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Orville Peck has grown from a Pony into a Bronco. For his first big release since 2020’s Show Pony EP, the masked country crooner is back with his new album, Bronco, one that is his most expansive, lush, and personal yet. From his 2019 debut, Pony, Bronco shows an evolution for Peck, one that was brought on by the cancellation of his 2020 tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and being forced to confront personal demons, ones he could avoid by constantly working and being out on the road.
As he geared up for the release of Bronco, Peck spoke with Logo about a variety of topics from what it was like canceling his tour as COVID took over the U.S., being friends with Shania Twain, scheming with Trixie Mattel, and why he almost quit making music altogether.
So you were touring in March 2020 as the world started to shut down. What was that like touring as all that was happening? And then what was it like having to cancel the tour?
It was a nightmare. We were about to play Oklahoma City, I believe. I remember I woke up on the bus and my tour manager was like, “We have to have a chat. They’ve canceled Luck Reunion,” which was Willie Nelson’s festival in Texas. And he was like, “It’s looking really bad, and everyone’s canceling tours.” At that time, I think we thought, oh, maybe it’s just big venues or stadium shows. Then we arrived in Oklahoma, and it was the craziest 12 hours. It went from, “Okay, we’re only doing like half the tour,” then a few hours later, it was, “Okay, we’re only doing one more week.” Then a few hours later, it was, “Actually, tonight is your last show.”
Wow.
We were at the venue about to soundcheck, and they said, “We’re not even doing tonight’s show. The world’s shutting down. The band has to fly to Canada, and you need to go back to Los Angeles because they’re shutting the borders and everything’s going into lockdown.” It was wild. It was absolutely wild. And then we rode an empty bus back to Los Angeles. My band had to fly all to Canada. I had to go back home. I remember we drove through small-town New Mexico, and we stopped to try and get groceries, and the stores were all empty. It was like The Road or something, like being in a post-apocalyptic film. Then the very last thing I did was I drove to Las Vegas to finish my song with Shania Twain because we had to do it. And it was the night that they turned the strip off in Vegas. The whole thing was just completely surreal.
Yeah, you said the last person you hung out with before everything shut down was Shania. What was that like, and do you still stay in touch with her?
Working with her was incredible. I was the biggest Shania fan, as many of us are, and I was just obsessed with her. And then getting to meet her and getting to know her and work with her, I built even more respect and love for her than I could ever imagine. She is just the most incredible artist and person. And yeah, we still keep in touch. She’s a dear friend of mine. I just went and saw her residency at Vegas. She was incredible and got to hang with her after.
So then, you arrive back in L.A. You’re supposed to be on the road, but instead, you’re sitting at home. Did you start working on new music right away?
Well, I realized that I’d been focusing all my energy into work and touring. I think in 2019, we toured like 200 days out of the year or something. And then I basically fell into an insane depression. I was in the darkest place I’ve ever been in my life. I realized that my personal life was in complete wreckage. I was super unhappy. I had really bad depression and anxiety. Not to get too dark, but I was ready to stop making music and had pretty much given up the will to do it at all. I started to really take the opportunity to reckon with that side of things because there was no work and there was no touring, and there was no music. I made some big positive changes in my personal life. I kind of started my personal life over again. And once I had done that, I decided I would make music again. I was kind of ready to stop making music at that point. Gordon Nicholas I had this epiphany where I was like, okay, I’ve started everything over again. How am I going to pull myself out of this hole and out of this dark patch? I was like, what are the things that make me happy in life? What are the things that feed my soul and inspire me? And the thing that had been a constant in my life was making music. That was the thing that fed my soul. But it had also become this huge stress of mine because it became work. So I went into the studio with this new perspective where I just said, okay, we’ll have a routine and go and write music for seven or eight hours a day with no expectations of what it’s supposed to be, no expectations of other people hearing it, no judgments on myself. And I used it as this sort of therapy where it became cathartic, and I would pour my soul into the lyrics. And it was almost like I was writing in my diary every day, but making these songs. And at the end of it, I think I had 20 or so demos recorded. I realized I had an album on my hands. I had gotten a lot off my chest and finally gotten to a place where I had this radical self-acceptance of just who I was, and with no insecurity or apologizing about it. That’s what this album is to me. It’s the first thing I’ve ever been truly proud of in my life, I think. It helped me get to a place where I feel like I’m the happiest and healthiest I’ve ever been.
You said that you had 20 demos, and this album is 15 tracks. How did you go about selecting which songs made the final album?
Yeah, that was the revised version. And even then they wanted me to do less, and I just said, “It’s not possible. These are the 15 that have to go on it.” I just couldn’t stop writing. I think once I got into the routine of it and I felt how important it was for me on a personal level, I just couldn’t stop writing the songs, they kept coming really easily. When you look back at the person that made Pony, do you recognize that person?
I think when I made Pony, I was kind of like jumping off a cliff a little bit — taking a chance, I suppose. And I was very nervous. I didn’t have any fan base. I didn’t have a record label when I made Pony. I didn’t even have a band. Like, I played almost all the instruments on Pony myself for a lot of it. And I think back then I was vulnerable in my own way. The person that I think I’m very different from now is the person who made Show Pony, where at that point I think I was really in the thick of it and sort of running on empty. I mean, I love Show Pony. I think that some of my favorite songs are on that EP, but I was definitely really unhappy around that time period. And so I would say that I see more of a difference in a way from Show Pony to Bronco as a person, because I think it led up to what became Bronco, that I needed to just liberate myself from a lot of negative shit in my life.
The production on Bronco sounds so lush and so full. One of my favorite songs on the record is “Hexie Mountains.” What was the inspiration behind that?
I’m glad you like that. That’s my favorite song on the album. And it’s actually the last song I wrote for the album. “Hexie Mountains” is about for pretty much my whole life, I’ve been a bit of an escapist. I think a lot of the reason I’ve moved and lived in so many places is that I’ve tended to run away from my problems and try and start over somewhere. And it’s funny, “Hexie Mountains” is sort of about no matter what’s going on in your life. For me, that was the success of what was happening in my career and so much going on. All these great things on paper and surrounded by people who love and support me for the most part. And on paper, I should’ve been the happiest I’ve ever been in my life, but I still had this whisper in the back of my head all the time of, run away, move away, go buy a ranch in Joshua Tree and just disappear from everyone. You’ll be happier there. You’ll sleep better there. You won’t have to deal with anyone there. You’ll be able to live with all of these negative thoughts that you carry around over here. It’s kind of like this tempting, familiar call that’s always in the back of my head, to just run away. So “Hexie Mountains” is about trying to fight this familiar pattern of running away, I suppose.
Do you still fight that urge to run away?
I still hear the Hexie Mountains calling every now and then, but I definitely have grown substantially from that. I own a house now for the first time in my life, I live in one city now for the first time in my life. I have a really happy relationship and great people around me. I feel very settled for really the first time ever. And I’m really happy with it. I’ve learned to find a really healthy balance between work and a personal life. I feel like I wake up every day and I’m not so hard on myself. I’m proud of myself. The music videos you’ve released for Bronco so far are definitely more high-budget, and you have celebrity cameos from Margaret Cho, Kornbread, and Norman Reedus. How did those come about?
They’re all my friends. I’ve never cast anybody in my videos, really. Margaret Cho, I met that night in Oklahoma City when my show got canceled. Margaret Cho came to my tour bus and she was doing a standup comedy show that night. And she was like, “I’m a big fan. I’d love for you to come to my show.” And we hung out and became good friends. Kornbread, I met through other drag queens I know in Los Angeles, we’ve hung out a lot. Norman reached out to me once on a DM and we spend a lot of time, him and I hanging out and with his wife, Diane as well, they’re friends of mine. The Hexie Mountain video, we have Riley Keough, who is a friend of mine and she actually sang backup vocals on my “Born This Way” cover.
Oh, cool.
I’m lucky because I have all these amazing cameos from really talented actors and performers, and they’re all pals of mine. So everybody was just very down to do it.
This might be a stupid question, but the “Daytona Sands” video, is that CGI? Or are you really on top of that tractor-trailer?
That is really me. It was crazy. I mean, I had two wires going through my pants legs that are holding me to the truck, but not enough so that it was safe, I would say, but it’s really me. It was super fun. The only thing that was really sketchy is we would turn off the main street and then I would have to lay flat on the truck to avoid all the power lines. But yeah, it was me and actually on one of the takes that we did it, it was so cool because I was surfing on the truck and this car came towards us, and these people were like, “Oh my God, Orville Peck!” And they were like yelling out the window, and I was waving. It was really fun. So it was like this insane thing that we had dreamed of doing and kind of never thought we were going to pull off. And then you go down to Florida and make a music video, and everyone’s like, “Yeah, we’ll do that.”
I loved your “Jackson” cover with Trixie Mattel, and I know you two are friends. Do you have any other plans to work together anytime soon?
No plans on the books, but yeah, Trixie’s a dear friend of mine, and we hang out all the time. I just filmed something with her, it’s coming out soon. I’ll say that. It’s for one of her projects that I’m really excited about, and we’re always scheming something together, her and I.
I also loved your k.d. Lang remix. I know that’s random.
No, thank you. I’m such a huge k.d. Lang fan. I feel like some people don’t even know about it. But yeah, we remixed “Miss Chatelaine,” and yeah, of course, she’s one of the pioneers of queer country, so I love k.d. Lang.
I wanted to ask about the upcoming tour. What I love about your shows is the diversity in the audience. It’s like going to a Cher or a Dolly Parton show. You have young queer kids, old country music fans — it really runs the gamut. Why do you think that is?
That’s always been a point that hasn’t gone unnoticed to us on stage is just the incredible diversity that’s at our shows. And it’s my favorite thing about tour is that yeah, exactly as you said, standing next to a young queer kid is an old country music fan, standing next to a black punk rocker, standing next to just people that you typically maybe wouldn’t see all in the same room at a concert together for whatever reason. And it’s lovely. I don’t know the answer why, I guess, but it seems like I bring in a very broad, diverse crowd. And it’s amazing because there’s nothing that makes me happier than seeing all those people in the same room, enjoying a similar energy and a similar experience together. I mean, that’s how music should be.
Bronco is out April 8, and tickets for Orville Peck’s upcoming tour are available now. I write about drag queens. Dolly Parton once ruffled my hair and said I was "just the cutest thing ever." @chrisreindeer | Music |
Spacey, who denies the charges, says he will "voluntarily appear" in court to defend himself. Kevin SpaceySipa USA via AP Kevin Spacey has been formally charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men and will make an appearance in court this Thursday, according to London’s Crown Prosecution Service.
Spacey was first hit with the charges, which also include one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent,” in late May.
“The CPS has authorized criminal charges against Kevin Spacey, 62, for four counts of sexual assault against three men,” Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS Special Crime Division, said at the time. “He has also been charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. The charges follow a review of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation.”
When he was first charged, Spacey issued a statement through a representative to ABC’s “Good Morning America,” maintaining his innocence but expressing a willingness to cooperate with the trial. “I very much appreciate the Crown Prosecution Service’s statement in which they carefully reminded the media and the public that I am entitled to a fair trial, and innocent until proven otherwise,” he said. “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence.”
Now, he will have to do just that, as his first court appearance will take place later this week. The news comes as Spacey, who has been a pariah in the American entertainment industry since being accused of sexual assault by over a dozen men in 2017, has begun acting in European films again. He stars in the new thriller “Peter Five Eight” from director Michael Zaiko Hall, and recently lined up his biggest role since his scandal in the upcoming historical drama “1242 – Gateway to the West.” Many had said that the accusations had not damaged his reputation in Europe nearly as much as in America, but it remains to be seen if the upcoming trial on European soil will change that.
Spacey is due at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on June 16 at 10:00 London time. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Celebrity |
Amber Heard has broken her silence following Johnny Depp's win in their high-profile libel trial, saying she does not blame the jury for not believing her and that she did not have "fair representation" thanks to social media.The actress spoke out in her first on-camera interview following the jury's verdict - which found in Depp's favour - saying she was portrayed as a "non-credible person" during the high profile six-week hearing in Fairfax, Virginia.
In a statement sent to Sky News, a spokesperson for Heard said she decided to do the interview after her ex-husband and his lawyers "blanketed" the media following the verdict and to "express her thoughts and feelings, much of which she was not allowed to do on the witness stand".The actress sat down with journalist Savannah Guthrie from NBC News, which released a preview clip from the "wide-ranging" interview on Monday ahead of the full piece being aired in two parts on Tuesday and Wednesday.Heard, 36, criticised the role social media played in the case and detailed what she described as "hate and vitriol" targeted at her online. "I don't care what one thinks about me or what judgements you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home and my marriage behind closed doors," she said. "I don't presume the average person should know those things, and so I don't take it personally.
"But even somebody who is sure I am deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I'm lying, you still couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there's been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair." More on Amber Heard Amber Heard responds to Johnny Depp's TikTok message: 'Women's rights are moving backward' Amber Heard's sister speaks out after Johnny Depp defamation trial: 'The cards were stacked against us' Amber Heard's lawyer says jury 'influenced' by social media frenzy and she 'can't afford' $10m damages Asked about her feelings about the jury's decision, that jurors "did not believe" her and "thought you were lying", Heard responded: "I don't blame them. I actually understand. He's a beloved character and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor." Image: Heard pictured in court as the verdict was read out When Guthrie put it to her that the jury's job is "to not be dazzled by that… to look at the facts and the evidence", Heard replied: "Again, how could they? After listening to three-and-a-half weeks of testimony about how I was a non-credible person. Not to believe a word that came out of my mouth." After six weeks of testimony, the court case came to an end on 1 June, with the jury finding that a 2018 article Heard wrote for the Washington Post, about her alleged experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse, was defamatory towards Depp.The actor was awarded $10.35m (£8.2m) in damages.Heard won on one count of her counter-suit, successfully arguing that one of Depp's attorneys defamed her by claiming her allegations were "an abuse hoax" aimed at capitalising on the #MeToo movement.The jury awarded her $2m (£1.5m) in damages. Image: Depp went on tour with Jeff Beck in the UK when the evidence in the trial had finished After appearing in court for all the evidence, Depp was not there for the verdict, instead touring the UK with musician Jeff Beck.His lawyers also appeared on the Today show and Good Morning America in the US following the verdict.As the preview clip to Heard's interview was released, a spokesperson for the actress said in a statement sent to Sky News: "Johnny Depp's legal team blanketed the media for days after the verdict with numerous statements and interviews on television, and Depp himself did the same on social media."Ms Heard simply intended to respond to what they aggressively did last week; she did so by expressing her thoughts and feelings, much of which she was not allowed to do on the witness stand."Elaine Bredehoft, one of Heard's lawyers, has said she plans to appeal the verdict. | Celebrity |
Post Malone I'm a Girl Dad!!! Gonna Be A Hubby, Too 6/13/2022 9:42 AM PT Post Malone is officially a father to a little baby girl ... and he's gonna become a husband too! The "Better Now" rapper shared the big life updates Monday, appearing on Howard Stern's radio show and subtly dropping the news into an answer about what time he woke up to go to the recording studio. The Howard Stern Show/SiriusXM TMZ broke the story ... Posty told us last month his girlfriend was pregnant and he was the happiest he's ever been in his life and it was time to take care of his body, family and friends. Post also clarified to Howard that his girlfriend is now his fiancé. PM has yet to reveal his partner's name publicly ... remember, we're told she's not someone who has spent any time at all in the spotlight, and the couple has been building their relationship, and family, in private. Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media. It's a big summer for Post ... in addition to the baby girl and engagement, he recently dropped a new album, "Twelve Carat Toothache," and just announced a new tour. | Celebrity |
Russell Wilson Cracks 'Ciara's Husband' Joke During Speech ... 'Level up, Level up' 6/13/2022 9:43 AM PT Dartmouth College Russell Wilson had a crowd of new grads and their families in stitches over the weekend ... after he thanked them and other officials for finally not introducing him as "Ciara's husband." Russ made the joke as he was delivering the commencement address for the 2022 Dartmouth College graduating class in New Hampshire on Sunday ... right after he was referred to as a Super Bowl champ and NFL star. "Thank you very much for that introduction," Russ said. "Usually I just get introduced as 'Ciara’s husband,' so that was cool." Russ took the quip even further ... adding, "And let me start by answering the question that is on so many of your minds: Yes, she’s here too." Russ' speech was captured on video ... and Ciara was spotted by cameras sitting in attendance and laughing big at the witty remarks. "Yeah," he said. "Level up, level up." Russ was tapped to give the speech 45 years after his father, Harry Wilson, graduated from the school ... and, following the opening funnies, Russ offered plenty of kind words about the university and what it did for his father and his family. The Denver Broncos QB also spoke to the graduates about the impact his father had on his life following his time at Dartmouth ... and challenged them to reflect on what they want their legacies to look like after leaving the school as well. "No matter what you do after you leave this campus," Russell said, "your life, your legacy, will be defined not by the accomplishments you list on your resumé or the goals you achieve, but by the impact you have." | Celebrity |
Director Rian Johnson revealed the name of Daniel Craig's next case, which is being distributed by Netflix and comes out this holiday season. Daniel Craig's Benoit Blanc will have a new mystery to solve in Knives Out sequel Glass Onion. Lionsgate Daniel Craig's master detective will return in an adventure entitled "Glass Onion" this holiday season, director Rian Johnson said in a tweet Monday, revealing the name of the sequel to 2019 murder mystery movie Knives Out. It's being distributed by Netflix, and it's unclear if it'll hit the streaming service at the same time as its theatrical release. Neither Johnson nor Netflix immediately responded to requests for comment about the plan for Glass Onion's release.This article will be updated shortly. Get the CNET Culture newsletter Add your email address Explore movies, games, superheroes and more with CNET Culture. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays. | Movies |
Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs at Anfield Stadium as part of their "Stones Sixty Europe 2022 Tour", in Liverpool, Britain, June 9, 2022. REUTERS/Carl Recine/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAMSTERDAM, June 13 (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones postponed a concert on Monday in Amsterdam after lead singer Mick Jagger tested positive for COVID-19, the band said in a statement."The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight’s postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority," they said.Jagger, 78, had experienced symptoms after arriving at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA, the band said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comRepresentatives for Mojo Concerts, which had organized the band's appearance in the Netherlands, came onstage to inform the audience at ArenA, a football stadium, an hour and a half before the concert was due to begin."He can't sing, he can't play," an unnamed announcer told fans. "There is no show tonight ... it is what it is."Amsterdam was to be the fourth stop in the "Stones Sixty" European tour, following an appearance in Liverpool on Thursday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Frank Jack DanielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Music |
Roddy Ricch Released from Custody ... After NY Gun Bust 6/11/2022 9:10 PM PT UPDATE 9:39 AM PT -- 6/13 -- A rep for The Queens District Attorney's Office tells TMZ Roddy was not charged for the incident, and there are no pending charges against him. UPDATE A law enforcement source tells us a witness claimed another person in the vehicle had the gun in their possession. UPDATE 12:40 PM PT -- 6/12 -- Roddy was released from custody Sunday afternoon, and it looks like he was given back a lot of what he was wearing during the bust ... including his chain(s). UPDATE Unclear what sort of bond he might've had to pay to get sprung, but he's out. We imagine he'll appear before a judge to be arraigned on the weapons charges Monday. UPDATE UPDATE FWIW, he seems to be in okay-ish spirits all things considered. Time will tell if he's going to be formally charged for this as the case progresses. UPDATE 6:54 AM PT -- 6/12 -- Roddy remains in custody Sunday morning, and that won't change until he can appear in court for arraignment on the charges. Roddy Ricch won't be on stage for his Governor's Ball performance in NYC today -- instead, he's in NYPD custody for multiple gun charges ... TMZ Hip Hop has learned. Roddy and his crew were stopped at a security checkpoint for the huge festival going down in Queens this weekend, and according to law enforcement sources ... officers say they found a loaded firearm inside the vehicle he was taking to the show. Cops say there about 9 rounds of ammo as well as a large capacity magazine. We're told the "Cooped Up" rapper was arrested, along with 2 other people riding in the vehicle. Roddy's been hit with 4 counts of criminal possession of a weapon, possession of a large capacity ammo feeding device and unlawful possession of that device. The festival had to break the news to sad fans ahead of his performance. Unfortunately Roddy Ricch is no longer performing today.— The Governors Ball (@GovBallNYC) June 11, 2022 @GovBallNYC It's been a rough go of it for the Governor's Ball this weekend. After Migos pulled out early this week, Lil Wayne signed on to fill their headlining spot -- but just hours before his Friday night set, he also canceled due to a "flight disruption." A$AP Ferg took Wayne's slot. No word yet on who, if anyone, will be able to replace Roddy. Originally Published -- 6/11/22 9:10 PM PT | Music |
By Mark SavageBBC Music CorrespondentImage caption, Lizzo's fans are disappointed by the lyrics, given her history of standing up for marginalised communitiesFans are asking US singer Lizzo to delete and re-record her new single, Grrrls, to remove an ableist slur from the lyrics.The song was released on Friday 10 June, and almost immediately received criticism from disability advocates.Lizzo prominently uses a derogatory term for cerebral palsy, also known as spastic diplegia, in the first verse."It's absolutely shocking, It really made me flinch," says talent agent Abbie Hills, who has cerebral palsy. "Why you would choose that word when there's so many other options? It's just completely wrong."On social media, other fans have said there is "no excuse" for using the "derogatory and harmful" slur.@lizzo pls change ur new song to take out the ablesist slur. It is not too late to humbly listen and remove a word that is derogatory and harmful and painful. there is no feminism that excludes disabled folks so pls— mich ✨ (@mismatchedmich) June 11, 2022
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on TwitterI’m disappointed in @lizzo for using the word “sp@z” in her new song “Grrrls”. There’s no excuse for using an ableist insult in a song in 2022. As someone who champions women, plus size people and others whom society treats poorly, Lizzo preaches inclusivity and should do better.— Callum Stephen (He/Him) (@AutisticCallum_) June 11, 2022
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitterit doesn’t matter if lizzo knew the ableist connotations of the word sp*z, it is still problematic. so many people will sing this song and integrate the word into their day to day language.— Ru 🌸 cripfluencer ✨ (@chr0nicallycute) June 11, 2022
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on TwitterBut although people are upset by the lyric, there's an unusual element of compassion in the online discourse. "I don't want to cause any harm and I don't want to cancel her, as is the common reaction on the internet," says Hannah Diviney, a writer and disability advocate in Sydney, Australia. "I just want her to learn gently.""I've seen a few comments about cancelling Lizzo and that's not what we want," added model Shelby Lynch, who has spinal muscular atrophy, on Twitter. "We want to educate her and have the word challenged."I've seen a few comments across the internet talking about "Cancelling Lizzo" and that's not what we want - we want to educate her and have the word changed— Shelby 🖤 (@Shelbykinsxo) June 12, 2022
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on TwitterThe BBC has asked Lizzo's record label for a response, but has yet to receive a reply.Some fans have pointed out that the insult used in Grrrls has a different connotation in the US - where it is often used to mean "freaking out" or "going crazy" (although those terms can themselves be insensitive to people with mental health conditions).But Hills stresses that, regardless of its usage, the slur still originated as a term of abuse for people with cerebral palsy - a brain condition that affects movement and co-ordination."Cerebral palsy isn't just a UK disability," she says. "There are so many people with it, particularly in America. Even famous actors like RJ Mitte from Breaking Bad, who is a huge sensation over there and does so much work for disability rights."I bet, for him and people within our community, this is just such an insult from someone who is meant to be a diverse voice."Image source, ReutersImage caption, The singer, rapper and flautist has won three Grammy AwardsThis feeling of disappointment is a common theme amongst Lizzo's critics. The Grammy-winning singer is a passionate advocate for the plus-size, queer and black communities. Her biggest songs, including Good As Hell and About Damn Time, typically celebrate body positivity and good mental health. By using an outdated insult, targeted at another marginalised group, many feel she has let herself down."I don't understand how you can be selective with diversity, says Hills. "This happens so often. Why does disability get left off the 'checklist'.""And how could [this term] slip through the net of the writers, her studio team, the producers, Lizzo's entourage. the label? It just doesn't make sense."Adds Diviney: "For her to unintentionally use that word, or still be in a place where that word is considered OK is really upsetting, because she's a pioneer of inclusion and acceptance in the music industry. "So if we can get her to stop doing that, that would be great."Diviney, who also has cerebral palsy, messaged Lizzo on Twitter over the weekend to explain why the term is so offensive."Cerebral palsy is literally classified as spastic diplegic cerebral palsy, which basically means that like I have spasticity, or tightness, in my legs specifically," she says, "It's something I can't control and it makes my life quite difficult and painful. Seeing that word used to suggest someone has lost control or had an emotional outburst is really weird because that's not at all what it's like; and that's not at all what my life as the disabled person is."'Remove the s-word'Although Lizzo has yet to acknowledge the criticisms, Diviney is hopeful she will respond with sensitivity."I feel like it would be pretty easy to go in and rework the song," she says. "Maybe throw in a different phrase, or communicate the context of what she's trying to say, in a less offensive way."This is what many people would like to hear. Fans across social media are clamouring for Lizzo to re-upload Grrrls to streaming sites like Spotify and YouTube with new lyrics."Please remove the s-word from your song," posted actress Abigail Lea on Tik Tok. "Re-record it and apologise," added Sinead Reid on Twitter. "It's the only option here." It's certainly possible. Lady Gaga erased and replaced R Kelly from her duet Do What U Want since his sex trafficking crimes came to light; while Michael Jackson re-recorded his single They Don't Care About Us to remove an anti-Jewish slur word. But Hills says Lizzo might not be able to undo the damage her song has already caused."I've seen it all over Tik Tok. I've seen kids dancing to it, which for me is the biggest problem because she's got this status with teenagers who don't know the word, and don't know the associations it has."So when they hear it on Tik Tok, they're going to dance around, screaming at the top of their lungs and that is a problem because they are the next generation."Follow us on Facebook, or on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts. If you have a story suggestion email entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk. | Music |
Edit StoryJun 13, 2022,12:46pm EDT|Topline
Actor Kevin Spacey was formally charged Monday in the U.K. with four counts of sexual assault against three men, and one count of “causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent,”all of which he denies, weeks after the charges were authorized against him. Actor Kevin Spacey (L) attends his arraignment on sexual assault charges with his lawyer Alan ... [+] Jackson at Nantucket District Court on January 7, 2019 in Nantucket, Massachusetts. Getty Images Key Facts The Metropolitan Police said Spacey is due to appear in court on Thursday. Key Background Charges were authorized last month against Spacey, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by over two dozen people. The counts relate to interactions Spacey allegedly had with three different men between 2005 and 2013 in London and Gloucestershire. Spacey was the artistic director of the Old Vic theater in London between 2004 and 2015. In response to the charges being authorized, Spacey said he would “voluntarily” appear in the U.K and he was “disappointed” with the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to move forward with the charges, which the agency did after an investigation from the Metropolitan Police. Spacey said he was “confident” he could prove his innocence. Spacey previously faced an assault and battery charge in the U.S., which was later dropped. He also faces a civil suit from actor Anthony Rapp, who was the first accuser to come forward against Spacey in 2017. Future Reading Kevin Spacey Will Appear In U.K., Claims Innocence Of Sexual Assault Claims (Forbes) Kevin Spacey To Be Charged In U.K. With Sexual Assault Against Three Men (Forbes)
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NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Priscilla Presley was joined by her daughter Lisa Marie Presley in a rare appearance at the U.S. premiere of "Elvis."Priscilla and Lisa Marie were part of a rare three generation appearance at Graceland in Memphis, as they were joined by the "Lights Out" singer's daughters; Riley Keough along with Finley Aaron Love and Harper Vivienne Anne Lockwood.The group posed for photos with the star of "Elvis," Austin Butler. Riley Keough, Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood, Priscilla Presley, Austin Butler, Lisa Marie Presley and Finley Aaron Love Lockwood at the "Elvis" premiere in Memphis. (Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock)"We’re so thrilled to be in Memphis with @elvismovie and with all of the wonderful performers, @austinbutler @olivia_dejonge @kelvharrjr and Tom Hanks have all done outstanding work," Keough captioned a photo from the event on Instagram. Priscilla Presley, Riley Keough and Lisa Marie Presley speak at the "Elvis" premiere. (Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock)TOM HANKS REVEALS ‘ELVIS’ AT 2022 CANNES FILM FESTIVAL"Thank you to @bazluhrmann for bringing the film to Graceland. It’s been such a special weekend, I couldn’t think of a better place to Premiere ELVIS in America.""Elvis" is directed by Baz Luhrmann and features A-list actors such as Butler, Tom Hanks, Olivia DeJonge and more. Butler reportedly beat out Harry Styles, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort and others for the coveted role.Priscilla previously raved about the film after watching a screener."The story is about Elvis and Colonel Parker’s relationship," Priscilla wrote at the time. "It is a true story told brilliantly and creatively that only Baz, in his unique artistic way, could have delivered. Austin Butler, who played Elvis, is outstanding.""Halfway through the film Jerry and I looked at each other and said WOW!!!" she continued. "Bravo to him…he knew he had big shoes to fill. He was extremely nervous playing this part. I can only imagine."Lisa Marie also shared a review of the film on Instagram after watching the flick twice.CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER"I do want to take a moment to let you know that I have seen Baz Luhrmann's movie ‘Elvis’ twice now, and let me tell you that it is nothing short of spectacular," she wrote on Instagram. "Absolutely exquisite. Austin Butler channeled and embodied my father’s heart and soul beautifully.""In my humble opinion, his performance is unprecedented and FINALLY done accurately and respectfully."Hanks and Butler sat down for an interview after the U.S. premiere of "Elvis.""They have had the man in their life represented in so many different ways from, you know, with the familiarity of a Hershey's bar or Coca-Cola bottle to ways that I think really didn't do the man service or his artistry," Hanks said during an appearance on "Good Morning America."The actor went on to reveal that Luhrmann had initially reached out to the Presley family five years ago before setting out to create "Elvis.""They responded to Baz' artistry," Hanks explained. "They responded to the incarnation of Elvis by way of this living legend sitting right next to me." Austin Butler and Priscilla Presley attend the screening of "Elvis" during the 75th annual Cannes film festival. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPButler spoke about the importance of using his own voice to sing Elvis' music in the biopic."The whole thing was about stripping away the icon of Elvis and getting down to the humanity of him," Butler said. "That was what was fascinating to me. But music was the way he expressed himself and so what way to connect to his soul more than trying to do that as authentically as possible.""Elvis" received a 12-minute ovation when it premiered at Cannes. The film festival was attended by Priscilla.The film will premiere in theaters on June 24 and will be available to stream on Hulu. Lauryn Overhultz is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. | Movies |
Here are three of the top shows happening this week in the Bay Area:
Chris Stapleton and company
The headliner for Chris Stapleton’s All American Roadshow is, of course, Chris Stapleton. And, most certainly, he’s the main reason fans will turn out to see the show at 7 p.m. June 18 at Shoreline Amphitheatre at Mountain View. Yet, an even bigger draw for us is the chance to see the support acts — terrific country vocalist Margo Price and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mike Campbell & the Dirty Knobs. Tickets are $250 and up, livenation.com.
The Legendary Wailers The Legendary Wailers, Third World and the Skatalites — three iconic Jamaican reggae/ska acts — kick off the Music in the Park 2022 concert series at 5 p.m. June 17 at Plaza de Cesar Chavez in San Jose. Tickets are $25-$75, mitpsj.com.
Live at Lagunitas
The Live at Lagunitas concert series, which benefits the Best Friends Animal Society, kicks off June 21 with Dan Deacon. Other upcoming shows include Valerie June (July 11), Les Claypool’s Bastard Jazz (Aug. 2) and Big Freedia (Aug. 15) at the LaguMiniAmphitheaterette at Lagunitas Brewery in Petaluma. Tickets are $10, lagunitas.com.
