#MAGFAB: Simone Ashley for British Vogue’s December Issue
When she was a teenager, Simone Ashley would often spend New Year’s Eve alone, writing letters to herself. “I was a bit of a rebel,” the actor explains, half amused at her own self-seriousness. “I went to a predominantly white all-girls school. I didn’t fit in, there was bullying and I was wishing my life away.” She would remind herself to have perspective, that it’d all be over in a few years. “I would tell myself, ‘You’ll move away from this place, you’ll find your people and you’ll do whatever you want.’”
Now, more than a decade later, that steely resolve is still visible in the assured, if decidedly less angsty, 27-year-old in front of me. It’s the tail end of the August heatwave and she is barefoot, sprawled across a blue velvet sofa in her sunny West London loft, wearing Levi’s cut-offs and a silk tank with the insouciance of someone who is entirely comfortable in their body. Her cocker spaniel, Myla, is curled up at her feet, her nose against the tattoo of a sphinx cat on Ashley’s ankle (one she cavalierly drew and then tattooed on herself during the first lockdown). Dangling from her fingers is a vape, which she puffs on absent-mindedly, letting her natural curls fall down her back as she gazes up at a wall lined with prints – a Basquiat, a poster of Michelangelo Antonioni’s Blow-Up, a vintage map of India.
It’s a rare moment of stillness for Ashley in both a day and a year that have been lacking in them. When I arrived at her home over an hour ago, I found her packing boxes. Rushing to make me a mug of mint tea, she told me that she was getting ready to move to a bigger place, having outgrown this split-level studio in the 18 months that she’s spent here. It’s been a transformational time. When she moved in, she was mid-shooting the third season of Laurie Nunn’s revolutionary Netflix comedy Sex Education. Now, another streaming behemoth has brought her global recognition: Shonda Rhimes’s racy Regency romance Bridgerton.
Image may contain Clothing Sleeve Apparel Long Sleeve Human and Person
Simone wears chenille dress, chenille gloves, and chenille bag, Versace. Necklace (worn as drop earrings), Y Project. Scott Trindle
“During filming, I was working six days a week and I didn’t get a chance to process anything,” Ashley admits. Her costar Jonathan Bailey “would be like, ‘Are you ready for your life to change?’ I was in denial. Later on, I remember bumping into Regé-Jean Page [the show’s former leading man] at the Vanity Fair Oscar party, and he said, ‘Give it three to five months. You’ll notice a difference.’ He was right.”
It was in 2021 when Ashley got the call to audition for the role of Kate Sharma, the headstrong heroine who would succeed Phoebe Dynevor’s Daphne as Bridgerton’s romantic lead, and sweep her brother Anthony, played by the smouldering Bailey, off his feet. The next nine months flew by in a haze of sumptuous balls, horse riding lessons, croquet matches and days shooting on location at some of the most spectacular historic residences in the country.
When the season debuted, its viewing figures even overtook that of the first instalment. Ashley’s fiery portrayal won praise from critics and viewers – and the fashion world took notice too, making her a front-row fixture as well as the face of the Loewe fragrance Paula’s Ibiza. Mostly though, she became a beacon of hope for young women of colour who were unaccustomed to seeing themselves the glamorous lead of a glossy period drama produced and broadcast in the West.
“I didn’t have the traditional entry into this industry that a lot of my white peers had, that of being a thespian, and I’ve always found that a bit isolating. But, I don’t want the colour of my skin to ever stop me.” Did she ever feel that having darker skin limited her opportunities? “I’m sure it was restrictive,” she replies, carefully weighing her words. “Things have taken me longer than other young actors who maybe don’t have the same restrictions. But, I never surrendered to it. I remember being a kid and people saying certain things that make you really aware of the colour of your skin. I remember seeing those Fair & Lovely [lightening] creams – they smelt so good, like baby powder, but I didn’t understand what they were. Now I’m like, ‘Wow. That’s messed up.’ But, I adore the colour of my skin. I always have.”
In recent months, that appreciation has been enhanced by the work of her make-up artist Alex Babsky and hairstylist Peter Lux. “I get emotional talking about this,” she says, her voice breaking. “They understand my skin and the texture of my hair, and when getting ready for events, we find the joy within it. And it’s not a superficial thing – it’s about normalising dark skin and curly hair for girls who need to see that normalised.” Ultimately, she’d like to create a beauty line for those young women. “I want them to be like, ‘Yes, I’ve got exactly the right products for me.’”
That’s not something Ashley herself had, growing up in Surrey with her older brother and South Indian Tamil parents who’d emigrated to the UK. Raised on Disney and Pixar, she had a performative streak from a young age and was determined to be an actor despite having no industry connections. Her accountant mother and pharmacist father tried to instil a sense of academic discipline but she “failed at so many subjects”. At 16, she left school to attend sixth form at the performing arts institution Redroofs, before going on to ArtsEd drama school to study musical theatre. “It wasn’t right for me and I left after my first year.” She made the decision to move to LA by herself at 17, to pursue acting for real.
“Looking back, I think leaving home that young was the best thing I could’ve done,” she says. “I’m so deeply proud of my culture, but, if I’m very honest, I was raised in one where men had more of a voice than women. I always pushed against that – I wanted to get my driver’s licence, I wanted to do sports, I wanted to wear whatever I wanted.” What did her parents think of her decision? “They just never had any control over it,” says Ashley, shrugging. “I was like, ‘This is what I want to do and, trust me, I’ll be safe and financially stable.’ And I made the decision to do it on my own. I didn’t want anyone else’s opinion.”
She signed with a modelling agency and, through it, got her first acting job as a background artist in Straight Outta Compton. A flurry of supporting parts in British and American productions followed – in the BBC’s Guilt, ITV’s Broadchurch, and Pokémon: Detective Pikachu – until she got Sex Education. “It changed my life,” she says. “I’ve never been on a set that’s so diverse, so inclusive, where everyone’s so supportive of one another.”
