ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
New Girl's Hannah Simone and Jesse Giddings Welcome Their First Child. Hannah Simone has a whole new title to enjoy. As it turns out, the New Girl star is officially a mom! A rep for Hannah confirms exclusively to E! News that the actress and Jesse Giddings welcomed a healthy baby boy earlier this month. Because the couple likes to keep their personal life private, fans may not be receiving any more details for a while. At the same time, it's safe to say both parents -- who secretly wed last year -- are enjoying the joys of parenthood. Thanks to unique timing, Hannah's pregnancy lined up with her New Girl storyline. On the show's most recent season finale, her character CeCe also found out she was expecting a baby. And spoiler alert: She was totally thrilled to expand her family. While this couple may not walk every red carpet or post selfies week after week, Jesse has shared a few Instagrams with his leading lady that are more than deserving of a "like." Back in 2015, the television journalist and photographer celebrated Hannah's big accomplishment on New Girl. "Congratulations to the most beautiful, talented, fascinating, badass girl I know on a 100 New Girl episodes shot this week!!!" he wrote online. "Here's to another 100." Just a few weeks later, Jesse gave a preview of their home life by sharing a selfie with their four-legged friend. "Selfie competition: Hannah and I clearly lost to Mare," he wrote. "#longpawadvantage #bestinshowingoff #outfoxedbyadog." Aww! Congratulations to the couple on their big news! (Eonline)
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip Welcome Baby No. 2. Baby No. 2 is here! Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip have welcomed a happy and healthy baby, the Swedish Royal Court just revealed. "The Office of The Marshal of the Realm is delighted to announce that HRH Princess Sofia gave birth to a healthy child at 11:24 a.m. on August 31 at Danderyd Hospital," a spokesperson said in a press release. "Both mother and child are in good health." (The new royal baby's birth falls on the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.) The newborn -- whose name and sex has yet to be revealed -- is the younger sibling to Prince Alexander, who was born on Apr. 19, 2016. Earlier this summer, Carl Philip and Sofia enjoyed a babymoon in the south of France with family members, including his sister Princess Madeleine. Carl Philip, 37, is the second child and only son of King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden; his elder sister, Princess Victoria, is first in line to the throne. He married Princess Sofia (nee Hellqvist), 32, a former contestant on the reality show Paradise Hotel, in June 2015. "Being a mother is amazing," Sofia said last July. "It changes your whole life." The Swedish royal family is only getting bigger. A few days ago, Madeleine, 35, announced she and husband Chris O'Neill are expecting their third child. "Chris and I are thrilled to announce that I am expecting," Madeleine wrote on Facebook. "We look forward to four becoming five!" Madeleine and Chris are already parents to Princess Leonore, 3, and Prince Nicolas, 2. Earlier this summer, it was announced that Leonore will be attending preschool in Sweden. "HRH Princess Madeleine and her family permanently reside in London. However, they regularly spend longer periods in Sweden," the palace said. "The Princess feels that her children should have a strong connection with Sweden. She wants them to feel at home here just as she does." (Eonline)
Eric Stonestreet has a new girlfriend! The Modern Family actor is dating pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer, a source confirms to Us Weekly. The new couple were spotted together at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend annual charity event in Kansas City in late June. "Lindsay was there fundraising, and Eric was one of the celebrity guests," a second insider tells Us. Stonestreet, 45, previously dated Broadway star Katherine Tokarz for nearly three years until 2012. Soon after, she got engaged to writer and producer Bret Calvert, and they tied the knot in May 2013. Following his split from Tokarz, rumors swirled that the two-time Emmy winner was dating actress Charlize Theron. However, he laughed off the reports on Twitter in 2012, writing, "I wish people would stop spreading rumors that Charlize Theron and I are dating. It's starting to make Halle Berry jealous." "She was so cold to me this morning when she saw the rumors," he later quipped to E! News of the Oscar-winning actress, 51. "It was just quiet -- fork and knife on the plate. Halle and I weren't speaking at all. And I'm like, 'Halle, listen! It's just a rumor. It's not real.'" While Stonestreet portrays openly gay character Cameron Tucker on Modern Family, he once lightheartedly described himself as "openly straight." He told Oprah Winfrey in 2010, "I never thought this would be the character that people would know me for, but it's just an honor to play him." (US Weekly)
How Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty Are Keeping Their Romance Magical Off Screen. It's a love story fit for a Hollywood movie. Two talented stars work on a Disney project and go from co-stars to couples. Months later and the pair is using the L word openly and freely. As it turns out, we don't have to look further than Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty's relationship. After The Descendants 2 co-stars turned their friendship into something more, the pair has developed a connection fans can't get enough of. "We're super in love and stuff. I think it would be easy to collaborate with him again," Dove recently shared with Access Hollywood. "Professional, personal, he's the love of my life so I'm good not working with him again too." That affection is visible on the pair's social media as they enjoy date nights at hockey games or relaxing time at home with selfies and jokes. And while the pair has been dating for approximately six months, Dove is the first to admit that her boyfriend still surprises her with his kindness. "Came out of a shop to see that my boyfriend bought a homeless woman a bunch of pastries and her SPECIFIC starbucks order," she shared on Twitter earlier this week. "In love w an angel." (Eonline)
Chloe Green Denies Engagement to "Hot Felon" Jeremy Meeks. Chloe Green and Jeremy Meeks are heating up -- but they're not heading down the aisle. On the heels of a curios Instagram Story video of the two canoodling -- in which the fashion heiress was sporting a sparkler on that finger -- claims swirled that the two were engaged after a whirlwind affair. However, Green has since set the rumors straight. "Chloe is not engaged," her representative told The Daily Mail simply. The couple has had quite the scandalous beginning considering Meeks was still married when he was spotted making out with the Topshop heiress on a yacht near Turkey in early July. It wasn't long before the viral photos caught the attention of Melissa Meeks, his wife, who thought the father of her children was out of the country for a modeling job. As Melissa told The Daily Mail, "I know it takes two to tango but she knew he was married. To me, that's unforgivable. My whole world has been torn apart by this. What do I tell our children? My heart is broken." However, she also took major issue with her husband and insisted they will be divorcing. As she continued, "Of course I'm angry at her. What she did is unforgivable. And I'm angry at him too. What they did destroyed my entire world." Jeremy, now a model, initially rose to fame in 2014 after his mug shot, taken after his arrest for felony gun possession, went viral. However, the personal controversy doesn't seem to bother the new duo -- they've since been spotted out together on several occasions and were not holding back the PDA. As Green captioned a since-deleted Instagram photo of her with Meeks and his manager, "Just the Beginning...We appreciate all the love and the hate." (Eonline)
Lambert, 33, took to Instagram Tuesday night to reveal her animal shelter foundation, MuttNation, rescued 72 dogs that day. "My roommates tonight sure are cute! Mama and newborns that were born this morning," Lambert wrote in the caption. "Im calling her Ashley after @ashleymonroemusic who just had a baby herself. @muttnationfoundation rescued 72 dogs today who are being transported to dry safe shelters across the country. Thanks for yalls support. Stay tuned tomorrow and continue to pray. #muttnationfoundation #hurricaneharvey#texasstrong #elvirathebus#tourbusrescue." Rose, 31, also donated, writing on social media that she would match musician Jack Antonoff's donation to an LGBT center in Houston. Hart urged his fellow celebrities to give back, creating a hurricane relief fund and challenging friends like JAY-Z and Chris Brown to give at least $25,000. Brown, 28, accepted the challenge, but increased the amount to $100,000. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez each donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross, which the "On the Floor" singer revealed in an Instagram video. Other stars such as Kim Kardashian West pledged to donate $500,000, along with her sisters and mother, Kris Jenner. Beyonce, a Houston native, shared a black-and-white Instagram photo of the state flag with the message: "Texas you are in my prayers." Meanwhile, Texas native Longoria detailed her recent trip back home to San Antonio. "It wasn't as bad as other areas of Texas. I'm praying for my home state and all those who are suffering through the devastation of Hurricane Harvey," she wrote alongside a photo of the state. "Stay strong Texas and a big Texas size thank you to all the first responders, National Guard, Red Cross, volunteers, etc. Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our hearts and capacity to help," she added. Hurricane Harvey caused terrible wreckage after making landfall in the town of Rockport on Friday night, as a Category 4 storm. Port Aransas and Rockport took the brunt of the storm, which hit the coastal area with 130 mph winds. The storm left homes flooded, many without power and several buildings destroyed. On Saturday and early Sunday, parts of the Houston area had received more than 20 inches of rain, with southeast Harris County logged at 24.28 inches of rain in 24 hours, the Weather Channel reported. At least five people had been reported dead on Sunday as a result of Harvey, according to The Chicago Tribune. Officials said they expect the number of fatalities to rise in areas hit hardest with flooding. As officials, crews and residents scramble in Texas, Bachelor alum Sean Lowe, who is from Arlington, looked to take action. "Anyone in the dallas (sic) area have a small boat I can take to Houston to help with evacuations? I'll pay for the rental," he tweeted on Sunday. Singer Chris Young also vowed to help, pledging $100,000 to the Red Cross -- and setting up a GoFundMe page for others to donate. He announced the pledge in a moving Instagram post, noting that he has friends and family in Texas, as well as a house that was likely destroyed in the storm. Stars including Miranda Lambert and Kim Zolciak-Biermann sent well-wishes to those affected by the hurricane. Others, like Drake Busy Philipps and Amy Schumer shared links and phone numbers to the American Red Cross, Save the Children, FEMA and local help lines for those in troubled areas. "We are currently overseas in London and all I can think about is how devastated I am as I look at images of the damage Hurricane Harvey has caused. I am praying for the safety of all those affected," Drake wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. "Houston has truly been a home to me over the last 8 years. Myself and @furthertheprince are working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in anyway we can and in the most immediate way possible." (People)
