The No. 1 hype man for the United States women’s water polo team, Flavor Flav, is wearing a special clock chain as the Americans’ quest for Olympic gold continues this morning with a group-stage match against Italy.
The clock was made by the sister-in-law of team captain Maggie Steffens, Lulu Conner, who died suddenly last week at age 26 after arriving in Paris to support the team.
Lulu’s brother, Bobby – Steffens’ husband – presented Flavor Flav with the clock in an Instagram post. The caption read, “Made with love by Lulu Conner.”
On Tuesday, a day after the Americans suffered a rare Olympic loss, falling to Spain in group play, the Conner family issued a statement about Lulu through USA water polo.
It read:
“Lulu passed away on July 24th in Paris, shortly after arriving to support her sister in law, Maggie Steffens, and the US Women’s Water Polo team. At this point in time, we still do not know what caused her death.
“Lulu loved Maggie and her teammates, and was extremely excited to be supporting them here in Paris. It wouldn’t be unusual to see Lulu in the stands, decked out in USA gear, dancing at timeouts, and leading chants. In finding out that Flavor Flav was the official USWWP hype man, Lulu crafted customized clock chains to be worn in a show of support for the team. Lulu embodied the Olympic spirit: joy, peace, bringing people together, and making the most of each moment. In an effort to honor Lulu’s spirit and enthusiasm, members of our family that are currently in Paris plan to continue attending and cheering loudly at USWWP games.
“While we are so grateful for the outpouring of support and love seeing stories shared about Lulu, we ask that our immediate family’s privacy is respected at this difficult time. We also encourage everyone to make an effort to “live like Lu”, leading with kindness and compassion.”
Anticipation was high ahead of The National Wax Museum in Dublin unveiling a figure of Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor on Thursday. The waxwork had been made to honor the celebrated musician, who died aged 56 on July 26, 2023. But the plan to mark the one-year anniversary of her death fell flat following a largely unenthusiastic response to the waxwork
The criticism was led by the singer’s brother, John O’Connor, who voiced his disappointment of the wax figure, which depicted the Dublin-born talent dressed in all black and holding a microphone.
Calling into RTÉ Radio’s Liveline on Friday, John said he “didn’t think it looked like her [Sinéad] at all.” Elaborating further during his conversation with radio host Joe Duffy, the singer’s brother continued: “I was shocked, I thought it looked [like] something between a mannequin and something out of the Thunderbirds. Sinéad would have been very fond of looking well and she certainly did. If it was supposed to be a representation of her in her early 20s when she did “Nothing Compares 2 U,” it just looked nothing like her. I thought it was hideous.”
“If it was meant to honor her memory, I think it’s inappropriate that they put something as hideous up,” he added.
As John proceeded to point out, he wasn’t alone in his assessment of the waxwork. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) to share their views, one fan remarked that the waxwork “looks like they just found an old mannequin in a skip and said: ‘Yep that will do.’ The absolute hack of it.” Another commented: “Not sure that the new waxwork of Sinéad O’Connor is the likeness that most of us remember.“
The new Sinead O’Connor wax work looks like they just found an old mannequin in a skip and said, yep that will do. The absolute hack of it. pic.twitter.com/38L54uNKny
Responding to the feedback on Friday, The National Wax Museum announced they would be removing the figure and said they are “committed” to creating a new one.
In a statement shared on Instagram, the Dublin business said the figure was intended as a “tribute of her profound legacy and influence on the world of music and Irish culture.” The museum added: “We acknowledge that the current representation did not meet our high standards or the expectations of Sinéad’s devoted fans.”
The singer achieved critical acclaim for her 1990 single “Nothing Compares 2 U,” which topped charts around the world. The song was written and originally recorded by the musician Prince. O’Connor went on to have a complicated relationship with fame, with the various trials and tribulations of her life often playing out in the public eye.
Disbarred attorney Tom Girardi will stand trial on federal criminal charges without co-defendant Chris Kamon after a Los Angeles judge ruled that the defense strategy of Girardi’s former bookkeeper would likely bias the jury against the estranged husband of “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” star Erika Jayne, according to court papers obtained Thursday.
Girardi, 85, who was found competent to stand trial despite his claim that he has Alzheimer’s disease and is incapable of assisting with his defense, faces multiple counts of wire fraud, a crime carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years on each count.
Girardi’s trial is set for Aug. 6 in downtown Los Angeles. Kamon’s trial date has not yet been scheduled.
U.S. District Judge Josephine Staton granted a defense motion to split the case into separate trials on Wednesday, finding that the defendants’ anticipated defense strategies would pit Girardi against Kamon in such a way that each would tend to act as a “second prosecutor” of the other.
“Here, the government has characterized the evidence as establishing that defendant Girardi carried out the main fraudulent scheme and that he was aided and abetted by defendant Kamon in the latter’s role as an accountant,” the judge wrote in the order filed in LA federal court.
“Generally, this fact lends itself to a joint trial, as evidence of the existence of a scheme to defraud and the manner and means through which it was allegedly carried out is likely to be the same as to both defendants. But the potential for prejudice arises out of the anticipated defenses, which pits defendant Girardi against defendant Kamon such that each will tend to act as a ‘second prosecutor’ of the other.”
A government spokesperson could not immediately be reached for comment.
The indictment alleges that from 2010 to December 2020, Girardi and Kamon embezzled and pocketed about $18 million that belonged to clients of the now-defunct downtown Los Angeles law firm Girardi Keese, which Girardi co-owned.
Girardi, of Seal Beach, is free on $250,000 bond and lives in the memory ward of an Orange County nursing home. Kamon, 50, is awaiting trial in federal custody.
Girardi became widely known when he was thanked in the credits of the 2001 Oscar-winning film “Erin Brockovich,” for which he served as an adviser. The attorney was part of the legal team when Brockovich successfully sued Pacific Gas & Electric in 1993 for contaminating the groundwater of a small California town.
After he was disbarred in 2022, the State Bar of California reported it had received 205 complaints against Girardi alleging he misappropriated settlement money, abandoned clients and committed other serious ethical violations over the course of his four-decade career.
Girardi Keese, famous for representing plaintiffs in large-scale civil litigation against major corporations, collapsed in late 2020 after Girardi was accused in a Chicago lawsuit of embezzling money meant for clients the firm was representing in litigation over an airline crash in Indonesia. The lawsuit brought by plaintiffs’ firm Edelson PC has since been transferred to Los Angeles.
Girardi is in Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceedings, as is the now-shuttered Wilshire Boulevard law firm that bore his name, which faces more than $500 million in claims.
Big superhero productions come with a litany of set photos to excite the masses, and “Superman” starring Philly native David Corenswet is the latest to go under internet scrutiny.
Throughout June and July, Corenswet and his co-stars have been spotted on the Cleveland set of the superhero movie, and the public has been able to take an unfiltered look at Corenswet’s take on the Man of Steel, critiquing his costume while also speculating on the plot.
While DC fans have already commented on Corenswet’s Superman costume after the movie’s writer and director James Gunn shared an official look at it, they’ve had mixed responses after seeing it in action in more candid photos from outlets including JustJared.
Commentators online have complimented the overall comic-book accuracy of Corenswet’s suit, such as the red trunks and the yellow crest on the back of his cape.
On the other hand, criticisms of the costume aim at its design, particularly the lines, which commentators believe are unnecessary. A fair number of comments also argue that the costume looks baggy and loose, compared to the tighter costume worn by previous Superman actor Henry Cavill.
