in telemedicine offerings of ketamine, an anesthetic that was once a taboo party drug but has become a buzzed-about tool against depression. Yet long-term, large-scale studies of ketamine’s medical impact are limited, leaving some experts concerned that an unregulated online boom could result in mishaps or a regulatory crackdown. “This has to be rolled out slowly,” said Boris Heifets, a Stanford University assistant professor of anesthesiology. “The risk is that we are scaling the fix but not the solution, which is a much more integrated approach to mental health.” Ketamine has been available in the United States since the 1970s as an anesthetic called a “dissociative” because of the hallucinogenic effects that have helped make it a rave culture drug. It’s legal for US doctors to prescribe, while some other psychedelics getting renewed attention for mental health uses like LSD or MDMA (also called ecstasy) are classified as having no medical utility and a high risk for abuse. In this context, recent years have seen an uptick in clinics offering in-person intravenous ketamine treatments for depression, anxiety or chronic pain, though regulations and practices vary across American states. Ketamine ‘babysitter’ Then came the pandemic, which resulted in US authorities allowing doctors to remotely prescribe drugs like ketamine that previously required an in-person visit. An increasing number of companies, some already doing in-clinic treatments, began offering to evaluate clients online and to send the drugs for home use to approved candidates. Nue Life, which launched about a year ago, is one of those firms. Its CEO Juan Pablo Cappello estimated it has served over 3,000 ketamine patients so far. “If you actually drill down on the sort of potentials for abuse here, you realize of course they exist, but we’re creating a standard of care to make that quite unlikely,” he told AFP. For example, he noted clients are instructed to have an adult “babysitter” watch over them for the roughly 90 minutes the drug experience lasts, and he reasoned that people simply looking for ketamine could get it cheaper on the street. Clients of the service, which costs $1,250 for a package providing six ketamine experiences, are encouraged but not obligated to couple it with therapy, Cappello said. “The at-home telemedicine model, I would argue, is actually safer and more effective for patients,” allowing more patients “to actually take advantage of these therapies,” he added. Heifets, the Stanford researcher, noted that making ketamine more available carries risks — including the chances that authorities would tighten access if an at-home treatment resulted in some sort of tragedy. ‘Change your life’ US regulators in 2019 approved a type of ketamine specifically for adults with treatment-resistant depression, though with stringent rules like requiring patients to be monitored by a health care provider for at least two hours after their dose. Americans have “a hair trigger for problem-solving through litigation,” Heifets noted of the potential for lawsuits if things go wrong. He was part of a team that analyzed the real-world effectiveness of intravenous ketamine therapy — which can involve higher doses than the at-home services –- and reported most patients improved, though about eight percent said depressive symptoms worsened after treatment. “We have very, very little evidence for our understanding of how effective ketamine is for depression at scale,” he added. Yet for people like 36-year-old New Yorker Philip Markle, who underwent an at-home treatment with a company called Mindbloom, ketamine is a profoundly useful tool. Over his long battle with depression, the performer and comedian has tried medication, psychedelics like LSD, and talk therapy since the age of 12, but found something unique in ketamine. Rather than the short-lived sense of change other treatments provided, ketamine imparted a sense of clarity and of helpful self-acceptance -– not the heavy effects he’d experienced with other psychedelics. “It felt like if any drug could be administered through the mail, and you could do a psychedelic that could change your life, on your own, this would be the one,” he told AFP. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Jordan Stephens wants to “ban” billionaires. The Rizzle Kicks singer – who is in a relationship with Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall – insisted such a high level of wealth is “unnecessary” and people would question their “obsession” if it related to accumulating something other than money. Discussing what he’d do if he ruled the world, Jordan said: “I’d ban billionaires. Some people have too much money. Genuinely. It’s unnecessary. “Do you know there are reasons to believe that the desire for accumulation is not actually an instinctive one? It appears to be mutation. An obsessive need to accumulate. “If you replaced money with something else, that accumulation would instantly appear unhealthy. “Look at this man who has two billion packets of crisps. Is he ok? Why has that woman got three billion leaflets?” And Jordan called to “re-engage our sense of community” and ensure wealth is distributed more evenly. He told Reader’s Digest