Oprah Winfrey Rings in the New Year with Epic Party Featuring Gayle King and David Oyelowo
Oprah Winfrey kicked off the new year with some of her closest friends! The media mogul, 69, rang in 2024 with a New Year's Eve party on Sunday night. Winfrey's BFF Gayle King and David Oyelowo — whom she starred opposite in The Butler — attended the bash, according to a post shared on Instagram by King, also 69.
In an image featured in the carousel of photos in the post, Winfrey poses beside King and Oyelowo, 47 — all three wearing gold 2024 glasses.
King, who opted to wear her themed shades upside down, wore a black shirt with gold embellishments to the NYE party, while Winfrey wore a multicolored striped sweater.
In the photo, Oyelowo stands between the CBS Mornings anchor and The Color Purple producer, smiling in a green shirt.
In the same post, King shared other photos and videos from the New Year's Eve event, including a clip of Oyelowo and other guests dancing to Burna Boy's "It's Plenty" and a sweet shot of herself with her family.
"Family pictures! Dinner! Dancing! New year off to a great start so here's to more in 20-24!!!" she wrote in the caption of her post.
Winfrey similarly documented the fun event on her Instagram page, sharing a video of the group posing outdoors. In the middle of the group, Winfrey poses beside her longtime partner, Stedman Graham.
"Wishing everyone a happy and blessed 2024 🥳🙏🏽," Winfrey captioned her post.
In December, Oyelowo told PEOPLE that the talk show icon had become "like a mother" to him since the pair first shared the screen in 2013.
"She's like a mother to me and has been since we did The Butler, where we actually played mother and son," Oyelowo said at a special event in Los Angeles celebrating his Paramount+ miniseries, Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
"She's just been so supportive with advice, practically speaking, spiritually speaking, emotionally speaking," Oyelowo continued of Winfrey.
"She has been with me on this journey, this eight-year journey to getting not only Bass Reeves made, but Selma made. She's one of the reasons that show, that film, exists," he added.
Oyelowo also credited Winfrey with inspiring him to take a stand for himself and the things he believes in, explaining, "She taught me what advocacy looks like because she has advocated for me enormously, and that's something I'm now trying to carry into my own life as well."
#RHOA: Meet Phaedra Parks’ “Boo" As She Dishes On Her Romantic Past and Future
The Married to Medicine cast member took to Instagram to share an update on the special someone in her life.
Phaedra Parks Gives an Update on Her Current Bravolebrity Friendships
ICYMI, this holiday season Married to Medicine's Phaedra Parks reminded us that she has a "boo" and he is incredibly cuddly.
Recently, Phaedra shared a festive photo of her dog, Phoenix, and captioned the snapshot, "My boo [Phoenix] is ready for Christmas." As for how Phoenix feels about his human mama, on his Instagram account he captioned the same photo, "My mommy and groomer is better than yours!"
According to the pooch's official Instagram bio, we learn a bit more about the dog: "Mr. President’s puppy, [Phaedra's] newest baby and Prince Ayden’s pint size protector."
Phaedra welcomed Phoenix into her family back in 2021.
Speaking of family, on the current season of Married to Medicine, Phaedra is spilling new details about her ex as well as what she sees next for her family life. Keep scrolling for details.
Phaedra Parks reflects on her divorce from Apollo Nida and if she'd marry again
In a clip from Season 10 of Married to Medicine, Phaedra opens up about whether she'd ever want to marry again and reflects on her split from Apollo Nida, with whom she co-parents two sons, Dylan and Ayden. How does she feel today about her ex-husband and the future of her love life? Press play on the video above to find out.
What else is Phaedra Parks doing today?
In addition to sharing her life on Married to Medicine (more on that below), you can also catch her on Season 2 of Peacock's The Traitors. Season 2's first three episodes will be available to stream on Friday, January 12, and drop weekly on Thursdays at 6pm PT/9pm ET thereafter on the streaming service. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the cast of Season 2 of The Trailors also includes several other Bravolebs. You can catch up on The Traitors Season 1 before the Season 2 premiere exclusively on Peacock.
According to Phaedra's BravoTV.com profile, the RHOA alum is busy with her career as a multi-hyphenate and her life as a mom.
Phaedra Parks, Esq. a true definition of a Renaissance woman joins the ladies of Bravo’s “Married to Medicine.” This sassy southern belle is a successful attorney, businesswoman, author, mortician, television personality, motivational speaker, social activist, and mother to two young kings.
As managing partner of The Parks Group, an Atlanta-based law firm, Parks practices law in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property rights and civil and criminal litigation. Her client roster includes celebrities, high-profile individuals, and government entities. She is actively involved in the Atlanta legal community. She is the past president of the Gate City Bar Association and has served on the advisory board of the American Bar Association, she is also a proud member of the Lawyers Club. Parks is a proud fourth generation graduate of the University of Georgia, where she is the current president of the Law School Alumni Association. Parks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Wesleyan College, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia as well as a degree in mortuary sciences from Jefferson State College.
