George Clooney for GQ - Men Of The Year Issue 2020!
This is the 25th anniversary of GQ’s Men of the Year issue. As usual, there are several covers. George Clooney has been named the magazine’s Icon of the Year. His new film, The Midnight Sky, is coming out soon. It’s good timing for him. And it’s good timing for gossips. Because George has maintained a very low profile in 2020 – not that he’s ever really up in our faces but with the pandemic, he’s been even more undercover than usual. Until now, almost the end of the year, because he needs to promote his work. By giving one of the most revealing interviews he’s given in years. This profile is so good, I’m trying not to spoil it for you because, really, it’s so good and it’s so much and you know why? I appreciate the writer Zach Baron for spelling it out like this in his piece:
“…Clooney has always seemed to understand that celebrity is a game to be played, rather than a burden to be endured. It's not a coincidence that the most successful franchise he's been a part of was the Ocean's trilogy—three films built around movie stars playing glamorous people in lavish locations. Clooney is the rare person who makes fame seem fun—an opportunity for mischief and adventure.”
YES! THAT IS CORRECT!
Most movie stars these days bitch and moan about being movie stars. George Clooney has never. Would never. That’s not to say that he pretends there’s not a downside. He doesn’t. He talks about the downside in this interview too. About the time a couple of years ago when he almost died in a motorcycle accident and people were still trying to take pictures instead of helping. It’s gross, reprehensible, he’s disgusted by it… but he doesn’t make it the only thing. In fact, he talks about it more observationally than critically. And by the time you’re done the piece, it’s not your main takeaway when assessing his relationship to his celebrity. George Clooney is not here to tell us how much he hates being a celebrity. In fact, he’s been telling us for 25 years that he quite enjoys it, actually. Thank you very much.
HOW F-CKING REFRESHING!
So to go back to why this is a great interview, a great article, a great profile? The answer: because George Clooney is GREAT at being a celebrity.
He checks all the boxes here. He gives the MiniVan Majority what they want – which is details about his kids. In fact, he cosplays the part of the Dad on the Zoom Call. That’s right, you read that right. George Clooney, who spent most of his time as a famous person known as the most incorrigible bachelor, is that guy on a Zoom call whose kid walks into the shot and he makes the person on the other side of the screen listen and be witness to the ramblings of a three year old that only their parent would find engaging. Sorry not sorry. I know you know what I mean. I know this has happened to many of you out there on Zoom calls over the last few months. George Clooney did this. During an interview. And the story is now being told in GQ. Just one of many stories George has accumulated over his career. He’s doling them out with expert precision, calibrating exactly how much detail to give so as to satisfy the audience without going too thirstily overboard.
This is a skill. It’s an increasingly rare skill, because stars like George Clooney don’t come around very often, especially not these days with the fragmentation of media and entertainment platforms. So let’s treat this as if it’s a comet, or a solar eclipse that comes around only every few years or so.
Not that George is all about the dish and no work. There’s still SO MUCH work talk that happens here, particularly during a robust section in the piece about acting, and his approach to acting as a craft, and how his skill as an actor has changed over the years. George doesn’t discuss acting in general terms either – he gives specific examples, he breaks down scenes, he recalls scenes he’s been part of in the past…
At times he sounds like an acting student. Of course we know he’s not a novice. But here’s an actor recognised to be one of the greats of his cohort engaging with acting on a nuts and bolts and practical level without mood, without romanticisation…as an explanation for why he doesn’t really want to act all that much anymore. Not because he doesn’t respect it. But because he doesn’t have to prove that he can do it and do it well anymore.
It’s exactly the kind of sh-t we deep dive on our Show Your Work podcast and I am pitching the f-ck out of this to Duana right now. Like I said, everyone gets a little something out of this piece: the MiniVan Majority gets their fix, the work and industry nerds get a taste, and the gossip is served too.
George has some words for Russell Crowe, I won’t spoil it for you. He also a big fan of Chrissy Teigen. And …
You know that story about him giving his 14 closest friends $1 million each in a suitcase? Rande Gerber has talked about it but up to this point, George has never actually confirmed it himself. And now, he doesn’t just confirm it, he gives us the play-by-play.
Like I said, this is how a celebrity profile should be. It’s the Standard. The Chairman’s Standard, if you will. From the Chairman of Hollywood. Enjoy it at GQ.com.
