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Published by BANG Showbiz English The “wonderful family” from ‘The White Lotus’ scooped the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series honour at the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards on Sunday (26.02.23). The HBO vacation satire picked up the accolade ahead of ‘Ozark’, ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘The Crown’ and ‘Severance’ and as the cast gathered on stage at Los Angeles’ Fairmont Century Plaza hotel, F. Murray Abraham – who played Bert Di Grasso – took the mic to offer an acceptance speech on their behalf, and paid tribute to everyone who had worked on the show. He said: “Thank you, thank you SAG-AFRTA, Than you HBO, this was the best job I ever had, not only because of this really remarkable, wonderful family of actors but because Mike and David and Mark pulled together an international company of technicians and actors. “We all lived together in the same place and ate together and worked together, so this is not only for the actors, this is for the entire company.” The veteran actor also took the time to recognise global issues. He said: “This is a wonderful time but I ‘d like to send a prayer out to the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey, and a prayer for peace in Ukraine and Russia.” Earlier in the evening, ‘The White Lotus’ star Jennifer Coolidge was tearful when she picked up the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series honour ahead of Elizabeth Debicki (‘The Crown’), Zendaya (‘Euphoria’) and ‘Ozark’ actresses Julia Garner and Laura Linney. She said: “Wow. Wow. You know… It’s been a very special year, overwhelming, ‘White Lotus’ and Mike White writing me a great part that went on for two seasons. HBO giving me the thumbs up to let me do it and I just wanna say, I want you all to know that I’m just so grateful.” She then paid tribute to her father for igniting her love of film with a day out when she was a child. Jennifer added: “What I really wanna say is I have these amazing parents and they had this incredible gift. I think It was impossible for them to lie, they just couldn’t do it, except that my father one day the school principal came to my first grade class and said I had to be called to the office. “I went and she said my father’s here and he said ‘Yeah Jenny we have to go’ and the principal said ‘Jennifer get well’. I didn’t know what that meant but we got in the car and my father said, ‘I’m never gonna tell a lie again but we’re going somewhere really cool.’ We drove to Massachusetts and it was the Charlie Chaplin film festival and I swear to god having that experience, it’s my love of film, my love of actors, all of that came from that first grade experience.” Meanwhile, Jason Bateman was pleased he had the opportunity to “say a final thank you” after he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Marty Byrd in the final season of ‘Ozark’, taking the honour ahead of ‘Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, Jeff Bridges for ‘The Old Man’ and ‘Severance’ star Adam Scott. He said: “Thanks you to anybody who voted for me, it gives me the chance to say a final thank you to not only the people who watched this show, but I get to say thank you to my wife Amanda, my two kids at home, they made me feel like a good dad even though I was gone for six months a year so they’re better actors than I am. “Ted Sarantos gave me all the trust I could ask for. Laura, Julia and the rest of the cast taught me so much and made the show what it is. Chris Mundy and the writing staff wrote incredible stuff we all got to enjoy, myself included. “Finally to the crew, we’re lucky enough to work on great projects because it was a great crew, it was a great family… Thank you guys, I love you all.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ was the big winner at Sunday’s (26.02.23) Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards. The Daniels’ comedy-drama beat off competition from ‘Babylon’, ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’, ‘The Fabelmans’ and ‘Women Talking’ to take the night’s biggest prize, Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and there were also individual wins for cast members Michelle Yeoh, Jamie Lee Curtis and Ke Huy Quan. Michelle dedicated her win in the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role category to “every little girl that looks like” her. She said on stage at Los Angeles’ Fairmont Plaza: “This is not just for me, it’s for every little girl that looks like me. “We’re here because we love what we do and we’ll never stop doing this but thank you for giving me a seat at the table so many of us need this, we want to be seen, we want to be heard. I am grateful and my mom will be eternally grateful too.” Her co-stars scooped the Outstanding Performance by a Female and Male Actor in a Leading Role honours. Meanwhile, ‘The White Lotus’ also scored two wins, with Jennifer Coolidge taking home the Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series accolade, and the show itself triumphing ahead of ‘Ozark’, ‘Better Call Saul’, ‘The Crown’ and ‘Severance’ to take the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series honour. Meanwhile, Jason Bateman was pleased he had the opportunity to “say a final thank you” after he won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Marty Byrd in the final season of ‘Ozark’, taking the honour ahead of ‘Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks, Jeff Bridges for ‘The Old Man’ and ‘Severance’ star Adam Scott. He said: “Thanks you to anybody who voted for me, it gives me the chance to say a final thank you to not only the people who watched this show, but I get to say thank you to my wife Amanda, my two kids at home, they made me feel like a good dad even though I was gone for six months a year so they’re better actors than I am.” Brendan Fraser’s performance in ‘The Whale’ saw him win Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. In the TV comedy categories, ‘Abbott Elementary’ won the ensemble prize, while the individual honours went to ‘The Bear’ star Jeremy Allen White and ‘Hacks’ actress Jean Smart, while ‘1883’ star Sam Elliott and ‘George and Tammy’s Jessica Chastain took home the Television Movie or Limited Series prizes. Sally Field was honoured with a lifetime achievement award. SAG Awards 2023 list of winners: The SAG Award winners will be announced on February 26, at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Los Angeles. Full list of nominees: Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Sam Elliott – 1883 Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series: Jessica Chastain – George and Tammy Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series: ‘Abbott Elementary’ Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Jeremy Allen White – The Bear Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Jean Smart – Hacks Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series: Jason Bateman – ‘Ozark’ Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series: Jennifer Coolidge – ‘The White Lotus’ Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series: ‘The White Lotus’ Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role: Jamie Lee Curtis – ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Ke Huy Quan – ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role: Michelle Yeoh – ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: Brendan Fraser – ‘The Whale’ Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture: ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series: ‘Stranger Things’ View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Lady Anne Glenconner had a 34-year affair with a mystery man. The 90-year-old socialite was lady-in-waiting to the late Princess Margaret – who died in 2002 at the age of 71 – and was a maid of honour at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953 but admitted that even though she had “completely fallen” for Colin Tennant, 3rd Baron Glenconner, she ended up having an affair when the marriage became difficult. She told Fox News Digital: “[Colin] was attractive, he was funny. He was full of wonderful ideas and just made me see that my life could be different. It could be a great adventure. And I completely fell for him. He was also a great friend of Princess Margaret. He was one of the young men she went out with. And I was always rather amazed that he chose me, that he actually wanted to marry me. And a lot of the time we were very happy. I had seen him lose his temper before we got married. “He always said, ‘The minute we’re married, I won’t need to lose my temper.’ Which, of course, I believed. But he lost his temper on our honeymoon. His promise of not to lose his temper didn’t last long. “I lost my trust in men. We saw each other once a week. We had lunch and the occasional weekend. But he gave me back [my trust]. And I realized that men can be wonderful, that men could be kind, and all that. He made so much difference in my life.” The baroness – who remained married to Colin until he died in 2010 at the age of 83 following a battle with prostate cancer – claimed that the mystery man’s wife was aware of the affair but alleged that she was possibly guilty of adultery too as she insisted that being unfaithful was how marriages were kept “together” in those days as an “alternative” to divorce. She added: “She sent me a memento after he died… I think she probably had some of her own. That’s what people used to do in marriages. That’s how they kept marriages together, really. People had affairs. And yet, we carried on. It was an alternative to divorce.” View the full article

Published by DPA Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his annual State of the Nation Address at the Gostiny Dvor event centre. Putin has described Western arms deliveries to Ukraine as "participation in crimes" in the country. -/Kremlin/dpa Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin awarded US actor Steven Seagal, known for the 1990 US action thriller Hard to Kill, the Russian Order of Friendship. Seagal, who holds Russian citizenship, among others, is receiving the award for his “great contribution to the development of international cultural and humanitarian cooperation,” according to a Putin decree published on Monday. The 70-year-old star of numerous action films is the special representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry for humanitarian relations with the United States and Japan. Seagal is considered a supporter of the Russian war against Ukraine and a friend of Putin. He is also a member of the pro-Kremlin Just Russia party and repeatedly follows the line of Moscow’s state propaganda. Seagal visited the Russian side in the war zone last year, which Moscow’s state media treated as a kind of world event. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, himself a former actor, counts numerous US stars among his friends. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Adele’s rumoured engagement ring from her boyfriend Rich Paul is said to a be worth more than £500,000. The ‘Chasing Pavements’ singer, 34, is reportedly planning to get married to the sports agent, 41, this summer after two years of dating and a jewellery expert said the huge sparkler she has been spotted wearing during her Las Vegas residency features an 8 carat diamond. Gemologist Alexandra Michell from Channel 4’s ‘Posh Pawn’ told Mail Online on Monday (27.02.23): “Adele is rocking an approx 8 carats pear cut diamond on a fine platinum band and simple 4 claw setting. “The band itself is pave set with small round brilliants either side of the centre stone. A beautiful design where the pear shape stone diamond really stands out. “If this 8 cts stone is D colour and IF clarity grade, the price tag would easily top over half a million pounds.” Entertainment site Deux Moi first claimed Adele and Rich were engaged, citing a “very reliable” source. Adele, who has son Angelo, 10, with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, 48, was then seen wearing her engagement ring over the weekend during her Vegas shows. She has been spotted wearing it as early as last February, when she was seen wearing it at the BRIT Awards. Despite the couple having been reportedly engaged for a year, they have stayed private about talk they are to get married. But in December she opened up about Rich by dedicating a song to him during one of her Vegas shows in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and sang Happy Birthday to him during her set. She added: “And I love him more than life itself, so can we wish him happy birthday? His name’s Rich!” In an Elle interview in August, Adele has revealed her dream is to be a “homemaker” as she revealed she wanted marriage and children with Rich. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Paul Burrell is “a little bit scared” of undergoing an operation for cancer. The 64-year-old former butler – who used to work for, and was a confidante of, the late Princess Diana – was diagnosed with prostate cancer last summer and has now admitted that he “doesn’t know what to expect” and is unsure of how things will turn out. He told The Daily Mirror newspaper: “It’s a little bit scary. I’m apprehensive because I don’t know what to expect and I don’t know what the outcome is going to be. I’ll go for a two-hour procedure and they will inject radium into my prostate. My recovery will be for the rest of that week. And then for the next three weeks I will have to go to radiotherapy appointments – to kill it from the outside as well as the inside. Hopefully, at the end of that period I’ll be all clear.” The former ‘I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here!’ contestant – who is married to Graham Cooper and has sons Alex and Nick with him – went on to add that he often gets “emotional” over the thought of the treatment and even though is going to be a “mess” for a long period of time, he is willing to go through with it for the sake of his husband. He added: “I get so emotional because of the hormone therapy, which she said I’ll have to continue after the operation. I get so emotional because of the hormone therapy, which she said I’ll have to continue after the operation. I’m going to be a mess for a very long time. But you have to trade off certain things to get to a point of living. This isn’t about me, is it? It’s about the big picture – it’s about my hubby, Coop. “It’s about our relationship, the way forward. I had to talk about all of that.” View the full article

