RadioRob

Published by BANG Showbiz English Anna Wintour is said to have “total control” over the Met Gala guest list. The 73-year-old journalist has served as editor-in-chief of Vogue since 1988 and wants the philanthropic side of the magazine’s annual fashion event to be her “legacy” so she must approve every A-lister on the guest list herself before they are sent an invitation. Amy Odell – author of ‘Anna: The Biography’ – told Grazia: “Anna has told friends she wants her legacy to be for her philanthropy. The Met Gala is the biggest philanthropic endeavour of her career, raising hundreds of millions of dollars for the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is also, her friends told me, a fun night for her, even though it is also work. [She has] total control. No one gets into the event unless she approves them.” According to Amy, Anna – who this year invited the likes of Doja Cat, Paris Hilton and Quinta Brunson to the event for the first time, whilst regulars Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and Cardi B also returned to the famous staircase – also likes the “over the top” looks that arrive on the red carpet and noted that even though the celebration has received criticism for becoming something of a “costume party” in recent years, the Vogue editor “enjoys the theatrics” of it all.” She said: “One friend told me that she loves the over-the-top looks! A lot of people have criticised the gala for becoming too much of a costume party versus a black-tie event. But Anna – who remember, is a huge theatre fan – enjoys the theatrics. The first time she left her spot inside the museum where she greets guests was for the Camp Gala – she went outside to watch Lady Gaga come up the steps (her entry involved choreography and several outfit changes).” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News NEW YORK — Christina Aguilera is celebrating Pride in the Big Apple. Heritage of Pride — the volunteer-directed group behind the official NYC Pride roster of events — said Wednesday the global music superstar will headline this year’s Pride Island, the traditional dance party and fundraiser that closes LGBTQ Pride festivities in New York City each June. This year, the rainbow-powered party heads to the Brooklyn Army Terminal, a massive warehouse complex in Sunset Park, on the South Brooklyn waterfront. Organizers promise an afternoon of “exuberant dancing, lights and music” — and, of course, t… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Over the past few years, Martha Stewart has reinvented herself into a sex symbol — a title she thinks is “fantastic.” The star dished on her healthy lifestyle, confidence and more in a new interview, explaining she’s proud that people are embracing their beauty at every age. @marthastewart48/instagram “It’s a good example for others, actually,” the 81-year-old told a magazine. “I’m a teacher. I’m trying to teach others that you can look great. There’s no reason to slump around.” The businesswoman said she doesn’t actually “diet,” but she does watch what she eats, and everything the icon chows down on is organic. mega When it comes to her flawless complexion, she insisted, “if you have good skincare, you can have beautiful skin. And it doesn’t have to cost a fortune, you just have to do it.” Last but not least is a fitness routine, to which she revealed she does Pilates three times a week. The mom-of-one also dabbles in self-care regimens like massages and seeing a chiropractor. “These are all things I just do to keep feeling good,” the chef simply stated. Martha Stewart Gushes Over Easter Weekend Visit With Pete Davidson & Girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders: ‘Very Cute Couple’ Martha Stewart Gushes Over Pete Davidson’s ‘Lovely’ New Girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders After Admitting She’d Date the Comedian Serving Looks! Martha Stewart’s Most Iconic Thirst Traps Of All Time: Photos mega Looking just as fabulous is also a plus, and she isn’t afraid to put her body of work on full display when the warm weather arrives. “I love sort of baggy shorts, so I have accumulated a small collection of shorts,” she shared. “I’ve been working on my legs at Pilates, and I’m going to show them off this summer.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The cookbook author began gaining more attention in 2020 when she posted a thirst trap from the pool, though she admitted she wasn’t too surprised by the snap going viral. “People like pretty pictures,” she reasoned to a news outlet. “I don’t think about age.” When asked for her best selfie tips, she replied, “Work your best angles and project the jaw to look up towards the camera. Also, make sure you are optimizing lighting.” While most fans are showering Stewart with praise, others accused her of going under the knife and using filters. “No facelift .. unfiltered,” she hit back at one social media troll, insisting her pore-free face is due to “great” dermatologists and her lifestyle. InStyle interviewed Stewart on being called a sex symbol. View the full article