Paul Anka will not be a victim of the political correctness that prompted more than a dozen charities to cancel or move fund-raisers from Mar-a-Lago following President Trump's remarks about the violence in Charlottesville, Va. Anka, 76, a pop star since he was a teenager, was booked to perform Dec. 2 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., at the LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education) Lady in Red Gala, and had received a deposit of $75,000. But when Trump was criticized for blaming "both sides" for the violence in Charlottesville, LIFE -- run by Lois Pope, the widow of National Enquirer founder Generoso Pope -- moved the event to the nearby Breakers with a new date, Jan. 5. Anka, who has an 11-year-old son and nine grandchildren, is going on a European vacation in January. When LIFE organizers asked if the deposit could go toward a performance next year, his agent allegedly said, "This is not negotiable. You will not get a penny back." "I run a small business. I've got overhead. I've got people on salary," Anka told me. "They're guilt-tripping me, asking me to take a hit, but we didn't cause the problem. They need to eat it. It's their problem." "It took quite a bit of time to secure Paul's performance, time that could have been better spent helping those who are beneficiaries of the Lady in Red Gala proceeds, from physically disabled veterans and veterans with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and TBI [traumatic brain injury], to animals in need of rescue, shelter and treatment during natural disasters such as what is happening in Texas," Pope said. "We went out of our way to accommodate him," she continued. "So I'm sad and disheartened that he is not making the time or the same kind of effort to accommodate us in any way." (Page Six)
The Game hired a burger joint to cater his shindig, but went radio silent when it came time to pay the piper ... so says the owner suing the rapper, but Game says the owner's lying her ass off. The owner of Big D's Burgers sued Game claiming the joint is out $8,500 for unpaid catering services for a Fourth of July party. A rep for Big D's tells us Game hired the restaurant on 2 separate occasions and each time Game paid cash. The rep says Game requested food for up to 250 partygoers. But the rep says about 450 people showed up, forcing Big D's to make a food run. What's more ... the rep says he was told to also grab booze and cleaning supplies, which wasn't part of the deal but agreed to buy and bring back anyway. When it came time to pay Big D's, the rep says Game promised to wire the money the next day ... but the dough never came. We reached out to Game, and his manager Wack 100 tells TMZ the rapper never had a contract with Big D's and says they thought the company catered the party for free. (TMZ)
Richard Simmons' lawsuit against the National Enquirer hit an unexpected snag in court. A judge seems to be ready to rule in favor of the gossip outlet for a surprising reason. Simmons sued both the Enquirer and Radar Online in May for a series of articles that alleged the 69-year-old fitness guru was transitioning to become a woman. He alleged that, while he holds no personal ill-feelings toward the transgender community, the articles were false and defamatory to his character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his lawyers argued that, as a public figure, he has a legal right to "not be portrayed as someone he is not." However, a judge is tentatively ruling that alleging someone is transgender is not necessarily defamatory. Although the outlet notes that no official ruling has been made, the court is making it clear that it plans to treat the issue of claiming someone is transgender the same way it would treat claims of race, illness or other "immutable characteristics." "This court finds that because courts have long held that a misidentification of certain immutable characteristics do not naturally tend to injure one's reputation, even if there is a sizeable portion of the population who hold prejudices against those characteristics, misidentification of a person as transgender is not actionable defamation absent special damages," L.A. Superior Court judge Gregory Keosian said. He went on to explain that, while being transgender may subject a person to ridicule or prejudice from a large portion of the population, "the court will not validate those prejudices by legally recognizing them." However, according to Variety, Simmons' lawyers are trying to make the case that the court has a responsibility to legally recognize those prejudices rather than plan ahead for an ideal world in which they do not exist. "The object of the National Enquirer was to do everything they could to humiliate this person," said attorney Neville Johnson, who represents Simmons. "They made it up entirely out of whole cloth. I submit that when you make something up intentionally... and put it on the cover, there's an inference you can make that somebody's reputation is going to be harmed." Keosian is thinking on the matter and is expected to give a written ruling soon. (Page Six)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Amber Portwood is moving on. The Teen Mom OG star revealed to E! News' Daily Pop Wednesday that she was "ready" to give another try at friendship with her MTV costar Farrah Abraham. After saying Abraham has a "very strong mind and strong opinions," Portwood, 27, added, "So do I. So I think it's natural for us to clash. Plus, she's crazy." "We used to be friends," Portwood continued. "But, I don't know what happened. I think she did things for publicity. I still love her to death. She knows that." Despite their differences over the years, including Abraham sending Portwood a cease and desist letter in June, the mother of one says she's ready to "let everything go." "With her, it's on her terms," Portwood continued. "I'm not really putting any effort into it or thinking about it." The tension between Abraham and Portwood came to a head during the MTV show's reunion last December, when Portwood -- in an attempt to defend her fiance Matt Baier -- took a swing at Abraham. "Just because somebody's 20 years older than you doesn't mean he's a f -- ing pedophile," yelled Portwood, getting in Abraham's face. "Shut your f -- ing mouth, do you understand me? Shut your f -- ing mouth." The fight escalated significantly as Baier and Abraham's father Michael got involved, and security eventually stepped in to put an end to it. The two women both took to Twitter afterward to address the altercation. "Well, this was an interesting night ... always sending love not hate because you never know what hate can bring your way," tweeted Portwood, before adding: "If I was going out there to hit her than I would have. Just wanted her to say it to my face and of course, she didn't ... let's be honest." (People)
According to Gwyneth Paltrow, "relationships of quality" are the key to success, but she also knows when she's messed one up. "Oh my God, I've f–ked up so many relationships," Paltrow told Sophia Amoruso on her "Girl Boss" podcast. "I'm a pretty good friend and sister and daughter, but I am at my potentially most vulnerable and f–ked up in the romantic slice of the pie." Jokingly calling out to her 1990s boyfriend Brad Pitt over the airwaves, she said, "I f–ked that up, Brad!" Pitt and Paltrow were together for nearly three years before they split in 1997. He since married and divorced Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie -- while Paltrow wed and then "consciously uncoupled" from Coldplay's Chris Martin (but he's still friendly with Paltrow's mom Blythe Danner). She is currently dating Brad Falchuk. The Goop founder dished about how her life as an actress and a post-kids identity crisis sparked the creation of her often-criticized lifestyle newsletter-turned-website in 2008. Most recently, her company has been accused of "deceptive health and disease-treatment claims" by an advertising watchdog group. "I had a few days over the last three months where I was like 'f–k it,'" she said. "It was so deeply unfair and I wish people would do their homework before they are vitriolic about it." But she's not throwing in the jade egg-promoting towel anytime soon. "Going into a hole is exactly the opposite of the lesson," she said of what she's learned from the backlash. "The lesson is to energetically cultivate 'f–k you.'" (Page Six)
Kendall Jenner will not be one of the angels walking the catwalk for the "2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," but it was her choice ... made easier by a boatload of cash. Our Kardashian family sources tell us Kendall didn't even audition for the gig because she has a major deal to be the face -- and other body parts -- of La Perla. We're told her multi-million dollar deal with the upscale lingerie line includes a non-compete clause ... so, walking for VS would've been a major no-no, anyway. Fans were surprised when the list of models for this year's VS show didn't include Kendall -- especially because she did it last year, and her pal, Gigi Hadid, is doing it. What can we say? The chick got a wayyy better deal. If you're disappointed ... there's always 2016. (TMZ)
Leo DiCaprio is the winner in charitable donations for Hurricane Harvey relief ... he's just cut a check for $1 million. Leo's foundation gave the money to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund ... it will be used for both short and long-term relief. United Way says the entire amount will go to help victims of the epic storm. This is the first donation to the newly established United Way fund to help victims of the hurricane. A number of celebs have donated ... notably the Kardashian family gave $500k. Sandra Bullock also gave $1 million to the cause. (TMZ)
This new lingerie "Angel" has a secret: She was once busted for shoplifting chocolate bars at a Whole Foods in Tribeca. Stunning Dutch treat Roosmarijn de Kok, 21, was awarded her wings -- guaranteeing her a spot on the runway of Victoria's Secret's annual event -- at the company's headquarters in Manhattan last week. "Forever grateful!!!" de Kok wrote on her Instagram. "Im [sic] so excited!!" But in 2014, she turned heads on a different catwalk -- the center aisle of an arraignment courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court. The Wilhelmina model was pinched by Whole Foods security for allegedly walking out with three chocolate bars and a pricey bottle of fish oil in her bag. Her lawyer, Sal Strazzullo, told The Post at the time that his client had placed the items in her handbag and then forgot they were there. The charges were dismissed and sealed after de Kok agreed to serve a day of community service. She'll debut at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017 in Shanghai, China, in November. (Page Six)