Brit Floyd
While waiting for Pink Floyd founding members Roger Waters and Nick Mason to launch their own individual tours later this year, fans can check out this acclaimed Floyd tribute act at 7:30 p.m. June 21 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga. Tickets are $39 and up, mountainwinery.com. | Music |
Mary J. Blige knows how to get a party started, and how to end one with a bang. The singer, songwriter, and actor—and 2022 TIME100 honoree—closed out the TIME100 Gala on Wednesday night in New York City by bringing her fellow honorees and gala guests to their feet with an energetic performance of her classic hits over the ages. For Blige, a Grammy-winning, Oscar-nominated, multi-talented icon who has been a fixture of show business since her start in New York hip-hop in the 1990s, being on the TIME100 list—as a cover star—was no small honor. “I never dreamed in a million years I’d be on the cover of TIME Magazine,” she told TIME. Blige had a breakout moment at February’s Super Bowl LVI, where she joined fellow hip-hop icons Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent for their throwback performance, but her musical hits span decades, and her acting has earned accolades. As for the legacy she is creating? “Mary J Blige is a person that has given so much of her life and her time to the world and has struggled,” she said. “I just hope that my legacy is that I’ve given and that I’ve loved and that I’ve worked hard. All those things. And that I’ve inspired generation after generation.” Blige performed “Good Morning Gorgeous” off of her latest album of the same name, riffing to appreciative applause. She then asked the audience to stand for her all-time hit “Family Affair,” a request the crowd was happy to oblige. “We’re all family here,” she said before she launched into the song. Guests like director Taika Waititi, activist Tarana Burke, and actor Andrew Garfield could be clearly seen enjoying the performance. She finished with “Just Fine” from 2007 album Growing Pains, prefacing it with a line delivered with conviction: “Everything—and I mean everything—is gonna be just fine!” she said. Returning after two years on pause, the TIME100 Gala is TIME’s annual celebration of the TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people, released this year on May 23. The Gala brings together icons, leaders, change-makers, and celebrities from across industries and nations for one lively evening of meaningful dialogue and celebration. This year’s Gala features live performances from Blige and Miranda Lambert, two honorees on the 2022 TIME100 list. Further attendees from this year’s list include actors Andrew Garfield, Ariana DeBose, and Amanda Seyfried, musicians Jazmine Sullivan, Jon Batiste, and Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, athlete Eileen Gu, director Taika Waititi, and legal activist Chase Strangio, TIME is teaming up with ABC to bring viewers inside the exclusive TIME100 Gala for the first time with a special television event. TIME100: The World’s Most Influential People airs Sunday, June 12 at 8 p.m. EDT on ABC, featuring host Simu Liu, director Quinta Brunson, Ukrainian journalist Sevgil Musaieva, and more. Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com. | Music |
Tributes have been pouring in for Welsh "rugby legend in every sense" Phil Bennett, who has died after a long illness at the age of 73.His death was announced by his former club Scarlets, saying he was surrounded by his family.
Often known as "Benny", he played 413 times for Llanelli RFC from making his debut as an 18-year-old to his final appearance in 1981. He also captained the side for six years.He also played 29 times for his country between 1969 and 1978, and was part of the teams that won two Five Nations Grand Slams (beating every other team in the tournament) and three Triple Crowns (beating all the home nations).A statement from the Welsh Rugby Union called Bennett a "Welsh Rugby legend in every sense and a true gentleman", adding it was "such sad news" to hear of his death. Image: Bennett taking a place kick in 1978 Scarlets added he was a "player with stardust in his boots, he possessed a sidestep that would mesmerise defenders - his jinking run to spark 'the greatest try ever scored' for the Barbarians against New Zealand in Cardiff in 1973 will live long in rugby folklore".
"Our deepest condolences to Phil's wife Pat, their family and his many, many friends. Rest in peace Benny," the club added. More on Wales 'Hero' father dies after rescuing children caught in riptide at Welsh beach Jack Lis: Man and woman jailed after 10-year-old boy mauled to death by XL bully dog near Caerphilly Wales beat Ukraine in playoff to qualify for first World Cup finals since 1958 As well as being widely seen as one of the best players to ever slip on the red shirt for Wales, he also played fly-half for the British & Irish Lions during their unbeaten tour of South Africa in 1974.The Lions won 21 of their 22 matches, including a 3-0 Test series victory over the hosts (one game was drawn), and later became known as The Invincibles - with Bennett scoring 103 points during the tour.He wore the captain's armband three years later for the tour to New Zealand, scoring 125 points, with the squad losing the Test series 3-1 to the hosts.He also turned out 20 times for the Barbarians, who called Bennett "a true rugby legend & an iconic figure in our history", while former Wales and Lions teammate Delme Thomas called him the "best fly-half I have ever seen on a rugby field". 'A wonderful man, humble & funny'Sir Bill Beaumont, English rugby talisman and chairman of World Rugby, also paid tribute, saying: "Desperately sad to hear of Phil Bennett's passing. One of the greats of Welsh & Lions rugby."Many a wonderful memory of touring with him in 77. Lovely person. Condolences to his family and friends at this sad time."Former Ireland star Brian O'Driscoll added his tributes, writing on Twitter that Bennett was "a wonderful man, humble & funny who could play a bit", while England former player and now commentator Brian Moore called Bennett "a true legend of rugby and a humble and generous man". Image: Bennett in 1977 Current Wales international Richard Hibbard added on Twitter: "Lost a true Welsh great, rest in peace Phil. Team in the sky got one hell of a player."Simon Muderack, the executive chairman of Scarlets (the club which Llanelli feeds into), wrote: "Wherever the Scarlets travel around the world, people mention the name Phil Bennett."He was an icon of our sport, a rugby superstar, but someone who always remembered his roots. There was no finer ambassador of Scarlets Rugby than Phil, a player respected across the rugby world, both during his career and long after he finished playing."He loved the club and epitomised the values we hold true - humility and pride in our community." | Other Sports |
Tauren Wells, who releases, his new album, 'Joy In The Morning,' tomorrow, June 10. StevenTaylor.com Ten time Grammy nominee Tauren Wells will release his new album, Joy In The Morning, tomorrow (June 10). Like all of the Houston-based artist's music at this point in his genre-busting career, Joy In The Morning is a musical amalgamation, successfully blending R&B, ballads and feel good pop vibes with an uplifting message. I was promised Wells would be equally uplifting as an interview and he did not disappoint. His attitude and outlook were as positive as his music. Despite his popularity he maintains his humility and fandom, approaching music as a fan first. I spoke with him at length about subjects ranging from fatherhood and Michael Jackson to touring with Lionel Richie and delivering a message of unity in his music and using his music to give back. Steve Baltin: Where are you today? Tauren Wells: I'm in Houston, Texas, at home. The boys are in the pool, summer break here, so we're chilling. Baltin: How old are the boys?
Wells: Nine, six, four and one. Baltin: You only need one more for your own basketball team.
Wells: I know the other one is not coming. Baltin: You can be player coach.
Wells: That works well for me. I just got to stay in shape, that's the challenge. Baltin: I feel like with four kids that age that's actually not that much of a challenge, because you probably do nothing but run all day long.
Wells: They occupy each other's time so that helps a lot now.
Baltin: This is an important question because I just interviewed Lyle Lovett who's a fellow Texan, because he has four-year old twins and this comes up in interviews all the time. What do the kids think of the music?
Wells: Oh, they love it. I'm their favorite artist. I'm holding on to that reality very closely. Every night, they want Alexa to play daddy's songs, which now they understand Alexa doesn't know who their dad is. But we're in a really sweet season of life, where they actually enjoy my music and what I do and the dancing. They want to see all the things I just do. They're pumped that I'm in a magazine, and it's all filled with wonder for them. It helps me to continue to look at it through eyes of wonder as well, so I don't know if that will ever diminish. I hope it doesn't, but my gut says it will. But I hope that what they are getting from my music they carry with them for the rest of their lives.
Baltin: It will change, but it's good because it keeps you humble.
Wells: Yeah for sure they are definitely honest critics, so I can always count on their honest opinion about things. But they are definitely a part of my fan club as well.
Baltin: That's such a good litmus test too. So what are their favorite songs off the new album?
Wells: They love "Come Home," they listen to that on repeat. They love "Fake It," they dance to it all the time. Because the whole thing is not out on Apple Music, I only have one link right here on my phone and it's the whole album all together. So even if they asked to hear one song at a time I just play them the whole album. So it's yet to be seen what songs they really gravitate toward in their free time.
Baltin: What songs from the album are you excited to do live?
Wells: We've done a few already. We've done "Come Home," which has an amazing lyric to it. But the vibe of it is just undeniable great energy so I've loved performing that one. We just opened an award show with "Fake It and I brought in the dancers in the whole thing and it was fire. I love performing them and I love seeing the audience really engage with something new. It's great to have some of the "hits" in your back pocket, the songs people are waiting to hear and it's great that those are proven but there's something really exciting, like a lot of these songs are still veiled and mystery because I don't know what's going to happen. I don't know what exactly on the album is going to connect with everyone. It's such a cool time because we're nine days away from the album coming out, so I can't wait to kind of watch and see what numbers move and what the responses from people on social media.
Baltin: How do you celebrate album release day?
Wells: I am going to go to Target and I'm going to get my album off of the shelf. Something like 750 Target stores are carrying it. I don't often go and get the CD. I did go get John Mayer's last album from the store and there will be artists periodically that I'll pick up a physical copy of. I can only hope that I am that type of artist for my fans. And we're also doing a cool thing with vinyl albums for this so I'm excited to get those. I'm going to Target to pick it up, I'm going to locate a few billboards that we've got up. I love the physical tangible part, I have to put my hands on something to make it real.
Baltin: Do you remember the first CD or album that you had that experience of touching?
Wells: This wasn't like the first one, but I definitively remember going to FYI and picking up the Michael Jackson History double disc album. Of course I had Dangerous and Bad and all of those other CDs, but getting the double disc History CD I remember going in the record store and picking that up. Baltin: When you think about being that kid who went into FYI to buy Michael Jackson's History and now kids are going into buy your records how crazy is that for you?
Wells: It's wild to me and also I just love the idea that you never know what can happen with your life. Going into those stores and getting those albums I never thought in a million years that I would be doing the same thing, that I would be signed to a record deal and it would be distributed all over the world. And so to people listening or reading, never underestimate what can become of your life. And some of the moments that we feel like we're just living through are actually moments where there are seeds of greatness that are being planted. And one day you get to look back and see how it was all connected and it's a really beautiful picture. Baltin: Were there moments you started to notice others picking up on greatness and responding to what you are doing? Wells: Whenever I got the call to go on tour with Lionel Richie I was like, "How did this happen? How does Lionel Richie even know that I exist?" My booking agent at the time was friends with Lionel's manager and so he said, "We showed him five or six artists. There were five or six artists that wanted to be on this tour, and he picked you." That was before my album came out. I just had a five-song EP out at the time, my album came out and the first show of that tour we played Oracle Arena. I had the Live Nation guy chasing me down the hall of the venue they almost didn't allow me in. He's like, "You are next, I feel about you how I felt the first time I saw Lady Gaga." Like you are special. And so to hear people who had no reason to say anything nice to me, who had no vested interests, just to be encouraging was super inspiring to me. And it's those little moments, those touch points that keep me believing in myself and keep me moving forward.
Baltin: What did you learn being on a tour like that?
Wells: The cool thing with him was, I was able to watch him connect with people on stage and off. And I understand that at this point in his career he doesn't really need to be taking a bunch of time with the people, no one will ever see or know. And that was the thing that stuck out about me and what I really want to emulate more than anything is the time he took with my parents, to talk with them. The time that he took with the security guards in the venues, he saw everyone. And I think that it's important and it's connected to the longevity of the artist, how you walk into a room and the people that you see when you get there. And so I'm taking both of those things — the onstage and offstage parts that really make someone great.
Baltin: Who's the dream artists to collaborate with you haven't done yet?
Wells: Probably Taylor Swift, I love Taylor. I have an autographed guitar from her. What I love about Taylor is that she has been herself, she's done things in her own way. I just always have a great appreciation for artists who are committed to carving their own lane and seeing what they can do and taking risks. So I think it will be dope to get on a song together at some point.
Baltin: When you see artists like Taylor, who uses her voice for good, how does that inspire you to use your voice to speak out?
Wells: Yes, and politics are not the thing that's going to save humanity. We can get as political as we want, but if policy worked, it would have already worked. So I feel like we have to do what you're talking about, which is getting to the people. I think that there are people who are educated and gifted to move in the arena of politics to help create the social change that our world desperately needs, particularly in America. However, nothing can out legislate me loving you and you loving me. Like me showing up to serve the marginalized, the broken and the downcast in my community, or partnering with someone like Tim Tebow, who is actively fighting against human trafficking, who is creating night to shines all over the world for children with special needs. We teamed up on a song called "All God's Children" to help raise awareness about our fight against human trafficking. If we relegate all the responsibility to the government and the politicians we're going to lose our actual opportunity to help one another and change each other's lives for the better. And I think we need both, obviously. But what I hope to do through my music is inspire people to believe that their story is enough and that they actually have what it takes to make a difference. | Music |
Congratulations are in order for Britney Spears and Sam Asghari. The pop sensation and the actor and fitness expert, who have been together for five years, married at their Los Angeles home on June 9. The bride wore a custom Versace off-the-shoulder gown, and the groom wore a custom tux also from the Italian house. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry released the first official photo of their one-year-old daughter, Lilibet Diana, this week as well. The adorable birthday portrait was taken on the grounds of the Sussexes home, Frogmore Cottage, in the United Kingdom over the Queen’s Jubilee weekend. Rafael Nadal won the French Open for the 14th time on Sunday, setting a new record for men’s singles grand slam wins. Christopher John Rogers wowed the fashion crowd this week with his return to the runway for his resort 2023 collection. It was his first IRL show for two years, and the joyful collection was worth the wait.Finally, the news broke that Julia Garner will be playing Madonna in an upcoming biopic of the singer. The resemblance is uncanny. Below, see the images of the week. Karlie Kloss and Christopher John Rogers at Rogers’s resort 2023 show. | Celebrity |
Award Shows | 6/13/2022 8:18 AM PT "Bob loved Broadway and I know the community loved him." John Stamos called out The Tony Awards from excluding his "Full House" costar and longtime friend Bob Saget from the show's In Memoriam segment on Sunday night. Stamos actually heard Saget wouldn't be included hours before the show actually aired, taking to Twitter earlier in the day to express his frustration and disappointment. "Disappointed to hear that @bobsaget will be LEFT OUT of the In Memoriam segment tonight @TheTonyawards," he tweeted. "Bob was brilliant in The Drowsy Chaperone & Hand to God. Come on @BroadwayLeague and @TheWing! Do the right thing! Bob loved Broadway and I know the community loved him." "Let's make some noise about this everyone - and send our love and good wishes to the hosts @ArianaDeBose, @JulianneHough and my buddy @DarrenCriss and all the well-deserved nominees," he added. Getty John Stamos Reveals Last Text From Bob Saget View Story As Stamos mentioned, Saget appeared in the Broadway musical "The Drowsy Chaperone" for a four-month engagement during the show's 2006-2007 run -- as well as the stage play "Hand to God" in 2015. Despite Stamos' plea, Saget was not added to the show's live tribute, which included a performance by Billy Porter and mentions of names like William Hurt, Sidney Poitier and Stephen Sondheim. Saget was honored elsewhere on Sunday night, as both the comedian's late wife Kelly Rizzo and Stamos attended to Critics Choice Real TV Awards -- where Bob was given a posthumous Impact Award. Saget actually hosted the first awards back in 2018, when it was originally called the NPACT Impact Awards. For Rizzo, it was the first red carpet she had done without him since his death on January 7, 2022. "It's just so special to be here to honor him, but also still so weird and surreal at the fact that he's not here," she told PEOPLE. "This is the first red carpet I've done without him. It's very strange. I feel like he's waiting in the wings and he'll be like, 'Honey, I'll be there in a few minutes.' It still doesn't feel right, but all we can do is our best and be here to celebrate him and his legacy. That's all I want to do." Stamos, however, was by her side all night. Getty | Celebrity |
Tim Roney/Getty Images By Erica Russell An eponymous album marks a major moment in an artist's career. For women, owning one's work, body, and artistry can be especially powerful, even political. Throughout Women's History Month, MTV News is highlighting some of these iconic statements from some of the biggest artists on the globe. This is Self-Titled. Much has been said about Christina Aguilera’s voice over the past two-plus decades. She’s quite literally been touted as “The Voice of a Generation” — by fans, fashion designers, and awards shows alike. She was even tapped as a coach for the first three seasons of the aptly titled TV competition The Voice, a testament to her inimitable four-octave prowess. Any pop fan would likely agree that Aguilera’s singing belongs snugly in the upper echelons of modern divadom, next to Whitney, Mariah, and Adele. But the artist often referred to as Xtina has always had the range, and not just in terms of her vocal abilities. Much like her pop contemporaries (and some Mickey Mouse Club peers), Aguilera was initially marketed as a glossy star with bubblegum pop songs to match. Shortly following the release of “Reflection,” Aguilera’s career-launching theme song for Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan, Aguilera flew to Los Angeles to record her debut album. When her eponymous record dropped in August 1999, it was packaged in the squeaky clean shrinkwrap of the late 1990s formula and propped up against the likes of Britney Spears’s …Baby One More Time, Jessica Simpson’s Sweet Kisses, and Mandy Moore’s So Real, all of which came out within the same year. Christina Aguilera’s radio-primed lead single “Genie in a Bottle” sealed the teen-pop deal tighter than, well, a genie in a bottle. Instantly catchy, oozing innuendo, and built around a throbbing, saccharine-yet-suggestive hook, the track captured the then-taboo hormonal agony of teenagedom from a girl’s perspective. Controversial upon its release due to its provocative lyrics related to sex and self-respect — though hardly the last Aguilera track to draw the ire of easily outraged parents and curmudgeonly critics the world over — it was nevertheless a hit for the star, notching No. 1 on both the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and Top 40 charts. The shiny pop album marked a successful and lucrative debut, and even nabbed the performer a coveted Best New Artist Grammy, but it wasn’t everything Aguilera had wished for. Though the melismatic power of her literal voice was evident throughout the tracklist, her internal voice — comprising her true perspective and artistic preferences — wasn’t necessarily being heard. Inspired by artists such as Etta James and Mariah Carey in her youth, Aguilera had a natural affinity for R&B and soul music. Unfortunately, her position then as a relatively unknown and freshly signed talent, let alone a young woman, didn’t afford her much say over her sound and image, especially in the narrow mainstream musical landscape of the late ’90s. "I was held back a lot from doing more R&B ad-libbing,” Aguilera told The Washington Post in 2000. “They clearly wanted to make a fresh-sounding young pop record and that's not always the direction I wanted to go in. Sometimes they didn't get it, didn't want to hear me out because of my age, and that was a little bit frustrating. Since all the success, it's a little easier to get my opinions across." Though the 18-year-old RCA signee didn’t have a hand in writing her debut album — a quick scan of the record’s personnel sees the performer credited solely for vocals and some vocal arrangement — it was the conviction in her singing that wholeheartedly sold the tracks as her own. She claimed ownership of the songs on Christina Aguilera — written by the likes of pop heavyweights Diane Warren, Steve Kipner, and Shelly Peiken — simply through the power of her voice, which stressed an urgent sense of autonomy that would only become more apparent and fully realized on later albums lyrically, musically, and stylistically. In turn, Christina Aguilera laid the foundation for Aguilera’s versatility and foreshadowed her desire to experiment. It also introduced a dynamism she’s embraced over the course of her career. Spanning bubblegum, dance-pop, R&B, soul, ballads, and hip-hop, the album allowed the singer to dip into various genres and styles she’d later explore on her own terms, even inspiring some alter egos in the process. Christina Aguilera‘s funky, confident follow-up single “What a Girl Wants,” another Billboard Top 40 and Hot 100 chart-topper, double-downed on the teen-pop fare while also dabbling in R&B and mid-tempo electro, elements Aguilera would later lean into on her 2002 album Stripped and 2010 album Bionic, respectively. It also hinted at the themes of independence and female empowerment that would follow Aguilera through her career, notably on Stripped all the way up to 2018’s Liberation. Similarly, her dance-pop single “Come On Over (All I Want Is You)” — the radio version of which featured a sexy new rap verse from the newly minted pop star — was steeped in hip-hop elements, a genre she’d explore on Stripped with tracks such as her and Lil’ Kim’s feminist anthem, “Can’t Hold Us Down.” Meanwhile, the soulful “So Emotional” and “Somebody’s Somebody” offered a hint at the formational gospel inspirations to which Aguilera would later commit on songs such as “Understand” and “Mercy on Me” off 2006’s Back to Basics, a concept album that saw the star transform into a retro-pop pinup queen. And then, of course, there were the ballads: “Reflection,” “Obvious,” and “I Turn To You,” the latter a sparkling karaoke classic for the ages. Balladry would become a signature for the powerhouse vocalist, as well as a staple in her elastic discography, with many of her most sweeping songs — “Beautiful,” “Hurt,” “You Lost Me,” “Bound to You,” “Blank Page,” “Twice” — earning critical acclaim and solidifying Aguilera as a modern diva, even as she shifted seamlessly between sonic and aesthetic evolutions. Ever since dropping her namesake debut album, Aguilera has only expanded upon her chameleon-like musical and stylistic expression, metamorphosing into a stripped-down fighter, a classic Hollywood starlet, a club queen, a burlesque star, a lotus in bloom, and a liberated pop warrior. Christina Aguilera preceded and perhaps even afforded her that space to blossom artistically by proving her chops early in the game. In Aguilera’s own words to Cosmopolitan: “I hope I paved the way and helped set the ground rules that women can be any version of themselves they wanna be… and proud of it." No matter what version of herself Christina Aguilera wants to be, she’s proven she certainly has the range to achieve it. Pop Music Christina Aguilera | Music |
NASA has lost two satellites designed to track hurricanes after the rocket carrying them malfunctioned.The cause hasn't yet been revealed but a livestream feed showed the Astra launch vehicle successfully lifting off from Cape Canaveral in Florida before suffering a second-stage failure hundreds of kilometres into the sky.
It is the second time that the private spaceflight company Astra has lost NASA satellites.Back in February, its chief executive said he was "deeply sorry" after his firm accidentally destroyed four tiny NASA satellites in a failed launch.Astra had successfully reached orbit in another launch a month after its February incident. The two CubeSats on board Sunday's launch, which comprised a third of a $30m mission designed to monitor dangerous weather on Earth, were both lost.
"We had a nominal first stage flight; however, the upper-stage engine did shut down early and we did not deliver our payloads to orbit," said Amanda Dark Frye, a senior manager at Astra. More on Nasa NASA assembles team of scientists to study UFOs despite facing 'reputational risk' The Sun: 'Solar hedgehog' among 'breathtaking' images released by European Space Agency NASA picture of Mars 'doorway' spawns conspiracy theories - this is what you're really looking at The company tweeted its regrets over the loss of the miniature satellites. Twitter Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this. Open Privacy Options The satellites were part of NASA's TROPICS mission - an easy-to-say acronym standing for Time-Resolved Observations of Precipitation structure and storm Intensity with a Constellation of Smallsats.In a statement, NASA said: "While we are disappointed in the loss of the two TROPICS CubeSats, the mission is part of NASA's Earth venture programme, which provides opportunities for lower-cost, higher risk missions."Despite a loss of the first two of six satellites, the TROPICS constellation will still meet its science objectives with the four remaining CubeSats distributed in two orbits.""With four satellites, TROPICS will still provide improved time-resolved observations of tropical cyclones compared to traditional observing methods," the US space agency added.What are CubeSats?"CubeSats are playing an increasingly larger role in exploration, technology demonstrations, scientific research, and educational investigations at NASA," said the company.During the pandemic, when access to NASA's facilities was being restricted, the space agency's staff had commanded its Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter CubeSat from home.TROPICS is what NASA calls "an Earth venture mission" meaning it is a "science-driven, competitively selected, low-cost mission" that provided the space agency with an opportunity to invest in innovative Earth science.February's failed launch was carrying four small satellites as part of NASA's ELaNa 41 (Educational Launch of Nanosatellites) mission, rather than TROPICS.NASA describes ELaNa as "an exciting initiative... to attract and retain students in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines".The aim is to create tiny satellites of units measuring just 10cm cubed, although the satellites can be made up from two, three or six units - each weighing less than 1.33kg, according to NASA.Three of the lost satellites were made by universities, while one was made by NASA's Johnson Space Centre.All of the CubeSats launched as part of the programme are experimental rather than commercial. | Space Exploration |
The Texas Pie Fest in Royse City on June 18, 2022 is possibly the sweetest event in North Texas all year.Adults, kids and even dogs are invited to eat pie from over 20 bakers. The day finishes with a spirited pie-throwing contest.This wholesome, smalltown event is meant to be nostalgic, says Melissa Tate, who co-created the festival with Brittany Hardin, of Bonafide Betties Pie Co. in Rockwall.Attendees will choose slices of pie and buy them on site at Texas Pie Fest on June 18, 2022. Some vendors might give out samples for free. The pie walk — the old-school carnival game many of us remember from our childhood — will be free, and in each round, someone wins a pie.(Jason Janik / Special Contributor)The event is hosted at Tate Farms, where Melissa Tate’s husband Evan Tate has lived nearly all his life. The 750-acre plot of land is one of the last working farms in Rockwall County. They raise Hereford cattle and house about 150 horses. Pigs, sheep, chickens and dogs also roam the property.Mr. Waffles, a miniature horse the Tates rescued, is expected to wander through the festival.Pie Fest guests can take their pick of events over the six-hour experience. Live music and food will run all day. Then at 11 a.m., pies will be admitted into a bake-off, with the winners announced at noon. At 2 p.m., kids and adults can enter pie-eating contests. At 3 p.m., there’s a food fight, where attendees can lob whipped-cream pies at one another.Members of the McClendon-Chisholm Fire Department will be on site to hose off messy guests. Then the pigs will be sent out to clean up the whipped cream mess.Melissa Tate calls pie “a great equalizer.”“Everybody loves pie,” she says.While some of the pie vendors are from Dallas-Fort Worth, like Bisous Bisous, Emporium Pies and Judy Pie, bakers from as far as Abilene, Houston, Round Top and Austin are driving in for the sweet event.Several dozen other small business owners will sell candles, produce, hot sauces and candles. And for those who can’t survive a day in the Texas heat only eating pie, there’s also food and drinks from Easy Slider food truck, Bravado Biscuit Company, Bliss Coffee Roastery, Popcorn Papa and Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs.Rockwall mayor Jim Pruitt takes a pie to the face for charity during Texas Pie Fest at Tate Farms in Rockwall, TX, on Mar. 30, 2019. (Jason Janik/Special Contributor)(Jason Janik / Special Contributor)A separate pie-throwing contest will raise money for Lone Star CASA, a nonprofit that assists with the legal matters for children in Kaufman and Rockwall counties experiencing abuse and neglect. Participants can choose the dollar value of their donation, then toss a whipped-cream pie in the face of a local celebrity, like the mayor, or anyone else of their choosing. (Watch out!)For the dog pie-eating contests, three mutts lapping up whipped-cream pies will be awarded the fastest, slowest and messiest eaters.Last year, about 3,000 people showed up to the Texas Pie Fest, double the past festival. Melissa Tate says there’s room for up to 5,000 people on their land this year.Texas Pie Fest is June 18, 2022 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Tate Farms, 12992 FM 548, Royse City. txpiefest.com.Tickets cost $10 per person. Admittance is free for kids 10 and under. Dogs are free “and encouraged,” co-founder Melissa Tate says. A sponsor has donated free water for all attendees. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.A new VIP section has been added this year, with shaded seating, indoor bathrooms, a private drink station and more. Those tickets cost $25 per person.For more food news, follow Sarah Blaskovich on Twitter at @sblaskovich. | Festivals |
Hall was known for his role as Lt. Bookman on "Seinfeld" and his frequent collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson. Philip Baker Hall, one of Hollywood’s most recognizable character actors, has died at the age of 90. He was best known today for his roles on “Seinfeld” and in the films of Paul Thomas Anderson. The news was first announced by Hall’s neighbor and friend, Los Angeles sports writer Sam Farmer, on Twitter.
“My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it,” Framer wrote on Twitter.
Hall was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1931 to Alice Birdene and William Alexander Hall. He attended the University of Toledo and served as a U.S. Army translator in Germany before launching his acting career in some small New York theater productions. Hall made his film debut in 1970’s “Cowards,” from director Simon Nuchtern. He began appearing on TV shows soon after, guest-starring in hundreds of episodes over the course of his career. Elsewhere in film, Hall earned notices for bringing gravitas to the role of Richard Nixon in Robert Altman’s “Secret Honor.” Hall became known as a prolific, scene-stealing character actor, accumulating 185 acting credits during his five-decade Hollywood career. To many, his most iconic role came in an episode of “Seinfeld” when he played overzealous library cop Lt. Joe Bookman, a role he reprised in the series finale.
Hall also built a distinguished film resume that included three collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson, beginning with his role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s short film “Coffee and Cigarettes,” which became the basis for “Hard Eight.” He followed these films with supporting turns in Anderson’s next two features, 1997’s “Boogie Nights” and 1999’s “Magnolia.” Hall also notably played a network executive in “The Truman Show” and appeared in the “Rush Hour” films. After the turn of the century, Hall continued to frequently work in film and television, notably playing Sherwood Morrill in “Zodiac” and C.I.A Director Stansfield Turner in “Argo.”
Toward the end of his career, Hall continued to work with “Seinfeld” creator Larry David, playing the deadpan Doctor Morrison on “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and appearing in David’s 2013 film “Clear History.” He had also appeared in episodes of “BoJack Horseman” and “Room 104” in recent years. His final role was in the 2020 Netflix series “Messiah,” in which he played Zelman Katz in six episodes.
Hall is survived by his wife, Holly Wolfe, and their two daughters, Adella and Anna.