Published by DPA Trackers like Apple's AirTags are a huge help in finding lost or stolen items, but it has also emerged that they are ideal for stalking. Till Simon Nagel/dpa Bluetooth trackers, the coin-sized tags that have emerged as the ideal tool for finding lost items (as well as stalking people), are set to get a new standard developed by Google and Apple in order to prevent unwanted tracking. The two IT giants, whose smartphone operating systems have made tracking tags possible, have collaborated on a new industry standard for the Android and iOS mobile platforms, the two companies announced at the start of May. The standard is set to support major trackers such as Apple’s AirTags, Samsung’s Smart Tags, Tile, Chipolo, Eufy Security and Pebblebee. Although such trackers have been used to track down lost luggage and stolen items, there have been repeated incidents of Apple’s AirTags and other Bluetooth trackers being used to track people against their will. Apple did introduce some safeguards to prevent stalking by AirTags, and currently if another person’s AirTag stays near another person’s phone the tracker is supposed to emit a warning sound. In addition, potential victims of stalking receive instructions on the iPhone on how to deactivate an unwanted AirTag in their vicinity. However, this anti-stalking protection has only worked if all parties involved use an iPhone. That is now set to change. “This new industry specification builds upon the AirTag protections, and through collaboration with Google results in a critical step forward to help combat unwanted tracking across iOS and Android,” said Ron Huang, vice president of Sensing and Connectivity at Apple. Although the new standard allows various smartphones to identify unwanted nearby trackers, the companies did not mention a means for people without smartphones to tell if they are being tracked. The specification was submitted through the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), a leading standards development organisation for the internet. Interested companies can review and comment on the draft over the next three months. Apple and Google then plan to release an implementation of the standard by the end of 2023, which will then be supported in future versions of the iOS and Android mobile operating systems. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Kate Bush and George Michael are among the stars being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The two pop icons have been included in the list of inductees for 2023 alongside Missy Elliott, Sheryl Crow, Rage Against the Machine, The Spinners and Willie Nelson – and the artists will officially join the coveted club at the induction ceremony which is due to be held in Brooklyn, New York on November 3. John Sykes, chairman of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation, said in a statement: “This year’s incredible group of Inductees reflects the diverse artists and sounds that define rock and roll. We are honoured that this November’s Induction Ceremony in New York will coincide with two milestones in music culture; the 90th birthday of Willie Nelson and the 50th anniversary of the birth of hip-hop.” Artists can be nominated to join the Hall of Fame 25 years after the release of their first single and Bush has previously been nominated in 2018, 2021 and 2022 but missed out on all three occasions. Missy Elliott became eligible in 2023 and managed to win induction with her first nomination while George Michael – who died in 2016 – won a fan vote to help secure his induction. Sheryl Crowe and Willie Nelson both managed to score induction with their first nomination. Other honours will go to superstar Chaka Khan who will receive the Musical Excellence Award alongside songwriters/musicians Al Kooper and Bernie Taupin. DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray have both landed the Musical Influence Award while Ahmet Ertegun Award for non-performing professionals will go to late ‘Soul Train’ creator Don Cornelius. Nominees for the class of 2023 who didn’t make the cut include Cyndi Lauper, the White Stripes and Joy Division/New Order. The 38th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on November 3. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Gwyneth Paltrow revealed which of her famous exes was better in bed! While chatting with Alex Cooper on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, the star, 50, spilled secrets on whether Brad Pitt or Ben Affleck was a better kisser and who was better in bed. “Let me think. Gosh, I have to remember so far back. They were both good kissers,” Paltrow confessed. “Who was better in bed?” Cooper asked. megaa “That’s really hard … That is really hard, because … Brad was sort of major chemistry, love of your life … at the time,” the actress replied. “And Ben was like technically excellent,” she quipped. “I can’t believe my daughter’s listening to this … Am I blushing?” “God bless J.Lo and everything she is getting over there!” Cooper said, referring to Affleck’s wife, Jennifer Lopez. Gwyneth Paltrow Thanks Judge & Jury For ‘Hard Work’ After Being Found Not At Fault In Ski Crash Trial Hilary Duff’s Husband Matthew Koma Reveals His Twitter Account Was Suspended After Gwyneth Paltrow Parody: ‘The Troll Was Worth It’ Gwyneth Paltrow Was ‘Totally Heartbroken’ After Split From Ex-Fiancé Brad Pitt: ‘It Was Really Hard’ As OK! previously reported, the blonde beauty reminisced about her broken engagement to Pitt. mega “I had a lot of development to do, looking back in hindsight. In a lot of ways, I didn’t really fully start to come into myself until I was 40 years old. And I had such a pleasing issue. I didn’t really even understand how to listen to my instincts and act from that place for what was right for me. I was always trying to adjudicate what was right for everyone else,” she shared of why they couldn’t make things work. She continued, “When I look back I really was a kid, really more than most 22, 24 years old I meet now. I really had not explored who I was, what was important to me, what my boundaries were.