If they're NOT dating by now ... they should be. Blake Griffin and Kendall Jenner went out to a fancy romantic dinner AGAIN -- this time, they were joined by fellow NBA star Chandler Parsons and Hailey Baldwin. Blake and Kendall left Craig's in L.A. together and got into a waiting car. Chandler followed shortly after. Hailey was definitely with the group ... but didn't want to be part of the mass exodus. Chandler and Hailey have been spotted together in the past (sunbathing together in June) but insist they're not exclusively dating. Blake and Kendall have been spending a lot of time together, too. But no official confirmation there either. Bottom line -- four attractive, rich, famous people hanging out. What do YOU think is happening? (TMZ)
Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson Publicly Reunite: "We Never Had Bad Blood." Bad blood between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson? According to the Bachelor in Paradise star herself, never! The two former co-stars had a very public reunion late Wednesday night when they were spotted by shutterflies leaving the Nightingale club in West Hollywood together. The two reality stars, who were famously at the center of an alleged misconduct scandal that temporarily halted production, appeared to forget their complicated history when Olympios opened her arms to Jackson in front of the cameras and the two embraced. "Get a good shot, b--ches," she advised photographers, who were capturing their every move. The two sealed the encounter with Corinne giving him a smooch on the cheek. After a final hug, the duo parted ways and photographers followed the 24-year-old Miami native as she walked away with a friend and almost tripped on the curb in the process. "We're friends!" she assured the crowd surrounding them. "We never had bad blood." The public sighting seemed to get a stamp of approval from fellow Bachelor in Paradise contestant Amanda Stanton, who commented on E!'s Instagram account, "love this a whole lot." While Warner Bros. later cleared production of any wrongdoing following a two-week investigation, Olympios also clarified that Jackson was not to blame when she sat down for her first interview on the ordeal with Chris Harrisonearlier this week. "I honestly don't feel like he did anything wrong," she said. "I really just want people to know that I don't blame DeMario. I never pointed fingers at DeMario. I never said a bad word about DeMario." While they had not seen each other at the time of the sit-down, she shared with Harrison what she would tell her colleague. "I would want to tell him, like listen, I respect you as a human. I have nothing against you. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I know exactly what it feels like...and I wish you all the best and I'm sorry." From the looks of these newest photos, these two are on picture-perfect terms. (Eonline)
XOXO clothing company says it's getting screwed by Trojan condoms ... and not in the good way. XOXO -- the women's apparel line Chrissy Teigen and Miranda Kerr rep -- says Trojan copied its distinctive black-and-white logo in February and started slapping it on a new line of "softouch low-odor" condoms. In docs, obtained by TMZ, XOXO says the rubber kings even matched the girth ... of their letter "x" in the logo. And the company says Trojan's "SMART. SEXY. CONFIDENT." slogan is way too close to its "Smart Sexy." According to the suit, Trojan also plans to put "XOXO" on massage oils, lotions, creams, lubricants and vibrators. The clothing company won't sit, or stand, for the ribbing -- XOXO is suing to block Trojan and for any profits made off its name. (TMZ)
Music
Thomas Rhett's New Single May Be His Most Personal Yet: Listen to "Life Changes" Now. Craving new music from Thomas Rhett? Boy, are you in luck! As the country singer prepares to head back on the road this September, the man behind huge hits including "Star of the Show" and "Die a Happy Man" is surprising fans with a brand-new single. E! News is thrilled to exclusively premiere Thomas Rhett's new song titled "Life Changes." "I wrote 'Life Changes' about what is going on in my life at this very exact moment -- I felt like it was the perfect title track for the album," he shared with us. "In the past year there have been so many dramatic and beautiful changes that I've experienced -- from becoming a father not once but twice, to reaching some major milestones in my career as an artist and songwriter -- I'm just trying to soak it all in and enjoy every minute of it." That mindset is heard and felt in his new track that features powerful lyrics any music fan can relate to. In the catchy chorus, the Grammy nominee expresses just how much the world can transform around you in such a small amount of time. "Ain't it funny how life changes / You wake up, ain't nothin' the same / And life changes," he sings in the track. "You can't stop it, just hop on the train and / You never know what's gonna happen / You make your plans and you hear God laughin' / Life changes / And I wouldn't change it for the world, the world, oh no." Fans of the country singer already know that it's been a summer to remember. Earlier this month, Thomas Rhett's wife Lauren Akins gave birth to a baby girl named Ada James Akins. The newest bundle of love also comes just months after the couple adopted daughter Willa Gray Akins. For those who like the new song, the album also titled Life Changes is available for everyone starting September 8. And if you want to hear the song performed live, we're happy to report Thomas Rhett has more than a few concert dates on his calendar. Find out if he's heading to your neighborhood by visiting his website here. (Eonline)
Michael Jackson's Bad Album Turns 30: How the King of Pop Influenced Today's Biggest Artists. This week always marks a momentous time when thinking back on Michael Jackson's life. Not only did the King of Pop's birthday fall on Aug. 29, but he also dropped one of his greatest albums of all time, Bad, on Aug. 31, 1987. The album was highly anticipated as his fans had to wait five years following the release of 1982's Thriller. Not to mention, it marked Jackson's return to the spotlight after his nearly two-year disappearance that began in 1985. Needless to say, Bad wasn't just an album...it marked a turn in the singer's life and a whole new sound to add to his ever-growing musical talent. Essentially, it epitomized the massive influence he had on many of today's biggest artists. In fact, as we celebrate the 30-year (!!!) anniversary of Bad and honor the songs it brought us -- like "Dirty Diana" and "Smooth Criminal" -- let's take a look at all the stars that credit M.J. for being their biggest role model. (Eonline)
2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina Lineup: Camila Cabello, CNCO & More. They're back! The fourth annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina is here again to celebrate the very best in Latin Music. iHeartMedia announced that the show will take place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Saturday, Nov. 4. This year you can expect to see performances from Camila Cabello, Gente de Zona, Don Omar, CNCO, Nacho, Reik, and Jesse y Joy, with more artists to follow. Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Prince Royce have all previously performed at the event. For the second straight year, Enrique Santos, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino and on-air personality for iHeartRadio, will host the concert event. Telemundo, for the third consecutive year, will broadcast the 2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina as a TV special that will air at a later date. "The iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina is a true celebration of Latin music and culture. Each year we bring the best of Latin music to one stage and this year's impeccable lineup is no different," said Santos in a statement. "We're thrilled to once again partner with Telemundo, whom just like us, have a power connection to the Latin community." "As a media industry leader, Telemundo recognizes the connection our audience has with music, and we celebrate it," said Luis Silberwasser, President, Telemundo and Universo channel. "We are thrilled to once again partner with iHeartRadio to broadcast the fourth annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, bringing some of Latin music's biggest stars to our screen." Telemundo will also live stream the star-studded show exclusively on Telemundo.com for fans across the U.S. And if you want to make it to the show but don't live in Miami, they've got you covered. Beginning Monday, October 2, iHeartMedia will launch a four-week nationwide promotion to give thousands of Latin Music fans across the country the opportunity to win trips to Miami to experience the 2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 30. We can't wait! (Eonline)
The director of Taylor Swift's music video for her polarizing new single "Look What You Made Me Do" has called out the "double standards" faced by Swift and other women. Joseph Kahn, a frequent Swift collaborator -- who previously helmed the videos for "Blank Space,""Bad Blood," and "Wildest Dreams" -- tweeted Wednesday, "If I plan something as a man I'm a 'genius.' If Taylor as a woman plans something she is 'manipulative.' Double standards. This is wrong." One of the most observed figures in pop culture, Swift has drawn intense scrutiny since the release of "Look What You Made Me Do" last week. In the first single from her forthcoming album Reputation (and its accompanying video), she declares that "the old Taylor" is dead and seemingly alludes to her former relationships with Calvin Harris and Tom Hiddleston and feuds with Katy Perry, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian. While the song has already smashed several records, it has also divided fans and inspired some unflattering think pieces. Vulture's Mark Harris, for example, called the song "an anthem that turns the abrogation of personal responsibility into a posturing statement of empowerment." Following Kahn's initial tweet, the director retweeted a link to a Guardian opinion piece arguing that Swift is fighting an age-old battle with misogyny. Kahn previously defended the "Look What You Made Me Do" video amid allegations of ripping off Beyonce's "Formation" music video. This article originally appeared on Ew.com (People)