#MusicNews: Cynthia Erivo, Chlöe, Gladys Knight & More Pay Homage To Dionne Warwick At The 46th Kennedy Center Honors
The 46th Kennedy Center Honors aired this week on CBS, and the broadcast was filled with entertaining speeches and tribute performances paying homage to the five honorees. This year’s class included legendary pop/R&B hitmaker Dionne Warwick, British singer/songwriter/musician Barry Gibb, comedian/actor Billy Crystal, rapper/singer/actress Queen Latifah and opera singer Renée Fleming. Each artist had already received their medallions during a separate ceremony at the White House, and on this night, they received their flowers from an array of artists at the Kennedy Center.
The fête began with host Gloria Estefan and Sheila E. performing Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga” and Estefan’s solo jam “Get On Your Feet.” After that rousing medley, the first honoree to be celebrated was Dionne Warwick and showstopping performances followed.
Debbie Allen appeared on stage for Warwick’s segment and spoke about her legacy, accomplishments and accolades. She then welcomed the first performers to the stage, Mickey Guyton and The Spinners who sang “Then Came You,” her 1974 hit with the group. The country star was in her R&B and soul bag and sounded fabulous with The Spinners’ current lineup.
After a career retrospective narrated by Jennifer Hudson, Allen returned to introduce Cynthia Erivo. The British singer and actress sang “Alfie,” one of Warwick’s many hit songs that were crafted with Burt Bacharach and Hal David during their creative partnership. Dionne smiled and looked on approvingly from the balcony as Cynthia sang to the rafters and the heavens. With her powerful, effortless vocals backed by an orchestra, she turned “Alfie” from a mere song into a spine-tingling moment when she hit the final notes.
Cynthia Erivo was a tough act to follow, but Chlöe did her absolute best after Saturday Night Live’s Ego Nwodim brought a little comic relief to the proceedings. Chlöe performed “Walk On By,” and she brought the drama and her operatic vocal acrobatics for her live rendition.
Before the final musical tribute, Clive Davis then came out to share some remarks. The founder and president of Arista Records signed Dionne to the label in 1979 and is often credited with reviving her career at the time. He might have had the hookup, but Dionne had the talent.
In an image featured in the carousel of photos in the post, Winfrey poses beside King and Oyelowo, 47 — all three wearing gold 2024 glasses.
King, who opted to wear her themed shades upside down, wore a black shirt with gold embellishments to the NYE party, while Winfrey wore a multicolored striped sweater.
In the photo, Oyelowo stands between the CBS Mornings anchor and The Color Purple producer, smiling in a green shirt.
In the same post, King shared other photos and videos from the New Year's Eve event, including a clip of Oyelowo and other guests dancing to Burna Boy's "It's Plenty" and a sweet shot of herself with her family.
"Family pictures! Dinner! Dancing! New year off to a great start so here's to more in 20-24!!!" she wrote in the caption of her post.
Winfrey similarly documented the fun event on her Instagram page, sharing a video of the group posing outdoors. In the middle of the group, Winfrey poses beside her longtime partner, Stedman Graham.
"Wishing everyone a happy and blessed 2024 🥳🙏🏽," Winfrey captioned her post.
In December, Oyelowo told PEOPLE that the talk show icon had become "like a mother" to him since the pair first shared the screen in 2013.
"She's like a mother to me and has been since we did The Butler, where we actually played mother and son," Oyelowo said at a special event in Los Angeles celebrating his Paramount+ miniseries, Lawmen: Bass Reeves.
"She's just been so supportive with advice, practically speaking, spiritually speaking, emotionally speaking," Oyelowo continued of Winfrey.
"She has been with me on this journey, this eight-year journey to getting not only Bass Reeves made, but Selma made. She's one of the reasons that show, that film, exists," he added.
Oyelowo also credited Winfrey with inspiring him to take a stand for himself and the things he believes in, explaining, "She taught me what advocacy looks like because she has advocated for me enormously, and that's something I'm now trying to carry into my own life as well."
#RHOA: Meet Phaedra Parks’ “Boo" As She Dishes On Her Romantic Past and Future
Phaedra Parks Gives an Update on Her Current Bravolebrity Friendships
ICYMI, this holiday season Married to Medicine's Phaedra Parks reminded us that she has a "boo" and he is incredibly cuddly.
Recently, Phaedra shared a festive photo of her dog, Phoenix, and captioned the snapshot, "My boo [Phoenix] is ready for Christmas." As for how Phoenix feels about his human mama, on his Instagram account he captioned the same photo, "My mommy and groomer is better than yours!"
According to the pooch's official Instagram bio, we learn a bit more about the dog: "Mr. President’s puppy, [Phaedra's] newest baby and Prince Ayden’s pint size protector."
Phaedra welcomed Phoenix into her family back in 2021.