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! The Glee alum and Pitt dated from 1994 to 1997, and she admitted she was totally heartbroken after they split. “It was the right thing at that time, but it was really hard,” she added. “There were a number of things that had happened, he was nine years older than me so he was far more … he knew what he wanted, he was ready to do it and I was kind of all over the place, so it was really one of those difficult things, where I felt like, ‘Oh my God, not only am I not ready, I’m not living up to the standards again.’ It was a familiar refrain I felt about myself.” View the full article

Published by Knewz Talk about being just the tip of the iceberg. A photo on social media has triggered a frenzy, and the fact that it was snapped by a man from an island town named Dildo, is just the tip of the iceberg, literally. Ken Pretty was gazing out to sea when a tall cylindrical iceberg drifted past. At first, he wasn’t sure, so he sent his drone out for a closer inspection and was able to confirm that it did in fact have an uncanny resemblance to a human penis. The runaway iceberg was reported to be at least 30 feet tall, and when Pretty posted it to social media, it was quickly named the “dickie berg.”… Read More View the full article

Published by Grazia USA Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman‘s musical Harmony is officially Broadway-bound! After a sold-out run at New York’s National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene last spring, the production will head to the big stage in the fall, it was recently announced. Previews will begin at Broadway’s Barrymore Theatre on Wednesday, October 18, a few weeks before opening night, which is set for Monday, November 13. Harmony follows the real-life story of The Comedian Harmonists — played by Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman and Steven Telsey — who sold millions of records in the ’20s and ’3… Read More View the full article

Published by Radar Online Youtube An explosive rant captured on camera from far-right media personality Steven Crowder prompted ex-employees of his self-produced show, Louder with Crowder, to come forward with allegations of “abusive” behavior towards staff, RadarOnline.com has learned. The video that sparked the allegations was taken on June 21, 2021, from his Ring security camera at his home. In the viral clip, Steven was seenberating his wife, Hillary, when she was eight months pregnant with twins. Using expletives, Steven told his pregnant wife to “watch it” when she brought up his alleged “abusive” behavior — and demanded that she “do wifely things,” all while he reminded her that he did not love her. Youtube After an ex-staff member of Steven’s show saw the footage, they blasted the host as “pathetic.” “I’m not shocked, but it was pathetic what he did to Hilary,” the former employee told the Post. “That might not be the Steven you see on his show, but that was the real Steven.” Hillary filed for divorce shortly after the video was taken. Ex-staff claimed that Steven’s behavior in the clip mirrored patterns of alleged abuse they had experienced when working for him. At least 10 former staff members — who worked for Louder with Crowder between 2016 to 2022 — alleged that Steven was “abusive” and “volatile” at work. Some claimed that he was “capable of working every angle of your emotions.” Allegations ranged from screaming at employees, including his own father, to making subordinates wash his dirty laundry and firing staff on a whim. Other allegations were more serious, such as the claim that Steven exposed his genitals to ex-staff. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. Youtube A former employee alleged that in 2018, ex-producer Jared Monroe, who had been dubbed “Not Gay Jared” by his boss, was subject to a crude joke that crossed the line when the crew was traveling on the road. “Jared was asleep in the last row. Steven was in front and he was joking about what he was going to do,” the ex-staffer recalled. “He climbed over and dropped his junk on top of Jared’s shoulder.” The same ex-employee also alleged that Steven exposed himself to Jared while the two were in a green room the year before. @LOUDERWITHCROWDER/INSTAGRAM “We don’t want Steven to suffer. We just want the abuse to stop or at least let future employees know what they’re getting themselves into,” another former employee said of their ex-boss. Although the ex-staffers left Steven’s show, they insisted they felt the need to go public with their alleged experiences after viewing the Ring security footage. Interestingly enough, Steven, a former child actor, built his success on the notion that he was a devout Christian and family man. View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Julie Chrisley is having a hard time being away from her husband, Todd, and their faithful family, as she and her lover are only months in to their seven and 12-year respective prison sentences. During the Monday, May 1, episode of her “Unlocked” podcast, the couple’s daughter, Savannah, revealed her mom