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Barbara Walters’ life in pictures
Tag: celebrities
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Lisa Marie Presley hospitalized after cardiac arrest | CNN
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CNN
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Singer Lisa Marie Presley, the daughter of Elvis Presley, was rushed to the hospital on Tuesday, according to a report by Entertainment Tonight, citing a LA County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson.
TMZ was first to report the news.
LA County Fire Department spokesperson Cailtlyn Aldana told CNN that emergency responders were dispatched to a call in the 5000 block of Normandy Dr in Agoura Hills, California, at 10:37am local time for a cardiac arrest. Aldana would not confirm the name of the the patient, who could not be identified due to privacy laws, but said the patient was taken to a to a local hospital at 11:17am.
A spokesperson for the LA County Sheriff told CNN they assisted fire officials on a medical call this morning, but also would not confirm the patient’s name.
When reached by CNN, a representative for Presley declined to comment.
Presley was most recently seen on Tuesday night at the Golden Globe Awards, which she attended with her mother Priscilla to support the Baz Luhrmann film “Elvis,” about her late father.
In 2020, Presley’s son Benjamin Keough died by suicide at the age of 27. Last July, Presley marked the second anniversary of Keough’s death on Instagram, sharing a photo of their matching foot tattoos.
Presley, who has previously been married to Michael Lockwood, Nicolas Cage, Michael Jackson and Danny Keough, has three other children – actress Riley Keough, Finley Aaron Love Lockwood and Harper Vivienne Ann Lockwood.
In September, Presley wrote an essay for National Grief Awareness Day, in which she opened up about the loss of her son.
“My and my three daughters’ lives as we knew it were completely detonated and destroyed by his death. We live in this every. Single. Day,” she wrote. “Grief is something you will have to carry with you for the rest of your life, in spite of what certain people or our culture wants us to believe. You do not ‘get over it,’ you do not ‘move on,’ period.”
Presley also said in the essay that she found comfort in the company of people who have faced similar tragedy, adding that her daughters help keep her going.
“I keep going for my girls,” she wrote. “I keep going because my son made it very clear in his final moments that taking care of his little sisters and looking out for them were on the forefront of his concerns and his mind. He absolutely adored them and they him.”
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Demi Lovato poster banned by advertising regulator for being offensive to Christians | CNN
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London
CNN
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Britain’s advertising regulator has banned a poster promoting Demi Lovato’s most recent album for being “likely to cause serious offence to Christians.”
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) launched an investigation into the poster, which was seen at multiple sites across London in August, after receiving complaints from four members of the public.
The poster featured an image of the album cover under the headline “HOLY FVCK,” which is also the name of the album. The image showed Lovato sprawled across a large cushioned crucifix in a leather bondage-style outfit.
Under the UK’s code for non-broadcast advertising, ads must be prepared with a “sense of responsibility” and must not contain anything likely to cause serious or widespread offense.
According to the report published by the ASA Wednesday, the complainants “challenged whether the ad was likely to cause serious or widespread offence,” while some also suggested it was “irresponsibly placed” where children could see it.
The watchdog investigated and upheld both aspects of the complaints, finding that both the language and the imagery used were likely to cause serious offense.
Polydor Records, a division of Universal Music Group, argued that the posters, which appeared at six different sites and which were removed after four days, primarily included the artwork from the singer’s album, and denied that they were offensive.
“We considered that the image of Ms Lovato bound up in a bondage-style outfit whilst lying on a mattress shaped like a crucifix, in a position with her legs bound to one side which was reminiscent of Christ on the cross, together with the reference to ‘holy fvck’, which in that context was likely to be viewed as linking sexuality to the sacred symbol of the crucifix and the crucifixion, was likely to cause serious offence to Christians,” the report said.
Though misspelt, it would be clear to “most readers that the ad alluded to the expression ‘holy f**k’,” it added.
The watchdog concluded that the poster breached the code, and ruled that it “must not appear again in the form complained of unless it was suitably targeted.”
CNN has reached out to Polydor Records for comment.
Lovato’s eighth studio album, which was released in August, deals with some difficult issues, including drug and alcohol addiction. One of the songs, “Skin of My Teeth,” was inspired by her health challenges following an 2018 overdose, which caused multiple strokes and brain damage. She said on the “Spout” podcast that she was sober throughout the creation of the album, something she is “so proud of.”
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Opinion: Why Prince Harry can’t stop oversharing | CNN
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Editor’s Note: Dr. Peggy Drexler is a research psychologist, documentary film producer and author, including two books about gender and family and the forthcoming “Mean,” a book about women behaving badly, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2024. Her latest film, “King Coal,” will premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2023. The opinions expressed in this commentary are hers. View more opinion on CNN.
CNN
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The soap opera that is Prince Harry versus the British monarchy continued this week with the buzz surrounding the upcoming release of his memoir, “Spare.” Contents leaked from the book and released excerpts from his forthcoming interviews with “60 Minutes” and ITV offered some eyebrow-raising anecdotes and heightened the already-sharp tension between the Duke of Sussex and his wife, Meghan Markle, and the royal family. Lurid details aside, the most notable disclosures included new details about Harry’s relationship with his brother, Prince William, whom Harry apparently refers to in the book as his “arch nemesis.”
Courtesy of Peggy Drexler Public interest in the royal family is at an all-time high — thanks to both real world events that include the loss of Queen Elizabeth II, the impending coronation of Harry’s father King Charles III and the resignation of former Prime Minister Liz Truss, and to the wild popularity of fictionalized series like “The Crown” — and Harry and Meghan are certainly capitalizing on that. Meanwhile, the royal family, including William, has remained silent.