Observers point out that the suit could look very different in the final product, with color grading, reshoots and post-production CGI touch-ups perhaps addressing concerns. Superhero movie set photos tend to look silly out of context, such as a few shots of Corenswet preparing to take flight as Superman.
Photographer Erik Drost captured a few images of Corenswet as Superman’s civilian alter ego Clark Kent. In these photos, Corenswet sports a pair of glasses and a broccoli-style haircut to distinguish himself from his secret superhero persona.
On Wednesday, the Greater Cleveland Partnership shared additional photos of Corenswet on set for a crowded scene in the fictional city of Metropolis. One curious photo shows Corenswet’s Superman literally sinking to a new low.
On Friday and Saturday, filming moved to Progressive Field, where the production is shooting what appears to be a battle sequence. Those who are extremely sensitive to potential spoilers should exercise caution if they don’t even want a hint of what’s going on in these scenes.
Earlier this week, Gunn shared an image of the Superman emblem, also giving a reminder that the film will be released next year on July 11, 2025. Corenswet can be seen next on the big screen in “Twisters,” which hits theaters July 19.
Sabrina Carpenter has officially joined nepo baby club. It turns out that she has a famous aunt, and it’s someone we’ve all been listening to for year. Yup, it’s none other than Nancy Cartwright, the iconic voice behind Bart Simpson.
Nancy, the legendary Simpsons voice actress, revealed on TikTok that she is indeed related to the “Espresso” singer. Cartwright, 66, has voiced Bart since the animated sitcom began airing in 1989. She also voices Maggie Simpson, Nelson Muntz, Ralph Wiggum, and even Chuckie Finster in Rugrats.
“‘Is Sabrina Carpenter your niece?’” Cartwright read from a fan question, responding, “Yeah, absolutely. Isn’t that amazing? When you find out that somebody that… maybe you’ve known me for a little while doing this 10-year-old boy for like 35-something years… [When you] find out that I’m related to this superstar.”
“The rumours are true! Sabrina Carpenter is my niece!” Cartwright captioned the video.
Considering Sabrina has plenty of voice-acting experience just like her aunt, it’s no surprise they’re related. Sabrina’s had voice roles on Disney Channel’s Phineas and Ferb, Sofia the First, and Milo Murphy’s Law. She’s also starred in Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World, a spinoff of the popular sitcom Boy Meets World.
Musically, Carpenter has had a breakthrough year with her latest single “Please Please Please” reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June. She also recently opened for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour.
Carpenter’s new album, Short n’ Sweet, is due for release on August 23. She is also hitting the road on her Short n’ Sweet Tour in September.
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Plenty of Hollywood’s biggest talents first called Canada home, and it’s no secret that we as Canadians are always rooting for our hometown celebs.
And while many of us feel a connection to these big name actors and musicians, there’s often a lot we’ll never know about them due to lengths many celebrities go to keep their private lives out of the press.
So, it’s exciting when a Canadian A-lister pulls back the curtain and gives us a funny or interesting fact from their life before they made it big.
In honour of Canada Day, and in the spirit of sharing, we’ve dug up some little-known facts from some of our country’s biggest names in Hollywood.
1. Sandra Oh stood out by laying down
George Pimentel / Shutterstock
Before her success on Grey’s Anatomy, Sandra Oh was just another young face in an audition room. However, the Nepean, Ont., actor earned her first big role and stood out from the crowd by laying down.
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When Oh, 52, auditioned for the titular role in The Diary of Evelyn Lau, she asked director Sturla Gunnarsson for a moment to centre herself — by laying flat on the floor for five minutes.
“I thought it was remarkable that at 19 she had the confidence — and audacity — to do that,” Gunnarsson said of the young actor, who was competing with over 1,000 other girls for the part.
Oh would end up winning the role of Evelyn Lau, and would go on to score a Gemini Award nomination.
2. Tommy Chong helped sign the Jackson 5
Chris Young / The Canadian Press
Today, most know Tommy Chong as one-half of the comedy stoner duo, Cheech and Chong — but before that, Chong waxed musically with some of Motown’s greatest talents.
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The Edmonton-born actor was once the guitarist and songwriter for the band Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers. The group was best known for their song Does Your Mama Know About Me, which was co-written by Chong, now 86.
In his 2009 book Cheech & Chong: The Unauthorized Biography, Chong said he met the Jackson 5 during a Chicago show in 1967. The Jackson siblings had yet to be signed to Motown Records, but were invited onto the label by Bobby Taylor.
Chong said Joe Jackson, father of the Jackson 5 members, had him review the Jackson 5 contract with Motown Records. Chong encouraged Jackson to have his sons sign the contract, thereby playing a small role in launching the Jackson 5 — and later the Prince of Pop, Michael Jackson — into superstardom.
3. Drake’s uncle played bass for Prince
Nathan Denette / The Canadian Press
Drake may be one of the best-known Canadian celebrities, but he’s not the only member of his family to possess a special musical talent. Drake’s uncle, Larry Graham, played bass for the band Sly and the Family Stone — and even worked extensively with Prince.
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Graham and Prince collaborated on several occasions, and together produced the album GCS 2000 by the band Graham Central Station.
Graham Central Station, for which Graham played the bass, opened for Prince on his “Welcome 2 America” tour in 2011.
4. Céline Dion won the Eurovision Song Contest… for Switzerland
Kevin Winter / Getty Images for The Recording Academy
In Canada, we don’t pay much attention to the annual Eurovision Song Contest, but across the pond it’s a pretty big deal.
So, not only was it huge when Quebec’s own Céline Dion won the competition in 1988, beating out the runner up by just one point, but it helped propel the chanteuse to new heights in her career.
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The competition involves various European countries sending a musical act to perform an original song, and smart-thinking Switzerland chose Dion to perform their submitted entry — a French-language power ballad titled Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi (Don’t Leave Without Me.)
Europeans who tuned in at the time remember the 1988 competition as one of the most exciting voting sequences in Eurovision history and Dion has said she is grateful to have had the opportunity, as it introduced millions of viewers to her outstanding vocals and captivating stage presence.
5. Ryan Gosling was suspended from elementary school for throwing knives
Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP
Ryan Gosling might come across as a cool, collected and laid-back actor, but it sounds like his childhood was a little wild.
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In 2011, he shared with Company magazine that he was introduced to the 1982 movie First Blood when he was in Grade One and really identified with Sylvester Stallone’s character, John Rambo.
“When I first saw Rambo, that movie put a kind of spell on me and I actually thought I was Rambo,” he said. “So much so that one day, I took a bunch of steak knives to school and threw them around at recess time because I thought we were in the movie.”
Gosling said he learned his lesson after the dangerous stunt — not only was he suspended, but his mom told him he wasn’t allowed to watch R-rated movies anymore.
6. Ryan Reynolds failed drama class
Charles Krupa / The Associated Press
Ryan Reynolds might be one of the wittiest guys in the acting biz, but he admits he wasn’t always such a winner — especially in high school.
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In the past, the Deadpool actor admitted to being suspended from his Vancouver high school after he stole a teacher’s car. At one point, he also flunked math.
However, one of Reynold’s admissions proves that high school achievements or failures aren’t necessarily a determinant for how your life will turn out. Despite failing his high school drama class, he went on to become one of Hollywood’s most in-demand stars.