Though she won’t be returning to the show for season four, she still turns to former castmates such as Ncuti Gatwa and Emma Mackey for advice. “I’ve always been independent and I sometimes feel vulnerable depending on someone else,” she says. “But, I’ve learnt that you need people, you need your friends.”
She’s exploring her gentler side while shooting Bridgerton season three. The second instalment charted Kate and Anthony’s slow-burning romance – a mutual disdain that sparked unbearable sexual tension and, eventually, marriage – but Ashley says the third follows them through their honeymoon phase and beyond. “We’re filming a dance this week and tonally, it’s so different – sweet, endearing and light, compared to the heaviness of their story last season,” she says. We will also see Kate settle into the role of viscountess. “Even though she comes across as fierce, people like that are sometimes the softest on the inside. They develop that skin because they’re vulnerable. You see her insecurities and fears. She’s f**king nervous and I think there’s strength in admitting that.”
She says she feels more prepared for the public response when the series is released next year. Still, there is some wistfulness for the past, particularly her friendships with Charithra Chandran, Shelley Conn and Adjoa Andoh, who played Kate’s sister Edwina, mother Lady Mary, and chaperone Lady Danbury respectively. “On most days in season two, I was with the three of them – all Indian or Black women – and so I had someone to relate to on set. I felt at home. I felt heard. This season, I’m in the Bridgerton family. It’s great, but it’s different and makes me think about how important it was that we did see that last time.”
Soon, Ashley’s boyfriend will arrive to help her pack, having driven in from Germany. Though she won’t share his name, she confides that he’s not in the public eye and that they met at the Grand Prix in Monaco. (She was photographed at the race back in May with Jacob Elordi, though, she says, the Euphoria star is not the partner in question). “I’m very happy,” she says, beaming. “We haven’t gone public yet and we’re having those conversations about how we can get there before anyone else does.” Is she moving in with him? “No, not yet. I’d like to, but, you know, one day…”
There are exciting developments on the horizon professionally too. Alongside Bridgerton, Ashley will appear in the upcoming live-action The Little Mermaid in a yet-to-be-disclosed role, and is working hard to get other projects greenlit through her own yet-to-be-named production company. “I set it up when I got Bridgerton,” she says. “The more you work in this industry, you see the holes, you see what shouldn’t be happening. I want to create sets where everyone feels equal. And I don’t want to be put in a certain box. I want to be in the driver’s seat.”
Bridgerton series three will be out next year
#RHOA: Phaedra Parks and Peter Thomas Reunite at a Halloween Birthday Party
Phaedra Parks and Peter Thomas didn't always get along when they appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta together, but it's all "love" between the two now.
During Halloween weekend, Phaedra and Peter both attended mutual friend Kenny Burns' Prince-themed birthday celebration in Miami — which happened to take place just a few days after Phaedra rang in her 49th birthday. Peter posted about their reunion in a set of two videos that he shared on his Instagram page.
"You never know when life is going to throw you a knuckleball, here it is, love life one day at a time [Phaedra Parks] have a great birthday weekend, I got you," he wrote in the caption of his October 30 post.
In the first video, Phaedra poked fun at their past beef.
"Peter still ain't s--t," Phaedra said when she realized that Peter was taking a video instead of a photo. "You know he hate[s] me, but he love[s] me."
"I love her, but I hate her," Peter agreed.
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Season 2 cast member then joked that she could be the Bar One owner's next spouse.
"I might be his second wife, or third... how many wives [have] you had?" Phaedra asked in the video.
Though Phaedra joked about becoming Peter's future wife, the attorney may already be getting ready to take that next step with someone else. While appearing on the RHUGT panel at BravoCon 2022, a fan asked if Phaedra if the sparkler she was wearing on that finger was an engagement ring.
The RHOA alum played coy, but she confirmed that she was "dating a doctor."
"I am," Phaedra said about her relationship with the mystery doctor. She remained evasive about whether the two were just dating, or if they were set to get married.
"I don't think so," she said in response to another question about a potential engagement. It looks like the lawyer is choosing to plead the fifth!
#MusicNews: Rihanna, Future, & Burna Boy Join 'Black Panther: Wakanda Forever' Soundtrack
The stars are aligning for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The tracklist for the soundtrack to Marvel’s blockbuster sequel has been revealed featuring the Rihanna-led single “Lift Me Up,” which serves as a tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. The Tems-penned track was released last month, marking Rihanna’s first solo release since 2016.
In addition to Rihanna, the 19-track compilation features appearances from Burna Boy, Fireboy DML, Tobe Nwigwe, Snow Tha Product, E-40, and more. Tems covers Bob Marley’s “No Woman, No Cry,” while Future teams up with OG DAYV on “Limoncello.”
The album, produced by Ryan Coogler, Ludwig Göransson, Archie Davis, and Dave Jordan, was expected to feature a second song from Rihanna called “Born Again,” written by The-Dream and James Fauntleroy, but the song is missing from the tracklist.
Göransson spent over 2500 hours recording the score and soundtrack in six studios, across three continents and five countries. The audience will hear over 250 musicians, two orchestras, two choirs, and over 40 vocalists throughout the film.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By is set for release on Nov. 4, while the movie starring Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, and Winston Duke hits theaters Nov. 11.