and dad have not spoken since they surrendered themselves to police on Tuesday, January 17, after convicted of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy to defraud the United States and tax fraud. Julie was also charged with a count of wire fraud. MEGA “I don’t think there’s a single letter that goes by that she does not say how much she misses my dad,” the 25-year-old — who was granted full custody of her brother Grayson, 16, and niece Chloe, 10, while her parents are behind bars — confessed. (Chloe is the biological daughter of Todd and Julie’s son Kyle, however, the grandparents legally adopted her in 2016. “They don’t get to talk. So we’re like, what, four months in, almost, and being together almost 30 years and not going a day without speaking, to now going on four months is a lot,” Savannah continued of her mom’s struggles in prison, specifically regarding the zero contact between her and Todd. MEGA Savannah Chrisley ‘Repeatedly Insulted’ Airline Employees Before Being Kicked Off Of Flight, Southwest Claims Savannah Chrisley Cryptically Details ‘Unbeautiful’ Healing Process after Parents’ Arrest Savannah Chrisley Insists She ‘Knew’ Colton Underwood was Gay After 2017 Date “She actually sent me 30 to 40 days’ worth of letters. It was just like her daily diary, journal,” the Growing Up Chrisley star added of Julie. “I’ll eventually put them out, read them at some point to give people updates on how they are doing and what was going through their minds.” As for how Savannah has been handling everything, the media personally admitted: “It’s tough.” Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! MEGA “It was a lot to read. It was tough to see the accounts of her day and things she’s scared of or nervous about. Just, all the thoughts that go through her mind and not having my dad with her, that’s the biggest thing,” she explained. Savannah found a silver lining in the difficult time, which is that she’s able to hug her parents and spend up to seven hours with them at a time without having to speak through a glass divider. “As sucky as the situation is, you have to find a win or else there’s gonna be no way to get through the day,” she explained. Todd remains locked up at minimum security prison camp FPC Pensacola in Florida, while Julie is serving her sentence at Federal Medical Center Lexington in Kentucky. View the full article

Published by Raw Story A Republican Florida lawmaker who claimed to be gay when he ran to represent a district with one of the state’s highest concentrations of LGBTQ+ constituents is facing calls to resign after siding with Gov. Ron DeSantis in key votes on social issues, The Advocate reports. Rep. Fabian Basabe last month skipped a vote on the state’s six-week abortion ban and voted in favor of expanding the Parental Rights in Education Act to ban the use of preferred pronouns in public schools and restricting curriculum through eighth grade from including sexual orientation and gender identity. Basabe is under in… Read More View the full article

Published by The Kansas City Star Republican lawmakers in Kansas passed a sweeping law last week that will restrict the kinds of public spaces and services transgender and nonbinary Kansans will have access to, overriding a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Referred to by supporters as the “women’s bill of rights,” the law is the first of its kind passed in the U.S. and is set to take effect in July. The national anti-trans group Independent Women’s Forum has been pushing for this law and similar variations across the country. They say the law is meant to prevent judges from interfering with existing single-sex public spa… Read More View the full article

Published by The Street By Samanda Dorger These are the U.S. states with the most LGBTQ-inclusive or protective laws, plus the states with the most harmful or discriminatory policies. In 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a landmark case that same-sex couples had the fundamental right to marriage in all states. There are currently 34 countries in the world where same-sex marriage is legal, according to the Human Rights Campaign. But despite a movement to improve the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) people around the world, there’s been a backlash in the U.S., with a record number of anti-LG… Read More View the full article

Published by AlterNet An anti-LGBTQ hate group’s secret files reveal marketing “pushing schools to adopt junk science painting transgender youth as carriers of a pathological disorder,” and files detailing methods to indoctrinate pre-teens into a culture of “sexual purity” and opposing same-sex relationships. The august-sounding American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) is not the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The American Academy of Pediatrics is the most highly-respected and largest group of pediatricians in America. The American College of Pediatricians, classified as an anti-LGBTQ hate group by the Sou… Read More View the full article