magazine: “Jokes aside, let’s re-engage our sense of community. “Maintain the level of responsibility that would naturally arise with accumulation. “We live in a world of empty apartments and unhouses people. That’s not right. That’s all I know.” The 30-year-old star is worried about “modern values” and called for more “balance” and fairness. He said: “I worry about our modern values. We appear to be the only species that believes in unfair battle. “Bring back duelling. Bring back sorting out issues through competition that can end respectfully. No ganging up. No foul play. “Restore honour in surrendering and the acceptance of loss. “There’s grace in defeat but only if there’s fairness to begin with. “We need to feel part of something bigger than ourselves. Understand what we’re part of bigger stories. “And find peace in that realisation. “I think everybody has a part to play on this earth. There should not be a single soul on the planet that feels disorientated. We need to restore some balance.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dame Joanna Lumley thinks Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be “everything our country wants” when Prince Charles is crowned king. The ‘Absolutely Fabulous’ actress thinks Queen Elizabeth’s recent announcement that she would like her daughter-in-law to be known as Queen Consort when her spouse takes the throne was great news because the duchess is such a “wonderful person”. Joanna gushed to Britain’s HELLO! magazine: “When I first met Camilla, she was friendly, very funny and extremely good company. “This was many years ago, at a mall lunch party given by Jilly Cooper and I remembered liking her at once. “Since then, I have got to know her better and now I simply think she is a wonderful person – brave, kind and loyal and the best fun to be with. “She has no airs and graces, as soon as you’re with her, you’re made to feel you could be friends for life. She is on our side, interested in everyone. “As Queen Consort, I know she will be everything our country wants – a strong support for our new King Charles. “We all want that day to be far in the future, but when it comes, we shall all be in safe and loving hands with Camilla as Queen.” And Dame Joan Collins, who is an ambassador for the Princes Trust, thinks the duchess will provide an “encouraging and positive presence” for Charles when he’s king. She said: “Camilla has been a sterling support for Prince Chares and behind the throne it will be wonderful to have such an encouraging and positive presence for our future King. “Camilla will be an asset to the continuity of the throne.” In her message marking her Platinum Jubilee earlier this month, the queen said it was her “sincere wish” Camilla would be known as the Queen Consort, instead of the first-ever Princess Consort as had previously been intended. She said: “I would like to express my thanks to you all for your support. “I remain eternally grateful for, and humbled by, the loyalty and affection that you continue to give me. And when, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lin-Manuel Miranda has promised the live-action ‘Little Mermaid’ will still feature the classic songs from the original animated movie. The 42-year-old star is working with composer Alan Menken on some new tracks for the upcoming film but he has reassured fans they won’t take the place of the likes of ‘Under the Sea’ and ‘Part of Your World’. He told Variety’s ‘Awards Circuit’ podcast: “We wrote three or four original tunes, replacing none of the ones you like. All of those are in. “There’s no bigger Little Mermaid fan than me. “But we found a couple of opportunities for some other music that I can’t wait to see. I’m in the dark as anyone else, honestly.” Of the new songs, the ‘Hamilton’ creator revealed one comes when Halle Bailey’s Ariel gives up her voice to become a human. He said: “[Director] Rob [Marshall] found a creative way to hear from Ariel, even though she is sans voice for a little while. We wrote some music [for] her time on land. She experiences a lot of firsts, as someone with legs for the first time, so we got to lean into all of that musically.” But Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula won’t have anything new to sing, though Lin wouldn’t rule out the possibility of Daveed Diggs showing off his rapping skills as Sebastian. Lin has enjoyed collaborating with veteran composer Alan on the project. He said: “Alan will tell you if he does not like something. “He’s a very like heart and opinion on sleeve guy. … He’s scoring it as well, along with the songs, just as he did with the original. “I won’t see a rough cut for another month or couple of months, but the fact that he’s excited has me excited.