The Black Panther: Wakanda Forever – Music From and Inspired By Tracklist
1. “Lift Me Up” – Rihanna
2. “Love & Loyalty (Believe)” – DBN Gogo, Sino Msolo, Kamo Mphela, Young Stunna and Busiswa
3. “Alone” – Burna Boy
4. “No Woman No Cry” – Tems
5. “Árboles Bajo El Mar” – Vivir Quintana and Mare Advertencia
6. “Con La Brisa” – Foudeqush and Ludwig Göransson
7. “La Vida” – Snow Tha Product featuring E-40
8. “Interlude” – Stormzy
9. “Coming Back For You” – Fireboy DML
10. “They Want It, But No” – Tobe Nwigwe and Fat Nwigwe
11. “Laayli’ kuxa’ano’one” – ADN Maya Colectivo: Pat Boy, Yaalen K’uj, All Mayan Winik
12. “Limoncello” – OG DAYV featuring Future
13. “Anya Mmiri” – CKay featuring PinkPantheress
14. “Wake Up” – Bloody Civilian featuring Rema
15. “Pantera” – Alemán featuring Rema
16. “Jele” – DBN Gogo, Sino Msolo, Kamo Mphela, Young Stunna and Busiswa
17. “Inframundo” – Blue Rojo
18. “No Digas Mi Nombre” – calle x vida and Foudeqush
19. “Mi Pueblo” – Guadalupe de Jesús Chan Poot
#HipHopNews: J. Cole Announces 2023 Dreamville Festival
J. Cole has announced that his Dreamville Festival will return to his hometown next spring. Now in its third year, the two-day event will be held at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 1-2, 2023.
The official lineup has yet to be announced but fans can expect a headlining performance from Cole along with some of his favorite musical artists and collaborators.
“Dreamville Festival wants to keep growing and building off the success of the expanded two-day event last year. Our team is excited to reunite with our Dreamville family from around the world next spring,” said Dreamville Festival President Adam Roy. “Day ones, JID fans, Ari fans, music fans, everyone is welcome. Consider this your personal invite. Come through, you won’t want to miss Dreamville 2023.”
The inaugural Dreamville Festival was held in April 2019 after being postponed in the wake of Hurricane Florence. The 2020 and 2021 editions were canceled amid the COVID pandemic.
Moree than 80,000 people attended last year’s expanded two-day celebration, which featured the Dreamville crew along with Lil Baby, Wizkid, Kehlani, Ja Rule, Ashanti, and Wale, plus a Gangsta Grillz set with Lil Wayne, Jeezy, and T.I.
Fans can sign up for the Dreamville newsletter to gain access to discounted early-bird tickets when they go on sale later this fall.
Dwyane Wade Slammed By Ex-wife For Exploiting Their Transgender Child
*Dwyane Wade’s ex-wife is speaking about how he is exploiting their 15-year-old transgender child for financial gain.
Wade recently filed a motion to legally change the name and gender of his 15-year-old child who was born a boy name Zion. About two years ago, Zion embarked on a journey as a transgender female who now goes by the name of Zaya. According to The Blast, Wade submitted legal documents requesting the child’s name be legally changed from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
News about Zion’s transition into Zaya has been met with much criticism online, with many folks wondering how this child’s birth mother really feels about her (former) son’s gender transformation.
Well, Zaya’s mother and Wade’s ex-wife, Siohvaughn Funches-Wade, has accused the retired NBA star of exploiting their “daughter” for financial gain. As reported by The Blast, Siohvaughn is begging a court to prohibit the teenager from changing the name and gender on Zaya’s birth certificate.
Siohvaughn wants a judge to impose an order that would ban the manipulation of the birth certificate until Zaya turns 18.
As reported by SandraRose, Wade filed the paperwork in August to change Zaya’s name and gender because the child is underage. In his petition, the NBA icon said he has full authority to make the decision as Zaya’s biological mother has no say in the matter.
“Pursuant to the terms of the Final Custody Judgment, (Wade) has full authority to make decisions on behalf of the petitioning minor, and he is not required to receive consent from Ms. Funches-Wade. As a courtesy, Ms. Funches-Wade has received notice of this petition,” according to the document.
At age 12, Zaya came out as gay and trans and has since landed lucrative modeling contracts with brands like Tiffany and Dove.
“I have concerns that (Dwyane) may be pressuring our child to move forward with the name and gender change in order to capitalize on the financial opportunities that he has received from companies,” Siohvaughn reportedly said in her legal filing.
Wade obtained full custody of his sons with Siohvaughn when they divorced in 2011. In a 2012 interview with MailOnline, she expressed her heartbreak over losing full-time physical custody of her kids and claimed Wade was only awarded custody because of his fame.
In her newly filed legal docs, Siohvaughn recalled a conversation she had with Wade in April during which he allegedly admitted: “that a lot of money had been already made and that additional money will be made in relation to our child’s name and gender issue.”
“(Dwyane) told me that he intended to make our child very famous due to the name and gender issue and also informed me that there would be endorsements/contracts associated therewith,” Siohvaughn claims, per The Daily Mail.
“I am concerned that our child is being commercialized at a young age and also of the uncontrollable consequences of media exposure i.e. cyberbullying, statements and/or pictures taken out of context of our child, and the unwanted spotlight focused on our child.”
A hearing has been set for December to determine whether Zaya can change the name and gender on the birth certificate without Siohvaughn’s approval.
Kyrie, Nets donating $500K to anti-hate causes He says 'I take responsibility' for post's impact on Jewish community
NEW YORK -- Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets will each donate $500,000 in the wake of Irving's controversial social media post about a book and movie that feature antisemitic tropes.
Irving, the Nets and the Anti-Defamation League released a joint statement announcing the donations Wednesday night.
"I oppose all forms of hatred and oppression and stand strong with communities that are marginalized and impacted every day," Irving said in the statement. "I am aware of the negative impact of my post towards the Jewish community and I take responsibility. I do not believe everything said in the documentary was true or reflects my morals and principles. I am a human being learning from all walks of life and I intend to do so with an open mind and a willingness to listen. So from my family and I, we meant no harm to any one group, race or religion of people, and wish to only be a beacon of truth and light."
Irving initially posted about the movie, "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America," late last week. He defended the post in a news conference Saturday, saying that he wouldn't "stand down" on what he believes in while declining to say whether he held antisemitic beliefs.