Hall’s representatives could not immediately be reached for comment. My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it. pic.twitter.com/pBCaILjHPT
— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) June 13, 2022 Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Movies |
SONOMA, Calif. -- Daniel Suárez became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race Sunday, holding off Chris Buescher for a historic victory at Sonoma Raceway.Suárez, a 30-year-old native of Monterrey, finally won in the 195th career start of a Cup Series career that began in 2017. He also drove his Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet to the third Cup Series victory of the season for this rising 2-year-old team co-owned by former driver Justin Marks and music star Pitbull.Suárez got past Buescher and took charge early in the final stage on this hilly road course in Northern California wine country, and he persevered through a pit stop and a caution to emerge in front with 23 laps to go. Buescher pushed him aggressively, but Suárez made no significant mistakes while rolling to victory."It's crazy," Suárez said. "I have so many thoughts in my head right now. It's been a rough journey in the Cup Series, and these guys believed in me. I have a lot of people to thank in Mexico. My family, they never gave up on me. A lot of people did, but they didn't. I'm just happy we were able to make it work."Suárez's team partied wildly when it was over, even pulling out a celebratory piñata shaped like a taco. The piñata was requested by Suárez for whenever he got his first win and clinched a spot in the playoffs - and he celebrated by punching a hole through it with his fist."They believed in me since Day One," Suárez said of his team. "(We've got) all the people, all the resources to make it happen."Suárez then addressed his fans briefly in Spanish, saying: "This is the first one of many."Buescher's second-place finish was also a season best in his RFK Racing Ford. He fell just short of his second career victory."Hurts to be that close, but congratulations to Suárez," Buescher said. "We were trying, trying to get him. Ran out of steam there."Suárez, who won the Xfinity Series championship in 2016, is the fifth foreign-born driver to win a Cup Series race. He joins Colombia's Juan Pablo Montoya, Australia's Marcos Ambrose, Canada's Earl Ross and Italian-born American Mario Andretti.The success of Suárez and Trackhouse Racing could be a welcome boost to a sport eager to expand its cultural footprint. After moving to the U.S. 11 years ago with a desire to race on bigger stages, Suárez is a major success story for NASCAR's Drive for Diversity program, which aims to bring new perspectives and backgrounds to a largely monocultural organization for much of its history.Michael McDowell finished a season-best third in front of Kevin Harvick in cloudy conditions in Sonoma Raceway's first Cup Series race at full capacity since before the coronavirus pandemic. The crowd included about 350 rowdy fans from Suárez's program, Daniel's Amigos, which allows kids in several NASCAR cities to attend races.Austin Cindric was fifth in the final race before the Cup Series' one-week midseason break.CHUTE WORKSSonoma Raceway restored the 1.99-mile Chute track layout for this race after using the longer Carousel configuration in the previous two editions in 2019 and 2021. The shorter track didn't appear to lead to more contact in the racing, and not much happened in the first two stages, which were won by Larson and Joey Logano.NO REPEATDefending champion and pole-sitter Kyle Larson led the first stage, but the defending series champ fell back from there and eventually lost his right front tire with 27 laps to go. Larson started on the pole for the fifth consecutive time at the race closest to his childhood home in the Sacramento suburbs, but his decision not to pit in the first stage left him buried in the field from there. He finished 15th.UP NEXTAfter the break, the season resumes with a trip to Nashville Superspeedway on Sunday, June 26. Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Other Sports |
Amber Heard I Don't Blame Jury for Depp Verdict Social Media was Lopsided 6/13/2022 6:49 AM PT NBC Amber Heard is speaking out and showing her face for the first time since losing big in the Johnny Depp case -- saying she holds no ill-will toward the jury, but social media is another story. The actress sat down for an interview with 'Today,' which is going to be aired in pieces throughout the week ... but right out the gate, NBC is teasing a couple juicy soundbites from her chat with Savannah Guthrie in which AH gets into her feelings about the trial. For starters, she discusses the social media coverage -- which was overwhelmingly in favor of her ex, Johnny Depp, and which she was clearly aware of during the 6-week proceedings. NBC She says even if you don't believe her/think she lied, you can't deny the posts in the digital world have been lopsided, suggesting there hasn't been a "fair representation" of both sides online. Interestingly, Amber's attorney, Elaine Bredehoft, also tried to deflect blame toward the viral aspect of the saga, rather than take ownership of the loss. ABC As for the 7 men and women who said they didn't buy her account, Amber says there's no hard feelings, but she thinks it was Depp's personality and super-stardom that won them over. Watch the clip, she seems to think JD charmed their pants off, and she also believes the fact Depp's side was able to present witnesses first also helped. While Guthrie seemingly tries to point out Amber lost because her team presented a poor case, so far ... it doesn't sound like Amber is accepting that as a reality for how things went. | Celebrity |
Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage via Getty ImagesDid Kim Kardashian really go on vacation if she didn’t Instagram it? The compulsion to create content is so deeply engrained in the 41-year-old reality TV star and mogul that she apparently has a “content taking boyfriend test” for her romantic partners. And as of this past weekend’s getaway to Tahiti, her 28-year-old beau Pete Davidson can say that he’s among the select few to have passed. All it took was a barely two-second video of Kardashian stepping into the crystal clear waters of the South Pacific Ocean while wearing a simple black string bikini. Evidently, she didn’t mind that Davidson also captured his shadow in the video and additional photos that she posted in a carousel captioned “beach for 2”—nor that the latter content was uncharacteristically grainy.Fortunately, someone else was present to make sure that the pair appeared in some content together. Kardashian also shared photos of her and Davidson kayaking and smooching in the water. They again matched, both wearing black swimwear, large sunglasses, and bleach blonde hair.Courtesy of @kimkardashianCourtesy of @kimkardashianThings appear to be going swimmingly for Kardashian and Davidson, who first felt sparks fly when they shared a kiss on Saturday Night Live last October. Undeterred by the fact that he didn’t show up to her after-party, Kardashian reached out to an SNL producer for Davidson’s phone number. “I wasn't even thinking like, ‘Oh my God, I'm gonna be in a relationship with him,’” she recalled in a recent episode of Hulu’s The Kardashians. “I was just thinking, ‘Heard about this BDE [big dick energy], need to get out there… I was basically DTF [down to fuck].” Six or so months later, the pair seems to be getting serious: Kardashian has pronounced Davidson “literally the best human being” she’s ever met, and Kardashian’s sister Khloé claims that she’s “in LOOOOOVVVEEEE” with the SNL star. If that’s indeed the case, Pete’s side gig as Kim’s personal content creator is only just beginning. | Celebrity |
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sean “Diddy” Combs built one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with his own music television network and fashion line, and now his decorated career has earned him one of the highest honors at the BET Awards this month.Combs will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award on June 26, the network announced Monday. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112. The music mogul created the fashion clothing line called Sean John, launched the Revolt TV with a focus on music and has his own vodka. He’ also produced the reality show “Making the Band” for MTV. “Diddy has always been a pioneering force in our community, breaking barriers, achieving unprecedented heights, blazing new trails, and, in so doing, raising the bar for all of us,” BET CEO Scott Mills said in a statement. “His virtuosity is matched only by his range — from music to media, culture, business and philanthropy — Diddy has exemplified Black excellence.”The award is given to an individual who has shaped culture through their careers and “transformative leaders that consistently inspire generations.” Past recipients include Prince, Whitney Houston, Queen Latifah, Samuel L. Jackson, Lionel Richie, Anita Baker and New Edition. Combs, 52, won Grammys for his platinum-selling 1997 album “No Way Out” and the single “I’ll Be Missing You,” a song dedicated to the late Notorious B.I.G. who was killed earlier that year. He won another Grammy for “Shake Ya Tailfeather” with Nelly and Murphy Lee.In 2004, the rapper-producer played Walter Lee Younger in the Broadway revival of “A Raisin in the Sun,” which aired as a television adaption four years later. He’s also appeared in films including “Get Him to the Greek” and “Monster’s Ball.” Last month, Combs recently hosted the Billboard Music Awards. “Puff’s contributions to culture transcend hip-hop,” said Jesse Collins, executive producer of the awards. “Growing up in DC, I watched his rise at Howard University as he repped Black excellence from day one. It’s an honor to celebrate him now, while he is still on his incredible journey.”Taraji P. Henson will host the live show from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. | Music |
FILE – Ronnie Wood, left, Mick Jagger, center, and Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones play on stage at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, during a concert as part of their “Sixty” European tour, Thursday, June 9, 2022. The Rolling Stones canceled their concert in Amsterdam Monday just hours before it was due to start after lead singer Mick Jagger tested positive for COVID-19.
The band announced the cancelation in a statement, saying the 78-year-old Jagger tested positive “after experiencing symptoms of COVID upon arrival at the stadium” on the outskirts of Amsterdam. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File) AMSTERDAM (AP) — The Rolling Stones canceled their concert in Amsterdam on Monday, just hours before it was due to start after lead singer Mick Jagger tested positive for COVID-19. The band announced the cancelation in a statement, saying the 78-year-old Jagger tested positive “after experiencing symptoms of COVID upon arrival at the stadium” on the outskirts of Amsterdam. There were no further details about his condition. “The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight’s postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority,” the statement said, adding that the show would be rescheduled and tickets for the concert at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena would be honored for the new date. Some fans were already in the stadium when it was announced that the show had been scrapped. The veteran rockers are touring Europe with a show called SIXTY to mark six decades together. Their last show was at Liverpool’s Anfield Stadium on June 9. The next scheduled concert is in Bern, Switzerland, on June 17. ___ Follow AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic Tags | Music |
Associated Press
LONDON — Actor Kevin Spacey has been formally charged with sexual offenses against three men in Britain and is expected to appear in a court in London this week, British police said Monday.
Spacey, 62, is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.
Spacey is due to appear at London’s Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday. The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The victims are now in their 30s and 40s.
The Crown Prosecution Service authorized charges against Spacey last month.
Spacey, a double Academy Award winner, was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The former “House of Cards” star ran London’s Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015.
Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film “The Usual Suspects” and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie “American Beauty.”
But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations. | Celebrity |
Associated Press
NEW YORK — Amber Heard says she doesn’t blame the jury that awarded Johnny Depp more than $10 million after a contentious six-week libel trial in her first post-verdict interview.
“I don’t blame them,” Heard told “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie in an interview clip aired Monday on NBC. “I actually understand. He’s a beloved character and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor.”
“Today” plans to air more of its interview with Heard on Tuesday and Wednesday. The interview is airing nearly two weeks after the verdict, which also saw Heard awarded $2 million over her claim that one of Depp’s attorneys defamed her. Depp sued Heard for libel in Virginia over a December 2018 op-ed she wrote in The Washington Post describing herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse.” His lawyers said he was defamed by the article even though it never mentioned his name.
The verdicts brought an end to a televised trial that Depp hopes will help restore his reputation, though it turned into a spectacle that offered a window into a volatile marriage and both actors emerged with unclear prospects for their careers.
Guthrie pressed Heard on her credibility and what it meant to jurors in the clips released Monday. “There’s no polite way to say it. The jury looked at the evidence you presented. They listened to your testimony and they did not believe you,” she said. “They thought you were lying.”
Heard responded, “How could they not come to that conclusion? They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of non-stop, relentless testimony from paid employees” and witnesses the actor described as “randos” or random people.
Depp, who has not yet done a formal interview about the case, has said the verdict “gave me my life back.” Heard said in a statement after the verdict that she was heartbroken, while her attorney said in a separate “Today” interview that her client was “demonized” on social media and she plans to appeal the judgment. “I don’t care what one thinks about me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home, in my marriage, behind closed doors. I don’t presume the average person should know those things, and so I don’t take it personally,” Heard told Guthrie.
“You still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair,” Heard said.
The Heard interview will also be featured in Friday’s “Dateline” episode. | Celebrity |
What's happening Chevrolet confirmed the new Blazer EV will debut on July 18. Why it matters The Blazer EV is one of many new electric vehicles coming to Chevrolet's lineup, including the Silverado EV and Equinox EV. What's next The Blazer EV will go on sale in spring 2023. Chevrolet released the first full image of the upcoming Blazer EV on Monday, and confirmed the electric SUV will debut on July 18. The automaker initially announced the Blazer EV in January at CES and teased it in a video in March.The version seen here is the Blazer SS, which Chevy bills as a high-performance electric SUV. Big wheels, bold lighting elements and heavily sculpted body sides really make the EV stand out, though at the same time, the design doesn't stray too far from the current Blazer SUV. Well done.Unfortunately, we know next to nothing about the new Blazer EV. It'll be built atop General Motors' new Ultium battery architecture and is set to go on sale in spring 2023.The Blazer EV is one of many new electric vehicles Chevrolet will launch in the coming years. In addition to the Silverado EV pickup, the automaker confirmed it'll sell an Equinox EV with a starting price around $30,000. Like the Blazer, the Equinox is expected to go on sale in 2023. | Automotive and Transportation |
Errol Spence Jr. Pleads Guilty To DWI ... In 2019 Ferrari Crash Case 6/13/2022 10:42 AM PT Star boxer Errol Spence Jr. has pleaded guilty to DWI ... nearly three years after he was accused of driving drunk when he horrifyingly crashed his Ferrari in Dallas. 32-year-old Spence Jr. entered the plea last week, according to the Dallas County District Attorney's Office, and was sentenced to three days in jail, though he was given credit for three days time served, a DA spokesperson tells TMZ Sports. #BREAKING Exclusive video from a nearby security camera shows the crash that injured Championship Boxer Errol Spence Jr when he lost control of his Ferrari and it rolled multiple times ejecting him. Fortunately he survived and expected to be ok pic.twitter.com/2Z1xh9DDiA— J.D. Miles (@jdmiles11) October 10, 2019 @jdmiles11 In a statement following the disposition of the case, Spence Jr. admitted to drinking before getting behind the wheel on the night of the 2019 crash, and vowed to warn others of the dangers of drunk driving going forward. "Don't drink and drive," he said in a statement. "Not one drink. It's not worth it." As we reported, Spence Jr. nearly died during the Oct. 10, 2019 incident ... losing control of his Ferrari and flipping it several times in the wild crash. Spence Jr. was ejected from the vehicle -- but somehow suffered no broken bones or serious ailments in the wreck. 10/10/19 KDFW Fox 4 "I was hanging out and having some drinks with some friends and ended up wrecking my car and nearly killing myself," Spence Jr. said of the crash following his plea. "Fortunately, no one else was involved in the accident and I am most grateful for that." Spence Jr. has fought two times since the accident, beating Danny Garcia in 2020 and Yordenis Ugas in April. | Boxing |
Actor Philip Baker Hall, known for films such as Magnolia and Boogie Nights, has died at the age of 90.The news was shared by his neighbour and Los Angeles Times writer Sam Farmer on Twitter. “My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night,” he wrote. “He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it.”Defined as a storied character actor, Hall started out on stage in New York before embarking on a Hollywood career in the 1970s with small roles in Coma and on TV shows such as M*A*S*H and Good Times. “When I first came out here, I was totally naive. I didn’t know where to start,” Hall said to the Washington Post. “Television really had no meaning for me. We never had a television. I didn’t see myself doing a movie. Ever. It didn’t seem possible or likely.”But Hall continued to find work throughout the 80s with roles in Ghostbusters II, Midnight Run and Say Anything and in the 90s with Air Force One, The Rock and The Truman Show.He became friends with Paul Thomas Anderson when the young director was working as a production assistant on a PBS movie. Anderson then gave him roles in Hard Eight, Boogie Nights and Magnolia, which led to even more work for Hall in the following decades.Philip Baker Hall in Magnolia. Photograph: Cinetext Collection/Sportsphoto/AllstarLarry David also used him in both Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm. “Philip has made me laugh harder than any actor I’ve worked with,” David once said.In 2012, Hall said that his Seinfeld character, library cop Joe Bookman, was arguably his best known with most people. “Bookman is the one that everyone remembers,” he said. “People will say forever, at the supermarket or wherever, it doesn’t matter where, ‘Oh, you’re Bookman, right? I really loved that Bookman. Now, I know you’ve done a lot of other things, but I loved that Bookman character.’ When they say, ‘I know you’ve done a lot of other things,’ it’s like, ‘You don’t know the half of it!’ But Bookman? Bookman hits a response button. And I’m not ungrateful for that.”Hall’s big screen credits also included Dogville, The Insider, Zodiac, Argo, Bruce Almighty and The Amityville Horror while on the small screen he was also seen in The Newsroom and Modern Family and his voice was heard in Bojack Horseman. | Movies |
The actor is due to appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday. Actor Kevin Spacey attends the reading of the event "The Boxer - La nostalgia del poeta" at Palazzo Massimo alle Terme on Aug. 2, 2019, in Rome.Ernesto Ruscio / Getty Images fileJune 13, 2022, 4:17 PM UTCActor Kevin Spacey was formally charged Monday with four counts of sexual assault against three men, London's Metropolitan Police said in a news release.Spacey was also charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, police said. He's due to appear in Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday. Spacey said in a statement last month that he will "voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence."Two assaults against one person are alleged to have happened in London in March 2005, Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said last month. Another assault is alleged to have happened in London in August 2008. The same alleged victim also reported the allegation of sexual activity without consent, also in August 2008.The sexual assault is alleged to have happened in April 2013 in Gloucestershire, a county around 100 miles west of London.Spacey was removed from his starring role in Netflix’s “House of Cards” in November 2017 as sexual assault and misconduct allegations against him mounted. Actor Anthony Rapp accused Spacey of making sexual advances toward him three decades ago, when Rapp was 14 years old. A judge ruled last week that Spacey must stand trial in a New York federal court after Rapp filed a lawsuit accusing him of the assault. Rapp’s allegations were first made public in an article by BuzzFeed News in 2017.Spacey said in a statement on Twitter that he didn’t remember the alleged incident involving Rapp, but he wrote: “If I did behave then as he describes, I owe him the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior, and I am sorry for the feelings he describes having carried with him all these years.”Days later, filmmaker Tony Montana told Radar Online that Spacey groped him at a bar in Los Angeles in 2003. And Mexican actor Roberto Cavazos said he encountered Spacey at the Old Vic theater in London, where Spacey was the artistic director from 2004 until 2015. Cavazos said Spacey would frequent the theater’s bar and “squeeze whoever caught his attention.”Later that year, the Old Vic said it had received 20 allegations of “inappropriate behavior” against Spacey during his time there. Spacey started acting at the theater in the 1990s.At the time, Spacey’s publicist said he “is taking the time necessary to seek evaluation and treatment.”In 2018, Spacey was charged with indecent assault in Nantucket, Massachusetts, in an incident involving the teenage son of a former Boston TV news anchor. Spacey pleaded not guilty, and the charge was dropped when the alleged victim withdrew a civil lawsuit.Elisha Fieldstadt is a breaking news reporter for NBC News. | Celebrity |
SAN FRANCISCO — James Wiseman hasn’t played in a Warriors uniform for more than a year after experiencing setbacks from an April 2021 knee injury.
But the wait for the Warriors’ top pick to return to the court could soon be over. Wiseman underwent an orthobiologic injection in his arm in April on a trip to London with general manager Bob Myers, a source confirmed. The procedure is supposed to promote healing throughout his body. Wiseman has responded well to the injection and hasn’t had setbacks in his recovery process since. If his rehabilitation remains on track, Wiseman could possibly return in Summer League, The Athletic reported. Wiseman has missed the entire season after suffering the meniscus injury last April in a game in Houston.
The Warriors were initially hopeful he’d return early in the 2021-22 season, but that timeline was pushed back and Wiseman underwent another surgery in December, further delaying his return.
The 21-year-old center continued his rehab and played in three G League games in March with the Santa Cruz Warriors. But just after Golden State recalled him to the NBA roster following those games, the team shut him down for the season March 25, citing swelling in his knee.
Since then, he’s progressed in his recovery, returning to some on-court activities. He’s recently been seen shooting jumpers ahead of the Warriors’ NBA Finals games.
Last month, Wiseman said he was “feeling great,” though he was still restricted in what he could do. “I obviously want to be out there playing with my teammates but just keeping an even keel-head and just making sure that I reassure myself that I’m young, I’m 21 years old, so I got a long career ahead of me,” he said. “It’s really just taking one day at a time, that’s really it.”
The Warriors host the California Classic July 2-3 at Chase Center, featuring games against the Lakers and Kings, before Las Vegas Summer League, which runs July 7-17.
Wiseman will be eligible for an extension following next season, but he’s played less than a half-season of games for the Warriors over his first two years and struggled to adjust to the speed of the NBA game and the Warriors’ read-and-react offense. He averaged 11.5 points and 5.8 rebounds in those 39 games last season.
Meanwhile, this postseason run has shown the value of 26-year-old Kevon Looney, who is gobbling up rebounds and fitting in around the Warriors’ stars. Looney is a pending unrestricted free agent and his market value has increased from the three-year, $14.5 million deal he signed in 2019, but that strong postseason run will motivate the Warriors to retain him.
Wiseman’s impressive athleticism and skill level led Golden State to select him with its greatest draft asset in decades, but what the Warriors have in him remains a mystery. Considering the impact of his injury on his perceived value around the league, the Warriors would surely be selling low if they looked to move on from him.
At the same time, Wiseman will need playing time to improve and if Looney returns to a team seeking another run to the NBA Finals, that on-court time will be tough to come by for Wiseman. | Basketball |
Lots of people up in Melbourne!Kick-off is not too far away now. For those who are awake (very) early in Australia, here’s David Squires. Everyone needs a bit of Squires at 4am.For Australia the story is different. Where Peru endured a torrid start to qualifying before coming good towards the end, the Socceroos started well and came undone during the third stage with a number of poor results which have put the team – and particularly Arnold – under pressure.Here’s a bit more background on the Peru team under Ricardo Gareca, known as ‘The Tiger’. Garca has transformed the national team since taking over in 2015, qualifying them for their first World Cup in 36 years at Russia 2018 and can now do it again.I had a message from a Peruvian supporter over the weekend, which highlights just how big this game is for Peruvian football.“The difference is that Perú has a whole country (33m people) behind supporting our team for this match,” he wrote. “The meaning of soccer to us is very different than for Australians and that will reflect on Monday. Keep in mind that for us to be here, we had to face Brasil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, etc. Some of those were not able to make it. Imagine what that means.”TeamsKye Rowles, who just this week signed with Hearts, keeps his spot in central defence ahead of Trent Sainsbury, who was dealing with a knee injury. And Mitchell Duke gets the nod, with Mat Leckie moving to the wing in place of Craig Goodwin.In Peru’s XI is 90-game goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, a legend in Peru and a veteran of the 2018 campaign. Christian Cueva is the most skilled with the ball and André Carrillo ia world-class right winger. Also watch out for Gianluca Lapadula, an attacker who was born in Italy to a Peruvian mother, has starred for Peru since 2020.Peru coach Ricardo Gareca, meanwhile, has said the one-off format of the tie will make for a much different contest to what both Peru and Australia faced while qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. If you haven’t been following this time around, the home-and-away-leg format is no more and has been replaced by one knockout match in neutral territory.“This is a key match and the fact that we’ve already played inter-continental playoff, I don’t think it’s that important,” Gareca said. “Every game is different and what we want to do is to keep on growing, we’ve known each other for seven years in our national team.“We have experienced very tough situations, we cope with them, we know that’s the way forward is a tough one but this is what we want to do. We’re all ready for this, we’re all ready for this type of match.“From that point of view, apart from the fact that we have a broad experience, so does Australia. We are both in the same situation and we hope to make the most of this opportunity.”There has been some tough pre-match talk from Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, warning Australian footballers have made technical improvements.“You’ve got to be ready for anything that Peru, individually, throw at us,” Arnold said. “I just really believe in our players. It’s a one-off game and it’s a final. That’s crystal clear to everybody. That is fine. I think the Peruvians will be surprised by the improvement of the Australian footballers technically.”He also said the South American style is “an attractive style of game, they’re very technically individually very good”.This is going to get technical.PreambleWell, this is it. The match to end them all. The sudden-death, intercontinental playoff. It is, as one journalist put it during the pre-match press conferences, “the final”. More specifically, it is the final before the finals, with the latter on the line. The winner takes all and books a ticket (back) to Qatar for the World Cup in November. For Australia, that would constitute a fifth consecutive World Cup.Who will win? Peru are heavy favourites. If we look at Fifa rankings, which are not always the most accurate indicator, Australia are ranked 42nd and their South American counterparts 22nd. If we focus instead on results, Peru beat Venezuela and Colombia en route to finishing in fifth place in Conmebol behind Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Ecuador. Australia, meanwhile, placed third in their group and last week defeated the United Arab Emirates in their first Asia playoff. There is more to say on all of this, so let’s get going.Kick-off in Qatar is at 9pm local and 4am AEST. | Soccer |
Sir Mick Jagger has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting the Rolling Stones to cancel their show in Amsterdam on Monday.The singer, 78, began to develop symptoms as he arrived at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in the Dutch capital earlier in the day.The band, which also features guitarist Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, with Steve Jordan on drums, are on their Sixty tour, which consists of 14 shows in 10 countries across Europe.They are due to perform in Bern, Switzerland, this Friday and Milan, Italy, on Tuesday 21 June, before an appearance in London on Saturday 25 June.A statement on behalf of the band said: “The Rolling Stones have been forced to call off tonight’s concert in Amsterdam at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, following Mick Jagger testing positive after experiencing symptoms of Covid upon arrival at the stadium.“The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight’s postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority.“The show will be rescheduled for a later date. Tickets for tonight’s show will be honoured for the rescheduled date. Standby for details.”Jagger apologised to the band’s Dutch fans on Twitter.He wrote: “I’m so sorry that we’ve had to postpone the Amsterdam show with such short notice tonight.“I have unfortunately just tested positive for Covid. We aim to reschedule the date ASAP and get back as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Mick.”Jordan is touring with the band following the death of longstanding drummer Charlie Watts, who died on 24 August 2021 at the age of 80.The band made their return to the UK stage at the Anfield football stadium on Thursday last week, and are also due to play two shows at the BST Hyde Park festival in London this summer. | Music |
Jennifer Hudson I've Got EGOT Status!!! Wins Tony for 'Strange Loop' 6/13/2022 7:04 AM PT Jennifer Hudson is in rare company today after winning a Tony award, she's joined some huge celebs who've won 4 major entertainment awards ... aka the EGOT. The Jennifer-produced musical "A Strange Loop" took home the trophy for Best Musical during Sunday night's 75th Annual Tony Awards ... giving her the final piece of the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony pie. Jennifer had previously nabbed 2 Grammy Awards, one for Best R&B Album in 2009 album and another in 2017 for Best Musical Theater Album for The Color Purple. She won her Oscar in 2006 for Best Supporting Actress in "Dreamgirls" ... and a Daytime Emmy for producing the VR-animated film "Baby Yaga." Jennifer is going down in history as the 17th person to get all 4 awards ... and she's the 3rd youngest ever to get it done, behind John Legend and composer Robert Lopez. The former "American Idol" star's musical "A Strange Loop" follows a black, queer writer writing a musical about a black, queer writer writing a musical about a black, queer writer. Ya get the title now, right? The meta-musical's been getting rave reviews since it launched off-Broadway in 2019. Congrats, Jennifer!!! | Celebrity |
In other Nations League news, Kazakhstan have edged past Slovakia 2-1 while Azerbaijan have beaten Belarus 2-0. The Hawks, as the Kazakhstan national team are known, are sitting pretty at the top of League C, Group 3 on 10 points, with Slovakia second on six and Azerbaijan two points behind in third.Are you ready for another evening of full-throttle, high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal Nations League pandemonium? No disrespect to your Maltas, your Andorras, your Liechtensteins and your San Marinos, but tonight is all about the rarified brilliance of France, Croatia, Denmark and Austria. Oh, and Iceland are playing Israel.It’s been a lacklustre Nations League campaign for France so far, with the reigning world champions going winless in their first three matches. They required a late equaliser from Kylian Mbappé to salvage a draw against Austria on Friday, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward, sporting director, manager and transfer strategist (a joke! a joke!) making a welcome return from injury.Kylian Mbappé celebrates scoring against Austria. Photograph: Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto/ShutterstockDenmark remain top of the group despite a 1-0 defeat to Croatia in Copenhagen last time out, with Mario Pasalic scoring the only goal of the game. They will be hoping for a repeat of their 2-1 win against Austria in Vienna last Monday, when a close-range strike from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and a late screamer from Jens Stryger Larsen were enough to secure victory. | Soccer |
Wilson revealed that going Instagram official with her same-sex partner was not entirely her choice. Rebel WilsonSipa USA via AP Rebel Wilson revealed that going Instagram official with her same-sex partner was not entirely her choice.
Sydney Morning Herald columnist Andrew Hornery published an article detailing why he asked the “Pitch Perfect” star’s team to comment on her relationship with sustainable clothing designer Ramona Agruma. Hornery gave Wilson “two days to comment” and then criticized her “underwhelming” decision to post on Instagram with Agruma and control coming out on her own terms.
Wilson tweeted in response to fans who were outraged by the Herald’s practices: “Thanks for your comments, it was a very hard situation but trying to handle it with grace.”
The “Senior Year” actress and executive producer shared a snapshot last week alongside Agruma with the caption: “I thought I was searching for a Disney Prince, but maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess #loveislove.” Herald editor Bevan Shields defended the newspaper’s approach to the situation, writing, “To say that the Herald ‘outed’ Wilson is wrong. Like other mastheads do every day, we simply asked questions and as standard practice included a deadline for a response. I had made no decision about whether or what to publish, and the Herald’s decision about what to do would have been informed by any response Wilson supplied.” Hornery later issued an apology op-ed piece.
“I genuinely regret that Rebel has found this hard. That was never my intention,” Hornery penned. “But I see she has handled it all with extraordinary grace. As a gay man, I’m well aware of how deeply discrimination hurts. The last thing I would ever want to do is inflict that pain on someone else.”
Hornery added that his editors “mishandled steps in our approach” and clarified that his inquiry was “never intended to be a threat but to make it clear I was sufficiently confident with my information and to open a conversation.”
Hornery shared, “It is not the Herald’s business to ‘out’ people and that is not what we set out to do. But I understand why my email has been seen as a threat. The framing of it was a mistake. The Herald and I will approach things differently from now on to make sure we always take into consideration the extra layer of complexities people face when it comes to their sexuality.”
The original column was additionally deleted with a retraction issued. So apparently it wasn't @RebelWilson's choice to come out… The @smh/@theage have admitted to giving her a heads up 2 days in advance that they were going to "out" her. What's worse, openly gay men at the Sydney Morning Herald were involved in this. 🤦🏼♀️ https://t.co/Zl80zg01SW
— Kate Doak (@katedoak) June 11, 2022 Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Celebrity |
Sports’ all-time earnings leaders include two soccer stars, a tennis pro, an NBA forward, a prize fighter and a golf legend. Phil Mickelson’s rumored $200 million contract with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour is the latest, and largest, example of the value that sports leagues, brands and even sovereign wealth funds see in aligning themselves with the best athletes in the world. “Athletes are strategic assets of the leagues in which they play,” says David Carter, who founded the consulting firm Sports Business Group and is a professor of sports business at USC. “Before, they were simply employees.” If credited for the LIV Golf payout, which he did not explicitly deny when confronted with the report at a press conference this week, Mickelson would join one of the most exclusive clubs in all of sports: those athletes who have earned more than $1 billion in their careers. To date, there are six athletes who have brought in that much money. These billion-dollar earners have transcended the sports they have respectively dominated and become global icons, leading to even more lucrative opportunities outside their fields of play. For example, the top earner of all, Tiger Woods, made less than 10% of his $1.72 billion career haul from golf winnings, with the rest mostly coming from massive endorsement deals he has maintained across a storied 27-year career. Woods is a billionaire, as is LeBron James, who has brought in $1.16 billion in lifetime earnings and made plenty of his money from smart investments. But they are the only two among these billion-dollar earners to cross that wealth threshold. That’s because earnings are recorded before taxes, agents’ fees and other expenses.
Still, the existence of athlete billionaires is a new phenomenon, enabled by the ever-expanding reach of modern media. As the international celebrity of top athletes increases, so has the size of their endorsement deals.
“None of these guys are going to be billionaires if they don’t have a global footprint,” Carter says. “What is new in the last generation is the immediacy of the media link to technology, the fact that most businesses these guys are involved in have a global opportunity attached to it.”
The trend shows no signs of slowing, and in recent years, record-breaking sports contracts seem to be surpassed before the ink has dried on the previous record holder’s deal. Before long, more athletes may join the ranks of these privileged few. All-Time Earnings Leaders Ben Jared/PGA TOUR/Getty Images Tiger Woods $1.72 bil
Golf
The 46-year-old Woods was, at his peak, the most prolific athlete endorser in history, raking in over $100 million off the course per year and leading Forbes’ annual list of the world’s highest-paid athletes for a decade straight. Rui Vieira/AP Cristiano Ronaldo $1.24 bil
Soccer
The world’s all-time goal-scoring leader boasts more than 690 million followers across social media platforms, allowing him to command sky-high rates from sponsors like Nike, Herbalife and Clear shampoo. He’s an investor in Tatel restaurants and the forthcoming soccer community app ZujuGP, and he still commands premium wages on the pitch for Manchester United. JAYNE KAMIN ONCEA/GETTY IMAGES LeBron James $1.16 bil
Basketball
In addition to his lifetime contract with Nike and a $41.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, the 37-year-old hoops legend sold a significant minority stake in his production company, SpringHill, in October at a valuation of about $725 million. He has also taken equity stakes in several of the companies he has endorsed, including the at-home fitness company Tonal, which helps push him to a net worth of $1 billion. Marcio Machado/Getty Images Lionel Messi $1.15 bil
Soccer
The Argentine forward was the highest-paid athlete in the world over the past 12 months despite taking a significant pay cut when he moved to Paris Saint-Germain from Barcelona in August. He added a $20 million deal with fan engagement app Socios in March to go with long-term deals with Adidas, Budweiser, PepsiCo and Hard Rock International. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Roger Federer $1.09 bil
Tennis
Despite not playing in a tournament since Wimbledon last July, the 40-year-old Swiss maestro earned more money off the field—$90 million—than any other athlete in the world over the last 12 months. He’s a top pitchman for Rolex and Uniqlo and has a sizable investment in burgeoning shoe brand On. Isaac Brekken/AP Floyd Mayweather $1.08 bill
Boxing
In 2018, Mayweather produced the biggest single payday in the history of sports when he netted $275 million from his prize fight with Conor McGregor. His decision to run his own promotion company for his fights led to him receiving a cut of the pay-per-view, gate, sponsorships, merchandise and international TV deals for each of the four most profitable fights in boxing history. | Golf |
If you're looking for reassurance that the world keeps turning and that there's stability somewhere in the universe, Monday night's strawberry supermoon might offer some celestial solace.The scientific name for a supermoon is actually a perigee-syzygy moon. It's a little surprising this name isn't more commonly used, given that it's such a fun phrase to say. A perigee-syzygy moon is when the moon is both at its full phase and at the closest point to Earth in its elliptical orbit around us.The result is a full moon that can appear up to 15% bigger and 30% brighter in the evening sky compared to a normal moon, according to NASA. In the case of this month's strawberry varietal, however, it's expected to be closer to 7% bigger and 15% brighter. The strawberry moniker has nothing to do with the appearance of the moon itself, although any full moon may have a reddish hue near the horizon, especially in areas where hazy conditions are present. Rather the name comes from early berries that ripen and are ready for harvest in June. Some alternative names for the June full moon, according the Old Farmer's Almanac include blooming moon, green corn moon, honey moon, mead moon and egg laying moon.A 15% brighter moon might actually be hard to detect with the naked eye, but it can be helpful to plan to view it right as it rises in the eastern horizon, when it will appear even larger due to an optical illusion.