7. Keanu Reeves went from Speed to Winnipeg Shakespeare
Albert L. Ortega / Getty Images
Hot off the heels of starring in the mega box office blockbuster Speed, Keanu Reeves made a surprising next move — he hightailed it to Winnipeg to take on the titular role in a stage production of Hamlet.
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An up-and-coming actor at the time, Reeve’s performance in the Manitoba Theatre Centre’s 1995 production was a big draw for locals and the show sold out every night of its run.
In a review of the show, Maclean’s theatre critic wrote “although he was out of his depth in the big swatches of text, Reeves proved adept in the comic scenes,” and that he “commands the stage with acrobatic finesse, leaping and rolling like a true action hero,” during the play’s action scenes.
Apparently, the theatre was overrun with young women eager to get Reeve’s autograph after each show, to which he obliged and patiently signed signatures each night.
8. Matthew Perry made up that funny speech inflection as a kid
Rich Fury / Invision / AP
The late Matthew Perry will forever be tied to Chandler Bing, the sarcastic but big-hearted character he became so well known for playing on Friends.
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His character’s unique speech patterns were something Perry himself played around with since he was a kid – he and his friends used to toy with emphasis when they were at school, creating an altered way of speaking that amused them to no end.
“Could it be any colder?” or “Could you be any more annoying?” they’d ask each other – an emphasis that became synonymous with Bing and bled into our everyday language, to the point it is now referred to as “Chandler-speak.”
“It was as if someone had followed me around for a year, stealing my jokes, copying my mannerisms, photocopying my world-weary yet witty view of life,” Perry wrote in his memoir about auditioning for the part. “It wasn’t that I thought I could play Chandler. I was Chandler.”
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9. Rachel McAdams worked at McDonalds, but was a bad employee
Axelle / Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic
Like many young kids, Rachel McAdams worked at McDonald’s as one of her first jobs, but the fast food giant isn’t likely to want her back behind the counter any time soon.
“(I worked there) for a good three years,” she told Glamour magazine. “I was not a great employee; I broke the orange juice machine one day.”
She also said she was a bit of a germaphobe when she started working at the restaurant and her obsessive hand washing would keep customers waiting.
“They were like, ‘Hey, the drive-thru’s backing up. Stop washing your hands!’”
Despite being a bad employee, McAdams says she still loves McDonald’s food.
10. Will Arnett is one of Conan O’Brien’s favourites
Richard Shotwell / Invision / AP
Will Arnett is a super funny Canuck with a rich, baritone voice; two traits that make him a great person to interview, according to Conan O’Brien.
The late night show host-turned-podcaster thinks the Arrested Development alum is so great, in fact, that he’s listed him in his top three guests of all time.
Seems as though O’Brien might have a penchant for Canadian comedians, though — the other two top guests chosen by him and his writing staff include the late Norm MacDonald and Half Baked funnyman Harland Williams.
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11. Nina Dobrev is extremely flexible… and had a shot at the Olympics
Gilbert Flores / Variety via Getty Images
A young Nina Dobrev faced a fork in the road when mapping out her career plans, having to decide whether she wanted to pursue a career in Hollywood or double down on trying to make the Olympics.
The Vampire Diaries star grew up honing her skills in the gymnasium six days a week and had the Olympics in her sights, when she decided to follow her dream of acting, instead; a choice she said came down to longevity.
“It got to the point where I had to decide what I wanted to do: continue training for this and maybe go to the Olympics one day and make that my life until I’m 20 and then retire, or try to figure out acting, which is also very scary and unreliable and a lot of people don’t find success in it,” Dobrev said in 2015.
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To this day, though, Dobrev has held onto a lot of what she learned on the mat and remains wildly flexible.
12. John Candy filmed Home Alone for almost 24 hours straight
Patti Gower / Toronto Star via Getty Images
Every holiday season, John Candy is remembered as the fictional “Polka King of the Midwest,” Gus Polinski.
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According to director Chris Columbus, the Toronto-born actor improvised most of his iconic cameo in Home Alone — and he had only one day to shoot his part. Columbus said most of Candy’s lines were not in the script, and were made-up by the comedian in the early hours of the morning.
Candy, who appeared in the film as a favour to screenwriter John Hughes, was reportedly paid only US$414 for the cameo. Columbus said Candy was bitter about the pay up until his death in 1994.
13. Pamela Anderson’s CFL Jumbotron big break
Doug Peters / EMPICS / AP
Before Pamela Anderson donned her iconic, red Baywatch swimsuit, she got her start at a B.C. Lions football game in 1989.
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Anderson, born in Ladysmith, B.C., attended a game at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver with a group of friends when she was by chance broadcasted to the Jumbotron — and to viewers at home. She was wearing a Labatt Blue T-shirt, allegedly prompting a flood of inquiries to the company, which would later use Anderson in the famous ‘Blue Zone Girl’ campaign.
A 21-year-old Pamela Anderson during her stint as “The Blue Zone Girl” for Labatt beer, 1989. pic.twitter.com/k6LWaSzKiB
— History Photographed (@HistoryInPics) May 9, 2016
From there, Anderson’s career in the entertainment world took off, making her one of the most famous faces of the 1990s.
14. Michael Cera and the Pillsbury Doughboy
Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Tribeca Festival
Michael Cera has been repping the dry, Canadian sense of humour in Hollywood for decades now. But before that, Cera, who was born in Brampton, Ont., starred in a creepy ’90s commercial for Pillsbury cookie dough.
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In the ad, the would-be Superbad star molds a lump of cookie dough with his hands, only to have the uncooked dough evolve into a crudely animated, table-sized monster. The monster is defeated by the pot bellied Pillsbury mascot and is turned into cookies, which a young Cera, naturally, chows down on.
Bonus: Cera was also the voice of Brother Bear in the first two seasons of the children’s TV series Berenstain Bears in 2003.
The aquarium’s cephalopod was appropriately named Ceph Rogan after the suggestion dominated an online poll, scoring more than 90 per cent of the vote — and Rogen’s enthusiastic approval.
Ceph Rogen, the Vancouver Aquarium’s eight-armed resident.
Vancouver Aquarium
Though Rogen and the octopus were hardly i-tentacle, Ceph Rogen was brought to the aquarium as part of the facility’s “cephalopod-in-residence” program, which rehabilitated octopuses for release back into the wild before sexual maturity, allowing them to repopulate.
Not to be all “in this economy,” but in this economy, it’s rare to see someone hold onto the same job for more than a few years, let alone 23 of them. Scooter Braun, however, has been a music manager for that long, beginning with, according to him, an Atlanta-based rapper called Cato, when Braun was 19.
On Monday, Braun announced in a lengthy statement on his Instagram that he would be retiring from music management. “Along the way I have had so many experiences I could never have dreamt of,” he wrote.
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Braun, whose retirement announcement came the day before his 43rd birthday, said in the post that he had been “blessed to have had a Forrest Gump–like life while witnessing and taking part in the journeys of some of the most extraordinarily talented people the world has ever seen.”
Explaining his decision to shift gears, he wrote, “For my entire adult life I played the role of an artist manager on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. And for 20 years I loved it. It’s all I had known.”
But hold the phone, didn’t he say he had been a manager for twenty-three years? Yeah, about those last three.