#RHOA #TWIRL: Kenya Moore and Marc Daly Are Lovely In This Family Photo with Daughter Brooklyn!
Brooklyn Daly's birthday month rolls on. The Real Housewives of Atlanta tot spent her recent birthday party outdoors with her parents, Kenya Moore and Marc Daly, as she officially turned 2. And not that we're surprised, but Brooklyn definitely has the charm to keep her mom and dad smiling.
"Wishing everyone love and happiness. Thank you @freddyoart for capturing this moment," Kenya captioned the photo from Brooklyn's birthday party.
The family photo got all sorts of lovey emoji responses in the comments section, including some sweet commentary from Cynthia Bailey, who wrote in the comments, "Love this!!!"
Brooklyn has definitely been feeling the birthday love this month from her parents. It would appear that Kenya recently snuck onto Brooklyn's official Instagram page and shared her feelings about her little girl in a caption on a photo about her 2nd birthday.
"Happy 2nd birthday my angel! You are my perfect gift from God. My unconditional love I’ve prayed for my entire life. God is good. My Devine blessing. I live for you and you give me life. My motivation to do better be better and dream bigger. This is just our beginning. The world is yours," she wrote.
Want more RHOA? Catch up on Peacock, and stay tuned for the Season 13 premiere on Sunday, December 6 at 8/7c.
Kenya will open more about her family and relationship with Marc in Season 13 of RHOA.
#NewMusic from Teedra Moses – Cashmere Compliments!
Teedra Moses returns with the brand new single called “Cashmere Compliments”. The song was produced by her frequent collaborator Trackademicks as well as LuckyRy.
The song is vintage Teedra Moses. “Cashmere Compliments” gives us an undeniable, head nodding groove and the type of vibe that Teedra has been giving us for over a decade before they started calling everything a vibe.
LISTEN HERE
The singer recently announced on her social media that she’s working on her upcoming album “The Bullshit”. This is expected to be the first single from that project.
Earlier this year, Teedra linked up with Salaam Remi for the song “Black Love” from his “Black on Purpose” album. That was one of our favorite songs of the Summer by far
#HipHopNews: Westside Gunn Announces Departure From Shady Records
The Griselda rapper is one-and-done with Shady Records. After dropping his major-label debut with the Interscope imprint just last month, Westside Gunn is already parting ways with Shady Records.
The rapper announced his departure from the label on today’s episode of The Joe Budden Podcast. “I’m off Shady. I’m actually a free agent,” the rapper told the show’s host (who has his own history with the label.) And moments after the episode went live, Gunn committed the resignation to page. “I WANT TO THANK the SHADY staff for believing in me early S/O to [Mikael Herard] it was a journey & a great learning experience and to Big [Paul Rosenberg] he’s a man of his word,” Gunn wrote on Twitter
Westside Gunn initially signed with Shady Records in 2017, releasing a run of mixtapes that solidified his position in rap’s underground and Griselda as an immutable force. He released his debut proper with the imprint, WHO MADE THE SUNSHINE? in October, featuring Black Thought, Jadakiss, Slick Rick, and Busta Rhymes, as well as his Griselda comrades, Benny The Butcher, Conway The Machine, and Armani Caesar. And while it seems like an unexpectedly early split, fans sniffed out some tension late last month when Gunn appeared to laugh off some criticism of Eminem in a comment section after the Shady Records founder posted in support of Alchemist’s new album, The Food Villain, but not Gunn’s debut with the label.
You can watch Westside Gunn announce his departure from Shady Records on The Joe Budden Podcast HERE.
Taylor Swift Speaks Out About Scooter Braun Selling Her Masters for 300 Million!
Taylor Swift is speaking out about Scooter Braun's sale of her masters. The singer took to Twitter on Monday to post a lengthy and emotional message about the music executive, who acquired the master recordings of her first six albums from her former label -- Big Machine Label Group in June 2019 -- despite her objections. At the time, Swift called the agreement her "worst case scenario."
"As you know, for the past year I've been actively trying to regain ownership of my master recordings. With that goal in mind, my team attempted to enter into negotiations with Scooter Braun," Swift, who has more than 87 million followers on Twitter, wrote on social media.