Speaking of family, on the current season of Married to Medicine, Phaedra is spilling new details about her ex as well as what she sees next for her family life. Keep scrolling for details.
Phaedra Parks reflects on her divorce from Apollo Nida and if she'd marry again
In a clip from Season 10 of Married to Medicine, Phaedra opens up about whether she'd ever want to marry again and reflects on her split from Apollo Nida, with whom she co-parents two sons, Dylan and Ayden. How does she feel today about her ex-husband and the future of her love life? Press play on the video above to find out.
What else is Phaedra Parks doing today?
In addition to sharing her life on Married to Medicine (more on that below), you can also catch her on Season 2 of Peacock's The Traitors. Season 2's first three episodes will be available to stream on Friday, January 12, and drop weekly on Thursdays at 6pm PT/9pm ET thereafter on the streaming service. Hosted by Alan Cumming, the cast of Season 2 of The Trailors also includes several other Bravolebs. You can catch up on The Traitors Season 1 before the Season 2 premiere exclusively on Peacock.
According to Phaedra's BravoTV.com profile, the RHOA alum is busy with her career as a multi-hyphenate and her life as a mom.
Phaedra Parks, Esq. a true definition of a Renaissance woman joins the ladies of Bravo’s “Married to Medicine.” This sassy southern belle is a successful attorney, businesswoman, author, mortician, television personality, motivational speaker, social activist, and mother to two young kings.
As managing partner of The Parks Group, an Atlanta-based law firm, Parks practices law in the areas of entertainment, intellectual property rights and civil and criminal litigation. Her client roster includes celebrities, high-profile individuals, and government entities. She is actively involved in the Atlanta legal community. She is the past president of the Gate City Bar Association and has served on the advisory board of the American Bar Association, she is also a proud member of the Lawyers Club. Parks is a proud fourth generation graduate of the University of Georgia, where she is the current president of the Law School Alumni Association. Parks earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from Wesleyan College, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia as well as a degree in mortuary sciences from Jefferson State College.
#MusicNews: Cynthia Erivo, Chlöe, Gladys Knight & More Pay Homage To Dionne Warwick At The 46th Kennedy Center Honors
The 46th Kennedy Center Honors aired this week on CBS, and the broadcast was filled with entertaining speeches and tribute performances paying homage to the five honorees. This year’s class included legendary pop/R&B hitmaker Dionne Warwick, British singer/songwriter/musician Barry Gibb, comedian/actor Billy Crystal, rapper/singer/actress Queen Latifah and opera singer Renée Fleming. Each artist had already received their medallions during a separate ceremony at the White House, and on this night, they received their flowers from an array of artists at the Kennedy Center.
The fête began with host Gloria Estefan and Sheila E. performing Miami Sound Machine’s “Conga” and Estefan’s solo jam “Get On Your Feet.” After that rousing medley, the first honoree to be celebrated was Dionne Warwick and showstopping performances followed.
Debbie Allen appeared on stage for Warwick’s segment and spoke about her legacy, accomplishments and accolades. She then welcomed the first performers to the stage, Mickey Guyton and The Spinners who sang “Then Came You,” her 1974 hit with the group. The country star was in her R&B and soul bag and sounded fabulous with The Spinners’ current lineup.
After a career retrospective narrated by Jennifer Hudson, Allen returned to introduce Cynthia Erivo. The British singer and actress sang “Alfie,” one of Warwick’s many hit songs that were crafted with Burt Bacharach and Hal David during their creative partnership. Dionne smiled and looked on approvingly from the balcony as Cynthia sang to the rafters and the heavens. With her powerful, effortless vocals backed by an orchestra, she turned “Alfie” from a mere song into a spine-tingling moment when she hit the final notes.
Cynthia Erivo was a tough act to follow, but Chlöe did her absolute best after Saturday Night Live’s Ego Nwodim brought a little comic relief to the proceedings. Chlöe performed “Walk On By,” and she brought the drama and her operatic vocal acrobatics for her live rendition.
Before the final musical tribute, Clive Davis then came out to share some remarks. The founder and president of Arista Records signed Dionne to the label in 1979 and is often credited with reviving her career at the time. He might have had the hookup, but Dionne had the talent.
It could be said that they saved the best for last by enlisting fellow music royalty Gladys Knight to sing “Say A Little Prayer” in her friend’s honor. Gladys sounded incredible, which is her default setting, and Dionne grinned and rocked in her seat, feeling it as much as everyone else who was there to witness this greatness.
Kennedy Center Honors did right by Dionne Warwick. This was a tribute befitting an icon. View performances by Cynthia Erivo, Chlöe and Gladys Knight below, or watch the complete tribute and entire 46th Kennedy Center Honors special streaming now on Paramount+.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj's New Year's Resolution Goes Viral
On New Year’s Eve (Dec. 31), Nicki Minaj was spotted performing songs from her Billboard chart-topping album, Pink Friday 2, at E11EVEN Miami in Florida. While she was getting to a bag in the “Magic City,” a previously recorded clip of her New Year’s resolution was aired on CNN’s “New Year’s Eve Live” show hosted by famed producers and media personalities Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper.