Good for them. Where Harry may have once engendered some sympathy for having endured a lifetime of being the “spare” — the lesser of the two brothers, now fifth in line for the throne (coming in behind his 7-year-old niece, Princess Charlotte) — empathy is running short. Harry and Meghan quit the royal family amid complaints that they preferred a private life as “regular people,” no longer wanting the media attention that came with being royals, including being tabloid fodder. In an excerpt from an upcoming interview, Harry told ITV: “I want a family. Not an institution.”
And yet here they are, fully and willingly creating that fodder themselves.
And fodder it is. Among the gossipy allegations Harry lobs at his brother in “Spare” are details of a physical altercation between the two during which William knocked Harry to the floor and left him scratched and bruised, and claims that William and his wife, Kate Middleton, were the ones responsible for encouraging Harry’s controversial Nazi costume in 2005. Revelations in “Spare” also dish on Meghan’s relationship with Kate, including a claim that Kate demanded Meghan apologize for once suggesting she had “baby brain.” Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment on the book.
Penguin Random House worldwide Through these disclosures, what we’re seeing is a little brother desperate to fight back against a lifetime of feeling inferior, but doing so in the dirtiest way possible. And, well, it seems pathetic.
Competition between children is common, and sibling rivalry between brothers even more so, especially when there are just two of them. Certainly, most aren’t born into families with set hierarchies that serve to remind them of their exact place. But brotherly discord has existed throughout time, inspiring countless works of art in all spheres (most of them tragedies). Harry is not special — his is one of the commonest dramas of human nature.
He’s also not a victim, nor blameless. While much has been made since their union began about Meghan’s influence on Harry’s defection from the family, by now it’s clear that he, wounded, went looking for what he needed: someone to help him separate from his family and, perhaps, someone who supported and understood his anger. He found it in her, a woman whose ambition drove her career as an actress and whose own family life included contentious relationships with her half-sister and her father; a woman who was not afraid to express herself, even to royalty.
It’s clear that Harry and Meghan are, at some level, trying to take control of the narrative about themselves after negative press coverage that brought misogyny and racism to bear on an already-toxic family dynamic. But Harry’s attempts now to heal those wounds by making public private family matters aren’t noble, and they won’t save him, either. In fact, through Harry’s revelations, one might now feel the most empathy for William, a man who was raised, from birth, with a set destiny, and, unlike Harry, few choices.
William will be king, and Harry will not. But whether that is something William desires, or something he’ll instead fulfill out of sheer patriotic and familial duty, is unknown. That’s because William is taking the high road of silence. Isn’t it ironic that we know so much more about Harry and Meghan, the couple who resigned from royal life because they wished to remain private, than the couple who opted to stay?
While we can, and should, have some disdain for how Harry has chosen to approach his life circumstances, it’s also possible to have some compassion for him — and understanding. He did not, after all, entirely create himself. And, sheltered and uber-privileged as he was for much of his upbringing, he is likely a fairly immature 38 year old.
Now, he’s pushing back against the machine that made him in the only way he knows how — and possibly doing so because it’s the only way he knows how to make his own money and live independently. He felt exploited as a child and younger adult; he’s now in turn profiting off his family (and earning an enormous amount of money in the process).
Perhaps someday we’ll hear from Harry as Harry, a man truly independent of the royal family from which he has claimed, time and again, he desperately wants to separate. Until then, we can likely expect more of the same negativity, blame, immaturity and victimization — qualities, in fact, quite unbecoming of a royal. But, then, Harry no longer is one.
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Prince Harry says ‘heinous, horrible’ stories have been ‘spoon-fed’ to press from the palace | CNN
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CNN
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Prince Harry told CBS’ 60 Minutes Sunday he hasn’t spoken with his brother, Prince William, for “a while,” in the second of two major interviews ahead of the publication of his memoir, “Spare” on Monday.
The Duke of Sussex told Anderson Cooper he doesn’t “currently” speak with the Prince of Wales, “but I look forward to us being able to find peace,” he said. It follows an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradby, ahead of what is likely to be an explosive week for the British royals with the release of Harry’s memoirs.
The interviews address a wide range of topics from the death of Prince Harry’s mother, the Princess of Wales, his frustration towards the British press, the treatment of his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and the subsequent fallout with his family since his marriage.
Buckingham Palace has repeatedly declined to comment on the contents of Prince Harry’s forthcoming memoir.
In the interview and in excerpts from his memoir shared by ITV, the Duke of Sussex addressed how strife in his family has been fueled by the relationship between Buckingham Palace and media outlets.
“We’re not just talking about family relationships, we’re talking about an antagonist, which is the British press, specifically the tabloids who want to create as much conflict as possible,” Prince Harry told Bradby. “The saddest part of that is certain members of my family and the people that work for them are complicit in that conflict.”
He also stated that the “leaking” and “planting” of “a royal source” to the press “is not an unknown person, it is the palace specifically briefing the press, but covering their tracks by being unnamed.”
Prince Harry added that he thinks “that’s pretty shocking to people. Especially when you realize how many palace sources, palace insiders, senior palace officials, how many quotes are being attributed to those people, some of the most heinous, horrible things have been said about me and my wife, completely condoned by the palace because it’s coming from the palace, and those journalists have literally been spoon-fed that narrative without ever coming to us, without ever seeing or questioning the other side.”
He spoke about how his mother was hunted by paparazzi, recalling the traumatic night his father told him Princess Diana had died from injuries sustained in a car crash.
“I don’t want history to repeat itself. I do not want to be a single dad. And I certainly don’t want my children to have a life without a mother or a father,” Prince Harry said in the interview.
The Duke of Sussex also talked about his decision to write the book, saying, “thirty-eight years of having my story told by so many different people, with intentional spin and distortion felt like a good time to tell own my story and be able to tell it for myself. I’m actually really grateful that I’ve had the opportunity to tell my story because it’s my story to tell.”
Prince Harry pointed out that he has tried over the last six years to resolve his concerns with his family privately.