"There is no room for antisemitism, racism, false narratives or misguided attempts to create animosity and hate," Sam Zussman, CEO of BSE Global, the parent company of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, said in the joint statement. "Now, more than ever, there is a pressing need to ensure education in these areas. We are putting our prior statements into practice because actions speak louder than words."
Irving's post was condemned by Nets owner Joe Tsai, and the NBA responded to it by issuing a statement decrying hate speech. Irving has not spoken publicly since Saturday night, and it remains unclear when he will do so again.
"At a time when antisemitism has reached historic levels, we know the best way to fight the oldest hatred is to both confront it head-on and also to change hearts and minds. With this partnership, ADL will work with the Nets and Kyrie to open dialogue and increase understanding," Jonathan Greenblatt, the CEO of the ADL, said in the statement. "At the same time, we will maintain our vigilance and call out the use of anti-Jewish stereotypes and tropes -- whatever, whoever, or wherever the source -- as we work toward a world without hate."
In the joint statement, the Nets said Irving and the team will work with the ADL in "an effort to develop educational programming that is inclusive and will comprehensively combat all forms of antisemitism and bigotry."
The Nets also said they will continue to support and participate in Shine A Light, which they described as "an ongoing initiative dedicated to spotlighting modern day antisemitism."
"The events of the past week have sparked many emotions within the Nets organization, our Brooklyn community, and the nation," the joint statement said. "The public discourse that followed has brought greater awareness to the challenges we face as a society when it comes to combating hate and hate speech. We are ready to take on this challenge and we recognize that this is a unique moment to make a lasting impact. ...
"Additionally, to ensure a sustainable and meaningful impact in driving awareness and education on the important topics of hatred based on race, ethnicity, and religion, the Brooklyn Nets, New York Liberty and the teams' affiliated organizations will host a series of community conversations at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, in partnership with ADL and other national civil rights organizations as well as local community associations."
The Nets are scheduled to practice Thursday in advance of Friday night's game against the Washington Wizards in Washington, D.C.
Gucci Mane Says He Dropped Baby Racks One Day After Signing Him, Racks Responds
Gucci Mane says he has dropped his new artist Baby Racks only a day after inking the buzzing rapper to a deal on Guwop's 1017 record label.
On Wednesday (Nov. 2), Gucci Mane unceremoniously announced the roster move on Twitter.
"Congratulations to @Babyracks1017 first artist to get signed and dropped in a day that dude is not signed to 1017," Guwop tweeted.
Gucci Mane did not make it clear why he was nixing Baby Racks' label deal. The move came less than a day after Baby Racks made disparaging comments about Houston following the death of Takeoff, and about 20 minutes after Baby Racks posted something referencing the Migos' hit song "Versace."
"I'm definitely not fw houston after DONT BOOK ME CAUSE BABY RACKS AINT COMING," he tweeted. "
"Y'all mad cause I said I ain't coming to Houston lmao fuck Houston," Racks continued.
"VERSACE VERSACE WE BROUGHT THAT SHIT BACK AND YOU NIGGAS IS LAME," he also wrote.
It is also unclear if Baby Racks is happy or upset about his newfound free agency. He responded to Gucci Mane's post with a seemingly sarcastic thank you.
"Congratulations to babyracks appreciate the video appreciate flying me and my team out I appreciate that check Atlantic records sent thank you Gucci," Baby Racks replied to Gucci Mane's Twitter post along with a deuces emoji.
He then attempted to reach out to other independent CEOs about getting a shot on their teams.
"Ima free agent now youngboy get at me @YoGotti wassup @Jeezy holla at me @qcm_p wassup wit it @RickRoss wassup@gucci1017," Baby Racks added.
Gucci Mane and Baby Racks formed a relationship earlier this year when Guwop reached out to the Georgia artist on Instagram. Last month, Baby Racks released the song and video for the Gucci Mane-assisted single "Look Ma I Did It."
#LOVEISLOVE: Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico reveal they secretly got married
A pair of international pageant winners are showing love knows no boundaries.
Miss Argentina 2020, Mariana Varela, 26, and Miss Puerto Rico 2020, Fabiola Valentin, 22, wrote on Instagram that they got married on Oct. 28 after having kept their relationship out of the public eye.
"After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened the doors on a special day. 28/10/22," the couple wrote in a joint message on both of their Instagram pages.
An accompanying 30-second video shows candid moments between the two at the beach and on a boat ride. The video also includes scenes from their engagement, with rose petals, red-and-white balloons, and gold and silver balloons spelling "Marry Me?" in the background as they share a kiss.
Valentin is then seen putting an engagement ring on Varela. They later show off similar diamond rings after the wedding.
The final scene shows Valentin wearing a white blazer dress and Varela wearing a white jacket as they share a kiss in front of the Marriage Bureau in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The couple had posted photos together in recent years but had not shared that they were dating.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Puerto Rico in 2015 when it was legalized across the U.S. following a Supreme Court ruling. Argentina legalized it in 2010.
The couple represented Argentina and Puerto Rico in the 2020 Miss Grand International competition, whose organizers sent well wishes to them on their marriage.
"Congratulations to both of you," the organization wrote on Instagram. "MGIO always support “LOVE” without boundaries ❤️"
They also received support from fans and fellow beauty contestants like Samantha Bernardo, Miss Grand Philippines 2021.
"OMG! Congratulations sisters! Lovelovelove! ❤️😍" Bernardo commented on Instagram.
Joe Russo says Disney's live-action Hercules movie will be for audiences 'trained by TikTok'
Joe Russo says Disney's live-action Hercules movie will be for audiences 'trained by TikTok'
We're not entirely sure this idea can go the distance...