When asked what her New Year’s resolution was by Cohen, the storied Queens emcee stated, “My New Year’s resolution is to keep my foot on these b**ches’ necks.” When the clip aired on CNN, Cooper hilariously responded, “Well, wow, who is she referring to?” before Cohen jokingly answered, “These b**ches.”
The comical back and forth further proved that CNN allowing booze back into the New Year’s Eve broadcast would let the hosts be more at ease during the end-of-the-year celebration. This was their first year reintroducing alcohol after taking a year off following some mixed reviews of Don Lemon’s last appearance on the show.
After seeing the clip, fans had a field day on social media. One user stated, “Andy totally understands dealing with all those d**n housewives; Anderson, on the other hand, is like ‘what now?'” While another commenter said, “Andy and Anderson are on the opposite spectrum of gay, and it’s hilarious to see together.” One more serious fan stated, “Going into 2024 still pressed by other females at her age is not a good look for the Barbz.”
Minaj has recently made headlines immediately following the release of her album, as fans believe that she may have dissed Megan Thee Stallion and Latto on her new LP. In the track “FTCU,” Minaj rapped, “Stay in your Tory lane, b**ch, I’m not Iggy,” which some listeners interpret as a reference to Megan’s past conflict with Tory Lanez. Notably, the Toronto rapper was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting the Houston native in the foot in 2020.
She addressed the bars during an exclusive sit-down with Joe Budden. During the interview, she stated, “Well, without thinking about it being shade to a few people, what do you think the line itself means?” The former emcee-turned-media personality closed the conversation by saying, “‘I’m not one of them,’ and I think it was a clever way to say that.”
Amidst all the noise, it is clear that Nicki Minaj bodied 2023 and is prepared for a big 2024 as she embarks on an international tour.
Lee Sun-Kyun's Funeral Held Without Autopsy Being Performed On Him
Lee Sun-kyun's funeral took place without an autopsy being performed on the tragic "Parasite" actor's body. The 48-year-old star was discovered unconscious in a car in a central Seoul park on Wednesday, December 27, with the country's Yonhap news agency reporting his remains were found after his wife Jeon Hye-jin alerted police to what appeared to be a suicide note she had found from her husband as he was facing a drugs probe by authorities.
According to report, he may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning - with officials also saying no autopsy was performed on him. They said the examination was not carried out as per Lee's family's wishes.
Lee's wife was seen weeping at his funeral on Friday, December 29, with Jeon sobbing heavily as her late husband's farewell procession was led by their oldest son, who carried a portrait of his dad.
Lee's other son returned from his studies abroad to attend the ceremony. The private funeral was held at the Seoul National University Hospital, and was attended by many of the actor's colleagues including Gong Hyo-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong, and Lee Sung-min.
Police reportedly believe Sun-kyun took his life. Lee reportedly begged police not to announce his last appearance for questioning over an alleged blackmail plot days before his apparent suicide.
His death came as cops were quizzing him over allegations of illegal drug use, accused of using marijuana and other substances at the home of a hostess from a local bar - though Lee insisted she had tricked him into taking the drugs and he had no idea what he was taking, and insisted she had tried to blackmail him.
The Daily Mail reported Lee's lawyer asked police to close the latest questioning round over the incident on Saturday, December 23 to the media, but police rejected the request.
Dave Chappelle Makes Another Transphobic Joke In New Netflix Special 'The Dreamer'
Dave Chappelle seemingly didn't learn his lesson. Despite getting backlash in the past over his transphobic remarks, the comedian continued making fun of trans people in his Netflix special, "The Dreamer".
The 50-year-old opened the set by telling a story about visiting the "Man on the Moon" set to meet Jim Carrey. "I wanted to meet Jim Carrey [who was method acting], but I had to pretend this n***a was Andy Kaufman. All afternoon," he recalled in the special, which was dropped on Sunday, December 31.
"I could look at him and I could see that he was Jim Carrey," he added. "Anyway, I say all that to say: That's how trans people make me feel."
Not stopping there, Deve also took aim at people with disabilities. "Tonight, I'm doing all handicapped jokes," he stated. "They're not as organized as the gays, and I love punching down."
controversial special, he said, "Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact."
"Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren't women, I am just saying that those p***ies that they got… you know what I mean?" he continued. "I'm not saying it's not p***y, but it's Beyond P***y or Impossible P***y. It tastes like p***y, but that's not quite what it is, is it? That's not blood. That's beet juice."
Andy Cohen Was Scammed Out of 'A Lot of Money' by Someone Pretending to be His Bank
Andy Cohen has been the victim of fraud. During a recent episode of his Daddy Diaries podcast, the 55-year-old TV personality revealed how he was scammed out of “a lot of money.”
