ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster Renew Vows and Donate Wedding Money to Grenfell Fire Victims. Happy 10th anniversary, Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster! The 72-year-old veteran crooner and his third wife recently renewed their wedding vows in front of family and friends at their home in Essex, England and exclusive photos of their ceremony were taken for and published in HELLO! magazine Sunday. Rod and Penny, 46, were paid a fee for the pics and donated the money to the victims of the Grenfell fire. More than 80 people were killed when a blaze destroyed a London tower block of apartments in June in what marked the worst building fire in the city in years. In addition, in lieu of gifts, guests of Stewart and Lancaster's wedding were asked to donate to the Grenfell victims as well, while the singer personally quadrupled their sum, E! News has learned. At their vow renewal, Rod and Penny were joined by their sons Alastair, 11, and Aiden, 6, as well as Rod's daughters Kimberly, 37, and Renee, 25, and sons Sean, 36 and Liam, 22, who are working in the UK, as well as Kimberly's daughter 5-year-old Delilah and Penny's Cavapoo Bubbles. The bride wore a strapless lace maxi dress, while the groom wore a white suit without a tie. "Penny is my whole world. What a girl," Rod told HELLO!. "Love means many things to many people but to me it's wanting to share everything with the one you love and I love Penny more now than ever, if that is at all possible. It was a beautifully romantic thing to do. We're not proving anything, just sharing our love with our friends and family." (PageSix)
Maria Menounos and her fiance Keven Undergaro are moving forward with their plans to start a family via in vitro fertilization, despite the TV and SiriusXM host's recent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Menounos reveals in the new issue of PEOPLE that she was diagnosed this spring with a benign brain tumor the size of a golf ball that was pressing on her facial nerves. The 39-year-old underwent a successful, complex surgery to remove the meningioma on June 8 -- her birthday. At the same time, Menounos has been helping to care for her mother, Litsa, who is battling stage 4 brain cancer. Menounos, who has been vocal about her IVF treatments in the past, tells PEOPLE that she and Undergaro still "want to have a family" -- and that she's "lucky" she wasn't pregnant when the tumor was discovered. "When you are pregnant, [tumors] grow fast," she says. "The greatest thing that has happened out of all of this is you see God's hands all around," she adds, tearing up. She also praises Undergaro, 51, who popped the question in March 2016 after 19 years of dating, for taking care of her through her health crisis. "He'd nap with me so I didn't feel like I was alone, never left my side, never left the hospital, never got tired, never nothing," she says. Since the crisis, Menounos, who has worked for E!, Extra and Access Hollywood, appeared on Dancing with the Stars and wrestled for the WWE, says her perspective on life is "completely different now." "When something like this happens, it's so important to have people in your life that are going to lift you up. I was lucky enough to have that army around me." (People)
Charlie Hunnam assumed the role of Don Vito Corleone for his best friend's son. The "Sons of Anarchy" star got suited up Monday for a visit to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Sherman Oaks ... for the baptism of the son of his publicist, Jennifer Betts, and friend, Jack Conroy. Charlie's now Jack Jr.'s godfather, and it's not the first time he's played a pivotal role in the couple's life. Charlie first introduced the couple and even played best man at their wedding back in 2013. #ClientoftheYear. (TMZ)
Kelly Clarkson Shuts Down Person Who Tells Her She's "Fat." You go, Kelly Clarkson! The 35-year-old Grammy-winning pop star and new The Voice coach posted on Twitter on the Fourth of July a heartfelt, patriotic and humble message, saying, "Thank u 2 every person in service 4 protecting all of us and cheers to every person who fought for us to experience freedom & independence." "You're fat," user @Euger23 replied. "....and still f--king awesome," Clarkson responded. Some of her fans immediately confronted the person, who then directed his insults towards them. Clarkson has often been criticized over her weight, especially online. In 2015, Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace and radio host Mike Gallagher had mocked Clarkson over her weight on The Mike Gallagher Show. Wallace said the singer "could stay off the deep dish pizza for a little while." Gallagher said, "Holy cow, did she blow up," and also poked fun at his own weight. Wallace later said in a statement to E! News, "I sincerely apologize to Kelly Clarkson for my offensive comment. I admire her remarkable talent and that should have been the focus of any discussion about her." Gallagher wrote on his website, "Tubby Mike is the last person in the world who should bring up anyone's weight. I couldn't possibly feel any worse than I do for making an observation that led to the conclusion that I 'fat-shamed' this talented and classy entertainer. It was a really stupid thing for me to do." On The Ellen DeGeneres Show that year, Clarkson talked about being body shamed in general. "It's like, you just are who you are. We are who we are -- whatever size," she said. "It doesn't mean that we're gonna be that forever." (Eonline)
Tara Reid wants to put an end to body shaming and bullying -- for others and for herself. Reid says that she's dealt with plenty of body shaming during her years in the spotlight. "I've definitely felt bullying in my life. With media or press or just different things in my life," she tells E! News. "People always say I don't eat. I eat all the time. They call me scary skinny. You're my friend; everyone knows I eat more than anyone. I'm just a thin girl." Reid stars in the new movie Worthless, about the hazards of bullying, and says that she could easily relate to the characters in the film. "Bullying is such a big deal these days and it's something I very much personalized with," she says. "In my life, I've had a lot of bullying and I know what that feels like and how much it hurt." "The body shaming that is going on right now is to a degree that is so bad for girls and I really relate to that and I understand that so this movie meant a lot to me." Christie Brinkley's Girls Alexa and Sailor Reveal How They've Conquered Bullies and Body Shamers (and still love carbs!) Christie Brinkley's daughters joined together to fight off a torrent of online bullies, who compared the duo to their famous mother. Reid points out that there are more forms of bullying than ever before, especially with the rise of social media. "What people don't realize is that there's so much kinds of bullying: Social media bullying, cyber bullying, physical bullying, mental bullying," she says. "There's different kinds and today it's so bad that people are committing suicide and overdosing." The actress spoke out about bullying back in 2008, after unflattering bikini photos from a trip to the beach went up online. "You know, it wasn't really the pictures that hurt me. The comments hurt me. People wrote, 'Look at that flabby old actress,' 'She used to be so hot,' 'She's gross.' It's like, gosh, come on. I'm not fat," she told PEOPLE at the time. "I'm 5'5? and 105 lbs. I'm not too skinny. I'm not too fat. I'm always dieting. I fluctuate, like, 7 lbs. all the time," she continued. "But I'd rather eat what I want and then have to be very good for a couple of weeks. That way you don't really miss anything. It's a seesaw." (People)
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are celebrating a milestone. The couple reached the 35-year mark in their marriage on Tuesday and Sharon, 64, commemorated the occasion with a heartfelt tribute (along with an awesome photo) on Twitter. "Thank you Ozzy for 35 crazy & wonderful years," she wrote. "You carry my heart in yours, and it's getting older and needs protecting. Happy Anniversary." The couple married in 1982, and share three children together: Kelly, 32, Jack, 31, and Aimee, 33. Kelly congratulated her parents on Instagram and posted a photo from her parents' wedding day, featuring a blonde Sharon and Ozzy. "Happy 35th anniversary mum and dad thank you for showing me what true love really is!" Kelly wrote in the caption. Sharon opened up about how she fell back in love with her husband after his infidelity nearly shattered their marriage. Last May, The Talk co-host and the Black Sabbath musician split after 33 years of marriage when reports surfaced that Ozzy, 68, had an affair, allegedly with his hairstylist. "Thirty-five years with someone is a hell of a long time. And I think I fell out of love with my husband and then fell back again," Sharon admitted while on the show. She noted it was Ozzy's intentionality in bettering himself that helped her find love again. "Probably, really, just months ago because he was trying so hard to be a better person -- desperately trying, working his program, working with his therapist every day and trying so hard," said Sharon. "I just had a newfound love," she continued, and added, "and I respected him because he's seriously trying to be a better person." Sharon Osbourne Addresses Ozzy Osbourne Cheating Rumors on The Talk Sharon Osbourne made her first public appearance on Tuesday amid rumors of divorce and infidelity by Ozzy Osbourne, her husband of 33 years. The couple renewed their vows this past Mother's Day in Las Vegas. "For me, this was actually our real wedding day. This is the one that I will remember. Sharon and I have been through so much, and this honestly feels like a new beginning," Ozzy, 68, told Hello! Magazine about the intimate ceremony. "I made a huge mistake," he continued. "Without Sharon, I am nothing. I love her. I can honestly say that I have never loved anybody other than my wife." (People)
Tupac Dumped Madonna Because She's White, His Prison Letter Reveals. Tupac's relationship with Madonna ran deeper than anyone knew. In 2015, the Material Girl made headlines after revealing she had dated the rapper three years before his death in 1995. "One time I was mad at [David Letterman] when I said the f-word a lot, but the rest of the time was good," Madonna told Howard Stern. "I was in a weird mood that day. I was dating Tupac Shakur at the time, and he had got me all riled up about life in general. So, when I went on the show I was feeling very gangsta." Later that year, the rapper's brother, Mopreme Shakur, told Vlad TV he helped facilitate the romance. "She gave me a note to give to him; I was just happy she was giving him a note. Everybody was there. I went over and gave it to him. He was about the business and then they linked up. I would take him to her house and s--t when we got back to L.A. Yeah..." he recalled. "They were a thing for a minute." (In 2014, Rosie Perez told Wendy Williams she played a role in introducing the former couple.) On Wednesday, TMZ published portions of a letter -- written Jan. 15, 1995 at 4:30 a.m. -- that Tupac wrote to Madonna while serving time for sexual assault at Clinton Correctional Facility. Gotta Have Rock and Roll will auction off the letter between July 19-28 with a starting bid of $100,000; according to TMZ, the last letter written by the rapper fetched more than $170,000. TMZ redacted four chunks from Tupac's letter. The late rapper started by calling Madonna "M," saying, "I've waited a long time 2 finally write this mainly because I was struggling to find all the answers that I wouldn't leave any unanswered questions. First and foremost, I must apologize to you because like you said I haven't been the kind of friends I know I am capable of being." Later in the letter, he explained that he broke up with the "Human Nature" singer because of her race. "Can u understand that? For you to be seen with a black man wouldn't in any way jeopardize your career. If anything it would make you seem that much more open & exciting," he wrote. "But for me at least in my previous perception I felt due to my 'image' I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was. I never meant to hurt you." Tupac went on to reference an interview where Madonna had supposedly said, "'I'm off to rehabilitate all the rappers & basketball players,'" or something like that. "Those words cut me deep seeing how I had never known you to be with any rappers besides myself. It was at this moment out of hurt & a natural instinct to strike back and defend my heart & ego that I said a lot of things." After another redacted paragraph, Tupac continued to share his side of the story with Madonna. "Can you feel me? In the time since, as u can see, I have grown both spiritually and mentally. It no longer matters how I'm perceived," he said. "Please understand my previous position as that of a young man with limited experience with an extremely famous sex symbol." Later in the later, the hip-hop heavyweight wrote, "I offer my friendship once again this time my stronger & focused. If you are still interested I would like to further discuss this with you but some of it couldn't wait. I felt compelled to tell you...just in case anything happened 2 me." Tupac ended his letter with a warning for the Queen of Pop. "Please be careful Madonna. Everyone is not as honorable as they seem there are those whose hearts bleed with envy & evil. They would not hesitate to do you harm!" Tupac wrote. "Let my 6 bullets be proof of that!" After signing the letter, he added a final message: "I don't know how you feel about visiting me but if you could find it in your heart I would love to speak face to face with you," Tupac, who was fatally shot, said. "It's funny but this experience has taught me to not take time 4 granted." (Eonline)
Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna are at war ... she's claimed he beat her, he's claiming she's hooking up with a bunch of guys to torture him. Chyna claims Rob beat her up and then tried intimidating her to stay quiet or else she'd incur the wrath of the Kardashian family. Just 2 weeks ago it looked like they got back together, but now it's off the hinges. Rob claims his baby mama sent him a pic of her vagina Tuesday -- as if to entice him -- and then hooked up with a rapper named Ferrari. Our Ferrari sources say he's been open about his fling with Chyna, so it sounds like Rob isn't dreaming this up. What's more ... Ferrari says he's been hooking up with Chyna for several months, which overlaps with the time she reconciled with Rob. We're told the trigger for the war is all over Chyna and Ferrari. Rob is now going wild, threatening Chyna that he'll block her from even seeing their child ... allegedly because she's doing drugs. (TMZ)
Aaron Rajman, a teammate of several UFC superstars at the American Top Team (ATT) gym, was murdered during a home invasion in Boca Raton, Florida ... local authorities announced on Tuesday. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office say several men got into an argument with Rajman after entering the fighter's house late Monday night ... firing at least one shot before fleeing the scene. Rajman, who just turned 25, passed away the next day. Detectives told the Sun Sentinel they're treating this as a homicide. There are currently no motives or suspects in the case. Rajman was famous for being one of the few orthodox Jews in MMA. He often talked about his religion publicly -- though it's unclear if he was targeted for that reason. A local fight promoter says Rajman's teammates at ATT are in shock. UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, as well as former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos, are some of the gym's higher-profile members. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Gus Kenworthy Reveals What It's Really Like to Pose Nude for ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue. Gus Kenworthy was feeling cheeky Wednesday. In celebration of ESPN the Magazine's annual Body Issue being released online, the Olympic silver medalist appeared on Good Morning America -- via satellite in Denver -- to reveal what it's really like to pose naked on camera. "I was 100 percent nude," he said of his pictorial. "I was naked for the photo shoot for like six hours. It was crazy!" Though he's in peak physical condition (and he's posed nude a few times on Instagram before), Kenworthy admitted, "I was definitely nervous. I had reservations. But I was also really excited to be a part of it. I've always been a fan of The Body Issue. I think it's such a beautiful issue that they do -- and it showcases so many different types of bodies and athletes -- so it was an honor." Kenworthy got a spray tan and a beard trim before disrobing on Mammoth Mountain in California. Before the shoot, he recalled, "My mom said, 'You're so brave,' which is maybe not the reaction that I wanted. She was like, 'I wouldn't do it. 'I was like, 'Well, hopefully they don't ask you!'" In the weeks leading up to the shoot, "I tried to kind of stick with what I had been doing, just in my normal training and my normal life; I didn't want to do a complete 180. I definitely was in the gym twice a day. My diet, especially for the week right before the shoot, was really, really strict, like no salt, no sugar, dairy. It was basically like I was eating ice cubes." Lara Spencer then tried to delicately ask Kenworthy about penile shrinkage. "I've been skiing out in Colorado before. It's awfully cold out there," Spencer said. "Did they have, um, heaters?" "They had a robe that I could put on, but it was freezing. The photo editor had already prepped me and she was like, 'Think about poses you can do to hide yourself. Think of creative ways to hide yourself,'" he said. "I got out there in the cold and I was like, 'Don't worry; it'll hide itself.'" ESPN the Magazine profiled 23 athletes for annual issue, including New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, retired NBA player Isiah Thomas and tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki. Athletes A.J. Andrews, Javier Baez, Kacey Bellamy, Brent Burns, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Ezekiel Elliott, Kirstie Ennis, Julie Ertz, Zach Ertz, Malakai Fekitoa, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Nneka Ogwumike, Joe Thornton, Alex Rigsby, Ashley Wagner, Michelle Waterson and Novlene Williams-Mills also stripped for ESPN. ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue is on newsstands nationwide Friday. (Eonline)
Celine Dion Poses Naked for Vogue. Here is Celine Dion like you've never seen her before. A photo was posted on Vogue magazine's Instagram page on the Fourth of July, which shows the 49-year-old singer sitting on a plush chair with her arms folded and legs crossed, wearing nothing and clutching a white garment, during a trip to Paris. A glittering golden boot lies on the wood floor beside her. "Here's a little naked fact to ponder while Celine Dion changes looks between shows: for the past five years she has worn haute couture near exclusively for her own performances (in Las Vegas and on her current 'mini-tour' of Europe)," the caption states. "In Vegas, Velcro panels are added to allow for her ribcage to expand or for a quick outfit change," it states. "Micro straps of elasticized chiffon prevent a slit from becoming a sloppy situation mid-squat. Shoes -- always heels, never platforms -- are ordered one size smaller (she is normally a 38) and refitted with metal shanks." "The clothes follow me; I do not follow the clothes," Dion is quoted as saying. She also showcases high fashion looks while out and about; Dion is one of few people who could pull off a look made up of faux leather Givenchy overalls, cream pearl-embroidered Kanye West x Giuseppe Zanotti sandals and crystal-encrusted sunglasses. Naked photos of Dion have never been released before. She did, however, pose topless for V magazine in 2012, wearing a pair of long black gloves while folding her arms over her chest. (Eonline)
When your father's a mega-rich tequila baron, you fly to Italy on a private jet ... even when you're just 1 month old!!! That's how George and Amal Clooney rolled this week ... touching down at an airport Monday in Milan on a sick PJ, with babies Elle and Alexander getting the total VIP treatment. The kiddos -- born on June 6 in London -- each got their very own bassinet. George carried one, Amal got help carrying the other. It's been a pretty good year for the Clooneys -- besides the twins, George's Casamigos tequila company sold for $1 BILLION back in June. Welcome to the good life, kids. (TMZ)
Ben Affleck did his best to blend in with the crowd during a 4th of July parade, but it didn't work ... at all. Ben walked with his two of his kids, Sam and Seraphina, in the Pacific Palisades parade ... looks like he didn't get the blue shirt memo. Ben's ex, Jennifer Garner, was there watching from the sideline with daughter Violet. The parade has been a family tradition for years and looks like it's gonna stay that way. It's been 2 years since the two split but they've been doing the co-parenting thing, recently taking a family trip to the Bahamas. (TMZ)
Emma Watson got the adrenaline juices flowing hard over the weekend with a little skydiving. The "Beauty and the Beast" star hit up Skydive San Diego Saturday and strapped on for a jump from 13,000 feet. It was a tandem jump ... so no need for Emma to get certified or anything, but she looked like a total pro judging from how she stuck the landing. We're told after hitting the ground, Emma hugged a mystery man but there wasn't much affection beyond that. Also ... witnesses tell us a few fans recognized Emma and asked to take pics, but she politely declined. (TMZ)
TMZ Sports has obtained the Lawrence Taylor DUI video from the night he crashed into a cop car on a Florida highway ... and it shows the NFL legend was wobbly and confused before having a medical emergency while in handcuffs. Taylor was detained by cops in Sept. in Palm Beach after he slammed his Bentley into a police cruiser and a trailer around 5:30 PM. Officers put Taylor through multiple field sobriety tests -- including walk the line and balance on one foot. You can see in the video ... it did not go well for LT. Taylor was arrested on the spot for DUI -- but while in custody, he started to breath heavy and wail in pain. Cops called an ambulance and LT was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. He recovered and later pled guilty to 1 count of DUI causing injury to person or property. LT was sentenced to 1 year probation and ordered to stay completely sober from drugs and alcohol during that time. (TMZ)
Drew Carey's new girlfriend is a sex therapist who moonlighted as a model on "The Price Is Right" ... the live touring show, though -- not Drew's TV show. Sources tell us Carey met Dr. Amie Nicole Harwick just over a month ago at a house party. They started dating soon after and are now official -- they went to a soccer game in Portland, and goofed around on the field. Drew's a huge soccer fan and the good doc seemed impressed with his seats. The 36-year-old therapist is also the author of the book, "The New Sex Bible for Women." Carey was previously engaged to Nicole Jaracz, but they split up in 2012 before making it to the altar. If Drew need some motivation to make this one work out -- check her degree. Not to mention her modeling portfolio ... (TMZ)
Paris Hilton and Kelly Osbourne's broker who specializes in tiny dogs has been accused in a police report of "fraud as result of a scam." The customer who filed the report tells us she bought a teacup Maltese from Betty's Teacup Puppies for $7,150 May 23, and assured the pooch would be delivered by June 1. She says time was of the essence because she was giving the dog to her brother who was leaving the country. The woman says the broker reneged when she called and said the dog was too small to deliver by the deadline. So, the customer demanded her money back the broker allegedly told her to pound sand. The broker admits she couldn't meet the June 1 deadline, but tells us her contracts clearly state no refunds ... if you pay for a dog, you get a dog. She tells us she'll gladly send a dog to the disgruntled customer. (TMZ)
Does The Photo Prove Amelia Earhart Survived Her Final Flight? A newly unearthed photograph suggests there may be a different final chapter to Amelia Earhart's story. The famed pilot, who mysteriously disappeared during her attempted flight around the world in 1937, is a subject of a photograph recently discovered in the national archives by History investigators. While the cause of her disappearance and her whereabouts leading up to her death have been long theorized and speculated, this picture may be the proof many have been waiting for to support conclusions beyond a plane crash. In the picture, a group of people are standing on a dock, including two figures suspected to be Earhart and Fred Noonan, the only other crew member. The photograph was labeled as taken in the Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands, a string of islands under Japanese control at the time the picture was supposedly taken. According to photographic analysts and recognition technology, one figure bares a resemblance to Noonan, particularly in his sharp hairline and mouth while a second figure -- seated at the edge of the dock -- features the signature crop and ensemble of Earhart. In the background, the Japanese survey ship Koshu can be seen towing something 38 feet long -- the same length as Earhart's plane. Many theories suggest Earhart and Noonan were taken prisoners by the Japanese and brought to Saipan, however little is known still about how they died. Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence, a History special, explores the possibilities linked to this new photograph and will premiere Sunday night. (Eonline)
Music