Published by Reuters By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) -A U.S. government watchdog will audit Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s use of government airplanes for some trips as part of a broad review dating back to 2017. The Transportation Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) will review 18 flights Buttigieg made on Federal Aviation Administration-operated (FAA) planes on seven total trips after a request by Republican Senator Marco Rubio. The costs of the flights for Buttigieg and staff was $41,905.20, and in six of seven trips costs to fly on FAA planes were less expensive than flying commercial, a department spokesperson confirmed to Reuters, adding it “will fully cooperate with the IG on this.” “Glad this will be reviewed independently so misleading narratives can be put to rest,” Buttigieg wrote on Twitter. “Bottom line: I mostly fly on commercial flights, in economy class. And when I do use our agency’s aircraft, it’s usually a situation where doing so saves taxpayer money.” The OIG said it will review if the Office of the Secretary complied with regulations, policies, and procedures regarding executive travel on government aircraft and will “focus on official trips taken since January 31, 2017.” Elaine Chao served as Transportation secretary from 2017 through early 2021 under President Donald Trump. The Washington Post first reported the audit. Rubio requested the review in December after Fox News reported on the flights and asked if any violations of Transportation Department policy were identified. “American taxpayers deserve assurances that their tax dollars are not wasted by the government’s highest officials,” Rubio wrote. A 1992 White House memo allows senior government officials to travel on government aircraft but with restrictions. (Reporting by David ShepardsonEditing by Chris Reese and Bill Berkrot) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Hyunsu Yim SEOUL (Reuters) – For So Sung-uk and Kim Yong-min, who last week won a landmark Seoul court ruling on national health coverage for gay couples, the tide may finally be turning in their years-long struggle for equal recognition in South Korea for LGBT partnerships. The 32-year-old activists, together since they first met during their national service a decade ago, have regularly posted about their relationship on social media and in public forums, including a wedding ceremony in 2019 that drew some 300 attendees. “The more visible we are and the more we talk about our story, I think the more we can change people’s opinions and help other LGBTQ people like us gather up courage,” Kim said in an interview in the three-room Seoul apartment he shares with So. “I believe if more LGBTQ people show who they are, change will come faster.” The two also managed to secure national health insurance coverage for So, who works with a youth HIV support group, as a dependent based on his partnership with Kim, an employee for an organisation that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights. But when local media drew attention to the pair’s story and the National Health Insurance Service’s official acknowledgement that they were a couple, the authorities backtracked and revoked So’s coverage, saying the approval had been an administrative error. Thus began a two-year legal struggle as So sued the health service, initially losing in a local administrative court but prevailing when the Seoul High Court last week reversed course and affirmed his right to coverage. “I see this ruling not just as a one-off win but a sign that we are starting to win – that love has won and it will again,” So said. “Because we are not recognised as family by law in South Korea, things like guardianship or issuing real estate registration certificates on each other’s behalf are out of our reach.” Kim added that the reversal was a relief for the country’s LGBTQ community. “People have been feeling tired of not seeing much progress for a long time,” he said. In South Korea, where LGBT anti-discrimination laws face strong resistance from conservative religious groups and others, the decision was hailed by human rights group Amnesty International as a “step towards marriage equality”. Taiwan is alone among Asian governments in recognising same-sex marriages, which it legalised in 2019, although Thailand’s legislature is moving forward with bills that could lead to approval while court cases have pressed for LGBT couples’ rights in India and Japan. South Korea’s health service said in a statement it would conduct a legal review to decide whether to challenge the latest court decision before the Supreme Court. Kim and So blamed inaction by politicians for South Korea’s slow progress on LGBTQ rights, while acceptance is rising among the general public. “Despite the hatred you see online and the discrimination, many LGBTQ people are still living well and happily in this country and there are many people who support us,” So said. A survey by South Korean pollster Realmeter last year found that nearly seven in 10 respondents said an anti-discrimination law was necessary. Anti-discrimination bills have been proposed but lawmakers have failed to move forward with them. “Politicians like to hide behind social consensus,” So said. “But it is their job to make society a more equal and better place to live, not just sit back and wait for society to change.” (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Edmund Klamann) View the full article