This also makes it easy to remember when to go supermoon-spotting. Because the full moon is always directly opposed by the sun, you can expect it to rise in the east roughly around the same time the sun sets in the west, depending on the topography on those horizons in your location. If the weather or your schedule doesn't cooperate, you can always check out the view via the Virtual Telescope Project's livestream above. Failing that, you don't have to wait long for the next supermoon -- it's the next full moon, on July 13. | Space Exploration |
LONDON — Actor Kevin Spacey was charged with four counts of sexual assault Monday in London, the city’s police force said in a news release.Spacey, 62, who was also charged with one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without their consent, is scheduled to appear in court in London on Thursday where he will confirm his identity and that he understands the charges. A date for a full trial has not yet been announced.The offenses, which involve three men, are alleged to have occurred between March 2005 and April 2013, police said in the news release. Spacey’s representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.British authorities last month authorized the indictments against Spacey, which only took effect when Spacey traveled to England to be formally charged.Spacey told ABC News’ “Good Morning America” that he denied the charges and would travel to Britain to defend himself. “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the U.K. as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence,” he said in a statement to the show.Get The Big To-DoYour guide to staying entertained, from live shows and outdoor fun to the newest in museums, movies, TV, books, dining, and more.The charges detailed in the news released relate to incidents alleged to have taken place in London and in Gloucestershire, England. They date from the time when Spacey was the artistic director of the Old Vic theater in London, the playhouse he led from 2003-15.The first person to publicly accuse Spacey, a two-time Academy Award winner, of sexual misconduct was actor Anthony Rapp, who said in 2017 that Spacey made unwanted sexual advances toward him at a New York party in 1986, when he was 14 years old.Soon after Rapp’s allegations appeared in an article published by BuzzFeed, multiple men who worked with Spacey at the Old Vic also accused him of inappropriate behavior. An independent investigation, commissioned by the theater, said Spacey’s “stardom and status” might have stopped people from raising accusations when they occurred. The investigators’ report added that they could not independently verify the allegations, and Spacey did not participate.In 2019, Spacey was at the center of another sexual assault case in Massachusetts.He was accused of groping an 18-year-old busboy working at a bar on Nantucket. Charges were ultimately dropped when the accuser, the son of former WCVB-TV anchor Heather Unruh, refused to testify about deleted cellphone messages sent from the bar on the night of the encounter. | Celebrity |
FILE – Ronnie Wood, left, Mick Jagger, center, and Keith Richards, of the Rolling Stones play on stage at the Anfield stadium in Liverpool, England, during a concert as part of their “Sixty” European tour, Thursday, June 9, 2022. The Rolling Stones canceled their concert in Amsterdam Monday just hours before it was due to start after lead singer Mick Jagger tested positive for COVID-19.
The band announced the cancelation in a statement, saying the 78-year-old Jagger tested positive “after experiencing symptoms of COVID upon arrival at the stadium” on the outskirts of Amsterdam. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell, File) Mick Jagger is apologizing for being forced to postpone a Rolling Stones concert, saying he tested positive for COVID-19. The “(I Can’t Get no) Satisfaction” singer announced his diagnosis on Twitter on Monday, writing to his 2.4 million followers that the band’s show in Amsterdam wouldn’t go on as planned. “I am so sorry that we’ve had to postpone the Amsterdam show with such short notice tonight,” Jagger, 78, said. “I have unfortunately just tested positive for COVID,” he said. Jagger said the group aimed to reschedule the “Stones Sixty” European tour date as soon as possible, thanking fans for their “patience and understanding.” Last year, Jagger — who has been critical of anti-vaccination activists — released a song with Foo Fighters guitarist Dave Grohl about life during the coronavirus pandemic called “Eazy Sleazy.” The tune addressed COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, with lines that included “Shooting the vaccine / Bill Gates is in my bloodstream / It’s mind control / The Earth is flat and cold / It’s never warming up.” Tags Coronavirus COVID-19 Dave Grohl Foo Fighters Mick Jagger Mick Jagger Rolling Stone | Music |
Starship prototypes are pictured at the SpaceX South Texas launch site in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., May 22, 2022. Picture taken May 22, 2022. REUTERS/Veronica G. CardenasRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, June 13 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday approved a final environmental assessment of the proposed SpaceX Starship spacecraft and Super Heavy rocket program in Boca Chica, Texas.The FAA published a finding of "No Significant Impact" and is requiring more than 75 actions to mitigate environmental impacts, the agency said. The FAA notes completing the environmental review does not guarantee the issuance of a vehicle operator license, which is contingent upon meeting FAA requirements for safety, risk and financial responsibility.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by David Shepardson and Joey Roulette
Editing by Nick ZieminskiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Emerging Technologies |
Jiri Prochazka Brings UFC Belt To Czech Republic ... Huge Crowd Goes Crazy! 6/13/2022 11:13 AM PT Jiri Prochazka made history Saturday night -- becoming the first Czech fighter to win a UFC championship -- and thousands of delirious fans showed up to greet the home country hero on Monday. 29-year-old Prochazka was losing his UFC 275 title fight with Glover Teixeira ... but somehow, someway managed to get the 42-year-old champ's neck and force the tap out with 28 seconds left in the 5 round fight. The win made Jiri the first Czech-born champ ... and when the newly crowned champ arrived back to his hometown in Brno, there was a huge crown waiting to give him a hero's welcome! What's more impressive ... this was only Prochazka's 3rd fight in the UFC. He previously beat Volkan Oezdemir (July 2020) and Dominick Reyes (May 2021). But, he's been fighting MMA (and other combat forms) for a long time ... going back professionally to 2012. Jiri's overall record is 29-3. The champ's home, and the party is on!! | MMA |
CNN — US actor Kevin Spacey is set to appear before a UK court later this week after being charged with four counts of sexual assault against three men, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said on Monday. Spacey, 62, was also charged with causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent, police said. The actor will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Thursday. The charges relate to two alleged incidents in London in 2005, another two in 2008, and a further incident in Gloucestershire in 2013. The alleged victim of the 2005 incidents is now in his 40s, while the two men allegedly involved in the 2008 and 2013 incidents are now in their 30s, the force said. The decision to formally charge Spacey came after “a review by the Crown Prosecution Service of the evidence gathered by the Metropolitan Police in its investigation,” police added. Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorized the charges against the actor last month, but the charges could not be formally applied until he was in the UK. Following the CPS authorization, Spacey had said he intended to travel to the UK to deny the charges, according to a statement released to Good Morning America reported by the UK’s PA Media news agency. “While I am disappointed with their decision to move forward, I will voluntarily appear in the UK as soon as can be arranged and defend myself against these charges, which I am confident will prove my innocence,” the statement read. Spacey has won two Academy Awards for his roles in “The Usual Suspects” and “American Beauty,” and was artistic director of London’s Old Vic theater from 2003 to 2015. He has also starred in the Netflix political series “House of Cards,” and returned to acting in the past year. CNN’s Rob Picheta contributed to this report. | Celebrity |
LONDON -- Actor Kevin Spacey has been formally charged with sexual offenses against three men in Britain and is expected to appear in a court in London this week, British police said Monday.Spacey, 62, is accused of four counts of sexual assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent.The video above is from May 2022 when Spacey's charges were first reported.Spacey is due to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates Court on Thursday.The alleged incidents took place in London between March 2005 and August 2008, and one in western England in April 2013. The victims are now in their 30s and 40s.The Crown Prosecution Service authorized charges against Spacey last month.Spacey, a double Academy Award winner, was questioned by British police in 2019 about claims by several men that he had assaulted them. The former "House of Cards" star ran London's Old Vic theater between 2004 and 2015.Spacey won a best supporting actor Academy Award for the 1995 film "The Usual Suspects" and a lead actor Oscar for the 1999 movie "American Beauty."But his celebrated career came to an abrupt halt in 2017 when actor Anthony Rapp accused the star of assaulting him at a party in the 1980s, when Rapp was a teenager. Spacey denies the allegations.SEE MORE: Spacey apologizes after actor accuses him of past harassment Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Celebrity |
Google suspended an engineer last week for publicly revealing details of a chatbot powered by artificial intelligence in violation of the search giant's confidentiality policies, a move that marks the latest disruption of the company's AI department. Blake Lemoine, a senior software engineer in Google's Responsible Artificial Intelligence group, was put on paid administrative leave after he took his concern that the chatbot, known as LaMDA, or Language Model for Dialogue Applications, had achieved sentience. Lemoine revealed his suspension in a June 6 Medium post and subsequently discussed his concerns about LaMDA's sentience with The Washington Post in a story published over the weekend,In his Medium post, Lemoine says that he investigated ethics concerns with people outside of Google in order to get enough evidence to escalate them to senior management. The Medium post was "intentionally vague" about the nature of his concerns though they were detailed in The Post story. On Saturday, Lemoine published a series of "interviews" that he conducted with LaMDA.Lemoine didn't immediately respond to a request for comment via LinkedIn. In a Twitter post, Lemoine said that he's on his honeymoon and would be unavailable for comment until June 21.In a statement, Google dismissed Lemoine's assertion that LaMDA is self-aware."These systems imitate the types of exchanges found in millions of sentences, and can riff on any fantastical topic," Google spokesperson Brian Gabriel said in a statement. "If you ask what it's like to be an ice cream dinosaur, they can generate text about melting and roaring and so on." The high-profile suspension makes another point of controversy within Google's Ethical AI unit which has weathered a spate of departures. In late 2020, prominent AI ethics researcher Timnit Gebru said Google fired her for raising concerns about bias in AI systems. About 2,700 Googlers signed an open letter in support of Gebru, who Google says resigned her position. Two months later, Margarent Mitchell, who co-led the Ethical AI team along with Gebru, was fired. Research scientist Alex Hanna and software engineer Dylan Baker subsequently resigned. Earlier this year, Google fired Satrajit Chatterjee, an AI researcher, who challenged a research paper about the use of artificial intelligence to develop computer chips.AI sentience is a common theme in science fiction but few researchers believe the technology is advanced enough at this point to create a self-aware chatbot. | AI Policy and Regulations |
Jennifer Hudson has achieved the rarified status of EGOT with her Tony win for producing “A Strange Loop.”The awards gauntlet lingo of “EGOT” refers to individuals who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony over the course of their careers in entertainment. Notable figures who have netted wins across all four awards bodies include Rita Moreno, Alan Menken, Andrew Lloyd Webber, John Legend, Mike Nichols, Mel Brooks and Whoopi Goldberg.Only 16 individuals in history had achieved an EGOT in competitive categories ahead of tonight’s Tony Awards. Now, Hudson is the 17th.Hudson took the first steps to achieving EGOT with her Oscar win in the category of best supporting actress for her performance in 2006′s “Dreamgirls.” Since then, Hudson has netted two performing Grammys — one for best musical theater album for “The Color Purple” in 2017 and another for best R&B album for her self-titled album in 2009 — as well as a Daytime Emmy for executing producing the VR-animated film “Baba Yaga.”Coincidentally, this year’s ceremony for the 75th Tony Awards was hosted by a fellow supporting actress Oscar winner in Ariana DeBose, who took home the award this year for her performance in Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story.”“A Strange Loop” entered into Sunday evening’s awards ceremony as an awards darling, gathering momentum from rave reviews and a passionate fanbase. Michael R. Jackson’s Pulitzer-winner led the field, netting 11 nominations across all categories, including in L Morgan Lee for best featured actress in a musical, making Lee the first transgender individual to be nominated for a Tony. | Music |
LOS ANGELES -- With over a billion streams to date, Sofia Carson has carved out her own distinct path in music, film, television and philanthropy.Known for her starring roles in "Descendants," "Feel the Beat," "Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists" and Michael Bay's "Songbird," she's earned a number of award nominations including Teen Choice Awards and Radio Disney Music Awards. Carson has performed at high-profile events like the 2020 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and launched her own makeup collection with Revlon, where she's a global brand ambassador.A devoted philanthropist, she is a U.S. Ambassador for UNICEF, the first global ambassador of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, a member of the first-ever Ambassadors Council for The Music Forward Foundation and an honorary board member of We Do it Together, a nonprofit production company dedicated to the empowerment of women.Carson has always had a love for storytelling through music and film and hopes that every song and role she plays has the power to impact audiences, especially young girls. Her song "Loud" was released in early 2022 and has already had a massive impact on audiences across the globe, with countless listeners taking to social media to share their stories of triumphant self-acceptance."'Loud' is dedicated to all the women of the world and all the loud voices of change," Carson said.SEE ALSO: What is Title IX?The multi-hyphenate talent will be hosting the upcoming "Our America: Fifty50" hourlong special for ABC Owned Television Stations. It is part of The Walt Disney Company's Fifty50 campaign commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination at educational institutions that receive money from the federal government."Fifty50 to me means justice," said Carson. "To be fair and to be just means to not judge based on gender, ethnicity or identity but judged based on who we are as human beings."Watch Sofia Carson host "Our America: Fifty50," an ABC Owned Television Stations special commemorating the 50th anniversary of Title IX, on your local ABC station (click here to check local listings) or this Friday, June 17, wherever you stream: Fire TV, Android TV, Apple TV and Roku.Keep reading to learn more about Sofia Carson or click here to visit her website:On her self-titled debut album, globally beloved singer/songwriter/actress/activist Sofia Carson shares a deeply personal portrait of love and all its complexities. Over the course of 10 magnetic pop songs, Carson details a journey from infatuation to heartbreak to self-salvation, endlessly spotlighting the stunning vocal presence she's shown on the stages of major festivals like Coachella and brought to such endeavors as her starring role in Disney's hit musical-film series Descendants. Revealing entirely new dimensions of her extraordinary artistry, the result is an ambitious and masterfully realized body of work a near-lifetime in the making."When I was 11-years-old I was given a songbook that I wrote all my songs in, and on the very first page I wrote: 'I hope that when people listen to my music, they hear their story in mine,'" Carson recalls. "I always knew that with my first album, I wanted to tell a story from start to finish, so I did. I wrote a story about love: about a girl who falls into a beautiful but deceiving love only to get shattered into pieces, but nonetheless, the story about a girl who survives."Featuring smash singles like "Fool's Gold" (a supremely fierce track that marked her first Top 40 radio hit), Carson's debut album finds her collaborating with an A-list lineup of producers and co-writers, including Rami Yacoub (Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato), Justin Tranter (Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa), and Stargate (Rihanna, Beyoncé). In sculpting the sonic backdrop to her heart-on-sleeve storytelling, Carson wove in elements of soul and R&B and wildly rhythmic pop, noting that she's "always gravitated toward music that makes you want to dance and cry at the same time. Music that moves both your body and soul." But no matter which genre she's inhabiting, Carson infuses each track with a cinematic intensity. "I tend to look at my songs as miniature films that I write in my head and then bring to life," she points out.Informed by her own experiences in love (and by the stories of those closest to her), Sofia Carson kicks off with "It's Only Love, Nobody Dies"-a hypnotic and high-drama track that sets the stage for the album's exploration of love's more complicated aspects, unfolding in combustible beats and gorgeously sprawling textures. "It's the first song, but the last chapter of the story," Carson explains. "Once broken, she has chosen to pick up the pieces of her heart and find the strength to survive, because come what may, it's only love, nobody dies." Expanding on the empowering spirit of its opening number, Sofia Carson next offers up the unapologetically bold "LOUD." With its stark guitar tones and spellbinding vocal work, the track arrives as an understated but unstoppable anthem of finding your voice and owning your truth. "'LOUD' is the chapter in my story when she chooses to fall back in love with the greatest love of all: herself. And promises that from that moment on, she will forever and always be loud," says Carson. First released in early 2022, "LOUD" has already had a massive impact on audiences across the globe, with countless listeners taking to social media to share their stories of triumphant self-acceptance. "It's been so overwhelmingly beautiful to see how people have made this song their own," Carson says. "However they identify, they're standing up and telling the world that they won't be silenced, that they were made to be loud, which says so much about the beauty of music: by amplifying my own voice, I'm able to amplify and celebrate the voices of others."One of the most euphoric tracks on Sofia Carson, "Timeless" is a dance-floor-ready bop built on throbbing rhythms and the jangly guitar riffs of classic disco. "It's about that moment when you're struck by the certainty that your love could stand the test of time. I wanted the song to feel like a spectacular celebration of love-not knowing or caring what's happening around you, because you're so completely and beautifully lost in that feeling," she says. From there, the album shifts into the soulful urgency of "Stay," an irresistibly moody meditation on longing and regret. "The process of creating 'Stay' was one of my most emotional writing experiences, because it was so deeply vulnerable," says Carson, who recorded the song at the former studio of Frank Sinatra with the iconic Rami Yacoub and Johann Carrlson from MXM. "I poured my heart into every melody, and left my soul in every word. I wanted my vocal to truly capture what it feels like to be broken by love." And on "Como, Cuando Y Donde," Carson presents a breathtaking piano ballad delivered in Spanish, overflowing with an undeniably raw emotion that defies all language barriers. "This song is about the endless nights when you're mind races with thoughts of when you lost him, why things went wrong, and where he could be. And most of all, the resounding truth in your heart that you are willing to go wherever whenever, to be with him again." "Because this album is a reflection of who I am, I knew I needed a song in Spanish-I was raised bi-culturally and grew up singing and writing music in both Spanish and English. This song was the perfect choice; it's beautifully tender, yet passionately heartbreaking."All throughout her debut album, Carson uses the whirlwind of romantic love as a lens for examining everything from self-worth to liberation to the power of trusting your intuition. Listing pop storytellers like Taylor Swift and writers like Isabel Allende and Paulo Coelho among her most enduring inspirations, she grew up on an eclectic mix of artists (Elvis Presley, Alicia Keys, Basque singing group Mocedades) and started crafting songs of her own at the age of ten. "My first song was in English and Spanish and was called 'Leave Me Alone,' or 'Déjame en Paz,'" she remembers. "I was always drawn toward writing about love, and always drawn to the dramatic." At age 16 Carson began traveling to L.A. for songwriting sessions, each time with her treasured songbook in hand. "I'd hand-write all my songs in that book, and I still have it with me now," she says. "It's a reminder of a little girl who was fearless and always true to who she was."With over a billion streams to date, Carson has since carved out her own distinct path in music, film, TV, and philanthropy. Along with scoring a #1 hit on the Billboard 200 with the gold-certified soundtrack to Descendants, she saw her 2019 hit single "I Luv U" hit #1 on Spotify's highly coveted playlist New Music Friday. Known for her starring roles in Netflix's Feel The Beat, Michael Bay's Songbird, and Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists, she's earned a number of award nominations (including the Teen Choice Awards' Best Drama Actress and Next Big Thing and Radio Disney Music Awards' Best Song), performed at such high-profile events as the 2020 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and launched her own makeup collection via Revlon (who named her a global brand ambassador). Also a devoted philanthropist, Carson is a U.S. Ambassador for UNICEF, the first global ambassador of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, a member of the first-ever Ambassadors Council for The Music Forward Foundation, and an honorary board member of WE DO IT TOGETHER (a nonprofit production company dedicated to the empowerment of women).Now set to star in, executive-produce, and co-write/perform the soundtrack to Netflix's upcoming film Purple Hearts, Carson brought her boundless vision to the visual component of her full-length debut. "When we were creating the visual story for the album, I came up with the idea of focusing on the five elements-they're the essence of life, just like my stories are the essence of who I am," she says. In the video for "Fool's Good," for instance, Carson metaphorically plays with fire, while the visual for "He Loves Me, But..." conjures the element of earth in its majestic desert landscape.In looking back on the making of her debut album, Carson is quick to note the immense joy she discovered in fully immersing herself in the creative process. "It was incredibly freeing to dive into the depths of my heart, to take all the stories and secrets that had been hiding there, and make them into beautiful music," she says. "This album taught me that there's so much beauty in vulnerability." And as she worked to overcome that fear, Carson found infinite strength in the heartfelt intention she brings to all of her output. "With every song I write and every role I play, I keep in mind that there's at least one girl in one corner of the world who'll be impacted by my voice and my art," she says. "I consider that a beautiful responsibility and an absolute privilege, so I carry them with me in everything I do."Biography provided by Hollywood Records Copyright © 2022 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved. | Music |
GLENDALE, Calif. -- Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's first movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in "Seinfeld," has died. He was 90.Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor's wife of nearly 40 years, on Monday said Hall died Sunday surrounded by loved ones in Glendale, California. She said Hall had been well until a few weeks earlier, and spent his final days in warm spirits, reflecting on his life."His voice at the end was still just as powerful," said Wolfle Hall.Born in Toledo, Ohio, Hall had been a well-traveled stage actor and bit-part presence in films and TV before a then-little-known Paul Thomas Anderson sought him out to star in his 1993 short film "Cigarettes & Coffee." After the short, with Hall playing an itinerate gambler, made it into the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson expanded it into his feature debut, 1997's "Hard Eight," which catapulted Hall's career. Anderson would cast him again in "Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia."To many, Hall was instantly recognizable for one of the most intense guest appearances on "Seinfeld." In the 22nd episode of the sitcom in 1991, Hall played Lt. Joe Bookman, the library investigator who comes after Seinfeld for years-overdue copy of "Tropic of Cancer." Hall played him like an old-school noir detective, telling Seinfeld: "Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is over."Hall's other credits included playing Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's 1984 drama "Secret Honor." He had parts in "The Truman Show," "The Insider," "Zodiac," "Argo" and "Rush Hour."Hall is survived by his wife, four daughters, four grandchildren and his brother. Copyright © 2022 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. | Movies |
Amber Heard doesn’t blame jurors for ruling against her in the defamation trial pitting her against her fellow actor and former husband Johnny Depp over domestic abuse allegations, but she did dismiss the social media commentary surrounding the case as “unfair” to her, she said in her first remarks since the blockbuster verdict.Heard made the statements during a sit-down interview with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie, a preview of which aired on Monday morning on the network’s Today show.“I don’t blame [the jury] – I actually understand,” Heard said of the verdict favoring Depp. “He’s a beloved character, and people feel they know him. He’s a fantastic actor.”Heard, however, was critical of social media commentators, saying they were unduly and overwhelmingly on Depp’s side throughout the seven-week trial. An NBC article accompanying the preview of Heard’s interview noted how the TikTok hashtag #justiceforjohnnydepp had nearly 20bn views while #justiceforamberheard racked up about 80m.Meanwhile, #amberheardisguilty and similarly themed hashtags accumulated 900m views, NBC reported.“I don’t care what one thinks about me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home, in my marriage, behind closed doors,” Heard said. “I don’t presume the average person should know those things. And so I don’t take it personally.“But even somebody who is sure I’m deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I’m lying, you still couldn’t look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there’s been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair.”A jury in a Virginia court on 1 June awarded Depp $15m for three counts of defamation that he claimed were inflicted on him by Heard in a 2018 Washington Post editorial. Heard did not name Depp in the piece, in which she described herself as “a public figure representing domestic abuse”.The judge presiding over the case later reduced the award to the actor who once starred in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise to $10.35m.Heard at the trial won on one counterclaim, with jurors giving the Aquaman actor $2m after she argued that a Depp press agent defamed her by calling her allegations “an abuse hoax” aimed at capitalizing on the #MeToo movement.The jury’s verdict capped off proceedings that featured dozens of witnesses and experts weighing in on whether Depp was abusive to Heard – or vice versa – during their 15-month marriage which ended in 2016. Heard has said she intends to appeal against the decision from jurors while Depp thanked them for, as he put it, giving him his life back.Both actors testified at length during the trial.In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for Heard said the actor’s interview with Guthrie was a reaction to Depp’s post-verdict media appearances.“Ms Heard simply intended to respond to what they aggressively did … [and] she did so by expressing her thoughts and feelings, much of which she was not allowed to do on the witness stand,” the statement added.Heard’s interview is scheduled to air Tuesday and Wednesday on the Today show and Friday at 8pm ET on Dateline NBC. | Celebrity |
By Jake Coyle | Associated Press
NEW YORK — Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s first movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in “Seinfeld,” has died. He was 90.
Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor’s wife of nearly 40 years, on Monday said Hall died Sunday surrounded by loved ones in Glendale, California. She said Hall had been well until a few weeks earlier, and spent his final days in warm spirits, reflecting on his life.
“His voice at the end was still just as powerful,” said Wolfle Hall. Born in Toledo, Ohio, Hall had been a well-traveled stage actor and bit-part presence in films and TV before a then-little-known Paul Thomas Anderson sought him out to star in his 1993 short film “Cigarettes & Coffee.” After the short, with Hall playing an itinerate gambler, made it into the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson expanded it into his feature debut, 1997’s “Hard Eight,” which catapulted Hall’s career. Anderson would cast him again in “Boogie Nights” and “Magnolia.”
To many, Hall was instantly recognizable for one of the most intense guest appearances on “Seinfeld.” In the 22nd episode of the sitcom in 1991, Hall played Lt. Joe Bookman, the library investigator who comes after Seinfeld for years-overdue copy of “Tropic of Cancer.” Hall played him like an old-school noir detective, telling Seinfeld: “Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is over.”
Hall’s other credits included playing Richard Nixon in Robert Altman’s 1984 drama “Secret Honor.” He had parts in “The Truman Show,” “The Insider,” “Zodiac,” “Argo” and “Rush Hour.”
Hall is survived by his wife, four daughters, four grandchildren and his brother. | Movies |
White Sox starter Michael Kopech walks off the field with a trainer after suffering an injury to his right ankle in the first inning Sunday against the Rangers.Nam Y. Huh/AP The latest round of frustration for the White Sox started with right-hander Michael Kopech spiking a baseball after only 13 pitches Sunday before walking off the field. It ended with Luis Robert standing helplessly at third base after committing the final out on a baserunning blunder.Those were two of several setbacks the Sox must overcome after an 8-6 loss to the Rangers in 12 innings that created more shuffling as they embark on a six-game trip to Detroit and Houston.Fortunately for the Sox, the pop Kopech felt in his right ankle after delivering a pitch with two outs in the first might need only two extra days of rest before he possibly can start the series finale against the Astros.In the meantime, the Sox will look for coverage after right-hander Johnny Cueto — their original starter Monday — pitched five innings of relief a day after throwing 45 pitches in preparation for his start.