We've never seen this side of Courtney Stodden! The blonde bombshell debuted her new music video for her song "Glass of Wine" on Monday, July 3, exclusively to Us Weekly. The video, which she recorded in Malibu, features the sultry personality in lingerie and a loose-fitting robe singing while playing the piano. Of course, a glass of red wine is prominent throughout the video. "This is more than a passion project for me ... this is a reaction to how dark Hollywood can be," the 22-year-old tells Us. "It's an emotional journey and I'm excited to show people a side nobody has ever seen." Stodden, who split with husband Doug Hutchison, 57, earlier this year after 6 years of marriage, sorrowfully sings in the video: "As I sit here with my glass of wine, thoughts of you sitting on my mind." She continues, "All my thoughts are coming out through this glass of wine." The video also marks the first time that Stodden is going by the stage name Holly Woodland. As Us Weekly previously revealed, the model dropped the holiday-themed "Mistletoe Bikini" music video last December. In one shot, the Celebrity Big Brother U.K. alum was pictured dressed in a scantily clad outfit, seductively licking a candy cane. The more risque visuals were inspired by Stodden's lifelong crush on St. Nick. (US Weekly)
Here's Fat Joe telling TMZ Sports about the time he almost got the HELL KICKED OUTTA HIM by Roy Jones Jr. ... and it was all over one of Joe's most favorite rap lines. You might remember Ja Rule's 2004 hit "New York" which featured Joe and contained a line where the rapper makes reference to Roy's career struggles at the time, having been KO'd by Antonio Tarver. "Even Roy Jones was forced to lean back," went the line. Roy was none too pleased about the line -- which he interpreted as a diss -- and according to Joe actually threatened to beat the hell outta him, although in the end cooler heads prevailed. Joe says they're all on good terms now. We reached out to Roy about the whole thing ... and he confirmed to us it's 100% true, saying he was "furious" at the time ... but he's let it go. So, all is well ... now listen to the track. It's still fire! (TMZ)
The Dance Video for Liam Payne & Quavo's 'Strip That Down'. There was one rule of One Direction club: no dancing. But now that Liam Payne is set free, he's getting his freak on. The singer released a dance-centric video for his Quavo collabo, "Strip That Down," in which a group of five dancers wearing all-white outfits bust out all the moves to the slinky single on the same all-white background as the original clip. Check it out: And in case you somehow missed it, here's the original clip for the song, featuring what appear to be the same dancers, but also way more Liam pointing at the camera. (Billboard)
Iron Maiden Unveil New 'Hallowed' Beer Brand. Drink up, Iron Maiden has another new beer to pour. The veteran British heavy metal group is throwing its considerable muscle behind Hallowed, a bottled ale which is bound to flow at pubs and parties across the U.K. from October. British family business Robinsons is brewing the Belgian style beer, which will come in limited edition 330ml bottles with an image of the iconic mascot Eddie on the label, robed in traditional monk attire (apparently a nod to the Trappist monastic brewing tradition in Belgium). Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson gave the drink the thumbs-up. "What makes this brew pretty special is that we're adopting a Belgian yeast for the first time," he says in a statement. "I'm a big fan of Belgian beers, so I jumped at the chance to brew my own. While I get very excited about experimenting with new formulas and ingredients, the thing about Belgian beer is that it's as much a way of life as it is a drink. We've tried to bottle that philosophy in Hallowed, albeit with a British twist." At 6.0% ABV, Hallowed isn't too heavy. Though true fans will rue the missed opportunity to set its alcohol content at 6.66%. The new beverage comes off the back of Iron Maiden's Trooper, which has sold more than 15 million pints since it was first served back in 2013, while the band who gave us "Wasted Years" has also dabbled with limited edition beers Trooper 666 and Red 'N' Black. Fans eager to sample the new drop will need to get in quick. It'll be sold for just four months, with details to be announced in due course at the social media accounts for Iron Maiden Beer and Robinsons Brewery. Iron Maiden is on the final, U.S. leg of their world tour in support of The Book of Souls, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. (Billboard)
Miguel Teases New Single on 'GGN' With Snoop Dogg. It's been awhile since we've heard any new tunes from Miguel. But luckily during a visit on Snoop Dogg's GGN show on Monday (July 3), the singer-songwriter revealed that new music is mostly definitely on its way. During the duo's 20-minute pow wow, Miguel spilled the details on his forthcoming projects and even previewed one of his next singles. [readmore: "Right now, [I'm] just wrapping up a project. I feel like I've been creating three projects simultaneously. So the one that's the most complete is kind of what I'm wrapping up now," Miguel said of what's in store. The "Adorn" singer then proceeded to play a sneak preview of one song. It was only a snippet, but the new track is definitely a feel-good anthem with a hypnotic beat and a range of melodious notes. Unfortunately, he didn't announce the title or release date for the song, but hopefully it's coming soon. "I need this on my DJ playlist," Snoop told Miguel. It will be exciting to finally get a new project from Miguel this year. It's been two years since, the singer dropped 2015's Wildheart. In recent months, he has come back to the music scene, featuring on RL Grime's single "Stay For It" and his collaborated song with Dua Lipa, "Lost in the Light." But fans are most likely itching for new solo records. Let's hope that Miguel drops this single or the whole project sooner than later. (Billboard)
Movies
Annette Bening Named President of Venice International Jury. Festival director Alberto Barbera says it was time to "break with a long list of male presidents." Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right, Being Julie, American Beauty, Bugsy) will head up the international competition jury of the upcoming Venice International Film Festival. Bening has been nominated for an Academy Award four times. Over her 30-year career in the industry, she has won two Golden Globes, a SAG award and a BAFTA among other honors. She recently appeared in a critically-acclaimed performance in Mike Mills' 20th Century Women. Her upcoming films include Michael Mayer's The Seagull, Paul McGuigan's Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, and Dan Fogelman's Life Itself. "It was time to break with a long list of male presidents and invite a brilliant, talented and inspiring woman to chair our international competition jury," said festival director Alberto Barbera, whose jury has not had a female head in more than a decade. "I am extremely happy that Annette Bening has accepted this role, which she will carry out by virtue of her stature, her intellect and the talents she has manifested over the course of her career, in Hollywood, Europe and on the stage." "Hers is a career marked by always interesting, often daring choices," continued Barbera. "A sophisticated and instinctive actress, able to portray complex shadings of character, Annette Bening brings to her roles an understating, a warmth and a natural elegance that makes watching her films a wonderful and ever enriching experience." Added Bening: "I'm honored to be asked to serve as the President of the jury for this year's Venice Film Festival. I look forward to seeing the movies and working with my fellow jury members to celebrate the best of this year's cinema from all over the world." Bening, along with eight fellow jurors will award the following prizes: Golden Lion for best film, Silver Lion for best director, Silver Lion grand jury prize, Coppa Volpi for best actor and actress, award for best screenplay, special jury prize, and the Marcello Mastroianni award for best new young actor or actress. Last year American Beauty director Sam Mendes headed the jury, awarding the Golden Lion to Lav Diaz for The Woman Who Left. Tom Ford won the grand jury prize for Nocturnal Animals, and Emma Stone won best actress for La La Land. Stone later went on to win the best actress Academy Award for her role. The 74th Venice International Film Festival will run Aug. 30-Sept. 9. The full festival lineup will be announced on July 27. (Hollywood Reporter)
China Box Office Remains Sluggish in 2017, Despite Big Hollywood Gains. The market expanded just 3.7 percent in the first half of the year, with imported movies claiming 61 percent of revenue -- the widest margin in five years. Anemic growth remains the worrying trend at the once booming Chinese box office. In the first half of 2017, movie ticket revenue in China rose just 3.7 percent, totaling 25.5 billion yuan (3.8 billion) compared to 24.6 billion yuan over the same period last year, according to Beijing-based research firm Ent Group. The sluggish start to the year is consistent with China's shock correction in 2016, when full-year box-office growth plummeted to just under 4 percent after expanding by a yearly average of 35 percent for half a decade. Reflecting the downbeat data, PriceWaterhouseCoopers recently revised its forecast for China's ascendance over North America as the world's largest movie market, pushing back the date to 2021 from 2017. The news for U.S. studio execs was much rosier, however, as Hollywood's Chinese earnings in the first half of 2017 were in line with former boom times. Revenue from imported movies climbed 34.5 percent, hitting 15.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) from January to June, compared to 11.6 billion yuan in the first half of last year. The gains by overseas film companies matched an influx of foreign-made product. Working to ward off an embarrassing overall decline, Chinese regulators eased restrictions on Hollywood imports in the first half, allowing 57 foreign films to be released during the period -- 14 more than last year. International movies claimed 61 percent of ticket sales in China in the first half, by far the biggest margin since 2012. Last year, foreign titles took just 47 percent. The biggest drag on growth, indeed, was the conspicuous absence of Chinese hits. The biggest local title of the year so far was Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga, which earned just shy of 1.8 billion yuan ($255 million at the time of release) over Chinese New Year in January -- a sizable haul for sure, but a far cry from Stephen Chow's The Mermaid, which took an astonishing 3.4 billion yuan last year ($528 million at 2016 exchange rates). The second quarter was especially bereft of successful local movies -- among the 10 best-selling films in the quarter, only two were made in China. Among the many high-performing imported movies, 2017's three biggest thus far are: Universal's The Fate of the Furious ($388 million), Aamir Khan's surprise Bollywood smash hit Dangal ($190 million), and Transformers: The Last Knight ($206 million and counting). China's state media have tried to put a more optimistic gloss on the H1 results. Since the start of 2017, regulators began counting the service fees charged by online ticketing platforms as box-office revenue. Regulators say including the fees more accurately reflects consumer spending on movie going, since over 80 percent of all tickets are now bought online through such services. Many analysts, meanwhile, have argued that the inclusion is a blatant attempt to juice the numbers during a downturn, and that ticketing service fees aren't an appropriate piece of box office, since the various stakeholders in a film's success -- producers, distributors, cinemas -- do not share in this revenue. Using the enhanced numbers, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said Monday that the nation's box office had "already seen a year-on-year growth of 10.5 percent in the first half of 2017." (Hollywood Reporter)
Maxine Peake Joins Mike Leigh's 'Peterloo'. The actress has joined the ensemble cast for the upcoming period drama, backed by Amazon Studios, which is currently shooting. Maxine Peake-the British stage and screen star whose credits includes The Theory of Everything, Silk and recent acclaimed hard-hitting BBC series Three Girls-has joined the ensemble cast of Mike Leigh's upcoming period drama Peterloo, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The film-which is currently shooting-tells the story of a pivotal moment in U.K. history, when the British army attacked a large group of protestors in Manchester who had gathered to demand parliamentary reform amid a period of severe economic depression. Fifteen people were killed and 400-500 were injured after cavalry charged the crowd with their sabres drawn. The shockwaves were felt across the country, and one of the effects was the creation of The Guardian newspaper (then The Manchester Guardian), which was born out of the immediate crackdown on radicalism. Peake, from Manchester herself, seems a perfect fit for the film, having spoken at several events commemorating the Peterloo massacre and long been a campaigner for British working class history. In 2013, as part of the Manchester International Festival, she recited Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem The Mask of Anarchy, written about Peterloo. Amazon Studios is backing the project, having come aboard for North American rights in Cannes last year, with other financing from Film4, the BFI and Lipsync. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales. Leigh-who is remaining tight-lipped on the Peterloo's other cast members-is reuniting on his 21st feature film (the follow up to the Oscar contender Mr. Turner) with producer Georgine Lowe, cinematographer Dick Pope, production designer Suzy Davies, costume designer Jacqueline Durran, hair and makeup artist Christine Blundell, editor Jon Gregory and composer Gary Yershon. Gail Egan is exec producing. Shooting on Peterloo is set to continue until August. Peake is also set to appear in upcoming films Funny Cow alongside Paddy Considine, and Fanny Lye Deliver'd with Freddie Fox. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