Published by Reuters By Jason Lange and David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. House Republicans are eyeing $150 billion in spending cuts that reflect a hardline drive to target education, healthcare and housing – particularly efforts to address racial inequities that conservatives deride as “woke” – as they push forward in talks on the federal debt ceiling. House of Representatives Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington said Republicans are assembling a budget along the lines of a budget proposal developed by Russell Vought, who served as Republican President Donald Trump’s budget chief. “It is consistent with what’s in his budget,” Arrington said in an interview. The congressman, whose party controls the House, did not provide specifics of what cuts he would suggest to his fellow Republicans, who return to Washington on Monday after a two-week break. Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has vowed not to allow an increase in the $31.4 trillion legal limit on federal borrowing without an agreement from President Joe Biden’s Democrats in Congress to rein in federal spending. Failing to lift the debt ceiling could trigger a default on the federal government’s debt that would take a heavy toll on the American and probably world economies. A prolonged 2011 debt-cap standoff led to a cut in the government’s top-tier credit rating. During Biden’s State of the Union speech early this month, Republicans loudly vowed not to pursue cuts to the Social Security retirement or Medicare healthcare programs. They also mostly oppose military cuts. That leaves them scouring only a sixth of the budget for cuts. Arrington said the $150 billion in cuts he is eyeing would mostly hit nondefense discretionary spending, whose programs cost about $900 billion in the last fiscal year ended Sept. 30. Even eliminating those programs wouldn’t erase the roughly $1.6 trillion deficit – a measure of how far the government runs into the red each year. BALANCE ‘ASPIRATIONAL’ That makes the conservative goal of a balanced budget within 10 years “aspirational” for now, Arrington said. Vought, whose plan also calls for $150 billion in cuts, said Democratic control of the Senate makes limited austerity more politically realistic. “We’re in divided government. So what’s the easiest place to cut spending? It’s the bureaucracy, and that’s where we want to focus the fight,” Vought said in an interview, adding that he would go after programs he considered “significantly woke and unaccountable.” Vought, who directed the Office of Management and Budget between 2019 and 2021 and now heads a conservative think tank, said the cuts he proposes would eventually slice the deficit by just a third if they were sustained for 10 years. Biden and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer say they will not discuss spending cuts until after the debt ceiling is raised, which is needed to cover the costs of spending and tax cuts previously approved by Congress. Nonetheless, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in an interview the fiscal year 2024 budget Biden plans to unveil on March 9 would contain “substantial deficit reduction over the next decade.” TARGET LIST Vought’s proposals move the debate forward from the back-and-forth on Social Security and Medicare that dominated much of the past month. He did not provide a full accounting of the proposed $150 billion in cuts, but said it included about $25 billion from the Department of Education, including what he called “woke” policies such as score-improvement programs and culturally responsive schooling. Republicans have increasingly used “woke” as a pejorative term regarding liberal views on race, gender and sexuality, for example attacking school courses about U.S. racial injustice and LGBTQ rights. Vought said he would seek cuts to the departments of Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services, as well as to foreign aid, and to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention programs aimed at preventing chronic and sexually transmitted diseases. He said his ideas have been best received in the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Arrington said his goal is to return domestic spending to its fiscal 2022 level, while keeping defense spending flat, in the fiscal 2024 budget proposal House Republicans aim to unveil by April 15. He said his main priority is producing a 2024 budget that can serve as a baseline for years of spending reductions. “You can save over $1.5 trillion over that 10 years,” he said. “That’s real savings.” Another Budget Committee Republican, Freedom Caucus member Ralph Norman, described in general terms a debt-ceiling playbook, backed by other conservatives, that aligned with Vought’s plan. Like other committee hardliners, Norman wants to cut nondefense discretionary spending to pre-pandemic levels. The conservatives also want to hold defense spending steady and increase outlays on security along the U.S.-Mexico border. McCarthy spokesman Mark Bednar said federal spending growth was “entirely unsustainable, and House Republicans were elected to bring it to an end.” The House Budget Committee’s top Democrat, Brendan Boyle, expressed skepticism that the hardliners’ plan would win wide backing: “Republicans needed 15 rounds just to elect a speaker, so I can’t imagine they will have an easy time advancing a budget that all of their members will support.” But budget committee and Freedom Caucus member Bob Good, one of 20 hardline conservatives who forced McCarthy to undergo 15 floor votes before being elected House speaker, said the political drama surrounding the speakership election should empower McCarthy to take a hard position with Biden and Schumer. “When Kevin McCarthy says Republicans won’t vote for doing what we’ve always done and just raising the debt ceiling without meaningful spending cuts and reforms, I think the president and the Senate majority leader will recognize that he’s telling the truth,” Good said. (Reporting by Jason Lange and David Morgan, additional reporting by David Lawder in Bengaluru; Editing by Scott Malone) View the full article

Published by AFP Disney upset Florida Governor Ron DeSantis with its opposition to the so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law Miami (AFP) – Florida’s governor seized control of Walt Disney World’s self-governing district on Monday, hailing the end of the “corporate kingdom” as he effectively punished the entertainment giant over its “woke” opposition to his political agenda. The bill allows Republican Ron DeSantis to appoint his own board to oversee the services provided in the theme park by Disney, which attracted the governor’s ire last year after it criticized a law banning school lessons on sexual orientation. “Today the corporate kingdom finally comes to an end,” said DeSantis, who is widely expected to join the race for the White House in 2024, as he signed the bill. “There’s a new sheriff in town, and accountability will be the order of the day.” The move is seen as part of a broader effort by DeSantis to reform institutions which he believes have been hijacked by “woke” progressive activists and addresses criticism that the arrangement gave Disney an unfair advantage over rivals. But critics have voiced fears that the arrangement will make Disney beholden to DeSantis and