“It never needed to get to this point. I have had conversations, I have written letters, I have written emails, and everything is just, ‘No, you, this is not what’s happening. You, you are imagining it,’” he said. “That’s really hard to take. And if it had stopped, by the point that I fled my home country with my wife and my son fearing for our lives, then maybe this would have turned out differently. It’s hard.”
The duke said he wants “reconciliation but first there needs to be some accountability,” with respect to his family.
“You can’t just continue to say to me that I’m delusional and paranoid when all the evidence is stacked up, because I was genuinely terrified about what is going to happen to me,” he said.
“And then we have a 12-month transition period and everyone doubles. My wife shares her experience. And instead of backing off, both the institution and the tabloid media in the UK, both doubled down,” he added.
Still, the duke said, “forgiveness is 100 percent a possibility,” during the interview.
“There’s probably a lot of people who, after watching the documentary and reading the book, will go, how could you ever forgive your family for what they have done? People have already said that to me. And I said forgiveness is 100% a possibility because I would like to get my father back. I would like to have my brother back. At the moment, I don’t recognize them, as much as they probably don’t recognize me,” Prince Harry said.
On Monday, the duke’s interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Michael Strahan will air on the ABC show, followed in the evening by a half-hour special on ABC News Live. And to top things off, the duke will make an appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” hours after his book is released on Tuesday.
With that all to come before the public is even able to get their hands on book, one has to wonder if there will be any revelations left to read. For days now, leaks from the upcoming tome have sparked headlines around the world.
It is now known the duke has made a slew of damaging accusations against the British royal family in “Spare” after several outlets obtained early copies of the book before the weekend. CNN has not seen a copy of the book but has requested an advance copy from the publisher Penguin Random House.
Perhaps the most incendiary revelation to emerge was Prince Harry’s claim of a scuffle with the Prince of Wales during an argument over his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex in 2019, as he described while reading in an excerpt of his memoir on air on Sunday.
Prince Harry said his brother never tried to dissuade him from marrying Meghan, but expressed some concerns and told him, “‘This is going be really hard for you,’” Prince Harry recalled during his interview.
“I still to this day don’t truly understand which part of what he was talking about,” Prince Harry continued. “Maybe he predicted what the British press’s reaction was going to be.”
His relationship with Prince William is just one of a series of incredibly candid accounts of life as the “spare heir” in his memoir. The book’s title of “Spare” – a reference to a nickname the duke lived with while growing up. Prince Harry’s version of events also tackles his final moments with the late Queen Elizabeth II, his attempts to seek closure after his mother’s death, and other deeply personal conversations with members of “The Firm.”
One part of the book that is seeing some backlash is his reported remarks on killing 25 Taliban fighters during his time in the British Army in Afghanistan. In addition to disclosing the figure, the duke is also quoted as describing the insurgents as “chess pieces” taken off the board rather than people, according to UK newspaper The Daily Telegraph.
Prince Harry’s comments have prompted criticism from some British security and military figures – and an angry rebuke from the Taliban.
Before publicity ramped up around the duke’s book, the Sussexes had previously opened up about the challenges and hardships of royal life in their Netflix docuseries and to Oprah Winfrey.
In both those royal exposés, the couple outlined their acrimonious split with the House of Windsor and blamed the media for invasive, unrelenting coverage, particularly of Meghan.
The Sussexes announced in 2020 that they were stepping away from their roles as senior royals and planned to work towards becoming “financially independent.” The following year, the palace confirmed the couple had agreed with Queen Elizabeth II that they were not returning as working members of the royal family.
In the recent six-part Netflix documentary, Prince Harry didn’t hold back when he blamed the press for placing undue stress on his wife, saying it led to her having a miscarriage and suffering suicidal thoughts.
Meghan said she wanted to go somewhere for help but claimed she wasn’t allowed to because of the optics on the institution, without specifying who she believed stopped her. She made similar comments in her explosive 2021 interview with Winfrey.
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Prince Harry alleges William physically attacked him, according to new book seen by The Guardian | CNN
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CNN
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Prince Harry has accused his brother, William, of physically assaulting him during an argument over his wife, Meghan Markle, in 2019, according to The Guardian.
The UK newspaper claims to have seen an advance copy of Prince Harry’s highly anticipated memoir, Spare, in which Harry, the Duke of Sussex, reportedly alleges his brother William, the Prince of Wales, knocked him to the floor during the altercation.
The alleged scuffle took place after a conversation between the two brothers, during which William, the heir to the British throne, called Markle “difficult”, “rude” and “abrasive,” according to The Guardian.
The confrontation escalated until William “grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and … knocked me to the floor’,” The Guardian reported.
CNN has requested an advance copy of the book from publisher Penguin Random House, but has not received a response. Kensington Palace, Buckingham Palace and a spokesperson for the Sussexes declined CNN’s request for comment on the alleged altercation.
The Guardian article focuses on the alleged physical altercation between the brothers but describes the entirety of the book as a “remarkable volume.”
The article reports Harry’s version of events, in which William arrives at Harry and Meghan’s then home, Nottingham Cottage on Kensington Palace grounds, to allegedly discuss “‘the whole rolling catastrophe’ of their relationship and struggles with the press.”
Harry alleges that William attacked him after he had offered him water and attempted to cool a heated verbal exchange, according to The Guardian.
The article quotes Harry: “He set down the water, called me another name, then came at me. It all happened so fast. So very fast. He grabbed me by the collar, ripping my necklace, and he knocked me to the floor. I landed on the dog’s bowl, which cracked under my back, the pieces cutting into me. I lay there for a moment, dazed, then got to my feet and told him to get out.”
The article says Harry states in the book that William urged him to hit back, but he refused to do so. William left but later returned, “looking regretful” and apologized, according to the Guardian article, quoting the book.
Spare is due to be released on January 10.
Since their wedding in 2018, Harry and Meghan’s relationship has been under intense media scrutiny, with particular focus placed on the Duchess of Sussex.