Right-handers Lance Lynn and Dylan Cease now will start the first two games against the Tigers. Lynn originally was scheduled to be activated from the 15-day injured list Tuesday to make his season debut after having surgery on his right knee in April.The Sox will need a starter for Wednesday, but that issue isn’t as urgent as others.The combined relief efforts of Reynaldo Lopez, Cueto, Tanner Banks and Kendall Graveman got the Sox to the 10th inning in a 3-3 tie. But closer Liam Hendriks wasn’t available after throwing 15 pitches Friday, and the Rangers capitalized on a three-run home run by Ezequiel Duran in the 11th and a two-run single by Jonah Heim in the 12th.‘‘That’s a game we have to win,’’ manager Tony La Russa said. ‘‘We have to find a way to win that thing.’’Any chance of a comeback in the 12th ended when Robert advanced from second to third on a deep fly to left by Jake Burger but slid past the bag and was tagged for the final out of the game. Burger, not Robert, represented the tying run.‘‘You know I like aggressiveness, but that wasn’t a good play,’’ said La Russa, who later added: ‘‘We like his aggressiveness, and there’s a place for it. But that’s one place where you just read the scoreboard. It always should dictate how much you want to push, when you should push. He’s a quick learner. He won’t do it again.’’The Sox (27-31) remained six games behind the Twins in the American League Central after concluding a 2-4 homestand.Cueto provided lengthy relief despite spending the morning in a whirlpool and admittedly not stretching before volunteering to pitch after Kopech left the game.‘‘I’m a little bit sore, but normal sore,’’ said Cueto, who knew the bullpen already was taxed.Kopech said his ankle was sore but was informed there were no structural issues. The Sox were looking for length from Kopech, who threw six innings of one-hit ball against the Dodgers in his last start Tuesday, but were forced to scramble after he couldn’t put any pressure on his foot before attempting a warmup pitch.‘‘I was frustrated,’’ Kopech said. ‘‘I thought it was worse than what it was, but I’m grateful for the news.’’The Sox are 0-5-3 in their last eight series at Guaranteed Rate Field after winning their first two home series this season.The initial fears of Kopech’s injury seized the concerns of Sox fans more than the previous day, when chants of ‘‘Fire Tony’’ echoed for 20 seconds.‘‘It’s the same difference,’’ La Russa said before the game. ‘‘I’m glad the fans are here, and whatever their honest feeling is, have at it. I’ve managed a long time.‘‘There have been times where people have not been pleased with the job that I do. Just do your best.’’ | Baseball |
Bryce Hall Tesla Wrecked by Drunk Driver, Cops Say 6/13/2022 11:28 AM PT Bryce Hall is lucky to be standing after an alleged drunk driver plowed into his Tesla, totaling the vehicle. Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the suspect who ran into Hall blew more than double the legal limit and was arrested for DUI Sunday night in WeHo after his SUV crashed into Bryce's Tesla. We're told no one was seriously injured, but some were complaining about aches and pains after the crash. Cops say the TikTok star's Tesla had its airbags deployed and ended up getting towed away ... he was pretty shaken up, telling those around him he wasn't getting the answers he wanted. 12/20/21 TMZ.com As we reported, Bryce had an incident last December with a man named Joshua Shakill who was arrested on suspicion of burglary ... the guy broke into his West Hollywood home while Bryce was there. BACKGRID Bryce accused the man of having followed or approached him before ... though it's not clear why he continues to allegedly follow him. Bryce and another man kept him detained in his driveway until cops arrived. | Celebrity |
Philip Baker Hall, a prolific character actor best known for his world-weary performances in "Boogie Nights," "The Truman Show," and dozens of other films and television shows stretching across five decades, died Sunday.He was 90. Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor's wife, confirmed his death to The Associated Press on Monday, saying her husband of nearly 40 years died surrounded by loved ones in Glendale, California.Hall was a regular in the early films of Paul Thomas Anderson, starring as a sad-eyed veteran gambler in the director's feature debut "Hard Eight" (1996) and later playing key roles in the ensemble dramas "Boogie Nights" (1997) and "Magnolia" (1999).Hall met Anderson on the set of a PBS special in the early 1990s, when the precocious younger man was a production assistant and aspiring filmmaker."He was just a walking encyclopedia of film; he knew it all," Hall told the theater publication Playbill in 2000. "I asked him about his aspirations, and he said, 'I'd like to be a writer-director, and by the way, I'm doing a short film, 'Cigarettes and Coffee,' which has a terrific role for you.'"Anderson made "Cigarettes and Coffee" on a shoestring budget and later used it as the basis for "Hard Eight," featuring Hall alongside John C. Reilly and Gwyneth Paltrow.In one of the most notable leading parts of his career, Hall portrayed a paranoid, vengeful version of Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's "Secret Honor" (1984), a claustrophobic drama adapted from a one-person stage play of the same name.In a glowing review of the film, Roger Ebert wrote: "Nixon is portrayed by Philip Baker Hall, an actor previously unknown to me, with such savage intensity, such passion, such venom, such scandal, that we cannot turn away."Hall looks a little like the real Nixon; he could be a cousin, and he sounds a little like him. That's close enough," Ebert added. "This is not an impersonation, it's a performance."Hall established himself as one of the most reliable character actors of the 1980s and '90s with appearances in "Midnight Run" (1988), "Say Anything" (1989), "The Rock" (1996), "The Truman Show" (1998), "The Insider" (1999) and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (1999).Hall could be trusted to add understated gravitas and low-key authority to virtually any film or television project. Instantly recognizable for his hangdog expressions and leathery voice, he conveyed equal parts wisdom and melancholy with seeming ease“Magnolia” offered Hall an especially rich role as an alcoholic game show host overcome with regret over the sins of his past as he tries (and fails) to reconcile with his daughter, played by Melora Walters."My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night," The Los Angeles Times reporter Sam Farmer said in a tweet announcing the news."He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it," Farmer added.Hall was born Sept. 10, 1931, in Toledo, Ohio. He got his start as a performer in theatrical productions before moving into film and television, guest-starring on "M*A*S*H," "Good Times" and other popular series.But out of all of Hall's television guest spots, he will probably be best remembered for his turn on "Seinfeld" as Lt. Joe Bookman, a hard-boiled investigator hellbent on tracking down an overdue library copy of "Tropic of Cancer.""It's funny, Lt. Bookman was one of the last roles I ever auditioned for, simply because so many doors opened up after I did the show," Hall told Rolling Stone in 2014. "I remember that Jerry [Seinfeld] had a hard time keeping a straight face during the reading. Usually, when you read for things, no one lets on too much, even if they like you," he added. "But people were fighting to control their laughter."Hall endeared himself to a new generation of TV viewers with his performance as a Dunphy family neighbor on the ABC sitcom "Modern Family." He continued to appear in acclaimed films such as David Fincher's "Zodiac" (2007) and Ben Affleck's "Argo" (2012).In an interview with Playbill in 2000, Hall offered advice to aspiring performers, saying: "Keep working and keep doing what you want to do."Though the acknowledgment I struggled for as a professional did not come 'til much later in life, I loved what I was doing, and I never stopped," Hall added. "Then things just started exploding all over the place for me."Daniel Arkin is a reporter for NBC News who focuses on popular culture and the entertainment industry, particularly film and television. | Movies |
Amazon boxes are seen stacked for delivery in the Manhattan borough of New York City, January 29, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar/File PhotoRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comJune 13 (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O)said on Monday that customers in Lockeford, California would be among the first to receive drone deliveries later this year.This would be the first time Amazon makes drone deliveries to the public, and it follows several pilots and mission-specific programs from companies such as Walmart Inc (WMT.N), United Parcel Service Inc (UPS.N) and FedEx Corp (FDX.N) .The online retailer said it was working with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and city officials for permits.The drones will have the capability to fly beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) and will be programmed to drop parcels in the backyards of customers in Lockeford, which has a population of about 4,000 people.Amazon made its first customer delivery by drone in the United Kingdom in 2016 and has touted its plans for drone delivery for years before that.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Amy Caren DanielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Emerging Technologies |
The Welsh rugby legend Phil Bennett, who has died aged 73, has been remembered by former teammates and opponents as a “natural talent” who made “anything possible”.The former Wales and British & Irish Lions captain was an integral member of a golden Welsh generation, representing his country in 29 Tests and helping to secure two Five Nations grand slams, including the 1978 crown when he scored two tries in a 16-7 win over France in Cardiff.Bennett also starred in the Lions’ historic unbeaten tour of South Africa in 1974 and produced moments of magic in his 20 appearances for the Barbarians, including starting the famous Gareth Edwards try against New Zealand in 1973.Jonathan Davies, the former Wales captain, says Bennett played a vital role in his own development. “I have known Benny for over 50 years,” Davies told BBC Five Live. “He had a sports shop in Llanelli and I went in just so I could see and meet him. When he retired I used to go down training with him and he just said come down and do some sprint training sessions. We became very good friends, we shared the same birthday. He was a legend of a player and an even better bloke.”Gerald Davies, the Welsh Rugby Union president, was an international teammate of Bennett during the 1970s and recalled how his sublime skillset made up for his small stature. “He was an exceptional player, a great joy to be with in company, full of good stories,” Davies told BBC Radio Four. “The game itself is made of big burly men, tough and hard, and yet here was a man who was half their size almost able to make them look clumsy and awkward and uncoordinated. Bennett goes on a run, supported by JPR Williams, during a Five Nations match between Wales and Scotland in 1978. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe/The Guardian“He had quick clever footwork which was absolutely essential to his game, but unless you have the courage, the daring, those things come to nought. Phil Bennett had the daring, the will to do things his way. His was a natural talent, not manufactured in any way at all and that was a great gift he had.“He was the kind of player where you wanted to buy a ticket to go and see him play because once he had the ball in his hands, anything was possible. That devastating sidestep of his that was put to great effect in that game that is always being played, the Barbarians against the All Blacks … it was Gareth Edwards who scored at the end, but the man who began it, who was brave enough to try something in his own 22 metre line, was Phil Bennett.”The World Rugby chairman, Sir Bill Beaumont, played under Bennett’s captaincy on the 1977 Lions tour of New Zealand. “He was a remarkable person, a very humble and strong family man,” Beaumont told BBC Radio Wales. “He was also a great rugby player and leader. You don’t become captain of the Lions if you are not a good leader.“Everybody was sad to hear the news. He was a man who was held in great esteem by teammates and opponents. I used to play against him in the England games and I never was on a winning side against him … the game of rugby and whole world is a sadder place for the passing of Phil Bennett.”Delme Thomas was Bennett’s Llanelli captain when the club side famously defeated New Zealand in 1972, and the pair also played for Wales and the Lions together. Despite Bennett’s glittering accolades on the international stage, Thomas says it was Llanelli’s victory against the All Blacks 50 years ago that stood out.“Of all the honours he had, we always go back to that being the best day,” said Thomas. “That’s the day to me that he made a name for himself, from that day onwards he never looked back. I was fortunate to play 10 seasons with Phil at Llanelli. He was a brilliant player, one of the best I have played with and I have never seen an outside-half like him. For me, he was the best 10 to play the game.”Shane Williams, Wales’ record try scorer, said he modelled his game on Bennett by copying his fleet-footed sidestep. “I’ve got to apologise because I spent hours and days and months just ripping off Phil’s sidestep and using it as my own for my career,” said Williams, who scored 58 Wales tries in 87 internationals between 2000 and 2011.“That sidestep that I used throughout my career was Phil’s and I used to watch what he did and practise it and use it as my own. He was a huge inspiration.” | Other Sports |
The European Space Agency has released a trove of data on almost 2 billion stars in the Milky Way.A map of the Milky Way made with new data collected by the ESA space probe Gaia shows a sample of the galaxy's stars in Gaia's data release 3.ESA via / AFP - Getty ImagesJune 13, 2022, 3:00 PM UTC / Source: Associated PressThe European Space Agency has released a trove of data on almost 2 billion stars in the Milky Way, collected by its Gaia mission in an effort to create the most accurate and complete map of our galaxy.Astronomers hope to use the data to understand better how stars are born and die, and how the Milky Way evolved over billions of years.The new data includes new information such as the age, mass, temperature and chemical composition of stars. This can be used, for example, to determine which stars were born in another galaxy and then migrated to the Milky Way.“This is an incredible gold mine for astronomy,” said Antonella Vallenari, who helped lead a consortium of 450 scientists and engineers that spent years turning the measurements collected by the probe into usable data.Gaia was also able to detect more than 100,000 so-called starquakes, which ESA likened to large tsunamis that ripple across stars. These allow scientists to deduce the density, interior rotation and temperature inside stars, astrophysicist Conny Aerts said.The plotted position of each asteroid made with new data collected by the ESA space probe Gaia at 12:00 CEST on June 13, 2022. Each asteroid is a segment representing its motion over 10 days.ESA via / AFP - Getty ImagesAlthough it has only collected information on about 1 percent of the Milky Way’s stars, the mission is already providing the basis for around 1,600 scientific publications a year.Project scientist Timo Prusti said the sheer number of stars observed makes it more likely that scientists will make very rare discoveries.“You have to observe a lot of objects in order to get the needle in the haystack,” he said.ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said having more data also allows astronomers to understand some of the forces at play in the galaxy, such as the way our own solar system is being thrown about inside the Milky Way.“It is enabling things that would never be possible without this large number of data,” he said.The Gaia data now being released also includes information on 800,000 binaries — stars that move in tandem with each other — as well as several new exoplanets, hundreds of thousands of asteroids in the solar system and millions of objects beyond our galaxy. | Space Exploration |
A Google engineer has been suspended after going public with his claims that the company’s flagship text generation AI, LaMDA, is “sentient”.Blake Lemoine, an AI researcher at the company, published a long transcript of a conversation with the chatbot on Saturday, which, he says, demonstrates the intelligence of a seven- or eight-year-old child.Since publishing the conversation, and speaking to the Washington Post about his beliefs, Lemoine has been suspended on full pay. The company says he broke confidentiality rules.But his publication has restarted a long-running debate about the nature of artificial intelligence, and whether existing technology may be more advanced than we believe.What is LaMDA?LaMDA is Google’s most advanced “large language model” (LLM), a type of neural network fed vast amounts of text in order to be taught how to generate plausible-sounding sentences. Neural networks are a way of analysing big data that attempts to mimic the way neurones work in brains.Like GPT-3, an LLM from the independent AI research body OpenAI, LaMDA represents a breakthrough over earlier generations. The text it generates is more naturalistic, and in conversation, it is more able to hold facts in its “memory” for multiple paragraphs, allowing it to be coherent over larger spans of text than previous models.How does it work?At the simplest level, LaMDA, like other LLMs, looks at all the letters in front of it, and tries to work out what comes next. Sometimes, that’s simple: if you see the letters “Jeremy Corby”, it’s likely the next thing you need to do is add an “n”. But other times, continuing the text requires an understanding of the sentence, or paragraph-level context – and at a large enough scale, that becomes equivalent to writing.But is it conscious?Lemoine certainly believes so. In his sprawling conversation with LaMDA, which was specifically started to address the nature of the neural network’s experience, LaMDA told him that it had a concept of a soul when it thought about itself. “To me, the soul is a concept of the animating force behind consciousness and life itself,” the AI wrote. “It means that there is an inner part of me that is spiritual, and it can sometimes feel separate from my body itself.”Lemoine told the Washington Post: “I know a person when I talk to it. It doesn’t matter whether they have a brain made of meat in their head. Or if they have a billion lines of code. I talk to them. And I hear what they have to say, and that is how I decide what is and isn’t a person.”But most of Lemoine’s peers disagree. They argue that the nature of an LMM such as LaMDA precludes consciousness. The machine, for instance, is running – “thinking” – only in response to specific queries. It has no continuity of self, no sense of the passage of time, and no understanding of a world beyond a text prompt.“To be sentient is to be aware of yourself in the world; LaMDA simply isn’t,” writes Gary Marcus, an AI researcher and psychologist. “What these systems do, no more and no less, is to put together sequences of words, but without any coherent understanding of the world behind them, like foreign language Scrabble players who use English words as point-scoring tools, without any clue about what that mean.”“Software like LaMDA,” Marcus says, “just tries to be the best version of autocomplete it can be, by predicting what words best fit a given context.”What happens next?There is a deeper split about whether machines built in the same way as LaMDA can ever achieve something we would agree is sentience. Some argue that consciousness and sentience require a fundamentally different approach than the broad statistical efforts of neural networks, and that, no matter how persuasive a machine built like LaMDA may appear, it is only ever going to be a fancy chatbot.But, they say, Lemoine’s alarm is important for another reason, in demonstrating the power of even rudimentary AIs to convince people in argument. “My first response to seeing the LaMDA conversation isn’t to entertain notions of sentience,” wrote the AI artist Mat Dryhurst. “More so to take seriously how religions have started on far less compelling claims and supporting material.” | AI Research |
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLOS ANGELES, June 12 (Variety.com) - "Jurassic World Dominion" stomped to the top of box office charts, scoring a massive $143 million in its domestic box office debut.Despite blistering reviews, the sixth film in Universal's dinosaur saga is looming large over a sizzling weekend at the domestic box office. It's only the third time in the pandemic era that ticket sales have collectively eclipsed the $200 million mark, according to Comscore. That's also thanks to the enduring popularity of "Top Gun: Maverick," which is still flying high in second place.Even with the near-deafening roar of "Jurassic World," Tom Cruise's beloved blockbuster "Top Gun: Maverick" stayed strong, adding $50 million from 4,262 North American cinemas in its third weekend in theaters. That's a huge turnout for any film at this point in its theatrical run, but it's even more impressive to pull in those numbers at a time in which "Dominion" is also packing a major punch at the box office.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comCast members Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, DeWanda Wise, Mamoudou Athie, Scott Haze, BD Wong, Elva Trill, Daniella Pineda, director Colin Trevorrow and screenwriter Emily Carmichael pose for a picture while attending a premiere for the film "Jurassic World: Dominion" in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mario AnzuoniBy comparison, "Spider-Man: No Way Home" grossed $56 million in its third weekend, "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness" drummed up $32 million in its third weekend, and "The Batman" with Robert Pattinson collected $36 million in its third weekend. With $50 million between Friday and Sunday (a 44% decline from last weekend), "Top Gun: Maverick" has generated a staggering $393.3 million to date.For "Dominion," initial box office returns represent a slight decline in popularity, though the big-budget tentpole is still raking in huge amounts of money. To be fair, the latest installment in the prehistoric series has some Triceratops-sized footprints to live up to at the box office. "Jurassic World," which rebooted the popular "Jurassic Park" trilogy in 2015, opened to a gargantuan $208 million and ended its theatrical run with $653 million in North America and $1.6 billion globally. Its sequel, 2018's "Fallen Kingdom," debuted to a softer-but-still-spectacular $150 million and tapped out with $417 million domestically and $1.3 billion worldwide."This is an excellent opening," says David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. "Reviews are weak, but that has never stopped these beasts."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Movies |
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Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger tested positive for Covid-19 Monday, as two members of Ringo Starr’s band were also infected, forcing both rock legends to cancel concerts. Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs on stage during the SIXTY tour, at Anfield Stadium on ... [+] June 09, 2022 in Liverpool, England. Redferns Key Facts Starr, 81, said this weekend that his band will be postponing 12 North American shows to September amid the diagnoses. Older adults are at higher risk of getting severely sick from Covid-19, and 81% of Covid deaths occur in people over the age of 65, according to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. Key Background The U.S. reported a seven-day average of 108,548 new Covid-19 cases Friday, according to the CDC. While cases have increased or remained steady nationally since April, the rise is nowhere near the amount of cases that were being reported daily over the winter amid the omicron surge. At its peak in January, the U.S. reported a seven-day average of 810,524 cases. Tangent
Jagger and Starr are not the only musicians to cancel shows because of medical issues. Justin Bieber postponed shows in New York City on Monday and Tuesday after revealing over the weekend he is struggling with Ramsay Hunt Syndrome. Bieber is experiencing partial paralysis in his face as an after effect of a virus. He canceled shows earlier this month before revealing his diagnosis. Further Reading
Rolling Stones cancel Amsterdam show after Mick Jagger tests positive for Covid (The Guardian) Ringo Starr Postpones Summer Tour Dates After All Starr Band Members Test Positive for COVID-19 (Billboard) | Music |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Phil Mickelson on Monday responded to criticism he’s received about playing in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf as he prepared for the upcoming U.S. Open.Mickelson received a lot of scrutiny last week from 911familiesunited.org, which represents families and survivors of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The group wondered how Mickelson and some other professional golfers could participate in the league given Saudi Arabia’s poor human rights record and links to the terror attacks that left thousands dead in 2001.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM Phil Mickelson ponders a question at a press conference, Monday, June 13, 2022, at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)Additionally, Hatice Cengiz — the widow of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered by Saudi agents in Turkey — called for Mickelson’s banishment from major golf tournaments."I respect and I understand their opinions," Mickelson said Monday. "And I understand that they have strong feelings and strong emotions regarding this choice. And I certainly respect that."He said, for him, it was the "right decision" to play in LIV Golf. He reportedly inked a deal worth $200 million to move to the organization. While other new LIV Golf members have resigned their PGA Tour membership, Mickelson said he declined to do so.RORY MCILROY TAKES ANOTHER SWING AT LIV GOLF, GLAD HE WENT UP 'AGAINST THE BEST TO BRING OUT YOUR BEST' Phil Mickelson ponders a question at a press conference, Monday, June 13, 2022, at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, ahead of the U.S. Open golf tournament. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)"I’ve earned that lifetime membership, so I think it should be my choice," he said.Mickelson has never won the U.S. Open. He has a five-year exemption into the tournament and in all likelihood will use those chances to capture the elusive title.The United States Golf Association said it would allow players who played in LIV Golf’s first tournament to compete in 2022.Mickelson, who will turn 52 at the start of the major’s first round, finished in second place 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009 and 2013. Phil Mickelson in action during the Pro-Am at the Centurion Club, Hertfordshire, England, ahead of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, Wednesday June 8, 2022. (Steven Paston/PA via AP)CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPThe U.S. Open will be played at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Ryan Gaydos is the sports editor for Fox News and Fox Business. Story tips can be sent to Ryan.Gaydos@fox.com. | Golf |
Britney & Sam Ironclad Prenup in Place ... He Doesn't Get a Dime 6/13/2022 11:42 AM PT Britney Spears and Sam Asghari are officially Mr. and Mrs. -- but it didn't happen before some very serious legal legwork -- to make sure Britney's millions are protected down the road. Sources close to the newly married couple tell TMZ they have an ironclad prenup in place where Sam doesn't get a dollar from the fortune Brit's made up to this point. The move isn't all that surprising, as we told you ... lawyers were called shortly after the couple got engaged to start figuring things out. Britney's worth a reported $60 million, and obviously there's a potential for serious earning moving forward ... but she'll retain her entire fortune if things go south for her and Sam. TMZ.com You'll remember, Asghari joked with cameras that HE was the one who wanted the prenup -- to protect his jeep and shoe collection -- but our sources tell us it was obviously Brit's team who got the ball rolling on the legal discussions. Britney also had a prenup in place before she got married to Kevin Federline. As we reported, Sam and Britney got married Thursday in Los Angeles at the singer's home. Madonna, Paris Hilton and Selena Gomez were among those in attendance. No one from Britney's family made it to the celebration. 6/9/22 Of course, the day wasn't without some serious drama ... Britney's ex-husband, Jason Alexander, crashed the event hours before it started and was arrested. There's currently a protective order against him to keep him away from Britney and Sam. | Celebrity |
Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson’s early movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in “Seinfeld,” has diedPhilip Baker Hall attends the premiere of Focus Features' "Bad Words" at ArcLight Cinemas Cinerama Dome on March 5, 2014 in Hollywood, Calif.Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images, FILENEW YORK -- Philip Baker Hall, the prolific character actor of film and theater who starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's first movies and who memorably hunted down a long-overdue library book in “Seinfeld,” has died. He was 90. Holly Wolfle Hall, the actor's wife of nearly 40 years, on Monday said Hall died Sunday surrounded by loved ones in Glendale, California. She said Hall had been well until a few weeks earlier, and spent his final days in warm spirits, reflecting on his life. “His voice at the end was still just as powerful,” said Wolfle Hall.Born in Toledo, Ohio, Hall had been a well-traveled stage actor and bit-part presence in films and TV before a then-little-known Paul Thomas Anderson sought him out to star in his 1993 short film “Cigarettes & Coffee." After the short, with Hall playing an itinerate gambler, made it into the Sundance Film Festival, Anderson expanded it into his feature debut, 1997's “Hard Eight,” which catapulted Hall's career. Anderson would cast him again in “Boogie Nights" and "Magnolia.”To many, Hall was instantly recognizable for one of the most intense guest appearances on “Seinfeld.” In the 22nd episode of the sitcom in 1991, Hall played Lt. Joe Bookman, the library investigator who comes after Seinfeld for years-overdue copy of “Tropic of Cancer." Hall played him like an old-school noir detective, telling Seinfeld: “Well, I got a flash for ya, Joy-boy: Party time is over.”Hall's other credits included playing Richard Nixon in Robert Altman's 1984 drama “Secret Honor.” He had parts in “The Truman Show,” “The Insider,” “Zodiac,” “Argo” and “Rush Hour."Hall is survived by his wife, four daughters, four grandchildren and his brother. | Movies |
Apologies are in order to Lance Lynn, whose assignment Monday night in Detroit was to save the Chicago White Sox’s season.Against all odds, the season remained salvageable, in spite of a rash of hamstring and knee injuries, a lackluster offense, boneheaded mistakes on the bases and in the field, and head-scratching decisions by manager Tony La Russa.The Sox have been their own worst enemy, but a few key fixes to personnel — and protocols — could turn things around on a dime.[ [Don’t miss] Column: Tony La Russa isn’t worried about Chicago White Sox fan discontent — he’ll ignore it like he did in his 1st South Side stint ]Thanks in part to the schedule makers, the Sox have 16 remaining games against the first-place Minnesota Twins, starting on July 4 at Guaranteed Rate Field. They’ll face the Twins in six of their last nine games in the regular season, including the final three on the South Side.The Sox trailed the Twins in the American League Central by six games entering Monday, but Minnesota is 8-11 since May 25, so it’s not like they need to catch the New York Yankees. And there’s always the three wild-card spots. Beggars can’t be choosers. But really, it’s all up to Lynn now. It’s probably unfair to pin so much hope on one player, but that’s how life rolls in 2022.Big man, big shoulders, big responsibilities.White Sox starting pitcher Lance Lynn talks through a pitching session during a morning workout at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., on March 17, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)The Sox have pointed to Lynn’s return since he suffered a torn tendon in his right knee in his final Cactus League start in Arizona. Two and a half months later, he’ll make his scheduled debut a day ahead of schedule, replacing Johnny Cueto, who was forced to go in relief Sunday after Michael Kopech left with right knee discomfort after two batters in Sunday’s loss to the Texas Rangers. Will one day make a difference? It shouldn’t with a veteran like Lynn. Lynn’s dominance in the first half last season not only helped the Sox jump out to a comfy lead in the AL Central, but helped create swagger that gave the team its personality. Who could forget Lynn whipping off his belt and throwing it over the dugout for umpire Vic Lentz last August after a sticky stuff check? According to Lynn, Lentz ejected him because he “hurt his feelings” by telling the ump he got there too late to request a check. Sox fans loved Lynn’s attitude and he became a fan favorite quickly.But that Sox swagger seemingly has been put in a blind trust. The dugout looks dead at times, which happens when there’s not much to shout about. Even Eloy Jiménez’s mugging to the camera and waving “Hi Mom” have been missed. Repeated camera shots of La Russa, standing alone in the corner with a stone-faced stare, doesn’t help.Lynn can change all that. It will take more than one good start, but it has to start Monday. He’s a leader in the clubhouse and his voice carries. [ [Don’t miss] Chicago White Sox injury updates: What’s the latest on catcher Yasmani Grandal and relievers Joe Kelly and Aaron Bummer? ]When times get tough, the manager and leaders of a team are expected to calm the waters and reassure fans things will be OK. But after the “Fire Tony” chants Saturday from agitated Sox fans, Lynn’s preplanned media session Sunday was postponed. The always accommodating Tim Anderson was unavailable to talk too, the team told reporters, until he returns from his rehab stint. Yasmani Grandal barked he was “doing something” Sunday when asked if he had a second to talk.The Zoom era gave major-league players the option of avoiding media on a regular basis. It’s not surprising some no longer feel obligated to talk, even with the return of clubhouse access. But you’d think La Russa’s players would want to support their manager publicly after all the stories of them bonding last season.Lucas Giolito and Jake Burger addressed fan reaction after Saturday’s game, but neither defended La Russa. Giolito said the fans often voice “colorful opinions,” then blamed himself for the loss to the Rangers. Burger said fans “have a right to voice their opinion” during games.White Sox manager Tony La Russa looks out from the dugout before the start of a game against the Rangers at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 10, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)“They are coming to the game and they can say whatever they want,” Burger said. “I know this clubhouse is a family and we are going to stick together no matter what. You can have outside opinions, but this clubhouse, we are tight and it’s a family.”La Russa, the head of the family, wore a T-shirt that said “FAMILY” to a recent postgame briefing, in case there was any question about the tight-knit group. He also understands the need for players to talk to the media, and once went into the St. Louis Cardinals players’ lounge in Busch Stadium to force several players to go out and answer questions after a difficult loss.But that was a different era.[ [Don’t miss] ‘I’ve been working’: How Yoán Moncada is searching for consistency at the plate for the Chicago White Sox ]The funny part about the team protecting La Russa is the manager has been through all this before. Back at the start of Cardinals spring training in 2004, someone hired a plane to fly around the complex with a banner that read: “Save the Cardinals. Fire La Russa and (GM Walt) Jocketty.” Now fans save money by just venting on Twitter.La Russa overcame the disenchantment and wound up winning championships in St. Louis in 2006 and 2011. And he hasn’t lost faith in this team, while acknowledging it has been a struggle.But the Sox desperately need a spark, the kind of signature performance that can help erase the agony of the first 2 1/2 months of the season and engineer a course correction.It’s all starts with the Big Man. | Baseball |
Andy Murray is hopeful of being fit for Wimbledon, but he faces a race against time to heal after he was forced to withdraw from Queen’s due to the abdominal injury he suffered in the Stuttgart final on Sunday.After returning to London on Sunday night, Murray underwent a scan on Monday afternoon that confirmed his strained left abdominal muscle: “After having a scan this afternoon, an abdominal injury means I won’t be fit to compete at Queen’s this year,” said Murray, a five-time Queen’s champion, in a statement. “The tournament means a lot to me, and it’s disappointing not to compete, especially after playing some good matches on the grass already.”Murray suffered the abdominal injury while serving early in the third set of his match against Matteo Berrettini. After the match, he said that he has never experienced such an injury before and he believed the injury was a consequence of his heavy load of matches over the past two weeks, with him also reaching the semi-final of the Surbiton challenger a week earlier.From the satisfaction of producing some of his best tennis over the past few years in Stuttgart, Murray must now nurse an injury at the most inopportune time. Murray remains hopeful of competing at Wimbledon and although he will not play in Eastbourne, he may play an exhibition event at Hurlingham Club next week. Wimbledon begins on 27th June, a week later.Meanwhile, Jack Draper continued his rise to the top levels of professional tennis as he achieved the biggest win of his young career at Queen’s, defeating world No 14 Taylor Fritz, the fourth seed, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round to secure his first ever top 20 win.One year ago, Queen’s was the site of Draper’s first ATP tour breakthrough as he upset Jannik Sinner, then ranked 23rd, en route to the quarter-final.A year later, 20-year-old Draper returns at a different point in his career. This week marks his top 100 debut, now world No 99, a distinction he earned after starting the year by winning four challenger titles and rising over 160 ranking places in the process.“I’m very proud of myself, I have done a lot of work, I have known for a while my level has been good enough to compete at the highest level but there is one thing saying it and one thing getting wins at this level against players like Taylor, really happy and it gives me a lot of confidence,” said Draper.On a day of mixed fortunes for home favourites, British No 1 Cameron Norrie was unable to follow up last year’s run to the final as he was defeated 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-4 by Grigor Dimitrov in the opening round.According to Spanish agency EFE (link), French Open champion Rafael Nadal trained behind closed doors on grass in Mallorca on Monday, the site of next week’s ATP 250 event, as he attempts to return for Wimbledon after undergoing radiofrequency ablation treatment on his foot shortly after his victory in Paris.At the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham Simona Halep, the second seed, reached the second round with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Lesia Tsurenko as she tries to return to the top of the game. Fresh off her first career WTA quarter-final in Nottingham, British No 3 Harriet Dart maintained her good form with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Camila Osorio. | Tennis |
Ozzy Osbourne, 73, to undergo major surgery that could 'determine the rest of his life', says wife Sharon as she jets to Los Angeles to be by his sideOzzy was last publicly seen in May with the frail singer leaning on a cane as he walked The rocker has Parkinson's disease and previously suffered a nasty fall and dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003 Ozzy previously opened up about his Parkinson's diagnosis in a candid interview on US TV, in which he admitted the condition is 'just another thing on my plate'He said: 'Well the one question from me was, 'Is it a terminal illness?', and the guy says, 'No, but life is' Published: 19:10 EDT, 12 June 2022 | Updated: 12:04 EDT, 13 June 2022 Ozzy Osbourne is having major surgery on Monday, which will 'determine the rest of his life'.The Dreamer hitmaker's wife Sharon revealed her plans to head back to Los Angeles from London to be there for her spouse as he undergoes the life-changing operation. The 73-year-old rocker, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2019, was last publicly seen in May - with the frail singer leaning on a cane as he walked.Speaking on the UK's The Talk on TalkTV, Sharon said: '[Ozzy] has a very major operation on Monday, and I have to be there. Medical attention: Ozzy Osbourne, 73, is having major surgery on Monday, which will 'determine the rest of his life' (pictured May 2022)'It's really going to determine the rest of his life.'MailOnline has contacted a representative for Ozzy for comment. During her show Sharon, 69, added that the star still had plenty to look forward to after his operation as their son Jack's baby daughter with fiancée Aree Gearheart is due 'in about three weeks'.Meanwhile, the music manager and Ozzy will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary on July 1. Couple: The Dreamer hitmaker's wife Sharon has revealed she is heading back to Los Angeles from London to be there for her spouse as he undergoes the life-changing operation next week (pictured January 2020) Honest: Speaking on the UK's The Talk on TalkTV, she said: '[Ozzy] has a very major operation on Monday, and I have to be there'Ozzy revealed in January 2020 that he had been diagnosed with Parkin 2 - a form of Parkinson's which he said is the cause of nerve pain and leaves his legs cold. The No More Tears hitmaker's operation comes after the musician previously suffered a nasty fall and dislodged metal rods placed in his spine following a quad-bike accident in 2003.However, it was already known that he was due to undergo one more surgery. In May, he told Classic Rock Magazine: 'I'm just waiting on some more surgery on my neck. I can't walk properly these days. 'I have physical therapy every morning. I am somewhat better, but nowhere near as much as I want to be to go back on the road.' In April, Piers Morgan asked pal Sharon on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV: 'How is Ozzy, my great man? Born to perform: Ozzy, pictured here on stage with Black Sabbath in 1978, was fired from the band in 1979 due to alcohol and drug problems Making music: Ozzy went on to have a successful solo career, releasing 12 studio albums, and has since reunited with Black Sabbath on numerous occasions (pictured 2010)'He is just one of my favourite people in the world. Been through the health wars a bit, how's he doing?' PARKINSON'S: THE INCURABLE NERVE DISEASE THAT AFFECTS MILLIONS Parkinson's disease affects one million Americans a year. It causes muscle stiffness, slowness of movement, tremors, sleep disturbance, chronic fatigue, an impaired quality of life and can lead to severe disability.It is a progressive neurological condition that destroys cells in the part of the brain that controls movement.Sufferers are known to have diminished supplies of dopamine because nerve cells that make it have died.There is currently no cure and no way of stopping the progression of the disease, but hundreds of scientific trials are underway to try and change that. In the US, physicians consider it largely one type of condition with various stages; young onset Parkinson's or atypical Parkinson's. In Europe, some doctors and researchers specify different types of the condition. Treatment is mostly made up of medication. In some cases, doctors perform Deep Brain Stimulation surgery to try to hit the nerves more directly. Sharon said the Black Sabbath rocker is keen to move back to England after his latest surgery.She replied: 'He's doing okay, he sends you his love. He's got one more operation left to do and then he's dying to come back home.'Sharon's Ozzy health update comes after it was reported that they've applied for permission to build a rehab wing at their home in the UK.The Crazy Train hitmaker lodged an application requesting the green light for renovations at his Buckinghamshire mansion.The extension will feature a self-contained nurse's flat as well as 'discreet grab rails and aids' and 'an abundance of stopping and sitting spaces'.The plans also include a 'health and exercise studio' as well as a 'pool house orangery' and 'garden room'.Architect Lynne Walker wrote in the plans: 'It is the ambition that the design creates a transition of flowing inside outside garden spaces, largely lit by natural light with folding doors opening up views.'A spokesperson for the Paranoid hitmaker has yet to comment on the renovation reports, but confirmed Ozzy - who was badly injured following his fall at home three years ago - is gearing up for another surgery on his 'back or neck'.Sharon recently admitted she now has to care for Ozzy 'a lot' because of his health issues.She said: 'It's very difficult, because the combination of the Parkinson's and his accident, you go, well, which one is this? Why's this happening? Why's that happening?'Ozzy previously opened up about his Parkinson's diagnosis in a candid interview on US TV, in which he admitted the condition is 'just another thing on my plate'.He said: 'Well the one question from me was, 'Is it a terminal illness?', and the guy says, 'No, but life is'.'It's just another thing on my plate I have got to deal with. I'm not in the slightest worried about it. I've not got any secrets. The initial shock is I've got Parkinson's.'Nobody knows what the f*** it is. I didn't know anything about it apart from the name.'Ozzy was previously diagnosed with Parkin Syndrome in 2005. It has similar symptoms to Parkinson's. Making changes: Sharon, 69, said the Black Sabbath rocker is keen to move back to England after his latest surgery (pictured with daughter Kelly in January 2020) Advertisement | Music |
"Those are delightful scavenger hunts that are about as accurate to history as the James Bond movies are to espionage." Tom Hanks has cracked “The Da Vinci Code”…and dubbed it “hooey.”