"Scooters team wanted me to sign an ironclad NDA stating I would never say another word about Scooter Braun unless it was positive, before we could even look at the financial records of BMLG (which is always the first step in a purchase of this nature."
Minted offers the most unique holiday cards to send love to those near and far.
2019, the two have gone back and forth on social media, with Braun even publicly pleading with Swift at one point to set aside their differences after he claimed he and his family were receiving anonymous death threats.
Swift wrote on Monday that she was never even given a chance to buy her masters back.
"I would have to sign a document that would silence me forever before I could even have a chance to bid on my own work. My legal team said that this is absolutely NOT normal, and they've never seen an NDA like this presented unless it was to silence an assault accuser by paying them off. He would never even quote my team a price. These master recordings were not for sale to me."
She said that she was only made aware of Braun selling her masters after she received a letter from a private equity company, Shamrock Holdings, letting her know they had purchased her music, videos and album art.
"This was the second time my music had been sold without my knowledge." Swift continued. "The letter told me that they wanted to reach out before the sale to let me know, but that Scooter Braun had required that they make no contact with me or my team, or the deal would be off."
Swift also posted a photo of a letter she wrote to Shamrock Holdings. CNN has reached out to Shamrock Holdings.
Swift's last two albums, "Lover" and "folklore" were released through Universal Music Group. She said in her message that she has also begun re-recording her old music which she called "exciting" and "creatively fulfilling."
She ended her open letter writing, "I love you guys and I'm just gonna keep cruising, as they say."
#RIP: MasterChef Junior's Ben Watkins Dead at 14 After Cancer Battle!
The world has lost a rising star. Ben Watkins, who competed on MasterChef Junior and instantly became a fan favorite, has passed away at the age of 14. According to The Chicago Tribune, the teen died on Monday, Nov. 14 after a battle with cancer at the Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
Ben was surrounded by his loved ones and his massive Marvel Comics collection, the publication reported. "Ben, you know that your life has the beginnings of a real-life Marvel Comics character," his uncle and legal guardian, Anthony Edwards, said per The Chicago Tribune.
"We were praying for a different outcome," Anthony shared. "But Ben's lungs could no longer give him the air he needed to breathe. It's been devastating."
Per the GoFundMe page, which had been set up in Ben's honor earlier this year, he was "diagnosed with a rare illness called Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma, a soft tissue tumor usually in children and young adults."
He learned of his diagnosis shortly after his 13th birthday, and it was discovered that he was one of only six people in the world to have the illness. Just a few months ago, Ben's uncle and grandmother set up a GoFundMe to give an update on his health.
"Despite all of Ben's trials and tribulations," a message read on the page in July, "he remains positive and looks forward to getting back in the kitchen and pursuing his dream to become an engineer. Members of the community have joined together to see that the life challenges that Ben has gone through [do] not derail him from reaching his full potential and fulfilling his dreams."
Before starring on MasterChef Junior, Ben helped run Big Ben's Bodacious BBQ and Delicatessen in Gary, Ind. with his late parents, who died 3 years ago in a murder-suicide.
The teen competed on season six of MasterChef Junior, which was hosted by Gordon Ramsay. At the time of the competition, Ben was 11 years old. While he didn't finish out the full season, he placed in the top 18 and quickly melted viewers' hearts.
Gordon took to Twitter to express his heartache over Ben's loss, writing, "We lost a Master of the @MasterChefJrFOX kitchen today."
"Ben you were an incredibly talented home cook and even stronger young man," his message continued. "Your young life had so many tough turns but you always persevered. Sending all the love to Ben Watkins' family with this terrible loss."
EndemolShine North America and Fox Entertainment also shared their condolences.
"It is with great sadness that we mourn the passing of Ben Watkins, a beloved member of the MasterChef Juniorfamily," a statement read, which was sent to E! News. "Ben overcame so much in his life with a remarkably positive attitude. He was a tremendous role model for chefs of all ages and will be dearly missed by everyone at EndemolShine North America and Fox Entertainment."
Naomi Campbell's Latest Post Hints That Tyra Banks Is "the Real Mean Girl"!
A picture says a thousand words, indeed. And one thing Naomi Campbell knows how to do is take a good photo.
On Tuesday, Nov. 17, Naomi shared an eyebrow-raising post about Tyra Banks on Instagram Stories that captured the attention of her 9.8 million followers. The supermodel uploaded an article from The Things titled, "Here's Why Fans Are Starting To Think Tyra Banks Is The Real Mean Girl, Not Naomi Campbell."