“Over the past two years I have been heading towards this destination, but it wasn’t until last summer that this new chapter became a reality,” he wrote. “One of my biggest clients and friends told me that they wanted to spread their wings and go in a new direction. We had been through so much together over the last decade, but instead of being hurt I saw it as a sign.”
Braun did not name the client specifically, but the dots are not so hard to connect: Ariana Grande fired him as her manager last summer, with Puck reporting that the tipping point came when Grande was going through a very public separation from her husband while Braun was on vacation. One guess on the year Grande signed with him originally, and do not pass go, do not collect $200 if that guess is not 2013. Soon after, reports emerged of Idina Menzel, J Balvin, and Demi Lovato also ditching Braun, not to mention Justin Bieber sniffing around for new management. Taylor Swift fans were also familiar with the name, due to the long-simmering feud between the two over the ownership of her masters and the “incessant, manipulative bullying I’ve received at [Braun’s] hands for years,” as she wrote on Tumblr in 2019. In fact, she has credited his control of the tapes with inspiring her to rerecord her older albums and release the (Taylor’s Version) records. (In response, Braun later said he was “firmly against anyone ever being bullied.”)
Now, in Braun’s words, he’s entering his “father first, a CEO second, and a manager no more” era.
NEW YORK (AP) — Singer Justin Timberlake was arrested early Tuesday and is accused of driving while intoxicated on New York’s Long Island, authorities said.
Timberlake was expected to be arraigned in Sag Harbor, on the eastern end of Long Island, according to a statement from the Suffolk County district attorney’s office.
Timberlake’s representatives did not immediately return requests for comment from The Associated Press.
Sag Harbor is a coastal village in the Hamptons, around 100 miles (160 kilometers) from New York City. In the summer, it is a hotspot for wealthy visitors.
A young Timberlake was a Disney Mouseketeer, where his castmates included future girlfriend Britney Spears. He rose to fame in the popular boy band NSYNC and embarked on a solo recording career in 2002. As an actor, Timberlake has won acclaim in movies including” The Social Network” and “Friends With Benefits.”
He has won ten Grammy awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Timberlake has two upcoming shows in Chicago on Friday and Saturday, then is scheduled for New York’s Madison Square Garden next week on Tuesday and Wednesday.
As the fictional Freud writes of his own approaching death, he foresees the death of his sister Dolfi (who will die three years later in historical time, on the way to the camps). To put it mildly, death is everywhere. “Pain will be with me until I take my final leave,” Freud/Miéville/Reeves writes. He is ready to take it, to be clear. Freud then offers us a case study of a patient he met only three times, the last time when the world was at war. This patient offers Freud a riddle, not unlike the one the Sphinx offers Oedipus, and from which psychoanalysis in part sprang:
“I kill and kill and kill again,” he said. “And the truth is, I would like to rest … And sometimes, not frequently but many times over the course of my life, I die. And it hurts.
And then I come back.
I return, and I kill and kill and kill again, and eventually I die again, and the whole merry-go-round continues. So please—Herr Doktor … What sort of man am I?”
This is, of course, B., the immortal warrior hero. He wants to be able to die, to become mortal, but can’t quite, for he cannot die his own death. Freud seeks to redescribe this in psychic terms for B. And that is the nature of their analytic work together. It is possible to read much of the intervening book, which opens and closes in Freud’s voice, as a lost case study. Freud declares to B.: “You’ve told me you don’t wish to be a metaphor. But you don’t get to choose.” What kills us and dies and is reborn? B., like it or not, is a metaphor for the death drive.
The death drive is not some science fiction weapon or engine, exactly, but a theory introduced by (the real) Freud as a corrective to his idea of the pleasure principle—the idea that we all try to minimize pain and strive for pleasure all the time. War-torn Europe had shown him there was something else to account for—that we don’t just go for what’s good, but also for what’s bad, for “unpleasure.” Thus he conceived of the death drive at the end of World War I and during the Spanish flu, wherein his beloved daughter Sophie died suddenly. Freud would deny until he died that Sophie was the inspiration for it, and here, Miéville grants Freud’s wish. B., in Miéville’s hands, embodies the death drive—and he has come to Freud, like many have gone to their analysts, seeking cure. Freud then does what analysts do best—extrapolate from one patient toward a universal theory. The immortal B., in this alternate universe, showed Freud what sort of men we all are. When I asked Miéville about it, he said, “I think you could argue that that’s B. saying, ‘I want to be a human, I want to be a real boy.’ I mean, it’s a Pinocchio story.”
Even though it was actually Reeves who introduced Freud to the original BRZRKR comic, it’s easy to see why Miéville latched onto it. All of this was written while China was reckoning, deeply, with whether or not he could imagine going on. “Depression, for me, was the realization of what has been the case rather than something happening,” he told me. “These books”—he means not just The Book of Elsewhere but also his upcoming magnum opus/white whale/albatross, which I’m still not allowed to talk about except to say it’s just been shipped off to the publisher—“are being brought to a close in what I tentatively and hopefully believe is out the other side of the worst of that.”
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha Curry, have welcomed their fourth child.
The couple announced on social media Sunday that Ayesha gave birth to a baby boy named Caius Chai on May 11.
“Our sweet baby boy decided to make an early arrival!!” the couple wrote on Instagram. “He’s doing great and we are finally settling in at home as a family of 6! So grateful!”
The couple now has two girls and two boys: daughters Riley, 11, and Ryan, 8, and son Canon, 5.
Ayesha Curry, 35, revealed in March in the magazine she founded, Sweet July, that the couple was expecting her fourth child after the two initially believed that they would not have any more children.
“For so many years, Stephen and I thought we were done,” Ayesha wrote. “We said, “Three, that’s it, we’re not doing this again.” And then, last year, we looked at each other and agreed we wanted to do this again. For me, the decision came from always finding myself looking around and feeling like somebody was missing. I would load up the car and think, “Oh, I forgot something.” But nobody was forgotten.
“It started to turn my brain a little bit. Maybe somebody was missing. So we set out on this journey, knowing that this would complete our family.”
Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry and his wife Ayesha Curry lead cheers for Oakland Marathon runners.(Desmond Gribben for Eat. Learn. Play.)
Steph Curry posted a photo of his pregnant wife wearing white high heels and a white bra under a brown blazer on March 1, saying they were getting ready to welcome “Vol. 4” of their family.
Steph met Ayesha when they were both teenagers. On March 23, Ayesha’s birthday, Curry wrote on Instagram, “My woman!!!! @ayeshacurry Taking this moment to shout you from the roof tops and say Happy Birthday 🎉🥳🎊. You are everything to me and our beautiful family.
“The smile and the goofiness that lights up the room. But always count on you to keep it real and keep our family pushing forward. I LOVE YOU 🙌🏽 more life!”
Los Angeles County prosecutors say no charges are forthcoming against rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs after the release of disturbing 2016 surveillance video taken in a Century City hotel, which appears to show the rapper and producer physically assaulting then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
“We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles,” the District Attorney’s Office said in a statement posted on social media late Friday. “We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch. If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.
“As of today, law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services,” the statement continued.
The video, obtained by CNN, was taken at the then-InterContinental Hotel in Century City, the network reported.
The video shows Ventura exiting a hotel room and walking down a hallway toward a bank of elevators. Combs, wearing only a white towel wrapped around his waist and socks, is then seen following her down the hallway then forcefully grabbing her by the head or neck and throwing her to the ground. As she lies on the ground, Combs kicks her. After picking up a suitcase nearby, he kicks her again.