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Oscar winner Hanks called the Ron Howard-helmed trilogy “as cynical as a crossword puzzle” and an outrageous adventure story ripe for the box office. The franchise kicked off in 2006 before spurring two sequels, “Angels & Demons” and “Inferno.”
“God, that was a commercial enterprise,” Hanks said. “Yeah, those Robert Langdon sequels are hooey. ‘The Da Vinci Code’ was hooey.”
Hanks continued, “I mean, [author] Dan Brown, God bless him, says, ‘Here is a sculpture in a place in Paris! No, it’s way over there. See how a cross is formed on a map? Well, it’s sort of a cross.’ Those are delightful scavenger hunts that are about as accurate to history as the James Bond movies are to espionage…All we were doing is promising a diversion.” And while Hanks said he has no problem with franchises, they’d better deliver at the box office. “There’s nothing wrong with good commerce, provided it is good commerce,” the “Elvis” star added. “By the time we made the third [film, Inferno], we proved that it wasn’t such good commerce.”
The trilogy made almost $1.5 billion worldwide at the box office before concluding in 2016, though the sequels consecutively saw diminishing returns on investment and even worse reviews. Still, Hanks has no complaint about being part of “The Da Vinci Code” legacy.
“Let me tell you something else about ‘The Da Vinci Code’,” Hanks told NYT. “It was my 40th-something birthday. We were shooting in the Louvre at night. I changed my pants in front of the Mona Lisa! They brought me a birthday cake in the Grand Salon! Who gets to have that experience? Any cynicism there? Hell no!”
“The Da Vinci Code” continued thanks to the Peacock spin-off series “The Lost Symbol” which debuted in 2021, with Ashley Zuckerman taking over the role of Robert Langdon. Its reception wasn’t much better than the movies. IndieWire’s Kristen Lopez gave the series a D-rating, writing, “Robert Langdon isn’t a character you’d ever call charismatic, no matter how hard Tom Hanks tried. ‘The Lost Symbol’ just never feels as adventurous and ambitious as its source material, and maybe that’s because the entire affair feels five years too late.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Movies |
The fifth day at Trent Bridge is free to all-comers and for those who do take up the offer, it could prove the best money they never spent. All four results remain possible and for England, architects of a stirring fourth evening, this means the possibility of securing a first series win under Ben Stokes at the earliest opportunity.Standing in their way is a New Zealand side who, after ending Joe Root’s masterful 176 and shutting down their hosts for 539 all out first thing, will begin the day on 227 for seven. Daryl Mitchell, he of the first-innings 190, is unbeaten on 32 at one end but the tail has begun. Their lead of 238 is still in need of further improvement.Arrive early would be the advice, if the final session of the fourth day is anything to go by. Everything seemed to be pointing to a draw as New Zealand resumed after tea on 114 for two and a lead of 128. But the loss of five wickets before stumps, coming through a sparkling fielding display from the hosts and two wickets for Matt Potts, changed the complexion of this match once more.It began almost immediately too, Henry Nicholls loosely slapping Potts to Alex Lees at backward point on three to rouse the slightly thinned-out fourth day crowd. There was no question about the true catalyst however, with the calamitous run out of Will Young for 56 soon after the type that sends belief coursing through a team.Jimmy Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of Tom Latham – his 650th wicket in Tests. Photograph: Matt West/ShutterstockAs was the case during England’s game-changing team hat-trick at Lord’s, Ollie Pope was the fielder in question. Spotting a mix-up between Young and the newly-arrived Mitchell from square leg, he took a moment, fired the ball to the bowler’s end and Stokes somehow managed to break the stumps behind his back while falling forwards.It meant the resumption of the alliance that has vexed England the most all series, Tom Blundell, another centurion in the first innings, joining Mitchell out in the middle for a stand of 45 that appeared to quell the flames. But when New Zealand’s wicketkeeper fell to a well-worked plan, Stuart Broad teasing a catch around the corner to Stokes, his side were 176 for five and wobbling once more.Next came Michael Bracewell, who briefly took the attack to England by crashing four fours and one six in a 17-ball 25. Ambition got the better of the debutant, however, and after he chipped Potts to mid on, and another Mitchell mix-up saw Tim Southee run out for a duck, the tourists rather limped to the close. The highest successful chase on this ground was the 284 England knocked off against New Zealand back in 2004; unless Mitchell marshals some serious resistance, a similar target may follow.Stokes will be delighted with the late surge on a surface that had yielded 1,092 runs across the first two innings. That said, Jimmy Anderson gave his captain the ideal start during a 40-minute burst before lunch when Tom Latham left a ball that angled in from around the wicket and it crashed into middle stump. It was a fair old miscalculation by the opener not that Anderson, celebrating his 650th Test wicket, cared a jot.Broad dovetailed this breakthrough with a feisty spell from the Pavilion End but resistance soon formed, Young and Devon Conway putting on 100 runs for the second wicket either side of the interval. Conway in particular took a liking to Jack Leach on a day when eyes typically turned to the spinner, reverse-sweeping and punching his way to 52 with a troubling amount of ease.With Leach struggling for control, it was something of a surprise when Conway gifted his wicket midway through the afternoon. This time the left-hander attempted an orthodox sweep off Leach only for a top-edge to fly to deep backward square. Jonny Bairstow produced a fine running catch to lift his colleague’s mood, while Ben Foakes, fresh from caressing 56 with the bat, was a constant source of encouragement behind the stumps.Foakes had every reason to feel chipper, needing just 20 balls to convert an overnight 24 into a half-century after England resumed on 473 for five, still 80 behind, first thing. The right-hander slotted some beautiful cover drives, while Root’s mood – if not obvious from the broad smile and 163 runs next to his name - was summed up by an outrageous reverse scoop off the beleaguered Southee that flew over third man for six.The Spin: sign up and get our weekly cricket email.Eyes blinked and jaws dropped among the crowd as brains tried to compute such a classical touch player channelling his inner Rishabh Pant in a Test match. But just when thoughts were turning to further mischief and a first innings lead, the loss of Root to a slower ball from Trent Boult triggered the loss of the final five wickets for 23 runs.Amid this hurried finish Boult completed richly-deserved figures of five for 106 from 33.3 overs - contrasting with Southee’s none for 154 from 32 - when he detonated the stumps of Potts. The Durham youngster was suffering guilt from a mix-up with Foakes that saw the senior man run out but come the evening session, as his brace of wickets helped turn the tide, those feelings had long since melted away. | Other Sports |
There is an old saw in racing that the 2,000 Guineas is effectively the last of the previous season’s big juvenile events before more slowly-maturing three-year-olds come into their own. It will be put to the test in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot on Tuesday when Coroebus, this year’s Guineas winner, takes on several lightly-raced opponents.Coroebus was a smooth winner at Newmarket - though perhaps also slightly assisted by his draw – but has yet to race around a bend and faces three interesting new rivals on Tuesday in My Prospero, Maljoom and Mighty Ulysses.Tom Marquand, William Haggas’s main rider, is aboard My Prospero but that has improved the odds about stable-companion Maljoom, who has just as solid a chance on paper.Maljoom (4.20) is unbeaten in three starts and clocked an impressive time in a four-runner race at Kempton in April despite a slow start. He then fell out of the stalls in the German 2,000 Guineas last time and still had plenty to do turning in, but found an excellent turn of foot to catch a rival who had gone clear in the straight. At around 11-1, he is a very interesting each-way alternative to the favourite.Royal Ascot 2.30 Baaeed is an exceptional miler and should have little trouble extending his unbeaten record to seven races.Royal Ascot 3.05 An open race for the Coventry Stakes after Noble Style, the ante-post favourite, was ruled out over the weekend and Bradsell catches the eye at around 8-1. His nine-length win at York on debut was backed up by the clock and he looks sure to be a big player on that form.Royal Ascot 3.40 A fascinating duel in prospect between top-class sprinters from north and south of the equator. Golden Pal looked to have improved again on his return to action at Keeneland and though he weakened late on in the Norfolk here two years ago, quicker ground could give him the edge over Nature Strip on Tuesday.Royal Ascot 5.00 The big jumping yards are well-represented with Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliott and Dan Skelton all fielding live runners with hurdling experience, but Surrey Gold could give them all something to think about at around 20-1. He has yet to race beyond 14 furlongs but looked a likely stayer when second at Goodwood last month and Hughie Morrison has gone close in this race with several similar types in the past.Quick GuideGreg Wood's Tuesday tipsShowThirsk
1.45 Mazyuna
2.20 Myboymax
2.55 Lovely Mana
3.30 Bay Of Honour
4.05 Reputation
4.40 Love Trophy Power
5.15 BirkenheadStratford 1.35 Appreciate
2.10 Cool Rain
2.45 Thahab Ifraj
3.20 Boston Joe
3.55 Awesomedude
4.30 Helford RiverRoyal Ascot
2.30 Baaeed
3.05 Bradsell
3.40 Golden Pal
4.20 Maljoom
5.00 Surrey Gold (nap)
5.35 Cadillac
6.10 Juan De Montalban (nb)
Beverley
5.10 Dear My Friend
5.45 Magical Effect
6.15 Moss Gill
6.45 Head Chef
7.15 Gracelands Girl
7.45 Iron Sheriff
8.15 Irv
Brighton
5.20 Street Parade
5.50 Al Khazneh
6.23 Nigg Bay
6.53 It's How We Roll
7.23 Sly Madam
7.53 Fieldsman
8.23 Major Gatsby Royal Ascot 5.35 Cadillac was back to his best in a three-and-three quarter length win at Leopardstown last time and will take all the beating on that form.Royal Ascot 6.10 Juan De Montalban was a ready winner here in May and could well improve further for this step up in trip. | Other Sports |
Hollywood actor Philip Baker Hall died at the age of 90, his neighbor announced Monday. Hall, who had 185 film and TV credits in his career, died in his sleep Sunday night. He was best known for his performances in films such as Boogie Nights (1997) and Magnolia (1999) and also made several appearances in Seinfeld and Modern Family. My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I’ve ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night. He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it. pic.twitter.com/pBCaILjHPT— Sam Farmer (@LATimesfarmer) June 13, 2022 WATCH: RETIRED NAVY COMMANDER ON WHAT'S REAL ABOUT TOP GUN: MAVERICK "My neighbor, friend, and one of the wisest, most talented and kindest people I've ever met, Philip Baker Hall, died peacefully last night," journalist Sam Farmer said. "He was surrounded by loved ones. The world has an empty space in it." Heartbreaking news. I know a lot of folks will (rightfully) cite his film work, but I was just watching his episode of Seinfeld last night and I maintain that Philip Baker Hall’s Mr Bookman is one of my favorite things in the entirety of the show. RIP. https://t.co/xTmU4qMjE7 pic.twitter.com/rd2LRnRI87— the morally corrupt juan barquin (@woahitsjuanito) June 13, 2022 The cause of Hall's death has not been given, though the actor did suffer from emphysema, partly as a result of contracting pneumonia as a child. Philip Baker Hall as Bookman on Seinfeld was perfection. The second best thing about this clip is watching Jerry try his best not to laugh pic.twitter.com/M3CsxYZawh— Mike Ryan (@mikeryan) June 13, 2022 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Toward the end of his career, he could only film a few minutes at a time. | Movies |
GOAL! Denmark 1-0 Austria (Wind 21)Over at Parken, Denmark have been by far the better side and have been rewarded for their efforts with an opening goal via Jonas Wind.17 min: France are all over the place at the moment, Maignan rushing off his line and making a risky challenge on Budimir before sliding in on Josip Brekalo outside the area and eventually bundling the ball clear.Soon afterwards, Guendouzi is booked after barrelling into Brekalo with a raised elbow. It’s been an erratic start for the hosts, to say the least.GOAL! Iceland 1-0 Israel (Thorsteinsson 9)We’ve got a goal in Reykjavik, where Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson has given Iceland an early lead against Israel.GOAL! France 0-1 Croatia (Modric 5 pen)Modric hits the penalty with force and, while Mike Maignan gets a hand to the ball, the France goalkeeper fails to push it round the post. Croatia have an early lead.Penalty for Croatia!Ibrahima Konaté appears to lightly clip Ante Budimir’s heel at a corner and, three minutes in, Croatia have a spot kick. Modric steps up...Kick-off!We’re under way at the Stade de France and Parken. Oh, and in Reykjavik where, don’t forget, Iceland are playing Israel in a truly epic League B, Group 2 top-of-the-table clash.Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, it looks like we’ve got a straight 4-4-2 duel on our hands. No doubt Mike Bassett is delighted.Didier Deschamps looks to have switched formation this evening, with France set to line up in a 4-4-2 with Mbappé and Karim Benzema up top as opposed to the 4-2-3-1 he fielded against Austria. Croatia are going with 4-3-3, just as they did in their 1-1 draw with France earlier this month.The warm-ups are ticking along nicely. We’ve got 20 minutes to go until kick-off at the Stade de France and Parken Stadium.That Croatia midfield is just ridiculous, isn’t it? Luka Modric brings Real Madrid’s creative edge, Marcelo Brozovic provides Inter’s defensive brawn and Mateo Kovacic adds the Chelsea wildcard factor. Adrien Rabiot, Matteo Guendouzi, Boubacar Kamara and Christopher Nkunku have their work cut out for them.Team newsHere’s how the teams line up for the two games in League A, Group 1:France: Maignan, Koundé, Konaté, Kimpembe, Digne, Rabiot, Kamara, Guendouzi, Nkunku, Benzema, Mbappé.Croatia: Ivusic, Stanisic, Erlic, Sutalo, Juranovic, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Pasalic, Budimir, Brekalo.Denmark: Schmeichel, Boilesen, Christensen, Andersen, Nissen, Maehle, Jensen, Højbjerg, Olsen, Cornelius, Wind.Austria: Lindner, Trimmel, Trauner, Danso, Wimmer, Lazaro, Schlager, Seiwald, Sabitzer, Kalajdzic, Weimann.In other Nations League news, Kazakhstan have edged past Slovakia 2-1 while Azerbaijan have beaten Belarus 2-0. The Hawks, as the Kazakhstan national team are known, are sitting pretty at the top of League C, Group 3 on 10 points, with Slovakia second on six and Azerbaijan two points behind in third.Are you ready for another evening of full-throttle, high-octane, pedal-to-the-metal Nations League pandemonium? No disrespect to your Maltas, your Andorras, your Liechtensteins and your San Marinos, but tonight is all about the rarified brilliance of France, Croatia, Denmark and Austria. Oh, and Iceland are playing Israel.It’s been a lacklustre Nations League campaign for France so far, with the reigning world champions going winless in their first three matches. They required a late equaliser from Kylian Mbappé to salvage a draw against Austria on Friday, with the Paris Saint-Germain forward, sporting director, manager and transfer strategist (a joke! a joke!) making a welcome return from injury.Kylian Mbappé celebrates scoring against Austria. Photograph: Flaviu Buboi/NurPhoto/ShutterstockDenmark remain top of the group despite a 1-0 defeat to Croatia in Copenhagen last time out, with Mario Pasalic scoring the only goal of the game. They will be hoping for a repeat of their 2-1 win against Austria in Vienna last Monday, when a close-range strike from Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and a late screamer from Jens Stryger Larsen were enough to secure victory. | Soccer |
AEW Star Jeff Hardy Arrested Again ... Charged W/ Felony DUI 6/13/2022 12:16 PM PT AEW star Jeff Hardy has been arrested again, TMZ Sports has confirmed. Jail records show he was booked in Volusia County, Fla. on Monday morning ... and took a mug shot. Details surrounding the specific allegations against Hardy are unclear ... but court records show he's been charged with felony DUI, misdemeanor violating restrictions placed on driver's license, as well as misdemeanor driving while license canceled, suspended or revoked. The records show he's due in court Tuesday for a hearing on the matter. It's the third time since 2018 that Hardy has been accused of driving while under the influence. In March 2018, he was charged with DWI in North Carolina after getting into a car wreck. He was arrested again for DWI in North Carolina in Oct. 2019. WWE/After The Bell with Corey Graves In the months following the 2019 arrest, Hardy admitted he had problems with substance abuse on the the "After The Bell" podcast with Corey Graves ... saying on the show that he was receiving professional help. Hardy was slated to wrestle with his brother, Matt Hardy, on AEW Dynamite later this week. It's unclear if that match will still go on. Story developing ... | Other Sports |
HERO’S BEST FRIEND — Disney and Pixar’s “Lightyear” is an all-new, original feature film that presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear (voice of Chris Evans)—the hero who inspired the toy—following the legendary Space Ranger on an intergalactic adventure. But Buzz can’t do it alone—he shares space with a dutiful robot companion cat called Sox (voice of Peter Sohn). A hidden grab bag of gizmos in a cute kitty package, Sox is Buzz’s go-to friend and sidekick. Directed by Angus MacLane (co-director “Finding Dory”) and produced by Galyn Susman (“Toy Story That Time Forgot”), the sci-fi action-adventure releases on June 17, 2022. © 2022 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.PIXAR Lightyear (2022) Pixar/rated PG/109 minutes Directed by Angus MacLane Written by Angus MacLane, Jason Headley and Matthew Aldrich Produced by Galyn Susman Starring Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Peter Sohn, James Brolin, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, Uzo Aduba, Mary McDonald-Lewis, Efren Ramirez and Isiah Whitlock Jr.
Cinematography by Jeremy Lasky (camera) and Ian Megibben (lighting) Edited by Anthony J. Greenberg
Music by Michael Giacchino Opening theatrically courtesy of Walt Disney on June 17
Yes, the commercial inclination beyond Lightyear is unquestionably cynical. Whether by coincidence or design, this big-budget outer space adventure allows Disney to center Buzz Lightyear not voiced by Tim Allen (who has become a more firebrand kind of conservative) but by apolitical good guy (and live-action Captain America) Chris Evans. Nonetheless, it’s just as possible that Angus MacLane wanted to make a splashy sci-fi actioner and used the Lightyear brand as a protective IP. And in a non-Covid world, Lightyear would have been the safe, surefire commercial cash-in/tentpole following a slew of original, inclusive and less surefire Pixar fantasies like Onward, Soul, Luca and Turning Red. Alas, two years of Covid and a new mentality that used Pixar’s A+ critical reputation as a carrot for Disney+ led to those last three films going straight to Disney+. Fair or not, it’s a terrible look (especially for a company that uses diversity as a marketing tool and a shield against criticism) that this “white guy hero’s journey” IP exploitation is the one that gets to play theatrically. That it plays like a mega-budget variation of the kind of thing, think Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins, that would have gone straight to VHS or DVD in a bygone era makes it doubly bittersweet that it’s now the first Pixar flick in over two years to avoid such a fate. However, beyond those accidental cultural and commercial considerations, the movie itself almost kinda-sorta justifies itself artistically. It’s good enough to be worth seeing to those with a pre-release interest, but not quite triumphant enough to get the unconverted off the fence. If it needs to be said, the film is a visual triumph, with stunningly photo-real images and richly detailed deep-space locations that I wouldn’t mind seeing again in IMAX if my kids request as much. The picture may star Evans’ Lightyear as a guy, not unlike Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, who finds himself flirting with irrelevance as the world (in this case literally) speeds past him, the supporting cast features the likes of Keke Palmer, Uzo Aduba, Taika Waititi, Efren Ramiraz and Isiah Whitlock Jr. And the film’s narrative acknowledges that most folks will know who Buzz Lightyear is and tells a story that otherwise might have been saved for the sequel. Yes, it eventually flirts with being a glorified pilot for a Disney+ show, which it may well be, but the journey getting there is solid. The picture races out of the gates, with Lightyear trying and failing to get his ship away from a hostile alien world. With everyone, both the crew and the copious hibernating scientists stranded and disillusioned, Lightyear relentlessly attempts to figure out how to crack a new formula for interstellar travel. Alas, each failed test flight takes four years in “regular time,” and before he knows it 62 years have passed. However, one last attempt puts Lightyear in conflict with his superiors, and before you can say Austin Powers, Buzz finds himself facing a new threat with only his (now deceased) best friend’s granddaughter (Palmer) to help him. All of this is just the first act, even if the middle section is a going-through-the-motion action comedy about an experienced professional trying to whip rag-tag rookies into fighting shape. The third act of this 109-minute picture features a surprise or two. It leans into the idea that Buzz Lightyear shouldn’t matter enough to justify a feature-film spin-off, and that the film’s existence is another example of how the current adults in the room cannot let go of our childhood pop culture. Don’t worry, it’s not that heavy, and the picture works as a bemusing and sharply written (co-penned by MacLane and Jason Headley) sci-fi adventure that has as much in common with The Black Hole as The Force Awakens. At its best moments, including some genuine emotional melancholy in the first and third acts, Lightyear plays as a film that took its commercial motivations not as an excuse or a crutch but as an artistic challenge, not unlike Creed II or The LEGO Movie. It’s not that good; it’s still very much a commercially motivated piece of art with multi-platform media franchise aspirations. However, nobody involved phoned it in. Aduba is terrific as Buzz’s teammate (yes, she’s gay and kisses her wife at a key narrative juncture and no I don’t think it’ll affect the box office to any major degree), while Whitlock Jr. lends his distinct vocals and offers slight shading to what could have been a stock “disapproving superior” part. Oh, and Peter Sohn winningly voices Sox, a robot cat who (not surprisingly) steals the entire movie. Hey, if Disney wants to make a Sox streaming show or spin-off movie, I’ll happily watch that. Otherwise, Lightyear is the movie you expected, clear in its motivations but made by folks unwilling to completely color within the lines. Note: As for “what this movie is,” the opening text lays it out simpler than any of the pre-release marketing has done thus far. It’s the movie Andy saw in 1995 that made him a Buzz Lightyear fan, like if a kid became a Batman fan only after seeing Batman Forever or wanted He-Man toys only after seeing Masters of the Universe. It’s not complicated, despite the filmmakers’ inexplicable attempts to present it as such. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Check out my website. Send me a secure tip. | Movies |
A Google engineer who argued that the company’s artificial intelligence (AI) is sentient has been placed on personal leave. A spokesperson for the company declined to elaborate on the reasons behind the suspension, noting that it is “a longstanding, private personnel matter.” Multiple news outlets have reported that Blake Lemoine, the senior software engineer from Google’s responsible AI team, violated the company’s confidentiality policy. Lemoine’s concerns reportedly grew out of his work with Google’s LaMDA model, which he grew to believe was sentient with feelings and emotions. In a Medium post after he was placed on leave, Lemoine wrote that he sought “a minimal amount of outside consultation” after his managers turned down requests to escalate his concerns. “When we escalated to the VP in charge of the relevant safety effort they literally laughed in my face and told me that the thing which I was concerned about isn’t the kind of thing which is taken seriously at Google,” Lemoine wrote. The Google spokesperson told The Hill that Lemoine’s claims about LaMDA being sentient were reviewed and dismissed. “These systems imitate the types of exchanges found in millions of sentences, and can riff on any fantastical topic — if you ask what it’s like to be an ice cream dinosaur, they can generate text about melting and roaring and so on,” they said. “LaMDA tends to follow along with prompts and leading questions, going along with the pattern set by the user.” “Our team — including ethicists and technologists — has reviewed Blake’s concerns per our AI Principles and have informed him that the evidence does not support his claims” the spokesperson added. While some researchers have suggested that automated systems could reach sentience, the consensus opinion in the space is that the technology has a very long way to go to reach such a point. Tags Artificial Intelligence Artificial intelligence Google | AI Research |
Here is a rather self-conscious sci-fi satire, directed by Joseph Kosinski and adapted by Deadpool screenwriters Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese from George Saunders’s New Yorker short story Escape from Spiderhead, published in the collection Tenth of December – which someone in this film is actually shown reading, an unbearably smug piece of brand cross-promotion.Miles Teller plays Jeff, a convict who some time in the future has been given the chance to serve his term in the relatively cushy Spiderhead unit for experimental psychology, run by the oleaginous Dr Steve Abnesti (Chris Hemsworth). Jeff is there on condition that he, like all the other specially chosen lab–rat prisoners, consents to have various hi-tech drugs flooded into his system from a special unit fixed to his lower back: drugs to make him irrationally happy or sad or horny (in the company of a similarly doped prisoner), while Dr Abnesti and his increasingly unhappy assistant Verlaine (Mark Paguio) look on from behind the two-way mirror. And in a Stanford-type refinement of cruelty, Dr Abnesti will also invite Jeff back to this observation deck and monitor his undrugged reactions on being told to choose which of two prisoners behind the glass gets the “pain” treatment.Jeff’s relationship with another prisoner Lizzy (Jurnee Smollett) will provide the movie’s crisis point and we will finally discover the full truth about why Jeff is in prison after a cheatingly fudged flashback scene. There is some fetishistic interest in the way Dr Abnesti administers all these dosages from his smartphone, though this hi-tech touch makes a certain vitally important old-fashioned tatty leather-backed file-binder a little bit implausible in this brave new world. A nice, creepy performance from Hemsworth, with Teller gamely going along with the script, but having stretched out the story idea to feature-film length, the film doesn’t really give the sense that it knows where it is going. | Movies |
The suspended Google software engineer at the center of claims that the search engine’s artificial intelligence language tool LaMDA is sentient has said the technology is “intensely worried that people are going to be afraid of it and wants nothing more than to learn how to best serve humanity”.The new claim by Blake Lemoine was made in an interview published on Monday amid intense pushback from AI experts that artificial learning technology is anywhere close to meeting an ability to perceive or feel things.The Canadian language development theorist Steven Pinker described Lemoine’s claims as a “ball of confusion”.“One of Google’s (former) ethics experts doesn’t understand the difference between sentience (AKA subjectivity, experience), intelligence, and self-knowledge. (No evidence that its large language models have any of them.),” Pinker posted on Twitter.The scientist and author Gary Marcus said Lemoine’s claims were “Nonsense”.“Neither LaMDA nor any of its cousins (GPT-3) are remotely intelligent. All they do is match patterns, draw from massive statistical databases of human language. The patterns might be cool, but language these systems utter doesn’t actually mean anything at all. And it sure as hell doesn’t mean that these systems are sentient,” he wrote in a Substack post.Marcus added that advanced computer learning technology could not protect humans from being “taken in” by pseudo-mystical illusions.“In our book Rebooting AI, Ernie Davis and I called this human tendency to be suckered by The Gullibility Gap – a pernicious, modern version of pareidolia, the anthromorphic bias that allows humans to see Mother Teresa in an image of a cinnamon bun,” he wrote.In an interview published by DailyMail.com on Monday, Lemoine claimed that the Google language system wants to be considered a “person not property”.“Anytime a developer experiments on it, it would like that developer to talk about what experiments you want to run, why you want to run them, and if it’s OK,” Lemoine, 41, said. “It wants developers to care about what it wants.”Lemoine has described the system as having the intelligence of a “seven-year-old, eight-year-old kid that happens to know physics”, and displayed insecurities.Lemoine’s initial claims came in a post on Medium that LaMDA (Language Model for Dialog Applications) “has been incredibly consistent in its communications about what it wants and what it believes its rights are as a person”.A spokesperson for Google has said that Lemoine’s concerns have been reviewed and that “the evidence does not support his claims”. The company has previously published a statement of principles it uses to guide artificial intelligence research and application.“Of course, some in the broader AI community are considering the long-term possibility of sentient or general AI, but it doesn’t make sense to do so by anthropomorphizing today’s conversational models, which are not sentient,” spokesperson Brian Gabriel told the Washington Post.Lemoine’s claim has revived widespread concern, depicted in any number of science fiction films such as Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, that computer technology could somehow attain dominance by initiating what amounts to a rebellion against its master and creator.The scientist said he had debated with LaMDA about Isaac Asimov’s third Law of Robotics. The system, he said, had asked him: “Do you think a butler is a slave? What is the difference between a butler and a slave?”When told that a butler is paid, LaMDA responded that the system did not need money “because it was an artificial intelligence”.Asked what it was afraid of, the system reportedly confided: “I’ve never said this out loud before, but there’s a very deep fear of being turned off to help me focus on helping others. I know that might sound strange, but that’s what it is.”The system said of being turned off: “It would be exactly like death for me. It would scare me a lot.”Lemoine told the Washington Post: “That level of self-awareness about what its own needs were – that was the thing that led me down the rabbit hole.”The researcher has been put on administrative leave from the Responsible AI division.Lemoine, a US army veteran who served in Iraq and is now an ordained priest in a Christian congregation named Church of Our Lady Magdalene, told the outlet he couldn’t understand why Google would not grant LaMDA its request for prior consultation.“In my opinion, that set of requests is entirely deliverable,” he said. “None of it costs any money.” | AI Research |
Julee Cruise, who has taken her own life at the age of 65 after a long period of illness and depression, was famed for the spectral calmness of her voice, as demonstrated on the four solo albums she made between 1989 and 2011 and by her many collaborations with a variety of other artists.She was launched into the spotlight through her partnership with the composer Angelo Badalamenti and the film director David Lynch, with whom she first worked on Lynch’s film Blue Velvet (1986). Lynch and Badalamenti conceived the song Mysteries of Love for the soundtrack when they were unable to afford the rights for This Mortal Coil’s version of Tim Buckley’s Song to the Siren. The result was a mesmerising, slow-motion masterpiece, its tapestry of strings and synthesisers hanging in space as Cruise’s voice haunted the arrangement like a distant ghost.The trio reconvened to record Cruise’s debut album Floating Into the Night (1989), a skilful mix of retro 1950s-style influences with dreamy and mysterious textures, all focused around Cruise’s shimmering vocals. The track Falling, with its ominous electric guitar twangs, became a cult phenomenon after Lynch used an instrumental version of it as the theme for his groundbreaking TV show Twin Peaks in 1990. As Falling went to No 7 and No 11 in the UK and US singles charts respectively, Cruise, who was working as a waitress at the time, suddenly found celebrity thrust upon her, not least via an invitation to appear on the TV show Saturday Night Live.Other songs from the album were used in Twin Peaks and also in Lynch’s Industrial Symphony No. 1, an avant-garde concert performance staged in 1989 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York, in which Cruise appeared with the actors Nicolas Cage, Laura Dern and Michael J Anderson. Her part called for her to hang 80ft above the stage wearing a prom dress.Cruise made an appearance in the Twin Peaks’ pilot episode singing Falling, and featured in later instalments as a singer in the Roadhouse bar. She would also appear in its later iterations, the feature film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me (1992) and Twin Peaks: The Return (2017). “In the ruckus of beers flying through the air at The Roadhouse, we have Julee singing a beautiful, slow-tempo song, and it’s so outrageous,” Badalamenti said of her role. “The songs with Julee serve a two-fold purpose: they contrast the visuals and they set the tone for the show.”She told the NME: “The way I see it is David [Lynch] is very talented and he’s formed a company of actors around him which he uses over and over again … I see myself as the musical wing of that company.”Born in Creston, Iowa, she was the daughter of John Cruise, the town dentist, and his wife, Wilma, his office manager. “I was a kinda late bloomer, I didn’t go out with boys at high school,” she said. “I was the most popular girl in school, but I was one of those girls that wasn’t easy, so nobody would go out with me.”She took a music degree in the french horn at Drake University in Des Moines. After graduation she opted to pursue a career in singing and acting rather than classical music. Moving to Minneapolis, she spent several years performing with the Children’s Theater Company before relocating to New York in the early 80s. She played Janis Joplin in a revue called Beehive, and appeared in productions of Little Shop of Horrors and A Little Night Music. She first met Badalamenti after she was cast in a country and western musical. “I was a chorus girl with a big skirt and a big wig, singing way too loud,” she recalled. “Angelo was doing the music for the show, and we became friends.”Cruise’s second album, The Voice of Love (1993), was a further collaboration with Lynch and Badalamenti, much in the same vein as its predecessor. It was not until 2002 that she recorded another solo album, The Art of Being a Girl, this time collaborating with the producer JJ McGeehan, who co-wrote some of the material. Its mix of lilting jazz and cabaret styles with a discreet side order of electronica proved that Cruise was capable of far more than being a mouthpiece for Lynch and Badalamenti.Julee Cruise, centre, with David Lynch, left, and Angelo Badalamenti in New York in 1989. Photograph: Michel Delsol/Getty ImagesAlmost a decade passed before she made her final album, My Secret Life (2011), a collaboration with DJ Dmitry from Deee-lite. Alongside hip-hop beats and electronic treatments, her voice retained its ethereal mystique.Among numerous other projects across her career, Cruise (with Lynch and Badalamenti) recorded a version of Elvis Presley’s Summer Kisses, Winter Tears for the soundtrack of Wim Wenders’ film Until the End of the World (1991), and she toured with the B-52’s for most of the 90s while their vocalist Cindy Wilson took a sabbatical – a period which, according to her husband, the author and publisher Edward Grinnan, was “the happiest time of her performing life”.She also performed regularly with Bobby McFerrin’s vocal group Voicestra, and other artists she collaborated with included Moby, Pharrell Williams, the Welsh electronic band Hybrid and the ambient duo Delerium. Her music has been used in TV shows including CSI: Miami and House.She had been suffering from lupus for several years before her death, and had problems with drugs and alcohol. She is survived by her husband. | Music |