In a recent Netflix documentary, Harry blamed the media for placing undue stress on his Meghan, leading to her having a miscarriage and suffering suicidal thoughts.
The couple said the unrelenting media coverage ultimately led them to quit working as members of the Royal family.
Harry admitted in the six-part documentary that he didn’t deal with Meghan’s deteriorating mental health “particularly well” at first.
“I knew she was struggling; we were both struggling, but I never thought it would get to that stage. The fact it got to that stage I felt angry and ashamed,” Harry recounted, adding: “I dealt with it as institutional Harry as opposed to husband Harry.”
Meghan said she wanted to go somewhere for help but claimed she wasn’t allowed to because of concerns about how it would look for the institution, without specifying who she believes stopped her. She made similar comments in her explosive 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or mental health matters, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to connect with a trained counselor or visit the NSPL site. The International Association for Suicide Prevention and Befrienders Worldwide also provide contact information for crisis centers around the world.
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Iranian authorities release prominent actress Taraneh Alidoosti on bail | CNN
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CNN
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One of Iran’s best-known actresses, who was arrested after she criticized the execution of a man involved in nationwide protests, was released on bail on Wednesday, state-aligned ISNA said.
Taraneh Alidoosti, who starred in the 2016 Oscar-winning film “The Salesman,” had condemned the hanging of Mohsen Shekari, who was killed last month in the first known execution linked to the protests. Shekari was reportedly convicted of “waging war against God” for allegedly stabbing a member of the Basij paramilitary force at a protest in Tehran on September 23.
Alidoosti’s lawyer told ISNA that she was released on bail and reformist outlet Shargh Daily published a picture showing her on the street after her release from the notorious Evin prison without the traditional Islamic hijab covering.
Another picture on social media showed her holding flowers with supporters after her release.
Alidoosti, who has appeared in various popular Iranian TV shows, is known for her activism in the MeToo movement in Iran’s cinema industry and was one of several Iranian celebrities to express support for the protests.
More than 500 celebrities, actors, playwrights, novelists and directors had signed an open letter calling for the release of Alidoosti. The open letter, titled “Free Taraneh Alidoosti,” was signed by notable figures including Emma Thompson, Mark Ruffalo, Penélope Cruz, Kate Winslet and Kristen Stewart.
Alidoosti was not formally charged but was initially arrested for “lack of evidence for her claims” in relation to her protest against the hanging of Shekari.
Known as a feminist activist, Alidoosti last month published a picture of herself on Instagram without the Islamic hijab and holding a sign reading “Women, Life, Freedom” to show support for the protest movement.
Several Iranians have been sentenced to death by execution during the nationwide protests, which were sparked by the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini after she was apprehended by the state’s morality police for allegedly not wearing her hijab properly.
Her death touched a nerve in the Islamic Republic, with prominent public figures coming out in support of the movement. The protests have since coalesced around a range of grievances with the authoritarian regime.
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Barbara Walters, legendary news anchor, has died at 93 | CNN
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CNN
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Barbara Walters, the pioneering TV journalist whose interviewing skills made her one of the most prominent figures in broadcasting, has died, her spokesperson confirmed to CNN. She was 93.
“Barbara Walters passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loved ones. She lived her life with no regrets. She was a trailblazer not only for female journalists but for all women,” Walters’ spokesperson Cindi Berger told CNN in a statement.
Walters began her national broadcast career in 1961 as a reporter, writer and panel member for NBC’s “Today” show before being promoted to co-hdst in 1974. In 1976, Walters joined ABC News as the first female anchor on an evening news program.
At that network, Walters launched “The Barbara Walters Specials” and “10 Most Fascinating People” before becoming a co-host and correspondent for ABC News’ “20/20” in 1984. Along the way, she interviewed every US president and first lady since Richard and Pat Nixon.
For more than five decades, Walters was a name to reckon with, whether speaking with world leaders on news programs, in celebrities’ homes for her regular “Barbara Walters Specials” or on “The View,” a daytime talk show in which a diverse panel of women discuss the latest headlines.
Her shows, some of which she produced, were some of the highest-rated of their type and spawned a number of imitators. Indeed, “The View” – which debuted in 1997 – paved the way for American talk shows “The Talk” and “The Chew,” as well as such entries as Britain’s “Loose Women” and Norway’s “Studio5.”
Walters left “The View” in 2014, but remained a part-time contributor to ABC News for two years.
“I knew it was time,” Walters told CNN’s Chris Cuomo at the time. “I like all the celebration, that’s great, but in my heart, I thought, ‘I want to walk away while I’m still doing good work.’ So I will.”
Looking upon the numerous women who had looked up to her throughout her career, Walters said they were her legacy.
“How do you say goodbye to something like 50 years in television?” she said in conclusion. “How proud when I see all the young women who are making and reporting the news. If I did anything to help make that happen, that is my legacy. From the bottom of my heart, to all of you with whom I have worked and who have watched and been by my side, I can say: ‘Thank you.’ “
Walters was married four times, to business executive Robert Katz, producer Lee Guber and twice to entertainment mogul Merv Adelson. The second marriage to Adelson ended in 1992. She is survived by her daughter, Jackie, whom she and Guber adopted in 1968.
Walters was born September 25, 1929, in Boston. Her father, Lou, was a nightclub owner and theatrical impresario, and young Barbara grew up around celebrities – one reason she never appeared fazed by interviewing them.
Walters earned her college degree from Sarah Lawrence College in 1953.
Notoriously competitive, Walters was dogged in her pursuit of big “get” interviews, so much so that there were long-standing reports of rivalry between her and another of ABC’s news stars, such as Diane Sawyer, who joined the network in 1989. That included, most recently, jockeying to land the first interview with Caitlyn Jenner, which Sawyer conducted in 2015.