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Tom Holland didn’t want people to see his chest hair in ‘Uncharted’. The 25-year-old actor joked he hoped he was well groomed for filming because he was embarrassed about audiences seeing him without his shirt on in the new action movie After being asked by host Kent ‘Smallzy’ Small if he was nervous about having his body blown up on an IMAX screen, Tom said on ‘Smallzy’s Celebrity Small Talk’ podcast: “I hoped I shaved my nipples on those days because I have the most embarrassing chest hair.” Tom shared that joining the film’s cast – which also includes Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas and Sophia Taylor Ali – was “an easy decision” for him as had gotten to know the character while playing the video game. He said: “It was an easy decision. The initial script that I read was fantastic. The character was someone that I really enjoyed playing in the video games, so someone I was excited to bring to life on the big screen.” Along with this, the ‘Spiderman: No Way Home’ star also relished the opportunity for a “new challenge” after the Marvel franchise dropped its most recent installment in December. Tom – who is in a relationship with ‘Euphoria’ star Zendaya – said: “Also I was excited for a new challenge. You know, this film has been incredibly difficult to make for all sorts of reasons, but equally has been as rewarding, so it was an easy decision.” The British actor thinks it is “funny” that he’s asked if he’s ever been tested for COVID-19 every time he gets swabbed because routine screening has become such a big part of making a movie. He said: “It’s so funny, every time, I get tested now, the person’s like, ‘Have you been tested before?’ Where do yo think I’ve been, what do you think I do?” Tom assured that some tests “tickle more than others do” and that there was a testing clinician they nicknamed “deep throat Debbie” on set. View the full article

Published by AFP US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Russia appeared on the brink of invading its neighbor Ukraine, and said President Joe Biden was ready to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin at 'any time' to prevent a war Washington (AFP) – US President Joe Biden is willing to meet Russia’s Vladimir Putin “at any time” to prevent a war in Ukraine, according to his top diplomat who said Sunday Russia appeared on the verge of invading its neighbor. In a rapid-fire round of US talk shows, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told CNN “everything we’re seeing suggests that this is dead serious, that we are on the brink of an invasion.” Aggressive military action has already begun in and around Ukraine, which is facing increased shelling from Russian-backed separatist rebels and a force of what Blinken and Western capitals say is more than 150,000 Russian troops on its borders. “But until the tanks are actually rolling and the planes are flying, we will use every opportunity and every minute we have to see if diplomacy can still dissuade President Putin from carrying this forward,” Blinken said. He told CBS’s “Face the Nation” Biden has made “very clear that he’s prepared to meet President Putin at any time, in any format, if that can help prevent a war.” The two leaders last spoke by telephone on February 12, according to the White House. In Ukraine, more bombardments were heard by AFP reporters overnight close to the frontline between government forces and the Moscow-backed rebels who hold parts of the districts of Lugansk and Donetsk. And in Belarus, which borders both Russia and Ukraine, Russian military exercises were continuing, Minsk announced Sunday, further ramping up the pressure on an already tense situation. Blinken said that was just one of several signs that Moscow is gearing up for an invasion, with Putin “following the script almost to the letter.” “It tells us that the playbook that we laid out, I laid out at the UN Security Council last week, about Russia trying to create a series of provocations as justifications for aggression against Ukraine, is going forward,” Blinken said. Biden was hosting a rare weekend meeting of his National Security Council on Sunday to address the Ukraine crisis. Meanwhile US Vice President Kamala Harris, speaking to reporters Sunday after addressing the Munich Security Conference, said Western allies were prepared to hammer Russia with massive sanctions should they invade Ukraine. “We still sincerely hope that there is a diplomatic path out of this moment,” Harris said, although she acknowledged that such a window is “absolutely narrowing.” “We are talking about the real possibility of war in Europe,” she said. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Peter Nicholls WINDSOR, England (Reuters) -Queen Elizabeth tested positive for COVID-19 on Sunday, sharpening concerns about the health of the world’s longest-reigning monarch two weeks after she marked 70 years on the British throne. The 95-year-old queen, who has been fully vaccinated against coronavirus, quipped just four days ago to Palace staff that she could not move much, and she spent a night in hospital last October for an unspecified ailment. “The Queen has today tested positive for COVID,” the Palace said. “Her Majesty is experiencing mild cold like symptoms but expects to continue light duties at Windsor over the coming week.” “She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all appropriate guidelines,” the Palace said. A number of staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at Windsor, the ancient castle where Elizabeth, the world’s oldest monarch, spent much of her time during lockdowns designed to contain the pandemic. Philip, the queen’s husband of more than 70 years, died in April last year, aged 99. Their son, Charles, 73, the heir to the throne, earlier this month contracted COVID-19 for a second time. He had met the queen days before. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has said he nearly died from COVID-19 in 2020, was due to scrap coronavirus self-isolation rules as part of a “living with COVID” strategy that aims to achieve a faster exit from the pandemic than other major economies. “I’m sure I speak for everyone in wishing Her Majesty The Queen a swift recovery from COVID and a rapid return to vibrant good health,” Johnson said on Twitter. DEVOTION TO DUTY The queen quietly marked the 70th anniversary of her accession to the British throne in early February. Elizabeth became the queen of Britain and more than a dozen other realms including Australia, Canada and New Zealand on the death of her father King George VI on Feb. 6, 1952, while she was in Kenya on an international tour. She is the first British sovereign to spend seven decades on the throne in a dynasty that traces its origins back almost 1,000 years to Norman King William I and his 1066 conquest of England. Elizabeth’s achievement has been to maintain the popularity of the British monarchy in the face of seismic political, social and cultural change that threatened to make the world’s most famous royal family an anachronism. When she ascended the throne, Josef Stalin, Mao Zedong and Harry Truman were running the Soviet Union, China and the United States, respectively, while Winston Churchill was British prime minister. Including Churchill, she has been served by 14 prime ministers – a quarter of the number in Britain since Robert Walpole 300 years ago. During her reign, there have been 14 U.S. presidents, all of whom she has met bar Lyndon Johnson. Elizabeth’s quiet devotion to duty has won her support and respect in the United Kingdom, and the broader Commonwealth, in contrast to the scandals that have engulfed other members of the royal family. “She’s an icon, she’s an icon of the UK: she is an epitome of the UK in some ways, most people in the country have never known any monarch other than her,” Steven Stepanian, who works as a consultant in London, told Reuters. Shashi Vandrevala, a 72-year-old retiree, said: “She has to get better, we can’t afford to lose her yet.” ROYAL FUTURE The queen has in recent years attempted to pass more duties to her heir, Charles, and to his eldest son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate. There are, though, concerns about the future. Such is the depth of respect for the queen that while she lives, the institution will be safe. What will follow is less certain. Supporters see the queen as a unifying figure who bolsters Britain’s prestige and economy. Opponents say the institution is a bastion of undeserved privilege, funded in part by taxpayers and undermined by some members’ behaviour. Prince Andrew, Elizabeth’s second son, last week settled a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre accusing him of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager. Andrew, a former associate of Jeffrey Epstein, has denied accusations that he forced Giuffre to have sex at age 17 more than two decades ago. Meanwhile, Prince Harry, once the Windsors’ most popular member, and his American wife Meghan gave up their royal duties to move to Los Angeles. Meghan last year said concerns within the family had been raised over the skin colour of their son. She also accused the family of neglect, saying she ended up with suicidal thoughts after pleading for help and getting none. The queen said some recollections may vary. British police said last week they had begun an investigation into allegations in media reports that honours were offered to a Saudi national in return for donations to one of Prince Charles’s charities. For many British people, though, the queen is very special. As news of her COVID-19 infection spread, message boards in the London underground stations carried a goodwill message to the monarch, urging her to relax with her dogs. “Get better soon Your Majesty – chill out with the Corgis,” the message read. “Get plenty of rest. You’re simply the best. Thanks for being such a wonderful queen.” (Writing by Guy FaulconbridgeEditing by Kate Holton and Barbara Lewis) View the full article

[This post contains video, click to play] Published by BANG Showbiz English Beyonce and Zendaya are in talks to star in a remake of movie ‘Imitation Of Life’. The drama film was first released in 1934 – based on Fannie Hurst’s 1933 novel of the same name – and then remade in 1959, starring Lana Turner, Juanita Moore, John Gavin and Sandra Dee. It’s thought if Zendaya does sign up for the remake of the classic motion picture, which dealt with issues of race, class and gender, it could take her movie stock “to the next level”. An insider said: “‘Imitation Of Life’ is renowned in the film world because of the issues it tackled — and they seem more relevant than ever right now. “Everyone wants Zendaya in their films at the moment but it feels like this could be the movie to take her to the next level and really get some awards buzz.” ‘Lion King’ star Beyonce is said to be keen to “really sink her teeth into” a juicy role. The insider added to The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Beyonce has dipped her toe in a few projects, like Disney’s ‘Lion King’, voicing the part of lioness Nala. “But now she wants a project she can really sink her teeth into, so she is very interested.” Should Beyonce and Zendaya team up for the film, it wouldn’t be the first time they have joined forces. ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ star Zendaya starred in Beyonce’s ‘All Night’ music video in 2016, and she previously admitted to being a huge fan of the ‘Single Ladies’ hitmaker. During a 2017 discussion about the stars who inspire her, Zendaya said: “Beyonce. She took it to the next level with ‘Lemonade’. She’s got twins, and she’s banging. She’s killing it.” In 2016, Zendaya said: “I’m just obsessed with Beyonce and have been since my birth. “Just to be there and really learn from her and see how amazing she is, how detail-oriented, it was cool to just sit back and watch.” View the full article

Published by DPA A file photo taken on September 10, 2014 shows the Sante prison in Paris. – Former French model agent Jean-Luc Brunel, accused of rape by several former models, was found hanged in his cell in Paris’ Sante prison last night. Joel Saget/AFP/dpa Modelling agent Jean-Luc Brunel, who was in pretrial detention in Paris in the wake of a human trafficking and underage sex scandal focused on deceased US billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, has been found dead, the AFP news agency reported on Saturday. The French judiciary had opened investigations into the agent for the rape of minors and for sexual assault. The 76-year-old had been in pretrial detention for more than a year. Newspaper Le Parisien reported, citing judicial sources, that Brunel was discovered hanged in his cell some time during the night. Brunel was also suspected of having contacted and organized young girls for Epstein. Prosecutors had already launched an investigation into Brunel in the summer of 2019 and raided his Paris-based modelling agency. Epstein, who killed himself in a New York prison in August 2019, was charged in the US with abusing dozens of underage girls. He was accused of setting up a sex-trafficking ring with accomplices. Epstein owned a luxury flat in Paris near the Champs-Elysees. Brunel, who was one of Epstein’s close confidants, was arrested at Paris Charles-de-Gaulle airport in December 2020 as he was about to leave the country. Most recently, a court in the US found Epstein’s ex-partner Ghislaine Maxwell guilty at the end of December. The jury in New York decided that Maxwell, as Epstein’s aide, had played a central role in setting up Epstein’s ring for the sexual abuse of young girls. The 60-year-old faces several decades in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for June 28. Her lawyers have requested a retrial. View the full article

Published by XXL Mag It’s no secret that there’s been a longstanding stigma when it comes to homosexuality in hip-hop. Some artists have even had their rap careers tarnished by rumors that they were connected to someone of the same sex. As a new generation of hip-hop consumers emerge and artists are living in their truth when it comes to their sexuality, the culture is proving to be more open-minded than ever before. One of the biggest examples of hip-hop’s growth when it comes to LGBTQ+ acceptance is Lil Nas X. The Georgia-bred artist had the biggest song on the planet when he came out on the last day of Pride Mo… Read More View the full article

Jorgeous has a dramatic moment *fart sound* on RuPaul’s Drag Race.Nothing about last night’s episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race should have worked. A group challenge wringing comedy from overacting in a poorly-written parody? No, thank you. Twists designed to appeal to Ru more than the audience? Pass. Chaps on the runway?! And yet? Although it was an acting challenge, I had a ball! It’s a Drag Race episode that requires viewers to turn off even more of their brains than typically necessary, because things get, well, stupid. Not just in the way these parody sketches always get stupid with shrieking and an unnecessarily sexual lesbian love affair. This week’s RuPaul’s Drag Race ascends (descends?) to a whole new level of stupid, and, reader, it surprisingly doesn’t stink. Though, there is still a bit of a funk hanging in the air at the start of the episode. After another week safe, Daya continues to simmer with resentment. She can’t resist making passive-aggressive (and a few plain aggressive) digs at Jorgeous’s expense. She calls her unconventional materials outfit a “napkin” and dismisses it as nothing more than bric-a-brac glued onto a bodysuit. (Way harsh, Tai.) Jorgeous, to her credit, is relatively unbothered by Daya’s misdirected anger. She already got her win, and now she’s got some real power. Thanks to winning the Glamazon Prime challenge, she gets to assign the roles in this week’s production of The Daytona Wind. It’s a silly soap in the tradition of daytime staples, like As the World Turns and Days of Our Lives, and primetime pulp, like Dynasty and Dallas. Jorgeous and Willow