“Someone called saying they were fraud alert from my bank,” Andy started.
When he got the call, Andy remembered that he had recently lost his debit card and believed that the two were related, so he shared his information with the person he thought was an employee of the bank.
“Then it asked for my Apple ID and password,” Andy said. “And I was like… ‘OK, this never happens.’”
Andy said he “bailed out” after that, but it was unfortunately too late.
“I had already logged into my bank app, and I think somehow, my logging in through whatever this site was gave them access to my bank app,” Andy said.
Andy noted that the scam callers hacked the caller ID system so the name of his bank appeared on his phone when they called. At the time, Andy said that he thought they were a legitimate fraud alert team calling about the earlier hacking, but he didn’t realize that it was the same callers.
“They were naming credits that I had made — the charges — because they clearly had access to my account,” Andy recalled, before admitting, “what I should have said is, ‘Can I call you back?’ Or what I should have maybe said is, ‘I’m gonna go to my bank and handle this.’”
Although he realized his mistake, he wasn’t able to stop the hackers from gaining access to his money.
Andy said he stayed “on the line with this woman for an hour and 10 minutes,” and later noticed that “these people wired out of two accounts that I have a lot of money.”
The fraudsters also talked Andy into unknowingly set call forwarding, meaning that when the bank called him about the large sums of money being transferred, he was unaware.
Now that he was able to figure out the scam, Andy says he’s “in the process of trying to get my money back.”
Tom Wilkinson, Star of ‘The Full Monty’ and Two-Time Oscar Nominee, Dies at 75
Tom Wilkinson, the British actor who appeared in films including “The Full Monty,” “Shakespeare in Love” and “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel,” died Saturday in the U.K., the BBC reported. He was 75.
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for “The Full Monty,” in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money. Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in “The Full Monty” for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in “Michael Clayton,” in which he played an attorney who has a manic episode; and Todd Field’s “In the Bedroom,” as the doctor husband to Sissy Spacek’s character.
Variety‘s Todd McCarthy wrote about his “In the Bedroom” role in a 2001 review, saying, “In an about-face from his fine turn as the arrogant Gen. Cornwallis in ‘The Patriot,’ Wilkinson gives enormously sympathetic shadings to Matt, who comes off as an ideal father and quite a good husband, Ruth’s later objections notwithstanding; it’s a large, warm-blooded performance.”
George Clooney, who starred with Wilkinson in the intense 2007 drama “Michael Clayton,” directed by Tony Gilroy, was quick to praise the actor, calling him “the epitome of elegance” and skilled as a thespian.
“Tom made every project better. Made every actor better,” Clooney told Variety. “He was the epitome of elegance and he will be dearly missed by all of us.”
Wilkinson also appeared in films such as “Rush Hour,” in which he played the evil British ambassador, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” He also had roles in “The Green Hornet,” “Batman Begins,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
On television, he played Benjamin Franklin in “John Adams,” James A. Baker in “Recount,” for which he was Emmy-nominated and Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. in “The Kennedys.”
He once again played a historical American in Ava DuVernay’s feature “Selma.”
Born Yorkshire, Wilkinson attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then began acting on TV in programs including “Martin Chuzzlewit,” with a small part in “Sense and Sensibility” in 1995.
Wilkinson is survived by his wife, actor Diana Hardcastle, and two daughters.
Box Office: ‘Wonka’ Pulls Ahead of ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Color Purple’ Over New Year’s Weekend
Warner Bros. is continuing to beat out Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “Wonka” now rising above “The Color Purple” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothée Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Universal’s “Migration” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut last weekend. “Migration” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
“The Color Purple” is likely settling into fourth place after its impressive Christmas Day opening. The period musical earned $4.1 million on Friday to boost its domestic tally to $36.4 million. The film looks to add another $20 million or so through the four-day holiday weekend frame, ahead of what it hopes will be a healthy run through January as awards season kicks into high-gear.
Sony’s Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell starrer “Anyone but You” looks to round out the top five with $3.3 million on Friday. The romantic comedy has seen an uptick in business each day of the week. It will likely clear more than $26 million domestic gross through the New Year — not exactly a dazzling figure, but well on its way to justifying its $25 million production budget.
Dj Akademiks Accused Of Sexual Assault By His Ex-Gf
DJ Akademiks trended over the weekend after his ex-girlfriend accused him of sexual assault. During an Instagram Live session, the woman, Ziya Abashae, stated Ak and two of his friends allegedly committed the crime.
According to HipHopDX, a rape kit was conducted, and she shunned the claims by the controversial personality who stated she engaged in an orgy with his friends.
“For you to pretend you didn’t do anything? That I just went to your house, and I’m some thot, like we didn’t know each other for two years,” Abashae said. “You tried to save yourself after your friends assaulted me. Whether or not you got drunk or not, I know that when you woke up, you were on top of me too. You raped me too.”