Sunmi Hits New Peak on World Digital Song Sales Chart With 'Gashina'. With more than a decade in the K-pop scene, Sunmi is no stranger to the Billboard charts. But she is only just now hitting exciting peaks as a solo artist. The 25-year-old's new single "Gashina" debuts at No. 3 on World Digital Song Sales this week, selling 1,000 downloads in the week ending Aug. 24, according to Nielsen Music, making it the best-selling K-pop song in America. The dance-pop track holds off competition from new releases from NCT Dream and Red Velvet, along with consistently high-selling singles from EXO and BTS. "Gashina" marks Sunmi's first release since February's disbanding of the Wonder Girls -- the group she departed in 2010 and returned to in 2015 -- and leaving longtime label home JYP Entertainment, which houses acts like 2PM, Twice and GOT7. Helmed by Teddy (the longtime producer for BIGBANG, 2NE1 and G-Dragon) and co-written by Sunmi, "Gashina" brings a bubbling blend of dancehall, synth-pop and East Asian-inspired instruments as the starlet's stunning first release under MakeUs Entertainment, the same label as R&B chart-toppers Urban Zakapa. During her initial run with Wonder Girls, Sunmi helped pave the way for Korean acts on the Billboard charts as the English version "Nobody" stands as one of the few K-pop tracks to break into the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at No. 76 in 2009. Sunmi previously sent one entry to World Digital Songs as a solo artist (2014's "Full Moon" featuring Lena hit No. 13) and four during her time with Wonder Girls including 2015's "I Feel You" (which hit No. 12) and the 2016 songs "Why So Lonely" (peaking at No. 5), "Beautiful Boy" (No. 16) and "Sweet & Easy" (No. 17). (Billboard)
Niall Horan Begins Summer Tour With Solo One Direction Throwback. He performed an acoustic rendition of "Fool's Gold," which originally appeared on 1D's album 'Four.' Niall Horan might be embarking on his solo career now, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten his One Direction roots -- or their many hits. Foregoing the arenas and stadiums he played while in the boy band, the Ireland native kicked off his Flicker Sessions tour at the intimate Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, Tuesday night. There, he performed an acoustic, folksy rendition of "Fool's Gold," a song that originally appeared on 1D's fourth studio album, Four. Wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, the singer barely strums through the opening notes before the fans present begin to scream with delight. Throughout the video, Horan's voice is joined by the fans' own exuberant singing. (Billboard)
Flavor Flav Sues Chuck D, Public Enemy Team Over Unpaid Royalties & Releasing Music Without His Consent. Flavor Flav is suing Chuck D and members of Public Enemy's production and management team, according to documents filed by his attorney, A. Eric Bjorgum, on Tuesday (Aug. 29). The rapper (real name William J. Drayton)'s lawsuit alleges "despite Drayton's position in Public Enemy, the group's management and related companies have for years attempted to minimize his role in the Public Enemy business, while continuing to rely upon Drayton's fame and persona to market the brand." Eastlink Productions, producer Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo, SLAMjamz Records, Reach Music Publishing, Inc., Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D), Sounddome Entertainment, Inc., manager Clifton "Greg" Johnson and Xecutive Entertainment are all named as defendants in the lawsuit. Flavor Flav says he hasn't been getting regular songwriting royalty statements for several years, even though he's written more than 50 of the Public Enemy's songs. Moreover, the lawsuit states Flavor Flav's voice and image were used on the recently released Public Enemy album Nothing Is Quick in the Desert without his consent. While he did go into the recording studio, he claims he had "no input on the creative direction of the record" and was under the impression that the recordings he participated in were not final takes. The lawsuit says his vocals "were not up to his standards of quality" and that he did not agree for them to be released. "On or about June 29, 2017, Drayton was shocked to see that a new 'Public Enemy' album was being released, and his image was being used in multiple media outlets to promote the album. He had never heard of the album, nor heard any of the final mixes," court documents read. Flavor Flav also claims he has not been compensated for Public Enemy merchandise sold with his name and image, and that such deals have been made without his consent. The lawsuit states payments "have diminished to almost nothing, and Drayton has been refused accountings, even on the items bearing his likeness." The rapper is suing for an amount to be determined at trial. (Billboard)
Movies
Kate Winslet Leads Voice Cast for Anime 'Mary and the Witch's Flower'. The feature is the first from Studio Ponoc, founded by Studio Ghibli alumni Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura. Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, Ruby Barnhill, Louis Ashbourne Serkis and Ewen Bremner will voice the English-language version of Mary and the Witch's Flower, the first feature from Studio Ponoc, the anime house founded by former Studio Ghibli director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. Directed by Yonebayashi, who helmed Oscar-nominated When Marnie Was There and worked on Hayao Miyazaki's biggest hits, Mary and the Witch's Flower has taken more than $27 million at the Japanese box office since it opened on July 8. Based on The Little Broomstick by British children's author Mary Stewart, the anime follows the adventures of a girl in a school of magic. The English screenplay adaptation was written by David Freedman and Lynda Freedman. Altitude Film is handling U.K. and worldwide sales, with GKIDS distributing in North America and Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
Game of Thrones Cut a Finale Scene That Explains That Littlefinger Twist. It's been four days, and we still haven't stopped thinking about that Game of Thrones scene. Not the one with the incest and Jon Snow's butt (though that's up there in our minds, too), but the one where we thought Sansa (Sophie Turner) was about to have her sister executed until she turned the tables on the table turner himself, Petyr Baelish (Aiden Gillen). After Sansa convicted him of his many, many crimes, Arya (Maisie Williams) slit his throat, bringing Littlefinger's evil fine tuning of the Stark sisters' relationship to a swift end. While it was a much-deserved ending for the sniveling a--hole and a perfect way to bring the sisters back together, it came completely out of nowhere. We had last seen Sansa offering her sister a horrified "WTF" face while Arya brandished a knife in her direction, threatening to kill her and steal her face after explaining that she is now a person who kills people and steals their faces when they betray her. There was a brief moment at the end of that scene where Arya handed Sansa the knife instead, but we didn't see them again until Littlefinger was trying to insinuate to Sansa that Arya really did want to steal her face so she could become Lady of Winterfell. Then, Sansa was calling Arya in front of her as if to convict her, until suddenly she was instead convicting Littlefinger of murder, mayhem, and also that time he sold her to a horrible sadistic rapist. It was awesome, but out of the blue. There was no indication that Sansa had stopped trusting Littlefinger, no hint that she and Arya had mended their relationship, and while that surprise was fun, it felt like some potentially gratifying character development opportunity was totally missed. In an interview with Variety this week, Isaac Hempstead-Wright revealed that there was another scene that was filmed but cut from the finale, in which Sansa went to Bran and asked him to use his Three-Eyed Raven skills to tell her what Littlefinger was really up to. "We actually did a scene that clearly got cut, a short scene with Sansa where she knocks on Bran's door and says, 'I need your help,' or something along those lines," Wright said. "So basically, as far as I know, the story was that it suddenly occurred to Sansa that she had a huge CCTV department at her discretion and it might be a good idea to check with him first before she guts her own sister. So she goes to Bran, and Bran tells her everything she needs to know, and she's like, 'Oh, s--t.'" While we would have loved another moment with Arya, it is nice to know that Sansa would have realized she had the means to check to make sure she was about to execute the right person. (Sure, her siblings are weird AF now, but she can't deny they're super useful.) Keeping that full scene in the show might have made the execution scene slightly less impactful, but it would have at least given us some kind of a hint that Sansa knew what she was doing and wasn't being totally manipulated by the realm's master manipulator. It was such a satisfying end to such an awful man that it would have still been good even if we knew it was coming, especially since the whole lead up was so completely unsatisfying. Sansa and Arya should never have gotten that close to murdering each other, no matter what Littlefinger did. And for those of you who don't think Littlefinger deserved what he got, allow Sophie Turner to clear that up for you. A fan on Twitter described Littlefinger as a "heartbroken man" and called his execution "fan service," explaining that the way they saw it, "he wanted justice on the society for his humiliation, they looked down on him out of his poor background. He never hurt Sansa." That's when Turner jumped into the convo. "Nah... just willingly sold her to the Boltons... Who killed her family... who ended up torturing her... But ur right.. no harm done," she wrote with a big sarcastic thumbs up. All hail the Lady of Winterfell, who is correct as usual. Game of Thrones will most likely return to HBO in (shivers) 2019. (Eonline)
FXX's 'You're The Worst' Kicks Off Season 4 at The Museum of Ice Cream. Showrunner Stephen Falk addressed the fascination with "bad people" at the show's season-four premiere: "Villains are more interesting." "We're acutely aware of the fact that villains are more interesting," showrunner Stephen Falk told The Hollywood Reporter at the season premiere of FXX's You're the Worst on Tuesday. "Bad people or bad sides of people are always more interesting to write than good sides." When it comes to breaking up in a less honorable fashion, according to Falk, pretentious, narcissistic Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere) takes the cake by fleeing the scene of a marriage proposal to his equally emotionally volatile girlfriend Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) in a season-three finale cliffhanger that has left the show's fans rabid for resolution. "I constantly have to go against my own natural instincts for all of these things," Geere commented on getting into the headspace of a character like commitment-phobic, irresponsible Jimmy. "I look at these storylines and personally, I'm reading them saying, 'No! What are you doing? Why are you doing that?'" Desmin Bourges, who plays PTSD-addled, heroin-addicted war veteran Edgar Quintero, added that playing such troubled characters requires "due diligence. We do our research. We want to play these characters and the situations that they're in and the illnesses that they're dealing with not only as truthfully as possible, but as respectfully as possible." But what makes it possible, in large part, for the show's tight-knit ensemble to portray a cast of characters so wretched and yet so likeable is the witty, never-stale dialogue between the characters. "The writing is so great on the show," said Kether Donohue on getting into her character of recently divorced, unstable Lindsay Jillian. "I think it's just trusting that the lines and the rhythm of the scenes and the collaborations with the other actors and energy on set." Season four of You're The Worst premieres Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX. (Hollywood Reporter)