on RuPaul’s Drag Race. The “plot” hardly matters, and the jokes are a loose collection of pop-culture references, funny faces and screaming. Jorgeous plays it mostly kind when giving out roles, only denying DeJa her first choice so Jorgeous could snatch that part. The gals film with Ru, and there’s not much to report here. Ru really emphasizes the importance of going big and stupid, and, importantly, he tells everyone to leave lots of room for big, dramatic, pregnant pauses in the delivery. It seems like the kind of note he would give to yield the campy soap parody we’re working on. Angeria and DeJa struggle a bit with their lines, but everyone else gives a strong showing. Jasmine Kennedie manages to be the best and worst part of the day, delivering an absolutely gut-busting performance in some indiscernible dialect. I can’t say it better than Bosco, who describes the scene as “Jasmine is somehow so f—ing terrible at acting, that it has turned itself around, and it has become my favorite thing I’ve ever seen.” Just imagine Alyssa Edwards doing an impression of Goofy reading for True Blood. That’s the vibe. The real gag isn’t Ru-vealed until the runway. Mama Ru stayed up all night cutting fart sounds into the video during all those pauses. Combined with the queens’ clownish reaction shots, it’s an irresistible good time. Not only is it great to see the gals react in real time, but there are a slew of jokes in the script that take on new meaning if everyone is suffering from loud gas. Even if you consider fart jokes the lowest form of humor, everyone’s having such a blast (pun intended), it’s impossible not to chuckle. Drag Race host, soap opera director, foley artist … is there anything RuPaul can’t do? It also makes it harder to pin down any flops. Ms. Paul ru-covers from her hysterical fit of laughter to declare Kerri, DeJa and Angeria all safe; everyone else is a top. I agree with Michelle when she says Jorgeous was good, but could have been great if she just gave 25 percent more. She looks beautiful on the runway, but her racy, lacy outfit doesn’t really fulfill the “chaps on the runway” assignment. Of course the judges love Jasmine’s bizarre choices in Daytona Wind. Coupled with neon, graduation-inspired chaps, it’s a good week for the young queen. Daya also finally gets her moment in front of the judges, impressing Michelle with her bootcut, business-bitch chaps. She gives her all in the sketch, packing the performance with small, smart choices that are funny without the sound effects. Willow wows on the runway in an outfit that looks right out of The Matrix and features a second set of fake arms holding her pigtails (while giving her an atomic wedgie). Of course, Willow is great in the video, but Michelle thinks she’s playing too close to Catherine O’Hara’s Moira Rose from Schitt’s Creek. It’s not really a fair criticism, considering Moira was a rich, Californian on a soap opera. That was sort of the ask? Bosco gets heaps of praise (and looks hot AF) in a millennial pink, studded biker ensemble. More importantly, she sniffs out all of the pop-culture references in her character, delivering a Reba McEntire by way of Jackie Collins by way of The Walking Dead. This is one sharp queen. Lady Camden won’t let Angeria stink up a scene alone on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Finally, the real superstar this week is Lady Camden. A trained actress, she imbues almost too much gravitas into this silly sketch. But she’s not afraid to get silly, either! It’s a clear top performance, but what makes her an icon this week happens on the runway. First appearing in a white wig and gown, she falls forward — hard — at the start of the runway. I immediately get a PTSD flashback of Farrah Moan. The judges are thrown. Time stops. Then she slowly rises, no wig, slicks her hair back, reveals a mustache and a full Freddie Mercury inspired presentation. It’s a stunt! It’s a reveal! It’s genderf—k! It’s so good! Even after the delightful surprise, she just rocks the whole runway. It’s androgynous and sexy and still thoroughly drag. I never want it to end. In lieu of a lip sync for your life, Camden and Daya lip sync for the win (and $5,000 tip) to Blondie’s “One Way or Another.” It’s a banger. Daya is no slouch, but Lady Camden is punk perfection. The outfit could not work better for this, and Camden even throws in a little gag by removing her big fake mustache, only to reveal the exact mustache painted underneath. Her pro dance training is clear, and she punctuates the whole thing with little moments of humor. So, so good. Ru agrees and awards Camden the cash. It’s a satisfying end to a very satisfying episode. This season’s queens have cracked the Drag Race code, and they are slaying these challenges and runways. The casts get stronger every season — and, I know I say this a lot — but I think this could be our tightest race yet. Let’s review where the gals stand in our completely subjective weekly ranking. Tell us your rankings in the comments! Willow may not have made the top two this week, but it’s clear Ru is completely enamored with her. What’s not to love? She is clever, creative and very funny. Although her fashions skew more costume than couture, they