In a still image from CNN video, Sean “Diddy” Combs is allegedly seen physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. (Image from CNN video)
Combs is then seen trying to drag Ventura back down the hallway toward the hotel room, but he lets go of her after pulling her into the hallway from the elevator area. He then continues back toward his room.
Combs re-appears in the video and appears to shove Ventura again, before sitting in a chair and grabbing something from a nearby table and throwing it at her. He then returns to his room.
Ventura had claimed in a lawsuit in November that Diddy physically assaulted her in 2016, saying the rapper was drunk and punched her in the face. She alleged that when she tried to leave, Diddy followed her and eventually threw glass vases that were on display in the hallway at her. According to the suit, Ventura eventually got into an elevator and took a cab back to her apartment.
The lawsuit also made more serious allegations of sexual assault and other acts of physical abuse inflicted by Diddy. The lawsuit was settled one day after it was filed, but no details were released.
The rapper had issued a statement vehemently denying the suit’s allegations, suggesting Ventura was looking for a “payday.”
Responding to the release of the video, Ventura’s attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, issued a statement to CNN saying, “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs. Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”
According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the raids were “part of an ongoing investigation,” but no details were released.
The nature of the probe was unclear, but several reports indicated it was part of a federal sex trafficking investigation. Diddy has been targeted in multiple lawsuits in recent months — including Ventura’s — accusing him of sex abuse. In addition to Ventura, two other women filed lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.
Music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones Jr. filed a lawsuit earlier this year accusing Diddy of groping him while the pair worked together on Diddy’s album “The Love Album: Off the Grid.” The lawsuit also included allegations that Diddy and his son engaged in a “sex-trafficking venture.”
Diddy’s attorney, Shawn Holley, issued a statement in response saying, “Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday. His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines.
“We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies.”
Following the federal raids in March, Combs attorney Aaron Dyer insisted on the rapper’s innocence and accused authorities of a “gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences.”
“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities,” Dyer said.
“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way. This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
CLEVELAND (WJW) — The state of Ohio has produced presidents, Oscar winners, music chart toppers, astronauts and best selling authors. But what about Northeast Ohio specifically?
Looking at FOX 8’s coverage area, we set out to mention some of the most famous people to come out of these parts (many of whom you’ll be familiar, but perhaps not all). Some were merely born here before moving along, others grew up here before heading out and a smaller set, stayed around.
Enjoy.
ACTORS
(Photo by Bonnie Osborne/CBS via Getty Images)
Drew Carey The comedian and current “The Price is Right” host grew up in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland. He let everyone know just how much Cleveland rocks during his tenure on “The Drew Carey Show.”
(Courtesy: MGN Online)
Halle Berry She won an Oscar for “Monster’s Ball,” but is also a graduate of Bedford High School (after being born in Cleveland).
(Photo by Archivio Cameraphoto Epoche/Getty Images)
Paul Newman An icon in every sense, Oscar winner/philanthropist/husband-husband/race car driver Paul Newman grew up in Shaker Heights.
Vanessa Bayer She made “SNL” funnier during her tenure there from 2010-2017, but got her start growing up in Moreland Hills. She also appeared in “Office Christmas Party” and “Trainwreck.”
Alan Ruck Finding a recent resurgence on the show “Succession,” the Cleveland-born Parma native is still probably most well-known for his portrayal of Cameron Frye in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.”
(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)
Lili Reinhart This actress grew up in Bay Village and rose to fame playing Betty Cooper on the CW teen series “Riverdale.”
Ed O’Neill The dad on “Married… with Children” and “Modern Family” grew up in Youngstown and eventually graduated from Youngstown State University.
(AP Photo/Jeff Christensen, File)
Luke Perry Playing teen heartthrob Dylan McKay on “Beverly Hills, 90210” for the better part of a decade, the actor was born in Mansfield and grew up in Fredericktown. He died in 2019 at age 52.
Molly Shannon The Shaker Heights native and Hawken School alum is most known for bringing the hilarity on “SNL” but has appeared in plenty of films and TV shows since.
(Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File)
Patricia Heaton Patricia Heaton and her brother Michael (who’d go on to be a prominent journalist in the area), along with their other siblings, grew up in Bay Village. She was the mom on “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle.”
(Photo by Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images)
Yvette Nicole Brown The East Cleveland native who later graduated from University of Akron was a bright star on the show “Community.” She was nominated for an Emmy for “A Black Lady Sketch Show.”
Monica Potter A Euclid High School graduate, this actor got her start at Cleveland Play House. She’s known for her roles in “Patch Adams,” “Saw” and “Con Air.” She was also on the TV show “Parenthood.”
(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Kitty Bungalow)
Fred Willard Character actor Fred Willard, who grew up in Shaker Heights, died in 2020. He was known for his work in multiple Christopher Guest movies and also appeared in many TV shows, including “Roseanne” and “Modern Family.”
Carrie Coon This actor’s been nominated for an Emmy and a Tony and also grew up in Copley. She later graduated from University of Mount Union in Alliance, before going on to star in cable shows like “Fargo” and “The Leftovers” and “The Gilded Age.” You may have also seen her in the new Ghostbusters movies.
Gates McFadden, cast member in the Paramount+ television series “Star Trek: Picard” poses for a portrait during the Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour on Monday, Jan. 9, 2023, at The Langham Huntington Hotel in Pasadena, Calif. (Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Gates McFadden She’ll forever be known as Dr. Beverly Crusher from “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and other “Star Trek” entities, but she grew up in Silver Lake after being born in Akron.
Dorothy Dandridge, is shown on April 11,1956 at her press reception at the Savoy Hotel in London for a four-week singing engagement. (AP Photo).
Dorothy Dandridge She was born in Cleveland and grew up performing all over the country. Dandridge was the first African-American to be nominated for a best actress Oscar for her performance in the 1954 film “Carmen Jones.” She died at 42 years old.
MUSICIANS
(Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)
MGK He wasn’t born here, but rapper/singer/actor Colson Baker (aka Machine Gun Kelly, now MGK) did attend Shaker Heights High School and often speaks highly of Cleveland. He even has a coffee shop in the Flats: 27 Coffee Shop.
(Ben Cohen/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Kid Cudi Another Shaker Heights HS attendee (and Solon High School attendee), Scott Mescudi went on to sell millions of records and won two Grammy Awards. In recent years, he’s gotten into acting.
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony There’s no way you don’t know about this old-school hip-hop group, comprised of Layzie Bone, Flesh-n-Bone, Bizzy Bone, Krayzie Bone and Wish Bone — they’ve got a street named after them in Cleveland, after all. They started in the city back in 1991.
(Photo credit should read RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP/GettyImages)
Chrissie Hynde Essentially one of the coolest women in rock ‘n’ roll, Chrissie Hynde grew up in Akron and attended Kent State University before hopping across the pond to help found the Pretenders.
Tracy Chapman A new generation learned about Tracy Chapman after Luke Combs’ recent cover of “Fast Car” took the country charts by storm. She was born and raised in Cleveland before moving east.
DEVO Time to put on your Energy Dome Hat, we’re here to discuss DEVO. The band formed in Akron in 1973, with ties to Kent State University. Thought of as a joke band by some who didn’t quite get it, the new wave group would go on to have a Top 20 hit in 1980: “Whip It.”
Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys perform onstage during the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Festival at T-Mobile Arena on September 23, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartRadio)
The Black Keys Is there something in the water in Akron? Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney met at Firestone High School and went on to create one of the most popular rock bands of the 2000s. They now reside in Nashville.
Eric Carmen Anytime you’re alone and the song “All By Myself” comes to your head, you have Cleveland/Lyndhurst native Eric Carmen to thank. The singer-songwriter, also known for his work with the Raspberries, died in March at age 74.
Ric Ocasek Rock and Roll Hall of Fame-inducted The Cars got somewhat of a start right here in Cleveland. Frontman Ric Ocasek moved to the area with his family at 16 and eventually graduated from Maple Heights High School. He originally met bassist Benjamin Orr in Cleveland, before moving on to Columbus, Ann Arbor and Boston. He died in 2019.
Marilyn Manson The controversial musician, who has been accused of abuse, was born and raised in Canton and graduated from GlenOak High School.
Courtesy: Hope the Mission
Dave Grohl He doesn’t even remember his time being born in Warren, but one of the most famous drummers/frontmen in the world really came into the world in Northeast Ohio before making moves to the West Coast and later musical stardom.
INSANELY FAMOUS ATHLETES
15th August 1936: American athlete, Jesse Owens takes part in the long jump event in a USA versus British Empire meeting at White City stadium in west London. (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)
Jesse Owens One of the world’s great Olympic champions moved to Cleveland when he was 9 years old, going on to meet the love of his life in junior high and graduating from East Tech High School. Owens (whose middle name was Cleveland) was an absolute track and field star at Ohio State University and eventually won four gold medals in Nazi-run Germany in 1936.
Stephen Curry Sure, he was the bane of Cavs fans’ existence for years, but the truth is, he was born in the same hospital as LeBron James (now called Summa Akron City Hospital) while his father Dell Curry was playing for Cleveland. He is known for his stunning three-pointers and his annoying habit of chewing on his mouthpiece during a game.
FILE – Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, left, poses with his son Bronny after Sierra Canyon defeated Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in a high school basketball game Dec. 14, 2019, in Columbus, Ohio. Bronny James joined his Southern California teammates in a preseason fan event at Galen Center, Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)
LeBron James His name is LeBron Raymone James and he was born and raised in Akron. He not only is one of the best basketball players of all time; he helped end a decades-long championship drought for Cleveland teams when the Cavaliers won the NBA Championships in 2016. Following that life-changing game, he famously said, “Cleveland, this is for you.”
Jason Kelce, left, and Travis Kelce, right, watch a video during a time out at the Celtics-Cavaliers NBA basketball game, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Cleveland .Jason Kelce was given a framed jersey. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Jason and Travis Kelce These brothers are two of the most famous athletes on the planet right now, due to their charismatic nature and excellent skills on the football field (although Jason has recently retired). While they weren’t born in the Cleveland area, they came up in Cleveland Heights and graduated from high school there.
OTHERS
Michael Symon He’s a famous Iron Chef/TV show host/cookbook author who loves Cleveland. Not because he stumbled upon it or anything, but because he grew up in the area and has worked hard over the decades to help bring the culinary scene here to new heights. Downtown’s Mabel’s BBQ even features Cleveland-style barbeque.
Russo Brothers Heard of the billion-dollar grossing “Avengers” movies? Brothers Anthony and Joseph Russo directed them and also “Captain America” installations for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They grew up in Cleveland, graduating from Benedictine High School.
Bill Watterson Comic strips may seem simple, but it’s in their simplicity that we learn about ourselves. That’s what we gleaned from “Calvin and Hobbes,” about a 6-year-old and his tiger friend, created by Chagrin Falls’ Bill Watterson. The artist now lives in Cleveland Heights.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 08: Steve Harvey attends the second preseason NBA game between Atlanta Hawks and Milwaukee Bucks at Etihad Arena on October 08, 2022 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Steve Harvey In recent years, he’s brought the longtime game show “Family Feud” to new hilarity, but the famous standup comedian grew up in Cleveland, eventually graduating from Glenville High School. For a time he attended Kent State University.
Wes Craven Did you have nightmares after watching films like “Scream” and “Nightmare on Elm Street?” You have director Wes Craven to thank. He was born and raised in Cleveland and died in 2015.
Bob Hope The consummate entertainer who would go on to have four stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, moved to Cleveland with his family from England when he was 4 years old. He was known for hosting the Oscars 19 times, appearing in dozens of films and multiple comedy USO Tours.
James Garfield He wasn’t in the highest office for long, after being assassinated less than year into his first term, but James Garfield was the 20th president of the United States and he was from Northeast Ohio (born in a log cabin in Moreland Hills and attended Hiram College). There is a memorial to him at Lake View Cemetery in Cleveland.
Rich Paul In recent years he’s gained even more fame for being Adele’s partner, but Rich Paul, who grew up on Cleveland’s east side, is one of the most well-known sports managers in the country. Through his Klutch Sports Group, he has represented the likes of LeBron James, Myles Garrett, Darius Garland and many more.
FILE – American Nobel laureate and “Beloved” author Toni Morrison smiles during a news conference at the Louvre Museum in Paris, Nov. 8, 2006. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)
Toni Morrison One of the great American authors of all time was born and raised in Lorain, Ohio. Although she passed away in 2019 at age 88, Toni Morrison’s award-winning works like “Song of Solomon” and “Beloved” live on.
Every year, stars and celebrities spend the first Monday in May with hairdressers, makeup artists and stylists in preparation of the annual Met Gala in New York City.
The dress code for this year’s event was “The Garden of Time.” It coincided with the opening of Metropolitan Museum of Art’s new exhibit, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” on famous fashion looks too fragile to wear. The Met Gala serves as a fundraiser for the Met’s Costume Institute.
A number of stars with ties to the Philadelphia region were on the guest list, including singer Sabrina Carpenter, basketball star Ben Simmons and actress Da’Vine Joy Randolph dressed head to toe in couture. Two of them, actor Colman Domingo and actress Amanda Seyfried, even earned nods in Vogue’s best dressed list.
Here’s what they each wore:
Simmons, the maligned former 76ers player, sported a plaid-on-plaid suit by Thom Browne and a clock briefcase to match the event’s theme.
Seyfried glittered in a silver Prada gown with a headpiece and jewelry from Chaumet. Seyfried, who was born in Allentown, recently went on a ride-along with Philly police as part of her preparation for her role in an upcoming TV show based on a Temple University professor’s book.
Randolph, who won an Oscar earlier this year, made an appearance in a Zac Posen gown made of Gap denim. The Mt. Airy native is in talks for a role in a new movie about Pharrell Williams.
Domingo hit the carpet in a cream Willy Charvarria suit featuring a cape and floral embellishment, our newsroom’s favorite look of the night. Domingo, who grew up in Philly, is set to star in a Michael Jackson biopic and a Nat King Cole movie musical.
“Barbie” actress Hari Nef, who was born in Philadelphia, styled a sequined white dress with a large bow detail from H&M.
Lancaster County native Jonathan Groff appeared in a Simone Rocha suit with floral details.
Carpenter, who spent her early years in Bucks and Montgomery counties, wore a floor-length Oscar de la Renta gown.
Current Miss USA Noelia Voigt announced Monday that she was stepping down from the role to focus on her mental health.
Voigt, who represented Utah and became the first Venezuelan-American to be crowned Miss USA in Sept. 2023, announced the “very tough decision to resign” in an Instagram post.