David Madden Exits as Fox Entertainment Chief, Replaced by Michael Thorn. Sources say Madden is negotiating to take the top job at AMC. Three years into the job, Fox entertainment president David Madden is stepping down, and will be replaced by 20th Century Fox TV veteran Michael Thorn. The move marks the first high-level executive shakeup of Fox Television Group chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden's tenure, though insiders say it was ultimately Madden's move. Per multiple sources, he is expected to announce soon that he will be taking the top job at AMC, which has been left vacant since Joel Stillerman's departure. In that role, Madden will oversee programming at AMC and Sundance, and will play a key role at the studio, given his past experience running Fox TV Studios. Back at Fox, Thorn will assume all responsibility for scripted programming and development as well as oversee casting at the network. He will report to Walden and Newman, and will transition from his role as executive vp development at the studio at the end of next month. Per the company press release, the pair intend to replace him at the studio, though it's not clear whether that replacement will come from within. He brings with him strong talent relationships and many years of experience working with broadcast fare, including recent breakouts This Is Us and Empire. "We've worked with Michael for the past decade, and in terms of creative chops and leadership skills, he's one of the best," Newman and Walden noted Wednesday in a joint statement, adding: "He's distinguished himself in our organization and in the creative community as an incredible executive who cares deeply about the work and our creative partners. As someone who's worked at the studio, a broadcast network and spent time as a producer, Michael's had the best possible training for this position. We're elated he'll be stepping into this expanded role." The game of musical chairs comes as Newman and Walden have been under increased pressure from those with the last name Murdoch to secure some fresh hits for the network. After all, Fox's No. 2 status for the broadcast season is based largely on the merits of the Super Bowl and the World Series, as opposed to a high-performing slate of originals. The pair clearly have high hopes for Thorn, who found success in a role formerly held by Jennifer Salke, now entertainment president at NBC. For his part, Madden had been brought over from Fox TV Studios to try his hand at the job shortly after Newman and Walden got the keys to the network in summer 2014. A Harvard-educated former film exec, he had spent the decade prior working on such cable fare as The Americans and The Killing. The quantity, pace and tone that broadcast required were each new, but Madden and his bosses almost immediately struck gold with the January 2015 launch of Empire, which shattered records and propped up the rest of the schedule -- at least temporarily. Now heading into its fourth season, Fox's Empire has lost a sizable chunk of its viewership (roughly 40 percent this season) and much of the zeitgeist that accompanied it. Though both Lethal Weapon and The Mick are worthy of praise, the network's other efforts have failed to draw numbers, and even a coveted post-Super Bowl premiere slot couldn't make a viable freshman out of 24 reboot Legacy. That Fox had passed on Dan Fogelman's This Is Us, which became a runway hit for rival NBC, and ultimately lost one-time juggernaut American Idol to ABC has not helped matters internally. By spring, the rumor mill had kicked into overdrive: Change was likely, and Madden, given the position, seemed likely to take the fall. The gig had become grueling, as any top network position today is, and his own purview had been minimized when, months earlier, he was stripped of his unscripted responsibilities. (In February, Walden and Newman tapped veteran reality showrunner Rob Wade as president of alternative, and ordered that he report directly to them.) Ultimately, that ax never fell, and Madden will move into a role at AMC -- where he has a relationship with Charlie Collier, with whom he worked on The Killing -- that returns him to prestige fare. "This brings to a close an incredible 17-year run working with our friend and colleague, David," Walden and Newman added in their statement. "He's a gifted executive who brings passion, intelligence and a tremendous amount of experience to all he does. We know he'll be successful in the next stage of his career and we wish him all the best." (Hollywood Reporter)
Jerry Seinfeld Still Considers Bill Cosby the "Biggest Comedian of All Time". The actor-comedian named the disgraced star one of his comedic influences during a visit to 'Norm Macdonald Live.' Despite an onslaught of sexual assault allegations aimed at Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld still believes his comedic legacy is untainted. While discussing his early comedic influences during a visit to Norm Macdonald Live, the Seinfeld co-creator told the host, "I think Bill Cosby is the biggest comedian of all time. I don't think anyone will ever match his production and quality of material." After pausing to let Seinfeld's comment sink in, Macdonald echoed, "I love Bill Cosby." He added, "I had maybe the greatest Bill Cosby story ever, and now it's not top 10,000. Because I'll tell people the story, and then I'll constantly be interrupted by, 'Did he rape you?' He didn't ever rape me. It had nothing to do with the story." Seinfeld and Macdonald then shifted the conversation to touch on the disgraced comedian's downfall following multiple accusations from women claiming they were drugged and molested by him. Cosby is currently awaiting a retrial in November after the sexual assault case was declared a mistrial back in June. "How much are you bothered by the fact that this comedian who you really thought was great turns out to be this person doing horrible things? Do you separate his work from the person? Does it taint it at all?" Seinfeld asked, to which MacDonald replied, "Not at all." The host then countered Seinfeld's question: "[If] you hear Beethoven raped his own daughter ... would you give a good god damn?" "Yeah, I would. That's pretty bad. Pick a different crime," Seinfeld joked. (Hollywood Reporter)
Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip Welcome Baby No. 2. Baby No. 2 is here! Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip have welcomed a happy and healthy baby, the Swedish Royal Court just revealed. "The Office of The Marshal of the Realm is delighted to announce that HRH Princess Sofia gave birth to a healthy child at 11:24 a.m. on August 31 at Danderyd Hospital," a spokesperson said in a press release. "Both mother and child are in good health." (The new royal baby's birth falls on the 20th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.) The newborn -- whose name and sex has yet to be revealed -- is the younger sibling to Prince Alexander, who was born on Apr. 19, 2016. Earlier this summer, Carl Philip and Sofia enjoyed a babymoon in the south of France with family members, including his sister Princess Madeleine. Carl Philip, 37, is the second child and only son of King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia of Sweden; his elder sister, Princess Victoria, is first in line to the throne. He married Princess Sofia (nee Hellqvist), 32, a former contestant on the reality show Paradise Hotel, in June 2015. "Being a mother is amazing," Sofia said last July. "It changes your whole life." The Swedish royal family is only getting bigger. A few days ago, Madeleine, 35, announced she and husband Chris O'Neill are expecting their third child. "Chris and I are thrilled to announce that I am expecting," Madeleine wrote on Facebook. "We look forward to four becoming five!" Madeleine and Chris are already parents to Princess Leonore, 3, and Prince Nicolas, 2. Earlier this summer, it was announced that Leonore will be attending preschool in Sweden. "HRH Princess Madeleine and her family permanently reside in London. However, they regularly spend longer periods in Sweden," the palace said. "The Princess feels that her children should have a strong connection with Sweden. She wants them to feel at home here just as she does." (Eonline)
Eric Stonestreet has a new girlfriend! The Modern Family actor is dating pediatric nurse Lindsay Schweitzer, a source confirms to Us Weekly. The new couple were spotted together at the Big Slick Celebrity Weekend annual charity event in Kansas City in late June. "Lindsay was there fundraising, and Eric was one of the celebrity guests," a second insider tells Us. Stonestreet, 45, previously dated Broadway star Katherine Tokarz for nearly three years until 2012. Soon after, she got engaged to writer and producer Bret Calvert, and they tied the knot in May 2013. Following his split from Tokarz, rumors swirled that the two-time Emmy winner was dating actress Charlize Theron. However, he laughed off the reports on Twitter in 2012, writing, "I wish people would stop spreading rumors that Charlize Theron and I are dating. It's starting to make Halle Berry jealous." "She was so cold to me this morning when she saw the rumors," he later quipped to E! News of the Oscar-winning actress, 51. "It was just quiet -- fork and knife on the plate. Halle and I weren't speaking at all. And I'm like, 'Halle, listen! It's just a rumor. It's not real.'" While Stonestreet portrays openly gay character Cameron Tucker on Modern Family, he once lightheartedly described himself as "openly straight." He told Oprah Winfrey in 2010, "I never thought this would be the character that people would know me for, but it's just an honor to play him." (US Weekly)
How Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty Are Keeping Their Romance Magical Off Screen. It's a love story fit for a Hollywood movie. Two talented stars work on a Disney project and go from co-stars to couples. Months later and the pair is using the L word openly and freely. As it turns out, we don't have to look further than Dove Cameron and Thomas Doherty's relationship. After The Descendants 2 co-stars turned their friendship into something more, the pair has developed a connection fans can't get enough of. "We're super in love and stuff. I think it would be easy to collaborate with him again," Dove recently shared with Access Hollywood. "Professional, personal, he's the love of my life so I'm good not working with him again too." That affection is visible on the pair's social media as they enjoy date nights at hockey games or relaxing time at home with selfies and jokes. And while the pair has been dating for approximately six months, Dove is the first to admit that her boyfriend still surprises her with his kindness. "Came out of a shop to see that my boyfriend bought a homeless woman a bunch of pastries and her SPECIFIC starbucks order," she shared on Twitter earlier this week. "In love w an angel." (Eonline)