are well-made, fully-realized and always a little unexpected. Is her Drag Race run a bit too similar to her inspiration, Yvie Oddly? Maybe. But there’s enough unique flavor here for Willow to carve out her own legacy.I’m glad to see Angeria survive a rocky reading in the challenge, if only to see her reaction to more makeup mirror conversations about Folsom Street Fair. She still brought it to the runway, looking stunning in a disco diva, Solid Gold outfit. She’s got that “something” Ru is always after, and I expect to see her stick around until the end.Lady Camden surges ahead after back-to-back weeks of excellence. That fall on the runway was a thrill, and my little gay brain is still crackling at the thought of it. It wasn’t just a gimmicky garment, it also looked great. Camden ate up every second on that stage. She can act, she can dance, she can sew and she can rock a pussy bow (bussy bow?) in confessionals. I can’t wait to see what she does for Snatch Game.Bosco is right there, mixing it up with the top queens. It was good to see a queen zero in on all the little pop culture references in these scripts. She spotted the Reba McEntire/”Fancy” reference right away, and she didn’t let mama down. Keep an eye on Bosco in the coming weeks, as the Werk Room is whittled down a bit, she’ll get more space to shine.It’s good to see Jorgeous get her confidence back after last week’s win. She certainly seemed more comfortable on camera this time. I do think we’re seeing her ceiling, but, as Michelle noted, with a little extra oomph, the next level is right there.I much prefer the ditzy, kooky Jasmine to the narcissistic Jasmine that never shuts up. Her, um, Southern(?) accent was a hoot, and she served a side of camp on the runway. I like this lane for her. She can avoid some of Michelle’s more scathing critiques if she doesn’t position herself as a fashion queen.Maybe I’m being unkind to Daya, because she really did a good job this week. She’s still getting the villain edit, which doesn’t give me a lot of confidence she’ll make it all the way. We’ve trimmed all the fat off this cast, so really anyone could take the lead, including Daya. Hopefully, this week’s top placement will placate her anxiety and let her focus … and maybe show a softer, more likable side.DeJa left a big impression during the previous acting challenges, so it was a bummer to see her fade into the background here. I really appreciated her runway. It should be in the dictionary next to the definition for “proportionizing.” The hips were perfectly sculpted, the wig was just the right size. Excellent stuff. In a season this talented, any one of these top 9 could make the finale, so don’t count her out just yet.Kerri may have been safe the last few weeks, but she’s proven to be more than just a pretty face (and smokin’ hot body-ody-ody). The problem is everyone else is so strong, so multi-dimensional, so multi-talented, Kerri is getting left behind. There’s still time to make an impact, but she’s got to do it soon.What did you think of the episode? Catch up on our RuPaul’s Drag Race coverage. View the full article

Published by Radar Online Mega Crystal Hefner is set to write a memoir about her 10 years with the Playboy founder — and promising not to hold back any details. On Thursday, the 35-year-old announced the news on Instagram. “I was with him through wild times, calm times, and all the times in between up until the day he passed in September 2017.” Mega “I choose to be more private over the years because I’m an introvert at heart and while the mansion was in some ways was a sanctuary in other ways I was exploited like never before.” Crystal says she’s been on the fence about telling her story “because it’s complicated and conflicting in ways.” “But I think the best way to tell it is to be 100% honest and transparent so my lessons can hopefully help you too.” Crystal met Hugh at a Halloween party at the mansion and ended up moving in soon after. Mega In her post, Crystal revealed one of her therapists said “it’s like you went trick or treating at a house and then wasn’t let back out for ten years.” “I will share how power, greed, narcissism, and a girls guest to feel loved, powerful, important and have a sense of belonging led her down a dangerous path.” The Playmate says she is still trying to heal what she went through. Crystal started dating Hef when he was 60 years her senior. She jointed The Shannon Twins as one of his three girlfriends in 2009. In 2010, Crystal got engaged to Hefner. However, days before the 2011 wedding she called it off and left the mansion. Mega The two ended up reconciling and ended up getting married on December 31, 2012. Crystal’s decision to speak out comes after A&E released a 10-hour documentary on the secrets of Playboy. Many of Hef’s former girlfriends including Holly Madison spoke out about the horrific conditions they endured. The Shannon Twins — Kristina and Karissa — spoke to Radar exclusively telling us they were forced to have gross sex and follow strict rules while with Hef. They told us, “We are completely ruined by him mentally, he had signs hanging all over the house in the mansion saying what we were allowed to do, eat or drink.” View the full article