much less likely to feel able to speak out against his policies. Walt Disney World, near Orlando, is the largest theme park in the world and has been governed since it opened in the 1970s by the Reedy Creek Improvement District, an independent authority with broad local management autonomy that exempted it from most state regulations. The 39-square-mile (101-square-kilometer) park operated largely unnoticed by the state government until it opposed the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” law enacted last year, which bars instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. “We want our kids to be kids, we want them to be able to enjoy entertainment, school, without having an agenda imposed upon them,” said DeSantis, who has labeled Disney a “woke corporation” in the past. Florida’s Republican-dominated legislature passed a law that would have dissolved Reedy Creek as of June 1 — but scaled back its plan from dissolution to reform after experts warned the district’s $2 billion debts could be pushed on to local taxpayers. ‘Bad policy’ The new law leaves Reedy Creek and its debt obligations intact, changes its name to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and subjects it to closer oversight by the government in Tallahassee. Reedy Creek was independent, but its board was elected by landowners, and Disney owns two-thirds of the district. Its five members are to be replaced Monday by DeSantis allies, including a prolific Republican donor who gave $50,000 to the governor’s reelection, a co-founder of the conservative Moms for Liberty group and the wife of the Florida Republican Party’s chairman. “Allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy, especially when the corporation makes decisions that impact an entire region,” DeSantis said in a written statement. “This legislation ends Disney’s self-governing status, makes Disney live under the same laws as everybody else, and ensures that Disney pays its debts and fair share of taxes.” Democratic state congresswoman Anna Eskamani, who represents the area around Walt Disney World, pointed to what she called the “absolutely wild” scenario of a capitalist like DeSantis celebrating the government takeover of a private board. “Disney still maintains the same tax breaks but their First Amendment rights have been suppressed,” she said in a statement. “And it sends a message to any private individual or company that if you don’t purport to (want) what the governor wants, then you’ll be punished.” Disney, which employs more than 75,000 people in Florida, has said it will not fight the reforms. View the full article

Published by Reuters By Sheila Dang (Reuters) – Billionaire Elon Musk on Sunday accused the media of being racist against whites and Asians after U.S. newspapers dropped a white comic strip author who made derogatory comments about Black Americans. The Los Angeles Times, the Washington Post and USA Today were among newspapers that canceled the cartoon “Dilbert” after its creator Scott Adams said Black Americans were a hate group and posted racist comments on his YouTube channel on Wednesday. In replies to tweets about the controversy, the Tesla and Twitter chief executive said the media had long been racist against non-white people but are now “racist against whites & Asians.” “Maybe they can try not being racist,” Musk tweeted. In response to an account that said white victims of police violence get a fraction of media coverage compared to Black victims, Musk said the coverage is “Very disproportionate to promote a false narrative.” Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Musk’s views on social issues have been increasingly under the microscope since he took over Twitter in October. He has sparred with civil rights groups over Twitter’s level of protection against hateful content and the reinstatement of some accounts that previously had been suspended. Some advertisers have left the platform over concerns about brand safety, and Twitter has rolled out some new controls for ad placement. Musk’s latest tweets come after the Dilbert creator suggested white Americans “get the hell away from Black people”. Adams, the cartoonist, was responding to a poll by the conservative Rasmussen Reports that said 26% of Black respondents said they disagreed with the statement “It’s OK to be white.” The move to drop the cartoon was “not a difficult decision”, the Plain Dealer newspaper in Ohio told its readers on Friday. (Reporting by Sheila Dang in Dallas; Editing by Peter Henderson and Lisa Shumaker) View the full article

Published by The Spun By Andrew Gould Brittney Griner and her wife, Cherelle Griner, were honored at Saturday’s NAACP Image Awards. The couple received a standing ovation when taking the stage during a surprise appearance. After the show, Cherelle posted a message of gratitude on Instagram. “Full circle! To be beside you will never get old!” she wrote. “Thank you @naacpimageawards for having us tonight! It was an honor to see black excellence! I’m in [awe] of what we’ve done and continue to do.” Brittney Griner spent more than nine months in Russian detention and was sentenced to nine years in prison on drug charge… Read More View the full article

Published by uInterview.com Lady Gaga promised a $500,000 award for the return of her French bulldogs Koji and Gustav after they were stolen in a February 24, 2021 robbery that left her dog walker critically wounded. Now, Jennifer McBride, a 50-year-old woman who was connected to and arrested for the dognapping but returned the dogs two days later, is suing Lady Gaga for three times that amount, claiming that Gaga’s failure to pay the reward has caused her mental anguish, pain, suffering and instability. According to court documents, McBride’s attorney said that the 13-time Grammy award-winning artist had breached a “no … Read More View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Cher’s costar Alan Cumming is supportive of the pop icon’s relationship with Alexander Edwards — regardless of the 40-year age difference. On Thursday, February 23, Cumming voiced his approval of the couple on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen. “I haven’t spoken to Cher for a while, actually, but I love her, and I’m all for her getting some action,” the actor said. Cher and Cumming starred in Burlesque together in 2010. mega The goddess of pop and the Def Jam music executive met at Paris Fashion Week in November, and the pair have been dating ever since. Cher was previously married to Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman, the musician also dated famous names like Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. Edwards was previously in a relationship with Amber Rose, and the couple share a son. In late December, the Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves singer sparked engagement rumors between