Chloe Green Denies Engagement to "Hot Felon" Jeremy Meeks. Chloe Green and Jeremy Meeks are heating up -- but they're not heading down the aisle. On the heels of a curios Instagram Story video of the two canoodling -- in which the fashion heiress was sporting a sparkler on that finger -- claims swirled that the two were engaged after a whirlwind affair. However, Green has since set the rumors straight. "Chloe is not engaged," her representative told The Daily Mail simply. The couple has had quite the scandalous beginning considering Meeks was still married when he was spotted making out with the Topshop heiress on a yacht near Turkey in early July. It wasn't long before the viral photos caught the attention of Melissa Meeks, his wife, who thought the father of her children was out of the country for a modeling job. As Melissa told The Daily Mail, "I know it takes two to tango but she knew he was married. To me, that's unforgivable. My whole world has been torn apart by this. What do I tell our children? My heart is broken." However, she also took major issue with her husband and insisted they will be divorcing. As she continued, "Of course I'm angry at her. What she did is unforgivable. And I'm angry at him too. What they did destroyed my entire world." Jeremy, now a model, initially rose to fame in 2014 after his mug shot, taken after his arrest for felony gun possession, went viral. However, the personal controversy doesn't seem to bother the new duo -- they've since been spotted out together on several occasions and were not holding back the PDA. As Green captioned a since-deleted Instagram photo of her with Meeks and his manager, "Just the Beginning...We appreciate all the love and the hate." (Eonline)
Lambert, 33, took to Instagram Tuesday night to reveal her animal shelter foundation, MuttNation, rescued 72 dogs that day. "My roommates tonight sure are cute! Mama and newborns that were born this morning," Lambert wrote in the caption. "Im calling her Ashley after @ashleymonroemusic who just had a baby herself. @muttnationfoundation rescued 72 dogs today who are being transported to dry safe shelters across the country. Thanks for yalls support. Stay tuned tomorrow and continue to pray. #muttnationfoundation #hurricaneharvey#texasstrong #elvirathebus#tourbusrescue." Rose, 31, also donated, writing on social media that she would match musician Jack Antonoff's donation to an LGBT center in Houston. Hart urged his fellow celebrities to give back, creating a hurricane relief fund and challenging friends like JAY-Z and Chris Brown to give at least $25,000. Brown, 28, accepted the challenge, but increased the amount to $100,000. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez each donated $25,000 to the American Red Cross, which the "On the Floor" singer revealed in an Instagram video. Other stars such as Kim Kardashian West pledged to donate $500,000, along with her sisters and mother, Kris Jenner. Beyonce, a Houston native, shared a black-and-white Instagram photo of the state flag with the message: "Texas you are in my prayers." Meanwhile, Texas native Longoria detailed her recent trip back home to San Antonio. "It wasn't as bad as other areas of Texas. I'm praying for my home state and all those who are suffering through the devastation of Hurricane Harvey," she wrote alongside a photo of the state. "Stay strong Texas and a big Texas size thank you to all the first responders, National Guard, Red Cross, volunteers, etc. Everything is bigger in Texas, and that includes our hearts and capacity to help," she added. Hurricane Harvey caused terrible wreckage after making landfall in the town of Rockport on Friday night, as a Category 4 storm. Port Aransas and Rockport took the brunt of the storm, which hit the coastal area with 130 mph winds. The storm left homes flooded, many without power and several buildings destroyed. On Saturday and early Sunday, parts of the Houston area had received more than 20 inches of rain, with southeast Harris County logged at 24.28 inches of rain in 24 hours, the Weather Channel reported. At least five people had been reported dead on Sunday as a result of Harvey, according to The Chicago Tribune. Officials said they expect the number of fatalities to rise in areas hit hardest with flooding. As officials, crews and residents scramble in Texas, Bachelor alum Sean Lowe, who is from Arlington, looked to take action. "Anyone in the dallas (sic) area have a small boat I can take to Houston to help with evacuations? I'll pay for the rental," he tweeted on Sunday. Singer Chris Young also vowed to help, pledging $100,000 to the Red Cross -- and setting up a GoFundMe page for others to donate. He announced the pledge in a moving Instagram post, noting that he has friends and family in Texas, as well as a house that was likely destroyed in the storm. Stars including Miranda Lambert and Kim Zolciak-Biermann sent well-wishes to those affected by the hurricane. Others, like Drake Busy Philipps and Amy Schumer shared links and phone numbers to the American Red Cross, Save the Children, FEMA and local help lines for those in troubled areas. "We are currently overseas in London and all I can think about is how devastated I am as I look at images of the damage Hurricane Harvey has caused. I am praying for the safety of all those affected," Drake wrote in an Instagram post on Monday. "Houston has truly been a home to me over the last 8 years. Myself and @furthertheprince are working with local relief groups to aid and assist the people of Texas in anyway we can and in the most immediate way possible." (People)
Paul Anka will not be a victim of the political correctness that prompted more than a dozen charities to cancel or move fund-raisers from Mar-a-Lago following President Trump's remarks about the violence in Charlottesville, Va. Anka, 76, a pop star since he was a teenager, was booked to perform Dec. 2 at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Fla., at the LIFE (Leaders in Furthering Education) Lady in Red Gala, and had received a deposit of $75,000. But when Trump was criticized for blaming "both sides" for the violence in Charlottesville, LIFE -- run by Lois Pope, the widow of National Enquirer founder Generoso Pope -- moved the event to the nearby Breakers with a new date, Jan. 5. Anka, who has an 11-year-old son and nine grandchildren, is going on a European vacation in January. When LIFE organizers asked if the deposit could go toward a performance next year, his agent allegedly said, "This is not negotiable. You will not get a penny back." "I run a small business. I've got overhead. I've got people on salary," Anka told me. "They're guilt-tripping me, asking me to take a hit, but we didn't cause the problem. They need to eat it. It's their problem." "It took quite a bit of time to secure Paul's performance, time that could have been better spent helping those who are beneficiaries of the Lady in Red Gala proceeds, from physically disabled veterans and veterans with PTSD [post-traumatic stress disorder] and TBI [traumatic brain injury], to animals in need of rescue, shelter and treatment during natural disasters such as what is happening in Texas," Pope said. "We went out of our way to accommodate him," she continued. "So I'm sad and disheartened that he is not making the time or the same kind of effort to accommodate us in any way." (Page Six)
The Game hired a burger joint to cater his shindig, but went radio silent when it came time to pay the piper ... so says the owner suing the rapper, but Game says the owner's lying her ass off. The owner of Big D's Burgers sued Game claiming the joint is out $8,500 for unpaid catering services for a Fourth of July party. A rep for Big D's tells us Game hired the restaurant on 2 separate occasions and each time Game paid cash. The rep says Game requested food for up to 250 partygoers. But the rep says about 450 people showed up, forcing Big D's to make a food run. What's more ... the rep says he was told to also grab booze and cleaning supplies, which wasn't part of the deal but agreed to buy and bring back anyway. When it came time to pay Big D's, the rep says Game promised to wire the money the next day ... but the dough never came. We reached out to Game, and his manager Wack 100 tells TMZ the rapper never had a contract with Big D's and says they thought the company catered the party for free. (TMZ)
Richard Simmons' lawsuit against the National Enquirer hit an unexpected snag in court. A judge seems to be ready to rule in favor of the gossip outlet for a surprising reason. Simmons sued both the Enquirer and Radar Online in May for a series of articles that alleged the 69-year-old fitness guru was transitioning to become a woman. He alleged that, while he holds no personal ill-feelings toward the transgender community, the articles were false and defamatory to his character. According to The Hollywood Reporter, his lawyers argued that, as a public figure, he has a legal right to "not be portrayed as someone he is not." However, a judge is tentatively ruling that alleging someone is transgender is not necessarily defamatory. Although the outlet notes that no official ruling has been made, the court is making it clear that it plans to treat the issue of claiming someone is transgender the same way it would treat claims of race, illness or other "immutable characteristics." "This court finds that because courts have long held that a misidentification of certain immutable characteristics do not naturally tend to injure one's reputation, even if there is a sizeable portion of the population who hold prejudices against those characteristics, misidentification of a person as transgender is not actionable defamation absent special damages," L.A. Superior Court judge Gregory Keosian said. He went on to explain that, while being transgender may subject a person to ridicule or prejudice from a large portion of the population, "the court will not validate those prejudices by legally recognizing them." However, according to Variety, Simmons' lawyers are trying to make the case that the court has a responsibility to legally recognize those prejudices rather than plan ahead for an ideal world in which they do not exist. "The object of the National Enquirer was to do everything they could to humiliate this person," said attorney Neville Johnson, who represents Simmons. "They made it up entirely out of whole cloth. I submit that when you make something up intentionally... and put it on the cover, there's an inference you can make that somebody's reputation is going to be harmed." Keosian is thinking on the matter and is expected to give a written ruling soon. (Page Six)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Amber Portwood is moving on. The Teen Mom OG star revealed to E! News' Daily Pop Wednesday that she was "ready" to give another try at friendship with her MTV costar Farrah Abraham. After saying Abraham has a "very strong mind and strong opinions," Portwood, 27, added, "So do I. So I think it's natural for us to clash. Plus, she's crazy." "We used to be friends," Portwood continued. "But, I don't know what happened. I think she did things for publicity. I still love her to death. She knows that." Despite their differences over the years, including Abraham sending Portwood a cease and desist letter in June, the mother of one says she's ready to "let everything go." "With her, it's on her terms," Portwood continued. "I'm not really putting any effort into it or thinking about it." The tension between Abraham and Portwood came to a head during the MTV show's reunion last December, when Portwood -- in an attempt to defend her fiance Matt Baier -- took a swing at Abraham. "Just because somebody's 20 years older than you doesn't mean he's a f -- ing pedophile," yelled Portwood, getting in Abraham's face. "Shut your f -- ing mouth, do you understand me? Shut your f -- ing mouth." The fight escalated significantly as Baier and Abraham's father Michael got involved, and security eventually stepped in to put an end to it. The two women both took to Twitter afterward to address the altercation. "Well, this was an interesting night ... always sending love not hate because you never know what hate can bring your way," tweeted Portwood, before adding: "If I was going out there to hit her than I would have. Just wanted her to say it to my face and of course, she didn't ... let's be honest." (People)