Hawaii Five-0's Daniel Dae Kim on His Decision to Exit CBS Drama: "The Path to Equality Is Rarely Easy." Daniel Dae Kim has broken his silence about his public exit from CBS's Hawaii Five-0. Kim and Grace Park's exits from the long-running procedural were announced by CBS in a statement from the network and executive producer Peter M. Lenkov. Both had been with the reboot of the classic series since its start. "We are so appreciative of Daniel and Grace's enormous talents, professional excellence and the aloha spirit they brought to each and every one of our 168 episodes," CBS said in a statement. "They've helped us build an exciting new Hawaii Five-0, and we wish them all the best and much success in their next chapters. Mahalo and a hui hou... " According to reports, the actors left following a failed salary negotiation. "I will not be returning to Hawaii Five-0 when production starts next week. Though I made myself available to come back, CBS and I weren't able to agree to terms on a new contract, so I made the difficult choice not to continue," Kim said in a lengthy Facebook post. "As sad as it feels to say goodbye, what I feel most is gratitude. I am so deeply thankful to our crew, writers and everyone associated with the show -- and especially the cast, who have been nothing but supportive through this entire process. They and the crew have been my second family for seven years and I wish them nothing but success for season 8 -- and beyond," he wrote. Kim, who also starred on Lost, went on to thank the network and executive producers Lenkov, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. "I will always be grateful for their faith in me to bring Chin Ho Kelly to life. As an Asian American actor, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find opportunities at all, let alone play a well-developed, three dimensional character like Chin Ho. I will miss him sincerely," Kim said. "What made him even more special is that he was a representative of a place my family and I so dearly love. It has been nothing short of an honor to be able to showcase the beauty and people of Hawaii every week, and I couldn't be prouder to call these islands home. To my local community, mahalo nui loa." Kim thanked the fans for sticking with him and for their outpouring of support. "I'll end by saying that though transitions can be difficult, I encourage us all to look beyond the disappointment of this moment to the bigger picture. The path to equality is rarely easy," he said. Kim is an executive producer on ABC's The Good Doctor, debuting the fall. Hawaii Five-0 returns this fall for season eight and the exits will be addressed. "I will never forget meeting Daniel while still writing the pilot and being certain there was no other actor who I'd want to play Chin Ho Kelly," Lenkov said in a statement when the exits were announced. "Needless to say, Daniel has been an instrumental part of the success of Hawaii Five-0 over the past seven seasons and it has personally been a privilege to know him. Grace's presence gave Hawaii Five-0 a beauty and serenity to each episode. She was the consummate collaborator, helping build her character from Day 1. They will always be ohana to us, we will miss them and we wish them both all the best." Hawaii Five-0 stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Masi Oka, Chi McBride and Jorge Garcia. The new season debuts Friday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. on CBS. (Eonline)
Will & Grace's New Teaser Has the Gang Up to Their Old Tricks. Jack, Karen, Will and Grace are back together again and it looks like nothing's changed. The stars of Will & Grace -- Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes -- came together for a new promo touting the show's return to air 11 years after ending in May 2006. Jack and Karen are making out and slapping each other, Grace is loving the spotlight and even the & from Will & Grace gets a chance to shine. "11 years and a few [martini emojis] later, they're back! #WillAndGrace, Thursdays this Fall on @nbc," the show's official Twitter shared. Will & Grace returns to life for a 12-episode run starting Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on NBC. The reunion follows the cast's election PSA that was done in secret, but reignited the public's affection for the long-running series. If you're a fan of the show you might be wondering how exactly the series will address that finale that jumped around in time and revealed Will and Grace drifted, only to reunite in their old age. It'll be addressed, creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan told E! News. "I would say this: We've just come out of a story camp that lasted about three months. That's where we break and write all of the episodes that we will be filming in August or whenever we start," Mutchnick told us. "I will tell you that almost more than anything, more time went into figuring out how are we going to reintroduce the show and what were the rules going to be and how were we going to address that finale." "And where are they in their lives," Kohan added. "And we can tell you this much: They are very much living in that apartment in 2017 in the month of September, on the 28th of September at 9:00," Mutchnick said. "That's when you're going to meet up with them again and they are going to explain to you exactly what happened so you know the rules moving forward and you won't feel like anything is left open." Will & Grace returns Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)
Co-stars say Fred Savage won't hang out with them. Keegan-Michael Key and the cast of the new Netflix series "Friends From College" couldn't get co-star Fred Savage to socialize when the cameras weren't rolling. "Good old Kevin Arnold," Key told us, referring to the name of Savage's childhood character on "The Wonder Years." "As lovely and delightful as he is, has a very strict policy of not hanging out with his cast members." When the director yelled, "Cut! We're wrapped .?.?. he goes back to his hotel room and watches prime time television all night." But Key concedes, "Not a bad policy." Billy Eichner added, "He really creates boundaries. He's like 'Nope, I've had enough of you.'" And Nat Faxon chimed in, "He basically said, 'We'll be friends on-set, and when we wrap I will no longer be your friend,' and he was not kidding. I made it my purpose all season to get him to hang out with me because he's such a fantastic, lovely hilarious guy .?.?. I succeeded, twice." Faxon figures, "He's such a pro and has been in the business longer than anybody, so he's like, 'I'm going to do my thing, and then go home.'" (PageSix)
Brandi Glanville is taping the new season of reality therapy show "Marriage Boot Camp" -- with her father. We're told the former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and podcast host -- who has had a somewhat rocky love life -- hopes to resolve some "issues" involving her dad. This upcoming season of the WE tv show is a special "family edition." Glanville was married to actor Eddie Cibrian before he left her for LeAnn Rimes, then she dated English playboy Calum Best and, as Page Six reported in October, had a fling with female celebrity chef Cat Cora. Also on the show will be "Teen Mom's" Amber Portwood and her boyfriend Matt Baier. (Page Six)
Russia's 'Masha and the Bear' Franchise Finds China Distribution Deal. Under the agreement with Shanghai Media Group, a joint venture will be created to promote and distribute the animation franchise in the country. One of Russia's best known international animation franchises, Masha i medved (Masha and the Bear), has struck a distribution deal with China's Shanghai Media Group. Under the agreement, brokered by the Russian distribution company SPB TV, a joint venture will be created to promote and distribute Masha and the Bear in China. "The main goal of the agreement will be coordinated efforts for distribution of the animation series Masha and the Bear and comprehensive promotion of the brand on the entire territory on China," SPB TV said in a statement on its web site. A spokeswoman for Animaccord, the production company for Masha and the Bear, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the deal has been signed. So far, the series has not had official distribution in China, but episodes of the series have popped up on illegitimate web sites and pirated merchandise has been available. Premiering in 2009 on Russian TV, the children's animated series is currently distributed in many countries of the world. Most recently, deals for India and New Zealand were struck. In 2015, the producers' revenue from licensing agreements and sales of merchandise related to the franchise accounted for $225 million, with more than half of the total revenue coming from outside Russia. Before the signing of the deal with Shanghai Media Group, Europe and South America were the main foreign markets for Masha and the Bear. (Hollywood Reporter)
George Lopez's 'Car Dogs' Gives University Students Entree to Hollywood. The film, which is just hitting iTunes and Amazon VOD, provided 85 internships and practical filmmaking experience. Joining the list of new movies like The Promise and The Boss Baby hitting iTunes and Amazon VOD on Tuesday is a low-budget feature called Car Dogs, which may not have made much impact at the box office but which ultimately could launch a number of Hollywood careers. That's because the film, funded by private equity in partnership with Arizona State University, employed a professional crew that was assisted by 85 student interns as well as another 15 recent ASU grads, providing them with the beginnings of a resume that could help open film industry doors for them. Car Dogs, set in a car dealership, stars George Lopez, Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer alongside Patrick J. Adams (Suits) and Josh Hopkins (Quantico). It was directed by Adam Collis, who has been teaching film at ASU since 2009, commuting between his home in Los Angeles and the school in Tempe, Ariz. He'd been teaching directing and also supervising the school's capstone classes, in which students shoot senior thesis films. And he'd also begun setting up video conference and Skype sessions to introduce his students to Hollywood figures like director Jason Reitman and producer Bill Mechanic. When Jake Pinholtzer, associate dean for Policy and Initiatives at ASU's Herberger Institute for Design and Media, suggested to Collis that he put all the film students on various capstone projects to give them all practical experience, Collis recalls, "I jokingly said, 'Why don't we just make a feature film and give them all internships?'" As it happened, one of Collis' former students, Mark Edward King, had written a script for a short film about a team of car salesmen trying to sell more cars than they'd ever sold before in a single day, and Collis had encouraged King to develop it into a feature script. The idea had the advantage of requiring just one location, and, additionally, Collis says, "Everybody in America has a relationship with buying a car. In America, it's baseball, apple pie and buying a car. Buying cars in America is a universal experience, and this is the real deal. It's not a caricature about schlocky car salesmen." Another ASU grad put Collis in touch with casting director John Jackson, who frequently works with Alexander Payne, who came aboard and started lining up talent, making a number of suggestions that helped shape the film. "We took a role that had been written for a young 25-year-old Ben Affleck-type -- a hot, white-stud cocky car salesman -- and John inspired me to think out of the box," recounts Collis, "to think of it as one for a 50-year-old Mexican, and I just knew George Lopez would be perfect for this movie." Collis found further support from F. Miguel Valenti, Lincoln Professor of Ethics and the Arts at ASU, who founded the school's film production program, and a financial backer in James Miller, who lined up the private equity behind the project that shot on an abandoned car lot in Scottsdale. Collis declined to divulge the budget for the film, which was shot under SAG's Low Budget Film Agreement. "It was not a lot of money, but it wasn't a micro-budget either," he says. Ultimately, Collis was able to secure a theatrical release for Car Dogs by striking a deal with the Arizona-based Harkins Theatres chain, which opened the film in 11 theaters in and around Phoenix earlier this year. The pic has since gone on to Dish Network and DirectTV before making its debut on iTunes and Amazon. But while Car Dogs didn't make much of a mark at the box office, Collis says it has served its larger purpose, since several of the students who worked on it have since gone on to find employment in Hollywood as they begin to stake out their own careers. Impressed by the experiment, ASU president Michael Crow, who Collis credits for encouraging "an incredible culture of innovation and entrepreneurship," and the school's dean, Steve Tepper, formally established ASU Film Spark at the ASU California Center in Santa Monica to connect Hollywood filmmakers and executives with ASU students through a series of programs. "Our mission," says Collis, "is to help Arizona State University become a valuable part of the entertainment industry." (Hollywood Reporter)