Walters, though, was no slacker in terms of landing major interviews, including presidents, world leaders and almost every imaginable celebrity, with a well-earned reputation for bringing her subjects to tears. Highlights included her 1999 interview with Monica Lewinsky – which was watched by an average of 48.5 million viewers – and a historic 1977 joint sit-down with Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin.
Walter’s first job on air was on NBC’s “Today” show in the 1960s, where she reported what were then perceived as “women’s stories.” In 1974, she was officially named co-anchor of the show. Two years later she became, for a time, the best-known person in television when she left “Today” to join ABC as the first woman to co-anchor a network evening newscast, signing for a then-startling $1 million a year.
Though her term in that position was short-lived – co-anchor Harry Reasoner never warmed to her – she had the last laugh, staying at the network for almost four decades and co-hosting the magazine show “20/20” (with her old “Today” colleague, Hugh Downs), “The View” and countless specials.
She was both mercilessly parodied – on the early “Saturday Night Live,” Gilda Radner mocked her as the sometimes mush-mouthed “BabaWawa” – and richly honored, with multiple Emmys, a Peabody and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Sometimes seen as brash, usually by men questioning her forthright demeanor, she could only shrug at the criticism.
“If it’s a woman, it’s caustic; if it’s a man, it’s authoritative. If it’s a woman it’s too pushy, if it’s a man it’s aggressive in the best sense of the word,” she once observed.
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Keenan Cahill, YouTube lip syncer, dies at 27 | CNN
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CNN
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Before there were countless TikTok users lip syncing and attempting complicated choreography to pop hits, there was Keenan Cahill – lip-sync extraordinaire.
With little more than a desktop computer and pure passion, Cahill racked up millions of views on his YouTube channel by mouthing the words to hits of the day. He even got celebrities, including Katy Perry and 50 Cent, to join him.
Cahill, a charming, bespectacled musician in his own right, whose videos delighted millions, died Thursday in a Chicago hospital, his manager David Graham confirmed to CNN. He was 27.
The Chicago native had Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, a condition that causes organs to enlarge among other symptoms, for which he received frequent treatments and underwent several surgeries. According to his verified social media accounts, he was scheduled to undergo open heart surgery earlier this month.
“Complications arose that he couldn’t overcome,” his family noted in a GoFundMe organized by his aunt and also shared on his Facebook page. The fundraiser was started to help pay for Cahill’s medical and funeral expenses.
Cahill became one of the first viral stars of the 2010s with his lip-syncing videos, filmed in his bedroom from his desk while he was still a teenager. The concept was simple: An ever-expressive Cahill would simply mouth lyrics to hits of the era like Usher’s “DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love” and Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In the World)” with aplomb and watch the views pour in.
These videos often reached the singers behind the hits, beginning with Perry after Cahill lip synced to her “Teenage Dream,” one of his most popular videos. She tweeted her love for his rendition and later invited him to appear on a Pennsylvania tour stop in 2011.
Cahill recruited celebrities like 50 Cent and Ariana Grande to lip sync in his YouTube videos, and some, including Jennifer Aniston, producer David Guetta and the contestants on “America’s Next Top Model” borrowed his viral star power for their own videos. Per his manager, Cahill became one of the first YouTubers to pass 500 million views on his personal channel.
But Cahill wanted to be known for more than simply lip syncing, releasing a single of his own in 2013 and later becoming a DJ and producer.
“He never made a lot of money, but he enjoyed what he was doing and brought smiles to the faces of so many people,” his family said on GoFundMe.
His friends and admirers remembered Cahill’s joy and love of music. DJ Pauly D of “Jersey Shore” fame thanked him for “always making the world smile.” Perez Hilton, gossip staple of the mid-aughts internet, reshared a video the two had made years earlier to “Moves Like Jagger” by Maroon 5. And the popular Twitch user Ellohime, with whom Cahill played the video game “RimWorld” regularly on the platform, paid tribute to Cahill as a “Viking forever,” from one viral star to another.
Graham, his manager, called Cahill a “legend.”
“Keenan inspired millions worldwide by being his true self despite his short stature, disease, and age of 15-16,” he said in an email to CNN, referring to the age at which Cahill became famous.
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Hugh Jackman’s frenemy dynamic with Ryan Reynolds will bleed into ‘Deadpool 3’: ‘They ‘hate each other’ | CNN
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CNN
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Hugh Jackman is sharing details on how his best-known character, grisly mutant X-Man Wolverine, will interact with Ryan Reynolds’s wisecracking Deadpool in the upcoming “Deadpool 3.”
In a recent Empire Film podcast, Jackman said the two characters are a “zero” in terms of compatibility, calling them “opposites” and saying that they “hate each other” – all of which will make for some really good odd-couple type humor in the movie.
“He’s annoyed by him,” he said on the podcast. “[Wolverine is] frustrated by [Deadpool and] wants to be a million miles away from him or wants to punch him in the head. Unfortunately, he can’t be a million miles away from him in this movie, so I’m probably going to punch him in the head a lot.”
The dynamic also mirrors Jackman’s interactions with Reynolds offscreen, as the friends share a long-running gag of pretending to dislike each other on social media, often mocking or ridiculing one another for a laugh.
Jackman has (astonishingly) been portraying Wolverine, also known as Logan, since the year 2000, when the first “X-Men” movie came out.
He has donned the adamantium claws almost a dozen times since, even helping to introduce Reynolds as Deadpool/Wade Wilson (in an early and unsuccessful iteration) in 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”
The “Son” actor’s last go-round as Wolverine came in 2017’s well-received “Logan,” which wrapped up the character’s storyline in a neat and according to him, “perfect” way, nabbing an Oscar nomination for best adapted screenplay in the process.
Jackman made it clear in the podcast that the new film takes place firmly before the events of “Logan,” so that it won’t change that movie’s timeline for the fan-favorite character.