Published by Al-Araby Celebrated Jewish-American singer Barbra Streisand will receive a prize commonly known as the ‘Jewish Nobel’ later this year, but in unusual circumstances, according to Haaretz. Streisand will be given the Genesis Prize at a ceremony in Los Angeles – a rare break with tradition for the prize, which is usually given in Israel. The Genesis Prize Foundation was established a decade ago and has since granted $1 million each year to individuals who have excelled in their fields while showing a commitment to ‘Jewish values’. Streisand will receive a special 10th Anniversary Genesis Price in addition… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Woody Harrelson says it’s “very much true” he is Matthew McConaughey’s brother. The ‘Natural Born Killers’ actor, 61, earlier this month called on Matthew, 53, to get a DNA test after backing up his belief they could be biological brothers, and has now doubled down on the claim by saying he is convinced of the fact due to similarities in their personalities. Woody told the new issue of Esquire magazine: “Well, it’s very much true. I learned from Ma Mac, Matthew’s mother, that she did have a relationship with my father for a relatively short period of time that coincided with the time that his father and mother were on a sabbatical, and with the time of Matthew’s, let’s say, origination. “We haven’t done a test, but there are too many times that I think to myself, My God, the similarities! The things he does, the things he says—just the way he is. I’ve felt that for years.” During an appearance on ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ earlier this month Woody urged Matthew to have a DNA test done. He said he understood his fellow actor’s apprehension about how it may lead to him “losing” a father, but said it could also mean he would gain a brother and different dad. Woody added: “Well, I’ll just say there is some veracity to that thought because we talked to Ma’ Mac, Matthew’s legitimate mother, and she let us know one time… I mean, this is crazy…. we were in Greece watching the US team win the World Cup and I don’t know, I mentioned something about regrets. “And I said, ‘You know, it’s odd that my father has no regrets.’ And I have known Ma’ Mac a long time, and she goes, ‘I knew… your father.’ “And it was the ellipses I found a little troubling, or interesting: ‘I knew your father.’” Woody described the “ellipses” as part of a talk that was “filled with innuendo”, adding: “The year of Matthew’s birth, nine months before, she was on a sabbatical from her relationship with his supposed father, Jim.” Matthew had previously shared his suspicions that his mother Mary had a sexual encounter with Woody’s hitman father Charles after she made a cryptic remark about knowing the late convict. Woody’s dad died behind bars after a life of crime, which saw him working as a professional hitman for a Texan drug lord. He vanished from Woody’s life in 1968 when the future actor was seven-years-old and spent most of his life behind bars. View the full article

Published by Reuters (Reuters) -Former Minneapolis police officer Tou Thao has been found guilty of aiding and abetting in the 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man who died after his neck was pinned to the ground by another officer’s knee during a botched arrest. The charge against Thao, one of four officers involved in the arrest, was the final outstanding criminal case related to Floyd’s killing, which in 2020 ignited protests over racism and police brutality across the U.S. and around the world . Thao had opted to allow Hennepin County District Judge Peter Cahill decide whether he was guilty or not guilty, waiving his right to a trial by jury. Cahill’s 177-page decision was posted on the court’s website on Tuesday morning. Thao is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 7. Derek Chauvin, a white officer captured on cellphone video kneeling on the handcuffed Floyd’s neck for more than nine minutes, was found guilty of murdering Floyd in 2021. With Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck, and Lane and Kueng restraining his knees and buttocks, Floyd pleaded for his life before falling limp. While Floyd was pinned, Thao stood to one side and kept back a small crowd of people, including an off-duty firefighter, who repeatedly yelled at the police to get off Floyd and check his pulse. Police were arresting Floyd on suspicion of his using a counterfeit $20 bill at a nearby store. “Based on his training, Thao was actively aware that the restraint he witnessed grossly deviated from the standard of care, was extremely dangerous, and risked Floyd’s death,” Cahill wrote in his decision. Two other former officers, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng, pleaded guilty last year to aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter, the same charge Thao faced. Cahill presided over jury trials for Chauvin, Lane and Kueng. In written arguments submitted to the judge in January, prosecutors from the Minnesota attorney general’s office said Thao, a nine-year veteran of the force, knew the deadly risks posed by the way his colleagues restrained Floyd. Thao had a duty to intervene and render medical aid if needed, they said. “Thao could see Floyd’s life slowly ebbing away,” the prosecutors wrote, saying his conduct was callous. “Yet Thao made a conscious decision to actively participate in Floyd’s death.” Thao’s lawyers wrote that he believed Floyd was high on narcotics and having a distressed reaction. The officer’s police training had told him that knee restraints on a neck were appropriate in some instances, the lawyers wrote, and he believed the other three officers were mindful of Floyd’s medical needs. “He did not perform the checks himself because he was dealing with crowd control,” the defense lawyers wrote. “Thao rightfully assumed that the other officers were monitoring Floyd as this was their role per training and policy.” Chauvin was sentenced to 22-1/2 years in prison for the unintentional second-degree murder of Floyd, and last year received a concurrent sentence of 21 years in prison on federal charges of violating Floyd’s civil rights. At a federal trial last year, Keung, Lane and Thao were found guilty of violating Floyd’s civil rights. Lane was sentenced to 2-1/2 years in prison, Kueng to three, and Thao to 3-1/2 years. (Reporting by Jonathan Allen in New York, Editing by Rosalba O’Brien) View the full article