Additional claims online feature a woman stating that Akademiks engaged in communication with her until she was 18 before he attempted to have sex with her and a video surfacing with a woman screaming in the background.
Driver Who Was Involved In Crash That Killed Laura Lynch May Be Charged
The driver behind the truck that fatally struck Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch last week might get criminally charged for the incident.
Texas Department of Public Safety PIO Sgt. Eliot Torres told TMZ that because Lynch died, they’re investigating whether the driver was under the influence at the time of the accident.
Authorities say the driver had their blood drawn at the hospital for drug and alcohol testing but the results will only be released by the hospital once a judge signs off on the subpoena.
The driver could also be charged with other traffic offenses, such as reckless driving or unsafe lane changes.
An eye witness spoke about the tragic incident, saying the truck entered Lynch’s lane while trying to go around 2 other cars and struck her vehicle head-on on Highway 62 outside of El Paso.
Florida Woman Files Lawsuit Against Hershey Over Lack Of Design on Reese’s Holiday-Themed Candy
A Florida woman was apparently so upset with candy maker Hershey’s that she filed a lawsuit seeking $5 million.
Cynthia Kelly filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, alleging several Reese’s products don’t match their photos as depicted on the wrappers, specifically the parent brand’s Reese’s holiday-themed peanut butter candy.
The woman’s lawsuit claims Reese’s peanut butter pumpkins are merely pumpkin-shaped hunks of peanut-butter-stuffed chocolate, and says that the actual product has no Jack O’lantern-style carvings as the wrapper depicts.
She added the same for the brand’s peanut butter footballs and bats, as well as the white chocolate ghosts.
The suit says Kelly purchased a bag of peanut butter pumpkins for $4.49 at an Aldi in late October 2023 under the belief “that the product contained a cute-looking carving of a pumpkin’s mouth and eyes as pictured on the product packaging,” according to the suit.
Another photo in the suit shows a candy football with no carved lines for football stitching, CBS News reported.
“Looks like eggs,” words on the picture read.
“Plaintiff and the members of the Class have been aggrieved by Defendant’s unfair and deceptive practices,” the suit reads. “They purchased the Products with the reasonable expectation that the Products would look similar to the pictures displayed on the Products’ packaging.”
Kennedy Center Honors did right by Dionne Warwick. This was a tribute befitting an icon. View performances by Cynthia Erivo, Chlöe and Gladys Knight below, or watch the complete tribute and entire 46th Kennedy Center Honors special streaming now on Paramount+.
#HipHopNews: Nicki Minaj's New Year's Resolution Goes Viral
When asked what her New Year’s resolution was by Cohen, the storied Queens emcee stated, “My New Year’s resolution is to keep my foot on these b**ches’ necks.” When the clip aired on CNN, Cooper hilariously responded, “Well, wow, who is she referring to?” before Cohen jokingly answered, “These b**ches.”
The comical back and forth further proved that CNN allowing booze back into the New Year’s Eve broadcast would let the hosts be more at ease during the end-of-the-year celebration. This was their first year reintroducing alcohol after taking a year off following some mixed reviews of Don Lemon’s last appearance on the show.
After seeing the clip, fans had a field day on social media. One user stated, “Andy totally understands dealing with all those d**n housewives; Anderson, on the other hand, is like ‘what now?'” While another commenter said, “Andy and Anderson are on the opposite spectrum of gay, and it’s hilarious to see together.” One more serious fan stated, “Going into 2024 still pressed by other females at her age is not a good look for the Barbz.”
Minaj has recently made headlines immediately following the release of her album, as fans believe that she may have dissed Megan Thee Stallion and Latto on her new LP. In the track “FTCU,” Minaj rapped, “Stay in your Tory lane, b**ch, I’m not Iggy,” which some listeners interpret as a reference to Megan’s past conflict with Tory Lanez. Notably, the Toronto rapper was sentenced to 10 years in prison for shooting the Houston native in the foot in 2020.
She addressed the bars during an exclusive sit-down with Joe Budden. During the interview, she stated, “Well, without thinking about it being shade to a few people, what do you think the line itself means?” The former emcee-turned-media personality closed the conversation by saying, “‘I’m not one of them,’ and I think it was a clever way to say that.”
Amidst all the noise, it is clear that Nicki Minaj bodied 2023 and is prepared for a big 2024 as she embarks on an international tour.
Lee Sun-Kyun's Funeral Held Without Autopsy Being Performed On Him
Lee Sun-kyun's funeral took place without an autopsy being performed on the tragic "Parasite" actor's body. The 48-year-old star was discovered unconscious in a car in a central Seoul park on Wednesday, December 27, with the country's Yonhap news agency reporting his remains were found after his wife Jeon Hye-jin alerted police to what appeared to be a suicide note she had found from her husband as he was facing a drugs probe by authorities.
According to report, he may have died from carbon monoxide poisoning - with officials also saying no autopsy was performed on him. They said the examination was not carried out as per Lee's family's wishes.