He had previously said that “Logan” would be his last time playing Wolverine, which of course is no longer the case. In the podcast, he was actually able to pinpoint the exact date this summer when he had a change of heart.
“It was August 14th, I remember driving, and it came to me like that, I just thought, this is going to be so much fun. I’ll probably have more fun on that movie than anything I’ve ever done,” he said.
Even still, Jackman said the process for training to become Wolverine – a character he identifies as being farthest from who he really is as a person – gets harder every time, but that this time around, he has some extra motivation.
“I just get the added incentive of taking Ryan Reynolds out every day. So I really want to be in good shape for that, so I can enjoy it!”
“Deadpool 3” is due in theaters in November of 2024.
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Piers Morgan’s Twitter account posts offensive tweets before disappearing | CNN Business
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Controversial British television host Piers Morgan’s Twitter account sent out explicit, derogatory tweets to his 8.3 million followers Tuesday about the late Queen Elizabeth, singer Ed Sheeran, boxer Andrew Tate and others, before partially disappearing for some users.
“Piers Morgan Uncensored,” Morgan’s television show on TalkTV, tweeted that Morgan had been hacked.
“In case you were wondering, @piersmorgan has been hacked,” the show wrote. “Any chance of getting him back, @elonmusk?”.
The apparent hackers deleted the host’s profile and cover image, and changed his name several times to phrases like “lol.” His account currently appears blank for web users, though the mobile Twitter app still shows racially offensive and sexually explicit tweets on Morgan’s feed.
Twitter and Morgan did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment.
Morgan has been in the spotlight in recent weeks for his criticism of Meghan and Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Morgan has lambasted their Netflix documentary that aired earlier this month.
The British host walked off the set of “Good Morning Britain” in 2021 for rejecting calls to apologize over saying he did not believe Markle’s claims in an interview with Oprah Winfrey of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts arising during her time in the monarchy.
The TV host also made headlines in November for his interview with soccer star Christiano Ronaldo just ahead of the World Cup, with Ronaldo going on “Uncensored” to claim he was being forced out of Manchester United and that he had no respect for manager Erik ten Hag. In the days that followed the interview, the club announced that it had “initiated appropriate steps” in response to the interview. Soon after, Ronaldo announced his departure from the club.
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Cher showcases incredible diamond on Twitter for Christmas… but is it an engagement ring? | CNN
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Cher had enough ice on hand for more than just holiday cocktails this weekend, but she’s remaining mum for now on whether it means wedding bells are in her near future.
The legendary entertainer, who has been linked to rapper and music executive Alexander “AE” Edwards, posted an eye-catching photo of a humongous diamond ring to Twitter over Christmas, which set the internet ablaze with speculation that the pair got engaged.
The first photo showed Edwards holding a black velvet ring box, with the icy bauble catching the light in the sparkliest of ways.
The other element in the image that caught attention were Edwards’ nails, which were done up with a bonkers green-and-black fire manicure.
“there r no words, Alexander, A.E,” Cher wrote in the caption, before posting the same image 40 minutes later with an additional caption specifying, “I posted this cause his nails are so cool.”
While the “Believe” singer isn’t yet confirming what the ring post may mean, she has been more than candid about her new relationship, answering questions on social media last month after she and Edwards were photographed holding hands.
At the time, Cher responded with a smiling emoji surrounded by hearts to a person who tweeted at her to ask, “Is that your new man!?”
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Trump White House drafted statement attacking Barr after he publicly refuted Trump’s voter fraud claims, transcript reveals | CNN Politics
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In December 2020, after then-Attorney General William Barr publicly refuted President Donald Trump’s claims that the election was rigged, White House staffers drafted a press release that would’ve called for the firing of anyone who disagreed with Trump’s claims, according to a new transcript from the House select committee investigating January 6, 2021.
The draft statement ended with, “Anybody that thinks there wasn’t massive fraud in 2020 election should be fired,” according to the deposition.
The draft statement – which was never sent out, and hadn’t been revealed before Friday – was brought up during the committee’s deposition of Trump White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, according to the transcript. Congressional investigators told him that they likely obtained the statement from the National Archives, which turned over documents from the Trump White House.
The committee also said during the Cipollone interview that White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson previously testified that Mark Meadows gave her the draft statement – which was a handwritten note – after an Oval Office meeting on the same day Barr made his public comments refuting Trump. It appears that the statement didn’t explicitly name Barr.
The committee claimed that Hutchinson testified that she was instructed by Meadows to seek Cipollone’s approval before the statement was posted on social media. The committee said Hutchinson testified that Cipollone’s response was, “God, no.” Cipollone said he had no recollection of the draft statement or the episode.
“By the way, I wasn’t fired,” Cipollone quipped to the committee.
The Cipollone deposition is one of nearly 50 additional transcripts released Friday night by the January 6 committee. The latest batch contained interviews with key witnesses, including Trump White House insiders and lawyers who worked for the Trump campaign.
Elaine Chao, who served as Trump’s transportation secretary, said she had no recollection of discussing the 25th Amendment after the insurrection, according to a transcript of her deposition with the January 6 committee released Friday.
Asked by congressional investigators if she had concerns about Trump’s mental fitness, Chao said that she didn’t go to many White House meetings by the end of Trump’s tenure. Chao was careful not to be too critical of Trump in her interview. She said she had not met with him in some time.
“By that time, I did not have personal contact with him,” Chao said. “I did not go to the White House, there were no meetings, so I hadn’t been in close proximity to him.”
Chao, who resigned on January 6, said she stepped down once she realized “the full ramifications of the actions that were taken by some people and the results that occurred.” Asked about Trump’s conduct that day, she said: “I wish he had acted differently.”
Asked about the inner workings of the Trump White House, and who he trusted among his aides and advisers, Chao said, “I’m not so sure he trusted anyone.”
Chao said she does not remember talking to other cabinet members that day – even though Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia told the committee he spoke with her.