Published by Euronews (English) The company that owns some of the world’s most popular dating apps, including Tinder, has announced it will pull out of Russia entirely this summer in an effort to uphold its stated commitment to respecting human rights. Match, which also operates Hinge, OKCupid, PlentyOfFish and various other dating platforms, gave a hard date for its pullout in an annual impact report released on Monday. “We are committed to protecting human rights,” reads a short paragraph within the section on “Cultivating a culture of integrity and reliability”. “Our brands are taking steps to restrict access to their ser… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jonathan Stempel and Jack Queen NEW YORK (Reuters) -E. Jean Carroll, the writer accusing Donald Trump of rape and defamation, on Monday denied making up her claims to drive publicity for her memoir. Testifying in Manhattan federal court after the judge denied Trump’s request for a mistrial, Carroll said she wasn’t seeking attention through appearances on TV and podcasts, while acknowledging they were an important driver of book sales. Carroll also resisted efforts by Trump’s lawyer Joe Tacopina to show she experienced no suffering because, as Trump has claimed, the rape did not happen. She said she hides her inner suffering in her role as an advice columnist, and that going to parties related to her lawsuits against Trump and stating publicly she was doing “fabulous” didn’t mean she was lying about him. “In this courtroom, I’m being forced to tell the truth,” she told Tacopina on her third and final day of testimony, including two under cross-examination. Carroll, 79, says Trump, 76, raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in late 1995 or early 1996, and then tarred her reputation and career by lying about it online. Her defamation claim concerns an October 2022 post on Trump’s Truth Social platform, where Trump called the former Elle magazine advice columnist’s case a “complete con job” and “a Hoax and a lie.” Carroll used to write for Elle magazine, and is now at Substack. The rape claim was included in her memoir, “What Do We Need Men For? A Modest Proposal,” excerpts of which were published in New York magazine in June 2019. Carroll is seeking unspecified damages in her civil lawsuit. She is suing Trump separately for defamation after he denied her claims, using similar language, after the book excerpts were published. Trump has not attended the trial, now in its fourth day. On Monday, he was in Scotland to visit his golf courses there. TRUMP LAWYER SEEKS MISTRIAL, ACCUSES JUDGE OF BIAS In seeking a mistrial, Tacopina sent an 18-page letter early on Monday accusing U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan of bias against Trump. Tacopina said several “unfair and prejudicial” rulings by Kaplan reflected a “deeper leaning” toward Carroll, including comments where the judge “openly expresses favoritism.” Trump is leading the Republican field in the 2024 presidential race. Tacopina said Kaplan, an appointee of Democratic President Bill Clinton, should have let him question Carroll about why she did not seek security camera footage of the alleged rape. He also challenged Kaplan’s statement that Trump might be “sailing in harm’s way” after his son Eric Trump discussed on Twitter how LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman was helping fund Carroll’s case. Kaplan ruled last Wednesday that Trump’s lawyers could not mention Hoffman at the trial, calling it “unfairly prejudicial.” Requests for mistrials often fail, but form a basis for eventual appeals. Because Carroll’s case is civil, she must establish her claims by a preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not, and need not meet the tougher criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. ASHAMED AT FIRST TO COME FORWARD, CARROLL SAYS Carroll had told jurors last Wednesday that Trump put his fingers into her vagina, which she called “extremely painful, extremely painful,” and then inserted his penis. In Monday’s cross-examination, Carroll acknowledged not following her own advice to readers that they tell police if they are crime victims, after Tacopina questioned why she did not after encountering Trump. “Listen, I was ashamed of what happened,” Carroll said. “I thought it was my fault.” She said it was not until 2017, when the #MeToo movement began, that she finally began to “realize some really terrible things that I did not want to face.” Tacopina asked why Carroll did not sue former CBS chief executive Les Moonves for defamation after he publicly denied her claim in her memoir that he once tried to sexually assault her. Carroll responded that Moonves’ denial was more straightforward than Trump’s. “He