According to Gwyneth Paltrow, "relationships of quality" are the key to success, but she also knows when she's messed one up. "Oh my God, I've f–ked up so many relationships," Paltrow told Sophia Amoruso on her "Girl Boss" podcast. "I'm a pretty good friend and sister and daughter, but I am at my potentially most vulnerable and f–ked up in the romantic slice of the pie." Jokingly calling out to her 1990s boyfriend Brad Pitt over the airwaves, she said, "I f–ked that up, Brad!" Pitt and Paltrow were together for nearly three years before they split in 1997. He since married and divorced Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie -- while Paltrow wed and then "consciously uncoupled" from Coldplay's Chris Martin (but he's still friendly with Paltrow's mom Blythe Danner). She is currently dating Brad Falchuk. The Goop founder dished about how her life as an actress and a post-kids identity crisis sparked the creation of her often-criticized lifestyle newsletter-turned-website in 2008. Most recently, her company has been accused of "deceptive health and disease-treatment claims" by an advertising watchdog group. "I had a few days over the last three months where I was like 'f–k it,'" she said. "It was so deeply unfair and I wish people would do their homework before they are vitriolic about it." But she's not throwing in the jade egg-promoting towel anytime soon. "Going into a hole is exactly the opposite of the lesson," she said of what she's learned from the backlash. "The lesson is to energetically cultivate 'f–k you.'" (Page Six)
Kendall Jenner will not be one of the angels walking the catwalk for the "2017 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show," but it was her choice ... made easier by a boatload of cash. Our Kardashian family sources tell us Kendall didn't even audition for the gig because she has a major deal to be the face -- and other body parts -- of La Perla. We're told her multi-million dollar deal with the upscale lingerie line includes a non-compete clause ... so, walking for VS would've been a major no-no, anyway. Fans were surprised when the list of models for this year's VS show didn't include Kendall -- especially because she did it last year, and her pal, Gigi Hadid, is doing it. What can we say? The chick got a wayyy better deal. If you're disappointed ... there's always 2016. (TMZ)
Leo DiCaprio is the winner in charitable donations for Hurricane Harvey relief ... he's just cut a check for $1 million. Leo's foundation gave the money to the United Way Harvey Recovery Fund ... it will be used for both short and long-term relief. United Way says the entire amount will go to help victims of the epic storm. This is the first donation to the newly established United Way fund to help victims of the hurricane. A number of celebs have donated ... notably the Kardashian family gave $500k. Sandra Bullock also gave $1 million to the cause. (TMZ)
This new lingerie "Angel" has a secret: She was once busted for shoplifting chocolate bars at a Whole Foods in Tribeca. Stunning Dutch treat Roosmarijn de Kok, 21, was awarded her wings -- guaranteeing her a spot on the runway of Victoria's Secret's annual event -- at the company's headquarters in Manhattan last week. "Forever grateful!!!" de Kok wrote on her Instagram. "Im [sic] so excited!!" But in 2014, she turned heads on a different catwalk -- the center aisle of an arraignment courtroom at Manhattan Criminal Court. The Wilhelmina model was pinched by Whole Foods security for allegedly walking out with three chocolate bars and a pricey bottle of fish oil in her bag. Her lawyer, Sal Strazzullo, told The Post at the time that his client had placed the items in her handbag and then forgot they were there. The charges were dismissed and sealed after de Kok agreed to serve a day of community service. She'll debut at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2017 in Shanghai, China, in November. (Page Six)
If they're NOT dating by now ... they should be. Blake Griffin and Kendall Jenner went out to a fancy romantic dinner AGAIN -- this time, they were joined by fellow NBA star Chandler Parsons and Hailey Baldwin. Blake and Kendall left Craig's in L.A. together and got into a waiting car. Chandler followed shortly after. Hailey was definitely with the group ... but didn't want to be part of the mass exodus. Chandler and Hailey have been spotted together in the past (sunbathing together in June) but insist they're not exclusively dating. Blake and Kendall have been spending a lot of time together, too. But no official confirmation there either. Bottom line -- four attractive, rich, famous people hanging out. What do YOU think is happening? (TMZ)
Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson Publicly Reunite: "We Never Had Bad Blood." Bad blood between Corinne Olympios and DeMario Jackson? According to the Bachelor in Paradise star herself, never! The two former co-stars had a very public reunion late Wednesday night when they were spotted by shutterflies leaving the Nightingale club in West Hollywood together. The two reality stars, who were famously at the center of an alleged misconduct scandal that temporarily halted production, appeared to forget their complicated history when Olympios opened her arms to Jackson in front of the cameras and the two embraced. "Get a good shot, b--ches," she advised photographers, who were capturing their every move. The two sealed the encounter with Corinne giving him a smooch on the cheek. After a final hug, the duo parted ways and photographers followed the 24-year-old Miami native as she walked away with a friend and almost tripped on the curb in the process. "We're friends!" she assured the crowd surrounding them. "We never had bad blood." The public sighting seemed to get a stamp of approval from fellow Bachelor in Paradise contestant Amanda Stanton, who commented on E!'s Instagram account, "love this a whole lot." While Warner Bros. later cleared production of any wrongdoing following a two-week investigation, Olympios also clarified that Jackson was not to blame when she sat down for her first interview on the ordeal with Chris Harrisonearlier this week. "I honestly don't feel like he did anything wrong," she said. "I really just want people to know that I don't blame DeMario. I never pointed fingers at DeMario. I never said a bad word about DeMario." While they had not seen each other at the time of the sit-down, she shared with Harrison what she would tell her colleague. "I would want to tell him, like listen, I respect you as a human. I have nothing against you. I am so sorry you had to go through this. I know exactly what it feels like...and I wish you all the best and I'm sorry." From the looks of these newest photos, these two are on picture-perfect terms. (Eonline)
XOXO clothing company says it's getting screwed by Trojan condoms ... and not in the good way. XOXO -- the women's apparel line Chrissy Teigen and Miranda Kerr rep -- says Trojan copied its distinctive black-and-white logo in February and started slapping it on a new line of "softouch low-odor" condoms. In docs, obtained by TMZ, XOXO says the rubber kings even matched the girth ... of their letter "x" in the logo. And the company says Trojan's "SMART. SEXY. CONFIDENT." slogan is way too close to its "Smart Sexy." According to the suit, Trojan also plans to put "XOXO" on massage oils, lotions, creams, lubricants and vibrators. The clothing company won't sit, or stand, for the ribbing -- XOXO is suing to block Trojan and for any profits made off its name. (TMZ)
Music
Thomas Rhett's New Single May Be His Most Personal Yet: Listen to "Life Changes" Now. Craving new music from Thomas Rhett? Boy, are you in luck! As the country singer prepares to head back on the road this September, the man behind huge hits including "Star of the Show" and "Die a Happy Man" is surprising fans with a brand-new single. E! News is thrilled to exclusively premiere Thomas Rhett's new song titled "Life Changes." "I wrote 'Life Changes' about what is going on in my life at this very exact moment -- I felt like it was the perfect title track for the album," he shared with us. "In the past year there have been so many dramatic and beautiful changes that I've experienced -- from becoming a father not once but twice, to reaching some major milestones in my career as an artist and songwriter -- I'm just trying to soak it all in and enjoy every minute of it." That mindset is heard and felt in his new track that features powerful lyrics any music fan can relate to. In the catchy chorus, the Grammy nominee expresses just how much the world can transform around you in such a small amount of time. "Ain't it funny how life changes / You wake up, ain't nothin' the same / And life changes," he sings in the track. "You can't stop it, just hop on the train and / You never know what's gonna happen / You make your plans and you hear God laughin' / Life changes / And I wouldn't change it for the world, the world, oh no." Fans of the country singer already know that it's been a summer to remember. Earlier this month, Thomas Rhett's wife Lauren Akins gave birth to a baby girl named Ada James Akins. The newest bundle of love also comes just months after the couple adopted daughter Willa Gray Akins. For those who like the new song, the album also titled Life Changes is available for everyone starting September 8. And if you want to hear the song performed live, we're happy to report Thomas Rhett has more than a few concert dates on his calendar. Find out if he's heading to your neighborhood by visiting his website here. (Eonline)
Michael Jackson's Bad Album Turns 30: How the King of Pop Influenced Today's Biggest Artists. This week always marks a momentous time when thinking back on Michael Jackson's life. Not only did the King of Pop's birthday fall on Aug. 29, but he also dropped one of his greatest albums of all time, Bad, on Aug. 31, 1987. The album was highly anticipated as his fans had to wait five years following the release of 1982's Thriller. Not to mention, it marked Jackson's return to the spotlight after his nearly two-year disappearance that began in 1985. Needless to say, Bad wasn't just an album...it marked a turn in the singer's life and a whole new sound to add to his ever-growing musical talent. Essentially, it epitomized the massive influence he had on many of today's biggest artists. In fact, as we celebrate the 30-year (!!!) anniversary of Bad and honor the songs it brought us -- like "Dirty Diana" and "Smooth Criminal" -- let's take a look at all the stars that credit M.J. for being their biggest role model. (Eonline)