While Naomi has since deleted her post, many users caught wind of it before it was taken down. "LMAO Naomi really posted this. I am gagging," one Twitter user shared.
Another wrote, "I will always have an appreciation for Tyra but I was always always team Naomi." One Twitter user added, "They both mean so who cares lol. I'll give Naomi credit bc she's mean with her full chest while Tyra throws rocks and hides her hands."
The article in question critiqued some of Tyra's controversial moments on America's Next Top Model, which she addressed earlier this year.
Back in May, clips from ANTM resurfaced online with most of the commentary being negative.
Some moments from the competition reality show were deemed problematic and spread like wildfire, so much so that Tyra caught wind of the discourse and acknowledged that certain things didn't age well.
"Been seeing the posts about the insensitivity of some past ANTM moments and I agree with you," she shared on Twitter. "Looking back, those were some really off choices. Appreciate your honest feedback and am sending so much love and virtual hugs."
While it's unclear what prompted Naomi to share the article about Tyra, their drama goes way back, as the two supermodels have been feuding since the 1990s.
Just last year, Tyra discussed her rift with Naomi in a candid interview with The Wall Street Journal. The Dancing With the Stars host explained why she doesn't use the word "rivalry" to describe their bad blood.
"I'm very sensitive to that word because a rivalry is with two equals to me, whereas one was very dominant," Tyra told the publication. "She was a supermodel and I was just some new girl that got on a plane from Paris and was studying fashion in magazines at a fashion library."
"I had very painful early days in Paris," she continued. "As much as I was booking every single fashion show, people didn't know I was going home at night crying my eyes out because a woman that I was looking up to seemed like she just didn't want me to be there, and was doing everything in her power to make me go away."
In 2005, Naomi famously confronted the model head-on when she appeared on The Tyra Banks Show.
"One of the biggest wishes that I've ever had has come true. I had a conversation with Naomi Campbell," Tyra told viewers and audience members at the time. "I got a lot of answers and it has started my healing from all of the devastating rumors and gossip and rivalry and pain that I've experienced. I've started to heal and I think Naomi has, too."
For the most part, Naomi has remained quiet about her history with Tyra. However, on Tuesday (the same day she posted about the host on Instagram Stories), Naomi opened up about people trying to "provoke" her in the industry.
"Anger is an emotion. And, you know, I've lived my life in front of the world and have made many mistakes. I own my mistakes," Naomi said during Vogue's Forces of Fashion panel on Nov. 17. "I've learned from my mistakes. I've grown up, I've matured to where I am today. I'm still a work in progress. But my understanding of things, the way I react to things, the way I don't react is what it's about today. It comes with the territory that people want to provoke you and you have to roll with the punches. But... as everyone knows, I'm not going to be walked over."
"I don't like people around me that sugar-coat... enablers don't work for me," she continued. "I only can learn if you teach me and tell me my mistakes. If you just keep saying, 'Yes, Yes, Yes' people for me are not in my life. I try not to have in my life. They've done no good for me in my life."
Rapper Lil Wayne Charged With Federal Gun Offense In Florida!
Rapper Lil Wayne was charged Tuesday in Florida with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, a federal offense that carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Documents filed in Miami federal court say the rapper, whose real name is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., had a gun and ammunition on Dec. 23 of last year despite knowing he had the previous felony on his record.
Authorities said the 38-year-old rapper acknowledged owning the gold-plated handgun after his luggage was searched upon arriving in Miami on a private plane. A search warrant, first reported by the Miami Herald at the time, said Carter told investigators the gun was a Father’s Day gift.
Carter’s attorney, Howard Srebnick, said in an email that there are legal questions about whether mere possession of a weapon by a felon not judged to be dangerous fits the definition of a crime.
“Carter is charged with possessing a gold-plated handgun in his luggage on a private plane. There is no allegation that he ever fired it, brandished it, used it or threatened to use it,” Srebnick said. “There is no allegation that he is a dangerous person.”
Investigators also reported finding suspected illegal drugs in the luggage, but Carter has not been charged with a drug offense.
An initial court date on the weapons charge is set for Dec. 11 in Miami federal court.