Maria Menounos and her fiance Keven Undergaro are moving forward with their plans to start a family via in vitro fertilization, despite the TV and SiriusXM host's recent surgery to remove a brain tumor. Menounos reveals in the new issue of PEOPLE that she was diagnosed this spring with a benign brain tumor the size of a golf ball that was pressing on her facial nerves. The 39-year-old underwent a successful, complex surgery to remove the meningioma on June 8 -- her birthday. At the same time, Menounos has been helping to care for her mother, Litsa, who is battling stage 4 brain cancer. Menounos, who has been vocal about her IVF treatments in the past, tells PEOPLE that she and Undergaro still "want to have a family" -- and that she's "lucky" she wasn't pregnant when the tumor was discovered. "When you are pregnant, [tumors] grow fast," she says. "The greatest thing that has happened out of all of this is you see God's hands all around," she adds, tearing up. She also praises Undergaro, 51, who popped the question in March 2016 after 19 years of dating, for taking care of her through her health crisis. "He'd nap with me so I didn't feel like I was alone, never left my side, never left the hospital, never got tired, never nothing," she says. Since the crisis, Menounos, who has worked for E!, Extra and Access Hollywood, appeared on Dancing with the Stars and wrestled for the WWE, says her perspective on life is "completely different now." "When something like this happens, it's so important to have people in your life that are going to lift you up. I was lucky enough to have that army around me." (People)
Charlie Hunnam assumed the role of Don Vito Corleone for his best friend's son. The "Sons of Anarchy" star got suited up Monday for a visit to St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Sherman Oaks ... for the baptism of the son of his publicist, Jennifer Betts, and friend, Jack Conroy. Charlie's now Jack Jr.'s godfather, and it's not the first time he's played a pivotal role in the couple's life. Charlie first introduced the couple and even played best man at their wedding back in 2013. #ClientoftheYear. (TMZ)
Kelly Clarkson Shuts Down Person Who Tells Her She's "Fat." You go, Kelly Clarkson! The 35-year-old Grammy-winning pop star and new The Voice coach posted on Twitter on the Fourth of July a heartfelt, patriotic and humble message, saying, "Thank u 2 every person in service 4 protecting all of us and cheers to every person who fought for us to experience freedom & independence." "You're fat," user @Euger23 replied. "....and still f--king awesome," Clarkson responded. Some of her fans immediately confronted the person, who then directed his insults towards them. Clarkson has often been criticized over her weight, especially online. In 2015, Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace and radio host Mike Gallagher had mocked Clarkson over her weight on The Mike Gallagher Show. Wallace said the singer "could stay off the deep dish pizza for a little while." Gallagher said, "Holy cow, did she blow up," and also poked fun at his own weight. Wallace later said in a statement to E! News, "I sincerely apologize to Kelly Clarkson for my offensive comment. I admire her remarkable talent and that should have been the focus of any discussion about her." Gallagher wrote on his website, "Tubby Mike is the last person in the world who should bring up anyone's weight. I couldn't possibly feel any worse than I do for making an observation that led to the conclusion that I 'fat-shamed' this talented and classy entertainer. It was a really stupid thing for me to do." On The Ellen DeGeneres Show that year, Clarkson talked about being body shamed in general. "It's like, you just are who you are. We are who we are -- whatever size," she said. "It doesn't mean that we're gonna be that forever." (Eonline)
Tara Reid wants to put an end to body shaming and bullying -- for others and for herself. Reid says that she's dealt with plenty of body shaming during her years in the spotlight. "I've definitely felt bullying in my life. With media or press or just different things in my life," she tells E! News. "People always say I don't eat. I eat all the time. They call me scary skinny. You're my friend; everyone knows I eat more than anyone. I'm just a thin girl." Reid stars in the new movie Worthless, about the hazards of bullying, and says that she could easily relate to the characters in the film. "Bullying is such a big deal these days and it's something I very much personalized with," she says. "In my life, I've had a lot of bullying and I know what that feels like and how much it hurt." "The body shaming that is going on right now is to a degree that is so bad for girls and I really relate to that and I understand that so this movie meant a lot to me." Christie Brinkley's Girls Alexa and Sailor Reveal How They've Conquered Bullies and Body Shamers (and still love carbs!) Christie Brinkley's daughters joined together to fight off a torrent of online bullies, who compared the duo to their famous mother. Reid points out that there are more forms of bullying than ever before, especially with the rise of social media. "What people don't realize is that there's so much kinds of bullying: Social media bullying, cyber bullying, physical bullying, mental bullying," she says. "There's different kinds and today it's so bad that people are committing suicide and overdosing." The actress spoke out about bullying back in 2008, after unflattering bikini photos from a trip to the beach went up online. "You know, it wasn't really the pictures that hurt me. The comments hurt me. People wrote, 'Look at that flabby old actress,' 'She used to be so hot,' 'She's gross.' It's like, gosh, come on. I'm not fat," she told PEOPLE at the time. "I'm 5'5? and 105 lbs. I'm not too skinny. I'm not too fat. I'm always dieting. I fluctuate, like, 7 lbs. all the time," she continued. "But I'd rather eat what I want and then have to be very good for a couple of weeks. That way you don't really miss anything. It's a seesaw." (People)
Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne are celebrating a milestone. The couple reached the 35-year mark in their marriage on Tuesday and Sharon, 64, commemorated the occasion with a heartfelt tribute (along with an awesome photo) on Twitter. "Thank you Ozzy for 35 crazy & wonderful years," she wrote. "You carry my heart in yours, and it's getting older and needs protecting. Happy Anniversary." The couple married in 1982, and share three children together: Kelly, 32, Jack, 31, and Aimee, 33. Kelly congratulated her parents on Instagram and posted a photo from her parents' wedding day, featuring a blonde Sharon and Ozzy. "Happy 35th anniversary mum and dad thank you for showing me what true love really is!" Kelly wrote in the caption. Sharon opened up about how she fell back in love with her husband after his infidelity nearly shattered their marriage. Last May, The Talk co-host and the Black Sabbath musician split after 33 years of marriage when reports surfaced that Ozzy, 68, had an affair, allegedly with his hairstylist. "Thirty-five years with someone is a hell of a long time. And I think I fell out of love with my husband and then fell back again," Sharon admitted while on the show. She noted it was Ozzy's intentionality in bettering himself that helped her find love again. "Probably, really, just months ago because he was trying so hard to be a better person -- desperately trying, working his program, working with his therapist every day and trying so hard," said Sharon. "I just had a newfound love," she continued, and added, "and I respected him because he's seriously trying to be a better person." Sharon Osbourne Addresses Ozzy Osbourne Cheating Rumors on The Talk Sharon Osbourne made her first public appearance on Tuesday amid rumors of divorce and infidelity by Ozzy Osbourne, her husband of 33 years. The couple renewed their vows this past Mother's Day in Las Vegas. "For me, this was actually our real wedding day. This is the one that I will remember. Sharon and I have been through so much, and this honestly feels like a new beginning," Ozzy, 68, told Hello! Magazine about the intimate ceremony. "I made a huge mistake," he continued. "Without Sharon, I am nothing. I love her. I can honestly say that I have never loved anybody other than my wife." (People)
Tupac Dumped Madonna Because She's White, His Prison Letter Reveals. Tupac's relationship with Madonna ran deeper than anyone knew. In 2015, the Material Girl made headlines after revealing she had dated the rapper three years before his death in 1995. "One time I was mad at [David Letterman] when I said the f-word a lot, but the rest of the time was good," Madonna told Howard Stern. "I was in a weird mood that day. I was dating Tupac Shakur at the time, and he had got me all riled up about life in general. So, when I went on the show I was feeling very gangsta." Later that year, the rapper's brother, Mopreme Shakur, told Vlad TV he helped facilitate the romance. "She gave me a note to give to him; I was just happy she was giving him a note. Everybody was there. I went over and gave it to him. He was about the business and then they linked up. I would take him to her house and s--t when we got back to L.A. Yeah..." he recalled. "They were a thing for a minute." (In 2014, Rosie Perez told Wendy Williams she played a role in introducing the former couple.) On Wednesday, TMZ published portions of a letter -- written Jan. 15, 1995 at 4:30 a.m. -- that Tupac wrote to Madonna while serving time for sexual assault at Clinton Correctional Facility. Gotta Have Rock and Roll will auction off the letter between July 19-28 with a starting bid of $100,000; according to TMZ, the last letter written by the rapper fetched more than $170,000. TMZ redacted four chunks from Tupac's letter. The late rapper started by calling Madonna "M," saying, "I've waited a long time 2 finally write this mainly because I was struggling to find all the answers that I wouldn't leave any unanswered questions. First and foremost, I must apologize to you because like you said I haven't been the kind of friends I know I am capable of being." Later in the letter, he explained that he broke up with the "Human Nature" singer because of her race. "Can u understand that? For you to be seen with a black man wouldn't in any way jeopardize your career. If anything it would make you seem that much more open & exciting," he wrote. "But for me at least in my previous perception I felt due to my 'image' I would be letting down half of the people who made me what I thought I was. I never meant to hurt you." Tupac went on to reference an interview where Madonna had supposedly said, "'I'm off to rehabilitate all the rappers & basketball players,'" or something like that. "Those words cut me deep seeing how I had never known you to be with any rappers besides myself. It was at this moment out of hurt & a natural instinct to strike back and defend my heart & ego that I said a lot of things." After another redacted paragraph, Tupac continued to share his side of the story with Madonna. "Can you feel me? In the time since, as u can see, I have grown both spiritually and mentally. It no longer matters how I'm perceived," he said. "Please understand my previous position as that of a young man with limited experience with an extremely famous sex symbol." Later in the later, the hip-hop heavyweight wrote, "I offer my friendship once again this time my stronger & focused. If you are still interested I would like to further discuss this with you but some of it couldn't wait. I felt compelled to tell you...just in case anything happened 2 me." Tupac ended his letter with a warning for the Queen of Pop. "Please be careful Madonna. Everyone is not as honorable as they seem there are those whose hearts bleed with envy & evil. They would not hesitate to do you harm!" Tupac wrote. "Let my 6 bullets be proof of that!" After signing the letter, he added a final message: "I don't know how you feel about visiting me but if you could find it in your heart I would love to speak face to face with you," Tupac, who was fatally shot, said. "It's funny but this experience has taught me to not take time 4 granted." (Eonline)