Lee's wife was seen weeping at his funeral on Friday, December 29, with Jeon sobbing heavily as her late husband's farewell procession was led by their oldest son, who carried a portrait of his dad.
Lee's other son returned from his studies abroad to attend the ceremony. The private funeral was held at the Seoul National University Hospital, and was attended by many of the actor's colleagues including Gong Hyo-jin, Ryu Seung-ryong, and Lee Sung-min.
Police reportedly believe Sun-kyun took his life. Lee reportedly begged police not to announce his last appearance for questioning over an alleged blackmail plot days before his apparent suicide.
His death came as cops were quizzing him over allegations of illegal drug use, accused of using marijuana and other substances at the home of a hostess from a local bar - though Lee insisted she had tricked him into taking the drugs and he had no idea what he was taking, and insisted she had tried to blackmail him.
The Daily Mail reported Lee's lawyer asked police to close the latest questioning round over the incident on Saturday, December 23 to the media, but police rejected the request.
Dave Chappelle Makes Another Transphobic Joke In New Netflix Special 'The Dreamer'
The 50-year-old opened the set by telling a story about visiting the "Man on the Moon" set to meet Jim Carrey. "I wanted to meet Jim Carrey [who was method acting], but I had to pretend this n***a was Andy Kaufman. All afternoon," he recalled in the special, which was dropped on Sunday, December 31.
"I could look at him and I could see that he was Jim Carrey," he added. "Anyway, I say all that to say: That's how trans people make me feel."
Not stopping there, Deve also took aim at people with disabilities. "Tonight, I'm doing all handicapped jokes," he stated. "They're not as organized as the gays, and I love punching down."
controversial special, he said, "Gender is a fact. Every human being in this room, every human being on earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth. That is a fact."
"Now, I am not saying that to say trans women aren't women, I am just saying that those p***ies that they got… you know what I mean?" he continued. "I'm not saying it's not p***y, but it's Beyond P***y or Impossible P***y. It tastes like p***y, but that's not quite what it is, is it? That's not blood. That's beet juice."
Andy Cohen Was Scammed Out of 'A Lot of Money' by Someone Pretending to be His Bank
Andy Cohen has been the victim of fraud. During a recent episode of his Daddy Diaries podcast, the 55-year-old TV personality revealed how he was scammed out of “a lot of money.”
“Someone called saying they were fraud alert from my bank,” Andy started.
When he got the call, Andy remembered that he had recently lost his debit card and believed that the two were related, so he shared his information with the person he thought was an employee of the bank.
“Then it asked for my Apple ID and password,” Andy said. “And I was like… ‘OK, this never happens.’”
Andy said he “bailed out” after that, but it was unfortunately too late.
“I had already logged into my bank app, and I think somehow, my logging in through whatever this site was gave them access to my bank app,” Andy said.
Andy noted that the scam callers hacked the caller ID system so the name of his bank appeared on his phone when they called. At the time, Andy said that he thought they were a legitimate fraud alert team calling about the earlier hacking, but he didn’t realize that it was the same callers.
“They were naming credits that I had made — the charges — because they clearly had access to my account,” Andy recalled, before admitting, “what I should have said is, ‘Can I call you back?’ Or what I should have maybe said is, ‘I’m gonna go to my bank and handle this.’”
Although he realized his mistake, he wasn’t able to stop the hackers from gaining access to his money.
Andy said he stayed “on the line with this woman for an hour and 10 minutes,” and later noticed that “these people wired out of two accounts that I have a lot of money.”
The fraudsters also talked Andy into unknowingly set call forwarding, meaning that when the bank called him about the large sums of money being transferred, he was unaware.
Now that he was able to figure out the scam, Andy says he’s “in the process of trying to get my money back.”
Tom Wilkinson, Star of ‘The Full Monty’ and Two-Time Oscar Nominee, Dies at 75
“It is with great sadness that the family of Tom Wilkinson announce that he died suddenly at home on December 30. His wife and family were with him,” the statement from his family to the BBC read.
He won a BAFTA for supporting actor for “The Full Monty,” in which he plays an unemployed steel worker who joins a male striptease dance group who decide to strip completely — “go the full Monty” — in order to make money. Wilkinson reprised his role as Gerald in “The Full Monty” for the recent Disney+ series which revisited the characters 26 years later.
Wilkinson was Oscar-nominated for his roles in “Michael Clayton,” in which he played an attorney who has a manic episode; and Todd Field’s “In the Bedroom,” as the doctor husband to Sissy Spacek’s character.
Variety‘s Todd McCarthy wrote about his “In the Bedroom” role in a 2001 review, saying, “In an about-face from his fine turn as the arrogant Gen. Cornwallis in ‘The Patriot,’ Wilkinson gives enormously sympathetic shadings to Matt, who comes off as an ideal father and quite a good husband, Ruth’s later objections notwithstanding; it’s a large, warm-blooded performance.”