her and the 37-year-old. The 76-year-old tweeted a photo Edwards holding a huge diamond ring with the caption, “THERE R NO WORDS, ALEXANDER, A.E.” mega ‘I Hope There’s No Jail Time’: Cher Claps Back After Haters Troll Her For Calling Boyfriend Alexander Edwards ‘Daddy’ In PDA Pics All Loved Up! Cher Looks Smitten Cuddling Up To Young Boyfriend Alexander ‘AE’ Edwards During Date Night Amber Rose Wants To ‘Be Single For The Rest Of Her Life’ After Ex’s Romance With Cher: ‘Pretty Disgusting Out There’ However, the actress quickly squashed the rumors when she reposted the snap with the message, “I posted this cause his nails are so cool.” Cher has received lots of hate due to the couples’ age difference, even addressing the controversy on Twitter. “I’m not defending us. Haters are gonna hate…doesn’t matter that we’re happy & not bothering anyone,” she said. But it’s not all hate, as one user commented, “He is so handsome Cher. Definitely can see why you love him” after Cher posted a photo of Edwards in just his underwear. mega The millionaire seems to be smitten with her new BF, as she shared, “I [love] HIM BECAUSE HE WASN’T AFRAID. HE’S KIND, HILARIOUS, SMART, TALENTED, BEAUTIFUL. WE TALK & LAUGH. WE R PERFECTLY MATCHED.” 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! Most recently, Cher has been very passionate on Twitter, throwing her hat into the political ring. On February 5, the author said, “We are Not the Great super power we once were. Havent kept up with evil empires of the world When it comes to arms race. UKRAINE WAS OUR WAY TO FIGHT TO FIGHT RUSSA BY PROXY. When Russia takes UKRAINE, There is nothing to stop them from invading NATO COUNTRIES, & if Those countries.” She added, “While it takes GOP forever to pick a speaker Or agree on raising nat. debt ceiling, Both Fiddle While Rome. I’m Dyslexic So MANY Things May Be Wrong in execution, But I’m not wrong on content Ps I don’t give a f**k who believes this, Or likes it.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Harry Styles, Spice Girls and Sir Elton John have all turned down an approach to perform at King Charles’ coronation concert. A huge musical extravaganza is set to take place at Windsor Castle on 7 May, the day after the monarch formally takes the throne, but the former One Direction hunk is “tied up” with other commitments and the king’s top choice Elton will be in Europe as part of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour. A source told The Sun on Sunday newspaper’s Bizarre column: “Organisers are working against the clock to pull together an exciting line-up but have hit a series of challenges. “Elton John was top of Charles’ list but due to his European tour, which sees him performing in Germany the Friday before then again soon after the Windsor concert, he isn’t able to make the dash to the UK work. “Meanwhile, man-of-the-moment Harry Styles is also tied up with touring and unable to get key band members together as they’ll be on much-needed downtime.” A proposed full Spice Girls reunion is off as they are unable to commit to the show because the five individual members, Mel B, Melanie C, Victoria Beckham, Geri Horner and Emma Bunton, are too busy with their individual pursuits to fit in rehearsals. Take That are due to headline the concert, though a proposed reunion with Robbie Williams won’t be happening, while Kylie and Dannii Minogue, Lionel Richie, and Andrew Lloyd Webber are also going to be involved. In addition, ‘Troublemaker’ singer Olly Murs is also in talks to perform. The source added: “Olly has such stage presence and a huge fanbase, he’d be a great addition.” News of Harry, Elton and the Spice Girls’ absence comes a week after it was revealed both Adele and Ed Sheeran have also turned down the royal gig due to other commitments. View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Madonna “always supported” her estranged brother Anthony Ciccone before his death. The older sibling of the 64-year-old pop icon passed away at the age of 66 on Friday (25.02.23) and despite claims that he had lost touch with her over the last decade and had been left homeless, an insider has now explained that she “supported” him in whatever way she could. The source told PEOPLE: “They were all there for him and despite being estranged, Madonna supported him in every way she could when he was willing to take the support. Family members including Madonna visited him while in his rehab facility as he declined these past few months.” The ‘Like A Virgin’ hitmaker – who is thought to have a net worth of $850 million – is yet to speak out on the passing of her brother but his death was confirmed on Sunday (26.02.23) by his brother-in-law Joe Henry, who is married to Madonna’s younger sister Melanie. Without revealing a cause of death, he wrote on Instagram: “My brother-in-law, Anthony Gerard Ciccone, exited this earthly plane last evening. I’ve known him since I was 15, in the spring of our lives in Michigan so many years now gone. “As brother Dave Henry (who took this photograph) notes here, Anthony was a complex character; and god knows: we tangled in moments, as true brothers can. But I loved him, and understood him better than I was sometimes willing to let on. But trouble fades; and family remains— with hands reached across the table. Farewell, then, brother Anthony. I want to think the god your blessed mother (and mine) believed in has her there, waiting to receive you. At least for today, no one shall dissuade me from this vision.” In 2011, Anthony claimed that he was a “nobody” to his family as he implied that he had received no financial help from his multi-millionairess sister. He said: “He said: “I’m a zero in their eyes; a non-person, an embarrassment. If I froze to death, my family probably wouldn’t know or care about it for six months. My family turned their back on me, basically, when I was having a hard time. You think I haven’t answered this question a bazillion times – why my sister is a multi-bazillionaire and I’m homeless on the street? Never say never. This could happen to anybody.” View the full article