In a Variety cover story, directors and producers Joe and Anthony Russo opened up about their involvement with Disney and a live-action version of the 1997 animated tale of the Greek hero Hercules...and it's apparently going to be inspired by TikTok?
The new version will be a musical (unlike the live-action take on Mulan), but it probably won't look or sound anything like the animated film. "There are questions about how you translate it as a musical," Joe Russo said. "Audiences today have been trained by TikTok, right? What is their expectation of what that musical looks like and feels like? That can be a lot of fun and help us push the boundaries a little bit on how you execute a modern musical."
We're not entirely sure what that means — but there have been some successful musical concepts spawned on TikTok, most notably a fan-created, crowdsourced musical inspired by Pixar's Ratatouille and the Grammy-winning unofficial Bridgerton musical.
The original animated film featured original songs by Alan Menken and David Zippel, two frequent Disney collaborators. It diverged almost entirely from the Greek myth of Hercules (Tate Donovan), instead telling the story of the Greek hero as a skinny nobody who rises to fame through some training with Phil (Danny DeVito) and his god-like strength. When he falls in love with Meg (Susan Egan), his true godliness is put to the test as Hades (James Woods) seeks to use Hercules as a pawn in his ongoing plots against Zeus (Rip Torn).
The Russos, through their independent studio AGBO, are producing Hercules for Disney with Guy Ritchie (Aladdin, Snatch) set to direct. ""We have an amazing relationship with them that we've built over a decade," Russo said of Disney. "I think we have a point of view on how they can stretch the limits of their IP moving forward, rather than playing IP management."
Everett Collection Joe Russo says Disney's live-action 'Hercules' movie will be for audiences 'trained by TikTok'
Russo called the approach "a little bit more experimental in tone, a little bit more experimental in execution." While many of the live-action Disney remakes have come under fire for hewing too closely to their source material (sometimes shot-for-shot), Hercules appears to be taking the opposite tact (though the 'shake things up' approach didn't work for Mulan, which was hampered by lackluster reviews and a pandemic release).
"I think they're excited to see what we can all bring to it in a way that isn't just a reinterpretation of the animated film," Russo noted. "Guy [Ritchie] is perfect for it because he has penchant for experimentation."
Ritchie and David Callaham (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) are currently working on a script.
Further details including potential casting news (any chance of a Marvel crossover, Brett Goldstein?) are still to come.
New York Attorney General Sets Settlement With Leslie Moonves and CBS Amid New Allegations of Corporate Cover-Up as 2018 Sexual Misconduct Scandal Broke
Paramount Global and former CBS chief Leslie Moonves have reached a settlement with New York state as part of an investigation that uncovered new allegations of a cover-up and insider stock sales within CBS as sexual misconduct accusations against Moonves began to come to light in 2017 and 2018.
The deal calls for Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, to pay a total of about $22 million to be redistributed to shareholders, while another $2.5 million is to come from Moonves, who was terminated as chairman-CEO in September 2018. The settlement with the Attorney General’s Investor Protection Bureau related to class-action shareholder lawsuits and litigation asserting that Moonves and key CBS executives mislead executives by not disclosing Moonves’ vulnerabilities to explosive #MeToo allegations. The AG’s settlement report asserts that Moonves and CBS were motivated to keep sexual misconduct allegations from going public out of concern for a scandal’s impact on CBS stock price.
The details disclosed Nov. 2 by New York Attorney General Letitia James paint a damning picture of CEO who knew he was vulnerable to #MeToo allegations but was desperate hang on to power. The settlement brings to a close two class-action lawsuits filed in 2018 that were previously settled but re-opened by James as part of her broader investigations into complaints at the former CBS Corp., which merged with Viacom in late 2019 and changed its corporate moniker to Paramount earlier this year.
“CBS and Leslie Moonves’ attempts to silence victims, lie to the public, and mislead investors can only be described as reprehensible,” said James said in a statement. “As a publicly traded company, CBS failed its most basic duty to be honest and transparent with the public and investors. After trying to bury the truth to protect their fortunes, today CBS and Leslie Moonves are paying millions of dollars for their wrongdoing. Today’s action should send a strong message to companies across New York that profiting off injustice will not be tolerated and those who violate the law will be held accountable.”
Moonves declined to comment through a spokesman. Paramount Global emphasized that the matter involved the previous regime at a much-changed company. As part of the settlement, Moonves is also barred from serving as an officer of a public company doing business in New York without approval from the Attorney General.
“We are pleased to resolve this matter concerning events from 2018 with the New York Attorney General’s office, without any admission of liability or wrongdoing,” Paramount said. “The matter involved alleged misconduct by CBS’s former CEO, who was terminated for cause in 2018, and does not relate in any way to the current company.”
The paperwork about the case was disclosed as part of Paramount Global’s third-quarter earnings report released Nov. 2. A mention of a portion of the Moonves-related settlement with New York state was included in the company’s early-morning 8K earnings filing with the Security and Exchange Commission.
“Moonves and CBS persistently suppressed and concealed material information concerning the substantial risk that Moonves’ position would be jeopardized and the corresponding negative impact his departure would have on CBS and its stock,” the Attorney General’s 37-page report states.
CBS violated state laws in 2017 by promoting “the strength and longevity of its executive team while knowing that the departure of Moonves was a material risk to the company. CBS was obligated to accurately disclose and update its disclosures, in particular, in its proxy statements and other SEC filings, but instead Respondents covered it up,” the report states.
Moonves’ public comment on the need to address sexual harassment issues in the workplace, made in response to a question at Variety‘s Entertainment and Technology conference in November 2017, became problematic for the company after class-action lawsuits claimed the then-CBS chief executive mislead shareholders. Allegations that Moonves had a long history of sexual misconduct with multiple women made international headlines in the late summer and fall of 2018 through exposes in the New Yorker and by the New York Times.