didn’t grind my face into the mud the way Donald Trump did,” Carroll said. Trump’s lawyers have not said publicly whether he plans to testify. They have identified only one possible defense witness, the psychiatrist Edgar Nace, other than Trump. Testimony is expected to resume on Tuesday. Carroll’s witness list includes two friends with whom she spoke shortly after the alleged rape, two other women who have said Trump assaulted them, and a professor who could help jurors estimate Carroll’s damages. Several women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct. He has denied their allegations. (Reporting by Jack Queen and Jonathan Stempel in New York, Editing by Nick Zieminski and Howard Goller) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Ben Kellerman and Doyinsola Oladipo NEW YORK (Reuters) – American basketball star Brittney Griner stepped onto the red carpet at the star-studded Met Gala on Monday, embracing a larger spotlight months after returning home from detention in a Russian penal colony. The twice Olympic champion has pledged to advocate for the release of other Americans detained abroad after she was freed from Russia in a high-profile prisoner exchange after nearly 10 months of detention. U.S. officials said she was wrongly detained and was being used as a political pawn after she was taken into custody at a Moscow airport and subsequently convicted on drug charges. “I was able to come home,” Griner told Vogue at the gala. “A lot of families that don’t get the availability, you know, that I have with media so every day just being there, being a voice for those families so they’re not feeling left behind or forgotten at all.” Griner sat for a press conference with her Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) team last week for the first time since she returned home, announcing she and the Phoenix Mercury would partner with Bring Our Families Home to champion the cause. On Saturday she appeared at the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with her wife, Cherelle. American designer Calvin Klein styled the couple for Monday’s star-studded event to benefit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. “It is everything, to be here with my wife able to be here it means so much,” Griner said. Griner was one of a handful of high-profile athletes in attendance, with 23-times major winner Serena Williams announcing she was pregnant with her second child. Twenty-times Grand Slam winner Roger Federer served as a co-chair of the event while China’s twice Olympic champion freestyle skier Eileen Gu was also in attendance. (Reporting by Ben Kellerman and Doyinsola Oladipo in New York, writing by Amy Tennery; Editing by Stephen Coates) View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Judy Craymer is determined to make a third ‘Mamma Mia!’ film. The 65-year-old producer has worked on both the original stage production and the two movies in the musical based on ABBA’s songs and hopes that another film can be made. Speaking to Deadline, Judy said: “It’s in its earliest stages. I don’t want to over-egg it, but I know there’s a trilogy there.” The producer revealed that her ideas for the new film involve bringing back popular characters such as Meryl Streep’s Donna – who had died in the events of the 2018 film ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ – and Cher’s Ruby, mother to Donna and grandmother to Sophie (Amanda Seyfried). Craymer said: “There is a story there, and I do think Meryl should come back – and if the script is right, she would, I think, because she really loved playing Donna.” The producer explained that progress on the movie is likely to be slow as any developments must come with the blessing of ABBA members Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, who share the rights to the production with her. Craymer explained: “We want to do another movie, and they’re (being cautious). “But that’s the story of the last 25 years – there’s always a sense of caution from them, and we’re all getting older now. Obviously, anything to do with the music, they have to be okay with.” Ol Parker directed ‘Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again’ and previously claimed that Craymer had plans in place for another film. He told Screen Rant: “Judy Craymer, the genius producer behind the musical and the first two films, always plans for it to be a trilogy. That’s all I can say. “The first one made an enormous amount of money, and I think we made a fair amount, too. I know that there is a hunger for a third, and I know that she has a plan. Wouldn’t it be lovely?” View the full article