Published by OK Magazine mega Donald Trump Jr. is getting flak for bringing Kyle Rittenhouse, who was found not guilty of homicide after he killed two unarmed people in Wisconsin in 2020, on his podcast. “Going live in 10 minutes guys the link is in my bio check it out then or bookmark it to go back at a later time. I take it behind the scenes of our incredible trip to Ohio yesterday to see the great people of East Palestine with my father and then I got one on one with @thisiskylerittenhouse talking everything he’s gone through in the last few years. Check it out and let me know your thoughts or save it to watch later. Let me know your thoughts,” the 45-year-old captioned a photo of himself with the 20-year-old, who argued self-defense during his trial, on February 23. @donaldtrumpjr/instagram Of course, people were angry that Trump Jr. would even give Rittenhouse the time of day. mega Kimberly Guilfoyle Praises Donald Trump’s Visit To Ohio While Slamming President Joe Biden’s Lack Of Leadership Donald Trump Jr. Ripped Apart For Going On Homophobic Rant About ‘Gay Guy’ Pete Buttigieg: ‘Horrible Human’ Donald Trump Jr. Shows What ‘Real Leadership Looks Like’ As Daddy Don Visits Site Of Ohio Train Derailment: Photos “How is this guy now a legend or hero for killing 2 people?” one person asked, while another said, “Love you Don but I don’t know what you obsession with this kid is.” A third simply stated, “Blood on both your hands,” while a fourth said, “2 D-Bags in one photo! Amazing!!” Another said, “A coked out a**clown and a cold blooded murderer walk into a room,” referring to Trump Jr. potentially using drugs. “He killed 2 unarmed people but you all think he’s a hero? You’re sicker in the head than your dad Donald Trump Junior,” another stated, while someone added, “Both of you should be behind bars period.” During the interview, Rittenhouse said his case was “scary” since he was “up against these George Soros-funded prosecutors,” referring to the billionaire businessman who has spread antisemitic conspiracy theories. mega 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! “Was that what was going on?” Trump Jr. asked. “Were these guys getting some sort of backhanded donations?” “I guarantee it,” Rittenhouse replied, but he later backtracked, saying, “I don’t know for sure, I don’t know for 100 percent fact. But I guaran— I’m sure of it.” View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Dwyane Wade’s daughter Zaya has been granted a name change and legal transition in court. The 15 year old – who is the daughter of basketball star Wade and his ex Siohvaughn Funches-Wade – changed her name to Zaya in 2020 after coming out as transgender and she is now legally known as Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade. According to PEOPLE, which obtained a filed in Los Angeles’ Superior Court, the judge also granted approval for her legal transition. Dwyane, 41, and his wife, Gabrielle Union, 50, have been extremely supportive of Zaya’s transition, but her mother, has not. Dwyane and Siohvaughn began dating in high school and had two children together before separating in 2007. In 2011, he was awarded sole “care, custody and control” of their kids and, in August 2022, he filed documents for Zaya to legally change her name and gender. However, in November, Siohvaughn submitted court documents objecting to the change, alleging Wade is “positioned to profit” from the name and gender change and added she had concerns that he “may be pressuring” Zaya for financial gain. Dwyane responded on Instagram, saying: “I’ve received a social media post about me forcing our 15 year old child to be someone she’s not and to do something against her will. These are serious and harmful allegations that have hurt our children. “While none of us are surprised by Siohvaughn’s attempt to fight Zaya’s identity and her unwavering attempt to drag my name through the mud, I’m very disappointed that she continuously finds ways of centering herself and HER needs, without regard to her children.” View the full article

Published by DPA Actress Fan Bingbing arrives for the presentation of the 37th Teddy Award at the Volksbuehne during the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which runs from February 16 to 26. Annette Riedl/dpa The Teddy Awards for queer cinema were presented on the sidelines of the Berlin International Film Festival, the Berlinale, on Friday evening. In addition, the winners of the categories Perspektive Deutsches Kino, an award for German cinema, and Generation 14plus were announced. At the Teddy Awards, the international jury screens films with a queer context from all sections of the film festival. Three films are then nominated in each category. The Teddy for Best Feature Film went to the Nigerian production “All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White” by Babatunde Apalowo. It is about the rapprochement of two men in a society that makes same-sex sexual relationships taboo. “Orlando, ma biographie politique” (Orlando, My Political Biography) by Paul Preciado won the award for best documentary film. The director’s work is based on Virginia Woolf’s novel “Orlando” about a young man who ends up being a 36-year-old woman. The film tells the story of many different people around the world, aged between 8 and 70, who have undergone such a transformation. Best Short Film was awarded to “Marungka Tjalatjunu” (Dipped in Black) by Matthew Thorne and Derik Lynch. The Jury’s Teddy Award went to “Silver Haze” by Sacha Polak. A Special Teddy went to the directors of the Molodist Film Festival in Kiev, Andriy Khalpakhchi and Bohdan Zhuk. There were also awards in the Berlinale section Perspektive Deutsches Kino (German Cinema Perspective). The Kompass Perspective Award for Best Film, endowed with €5,000 ($5,275), went to Steffi Niederzoll for “Seven Winters in Tehran”. It tells the story of a young woman who resists institutionalized male violence. The international jury prize of €7,500 in the Generation 14plus section for the best film went to Silvia Del Carmen Castaños and Estefanía Contreras from the US for “Hummingbirds.” Andriy Khalpakhchi, one of the directors of the Molodist Film Festival in Kiev, is delighted to receive the award in the “Special Teddy Award” category at the 37th Teddy Awards ceremony on the sidelines of the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which runs from February 16 to 26. Annette Riedl/dpa Film producer Mariette Rissenbeek, managing director of the Berlinale, speaks during the 37th Teddy Award at the Volksbuehne during the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale), which runs from February 16 to 26. Annette Riedl/dpa View the full article