Rob Kardashian and Blac Chyna are at war ... she's claimed he beat her, he's claiming she's hooking up with a bunch of guys to torture him. Chyna claims Rob beat her up and then tried intimidating her to stay quiet or else she'd incur the wrath of the Kardashian family. Just 2 weeks ago it looked like they got back together, but now it's off the hinges. Rob claims his baby mama sent him a pic of her vagina Tuesday -- as if to entice him -- and then hooked up with a rapper named Ferrari. Our Ferrari sources say he's been open about his fling with Chyna, so it sounds like Rob isn't dreaming this up. What's more ... Ferrari says he's been hooking up with Chyna for several months, which overlaps with the time she reconciled with Rob. We're told the trigger for the war is all over Chyna and Ferrari. Rob is now going wild, threatening Chyna that he'll block her from even seeing their child ... allegedly because she's doing drugs. (TMZ)
Aaron Rajman, a teammate of several UFC superstars at the American Top Team (ATT) gym, was murdered during a home invasion in Boca Raton, Florida ... local authorities announced on Tuesday. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office say several men got into an argument with Rajman after entering the fighter's house late Monday night ... firing at least one shot before fleeing the scene. Rajman, who just turned 25, passed away the next day. Detectives told the Sun Sentinel they're treating this as a homicide. There are currently no motives or suspects in the case. Rajman was famous for being one of the few orthodox Jews in MMA. He often talked about his religion publicly -- though it's unclear if he was targeted for that reason. A local fight promoter says Rajman's teammates at ATT are in shock. UFC champions Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jedrzejczyk, as well as former heavyweight champ Junior dos Santos, are some of the gym's higher-profile members. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Gus Kenworthy Reveals What It's Really Like to Pose Nude for ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue. Gus Kenworthy was feeling cheeky Wednesday. In celebration of ESPN the Magazine's annual Body Issue being released online, the Olympic silver medalist appeared on Good Morning America -- via satellite in Denver -- to reveal what it's really like to pose naked on camera. "I was 100 percent nude," he said of his pictorial. "I was naked for the photo shoot for like six hours. It was crazy!" Though he's in peak physical condition (and he's posed nude a few times on Instagram before), Kenworthy admitted, "I was definitely nervous. I had reservations. But I was also really excited to be a part of it. I've always been a fan of The Body Issue. I think it's such a beautiful issue that they do -- and it showcases so many different types of bodies and athletes -- so it was an honor." Kenworthy got a spray tan and a beard trim before disrobing on Mammoth Mountain in California. Before the shoot, he recalled, "My mom said, 'You're so brave,' which is maybe not the reaction that I wanted. She was like, 'I wouldn't do it. 'I was like, 'Well, hopefully they don't ask you!'" In the weeks leading up to the shoot, "I tried to kind of stick with what I had been doing, just in my normal training and my normal life; I didn't want to do a complete 180. I definitely was in the gym twice a day. My diet, especially for the week right before the shoot, was really, really strict, like no salt, no sugar, dairy. It was basically like I was eating ice cubes." Lara Spencer then tried to delicately ask Kenworthy about penile shrinkage. "I've been skiing out in Colorado before. It's awfully cold out there," Spencer said. "Did they have, um, heaters?" "They had a robe that I could put on, but it was freezing. The photo editor had already prepped me and she was like, 'Think about poses you can do to hide yourself. Think of creative ways to hide yourself,'" he said. "I got out there in the cold and I was like, 'Don't worry; it'll hide itself.'" ESPN the Magazine profiled 23 athletes for annual issue, including New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman, retired NBA player Isiah Thomas and tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki. Athletes A.J. Andrews, Javier Baez, Kacey Bellamy, Brent Burns, Brianna Decker, Meghan Duggan, Ezekiel Elliott, Kirstie Ennis, Julie Ertz, Zach Ertz, Malakai Fekitoa, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique Lamoureux-Morando, Nneka Ogwumike, Joe Thornton, Alex Rigsby, Ashley Wagner, Michelle Waterson and Novlene Williams-Mills also stripped for ESPN. ESPN the Magazine's Body Issue is on newsstands nationwide Friday. (Eonline)
Celine Dion Poses Naked for Vogue. Here is Celine Dion like you've never seen her before. A photo was posted on Vogue magazine's Instagram page on the Fourth of July, which shows the 49-year-old singer sitting on a plush chair with her arms folded and legs crossed, wearing nothing and clutching a white garment, during a trip to Paris. A glittering golden boot lies on the wood floor beside her. "Here's a little naked fact to ponder while Celine Dion changes looks between shows: for the past five years she has worn haute couture near exclusively for her own performances (in Las Vegas and on her current 'mini-tour' of Europe)," the caption states. "In Vegas, Velcro panels are added to allow for her ribcage to expand or for a quick outfit change," it states. "Micro straps of elasticized chiffon prevent a slit from becoming a sloppy situation mid-squat. Shoes -- always heels, never platforms -- are ordered one size smaller (she is normally a 38) and refitted with metal shanks." "The clothes follow me; I do not follow the clothes," Dion is quoted as saying. She also showcases high fashion looks while out and about; Dion is one of few people who could pull off a look made up of faux leather Givenchy overalls, cream pearl-embroidered Kanye West x Giuseppe Zanotti sandals and crystal-encrusted sunglasses. Naked photos of Dion have never been released before. She did, however, pose topless for V magazine in 2012, wearing a pair of long black gloves while folding her arms over her chest. (Eonline)
When your father's a mega-rich tequila baron, you fly to Italy on a private jet ... even when you're just 1 month old!!! That's how George and Amal Clooney rolled this week ... touching down at an airport Monday in Milan on a sick PJ, with babies Elle and Alexander getting the total VIP treatment. The kiddos -- born on June 6 in London -- each got their very own bassinet. George carried one, Amal got help carrying the other. It's been a pretty good year for the Clooneys -- besides the twins, George's Casamigos tequila company sold for $1 BILLION back in June. Welcome to the good life, kids. (TMZ)
Ben Affleck did his best to blend in with the crowd during a 4th of July parade, but it didn't work ... at all. Ben walked with his two of his kids, Sam and Seraphina, in the Pacific Palisades parade ... looks like he didn't get the blue shirt memo. Ben's ex, Jennifer Garner, was there watching from the sideline with daughter Violet. The parade has been a family tradition for years and looks like it's gonna stay that way. It's been 2 years since the two split but they've been doing the co-parenting thing, recently taking a family trip to the Bahamas. (TMZ)
Emma Watson got the adrenaline juices flowing hard over the weekend with a little skydiving. The "Beauty and the Beast" star hit up Skydive San Diego Saturday and strapped on for a jump from 13,000 feet. It was a tandem jump ... so no need for Emma to get certified or anything, but she looked like a total pro judging from how she stuck the landing. We're told after hitting the ground, Emma hugged a mystery man but there wasn't much affection beyond that. Also ... witnesses tell us a few fans recognized Emma and asked to take pics, but she politely declined. (TMZ)
TMZ Sports has obtained the Lawrence Taylor DUI video from the night he crashed into a cop car on a Florida highway ... and it shows the NFL legend was wobbly and confused before having a medical emergency while in handcuffs. Taylor was detained by cops in Sept. in Palm Beach after he slammed his Bentley into a police cruiser and a trailer around 5:30 PM. Officers put Taylor through multiple field sobriety tests -- including walk the line and balance on one foot. You can see in the video ... it did not go well for LT. Taylor was arrested on the spot for DUI -- but while in custody, he started to breath heavy and wail in pain. Cops called an ambulance and LT was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. He recovered and later pled guilty to 1 count of DUI causing injury to person or property. LT was sentenced to 1 year probation and ordered to stay completely sober from drugs and alcohol during that time. (TMZ)
Drew Carey's new girlfriend is a sex therapist who moonlighted as a model on "The Price Is Right" ... the live touring show, though -- not Drew's TV show. Sources tell us Carey met Dr. Amie Nicole Harwick just over a month ago at a house party. They started dating soon after and are now official -- they went to a soccer game in Portland, and goofed around on the field. Drew's a huge soccer fan and the good doc seemed impressed with his seats. The 36-year-old therapist is also the author of the book, "The New Sex Bible for Women." Carey was previously engaged to Nicole Jaracz, but they split up in 2012 before making it to the altar. If Drew need some motivation to make this one work out -- check her degree. Not to mention her modeling portfolio ... (TMZ)
Paris Hilton and Kelly Osbourne's broker who specializes in tiny dogs has been accused in a police report of "fraud as result of a scam." The customer who filed the report tells us she bought a teacup Maltese from Betty's Teacup Puppies for $7,150 May 23, and assured the pooch would be delivered by June 1. She says time was of the essence because she was giving the dog to her brother who was leaving the country. The woman says the broker reneged when she called and said the dog was too small to deliver by the deadline. So, the customer demanded her money back the broker allegedly told her to pound sand. The broker admits she couldn't meet the June 1 deadline, but tells us her contracts clearly state no refunds ... if you pay for a dog, you get a dog. She tells us she'll gladly send a dog to the disgruntled customer. (TMZ)
Does The Photo Prove Amelia Earhart Survived Her Final Flight? A newly unearthed photograph suggests there may be a different final chapter to Amelia Earhart's story. The famed pilot, who mysteriously disappeared during her attempted flight around the world in 1937, is a subject of a photograph recently discovered in the national archives by History investigators. While the cause of her disappearance and her whereabouts leading up to her death have been long theorized and speculated, this picture may be the proof many have been waiting for to support conclusions beyond a plane crash. In the picture, a group of people are standing on a dock, including two figures suspected to be Earhart and Fred Noonan, the only other crew member. The photograph was labeled as taken in the Jaluit Atoll in the Marshall Islands, a string of islands under Japanese control at the time the picture was supposedly taken. According to photographic analysts and recognition technology, one figure bares a resemblance to Noonan, particularly in his sharp hairline and mouth while a second figure -- seated at the edge of the dock -- features the signature crop and ensemble of Earhart. In the background, the Japanese survey ship Koshu can be seen towing something 38 feet long -- the same length as Earhart's plane. Many theories suggest Earhart and Noonan were taken prisoners by the Japanese and brought to Saipan, however little is known still about how they died. Amelia Earhart: The Lost Evidence, a History special, explores the possibilities linked to this new photograph and will premiere Sunday night. (Eonline)
Music
We've never seen this side of Courtney Stodden! The blonde bombshell debuted her new music video for her song "Glass of Wine" on Monday, July 3, exclusively to Us Weekly. The video, which she recorded in Malibu, features the sultry personality in lingerie and a loose-fitting robe singing while playing the piano. Of course, a glass of red wine is prominent throughout the video. "This is more than a passion project for me ... this is a reaction to how dark Hollywood can be," the 22-year-old tells Us. "It's an emotional journey and I'm excited to show people a side nobody has ever seen." Stodden, who split with husband Doug Hutchison, 57, earlier this year after 6 years of marriage, sorrowfully sings in the video: "As I sit here with my glass of wine, thoughts of you sitting on my mind." She continues, "All my thoughts are coming out through this glass of wine." The video also marks the first time that Stodden is going by the stage name Holly Woodland. As Us Weekly previously revealed, the model dropped the holiday-themed "Mistletoe Bikini" music video last December. In one shot, the Celebrity Big Brother U.K. alum was pictured dressed in a scantily clad outfit, seductively licking a candy cane. The more risque visuals were inspired by Stodden's lifelong crush on St. Nick. (US Weekly)