Published by Knewz Researchers have found a new way to potentially treat Alzheimer’s disease. And it’s inexpensive. Researchers from the UK Dementia Research Institute at Cambridge University found that maraviroc, which is marketed as Selzentry and treats HIV, clears out rogue proteins found in the brain, which could prevent and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in people’s brains. Researchers are encouraged by the findings, especially because the drug, which has been approved by the United State Food and Drug Administration, could potentially reverse memory loss in older people. “We’re very excited about thes… Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine MEGA Madonna doesn’t stay “Hung Up” on her haters — and friends can confirm the singer’s unbothered demeanor. During an interview published Saturday, April 29, comedian Rosie O’Donnell spoke fondly of the Queen of Pop and vouched for her pal’s ability to block out incessant criticism. MEGA “You know, Madonna is one of the most famous women in the world and has been my entire lifetime,” the former panelist of The View admitted of the “Material Girl” crooner, who sprung into the spotlight in 1983 when she released her first self-titled studio album, Madonna. “And she would get vitriol at her at the height of her fame,” O’Donnell continued of the 64-year-old — who still receives an abundance of hate to this day, as people continuously mock her “unrecognizable” facial features and bizarre behaviors. MEGA “I remember we were doing A League of Their Own and she had brown hair and we would be in an elevator and grown men, you know, would say to her, ‘I like you better as a blond,'” the television personality, 61, explained of the legendary 1992 film that sparked the dynamic duo’s tight-knit bond. “And she would look at them and go, ‘You know, f*** you.’ And I thought, good for her, man, good for you,” O’Donnell confessed of the pop star’s ability to brush off rude comments and go about the rest of her day, noting the “Like a Virgin” vocalist “never had a problem standing up for herself.” Madonna’s Boyfriend Josh Popper Checks Out Singer’s Behind As New Romance Intensifies: See Photos Madonna Recalls Her Late Mom ‘Shivering’ During Her Childhood Because She Couldn’t Afford a Coat: ‘I Hope She’s Warm’ Madonna Shows Off Her Exposed Chest in Raunchy Throwback Photo for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Birthday Never miss a story — sign up for the OK! newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what OK! has to offer. It’s gossip too good to wait for! “She knows who she is, what she wants, what she wants to look like, what she wants to wear, what she wants to say,” the mom-of-five expressed, concluding, “and I think she’s strong enough to weather whatever complaints people have about her now and for always.” O’Donnell’s kind words for Madonna come just a few months after the renowned performer was publicly humiliated on live television, as social media users tore apart her appearance at the 2023 Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 5. CBS Viewers took to Twitter and Instagram to express their concerns for the mother-of-six, slam her plastic surgeon and claim they had to do a double take to even figure out if Madonna was the person standing on their screen. After criticism died down, Madonna responded to the negativity via Instagram with a lengthy statement, confirming, “you won’t break my soul.” Page Six interviewed O’Donnell about Madonna. View the full article

Published by Radar Online MEGA; Jeffrey Mayer/JTMPhotos, Int’l. / MEGA It looks like the Madonna biopic may not be hung up after all. The Material Girl icon and actress Julia Garner fueled rumors the project could still be underway after being spotted out and about together in New York City, RadarOnline.com has learned. Development on the project, for which the Queen of Pop was expected to co-write and direct at Universal, was halted earlier this year as the singer prepared to embark on her world tour that is set to kick off in July. Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency / MEGA Madonna, now sporting a bright orange hair color, and Garner were seen living it up with a group on Sunday night, reigniting rumors that it’s no longer 86ed. They had the restaurant to themselves around 10 PM and were photographed dining in the venue’s 360 room, where guests sit in a virtual zeppelin that travels over the city, according to the New York Post. Garner’s dinner date with Madonna in the Big Apple has led many to believe they are back on biopic prep amid insider reports the songstress was striving for a “grittier” script. OConnor-Arroyo / AFF-USA.com / MEGA REBOUND: Madonna, 64, Dating Chiseled 29-Year-Old Boxer — Days After Dumping Her Hunky Model Boyfriend Madonna To ‘Slowly Dissolve’ Fillers Ahead Of Upcoming Tour After Backlash Over Appearance: Source Sealed With A Kiss: Madonna, 64, Confirms Budding Romance With Boy Toy Lover, 29, After Sitting Ringside To Cheer On Boxer The Ozark star teased that it may be resuscitated during an appearance at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in March, being coy while sharing a brief update. “I don’t want to tell too much. I want to keep things… yeah, fingers crossed,” Garner said. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. MEGA As we exclusively reported, Madonna was very passionate about the direction of the biopic and was determined to tell her life story to the best of their abilities. “This project means the world to Madonna,” an insider said of the 64-year-old, adding that she had high expectations for the Inventing Anna star. “Her opinion is that if it’s to be a success, then Julia needs to slip into her mindset and live and breathe everything she does. It’s the ultimate Method acting challenge.” @madonna/Instagram It won’t be long until Madonna hits the road for her tour, which RadarOnline.com discovered will be a family affair, much to the delight of attendees. “Lourdes, David, Mercy, Stella, and Estere will join their mom onstage, while her son Rocco will help design the tour,” spilled one source. “It’s only the best for Madonna and her kids. That’s seven VIP suites in each city!” View the full article