Ivanka Trump, who served as senior White House adviser to her father, handed over text messages to the January 6 committee, a newly released transcript of her testimony reveals.
It wasn’t previously known that she provided text messages to the panel, though video clips from her April deposition were featured during the committee’s public hearings this summer.
The content of the texts messages remains unclear.
The committee’s line of questioning did not delve into the contents of her texts, but instead veered into her father’s cell phone habits, including whether he ever sent and received text messages. Ivanka Trump said she “never” exchanged texts with her father on “any device.”
Still, this is the latest example of how the committee obtained a wealth of evidence, including materials that weren’t previously known.
Sidney Powell, a conspiracy-peddling attorney who helped Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, said Trump and his allies believed he couldn’t have lost because of his large “rallies” and “common sense,” according to a transcript of her deposition to the January 6 committee released Friday.
She said that was the consensus in the room at a White House meeting that she attended with Trump, just a few days after the election. She told the committee that Trump’s then-attorney Rudy Giuliani was also there along with White House aides, according to the transcript.
“He wanted to know the truth,” Powell said, referring to Trump. “And our general consensus was that the vast majority of people had poured out in support of the President. The rallies indicated that. All the information that we had indicated that. And the numbers that we saw on election night simply didn’t jibe with common sense.”
She also claimed “math geniuses” reached out to her to tell her that Joe Biden’s victory was statistically impossible.
The testimony shows just how paper-thin the fraud theories emanating from Trump’s orbit actually were.
Despite her assertions, there is no evidence that the outcome of the 2020 election was tainted by widespread fraud or vote-rigging. Many of the conspiracies Powell has promoted about the election have been thoroughly debunked.
During the presidential transition, Trump nearly appointed Powell as a special counsel to use the powers of the federal government to investigate her baseless voter fraud theories. Senior White House officials and attorneys vehemently opposed that idea and it never ended up happening.
Cipollone told the January 6 committee that it “would have been a disaster” if Trump made Powell a special counsel, according to a transcript of his deposition.
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Jamie Lee Curtis pays tribute to mom Janet Leigh | CNN
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Legendary actress Janet Leigh passed away in 2004, but her daughter, fellow actress Jamie Lee Curtis, remains proud of her late mother.
A photo of Leigh from the iconic shower scene in the 1960 film “Psycho” is featured on the cover of Variety magazine for an issue highlighting “The 100 Greatest Movies of All Time.”
Curtis posted about it on her verified Instagram account.
“I woke up this morning missing my mother and wishing she could see the beautiful family that I have and that her two daughters are well and thriving and for her to enjoy this magical, creative year I’m having, after such a long time in the same industry she loved,” the “Halloween” star wrote.
“The miracle of the movies is that they last forever, in perpetuity,” the caption went on to read. “How thrilling to see her legacy today through the loving portal of @variety as the number #1 movie of all time.”
“Psycho” also starred Anthony Perkins and was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The shower scene was hailed as incredibly innovative at the time and has since been recreated, spoofed and hailed in other projects.
Curtis and her sister, Kelly, are the children of Leigh and the actor Tony Curtis, who died in 2010.
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Rumer Willis is expecting her first child | CNN
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The Willis-Moore clan is getting ready to welcome a new member.
Actress/singer Rumer Willis announced Tuesday on her verified Instagram account that she and her boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas, are expecting their first child together.
Willis posted a series of photos showing her baby bump, including one with Thomas kissing it.
Her mother, actress Demi Moore, reposted the images on her verified Instagram account, writing in the caption, “Entering my hot kooky unhinged grandma era.”
Emma Heming Willis, who is married to Rumer’s father, Bruce Willis, also shared the news and wrote, “Baby news is happy news!!! Congratulations @rumerwillis and @derekrichardthomas We are elated over here!”
Despite divorcing in 2000, Moore and Bruce Willis have remained close and have blended their families. They share three adult daughters together.
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First images of British banknotes featuring King Charles III unveiled | CNN Business
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The first images of banknotes featuring Britain’s King Charles III were unveiled on Tuesday by the Bank of England.
Charles’ portrait will appear on English notes of £5, £10, £20 and £50. Meanwhile, the rest of the design will remain the same as the current notes that feature the late Queen Elizabeth II on the front. The cameo in the transparent security window will also feature the current monarch, the United Kingdom’s central bank said in a press release.
The new banknotes are expected to enter circulation by mid-2024 and will co-circulate with notes featuring the Queen’s portrait, which will remain legal tender in the UK, according to the bank.
“This is a significant moment, as The King is only the second monarch to feature on our banknotes,” Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said ahead of the release.
The reverse side of the notes will remain unchanged – the current designs feature portraits of Winston Churchill, Jane Austen, JMW Turner and Alan Turing on the reverse of the £5, £10, £20 and £50 notes, respectively.
“To minimize the environmental and financial impact of this change, new notes will only be printed to replace worn banknotes and to meet any overall increase in demand for banknotes,” the Bank of England added.
Earlier this month, the first coins bearing the official effigy of King Charles III entered circulation. The 4.9 million 50 pence coins feature the King’s portrait, and on the reverse, a design symbolizing the “life and legacy” of the late Queen, according to the Royal Mint.
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Woman arrested after breaking into Robert De Niro’s home in New York City, source says | CNN
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Police in New York City arrested a woman who broke into Robert De Niro’s home early Monday, according to a law enforcement source.
The woman did not interact with the actor, who was on another floor, the source said. The suspect is known to the New York Police Department from previous arrests and is one of the top five burglars in the precinct, the source said.
Two law enforcement sources affirmed Shanice Aviles, 30, was arrested Monday in connection with the burglary. She had already been arrested twice this month before Monday on various burglary charges in New York, a law enforcement source told CNN.