The charge stems from a weapons conviction of Carter in New York more than a decade ago, for which he was sentenced to eight months in prison. Convicted felons are barred under federal law from owning firearms.
As Lil Wayne, Carter has sold over 120 million records, has won five Grammys and numerous other music awards. He owns a home in Miami Beach and is CEO of his own record label, Young Money Entertainment.
Saint Dolly Parton, Funded Moderna’s Coronavirus Vaccine Trials!
Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vacciiiiiiine, Dolly Parton would be begging to be included in your trial, but she’s an angel and would never ask that. So we will instead, for this very reason: It’s been discovered that the country icon was one of the major funders for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine, which has proved to be nearly 95 percent effective in early data. (Suck it, Pfizer, with your measly and Kid Rockian 90 percent.) Per The Guardian and confirmed by The New England Journal of Medicine, the Dolly Parton COVID-19 Research Fund donated a whopping $1 million to the Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation in Nashville, Tennessee. Parton befriended one of the institute’s doctors years ago while seeking treatment after a car accident, and initiated her donation earlier this year after being told “some exciting advancements” were being made with vaccines. Her donation is also supporting a convalescent-plasma study, and, presumably, Christmas magic.
During a Today interview shortly after the news gained viral traction, Parton confirmed, ever so humbly, that she indeed made the donation through her research fund. “I’m just happy that anything I do can help somebody else,” she said. “When I donated the money to the COVID fund, I just wanted it to do good, and evidently it is. Let’s just hope we find a cure real soon.” Again, thank you to Moderna for working more than nine to five every day.
Jamie Foxx Establishes Fund In Late Sister’s Memory!
The 52-year-old actor‘s sibling DeOndra Dixon recently passed away at the age of 46, and he and his family, along with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation’s founder Michelle Sie Whitten and her family, are creating the DeOndra Dixon Fund in her honor.
Whitten announced the news at the organization’s virtual Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show over the weekend, which also included a tribute to Dixon, who was the inspiration by the foundation’s highest accolade, the Quincy Jones Exceptional Advocacy Award.
As well as Foxx, the fashion show was attended by stars including Kevin and Matt Dillon, Quincy Jones, Eric Dane Caterina Scorsone, John C. McGinley and Beverly Johnson and more, and it raised $1.9 million dollars for Global, which will go toward the costs of life-changing and life-saving research and medical care at the organization’s affiliate facilities.
Foxx admitted he had been left with his heart “shattered into a million pieces” following his sister’s death last month.
Alongside a series of pictures of Dixon, including several snaps of the two siblings together, Jamie wrote on Instagram: “My heart is shattered into a million pieces… my beautiful loving sister Deondra has transitioned… I say transitioned because she will always be alive… anyone who knew my sis… knew that she was a bright light…
“I can’t tell you how many times we have had parties at the house where she has got on the dance floor and stolen the show… even gave her boyfriend @chrisbrownofficial a run for his money… well I know she is in heaven now dancing with her wings on…tho my pain is unbelievable I smile when I think of all of the great memories that she left me… my family… and her friends… from dancing in the blame it video… to Dancing on the Grammys… And becoming The ambassador to @globaldownsyndrome… from sliding down my stairs with a grin as wide as the rio grand… to serenading us with all of her music…
“Deondra you have left A hole in my heart… but I will fill it with all of the memories that you gave me … I love you with every ounce of me… our family is shattered but we will put the pieces back together with your love… and y’all please keep my family in your prayers…”
Foxx had previously spoken highly of his sister — who became the Ambassador for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation in 2011 — as he credited her with reminding him of what’s important in life.
He said in an interview in 2018: “I learned how to live. Sometimes we get caught up in our world on the extras of everything — ‘Ah, the Mercedes is not the right color!’ And then you see this girl over here, ‘I just want to live. I want to dance. I want to love.’ So she brings you back down to what life is.”
Michael J. Fox Plans 'Second Retirement' As Health Declines!
When Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at age 29, already a major movie and TV star ("Family Ties," "Back to the Future"), a doctor told him he would be lucky to work for 10 more years.
Thirty years and eight Emmy nominations (including a 2009 win) later, the joke's on that guy.
But the optimism that carried Fox along even as his body betrayed him — and fueled three hopeful memoirs, beginning with "Lucky Man" in 2002 — has given way to a more sober and realistic vision in his latest book, "No Time Like the Future: An Optimist Considers Mortality." Part of that realism is the revelation, to himself and his fans, that his acting career is coming to an end.