“I realize this may come as a large shock to many,” Voigt, 24, said in the caption of her post. “Never compromise your physical and mental well-being. Our health is our wealth. A million thank you’s to all of you for your constant and unwavering support. Time to write the next chapter.”
In her post, Voigt reflected on her favorite moments during her time as Miss USA, including working with the world’s largest cleft-focused organization Smile Train and being an advocate for anti-bullying, dating violence awareness and prevention, and immigration rights and reform.
“Eternal gratitude fills my heart when I think about the platform I was given to make a difference, the feeling of achieving a lifelong dream, and connecting with people all over the world, just as I said I would do on the Miss USA stage,” she said in her statement. “Deep down I know that this is just the beginning of a new chapter for me, and my hope is that I continue to inspire others to remain steadfast, prioritize your mental health, advocate for yourself and others by using your voice, and never be afraid of what the future holds, even if it feels uncertain.”
Miss USA thanked Voigt for her service in a statement released on Facebook, adding that the organization wished her the best in her future endeavors.
“We respect and support Noelia’s decision to step down from her duties,” Miss USA said in the statement. “The well-being of our titleholders is a top priority, and we understand her need to prioritize herself at this time.”
The organization added that it would soon announce Voigt’s successor.
Voigt was previously an interior design student, and hoped to establish her own design firm and host a TV show to help families “in need of a home makeover,” according to the Miss USA website. She also wrote a children’s book about anti-bullying, called Maddie the BRAVE.
The Miss USA pageant has been around for over 70 years. Former President Donald Trump previously owned the Miss Universe Organization, which includes the Miss Universe, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA pageants. Trump sold the Miss Universe Organization in 2015, after he had made a series of derogatory comments about Mexicans that prompted broadcasters NBC and Univision to cut ties with him and the pageants, according to Rolling Stone.
A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be unveiled Friday honoring the vocal quartet Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons for a career that began in 1962 and included such memorable songs as “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and “Walk Like a Man.”
Valli will accept the star on behalf of keyboard player and tenor vocalist Bob Gaudio, who is unable to attend, baritone vocalist and lead guitarist Tommy DeVito, who died in 2020, and bass guitarist and bass vocalist Nick Massi, who died in 2000.
Entertainment executive Irving Azoff is also set to speak at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony at 6150 Hollywood Blvd., between Cerrito and Argyle avenues.
The ceremony will be streamed at walkoffame.com.
The star will be the 2,780th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the initial 1,558 stars.
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons are seen on two vintage album covers. The group is receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Friday, May 3, 2024.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 26: Frankie Valli performs on opening night of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons’ “The Last Encores” residency at the International Theater at the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino on October 26, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons performs during the BBC Proms In The Park at Hyde Park on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Actors Nicolas Dromard, and Hayden Milanes, singer Frankie Vali, and actors Jason Kappus and Adam Zelasko attend the Opening Night of “Jersey Boys” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on October 5, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 05: Singer Frankie Vali, attends the Opening Night of “Jersey Boys” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on October 5, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 05: (L-R) Actors Hayden Milanes, and Jason Kappus, singer Frankie Vali, and actors Nicolas Dromard, and Adam Zelasko attend the Opening Night of “Jersey Boys” at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre on October 5, 2014 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Born Francis Castelluccio and raised in a public housing project in Newark, New Jersey, Valli has said he was inspired to become a singer when he was 7 years old and his mother took him to New York City’s Paramount Theater to see Frank Sinatra.
“I saw Sinatra coming out on stage and the way he was lit up, it was like he had an aura around him,” Valli said. “I decided then and there that’s what I was going to do — be a successful singer.”
The group was initially known as the Four Lovers, but after failing an audition to perform at the cocktail lounge of a bowling alley in Union, New Jersey, they decided the lounge’s name would make a classy name for a singing group, The Four Seasons.
For two years the Four Seasons sang background for producer Bob Crewe’s other acts while working on a style of their own. Finally, in 1962, Gaudio came up with a song that made full use of Valli’s remarkable range, from baritone to falsetto.
When the unknown group sang “Sherry” on “American Bandstand” in 1962, the Four Seasons suddenly became the nation’s hottest band, and after nine years as a recording artist, Valli became an “overnight” sensation with a No. 1 record.
“Many R&B groups had used falsetto as part of their background harmonies, but we were different because we put the falsetto out front and made it the lead,” Valli said.
Both of the Four Seasons’ Grammy nominations came in 1963. They were nominated for best new artist, losing to Robert Goulet, in a field that also consisted of John F. Kennedy impersonator Vaughn Meader, the folk music groups The New Christy Minstrels, Peter, Paul and Mary and comedian Allan Sherman.
They were also nominated for best rock & roll recording for “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” losing to “Alley Cat” by the Danish pianist and composer Bent Fabric.
Valli’s songs have been used in such films as “The Deer Hunter,” “Dirty Dancing,” and “Mrs. Doubtfire” and the HBO organized crime drama “The Sopanos,” on which Valli had a guest-starring role as mobster Rusty Millio.
Over 200 artists have done cover versions of Valli’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” from Nancy Wilson’s jazz treatment to Lauryn Hill’s hip-hop makeover.
The Four Seasons’ legacy also includes the musical about their music and life, “Jersey Boys,” which ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017 and won the Tony Award for best musical in 2006, and led to a 2014 film adaptation.
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons began what is billed as a farewell tour in October. It is set to conclude Nov. 22 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach.
In Sabrina Carpenter’s catchy new single, “Espresso,” she sings “I’m working late, ’cause I’m a singer.” She’ll live up to that line later this month when she makes her debut on “Saturday Night Live.”
Carpenter — an actress and singer who was born and raised in the Philly suburbs — will be the musical guest on the May 18 episode of “SNL,” the Season 49 finale, which will be hosted by Jake Gyllenhaal.
During her “SNL” set, Carpenter is almost sure to perform “Espresso,” which she released last month and is already being called a front-runner for the song of the summer. Throughout her music career so far, Carpenter has released five albums, including 2022’s “Emails I Can’t Send,” which garnered explosive success with tracks like “Nonsense” and “Feather.”
But with its dance-inducing beat, earworm-worthy lyrics — just try to get “That’s that me, espresso” out of your head — and a splashy music video to match, “Espresso” became Carpenter’s first to hit the Billboard top 10.
Her “SNL” gig comes in the wake of Carpenter’s Coachella debut, as well as her run as the opener for a string of international dates on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour — which she previously attended in Philadelphia as a fan and famous friend of Swift herself. During downtime at Coachella, Carpenter was spotted hanging out with her rumored flame, actor Barry Keoghan, along with Swift and her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Carpenter, 24, was born in Quakertown, Bucks County, and grew up in East Greenville, Montgomery County, where she was homeschooled. She moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in entertainment at age 13. Along with her music career, Carpenter also is an actress who’s best-known role was in the Disney Channel series “Girl Meets World” — a reboot of ’90s Philly-based sitcom “Boy Meets World” — which ran from 2014 to 2017.
Following the announcement of Carpenter’s “SNL” gig on Thursday, fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to “espresso” their excitement for the pop star’s performance.