Two federal class-action shareholder lawsuits were filed in the Southern District of New York in the wake of Moonves’ ouster. The cases were consolidated into one in late 2018. The Attorney General’s investigation found that CBS executives were aware in 2017 that #MeToo rumors about Moonves were circulating through Hollywood.
Moreover, the settlement report features text messages and email correspondence among CBS executives that has triggered an internal inquiry at the Los Angeles Police Department. The AG report asserts that an unidentified LAPD captain who has previously worked as a security guard for Moonves tipped off CBS talent relations executive Ian Metrose in November 2017 that a woman had just made a police report against Moonves over incidents from the 1980s.
Late Wednesday, the LAPD said the command officer in question was retired and that the department was investigating to see if any other LAPD employees were involved in the allegations that current LAPD chief Michel Moore described as “appalling” in a statement.
“At approximately 3:00 PM on November 10, 2017, Complainant #1 walked into an LAPD station house in the Hollywood Division, requested to speak with a female officer about a sexual assault, and reported that she had been sexually assaulted by Moonves and subjected to sexual misconduct and retaliation in the workplace by him in the 1980s (the “Police Report”), prior to his employment with CBS. Complainant #1 affirmatively requested that her report to the LAPD be kept confidential in a document affixed to the Police Report entitled “Request for Confidentiality of Information.” The Police Report itself was marked “confidential” three times,” the Attorney General’s report states.
The AG’s report details the lengths to which the investigation found that Moonves and a handful of executives went to obtain information from the LAPD and keep the police report from surfacing.
“Over the next few days and months, the LAPD Captain continued to secretly provide Moonves and CBS executives with status updates on the LAPD’s investigation,” the report states. “The LAPD Captain made it clear that he was willing to intervene on Moonves’ behalf and Moonves solicited the LAPD Captain’s assistance. Moonves put the LAPD Captain in touch with Moonves’ personal attorney, and the LAPD Captain put the officers under his command in touch with Moonves (via Metrose) and Moonves’ counsel.”
As was reported in detail by the New York Times in November 2018, the AG report also details efforts in 2017 and 2018 to keep another female actor and her “Talent Manager,” as he is identified in the report, from going public about an alleged past incident with Moonves.
The New York AG report also takes a deep dive into the sale of about 160,700 shares of CBS stock, for about $8.8 million, in June 2018 by Gil Schwartz, who was then CBS head of communications. Schwartz died in May 2020 at age 68. The AG report asserts that CBS assisted Schwartz in insider trading because he was aware of the existence of the LAPD report with allegations against Moonves.
“Despite Schwartz’s knowledge of the Police Report and that a #MeToo story about Moonves would likely be published, Schwartz sold 160,709 shares of CBS class B common stock at an average weighted price of $55.08 for a total of $8,851,852. Schwartz could not have traded without CBS’ preapproval,” the report states.
Angela Bassett Reveals the ‘Black Panther’ Cast Visited Chadwick Boseman’s Grave Before Filming Sequel
The absence of Chadwick Boseman is ever-present as “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” is finally nearing its theatrical release. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Angela Bassett shared the special way she and her castmates faced the heavy feelings of grief since the untimely passing of Chadwick Boseman.
The actor who played the titular character passed away at the age of 43 in 2020. His death was marked by a private, four-year battle with cancer. In previous interviews, Bassett, director Ryan Coogler and others have expressed sorrow at losing the fictional empire of Wakanda’s leader, King T’Challa.
As previously reported, Boseman’s role in the 2019 blockbuster “Black Panther,” was not recast ahead of the production for “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.” Instead, his death became part of the script. Cast members such as Letitia Wright and Lupita Nyong’o have said the film pays homage to both Boseman and T’challa, some of which is seen in the film’s two trailers. But before cameras ever began rolling, Bassett, who plays Queen Ramonda, said it was important for her and the cast to visit the “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” actor’s grave.
“We were able to do that to give love and feel his spirit and stand there with him before we did one frame of anything,” Bassett told THR. She continued, “That was such an important grounding for us because, as you can imagine, emotion was all over the place. People are on the verge — his [onscreen] sister, his love, his general, all of us. I’m getting goosebumps now. We were on the verge of tears, of ‘How are we going to do this, go on without him?’ ”
In September, Wright, who plays Black Panther’s younger sister, Shuri, told PEOPLE she often felt Boseman’s presence and heard his voice while on set. “I will always have moments on set of doubt, and I’ll be like, ‘Oh man, I don’t know if I can do this.’ I could just hear [Boseman] be like, ‘Sister, you’re great. You got this. I’m proud of you.’ That really just kept me moving forward,” she said.
Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend and More Sign Open Letter to Protest Using Rap Lyrics in Court
Multiple musicians have teamed up to speak out against the use of rap lyrics as evidence in legal trials. On Monday, an open letter signed by over 100 artists, industry leaders, and legal experts was published in the New York Times and Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Described as a call to "Protect Black Art" and creative expression, the letter articulates the desire for an end to prosecutors treating rap lyrics as confessions.
"Rappers are storytellers, creating entire worlds populated with complex characters who can play both hero and villain," the letter reads. "But more than any other art form, rap lyrics are essentially being used as confessions in an attempt to criminalize Black creativity and artistry."
The letter specifically mentions the YSL RICO indictment where Young Thug is facing more than 50 allegations against him, many of which use his lyrics as evidence in the trial.
"Beyond the obvious disregard for free speech and creative expression protected by the First Amendment, this racially targeted practice punishes already marginalized communities and their stories of family, struggle, survival, and triumph," the letter adds.
The call has support from all across the music industry, including streaming services such as Spotify and Tidal, record labels including Republic Records, Capitol Records, Warner Music and Universal Music Group, and organizations like the American Association of Independent Music, the American Civil Liberties Union, Artist Rights Alliance and Black Music Action Coalition.