George Clooney, who starred with Wilkinson in the intense 2007 drama “Michael Clayton,” directed by Tony Gilroy, was quick to praise the actor, calling him “the epitome of elegance” and skilled as a thespian.
“Tom made every project better. Made every actor better,” Clooney told Variety. “He was the epitome of elegance and he will be dearly missed by all of us.”
Wilkinson also appeared in films such as “Rush Hour,” in which he played the evil British ambassador, and “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” He also had roles in “The Green Hornet,” “Batman Begins,” “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” and “Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol.”
On television, he played Benjamin Franklin in “John Adams,” James A. Baker in “Recount,” for which he was Emmy-nominated and Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. in “The Kennedys.”
He once again played a historical American in Ava DuVernay’s feature “Selma.”
Born Yorkshire, Wilkinson attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and then began acting on TV in programs including “Martin Chuzzlewit,” with a small part in “Sense and Sensibility” in 1995.
Wilkinson is survived by his wife, actor Diana Hardcastle, and two daughters.
Box Office: ‘Wonka’ Pulls Ahead of ‘Aquaman 2’ and ‘Color Purple’ Over New Year’s Weekend
Warner Bros. is continuing to beat out Warner Bros. and Warner Bros. over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “Wonka” now rising above “The Color Purple” and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothée Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Warner Bros.’ “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Universal’s “Migration” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut last weekend. “Migration” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
“The Color Purple” is likely settling into fourth place after its impressive Christmas Day opening. The period musical earned $4.1 million on Friday to boost its domestic tally to $36.4 million. The film looks to add another $20 million or so through the four-day holiday weekend frame, ahead of what it hopes will be a healthy run through January as awards season kicks into high-gear.
Sony’s Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell starrer “Anyone but You” looks to round out the top five with $3.3 million on Friday. The romantic comedy has seen an uptick in business each day of the week. It will likely clear more than $26 million domestic gross through the New Year — not exactly a dazzling figure, but well on its way to justifying its $25 million production budget.
Dj Akademiks Accused Of Sexual Assault By His Ex-Gf
According to HipHopDX, a rape kit was conducted, and she shunned the claims by the controversial personality who stated she engaged in an orgy with his friends.
“For you to pretend you didn’t do anything? That I just went to your house, and I’m some thot, like we didn’t know each other for two years,” Abashae said. “You tried to save yourself after your friends assaulted me. Whether or not you got drunk or not, I know that when you woke up, you were on top of me too. You raped me too.”
Additional claims online feature a woman stating that Akademiks engaged in communication with her until she was 18 before he attempted to have sex with her and a video surfacing with a woman screaming in the background.
Driver Who Was Involved In Crash That Killed Laura Lynch May Be Charged
The driver behind the truck that fatally struck Dixie Chicks founding member Laura Lynch last week might get criminally charged for the incident.
Texas Department of Public Safety PIO Sgt. Eliot Torres told TMZ that because Lynch died, they’re investigating whether the driver was under the influence at the time of the accident.
Authorities say the driver had their blood drawn at the hospital for drug and alcohol testing but the results will only be released by the hospital once a judge signs off on the subpoena.
The driver could also be charged with other traffic offenses, such as reckless driving or unsafe lane changes.
An eye witness spoke about the tragic incident, saying the truck entered Lynch’s lane while trying to go around 2 other cars and struck her vehicle head-on on Highway 62 outside of El Paso.
Florida Woman Files Lawsuit Against Hershey Over Lack Of Design on Reese’s Holiday-Themed Candy
Cynthia Kelly filed a federal class-action lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court in the Middle District of Florida, alleging several Reese’s products don’t match their photos as depicted on the wrappers, specifically the parent brand’s Reese’s holiday-themed peanut butter candy.
The woman’s lawsuit claims Reese’s peanut butter pumpkins are merely pumpkin-shaped hunks of peanut-butter-stuffed chocolate, and says that the actual product has no Jack O’lantern-style carvings as the wrapper depicts.
She added the same for the brand’s peanut butter footballs and bats, as well as the white chocolate ghosts.
The suit says Kelly purchased a bag of peanut butter pumpkins for $4.49 at an Aldi in late October 2023 under the belief “that the product contained a cute-looking carving of a pumpkin’s mouth and eyes as pictured on the product packaging,” according to the suit.
Another photo in the suit shows a candy football with no carved lines for football stitching, CBS News reported.
“Looks like eggs,” words on the picture read.
“Plaintiff and the members of the Class have been aggrieved by Defendant’s unfair and deceptive practices,” the suit reads. “They purchased the Products with the reasonable expectation that the Products would look similar to the pictures displayed on the Products’ packaging.”
AND FINALLY FROM “THE CRAZY PEOPLE SHOPPING AT WALMART” FILES
Ever Heard of Scissors?
There is nothing more beautiful than healthy, long, shiny locks.
There is nothing more beautiful than healthy, long, shiny locks.
HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL!!!
EFREM
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