Fans also riffed off the fact that Carpenter would be appearing during Gyllenhaal’s episode. Gyllenhaal is famously believed to be the inspiration behind Swift’s breakup song “All Too Well,” and the even more scathing “All Too Well (10 Minute Version),” which Swift performed on “SNL” in 2021. The lore is further complicated, for people who are a little too online anyway, by the fact that “Barbie” star Ryan Gosling spoofed “All Too Well” during his “SNL” monologue last month.
would actually pay millions to see the text chain between taylor swift and sabrina carpenter about this one https://t.co/Ww2eknJM44
Before Carpenter’s debut, the next new episode of “SNL” will air Saturday, with host and musical guest Dua Lipa. In case you’re one of the few people in the world who haven’t heard “Espresso” yet, give it a listen below to learn the lyrics and perfect your dance moves ahead of Carpenter’s performance:
Education: Attended DeKalb Junior College and Covenant College in Georgia
As documented in the press, Chapman is known for an obsessive devotion to “The Catcher in the Rye,” J.D. Salinger’s novel about teenage alienation.
Suffers from depression and was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic by Dr. Bernard Diamond, a psychiatrist for the defense.
Started using drugs and skipping school his freshman year in high school. This behavior ended when he turned 16 and became a born-again Christian, as documented in the book, “Let Me Take You Down: Inside the Mind of Mark David Chapman, the Man Who Killed John Lennon,” by Jack Jones.
1971-1975 – Works on and off as a YMCA counselor.
1977 – Purchases a one-way ticket and flies to Hawaii. Attempts suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning. Once recovered, Chapman takes a job at the hospital where he received treatment.
1978 – Embarks on an around-the-world trip.
1979 – Marries Gloria Abe, the travel agent who helped plan his around-the-world trip. Chapman then quits his job at the hospital and takes a job as a security guard.
1980 – Reads a book on Lennon and becomes enraged that Lennon has so much money.
October 23, 1980 – Quits his job as a security guard, signing himself out as “John Lennon.”
October 27, 1980 – Purchases a .38 caliber revolver.
October 30, 1980 – Flies to New York. He is unable to purchase bullets, so he flies to Atlanta to acquire them, then goes back to New York. His wife convinces him to return home to Hawaii.
December 6, 1980 – Returns to New York.
December 8, 1980 – Spends the entire day outside the Dakota, the Central Park West apartment building in Manhattan where Lennon and his family live. Meets Lennon’s 5-year-old son, Sean, with his nanny and shakes hands with him. Encounters Lennon and his wife, Yoko Ono, as they are leaving their apartment. Lennon signs a copy of his recently released “Double Fantasy” album for Chapman. Chapman remains outside the Dakota until Lennon and Ono return home. Chapman shoots Lennon in the back four times with a .38 caliber revolver. Chapman makes no attempt to flee; he is disarmed by the doorman. When police arrive, Chapman is reading “The Catcher in the Rye,” by Salinger. Lennon is pronounced dead at Roosevelt Hospital.
December 9, 1980 – Chapman is arraigned on charges of second-degree murder. Following the arraignment, he is taken to Bellevue Hospital for psychiatric evaluation and placed under suicide watch.
June 22, 1981 – Chapman’s legal defense prepares to argue an insanity defense but Chapman pleads guilty saying that he received a message from God telling him to do so.
August 24, 1981 – Judge Dennis Edwards sentences Chapman to 20 years to life in prison and recommends Chapman undergo psychiatric treatment. Just prior to sentencing, Chapman reads a passage from “The Catcher in the Rye.”
Here’s a look at the life of retired professional soccer player David Beckham.
Birth date: May 2, 1975
Birth place: London, England
Birth name: David Robert Joseph Beckham
Father: David Edward “Ted” Beckham, an appliance repairman
Mother: Sandra (West) Beckham, a hairdresser
Marriage: Victoria (Adams) Beckham (July 4, 1999-present)
Children: Harper, Cruz, Romeo and Brooklyn
Retired professional soccer (European football) player.
Married to Spice Girl Victoria (Adams) Beckham, nicknamed “Posh Spice.”
Midfielder known for his ability to “bend” his free kicks, curving the ball around or over defenders to score. The movie title “Bend it like Beckham” is a tribute to his kicking style.
Won league titles in four different countries while playing for Manchester United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy and Paris Saint-Germain.
Played 115 times for England between 1996 and 2009.
1991 – At age 16, leaves home to play in Manchester United’s training league.
April 2, 1995 – Premier League debut with Manchester United.
1996 – Gains recognition when he scores a goal from the halfway line, a kick of almost 60 yards.
September 1996 – Makes his international debut in the World Cup qualifier against Moldova. England wins 3-0.
1998 – Is named to the English national team for 1998 World Cup.
1998 – Beckham is given a red card and ejected from a second round World Cup match for kicking out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone, which contributed to England’s elimination.
1999 – Leads Manchester United to a treble, winning the English Premier League, FA Cup and European Champions League trophies.
November 15, 2000 – Is named captain of England’s national team.
April 2002 – Breaks a bone in his foot but later competes in the World Cup finals in June. England ultimately loses to Brazil in the quarterfinals.
May 2003 – Breaks his hand during a 2-1 win over South Africa in Durban.
June-July 2003 – Traded by Manchester United to Real Madrid. He signs a four-year contract with Real Madrid for $40 million.
November 27, 2003 – Receives an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) from Queen Elizabeth II.
August 3, 2005 – Is awarded libel damages from the tabloid, the People, that accused him of making hate calls to a former nanny.
March 9, 2006 – Settles a libel case against the British tabloid, News of the World, over a 2004 headline that read, “Posh and Becks on the Rocks.”
January 2007 – Signs on with the Los Angeles Galaxy, an American Major League Soccer team.
July 21, 2007 – Plays his first game with the LA Galaxy. It is initially reported he will receive an estimated $250 million over the life of his five-year contract, but later revealed that the Galaxy will pay him $32.5 million over five years.
March 26, 2008 – Appears for the 100th time in an England uniform. During the England/France game Beckham receives a standing ovation from both sides as he leaves the field during a substitution.
January 2009 – Loaned by the LA Galaxy team to the AC Milan club. He initially agrees to a three-month stint with the Milan team but the loan is extended to six months.
December 2009 – Is loaned to AC Milan a second time until the end of the Italian season in May.
March 14, 2010 – Tears an Achilles tendon during an AC Milan match and is unable to play in the World Cup.
December 1, 2012 – Plays his final game with the LA Galaxy.
January 31, 2013 – Announces that he has signed with Paris Saint-Germain for five months and will donate the pay to a children’s charity in Paris.
February 9, 2015 – Launches 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund, a collaboration with UNICEF to help kids in danger zones around the world.
January 29, 2018 – MLS announces that Miami has been awarded the league’s 25th franchise, about four years after Beckham first announced his intention to exercise his right to buy an MLS franchise in February 2014. The Beckham franchise will be backed by Cuban-American businessmen Jorge and Jose Mas, CEO of Sprint Corporation Marcelo Claure, entertainment producer Simon Fuller and the founder of Japanese telecommunications firm SoftBank, Masayoshi Son.
October 2, 2020 – A company co-founded by Beckham, Guild Esports, lists on the London Stock Exchange, becoming the first esports franchise to go public on the LSE.
March 20, 2022 – Beckham hands over control of his Instagram account to a doctor in Ukraine, in a bid to highlight the work of medical professionals caring for patients amid the Russian invasion of the country.
October 4, 2023 – Netflix’s four-part documentary series titled “Beckham” is released.