Here's Fat Joe telling TMZ Sports about the time he almost got the HELL KICKED OUTTA HIM by Roy Jones Jr. ... and it was all over one of Joe's most favorite rap lines. You might remember Ja Rule's 2004 hit "New York" which featured Joe and contained a line where the rapper makes reference to Roy's career struggles at the time, having been KO'd by Antonio Tarver. "Even Roy Jones was forced to lean back," went the line. Roy was none too pleased about the line -- which he interpreted as a diss -- and according to Joe actually threatened to beat the hell outta him, although in the end cooler heads prevailed. Joe says they're all on good terms now. We reached out to Roy about the whole thing ... and he confirmed to us it's 100% true, saying he was "furious" at the time ... but he's let it go. So, all is well ... now listen to the track. It's still fire! (TMZ)
The Dance Video for Liam Payne & Quavo's 'Strip That Down'. There was one rule of One Direction club: no dancing. But now that Liam Payne is set free, he's getting his freak on. The singer released a dance-centric video for his Quavo collabo, "Strip That Down," in which a group of five dancers wearing all-white outfits bust out all the moves to the slinky single on the same all-white background as the original clip. Check it out: And in case you somehow missed it, here's the original clip for the song, featuring what appear to be the same dancers, but also way more Liam pointing at the camera. (Billboard)
Iron Maiden Unveil New 'Hallowed' Beer Brand. Drink up, Iron Maiden has another new beer to pour. The veteran British heavy metal group is throwing its considerable muscle behind Hallowed, a bottled ale which is bound to flow at pubs and parties across the U.K. from October. British family business Robinsons is brewing the Belgian style beer, which will come in limited edition 330ml bottles with an image of the iconic mascot Eddie on the label, robed in traditional monk attire (apparently a nod to the Trappist monastic brewing tradition in Belgium). Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson gave the drink the thumbs-up. "What makes this brew pretty special is that we're adopting a Belgian yeast for the first time," he says in a statement. "I'm a big fan of Belgian beers, so I jumped at the chance to brew my own. While I get very excited about experimenting with new formulas and ingredients, the thing about Belgian beer is that it's as much a way of life as it is a drink. We've tried to bottle that philosophy in Hallowed, albeit with a British twist." At 6.0% ABV, Hallowed isn't too heavy. Though true fans will rue the missed opportunity to set its alcohol content at 6.66%. The new beverage comes off the back of Iron Maiden's Trooper, which has sold more than 15 million pints since it was first served back in 2013, while the band who gave us "Wasted Years" has also dabbled with limited edition beers Trooper 666 and Red 'N' Black. Fans eager to sample the new drop will need to get in quick. It'll be sold for just four months, with details to be announced in due course at the social media accounts for Iron Maiden Beer and Robinsons Brewery. Iron Maiden is on the final, U.S. leg of their world tour in support of The Book of Souls, which peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200. (Billboard)
Miguel Teases New Single on 'GGN' With Snoop Dogg. It's been awhile since we've heard any new tunes from Miguel. But luckily during a visit on Snoop Dogg's GGN show on Monday (July 3), the singer-songwriter revealed that new music is mostly definitely on its way. During the duo's 20-minute pow wow, Miguel spilled the details on his forthcoming projects and even previewed one of his next singles. [readmore: "Right now, [I'm] just wrapping up a project. I feel like I've been creating three projects simultaneously. So the one that's the most complete is kind of what I'm wrapping up now," Miguel said of what's in store. The "Adorn" singer then proceeded to play a sneak preview of one song. It was only a snippet, but the new track is definitely a feel-good anthem with a hypnotic beat and a range of melodious notes. Unfortunately, he didn't announce the title or release date for the song, but hopefully it's coming soon. "I need this on my DJ playlist," Snoop told Miguel. It will be exciting to finally get a new project from Miguel this year. It's been two years since, the singer dropped 2015's Wildheart. In recent months, he has come back to the music scene, featuring on RL Grime's single "Stay For It" and his collaborated song with Dua Lipa, "Lost in the Light." But fans are most likely itching for new solo records. Let's hope that Miguel drops this single or the whole project sooner than later. (Billboard)
Movies
Annette Bening Named President of Venice International Jury. Festival director Alberto Barbera says it was time to "break with a long list of male presidents." Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right, Being Julie, American Beauty, Bugsy) will head up the international competition jury of the upcoming Venice International Film Festival. Bening has been nominated for an Academy Award four times. Over her 30-year career in the industry, she has won two Golden Globes, a SAG award and a BAFTA among other honors. She recently appeared in a critically-acclaimed performance in Mike Mills' 20th Century Women. Her upcoming films include Michael Mayer's The Seagull, Paul McGuigan's Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool, and Dan Fogelman's Life Itself. "It was time to break with a long list of male presidents and invite a brilliant, talented and inspiring woman to chair our international competition jury," said festival director Alberto Barbera, whose jury has not had a female head in more than a decade. "I am extremely happy that Annette Bening has accepted this role, which she will carry out by virtue of her stature, her intellect and the talents she has manifested over the course of her career, in Hollywood, Europe and on the stage." "Hers is a career marked by always interesting, often daring choices," continued Barbera. "A sophisticated and instinctive actress, able to portray complex shadings of character, Annette Bening brings to her roles an understating, a warmth and a natural elegance that makes watching her films a wonderful and ever enriching experience." Added Bening: "I'm honored to be asked to serve as the President of the jury for this year's Venice Film Festival. I look forward to seeing the movies and working with my fellow jury members to celebrate the best of this year's cinema from all over the world." Bening, along with eight fellow jurors will award the following prizes: Golden Lion for best film, Silver Lion for best director, Silver Lion grand jury prize, Coppa Volpi for best actor and actress, award for best screenplay, special jury prize, and the Marcello Mastroianni award for best new young actor or actress. Last year American Beauty director Sam Mendes headed the jury, awarding the Golden Lion to Lav Diaz for The Woman Who Left. Tom Ford won the grand jury prize for Nocturnal Animals, and Emma Stone won best actress for La La Land. Stone later went on to win the best actress Academy Award for her role. The 74th Venice International Film Festival will run Aug. 30-Sept. 9. The full festival lineup will be announced on July 27. (Hollywood Reporter)
China Box Office Remains Sluggish in 2017, Despite Big Hollywood Gains. The market expanded just 3.7 percent in the first half of the year, with imported movies claiming 61 percent of revenue -- the widest margin in five years. Anemic growth remains the worrying trend at the once booming Chinese box office. In the first half of 2017, movie ticket revenue in China rose just 3.7 percent, totaling 25.5 billion yuan (3.8 billion) compared to 24.6 billion yuan over the same period last year, according to Beijing-based research firm Ent Group. The sluggish start to the year is consistent with China's shock correction in 2016, when full-year box-office growth plummeted to just under 4 percent after expanding by a yearly average of 35 percent for half a decade. Reflecting the downbeat data, PriceWaterhouseCoopers recently revised its forecast for China's ascendance over North America as the world's largest movie market, pushing back the date to 2021 from 2017. The news for U.S. studio execs was much rosier, however, as Hollywood's Chinese earnings in the first half of 2017 were in line with former boom times. Revenue from imported movies climbed 34.5 percent, hitting 15.6 billion yuan ($2.3 billion) from January to June, compared to 11.6 billion yuan in the first half of last year. The gains by overseas film companies matched an influx of foreign-made product. Working to ward off an embarrassing overall decline, Chinese regulators eased restrictions on Hollywood imports in the first half, allowing 57 foreign films to be released during the period -- 14 more than last year. International movies claimed 61 percent of ticket sales in China in the first half, by far the biggest margin since 2012. Last year, foreign titles took just 47 percent. The biggest drag on growth, indeed, was the conspicuous absence of Chinese hits. The biggest local title of the year so far was Jackie Chan's Kung Fu Yoga, which earned just shy of 1.8 billion yuan ($255 million at the time of release) over Chinese New Year in January -- a sizable haul for sure, but a far cry from Stephen Chow's The Mermaid, which took an astonishing 3.4 billion yuan last year ($528 million at 2016 exchange rates). The second quarter was especially bereft of successful local movies -- among the 10 best-selling films in the quarter, only two were made in China. Among the many high-performing imported movies, 2017's three biggest thus far are: Universal's The Fate of the Furious ($388 million), Aamir Khan's surprise Bollywood smash hit Dangal ($190 million), and Transformers: The Last Knight ($206 million and counting). China's state media have tried to put a more optimistic gloss on the H1 results. Since the start of 2017, regulators began counting the service fees charged by online ticketing platforms as box-office revenue. Regulators say including the fees more accurately reflects consumer spending on movie going, since over 80 percent of all tickets are now bought online through such services. Many analysts, meanwhile, have argued that the inclusion is a blatant attempt to juice the numbers during a downturn, and that ticketing service fees aren't an appropriate piece of box office, since the various stakeholders in a film's success -- producers, distributors, cinemas -- do not share in this revenue. Using the enhanced numbers, Chinese state news agency Xinhua said Monday that the nation's box office had "already seen a year-on-year growth of 10.5 percent in the first half of 2017." (Hollywood Reporter)
Maxine Peake Joins Mike Leigh's 'Peterloo'. The actress has joined the ensemble cast for the upcoming period drama, backed by Amazon Studios, which is currently shooting. Maxine Peake-the British stage and screen star whose credits includes The Theory of Everything, Silk and recent acclaimed hard-hitting BBC series Three Girls-has joined the ensemble cast of Mike Leigh's upcoming period drama Peterloo, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. The film-which is currently shooting-tells the story of a pivotal moment in U.K. history, when the British army attacked a large group of protestors in Manchester who had gathered to demand parliamentary reform amid a period of severe economic depression. Fifteen people were killed and 400-500 were injured after cavalry charged the crowd with their sabres drawn. The shockwaves were felt across the country, and one of the effects was the creation of The Guardian newspaper (then The Manchester Guardian), which was born out of the immediate crackdown on radicalism. Peake, from Manchester herself, seems a perfect fit for the film, having spoken at several events commemorating the Peterloo massacre and long been a campaigner for British working class history. In 2013, as part of the Manchester International Festival, she recited Percy Bysshe Shelley's poem The Mask of Anarchy, written about Peterloo. Amazon Studios is backing the project, having come aboard for North American rights in Cannes last year, with other financing from Film4, the BFI and Lipsync. Cornerstone Films is handling international sales. Leigh-who is remaining tight-lipped on the Peterloo's other cast members-is reuniting on his 21st feature film (the follow up to the Oscar contender Mr. Turner) with producer Georgine Lowe, cinematographer Dick Pope, production designer Suzy Davies, costume designer Jacqueline Durran, hair and makeup artist Christine Blundell, editor Jon Gregory and composer Gary Yershon. Gail Egan is exec producing. Shooting on Peterloo is set to continue until August. Peake is also set to appear in upcoming films Funny Cow alongside Paddy Considine, and Fanny Lye Deliver'd with Freddie Fox. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