Signatures from artists and songwriters include 2 Chainz, 21 Savage, 50 Cent, Alicia Keys, Big Sean, Black Eyed Peas, Breland, Brothers Osborne, Bryce Vine, Busta Rhymes, Camila Cabello, Christina Aguilera, Coldplay, DJ Khaled, Drake, Erica Banks, Fat Joe, Future, Giveon, Ice-T, J. Cole, Jack Harlow, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Michelle Branch, Miguel, Normani, Post Malone, Quavo, Questlove, Regina Spektor, Ty Dolla $ign, WILLOW and Yo Gotti.
California became the first state to restrict the use of rap lyrics as evidence during trials earlier this month. The landmark legislation came after the California Senate and Assembly unanimously approved the bill in August.
"Artists of all kinds should be able to create without the fear of unfair and prejudicial prosecution," state Gov. Gavin Newsom said of the move. "California's culture and entertainment industry set trends around the world and it's fitting that our state is taking a nation-leading role to protect creative expression and ensure that artists are not criminalized under biased policies."
New York senate recently approved the "Rap Music on Trial" bill which, if passed by the New York assembly, would limit prosecutors' use of song lyrics and other forms of "creative expression" as evidence in criminal cases. While it wouldn't ban presenting lyrics or other material to a jury, it would require prosecutors to show that the work is "literal, rather than figurative or fictional." It's currently being ordered to a third-reading rule in the New York assembly.
In August, Georgia congressman Hank Johnson and New York congressman Jamaal Bowman introduced the Restoring Artistic Protection (RAP) Act in the House of Representatives.
All three bills were cited in the open letter, which concludes with, "The work is far from done, and we must all join together to defend creative freedom and expression."
Offset Quietly Pays Tribute to Migos Groupmate Takeoff After His Tragic Death
Offset is subtly reacting to Takeoff‘s death.The Migos rapper was killed at the age of 28 after being hit by a stray bullet at a bowling alley in Houston, Texas in the early morning hours on Tuesday (November 1).
The day after his death, Offset – Takeoff‘s cousin and Migos groupmate – quietly paid tribute to Takeoff.
Fans noticed on Wednesday (November 2) that Offset changed his profile photo on Instagram to a photo of Takeoff smiling with a white heart emoji in the corner.
As of right now, Offset has not yet shared any comments on Takeoff‘s death.
According to TMZ, at around 2:30 am local time, police received a call about a man who had been shot at 810 Billiards & Bowling in Houston. Both Takeoff and his uncle and groupmate Quavo were allegedly at the bowling alley playing dice when an altercation is said to have broken out.
Takeoff was shot and pronounced dead at the scene. Quavo was not injured.
Police have been asking for help finding the killer, who is still at large.
Parkland School Shooter Sentenced To Life In Prison Without Parole After Death Penalty Is Taken Off Table
In 2018, a gunman murdered 17 people at a South Florida high school. He has now been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Last year, the gunman, who is identified as 24-year-old Nikolas Cruz. plead guilty to 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder for the massacre.
In 2018, Cruz walked into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida and robbed nearly 2 dozen people of their futures.
On Wednesday (November 2), after an agonizing and monthslong trial, Broward Circuit Judge Elizabeth Scherer formally sentenced Cruz to life in prison, without parole.
Just last month, the option for life in prison was suggested by the jury, after they voted against the punishment of the death penalty.
It is reported that the state prosecutors argued for the death penalty for Cruz. The jury heard arguments from both the prosecutors and the defense attorneys, who argued against their client being put to death.
While the defense argued for life and cited the shooter’s mental or intellectual deficits stemmed from prenatal alcohol exposure, the prosecution wanted death, citing how heinous and cruel his “premeditated and calculated” crime was.
In Florida, a jury must unanimously recommend a death sentence, but three of the jurors had been persuaded to vote for life in prison.
Subsequently, the jury’s recommendation angered many of the families of the 17 people he killed. Families were left heartbroken knowing that “this killer [will not] receive the worst punishment possible” — which in the state of Florida is the death penalty.
Annika Dworet, the mother of 17-year-old victim Nicholas Dworet, asked, “How much worse would the crime have to be to warrant the death penalty?”
Currently, the 2018 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida remains the deadliest mass shooting at a U.S. high school.
And sadly, this mass shooting incident has not curbed the continued American gun violence epidemic.
Twitter To Release ‘Paywalled Video,’ Allowing Users To Charge Money For Adult Content
Twitter is set to roll out a “Paywalled Video” feature, which will allow its users to charge followers money for access to their videos. According to Gizmodo, the company, which plans to roll out the add-on in the coming weeks, will allow people to post their content (including adult videos) on the platform and can price access to their videos up to $10.
Of course, Twitter will be taking a percentage of those earnings, but it’s just one of many new changes the firm’s new CEO, Elon Musk, is said to be bringing to the social media app platform in an effort to make Twitter profitable following his $44 billion acquisition last week. An internal email, per the Washington Post, told staffers, “When a creator composes a tweet with a video, the creator can enable the paywall once a video has been added to the tweet.”
When the feature launches, it will have preset prices, meaning that content creators will not be able to charge excessive amounts, to begin with, but that could change depending on how well “Paywalled Video” fares in the early stages after being implemented. Gizmodo notes that Twitter would undoubtedly be a direct competitor with OnlyFans, the subscription service which gained astounding exposure in 2020, where users are said to be making hundreds of thousands — if not, millions — a year by sharing freaky adult content for their subscribed users who pay on a monthly or annual plan.
As previously revealed, Musk is also currently working on rolling out an update this month pertaining to the new subscription service for its verification badge. Those who use Twitter will soon be able to pay $8 a month for a verified badge next to their tag, along with a string of features, which include uploading longer videos to their tweets, having priority in tweet replies, mentions, and search, and the ability to post long audio clips.