Published by Radar Online mega The comic strip Dilbert is continuing to be dropped by various newspapers across the US. The recent cancelations come on the heels of comic creator Scott Adam‘s recent comments going viral on TikTok telling white people to “get the f— away” from black people. mega Adams made his seemingly pro-segregation comments on his online show Real Coffee with Adam Scott. “I would say, based on the current way things are going, the best advice I would give to white people is to get the hell away from Black people,” he told his 118,000 subscribers. “It doesn’t make any sense as a white citizen of America to try to help Black citizens anymore,” arguing that it is “no longer a rational impulse.” Newspaper publisher Gannett announced that they were no longer going to run the ongoing office-based comic after its creator’s recent comments, announcing their contract would end “effective immediately.” “At Gannett, we lead with inclusion and strive to maintain a respectful and equitable environment for the diverse communities we serve nationwide,” the statement read. mega Canadian School Board Demands ‘Professional’ Dress Code In Response To Teacher’s Controversial Plastic Surgery Johnny Depp’s Longtime Pal, Legendary Rock N’ Roll Guitarist Jeff Beck Dead At 78 Norfolk Southern Rail Execs Blow Off Town Hall Meeting, ‘Scared For Their Safety’ As Anger Rages Over Ohio Chemical Train Derailment Disaster Adams decided to dig his heels in and responded to the comic’s cancelation, admitting that “a lot of people are angry” with him, but he hasn’t “heard anyone disagree.” “I make two main points,” the cartoonist tweeted Saturday morning, February 25. “1. Treat everyone as an individual (no discrimination). 2. Avoid any group that doesn’t respect you.” TheDilbert comic was stripped from over 80 newspapers in recent years after previous incidents revolving around the character’s creator. Adams has been outspoken in his hatred of “wokeness” and has joked in the past about trying his best to get himself “canceled.” Last year, the comic introduced a new character, Dave, who is a black man who identified as white. Publications were flooded by complaints at the insensitive issue that targeted not only African Americans, but also the LGBT+ community. mega TheDilbert comic strip has been running since 1989 and was published in thousands of newspapers across the country. The popular comic also had a short-lived TV show that aired in 1999. Adam’s later claimed that the show was canceled because the main character was white. Family Guy, an American animated series Adam’s claims ripped off his character, aired around the same time and has gone on to air over 400 episodes in its 21 seasons. Never miss a story — sign up for the RadarOnline.com newsletter to get your daily dose of dope. Daily. Breaking. Celebrity news. All free. View the full article

Published by Raw Story The anti-drag queen movement continues to draw homophobic protesters at library story hours in which the queens dress up in full wigs and makeup to read children’s books to crowds of kids. Story hours aren’t mandatory, and families aren’t forced to bring their children to the events, but the anti-gay protesters want to block pro-equality families from the events. Protests led by militia groups have popped up across the U.S., but drag allies in Olney, Maryland, took a different tactic. As with other drag story hours, the Proud Boys militia was out in full force to stop the events at the Olney P… Read More View the full article

Published by BANG Showbiz English Will Young has felt “ashamed” of being single. The 44-year-old pop singer stars in a new production of ‘Song from Far Away’, a one-man play by Simon Stephens, and Will admits that he can relate to his character, who develops a crush on a waiter who showed him kindness once. Will – who came out as gay in 2002 – explained to the Guardian newspaper: “I can relate to a lot of that. “I’ve been mostly single throughout my life. I don’t feel it now, but there was a time when I was quite ashamed of it. Relatives pityingly asking … ‘Anyone?’ Because of past experiences – abuse at boarding school – I find relationships triggering. “I don’t feel damaged, but it was damaging. I don’t know if I can trust someone to do that with.” Will plans to take a prolonged break from the music business this year, and the ‘Anything Is Possible’ hitmaker is happy to distance himself from the industry. He said: “To be honest, I don’t love the industry. After all this time I still don’t know if it works for me.” Will actually finds acting to be less stressful than making music. The chart-topping star thinks musicians are under more pressure to create a “brand” for themselves. Will – who shot to fame on the TV show ‘Pop Idol’ in 2002 – explained: “What the audience thinks of me doesn’t matter. I’m not selling myself but someone else. “Music is different. There’s pressure to be a brand. I’m even locked out of my social media because I just get drunk and slag people off. As an actor, I don’t need that presence.” View the full article

Published by New York Daily News Puerto Rico made pageant history Thursday after selecting an openly transgender contestant to participate in the conservative territory’s Miss Universe competition. Daniela Arroyo, a public relations professional and prominent trans rights advocate, is one of the 39 women who will be able to represent their municipality in the Miss Puerto Rico Universe pageant. The winner of the title of Miss Puerto Rico Universe, a competition traditionally held in September, goes on to represent the island in the global Miss Universe pageant. “She wishes to live in a less polarized society, where differences… Read More View the full article

Published by Reuters By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Mass shootings in the United States accounted for most extremism-related fatalities last year in the country with over 80% of those murders committed by white supremacists, data released by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) showed on Thursday. The advocacy group labeled 25 murders in 2022 as “extremist-related,” with 18 of those “committed in whole or part for ideological motives.” Two mass shootings – one in May in Buffalo, New York, wherein an avowed white supremacist fatally shot 10 Black people, and another in November in Colorado Springs wherein five people were killed in an LGBTQ nightclub – accounted for most of the extremist-related murders of 2022, the ADL report showed. White supremacists commit the highest number of domestic extremist-related murders in most years, but in 2022 the percentage was unusually high: 21 of the 25 murders were linked to white supremacists, according to the ADL report. “All the extremist-related murders in 2022 were committed by right-wing extremists of various kinds,” the ADL report said. ADL’s Center on Extremism reported an overall decrease from 2021 when 33 extremist-related killings were documented. ADL had documented 22 extremist-related killings in 2020. Human rights groups have raised concerns over white supremacy in the United States in recent years. President Joe Biden has labeled white supremacy as poison and called on Americans to reject it. In December, he established an inter-agency group to coordinate efforts to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia and related forms of bias and discrimination. The issue of white supremacy came back into headlines late last year when former President Donald Trump hosted white supremacist Nick Fuentes at his private club in Florida. Trump said the encounter with Fuentes happened inadvertently while he was having dinner with Ye, the musician formerly known as Kanye West. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by David Gregorio) View the full article