Officers from the 19th Precinct saw the woman walking down a street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side early Monday, trying different doors to commercial buildings before she allegedly broke in through a door of a residential building.
They followed her and arrested her on the first floor, the source said.
At around 2:45 a.m. officers arrested the 30-year-old woman inside a residence while she was attempting to remove property, a spokesperson for the NYPD’s deputy commissioner of public information told CNN. The property included Christmas presents and an iPad.
The basement door of the residence showed signs of forced entry, the spokesperson said. The woman was taken into custody with charges pending.
The spokesperson would not confirm who owned the home.
The law enforcement source told CNN the suspect in the case is “the poster child” for the problems with New York state’s scrutinized and controversial bail reform changes.
Under New York state’s bail reform laws that were implemented in 2020, burglary was a non-bailable offense.
But because of pressure from police officials and NYC Mayor Eric Adams due to recidivism in burglary and theft offenses, the law was tweaked to allow judges to set bail in cases where a person was arrested again for certain crimes harming people or property after being released for a similar crime.
Judges do not appear to be applying that exception, a law enforcement source claims, based on what police are seeing on the ground.
The woman had 27 arrests and two active bench warrants for failure to appear in court at the time of her arrest, the source said.
“This individual is literally the poster child for everything that is wrong with the system,” the law enforcement source said.
According to NYPD statistics, the rate of felony recidivism for burglary within 60 days in 2021 was 24%. Statistics from 2017, before bail reform, show the recidivism rate was 7%.
Current NYPD statistics from 2022 so far show the rate is holding steady at 24%.
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‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ gives James Cameron his first $100 million domestic debut | CNN Business
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The highly anticipated “Avatar: The Way of Water” took in $134 million at the US box office, giving director James Cameron his first $100 million opening weekend — despite falling short of analyst predictions.
Although notching the second highest world-wide opening this year didn’t quite match expectations, the film’s ultimate success will depend on its long term appeal, a notable attribute of many of Cameron’s movies. “Avatar: The Way of Water” has so far earned $435 million at the global box office.
Though Cameron hasn’t revealed exactly how much it cost to make the “Avatar” sequel, one answer isn’t in doubt: a lot. Or in Cameron’s own words to GQ Magazine, “very f***ing expensive.” The star director estimated to industry executives that in order to break even the movie has “to be the third or fourth highest-grossing film in history.”
That means it needs to make more than $2 billion. Earning nearly $3 billion, “Avatar” is the highest-grossing film of all time. And only one film during the pandemic era, “Spider-Man: No Way Home,” has even come close to that mark, raking in nearly $1.9 billion.
But for Cameron it’s all about the marathon, not the sprint.
“The future of the Pandora isn’t going to be determined this weekend,” Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. “It’s going to be determined over the next many weeks as the film plays, and we’ll have, I think, strong week after week numbers.”
The film might also be at the top of the list for viewers over the busy holiday period, which also won’t include any major blockbuster competition, Dergarabedian noted. However, the movie’s running time, 190 minutes, reduces the number of daily showings for theaters.
The film could be a turning point for the movie theater industry too, which had been decimated by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The film’s success will also depend on whether audiences will pay for the immersive 3D experience, which has decreased in popularity over time, along with dwindling ticket sales.
In 2009, “Avatar” earned $77 million in its opening weekend and collected 80% of its gross from 3D showings. That film revolutionized 3D viewing — and for its sequel, premium formats such as IMAX and 3D accounted for 62% of the domestic box office haul.
“The Way of Water” notched the second highest all-time IMAX global opening weekend and the biggest IMAX December global opening ever.
“I think people are on the fence about 3D,” Dergarabedian said. “But with ‘Avatar: The Way of Water’ the 3D part of it is as woven in to its appeal as the movie itself.”
Disney has placed a huge bet on the “Avatar” series. “The Way of Water” is one of four planned sequels, with a third installment set for release on December 20, 2024. The stars from the first film, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana, returned as Jake and Neytiri. In the sequel, they live on Pandora with their family.
– CNN’s Oliver Darcy contributed to this report.
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Cecily Strong to exit ‘Saturday Night Live’ | CNN
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“Saturday Night Live” is saying farewell to another longtime cast member.
Cecily Strong, who has impersonated figures like Melania Trump and members of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, is set to leave the long-running sketch show following Saturday’s new episode, “SNL” announced on its official social media accounts.
“Tonight we send off one of the best to ever do it. We’ll miss you, Cecily!” the post read.
CNN has reached out to “SNL” for further comment.
Strong joined “Saturday Night Live” in fall 2012 and went on to be a stalwart at the series, which earlier this year said goodbye to high-profile cast members like Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant and Pete Davidson.
The move, while a gut-punch to the show’s lineup, comes as no surprise, as Strong has already set the stage for her post-“SNL” pursuits.
She leads the comedy ensemble on Apple TV’s musical parody series “Schmigadoon,” which is executive produced by “SNL” creator Lorne Michaels and is set to return for a second season.
As of Saturday evening before the show’s airing, Strong had made no mention of her exit on social media.
In her time on the series, Strong established many memorable characters, like Girl You Wish You Hadn’t Started A Conversation With At A Party and a British singer named Gemma.
Last year, Strong memorably dressed as character named Goober the Clown, who led a conversation on abortion in light of the controversial Texas law that barred most abortions at the onset of a fetal heartbeat.
During the Weekend Update segment, the actress explained the clown costume was to make the topic a little more palatable for the audience and shared a story of a woman seeking an abortion on the eve of her 23rd birthday.
Talking to “The View,” Strong said she was “surprised and moved by the reaction” the sketch received.
“I had so much anxiety and frustration, and it was like, ‘I’m either gonna write, every night, essays for nobody, or I can finally just put this on the show.’ And luckily … right away, the show was very supportive. I think it was the only thing I’ve ever done where I haven’t had any notes. I don’t think anybody wanted to give us notes.”
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