"There is a time for everything, and my time of putting in a twelve-hour workday, and memorizing seven pages of dialogue, is best behind me," Fox writes in the book, which is out Tuesday.
He continues, "At least for now ... I enter a second retirement. That could change, because everything changes. But if this is the end of my acting career, so be it."
Isaiah Washington reignites feud with former ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ co-star Katherine Heigl!
The feud between “Grey’s Anatomy” stars Isaiah Washington and Katherine Heigl has been reignited.
On Monday, Washington (Dr. Preston Burke) tweeted a photo of him and Heigl (Dr. Izzie Stevens).
“This woman once proclaimed that I should ‘never’ be allowed to speak publicly again. The world agreed with her proclamation back then and protested for my job and my head in 65 languages. I wish I was on Twitter in 2007 because I will NEVER stop exercising my free speech,” he captioned the post.
It is unclear what sparked Washington’s tweets this time, but the beef between the former co-stars started in 2007. Washington was removed from the cast after using homophobic slurs towards co-star, T. R. Knight (Dr. George O’Malley).
Heigl interviewed with Access Hollywood where she heavily criticized Washington’s comments.“I’m going to be really honest right now, he needs to just not speak in public. Period. I’m sorry, that did not need to be said, I’m not OK with it.”
According to Washington Hollywood blacklisted him as a result. “After the incident at the Golden Globes, everything just fell apart. I lost everything,” he told Huff Post in 2013.
Judge Tosses Rape Accuser’s Suit Against Russell Simmons!
Russell Simmons won a bid to have his rape accuser’s $10 million lawsuit tossed out, a judge has ruled.
The alleged victim — who sued anonymously under the name Jane Doe — claimed that the 63-year-old hip-hop mogul raped her decades ago in a hotel room and even threatened to do the same to her son if she didn’t go along with it.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mark Epstein Friday granted Simmons’ motion to dismiss Jane Doe’s suit against him after she failed to respond to Epstein’s order from October siding with Simmons that the case was outside of the statute of limitations.
Epstein found that the woman’s claims were legally time-barred since she alleged the incident happened in 1988 and only filed her suit in March 2018 — roughly 28 years too late.
“Plaintiff has incontrovertibly admitted that he alleged incident occurred in 1988,” the Oct. 1 ruling reads. “In calculating the limitations period…she would have had to file her action in 1990.”
Epstein upheld his earlier ruling saying in his Friday order, “having received no response from Plaintiff during the two weeks following the entry of that minute order … judgment is hereby entered in favor of defendant, Russell Simmons.”
The alleged victim claimed that she and her elementary-school-aged son met Simmons at a Def Jam concert in Sacramento where he invited them backstage. After later dropping her son off with a babysitter, she went with Simmons to his hotel bar and then to a night club, she claimed.
The pair then went back to his hotel room after Simmons allegedly assured her he was dating a model and wasn’t interested in anything sexual with her. But then when she got inside his room he allegedly said “‘I am going to f–k you or I’m going to f–k your son. You decide,’” the suit claimed.
Then Simmons allegedly threw her on the bed and raped her, the suit claimed.
Simmons denied the allegations.
The father of three — who was once married to Kimora Lee Simmons — was accused in 2017 of attempting to rape PR guru Kelly Cutrone in 2017. In 2018, Real Housewives of New York star Luann de Lesseps claimed he groped her in an elevator several years prior.
Simmons rep Thomasina Perkins-Washington said in a statement: “We are grateful for the ruling made in this case, although it was dismissed on a technicality my client has always maintained and upon review it is clear he has never met this woman; nor has she produced anyone with whom she has told the story to in over 33 years.”
“Mr. Simmons continues to be in full support of women and what they bring to the world,” Perkins-Washington said. “There have been generations and generations of trauma and injustice…it is time for constructive dialogue and healing to begin.”
The plaintiff’s lawyer did not respond to requests for comment
Harvey Weinstein Is Sick In Jail, Awaiting COVID-19 Test Results!
Harvey Weinstein has come down with a fever and is being tested for the coronavirus, The Post confirmed on Tuesday.
The 68-year-old convicted rapist was awaiting results of his COVID-19 test at a maximum security prison in upstate New York, a source said.