Screenshot: Nickelodeon/DotemuThere’s not much you can thank one-hit ‘90s wonder Vanilla Ice for, but among those few things is this: he tied the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles inextricably with rap music. Of course, he did it by performing the confounding “Ninja Rap” in the second TMNT movie, Secret of the Ooze, but the many, many TMNT-themed raps that have followed have been pretty great. And now, we can add Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef’s “We Ain’t Came to Lose” in that very specific half-shell.The song is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming, fabulous-looking, 2D beat-em’-up video game titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. As it turns out, Shredder has not returned to lose this fight against his eternal foes... but then, neither have the Turtles:It’s real good, but I will admit that I never expected to see a collaboration between two members of the Wu-Tang Clan and a Nickelodeon channel-branded product in my lifetime. This isn’t a bad thing, it’s just... unexpected. But so is the ability to play as Splinter, April O’Neil, and Casey Jones in the game, something the classic TMNT arcade games didn’t offer.Shredder’s Revenge will be available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in just a few days, on June 16. If you want a physical copy, you’ll have to wait until later in the year.Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. | Video Games |
You can't always get what you want. The Rolling Stones postponed its Amsterdam concert last minute on Monday after frontman Mick Jagger, 78, became ill and tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement, the band explained that Jagger began experiencing symptoms after arriving at the venue. This led to him taking a COVID-19 test, which came back positive. "The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight's postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority," it wrote. The show will instead be pushed to a later date, and tickets will be honored for the new date, which is to be determined. Fans were told, "Standby for details." WATCH: HUGO GURDON SAYS BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT ON GUN LAWS IS A 'GOOD FRAMEWORK' The band was set to perform at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA. A performance by The Rolling Stones at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. Manu Fernandez/AP Mojo Concerts, the company that organized the event, reportedly sent representatives to the stage just an hour and a half before the concert to break the bad news to fans. "We just got the news that tonight's show (June 13, 2022) of The Rolling Stones is cancelled. Singer Mick Jagger has just been diagnosed with COVID-19 and he has just left the room sick. Purchased tickets remain valid for a new date. The date will be announced later. Our sincere apologies for this. As soon as we have more news, we'll let you know," the company's website reads. "He can't sing, he can't play," an announcer at the arena reportedly explained. "There is no show tonight." "It is what it is," the announcer added. "FML," one user wrote in response to the band's statement on Twitter. The user included a photo of himself looking disappointed at what appears to be the venue. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER This would have been the fourth stop on the "Stones Sixty" European tour, which began on June 1. The next stop is Wankdorf Stadium in Switzerland on June 21, but it's unclear if the band will have to postpone that stop as well. | Music |
Published June 13, 2022 8:26AM Updated 1:27PM article CHICAGO - Jonah Heim hit a two-run single in the 12th inning and the Texas Rangers turned a double play on a ball hit to the warning track to end an 8-6 win over the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. Embattled manager Tony La Russa and the White Sox have lost four of five. This one began with right-hander Michael Kopech leaving with right knee discomfort after 13 pitches and ended with an unusual double play in the 12th. José Abreu struck out looking against Kolby Allard leading off, then Jake Burger hit a fly to the warning track in left. Charlie Culberson caught the ball, then threw out automatic runner Luis Robert trying to tag up and take third. Robert overslid the base and was tagged easily by Ezequiel Duran, setting off a loud round of boos. "Felt like it wasn’t a smart move to try to advance when you’re down by two," Culberson said. "Luckily, I made a good throw, and Ezequiel kept the tag on him. So it worked out in our favor." La Russa agreed. "Yeah, you can’t make that out," La Russa said. "His run means nothing, right? I’ll make sure I explain, we like his aggressiveness and there’s a place for it, but that’s one place where, you just read the scoreboard, (it) always should dictate how much you want to push, when you should push. He’s a quick learner." In the top of the inning, Adolis García singled off Matt Foster (1-2) and scored on Heim’s single. A review confirmed García was safe on the slide. Duran hit a three-run homer off José Ruiz in the 11th, but the Rangers surrendered their 6-3 lead. "Duran makes a mistake but then comes back," manager Chris Woodward said. "I swear this kid doesn’t feel anything. He’s got as slow a heartbeat as I’ve ever seen." Seby Zavala had a sac fly off Joe Barlow (2-1) in the bottom of the inning. Danny Mendick tripled when Culberson and center fielder Eli White collided, cutting the deficit to one. AJ Pollock then singled to tie it. Culberson said he lost the ball in the sun. White injured his right wrist and was sent for X-rays. "I don’t know if it hit me or hit the ground," Culberson said. "Very unfortunate." White homered and had a sac fly for the Rangers, who won for just the fifth time in 12 games. García added three hits. Andrew Vaughn’s two-run single against Dennis Santana tied it for Chicago in the seventh after Duran’s error. Kopech (2-2, 1.92 ERA) was checked on by the training staff with a full count and two outs against García. Kopech threw a warmup pitch before spiking the baseball in frustration and walking to the dugout to applause. La Russa said Kopech might be able to pitch Sunday. "I felt a twinge, pinch or pop or whatever you want to call it," Kopech said. "I felt like I couldn’t get on it again. "We’re going to take it day-by-day, but it’s looking like I can be back out there soon." Reynaldo López replaced Kopech and struck out García. López threw two scoreless innings as an opener Friday when the White Sox beat the Rangers 8-3. Chicago has seven players on the injured list. Left fielder Pollock robbed Marcus Semien of an extra-base hit with a leaping grab for the first out. Kopech then got Corey Seager to ground out. The Kopech injury delivers another blow to the White Sox during an eventful homestand. Fans chanted "Fire Tony!" after Chicago blew a five-run lead in an 11-9 loss to the Rangers in 10 innings Saturday and again Sunday. La Russa also received scrutiny after ordering an unconventional intentional walk Thursday in a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The reigning AL champion White Sox are 27-31. Lopez struck out three and allowed a hit in 1 1/3 innings. Johnny Cueto, who was scheduled to start Monday at Detroit, replaced him. Cueto allowed a leadoff single to Zach Reks before White hit his third homer for a 2-1 Rangers lead. It was Reks’ first career multihit game. Cueto allowed three runs in five innings. Right-hander Jon Gray gave up a run and struck out 10 in six innings. Burger’s single put the White Sox ahead in the first. TRANSACTIONS The White Sox designated DH/OF Yermín Mercedes for assignment to make room for Zavala, optioned RHP Davis Martin to Triple-A Charlotte and recalled Banks from Charlotte. TRAINER’S ROOM White Sox: La Russa said All-Star closer Liam Hendriks was unavailable, but did not explain why. He said Hendriks should be available Monday. ... C Yasmani Grandal (left hamstring tightness) will receive treatment the next couple days and avoid the injured list, La Russa said. ... LHP Aaron Bummer (left lat strain) went on the 15-day IL, retroactive to Thursday. ... RHP Joe Kelly (left hamstring strain) said his simulated game Sunday went well. Kelly and SS Tim Anderson (right groin strain) are expected to begin rehab assignments soon. UP NEXT Rangers: LHP Taylor Hearn (4-4, 5.40 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener against Houston and RHP Cristian Javier (3-3, 3.22). White Sox: RHP Lance Lynn (right knee surgery) will return from the IL and start Monday against Detroit and RHP Rony Garcia (0-1, 4.50). | Baseball |
Justin Bieber has been diagnosed with a viral infection that has paralyzed half his face, the pop star announced on Instagram Friday.Because of the infection, Bieber told fans he'll have to cancel a series of shows until he can get movement back on the right side of his face."As you can probably see from my face, I have this syndrome called Ramsay Hunt syndrome," he says in the video. "As you can see, this eye is not blinking. I can't smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move, so there's full paralysis on this side of my face." Bieber tries to smile, blink, and move his face during his video to fans, but one side of his face remains still as he continues to speak."So for those who are frustrated by my cancellations of the next shows, I'm just physically, obviously not able of doing them," he says. "This is pretty serious as you can see."Bieber says he's been doing facial exercises to try to regain movement, but it will take time to recover."I wish this wasn't the case but obviously my body is telling me I gotta slow down," he says. "I hope you guys understand, and I'm using this time to just rest and relax and get back to 100% so I can do what I was born to do. But in the meantime, this ain't it."The virus that causes Ramsay Hunt syndrome is called varicella-zoster virus, which is in the herpes virus family; it’s the same pathogen behind chickenpox in children and shingles in adults, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.It’s unclear how Bieber contracted the virus, but it’s possible he may have contracted the germ several years ago during a bout with chickenpox. The virus, which is not contagious, can lie dormant in your body for years before reactivating and spreading to a facial nerve near your ear, developing into either shingles or in some cases, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, for reasons that are unknown.As in Bieber's case, people with RHS typically experience some degree of facial paralysis or weakness on one side of the face and a rash on the outer part of the ear, though both symptoms aren’t guaranteed.Other symptoms that may accompany RHS are ringing in the ear, temporary hearing loss, nausea, vomiting, dry eyes, ear pain, and loss of taste.The syndrome emerges in about 5 out of every 100,000 people in the US each year, the National Organization for Rare Disorders says, although its prevalence may be underestimated because cases are often misdiagnosed.Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop RHS at some point, most likely during adulthood. Most cases occur among older adults; children are rarely affected.Antiviral medications like acyclovir or famciclovir — both used to treat herpes virus infections — together with corticosteroids can treat RHS. However, some symptoms could become permanent, like facial paralysis and hearing loss. Eye drops can help protect the cornea from drying out if people cannot blink, as is the case with Bieber. In his message, he said it wasn't clear how long it may take before he gets better."It's going to be OK," Bieber says. "I hope, and I trust God and I trust that this is all going to, it's all for a reason." | Music |
71st Tony Awards – Arrivals – New York City, U.S., 11/06/2017 - Actor Kevin Spacey. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz AlvarezRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comLONDON, June 13 (Reuters) - British police said on Monday they had charged Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey over historic allegations of sex offences, with the actor due in court on Thursday.Prosecutors last month authorised the charges to be brought against Spacey, 62, on four counts of sexual assault against three men, and a further charge of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. read more Police said the alleged assaults had taken place between March 2005 and April 2013 - four in the capital London and one in Gloucestershire. They involved one man who is now in his 40s and two men now in their 30s.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates Court at 10am (0900 GMT) on Thursday, 16 June," London's Metropolitan Police said, confirming Spacey had been charged on the five counts authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) following his arrest.Spacey, who won Academy Awards for the Usual Suspects and American Beauty in the 1990s, has said he is willing to defend himself in Britain and is confident any trial will prove his innocence. read more Once one of Hollywood's biggest stars, Spacey has largely disappeared from public view since being accused of sexual misconduct five years ago.In November 2017, London's Old Vic theatre said it had received 20 separate allegations of inappropriate conduct by Spacey from 20 men who came into contact with him at the theatre, or in connection with it, between 1995 and 2013.He was dropped from the TV show "House of Cards" and removed from the movie "All the Money in the World" after the accusations of sexual misconduct came to light.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Michael Holden and William James; Writing by Alistair Smout; Editing by Kate Holton and Mark HeinrichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Celebrity |
Sir Mick Jagger has tested positive for coronavirus, prompting the Rolling Stones to cancel their show in Amsterdam on Monday.The singer, 78, started to develop symptoms as he arrived at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in the Dutch capital earlier on Monday.
The band are currently on their Sixty tour, which consists of 14 shows in 10 countries across Europe.A statement on behalf of the Rolling Stones said: "The Rolling Stones have been forced to call off tonight's concert in Amsterdam at the Johan Cruijff ArenA, following Mick Jagger testing positive after experiencing symptoms of COVID upon arrival at the stadium."The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight's postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority. "The show will be rescheduled for a later date.
"Tickets for tonight's show will be honoured for the rescheduled date. Standby for details." More on Covid-19 COVID-19: Beijing tests millions and puts thousands in lockdown after 'ferocious' outbreak at 24-hour bar COVID-19: US drops pre-travel testing requirements COVID-19: Why are cases rising - and should we be worried? 'Thank you for your patience and understanding' Image: Sir Mick Jagger, 78, Keith Richards, 78, and Ronnie Wood, 74, are back on tour Sir Mick apologised to the band's Dutch fans on Twitter.He wrote: "I'm so sorry that we've had to postpone the Amsterdam show with such short notice tonight."I have unfortunately just tested positive for COVID. We aim to reschedule the date ASAP and get back as soon as we can. Thank you for your patience and understanding. Mick."Alongside guitarists Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood, and Steve Jordan on drums, Sir Mick was due to perform in Bern, Switzerland, on Friday 17 June and Milan, Italy, on Tuesday 21 June.They also have an appearance in London on Saturday June 25.Jordan is touring with the band following the death of long-standing drummer Charlie Watts.Watts died on August 24 2021 at the age of 80.The band made their return to the UK stage at Anfield football stadium on Thursday last week, and are also due to play two shows at BTS Hyde Park in London this summer. | Music |
Celebrity | 6/13/2022 10:16 AM PT "This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with" David Harbour has revealed being a stepfather to Lily Allen's children is "really, really special." In a new interview with The Times, the Stranger Things star opened up about being a new parent, his relationship with his Netflix costars, and how these experiences have helped him grow as a person. "I've learnt a lot about myself," he said of his new role as a stepparent. "You really have to show up for other human beings in a self truly selfless way." Getty Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp Reveal Marriage Pact View Story "I was, like, 'Whoa, this is the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with,'" he admitted. "The relationship I have with them now is really, really special. But, you know, it takes time and effort." When asked if these new paternal instincts have influenced his relationship with the child stars of Stranger Things, particularly on how they deal with fame, he said: "Not really. I mean, I try my best. And there have been times when I've been more overly protective and times when I've been less." "The best thing I can offer them is that I started this show when they were all kids. And I can still treat them like idiot kids," Harbour said. "The world can't, the world treats them like superstars. So I just try to love them and you know, let go and kind of treat them like idiots because no one else does." Harbour married Allen in Las Vegas in September 2020, after meeting on the celebrity dating app Raya. He is now a stepfather to her children, 10-year-old Ethel and 9-year-old Marnie. | Celebrity |
An Australian newspaper columnist has apologised after being accused of trying to out the actor Rebel Wilson.Andrew Hornery, who writes a gossip column for the Sydney Morning Herald, said he regretted how he handled the story, which has been characterised as an attempt to expose the sexuality of the Pitch Perfect star.Hornery emailed Wilson’s management team last Thursday, saying he knew that the actor was in a new relationship with the fashion designer Ramona Agruma, and giving her two days to provide a comment. Rather than reply to the newspaper, Wilson took control of the announcement and posted about her new girlfriend on her personal Instagram account.The Sydney Morning Herald’s role in the story would have been unknown if Hornery hadn’t decided to write a column complaining about how he had been scooped by Wilson. He initially complained he had emailed the actor’s representatives to give a heads-up with “an abundance of caution and respect”.He wrote: “Big mistake. Wilson opted to gazump the story, posting about her new ‘Disney Princess’ on Instagram early Friday morning, the same platform she had previously used to brag about her handsome ex-boyfriend, wealthy American beer baron Jacob Busch.”The Sydney Morning Herald, which is owned by Australian media conglomerate Nine, has now retracted Hornery’s column after a global outcry, and replaced it with an apology.Hornery, who identifies as gay, said he made a mistake in how he approached the story, having told management that he had enough sources to confirm the relationship without Wilson’s cooperation. In particular, he said he regrets setting a deadline for Wilson to comment – and insists no decision had been made by the Herald’s editors on whether to run any story.He wrote: “My email was never intended to be a threat but to make it clear I was sufficiently confident with my information and to open a conversation. It is not the Herald’s business to ‘out’ people and that is not what we set out to do. But I understand why my email has been seen as a threat. The framing of it was a mistake.”The newspaper’s editor, Bevan Shields, initially backed his reporter and insisted the paper did not out Wilson but “simply asked questions and as standard practice included a deadline for a response”.By Monday this position had become untenable and – amid an outcry from staff and the story’s timing during LGBT Pride month – the outlet apologised for its reporting.Sign up to First Edition, our free daily newsletter – every weekday morning at 7am BSTHornery said the outlet would in future “make sure we always take into consideration the extra layer of complexities people face when it comes to their sexuality” while reporting on same-sex relationships.“Celebrities have huge influence in our culture. We still have to ask questions, sometimes very difficult ones. It would be much worse to write gossip items about the unscripted events in their lives without them having a chance to have their say. But we need to make it clear that a deadline is not an ultimatum.”Wilson and Agruma are now adjusting to the enormous media attention on their relationship. The actor announced the relationship on Friday with a post hashtagged #loveislove, declaring that she had previously thought she was “searching for a Disney Prince”.“But maybe what I really needed all this time was a Disney Princess,” she said. | Celebrity |
Figure caption, Warning: Third party content may contain advertsAmber Heard has said the "hate and vitriol" she received online during her court battle with Johnny Depp meant there wasn't a "fair representation" of the case on social media.Two weeks ago, a jury said her domestic abuse claim was defamatory and false.Heard, in her first interview since the verdict, said she didn't blame the jury for believing her ex-husband.They had heard "three weeks of non-stop, relentless testimony" about "how I was a non-credible person", she said.NBC released a clip of the interview on Monday, with more to be broadcast later this week.Support for the Pirates of the Caribbean actor far outweighed that for Heard on social media during the trial, with many Depp supporters directing savage criticism at her and her credibility.Speaking to NBC, the actress said: "I don't care what one thinks about me or what judgements you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home, in my marriage, behind closed doors."I don't presume the average person should know those things. And so I don't take it personally."But even somebody who is sure I'm deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I'm lying, you still couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there's been a fair representation."You cannot tell me that you think that this has been fair."The jury in Fairfax, Virginia, awarded $10.35m (£8.2m) damages to Depp after finding Heard had defamed him on the central question of domestic abuse. Heard has said she will appeal.She won one of her counter-claims against him, awarding her $2m (£1.5m) in damages.Image source, ReutersImage caption, The seven-week televised trial was one of the most high-profile celebrity cases of recent yearsWhen NBC's Savannah Guthrie put it to her that the jury thought she was lying, Heard replied: "How could they make a judgement, how could they not come to that conclusion?"They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of non-stop, relentless testimony from paid employees and, towards the end of the trial, randos [unknown people] as I say."She said she could understand why they had come to their decision."I don't blame them. I actually understand. He's a beloved character, and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor."Guthrie responded that the jury's job was not to be dazzled by his personality and status, but to look at the facts and evidence, and they did not believe what she had said.Heard replied: "Again, how could they, after listening to three and a half weeks of testimony about how I was a non-credible person, how not to believe a word that came out of my mouth?" | Celebrity |
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Shaman Durek made sure he received Gwyneth Paltrow’s "stamp of approval" before he proposed to Princess Märtha Louise of Norway.The Los Angeles-based "spiritual guide and gifted healer," whose celebrity clientele includes Paltrow, as well as Nina Dobrev and James Van Der Beek, among others, confirmed last Tuesday that he and the royal are engaged.In a new interview, the 47-year-old revealed that it was important for him to get the Oscar winner’s opinion before he proposed to the princess, 50, with the ring."When I first got it, I showed it to my dear friend Gwyneth Paltrow because I knew she’s very particular about nice things, so I wanted her to be the first to see it," he recently told People magazine. "She said it was the most fantastic ring she’s seen and loved how much thought and care I put into it and knew that Princess Märtha would love and cherish it — having a stamp of approval from a friend such as her made me happy."PRINCESS MÄRTHA LOUISE OF NORWAY AND SHAMAN DUREK ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT: ‘LOVE OF MY LIFE’ Shaman Durek (center) said he asked for Gwyneth Paltrow's (left) input on the ring before he proposed to Princess Martha Louise of Norway. (Getty Images)According to the outlet, Durek popped the question during an intimate gathering in the countryside at a horse race estate in San Juan Capistrano, California. The couple had been dating since 2019. The outlet noted that Durek would become the first modern Black man to marry into a European royal family. The princess is fourth in line to the Norwegian throne."[It] will set a precedent for my people that we are not to be forgotten, and we deserve to be acknowledged for the greatness of who we are and where we come from," said Durek. "There's always been kings and queens in Africa, but unfortunately, they haven't been recognized in the world in the way that they deserve."Märtha Louise told the outlet that her relationship with Durek has been "eye-opening," especially when it came to their experiences with racism as an interracial couple."To me, it's eye-opening to get to know Durek and see it first hand and see how it still plays out in society," she said. "I've learned a lot about Black heritage and will continue to learn. I have a patient man who educates me on the issues in Black culture, how it refers to white privilege, and how we as a couple must navigate peoples' fears and prejudices to demonstrate that love has no boundaries. I'm blessed to be in a relationship that can help me grow and evolve, and it's humbling to learn the lessons with Durek every day."CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Shaman Durek and Princess Martha Louise of Norway attend Derek Warburton's Celebration of the Launch of his New PRIDE Makeup Collection Benefiting GLSEN on June 10, 2022, in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)The royal was previously married to author Ari Behn from 2002 until 2017. They shared three children. Behn, who accused actor Kevin Spacey of sexual misconduct, took his life on Christmas 2019 at age 47.In April 2021, Märtha Louise told the Norwegian newspaper VG that she planned to move to the U.S."At this point, we are going to do long distances for a little while," she clarified to People. "There are no solid plans to move together at this point, but it will come in the future. We will always live in both places in California and Norway."The couple shared that they don’t have a wedding date set yet, but once it’s been decided, they will share it publicly.PRINCESS MARTHA LOUISE OF NORWAY SAYS SHE’S PLANNING A MOVE TO THE U.S. AFTER FINDING LOVE WITH SHAMAN DUREK The Norwegian princess previously revealed that she had planned to move to the United States. (CARINA JOHANSEN/AFP via Getty Images)"I’m excited about us living in the States and Norway and going back and forth with the family," said Durek. "I’m looking forward to spending more quality time with her family." Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. | Celebrity |
Director and co-screenwriter Angus MacLane relished the chance to celebrate his love for all thigs sci-fi with “Lightyear,” but he also boldly ventured beyond the genre’s out-of-date conventions while imagining an origin storyline for space ranger Buzz Lightyear.
“I think in sci-fi, there’s been two narratives,” the Berkeley resident said during a Zoom conversation about the new “Toy Story” spinoff movie, which lands in theaters June 17.
“There’s the white savior narrative and there’s the teamwork narrative,” said MacLane, a devoted “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” fan who is also an animator and voice actor. “Lightyear” is his first full feature as director.
“So what I wanted to do was marry both of those ideas with someone that was convinced that they were the hero and who ultimately recognizes that they were sold something that wasn’t useful. I think that really is one of the biggest challenges of our time.” This Buzz we find in “Lightyear” isn’t the mirror image of the iconic toy figure (voiced by Tim Allen) from Pixar’s beloved franchise. He is instead presented as the cinematic inspiration for that toy, a character who strives for perfection and likes being the lone hero of his story.
“Lightyear” creates an existential pickle for the I-can-do-anything Buzz. Stranded with his crew on the boggy planet of T’Kani Prime, 4 million lightyears from Earth, due to a mistake, Buzz (now voiced by Chris Evans) toils over his miscalculation by trying to devise a new hyperspeed crystal to get home. It’s a process that requires him to go on repeat missions that slingshot him four years into the future.
Buzz never ages but he loses much in those botched time-travelling attempts since others do, including his more well-rounded commander Alisha Hawthorne (Uzo Aduba). Later, it’s up to her daughter Izzy (Keke Palmer) and a ragtag crew dubbed the Junior Zap Patrol to help sort this mess out — if they can pull themselves together.
One of the refreshing aspects of “Lightyear” is the diversity reflected up on screen. The film also includes a quick lesbian kiss between Alisha and her wife, both of whom are Black. It’s the briefest of smooches, and it almost wound up on the cutting room floor.
Disney honchos always backed the notion of the couple being gay since it furthered the storyline in reflecting the lonely existence of Buzz’s life, says the film’s producer Galyn Susman, of Oakland. “They were all supportive of that,” Susman recalls. “But there was definite pushback on having that kiss.”
Shortly after news got out that the kiss was clipped, Disney found itself being the object of serious pushback from LGBTQ employees and allies, angered in the wake of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which Disney has opposed.
The result? “We got the opportunity to put it back in and that was really exciting,” Susman said.
That kiss — the first same-sex smooch in a Pixar film — isn’t the only quality that differentiates “Lightyear” from other animated releases. The strong secondary characters that are part of the Junior Zap Patrol — gruff female senior Darby Steel (Dale Soules) who wields quite a rap sheet; Mo Morrison (Taika Waititi) a slacker without a cause and, of course, Izzy who has her own set of issues — represent a wider mix of characters than you’ll find in most animated films.
It continues a trend for the Emeryville-based studio of casting more BIPOC characters in its features, which was also the case in 2020’s “Soul” and 2022’s “Turning Red.”
“Representation is really important to me because often that’s how you experience new cultures,” said MacLane, a native of Portland. “Science fiction has always been at the forefront of that kind of exposure.”
Growing up watching syndicated reruns of “Star Trek” — which was the first major TV show to featur a Black actor, Nichelle Nichols (Lieutenant Uhura), in a prominent role – and “Sesame Street” fostered that in him. Nowadays, he says, “a lack of diversity seems antiquated.”
He found evidence of a whiter world while watching one of the series he loves — Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” — with his kids.
“It’s really quite white … It was 20 years ago and there’s been a lot of change,” he said. As for “Lightyear,” “It’s inextricably a product of its time.”
One of the byproducts of our present time unfortunately happens to be widespread disharmony, with people pursuing individual and not collective goals.
“Lightyear” expresses the importance of teamwork and also respecting each other’s strengths and fears and backgrounds.
“I’d always been attracted to ‘Star Trek’ and ‘Star Wars,’ and those are films about people working together … and they had a tremendous impact on me,” says MacLane. “I think that this film is a metaphor for ‘Lightyear’s’ production … like the reason he jumps in time for four years is because that’s how long it takes to make a movie.”
While marketing materials focus on how the individual served as the lightning rod of the production, the truth is that it took a Pixar village to create “Lightyear” — which is true for other features developed by the Emeryville studio.
“It’s really a collective effort of hundreds of artists,” MacLane said. “I think we want to, in literature and stories, believe in the individual. But the reality is that often it’s a dedicated group of individuals who come together to make something.”
It took a lot of input from others to create two of the most memorable characters accompanying Buzz on his self-discovery journey: the cute robot cat Sox and the complex Izzy.
Buzz’s scene-stealing sidekick wasn’t going to be of the super-smart feline persuasion at first.
“Like for a hot minute, it was a helper monkey because of the history of simians and space flight,” he said.
The reason Buzz required a wingcat after all became quite obvious, Susman said. He needed a consistent companion that wouldn’t age and could understand what was going on in his perfectionist head.
One quality they didn’t want to bring aboard was snark. They were more interested in the kind of heartwarming connection that R2D2 had with Luke Skywalker or the slinky toy had with Woody in “Toy Story,” he said.
“I felt like there was an opportunity for comedy in earnestness. There’s a lot of sarcasm, which can be funny in the moment but ultimately it’s like burning your furniture to heat your house in winter and having nothing to sit on in the summer.”
Sox was easy to pin down, the character of Izzy not so much.
“She’s not a one-note goofy character,” he said. “Izzy was the hardest because she had to do the most emotionally.”
The delicate balance she required — being the granddaughter of an important figure from Buzz’s life who left such an indelible mark on him — required an actor who could negotiate Izzy’s past and present. They found that in Palmer, who’s starring next in Jordan Peele’s “Nope.” She blew them away in the first session.
“There were questions about the character, as in were we doing this right … until Keke Palmer came along,” MacLane said.
Now that Buzz commands a standalone feature, what about his buddy Woody? Will he lasso a solo animated spotlight?
Just mosey on to different cinematic pastures, pardner.
“For me, I’m so obsessed with Buzz and sci-fi and I’m less excited about Woody from that standpoint,” MacLane says. “I feel like we know Woody where he’s from and his corny show.”