It’s unclear if the updated verification service will offer other features down the line, but the aforementioned list has so far been confirmed by Musk.
As previously reported, Musk is reportedly running an internal inspection on his staff at Twitter as sources say he plans to fire those who can’t keep up with his demanding assignments, with some employees having slept at the office just so that they can finish their task before reaching the CEO’s deadline.
Musk has already fired several executives and plans to lay off many other staffers; particularly those who are not able to keep up with his pace.
Rihanna’s ‘Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4’ Teased in New Photos
(h/t Complex) With Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4 now exactly one week away from its global unveiling, fans have seen their patience rewarded with a selection of exclusive images capturing key moments from the production.
As previously reported, Rihanna serves as both creative director and executive producer of the latest Savage X Fenty experience, which will stream via Prime Video starting Nov. 9. Confirmed performances include Don Toliver, Anitta, Maxwell, and Burna Boy.
Viewers can expect to the latest batch of Savage X Fenty looks unveiled with assistance by an expectedly stacked roster of talent including (but definitely not limited to) Ángela Aguilar, Irina Shayk (as seen up top), Taraji P. Henson, Damson Idris, Precious Lee, Cara Delevingne, Bella Poarch, Lara Stone, Simu Liu, and more.
Rihanna Announces Details for Upcoming ‘Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 4’ Experience
A physical retail location for Savage X Fenty is pictured
Here’s a Look Inside Rihanna’s First Savage X Fenty Retail Store Location
Rihanna is pictured wearing her brand's pieces
The Vol. 4 unveiling follows Rihanna’s return to music with the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack entry “Lift Me Up.” Meanwhile, Rihanna is “nervous” but “excited” about headlining next year’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.
Black Female Director of ‘Lion King Musical’ Accused of Sexual Harassment
*An ensemble player from “The Lion King’s” North American Touring Production, claims he was fired on the first day of paternity leave and now he’s taking legal action against Disney.
William James Jr. is suing two Disney units, accusing them of violating the New York State and City Human Rights Laws, per Reuters. He also alleges that actress and director Ameenah Kaplan sexually harassed him and other male employees.
According to The Daily Mail, Kaplan, who appeared in Marvel’s “Avengers Infinity War” and “Endgame,” allegedly threatened to limit James’ role as an understudy for Mufasa for rejecting her sexual advances.
The lawsuit accuses Disney of turning a “collective blind eye” to James’ allegations about the “hostile work environment.”
James has been an understudy for Mufasa for nearly three years. According to the complaint, Kaplan became director of the production in 2018. In his complaint filed Thursday, he alleges that he was fired “in part” for complaining about “bullying” and Kaplan’s “unwelcome advances”.
The company reportedly investigated his allegations and determined his claims were baseless. James accuses Disney of firing him “in the most callous way at the most unreasonable time.”
James believes the move was meant to send a message to other employees, and that is “to not engage in protected activity and to not seek paternity leave at the Lion King Production,” his attorneys at Phillips & Associates wrote in the complaint filed in state Supreme Court in New York County, per Reuters.
The lawsuit alleges that Disney “did not train, supervise or instruct its employees, or management” on how to resolve allegations of harassment and discrimination. Per The Daily Mail, James claims his sexual harassment allegations were corroborated by Actors Equity but Disney “did not care.”
Per the report, James claims he suffered “severe emotional distress” and”‘physical humiliation” as well as “anxiety, depression, anger and loss of employment opportunities.”
He is seeking an unspecified amount in damages for the “mental, emotional, and physical injury” he has suffered.
Trey Songz No Longer Facing $20 Million Sexual Assault Civil Suit Due to Expired Statute of Limitations
Trey Songz is no longer facing a civil suit for alleged rape since the statute of limitations had expired on the allegations.
Earlier this year, a woman only identified as Jane Doe filed a lawsuit alleging Songz had a consensual sexual relationship with her but suddenly changed into a “savage rapist” during the encounter, which she claims occurred on March 24, 2016.
According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Trey Songz’s legal team successfully argued that the statute of limitations had expired long before Jane Doe filed her lawsuit. While the statute of limitations in California is currently 10 years, prior to 2019, the statute of limitations was three years. The woman filed the complaint six years after the alleged rape and was suing the singer for $20 million in damages.
Songz’s rep previously denied Doe’s allegation telling TMZ, “the allegations in this complaint are false.”
Starbucks Brings Back Its Cherished “Red Cups” & Seasonal Coffee Menu to Kick Off the Holidays
No coffee brand celebrates the holiday season quite like Starbucks, and this year is no exception.
Customers have grown accustomed to the festive “Red Cups” that adorn Starbucks locations from November through December. Beginning on November 3rd, these adorable containers will be making their return with new mug designs and drinks to accompany them.
Each cup is designed to resemble Christmas wrapping paper and is looked at as “little gifts,” according to Gary Jacobson, this year’s creative director for the campaign.
One of this year’s red cups is decorated with wavy green ribbons and sparkles, while another of this year’s offerings is adorned with sparkles and diamonds on a mint green cup. Another drink holder is embellished with red and green ornaments, mimicking a miniature white Christmas tree.
If you’re wondering which cheerful caffeinated quencher should go in these spirited cups, the seasonal beverage menu has exactly the morning boosters you need. Starbucks is bringing back its wildly popular peppermint mocha, as well as the caramel brulée latte, chestnut praline latte, toasted white chocolate mocha, and the Irish cream cold brew. While these have been icons in the coffee chain for years around this time of year, the apple crisp oat milk macchiato is the new concoction on the block with big shoes to fill. The iced sugar cookie almond milk latte was introduced last year and will be returning following instant fanfare.
All of the drinks and cups will arrive in locations this week, kicking off the most wonderful time of the year in a way that only Starbucks could make possible.
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
NICE THONG
Walmart Dress Code is Invalid
HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYBODY!!!!!!!!
EFREM
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