“We can confirm that Mr. Weinstein has a fever and is being closely monitored by the excellent medical staff [at the Wende Correctional Facility] for which the entire legal defense team is grateful,” his reps, Juda Engelmayer and Craig Rothfeld, said in a statement.
TMZ first reported that Weinstein was tested for the virus on Tuesday morning, and that he’d been placed in isolation for 72 hours, pending the results.
The fallen film titan — who has high blood pressure, heart problems, severe diabetes and a spine condition — was diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 21, an official briefed on the matter previously told The Post.
It’s believed he was infected at Rikers Island, where he was briefly locked up before being transferred upstate, an official said at the time.
He reportedly overcame symptoms of the disease, including a cough and fever, and was released from quarantine some three weeks later.
Weinstein is serving a 23-year sentence for raping an aspiring actress and sexually abusing a TV and film production assistant.
His reps said they are working with the New York State Dept. of Corrections and the team at the lockup “to ensure Mr. Weinstein receives the proper medical attention he needs.”
Amazon Opens Online Pharmacy and Offers Discounts and Free Delivery For Prime Members!
Today Amazon opened an online pharmacy that allows customers to order medication or prescription refills and get them delivered to their front door within a few days.
The potential impact of Amazon’s arrival in the pharmaceutical industry rippled through that sector immediately. On Tuesday, CVS Health Corp, Walgreens, and Rite Aid’s stocks all tumbled.
The big chains rely on their pharmacies for a steady flow of shoppers who may also grab a few things on their way out. All of them have increased their online services and advertised their abilities to deliver prescriptions and other goods as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to push consumers to stay home. However, Amazon.com has mastered these things, and its online store is infinitely larger, with millions of loyal shoppers already buying books, TVs, and just about anything else you could imagine.
A Citi Research analyst said in a note that “The news represents a disruption to the system and competitive threat that will likely shift scripts away from the retail channel.”
Even though Amazon has grown over the years, they do have a history of disruption. In 1995 they first launched as an online bookstore, which pushed other booksellers to sell online. However, those that couldn’t keep up went out of business, like the Borders bookstore chain, which disappeared in 2011.
The purchase of Whole Foods three years ago sent supermarket stocks spiraling, but many have been able to hold their own against Amazon, offering home delivery and curbside pickup.
Amazon just has their hands in everything, and they’re starting to become a threat to shipping companies, delivering more than half of its own packages itself. Vans stamped with the Amazon logo have become as common as the sight of a UPS truck.
The company said its online pharmacy would offer commonly prescribed medications in the U.S., including creams, pills, as well as medications that need to stay refrigerated, like insulin. Shoppers have to set up a profile on Amazon’s website and have their doctors send prescriptions there. Some prescriptions like opioids will not be shipped since some medications are at a high risk of being abused.
Most insurances will be accepted, but Prime members who don’t have insurance can also buy the generic or brand name drugs from Amazon for a discount. They can also get discounts at 50,000 physical pharmacies around the country at Costco, CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, and other stores.
John Boylan, an analyst who covers Walgreens for Edward Jones, said that it could be appealing to the uninsured or for the people who have plans that make them pay a high deductible before their coverage starts. He said Amazon’s move would mostly affect smaller drugstores that don’t have either the retail giant’s purchasing power or deals that major drugstore chains have with insurers to funnel patients to their stores for prescriptions.
The company has been eyeing the healthcare industry for some time now. It spent $750 million just two years ago to buy the online pharmacy PillPack, which organizes medication in packets by what time and day they need to be taken. Amazon said that PillPack would continue focusing on shipping medication to people with chronic conditions.
CVS and Walgreens have since opened thousands of drugstores nationwide to get closer to their customers. They have been trying to adjust to the rise of online shopping by offering same-day deliveries in other markets.
Walgreens also has a partnership with FedEx for a delivery service that takes a day or two. Their CEO, Stefano Pessina, told analysts that in July, the company has seen an “unprecedented demand” for both home delivery and online services as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
Both companies’ shares were down 7% and more than 8% respectively in late-morning trading while broader indexes slipped. Rite Aid Corp.’s stock plunged more than 14%. Amazon shares edged up less than 1%.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
‘I GIVE YOU CREW CUT!’
Those can’t save you now partner.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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