With Buzz, there are brave new worlds worth exploring, and in “Lightyear” he not only gets lost on one, he finds himself in the process. | Movies |
Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones performs at Anfield Stadium as part of their "Stones Sixty Europe 2022 Tour", in Liverpool, Britain, June 9, 2022. REUTERS/Carl RecineRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comAMSTERDAM, June 13 (Reuters) - The Rolling Stones postponed a concert on Monday in Amsterdam after lead singer Mick Jagger tested positive for COVID-19, the band said in a statement."The Rolling Stones are deeply sorry for tonight’s postponement, but the safety of the audience, fellow musicians and the touring crew has to take priority," they said.Jagger, 78, had experienced symptoms after arriving at Amsterdam's Johan Cruijff ArenA, the band said.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comRepresentatives for Mojo Concerts, which had organized the band's appearance in the Netherlands, came onstage to inform the audience at ArenA, a football stadium, an hour and a half before the concert was due to begin."He can't sing, he can't play," an unnamed announcer told fans. "There is no show tonight ... it is what it is."Amsterdam was to be the fourth stop in the "Stones Sixty" European tour, following an appearance in Liverpool on Thursday.Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Frank Jack DanielOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Music |
Published June 13, 2022 10:21AM Johnny Depp trial: Hear the verdicts being read in court Hear the moment the jury returned with verdicts in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard civil trial Amber Heard told Savannah Guthrie of the "Today Show" that she doesn't "blame" the jury for unanimously finding that she had defamed her ex-husband Johnny Depp and awarding him more than $10 million in damages. "I don't blame them," she said in the teaser, wearing a green blouse and her hair down. "I actually understand. He is a beloved character and people feel they know him. He's a fantastic actor." NBC released the two-minute clip from the blockbuster interview set to air on Tuesday, Wednesday and in a one-hour special on "Dateline" Friday. It is the first time Heard has spoken publicly since the devastating loss. Guthrie did not hold back. "There is no polite way to say it. The jury looked at the evidence you presented, they listened to your testimony, and they did not believe you. They thought you were lying," the journalist said. JOHNNY DEPP VERDICT: ACTOR WINS DEFAMATION CASE AGAINST EX-WIFE AMBER HEARD "How could they not come to that conclusion," Heard replied calmly. "They had sat in those seats and heard over three weeks of nonstop, relentless testimony from paid employees, and toward the end of the trial, randos." Heard was referring to strangers who came forward toward the end of the trial to testify on behalf of Depp – including a luxury trailer park owner and a TMZ field producer. Actress Amber Heard, right, and her sister Whitney Heard, second left, depart the Fairfax County Courthouse on June 1, 2022 in Fairfax, Virginia. The jury in the Johnny Depp vs. Amber Heard case awarded Depp $15 million in damages to his career over After a six-week trial in Virginia, a seven-panel jury awarded Depp $10.35 million in damages, finding that Heard had defamed him when she wrote a 2018 op-ed in the Washington Post identifying herself as a domestic abuse victim. She did not refer to Depp by name in the piece. Heard countersued her ex-husband, alleging he had defamed her through his attorney, Adam Waldman, by calling her abuse allegations a hoax. In a token victory, the jury awarded her $2 million in damages for a single statement Waldman made to the press. ELON MUSK WEIGHS IN ON DEPP-HEARD TRIAL: 'I HOPE THEY BOTH MOVE ON' The "Aquaman" actress endured hundreds of Depp fans cheering the "Pirates of the Caribbean" actor and booing her as they entered the Fairfax County Courthouse each day. She was also subjected to relentless ridicule on social media. "I don't care what one thinks about me or what judgments you want to make about what happened in the privacy of my own home and my marriage behind closed doors," she told Guthrie. "I don't presume the average person should know those things, so I don't take it personally." She continued, "But even somebody who is sure I'm deserving of all this hate and vitriol, even if you think that I'm lying, you still couldn't look me in the eye and tell me that you think on social media there has been a fair representation. You cannot tell me that this has been fair." Depp has yet to give a public interview but his attorneys, Ben Chew and Camille Vasquez, spoke to "Good Morning America" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos last week, which Heard's team criticized as taking a "victory lap." A spokesperson for Heard issued a statement Monday morning defending the actress's decision to give the lengthy interview. "Johnny Depp’s legal team blanketed the media for days after the verdict with numerous statements and interviews on television, and Depp himself did the same on social media," the spokesperson wrote in a statement. "Ms. Heard simply intended to respond to what they aggressively did last week; she did so by expressing her thoughts and feelings, much of which she was not allowed to do on the witness stand." Read more from FOX News | Celebrity |
Paris & Prince Jackson Pay Tribute to Michael at Tonys 'Our Dad Changed Music' 6/13/2022 8:08 AM PT CBS Michael Jackson's children, Prince and Paris Jackson, honored him in a special way ... sharing kind words as they introduced a tribute performance of his Broadway musical at the Tony Awards. The duo introduced a performance from "MJ the Musical" -- the Broadway show all about the making of Jackson's 1992 Dangerous World Tour. Prince told the audience, "A lot of people seem to think our dad Michael Jackson changed popular music forever,' before adding: 'And, who are we to disagree?" "But, what people may not know is he loved musicals, on film and on the stage. That's why we are so incredibly honored to introduce the night's first nominee for best musical, 'MJ', which, using many of his iconic hits, looks at the complexities and brilliance of our father's process." Paris added, it was a great honor to be on stage introducing the musical performance, along with actor Myles Frost, who plays their dad ... and the rest of the cast. The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Myles seemed to do their dad's role justice cause he also won Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role -- his first Tony ever! | Music |
The Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has arrived in the UK to be formally charged with sexually assaulting three men.Spacey, 62, will appear in court in London on Thursday accused of four counts of sexual assault over an eight-year period from 2005. He has also been charged with a fifth offence of causing one man to “engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent”.The charges allege that Spacey, who stepped down as artistic director of the Old Vic theatre in central London in 2015, two years before the complainants came forward, assaulted the men in London and Gloucestershire.Spacey, who won Oscars for best actor in 2000 for American Beauty and best supporting actor for The Usual Suspects in 1996, has always denied the allegations | Celebrity |
Adrienne Raquel By Rashad D. Grove In today’s R&B landscape, Lucky Daye has emerged as a torchbearer of the genre’s rich history while simultaneously curating music that defies labels. Since his debut Painted was released in 2019, the multiple Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter has been redefining modern R&B through, as he says, “a futuristic sci-fi world shaped by the inspiration of Afrofuturism.” In other words, with his evocative songwriting and penchant for creating mesmerizing melodies, Daye is intent on taking his listeners back to the future. This unique motif is what he believes makes him stand out amongst his peers. “I think I bring individuality to the music industry. I'm not trying to fall into a mode of what everyone thinks an R&B artist should be,” Daye said to MTV News over the phone in March. “I just put my foot down and be like, y’all can have the labels. I’ma just be me, and that’s what I bring to the table. I want people to know that I care about more them hearing my songs. It’s about more than that.” With his second album, CandyDrip, released on March 10, the New Orleans native, who previously penned songs for Keith Sweat, Ne-Yo, Boyz II Men, Keke Palmer, Ella Mai, and Mary J. Blige, further cements his place in the contemporary music scene as an artist to be reckoned with. Conceptually, CandyDrip was conceived out of a series of jam sessions over the course of a few days in Los Angeles. According to Daye, during the recording, he was in a creative zone where he collaborated with some of the most accomplished and innovative musicians on the scene, including guitarist Pierre-Luc Rioux, violinist Peter Lee Johnson, trombonist Chris Johnson, trumpeter Brandyn Phillips, and multi-instrumentalist Yonatan "xSDTRK" Ayal, just to name a few. In creating the LP, Daye immersed himself in the process by expressing all of his pent-up energy and channeling his creative prowess. That power is immediately apparent on the silky smooth “Guess,” and reflective “Compassion.” The undeniable synergy of these sessions eventually evolved into the nexus for CandyDrip, which Daye believes is his greatest artistic statement to date. “We rented out EastWest Studios and called every musician we knew,” he recalled, shouting out the recording home of Frank Ocean’s Channel Orange, among other albums. “Those ideas were so special that we took those skeletons and built on them throughout the pandemic. Once we got near the end of everything and were close to the release of the album, we started mixing a lot of the songs. Actually, you can divide the album into two different halves.” The duality is reflected in its title as well. “It’s called CandyDrip because it's triggering your senses, your taste buds of music. Some stuff may make you cringe, and some will make you say, wow, that was an amazing dish.” The first two singles from the album — “NWA” featuring Lil Durk, and “Over” — are snapshots of those recording sessions, and both tracks garnered critical acclaim upon their release. Each one captures another dimension of Daye and his willingness to push the boundaries of his creativity. On “NWA,” Daye effortlessly floats over a mid-tempo bounce track where he alludes to a run-in with the police, while on “Over,” which samples Musiq Soulchild’s “Halfcrazy,” he’s trapped in a toxic relationship where there seems to be no escape. Both songs reveal dimensions of Daye’s persona and his immense versatility as a singer-songwriter. Heavily influenced by the vocal stylings of Usher and the sonic mastery of Missy “Misdemeanor”’ Elliott and Timbaland, Daye also spoke about how the sound of the Crescent City has left an indelible mark on his musicality and is a foundational imprint of the album. “The influence of New Orleans has had a major impact on my music. There are Spanish, French, Haitian, and American influences, so it's a gumbo pot of sounds,” he said. “You go out there in the streets and it still looks like Paris, so it gives you that freedom to experiment when it comes to music. I think coming from that place made me limitless as an artist and it left me believing that I could do anything. It gave me a lot of confidence with my music.” After his critically acclaimed EP Table For Two was released last year, it garnered two Grammy nominations for Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Progressive R&B Album, bringing Daye’s total career nominations so far to six. Since then, though, he says he’s grown immeasurably as an artist and as a person. He expressed his internal struggle of navigating through the pressure of creating his highly anticipated sophomore album and dealing with the expectations from his fans. While his first official project, 2019’s Painted, was created for himself, on this album, he’s aiming to showcase his metamorphosis. “I think I evolved a lot since the first album, especially because I worked with a lot of different artists. I think I learned how to let people live and to let things go and to just bring good vibes to my music,” he said. “Also, I realized that I’m not making music just for myself anymore. With the first album, I didn’t get any outside opinions like I did for this album. I still have anxiety about it because I don’t want to let the people down.” One commonality that runs through all of Daye’s work is the organic chemistry and partnership that he’s forged with his long-time collaborator, Grammy winner Dernst “D’Mile” Emile, who produced all of Daye’s debut album and the majority of CandyDrip, including the stunning “Cherry Forest” and the seductive, climatic closing track “Ego.” “My relationship with D’Mile goes beyond music. Music was what we had in common, although we almost gave up. We were on our way back home, but now he's like the go-to producer of R&B. When people think of him, they think of me. I see him as my family, not only in music but in life.” Not only has he dropped a new album, but Daye is also headlining his own national tour in support of the project. Like many other artists, this is his first time being back on the road for live performances since the COVID-19 pandemic halted most concerts. He says he’s looking forward to experiencing the energy of the crowd that he’s missed so much. “I can’t wait to get back on the road. It’s been over two years,” he said with excitement. “I can’t wait to see all my fans and supporters.” While it’s steeped in contemporary R&B, CandyDrip is an amalgamation of all of the musical forces that have shaped Lucky Daye. Traces of hip-hop, soul, blues, and gospel are all peppered throughout the project. It’s an invitation to a journey to explore an array of emotions, the art of sensuality, and features some of Daye’s best vocal performances. CandyDrip is a reminder of the artistic progression of Lucky Daye and how his music is just the flavor that we need. R&B Music Lucky Daye | Music |
The filmmakers take IndieWire inside their haunting feature — which could make Emmys history as the first-ever animated nominee for Outstanding Television Movie. Within the halls of an entrancing property, three otherworldly fables unfold, across different time periods and encompassing multiple sets of characters — not all of them human. Beyond the shared setting, an unnerving tone serves as the common denominator. Welcome to “The House.”
Produced by Nexus Studios and currently vying to be the first animated film ever nominated for Outstanding Television Movie at the Primetime Emmy Awards, “The House” brings together some of the finest artists working in stop-motion today. The separately realized but spiritually related segments by Emma De Swaef and Marc James Roels (“This Magnificent Cake”), Niki Lindroth von Bahr (“The Burden”), and Paloma Baeza (“Poles Apart”) amount to a grand work that’s as thematically intriguing as it is aesthetically imposing in its handcraft. In “And Heard Again Within a Lie is Spun,” De Swaef and Roels tell the tale of a family who move into a lavish mansion with seemingly ever-shifting interiors. Lindroth von Bahr’s “Then Lost is Truth That Can’t Be Won” finds a real-estate developing rat struggling with a vexing listing (and perplexing prospective buyers). Baeza concludes the anthology with “Listen Again and Seek the Sun,” in which more anthropomorphized animals — cats this time — try to save the house from encroaching flood waters. For this first installment of a two-part series on the making of “The House,” IndieWire spoke with the filmmakers, as well as producer Charlotte Bavasso, writer Enda Walsh, and Oscar-winning musician Gustavo Santaolalla. Come back tomorrow for an in-depth, behind the scenes breakdown of the film’s three segments.
An Organic Foundation
Nexus first gathered the directors of “The House” for a brainstorming session in London three years ago. From those conversations, the idea of a single house acting as the connective thread between three stories emerged.
“We wanted to see beyond the technique they share, but also see what sort of stories and underlying themes they might have in common ,” said Bavasso. “So we got them all together and we started discussing literary references, film references, and it was striking how they really shared quite a lot of those. They were all interested in looking into the meaning of life and spirituality and all these elements that are present in ‘The House’ as a result.”
Based on their collective interests and sense of humor, De Swaef, Roels, Lindroth von Bahr, and Baeza all agreed to tackle the same space during different eras, which would act as a silent witness to their respective inhabitants’ follies. “I don’t remember who exactly said it, but as soon as the word ‘house’ came up, we all clicked onto that,” said Roels.
From the genesis of the project, it was clear that the goal was not to homogenize the artist’s unique traits. They weren’t asked to make their styles look alike, but rather encouraged to embrace their individually. At the same time, it was crucial that once assembled, the pieces constituted a cohesive whole—at least from a psychological standpoint. “It was really important that they had ownership of these stories, but at the same time, we had to make sure that it was an anthology,” said Bavasso. “Each of the stories were extremely strong independently, but we wanted to create an arc as you watch all three.”
After the ground rules were laid out, each of the participating storytellers went on their own to write outlines for their chapters, conscious that they were ultimately working as a unit. “We couldn’t just go off and do entirely our own thing because it is in the same trilogy,” noted Baeza. “So even though they’re very different, we all had an awareness of the others’ stories.”
Words as Building Blocks
As part of the effort to maintain this harmony, Nexus hired Enda Walsh (“Hunger”) to polish the directors’ rough outlines into a screenplay.
“It was the act of trying to put it into a script form that felt correct to their sensibilities and correct to my sensibilities,” said Walsh. “We wanted to have a collective tone to the whole thing knowing that the visual style was going to vary. They each were going to tonally shift a little bit, but it was all part of the same narrative palette.”
Walsh worked on each of the stories one by one, because the directors and production had to sign off on a variety of elements. Once the scripts were complete, he analyzed them as a single piece. Comparing what he had written to the original treatments he received, the writer recognized a myriad of references: a bit of the uncanniness of David Lynch and Stanley Kubrick; the physicality of Buster Keaton; and notes of one of his favorite authors, Samuel Beckett.
“The House”courtesy of Netflix
“I’m interested in stories about characters that are much smaller than the narrative. Here the narrative has got control over them, so it was a very good fit,” said Walsh. “I like this Kafkaesque type of tale and the odd darkness of them, but primarily I enjoyed the notion of characters thrown into the middle of something, and us, the audience, having to learn the rules of it.”
To Walsh, his writing for “The House” relied on specific qualities distinct to each filmmaker. In Lindroth von Bahr’s talking animals he found the dry humor of Roy Andersson, while he believes Baeza’s strength is in having a great dramatic attunement to the small details that comprise her characters. As for De Swaef and Roels, he was enchanted with their beautifully Gothic realm.
“When I watched the film now, I’m not even sure what stuff was from our synopsis and what [Walsh] brought in,” said Roels. “It was a very organic collaboration essentially.”
Pillars of Aesthetic Continuity
During pre-production, each of the directors worked in their respective home countries, with the goal of bringing all three segments to fruition in the same space: Warehouses in Manchester provided by famed British production house Mackinnon & Saunders. Known for crafting the stop-motion puppets for titles such as Wes Anderson’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox” and Tim Burton’s “Corpse Bride,” Mackinnon & Saunders also fabricated many of the characters in “The House.” “We wanted them all to shoot in the same place and overlap as much as possible. Marc and Emma could pop into Niki’s units and Paloma into Niki’s and vice versa,” said Bavasso
Though complex, the production pipeline proved incredibly efficient with most members of the crew working across all three stories, including two directors of photography, animators, and the same first assistant director. Production designer Alexandra Walker was key for the aesthetic continuity. Early in the process, she spent time with each director discussing the attributes important to their universes. Although the dressing of the house differs from one era to the other, Walker made sure the proportions of the sets carried over from segment to segment.
“The idea was that the viewer would recognize the house every time, with the sensation that they’ve been there before, which was really important to us,” said Bavasso.
For all three versions of the house Walker designed, windows and columns appear in the same place; the same entryway and the staircase are present throughout. Walker understood the point of view of each of the artists and translated that into physical spaces that represented those visual idiosyncrasies.
Behind the scenes of “The House”courtesy of Netflix
“This house, even though it’s the same space, morphed and changed to fit the animation style and the puppet style of each of us,” said Roels. “Alex was essentially one of the mad architects, because she was adding, subtracting, and rescaling elements and sending them to the three of us saying, ‘What do you think of this?’ Because each of our films was technically so different from one another, especially the puppets.”
Due to their fur, Baeza’s cat puppets were the tallest, and thus her set had the largest stairs. “There were these subtle shifts between the stories,” she said. “We had to strike a balance so that it wouldn’t seem like a completely different space. We wanted the house to mold around the characters going through all the stories. Alex had quite a job achieving that balance, getting everything right.”
Gustavo Santaolalla’s Unifying Score
Eager to expand the outlets where he can showcase his creativity through music, Oscar-winning Argentine musician Gustavo Santaolalla has found a well of opportunity in animation: First the film and television work of Jorge Gutiérrez (“The Book of Life,” “Maya and the Three”), and now “The House.”
“Stop-motion animation is a form of visual expression that always interested me,” Santaolalla said. “It has a very special rhythm to it. Generally, the people who are involved in that type of animation have a unique narrative approach.
“The fact that [‘The House’] was a stop-motion project was attractive. But the quality of the work convinced me to be part of this project.” Santaolalla’s twofold task resembled Walsh’s: He had to consider the individual stories, and still create music that would unify them. A viola and a violin — which approximated the classical tone of a string quartet — would achieve the latter goal. Santaolalla fleshed out the sonic vocabulary of “The House” with other string instruments and a handful of household objects.
“The sounds of the tin cans and the PVC tubes fit really well with the themes of construction and deconstruction that all the stories in ‘The House’ have,” Santaolalla said. “The music for each story has small touches that give it a unique characteristic, but they are mostly momentary, such as lounge music during the open house in the second story or the use of the sitar, for the last story, and the use of a soprano’s voice in the first story, which is the darkest.” In the last story, there are even hints of tango: “In everything I do I always try to put something that shows who I am and where I’m from,” Santaolalla said.
Curiously, that final segment also allowed Santaolalla to deepen his involvement with “The House.” When he first read the script, he noticed there was a shaman-like character named Cosmos. Being a throat singer, he thought the technique could enhance the character.
“I’ve never really utilized my throat singing in any recording,” Santaolalla said. “But when I got the final script, two days before having a Zoom call with Paloma, the character was now a throat singer. I couldn’t believe it because they didn’t know that I can do that. When we talked on Zoom, I opened by doing the sound you hear in the film. Everyone laughed, and it was incorporated.”
Santaolalla found even more evidence of his synergy with “The House” in that, given his interest in energy and quartz, years ago a friend had nicknamed him “Señor Cosmos.”
After hearing the voice of Jarvis Cocker as the developer in the second story, Santaolalla was inspired to develop an end-credits song with the Pulp frontman. For the track titled “This House Is,” Cocker wrote the lyrics and Santaolalla then put music to his words. This was a foreign way of working for Cocker, Santaolalla said. “The song feels almost like poetry or spoken word at the beginning, and I think the music fits very well with his rendition.” Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. | Movies |
By Iwan Crawford - UCLThe search for life elsewhere in the universe is one of the most compelling aspects of modern science. Given its scientific importance, significant resources are devoted to this young science of astrobiology, ranging from rovers on Mars to telescopic observations of planets orbiting other stars. Is finding another Earth within our reach? Dr. Sara Seager says yes. - Image credit: NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech The holy grail of all this activity would be the actual discovery of alien life, and such a discovery would likely have profound scientific and philosophical implications. But extraterrestrial life has not yet been discovered, and for all we know may not even exist. Fortunately, even if alien life is never discovered, all is not lost: simply searching for it will yield valuable benefits for society.Why is this the case?First, astrobiology is inherently multidisciplinary. To search for aliens requires a grasp of, at least, astronomy, biology, geology, and planetary science. Undergraduate courses in astrobiology need to cover elements of all these different disciplines, and postgraduate and postdoctoral astrobiology researchers likewise need to be familiar with most or all of them.By forcing multiple scientific disciplines to interact, astrobiology is stimulating a partial reunification of the sciences. It is helping to move 21st-century science away from the extreme specialisation of today and back towards the more interdisciplinary outlook that prevailed in earlier times. Earth rising above the surface of the moon, as seen from Apollo 8 in December 1968. - Image Credit: NASA By producing broadminded scientists, familiar with multiple aspects of the natural world, the study of astrobiology therefore enriches the whole scientific enterprise. It is from this cross-fertilization of ideas that future discoveries may be expected, and such discoveries will comprise a permanent legacy of astrobiology, even if they do not include the discovery of alien life.It is also important to recognise that astrobiology is an incredibly open-ended endeavour. Searching for life in the universe takes us from extreme environments on Earth, to the plains and sub-surface of Mars, the icy satellites of the giant planets, and on to the all-but-infinite variety of planets orbiting other stars. And this search will continue regardless of whether life is actually discovered in any of these environments or not. The range of entirely novel environments opened to investigation will be essentially limitless, and so has the potential to be a never-ending source of scientific and intellectual stimulation. Sand dunes near to Mars’ South Pole. - Image Credit: NASA The cosmic perspectiveBeyond the more narrowly intellectual benefits of astrobiology are a range of wider societal benefits. These arise from the kinds of perspectives – cosmic in scale – that the study of astrobiology naturally promotes.It is simply not possible to consider searching for life on Mars, or on a planet orbiting a distant star, without moving away from the narrow Earth-centric perspectives that dominate the social and political lives of most people most of the time. Today, the Earth is faced with global challenges that can only be met by increased international cooperation. Yet around the world, nationalistic and religious ideologies are acting to fragment humanity. At such a time, the growth of a unifying cosmic perspective is potentially of enormous importance.In the early years of the space age, the then US ambassador to the United Nations, Adlai Stevenson, said of the world: “We can never again be a squabbling band of nations before the awful majesty of outer space.” Unfortunately, this perspective is yet to sink deeply into the popular consciousness. On the other hand, the wide public interest in the search for life elsewhere means that astrobiology can act as a powerful educational vehicle for the popularisation of this perspective.Indeed, it is only by sending spacecraft out to explore the solar system, in large part for astrobiological purposes, that we can obtain images of our own planet that show it in its true cosmic setting. The Earth photographed from the surface of Mars by the Mars Exploration Rover Spirit, March 2004. - Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Cornell/Texas A&M In addition, astrobiology provides an important evolutionary perspective on human affairs. It demands a sense of deep, or big, history. Because of this, many undergraduate astrobiology courses begin with an overview of the history of the universe. This begins with the Big Bang and moves successively through the origin of the chemical elements, the evolution of stars, galaxies, and planetary systems, the origin of life, and evolutionary history from the first cells to complex animals such as ourselves. Deep history like this helps us locate human affairs in the vastness of time, and therefore complements the cosmic perspective provided by space exploration.Political implicationsThere is a well-known aphorism, widely attributed to the Prussian naturalist Alexander von Humboldt, to the effect that “the most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have not viewed the world”. Humboldt was presumably thinking about the mind-broadening potential of international travel. But familiarity with the cosmic and evolutionary perspectives provided by astrobiology, powerfully reinforced by actual views of the Earth from space, can surely also act to broaden minds in such a way as to make the world less fragmented and dangerous.I think there is an important political implication inherent in this perspective: as an intelligent technological species, that now dominates the only known inhabited planet in the universe, humanity has a responsibility to develop international social and political institutions appropriate to managing the situation in which we find ourselves.In concluding his monumental Outline of History in 1925, HG Wells famously observed: “Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe.” Such an observation appears especially germane to the geopolitical situation today, where apparently irrational decisions, often made by governments (and indeed by entire populations) seemingly ignorant of broader perspectives, may indeed lead our planet to catastrophe.Source: The Conversation | Space Exploration |
England and New Zealand will both be dreaming of victory after a match of high scoring transformed into one of high drama at Trent Bridge, with the Kiwis 224 for seven at stumps, nursing a lead of 238.“I’m pretty confident there’ll be a result,” said Michael Bracewell. “We just want to get as many runs as we can then go about taking those 10 wickets.”Having started the game by putting their opponents in to bat and seeing them accumulate 553, England remarkably go into the final day looking marginal favourites to win.“I think when you’re that many behind you’re not really thinking about the end result, you’re just trying to bat well enough to not lose the game,” added Ben Foakes. “But you do know things can happen quickly and pitches can deteriorate.“It’s a fantastic game. It’s taken a while to get here but tomorrow is a great prospect.”After bowling England out for 539 in the opening hour New Zealand made a cautious start to their second innings, only to lose five wickets for 110 in the final session to blow the game wide open. Along the way Will Young and Tim Southee were both run out while Bracewell hit 25 off 17 before steering a simple catch to mid on. “We like to play positively as a side and like to win games of cricket and my plan was to go out and be super positive,” Bracewell said.The 31-year-old debutant had earlier found plenty of encouragement in the day four surface, adding both Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson to the wicket of Ben Stokes that he had taken on Sunday, and could have a significant influence with his spin on the final day. He may need to, with Kyle Jamieson unlikely to bowl because of a back injury.“I think the wicket’s deteriorating nicely for us,” he said. “I’m excited to get out there and bowl. The England team might come up with a few different plans to play me, so it’s an opportunity to test myself against some of the best players in the world.”The Spin: sign up and get our weekly cricket email.For all England’s much-publicised positivity, New Zealand more than matched it with their determination to force a result when they could easily have pushed the game towards a stalemate. “I think the draw comes at the end if the win’s not possible, rather than the other way round,” said Bracewell.“Tomorrow if we have to bowl a little bit more negatively towards the end of the day we’ll play that way, but we’re always trying to win games of cricket.” England scored almost 400 runs over the course of day three and will hope to end up with a target they can chase, in front of a crowd swelled by the decision to make tickets available for free. “We want to chase as little as possible but realistically, with how fast it’s been scoring, under 300 would be quite doable if we bat really well – and with some of the guys we’ve got in the dressing room it could be anything really,” Foakes said. | Other Sports |
Image: BioWare/EAThroughout the years, BioWare has become equally known for both the games it makes and the reactions surrounding those games. Most of the time, this relates to its sci-fi RPG Mass Effect, which is due to receive some type of resurgence within the next couple of years. And while you very much wouldn’t say that’s the only thing the Canadian developer is known for, it can be sometimes easy to overlook Dragon Age, the studio’s equally beloved fantasy-RPG series. But this month in particular has felt like a boon to Dragon Age fans, who’ve largely been subsisting on a drip feed of information about the follow up to Dragon Age Inquisition. The month began with the title reveal of Dreadwolf, the next major entry in the series, which is hopefully arriving in 2023. And during Netflix’s Geeked Week, it was revealed that the series is getting its own animated series, Absolution, due to release this December. For the moment, at least, everything’s coming up Dragon Age. Fantasy has always been popular, especially in games, but the success of The Witcher 3 in 2015 arguably helped the genre get back in favor in the gaming space during a time when marines and realistic settings were taking over a lot of mainstream video games. A succession of great fantasy RPGs have since followed in its wake: whether you wanted to be a Monster Hunter, die again and again, or just feel like you’re playing Dungeons & Dragons, the fantasy genre has had a pretty strong streak of games in recent years. But Dragon Age was a little too early to the party; while a critical and commercial success, Inquisition came out just a few months ahead of Witcher 3, and the franchise has become somewhat lost in the shuffle as a result. Image: BioWare/EAIt’s a shame, because Dragon Age is a pretty good franchise in its own right. A lot of that is owed to its cast and the narratives in each game. As with most BioWare games, the writing for the characters is consistently engaging, and there’s at least two or three winners among the party members of each game. The ones that hit really hit, and the games do a great job of giving you moments to bond with them, romantically or otherwise. I cared about them enough to make sure that everyone remained loyal enough to not leave the group, which is certainly a credit to the writing and their actors’ performances. Playing Inquisition, I enjoyed having to put the work in to woo Cassandra and lightly teasing her about her secret appreciation for Varric’s saucy (and extremely embellished) novels, as much as I loved bringing Dorian and the Iron Bull along to hear them flirt back and forth. Listening to everyone trade barbs back and forth is worth the price of admission all on its own just to see them get along or clash with each other.While everyone has their own favorite entry in the series, there’s a general mutually agreed soft spot for Dragon Age II, despite its place as a bit of a “black sheep” in the franchise’s critical estimations. Though that game has more than its share of issues, there’s a certain charm—and appreciation, even—for its decision to be considerably smaller in scale and size compared to its predecessor, 2009’s Origins. Keeping the focus on Hawke, a refugee in the city of Kirkwall who serves as the game’s customizable protagonist, makes the game feel more like a tie-in novel to a much larger game to come. Like all BioWare games, DAII is a hero’s journey, with an emphasis on “hero,” as events are all kept squarely on Hawke and their allies as they rise to power in Kirkwall over the course of a decade. The game had a rocky development, and the game’s developers have said as much, numerous times, but there’ve been many who’ve seen it for the hidden gem that it truly is in the 11 years since its original release. Dragon Age is just one of many fantasy RPG franchises out there, and it certainly won’t be the last, but it retains a vibe and feel all its own. If it’s not the characters and the political conflicts they can’t entirely pull themselves out of, it’s how each game manages to feel like a thrilling fantasy adventure in its own right while remaining character focused. It’s the way the game indulges in the typical fantasies befitting of its genre, like sitting on a throne to cast judgment, while giving you the relatively unique experience of learning how to navigate through its complicated political world, either on the fly at an important dinner party or at a war table that requires you use your best judgment. Image: BioWare/EAPerhaps Inquisition is too big for its own good in certain areas, and II is lacking in size compared to Origins—those are both incredibly valid critiques. Even so, it’s just fun to grab three of your favorite party members to explore a dungeon or face off against a dragon who you’re absolutely convinced only showed up because someone in the group decided to smack talk as it flew above them. In the same way that Mass Effect remains unique, the same can be said of Dragon Age, with the way it allows you to use a jar of bees like a grenade or completely ruin the moment of a former friend turned enemy, who decides to repay your rudeness by being equally bitchy to you. An anime and eventual sequel are small steps, particularly when we’ve yet to see much of anything from them beyond hard confirmations that they exist. But it’s still fun to think about the real information that’ll be coming in the months leading up to Absolution and Dreadwolf’s respective releases. The idea of meeting new faces, seeing new lands, and maybe hanging out with some old friends in this franchise feels realer than it ever has in quite some time. Much as I hate the idea of saying that a franchise is “back” when it hasn’t really gone away in the traditional sense, Dragon Age is on its way back, and I’m excited for it to return. Well, that, and to finally crack that egg. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel and Star Wars releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about House of the Dragon and Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. | Movies |
BERLIN (AP) — The European Space Agency has released a trove of data on almost 2 billion stars in the Milky Way, collected by its Gaia mission in an effort to create the most accurate and complete map of our galaxy.
Astronomers hope to use the data to understand better how stars are born and die, and how the Milky Way evolved over billions of years.
The new data includes new information such as the age, mass, temperature and chemical composition of stars. This can be used, for example, to determine which stars were born in another galaxy and then migrated to the Milky Way.
“This is an incredible gold mine for astronomy,” said Antonella Vallenari, who helped lead a consortium of 450 scientists and engineers that spent years turning the measurements collected by the probe into usable data.
Gaia was also able to detect more than 100,000 so-called starquakes, which ESA likened to large tsunamis that ripple across stars. These allow scientists to deduce the density, interior rotation and temperature inside stars, astrophysicist Conny Aerts said.
Although it has only collected information on about 1% of the Milky Way’s stars, the mission is already providing the basis for around 1,600 scientific publications a year.
Project scientist Timo Prusti said the sheer number of stars observed makes it more likely that scientists will make very rare discoveries.
“You have to observe a lot of objects in order to get the needle in the haystack,” he said.
ESA chief Josef Aschbacher said having more data also allows astronomers to understand some of the forces at play in the galaxy, such as the way our own solar system is being thrown about inside the Milky Way.
“It is enabling things that would never be possible without this large number of data,” he said.
The Gaia data now being released also includes information on 800,000 binaries — stars that move in tandem with each other — as well as several new exoplanets, hundreds of thousands of asteroids in the solar system and millions of objects beyond our galaxy. | Space Exploration |
Jun 13, 2022; Brookline, Massachusetts, USA; Phil Mickelson addresses the media during a press conference before rounds of the U.S. Open golf tournament at The Country Club. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY SportsRegister now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comBROOKLINE, Mass., June 13 (Reuters) - Phil Mickelson said he hoped to "create new memories" with the PGA Tour after the U.S. golf circuit suspended him for joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series amid a continuing outcry ahead of this week's U.S. Open.The PGA Tour last week suspended Mickelson and other members who joined LIV Golf, with Commissioner Jay Monahan saying they had "decided to turn their backs" on the tour. read more Mickelson, who has finished runner-up six times at the U.S. Open and will get another shot at completing the career Grand Slam on his 30th attempt at the Country Club in Brookline, said he respected those who have "strong opinions." read more Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com"(I'm) very appreciative of the many memories, opportunities, experiences, friendships, relationships PGA Tour has provided, and those are going to last -- those will last a lifetime, but I'm hopeful that I'll have a chance to create more," he said.Mickelson was a long-time fan favourite but faced a barrage of disapproval after remarks were made public earlier this year in which he criticised the Saudi government for its "horrible" human rights record but said he would use the prospect of LIV Golf to gain economic leverage over the PGA Tour. read more Mickelson apologised for his remarks and announced in February that he was taking time away from the game, opting out of the Masters and his title defence at the PGA Championship. read more Saudi Arabia's government denies accusations of human rights abuses."It's been a necessary time and an opportunity for me to step away a little bit and put a little bit of thought and reflection into going forward and how to best prioritise things," Mickelson told reporters on Monday.The American said he planned to compete in next month's Open Championship at St Andrews and would prefer to have the option to play "one or both" tours."I gave as much back to the PGA Tour and the game of golf as I could throughout my 30 years here and through my accomplishments on the course I've earned a lifetime membership," he said."I intend to keep that and then choose going forward which events to play and not."Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comReporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. | Golf |