Hawaii Five-0's Daniel Dae Kim on His Decision to Exit CBS Drama: "The Path to Equality Is Rarely Easy." Daniel Dae Kim has broken his silence about his public exit from CBS's Hawaii Five-0. Kim and Grace Park's exits from the long-running procedural were announced by CBS in a statement from the network and executive producer Peter M. Lenkov. Both had been with the reboot of the classic series since its start. "We are so appreciative of Daniel and Grace's enormous talents, professional excellence and the aloha spirit they brought to each and every one of our 168 episodes," CBS said in a statement. "They've helped us build an exciting new Hawaii Five-0, and we wish them all the best and much success in their next chapters. Mahalo and a hui hou... " According to reports, the actors left following a failed salary negotiation. "I will not be returning to Hawaii Five-0 when production starts next week. Though I made myself available to come back, CBS and I weren't able to agree to terms on a new contract, so I made the difficult choice not to continue," Kim said in a lengthy Facebook post. "As sad as it feels to say goodbye, what I feel most is gratitude. I am so deeply thankful to our crew, writers and everyone associated with the show -- and especially the cast, who have been nothing but supportive through this entire process. They and the crew have been my second family for seven years and I wish them nothing but success for season 8 -- and beyond," he wrote. Kim, who also starred on Lost, went on to thank the network and executive producers Lenkov, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. "I will always be grateful for their faith in me to bring Chin Ho Kelly to life. As an Asian American actor, I know first-hand how difficult it is to find opportunities at all, let alone play a well-developed, three dimensional character like Chin Ho. I will miss him sincerely," Kim said. "What made him even more special is that he was a representative of a place my family and I so dearly love. It has been nothing short of an honor to be able to showcase the beauty and people of Hawaii every week, and I couldn't be prouder to call these islands home. To my local community, mahalo nui loa." Kim thanked the fans for sticking with him and for their outpouring of support. "I'll end by saying that though transitions can be difficult, I encourage us all to look beyond the disappointment of this moment to the bigger picture. The path to equality is rarely easy," he said. Kim is an executive producer on ABC's The Good Doctor, debuting the fall. Hawaii Five-0 returns this fall for season eight and the exits will be addressed. "I will never forget meeting Daniel while still writing the pilot and being certain there was no other actor who I'd want to play Chin Ho Kelly," Lenkov said in a statement when the exits were announced. "Needless to say, Daniel has been an instrumental part of the success of Hawaii Five-0 over the past seven seasons and it has personally been a privilege to know him. Grace's presence gave Hawaii Five-0 a beauty and serenity to each episode. She was the consummate collaborator, helping build her character from Day 1. They will always be ohana to us, we will miss them and we wish them both all the best." Hawaii Five-0 stars Alex O'Loughlin, Scott Caan, Masi Oka, Chi McBride and Jorge Garcia. The new season debuts Friday, Sept. 29 at 9 p.m. on CBS. (Eonline)
Will & Grace's New Teaser Has the Gang Up to Their Old Tricks. Jack, Karen, Will and Grace are back together again and it looks like nothing's changed. The stars of Will & Grace -- Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes -- came together for a new promo touting the show's return to air 11 years after ending in May 2006. Jack and Karen are making out and slapping each other, Grace is loving the spotlight and even the & from Will & Grace gets a chance to shine. "11 years and a few [martini emojis] later, they're back! #WillAndGrace, Thursdays this Fall on @nbc," the show's official Twitter shared. Will & Grace returns to life for a 12-episode run starting Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on NBC. The reunion follows the cast's election PSA that was done in secret, but reignited the public's affection for the long-running series. If you're a fan of the show you might be wondering how exactly the series will address that finale that jumped around in time and revealed Will and Grace drifted, only to reunite in their old age. It'll be addressed, creators Max Mutchnick and David Kohan told E! News. "I would say this: We've just come out of a story camp that lasted about three months. That's where we break and write all of the episodes that we will be filming in August or whenever we start," Mutchnick told us. "I will tell you that almost more than anything, more time went into figuring out how are we going to reintroduce the show and what were the rules going to be and how were we going to address that finale." "And where are they in their lives," Kohan added. "And we can tell you this much: They are very much living in that apartment in 2017 in the month of September, on the 28th of September at 9:00," Mutchnick said. "That's when you're going to meet up with them again and they are going to explain to you exactly what happened so you know the rules moving forward and you won't feel like anything is left open." Will & Grace returns Thursday, Sept. 28 at 9 p.m. on NBC. (Eonline)
Co-stars say Fred Savage won't hang out with them. Keegan-Michael Key and the cast of the new Netflix series "Friends From College" couldn't get co-star Fred Savage to socialize when the cameras weren't rolling. "Good old Kevin Arnold," Key told us, referring to the name of Savage's childhood character on "The Wonder Years." "As lovely and delightful as he is, has a very strict policy of not hanging out with his cast members." When the director yelled, "Cut! We're wrapped .?.?. he goes back to his hotel room and watches prime time television all night." But Key concedes, "Not a bad policy." Billy Eichner added, "He really creates boundaries. He's like 'Nope, I've had enough of you.'" And Nat Faxon chimed in, "He basically said, 'We'll be friends on-set, and when we wrap I will no longer be your friend,' and he was not kidding. I made it my purpose all season to get him to hang out with me because he's such a fantastic, lovely hilarious guy .?.?. I succeeded, twice." Faxon figures, "He's such a pro and has been in the business longer than anybody, so he's like, 'I'm going to do my thing, and then go home.'" (PageSix)
Brandi Glanville is taping the new season of reality therapy show "Marriage Boot Camp" -- with her father. We're told the former "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" star and podcast host -- who has had a somewhat rocky love life -- hopes to resolve some "issues" involving her dad. This upcoming season of the WE tv show is a special "family edition." Glanville was married to actor Eddie Cibrian before he left her for LeAnn Rimes, then she dated English playboy Calum Best and, as Page Six reported in October, had a fling with female celebrity chef Cat Cora. Also on the show will be "Teen Mom's" Amber Portwood and her boyfriend Matt Baier. (Page Six)
Russia's 'Masha and the Bear' Franchise Finds China Distribution Deal. Under the agreement with Shanghai Media Group, a joint venture will be created to promote and distribute the animation franchise in the country. One of Russia's best known international animation franchises, Masha i medved (Masha and the Bear), has struck a distribution deal with China's Shanghai Media Group. Under the agreement, brokered by the Russian distribution company SPB TV, a joint venture will be created to promote and distribute Masha and the Bear in China. "The main goal of the agreement will be coordinated efforts for distribution of the animation series Masha and the Bear and comprehensive promotion of the brand on the entire territory on China," SPB TV said in a statement on its web site. A spokeswoman for Animaccord, the production company for Masha and the Bear, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the deal has been signed. So far, the series has not had official distribution in China, but episodes of the series have popped up on illegitimate web sites and pirated merchandise has been available. Premiering in 2009 on Russian TV, the children's animated series is currently distributed in many countries of the world. Most recently, deals for India and New Zealand were struck. In 2015, the producers' revenue from licensing agreements and sales of merchandise related to the franchise accounted for $225 million, with more than half of the total revenue coming from outside Russia. Before the signing of the deal with Shanghai Media Group, Europe and South America were the main foreign markets for Masha and the Bear. (Hollywood Reporter)
George Lopez's 'Car Dogs' Gives University Students Entree to Hollywood. The film, which is just hitting iTunes and Amazon VOD, provided 85 internships and practical filmmaking experience. Joining the list of new movies like The Promise and The Boss Baby hitting iTunes and Amazon VOD on Tuesday is a low-budget feature called Car Dogs, which may not have made much impact at the box office but which ultimately could launch a number of Hollywood careers. That's because the film, funded by private equity in partnership with Arizona State University, employed a professional crew that was assisted by 85 student interns as well as another 15 recent ASU grads, providing them with the beginnings of a resume that could help open film industry doors for them. Car Dogs, set in a car dealership, stars George Lopez, Nia Vardalos and Octavia Spencer alongside Patrick J. Adams (Suits) and Josh Hopkins (Quantico). It was directed by Adam Collis, who has been teaching film at ASU since 2009, commuting between his home in Los Angeles and the school in Tempe, Ariz. He'd been teaching directing and also supervising the school's capstone classes, in which students shoot senior thesis films. And he'd also begun setting up video conference and Skype sessions to introduce his students to Hollywood figures like director Jason Reitman and producer Bill Mechanic. When Jake Pinholtzer, associate dean for Policy and Initiatives at ASU's Herberger Institute for Design and Media, suggested to Collis that he put all the film students on various capstone projects to give them all practical experience, Collis recalls, "I jokingly said, 'Why don't we just make a feature film and give them all internships?'" As it happened, one of Collis' former students, Mark Edward King, had written a script for a short film about a team of car salesmen trying to sell more cars than they'd ever sold before in a single day, and Collis had encouraged King to develop it into a feature script. The idea had the advantage of requiring just one location, and, additionally, Collis says, "Everybody in America has a relationship with buying a car. In America, it's baseball, apple pie and buying a car. Buying cars in America is a universal experience, and this is the real deal. It's not a caricature about schlocky car salesmen." Another ASU grad put Collis in touch with casting director John Jackson, who frequently works with Alexander Payne, who came aboard and started lining up talent, making a number of suggestions that helped shape the film. "We took a role that had been written for a young 25-year-old Ben Affleck-type -- a hot, white-stud cocky car salesman -- and John inspired me to think out of the box," recounts Collis, "to think of it as one for a 50-year-old Mexican, and I just knew George Lopez would be perfect for this movie." Collis found further support from F. Miguel Valenti, Lincoln Professor of Ethics and the Arts at ASU, who founded the school's film production program, and a financial backer in James Miller, who lined up the private equity behind the project that shot on an abandoned car lot in Scottsdale. Collis declined to divulge the budget for the film, which was shot under SAG's Low Budget Film Agreement. "It was not a lot of money, but it wasn't a micro-budget either," he says. Ultimately, Collis was able to secure a theatrical release for Car Dogs by striking a deal with the Arizona-based Harkins Theatres chain, which opened the film in 11 theaters in and around Phoenix earlier this year. The pic has since gone on to Dish Network and DirectTV before making its debut on iTunes and Amazon. But while Car Dogs didn't make much of a mark at the box office, Collis says it has served its larger purpose, since several of the students who worked on it have since gone on to find employment in Hollywood as they begin to stake out their own careers. Impressed by the experiment, ASU president Michael Crow, who Collis credits for encouraging "an incredible culture of innovation and entrepreneurship," and the school's dean, Steve Tepper, formally established ASU Film Spark at the ASU California Center in Santa Monica to connect Hollywood filmmakers and executives with ASU students through a series of programs. "Our mission," says Collis, "is to help Arizona State University become a valuable part of the entertainment industry." (Hollywood Reporter)
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