2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina Lineup: Camila Cabello, CNCO & More. They're back! The fourth annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina is here again to celebrate the very best in Latin Music. iHeartMedia announced that the show will take place at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami on Saturday, Nov. 4. This year you can expect to see performances from Camila Cabello, Gente de Zona, Don Omar, CNCO, Nacho, Reik, and Jesse y Joy, with more artists to follow. Stars like Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Prince Royce have all previously performed at the event. For the second straight year, Enrique Santos, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeartLatino and on-air personality for iHeartRadio, will host the concert event. Telemundo, for the third consecutive year, will broadcast the 2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina as a TV special that will air at a later date. "The iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina is a true celebration of Latin music and culture. Each year we bring the best of Latin music to one stage and this year's impeccable lineup is no different," said Santos in a statement. "We're thrilled to once again partner with Telemundo, whom just like us, have a power connection to the Latin community." "As a media industry leader, Telemundo recognizes the connection our audience has with music, and we celebrate it," said Luis Silberwasser, President, Telemundo and Universo channel. "We are thrilled to once again partner with iHeartRadio to broadcast the fourth annual iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina, bringing some of Latin music's biggest stars to our screen." Telemundo will also live stream the star-studded show exclusively on Telemundo.com for fans across the U.S. And if you want to make it to the show but don't live in Miami, they've got you covered. Beginning Monday, October 2, iHeartMedia will launch a four-week nationwide promotion to give thousands of Latin Music fans across the country the opportunity to win trips to Miami to experience the 2017 iHeartRadio Fiesta Latina. Tickets go on sale to the general public on August 30. We can't wait! (Eonline)
The director of Taylor Swift's music video for her polarizing new single "Look What You Made Me Do" has called out the "double standards" faced by Swift and other women. Joseph Kahn, a frequent Swift collaborator -- who previously helmed the videos for "Blank Space,""Bad Blood," and "Wildest Dreams" -- tweeted Wednesday, "If I plan something as a man I'm a 'genius.' If Taylor as a woman plans something she is 'manipulative.' Double standards. This is wrong." One of the most observed figures in pop culture, Swift has drawn intense scrutiny since the release of "Look What You Made Me Do" last week. In the first single from her forthcoming album Reputation (and its accompanying video), she declares that "the old Taylor" is dead and seemingly alludes to her former relationships with Calvin Harris and Tom Hiddleston and feuds with Katy Perry, Kanye West, and Kim Kardashian. While the song has already smashed several records, it has also divided fans and inspired some unflattering think pieces. Vulture's Mark Harris, for example, called the song "an anthem that turns the abrogation of personal responsibility into a posturing statement of empowerment." Following Kahn's initial tweet, the director retweeted a link to a Guardian opinion piece arguing that Swift is fighting an age-old battle with misogyny. Kahn previously defended the "Look What You Made Me Do" video amid allegations of ripping off Beyonce's "Formation" music video. This article originally appeared on Ew.com (People)
Sunmi Hits New Peak on World Digital Song Sales Chart With 'Gashina'. With more than a decade in the K-pop scene, Sunmi is no stranger to the Billboard charts. But she is only just now hitting exciting peaks as a solo artist. The 25-year-old's new single "Gashina" debuts at No. 3 on World Digital Song Sales this week, selling 1,000 downloads in the week ending Aug. 24, according to Nielsen Music, making it the best-selling K-pop song in America. The dance-pop track holds off competition from new releases from NCT Dream and Red Velvet, along with consistently high-selling singles from EXO and BTS. "Gashina" marks Sunmi's first release since February's disbanding of the Wonder Girls -- the group she departed in 2010 and returned to in 2015 -- and leaving longtime label home JYP Entertainment, which houses acts like 2PM, Twice and GOT7. Helmed by Teddy (the longtime producer for BIGBANG, 2NE1 and G-Dragon) and co-written by Sunmi, "Gashina" brings a bubbling blend of dancehall, synth-pop and East Asian-inspired instruments as the starlet's stunning first release under MakeUs Entertainment, the same label as R&B chart-toppers Urban Zakapa. During her initial run with Wonder Girls, Sunmi helped pave the way for Korean acts on the Billboard charts as the English version "Nobody" stands as one of the few K-pop tracks to break into the Billboard Hot 100 when it peaked at No. 76 in 2009. Sunmi previously sent one entry to World Digital Songs as a solo artist (2014's "Full Moon" featuring Lena hit No. 13) and four during her time with Wonder Girls including 2015's "I Feel You" (which hit No. 12) and the 2016 songs "Why So Lonely" (peaking at No. 5), "Beautiful Boy" (No. 16) and "Sweet & Easy" (No. 17). (Billboard)
Niall Horan Begins Summer Tour With Solo One Direction Throwback. He performed an acoustic rendition of "Fool's Gold," which originally appeared on 1D's album 'Four.' Niall Horan might be embarking on his solo career now, but that doesn't mean he's forgotten his One Direction roots -- or their many hits. Foregoing the arenas and stadiums he played while in the boy band, the Ireland native kicked off his Flicker Sessions tour at the intimate Olympia Theatre in Dublin, Ireland, Tuesday night. There, he performed an acoustic, folksy rendition of "Fool's Gold," a song that originally appeared on 1D's fourth studio album, Four. Wearing a white T-shirt and jeans, the singer barely strums through the opening notes before the fans present begin to scream with delight. Throughout the video, Horan's voice is joined by the fans' own exuberant singing. (Billboard)
Flavor Flav Sues Chuck D, Public Enemy Team Over Unpaid Royalties & Releasing Music Without His Consent. Flavor Flav is suing Chuck D and members of Public Enemy's production and management team, according to documents filed by his attorney, A. Eric Bjorgum, on Tuesday (Aug. 29). The rapper (real name William J. Drayton)'s lawsuit alleges "despite Drayton's position in Public Enemy, the group's management and related companies have for years attempted to minimize his role in the Public Enemy business, while continuing to rely upon Drayton's fame and persona to market the brand." Eastlink Productions, producer Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo, SLAMjamz Records, Reach Music Publishing, Inc., Carlton Ridenhour (Chuck D), Sounddome Entertainment, Inc., manager Clifton "Greg" Johnson and Xecutive Entertainment are all named as defendants in the lawsuit. Flavor Flav says he hasn't been getting regular songwriting royalty statements for several years, even though he's written more than 50 of the Public Enemy's songs. Moreover, the lawsuit states Flavor Flav's voice and image were used on the recently released Public Enemy album Nothing Is Quick in the Desert without his consent. While he did go into the recording studio, he claims he had "no input on the creative direction of the record" and was under the impression that the recordings he participated in were not final takes. The lawsuit says his vocals "were not up to his standards of quality" and that he did not agree for them to be released. "On or about June 29, 2017, Drayton was shocked to see that a new 'Public Enemy' album was being released, and his image was being used in multiple media outlets to promote the album. He had never heard of the album, nor heard any of the final mixes," court documents read. Flavor Flav also claims he has not been compensated for Public Enemy merchandise sold with his name and image, and that such deals have been made without his consent. The lawsuit states payments "have diminished to almost nothing, and Drayton has been refused accountings, even on the items bearing his likeness." The rapper is suing for an amount to be determined at trial. (Billboard)
Movies
Kate Winslet Leads Voice Cast for Anime 'Mary and the Witch's Flower'. The feature is the first from Studio Ponoc, founded by Studio Ghibli alumni Hiromasa Yonebayashi and Yoshiaki Nishimura. Kate Winslet, Jim Broadbent, Ruby Barnhill, Louis Ashbourne Serkis and Ewen Bremner will voice the English-language version of Mary and the Witch's Flower, the first feature from Studio Ponoc, the anime house founded by former Studio Ghibli director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and producer Yoshiaki Nishimura. Directed by Yonebayashi, who helmed Oscar-nominated When Marnie Was There and worked on Hayao Miyazaki's biggest hits, Mary and the Witch's Flower has taken more than $27 million at the Japanese box office since it opened on July 8. Based on The Little Broomstick by British children's author Mary Stewart, the anime follows the adventures of a girl in a school of magic. The English screenplay adaptation was written by David Freedman and Lynda Freedman. Altitude Film is handling U.K. and worldwide sales, with GKIDS distributing in North America and Madman Entertainment in Australia and New Zealand. (Hollywood Reporter)
TV
Game of Thrones Cut a Finale Scene That Explains That Littlefinger Twist. It's been four days, and we still haven't stopped thinking about that Game of Thrones scene. Not the one with the incest and Jon Snow's butt (though that's up there in our minds, too), but the one where we thought Sansa (Sophie Turner) was about to have her sister executed until she turned the tables on the table turner himself, Petyr Baelish (Aiden Gillen). After Sansa convicted him of his many, many crimes, Arya (Maisie Williams) slit his throat, bringing Littlefinger's evil fine tuning of the Stark sisters' relationship to a swift end. While it was a much-deserved ending for the sniveling a--hole and a perfect way to bring the sisters back together, it came completely out of nowhere. We had last seen Sansa offering her sister a horrified "WTF" face while Arya brandished a knife in her direction, threatening to kill her and steal her face after explaining that she is now a person who kills people and steals their faces when they betray her. There was a brief moment at the end of that scene where Arya handed Sansa the knife instead, but we didn't see them again until Littlefinger was trying to insinuate to Sansa that Arya really did want to steal her face so she could become Lady of Winterfell. Then, Sansa was calling Arya in front of her as if to convict her, until suddenly she was instead convicting Littlefinger of murder, mayhem, and also that time he sold her to a horrible sadistic rapist. It was awesome, but out of the blue. There was no indication that Sansa had stopped trusting Littlefinger, no hint that she and Arya had mended their relationship, and while that surprise was fun, it felt like some potentially gratifying character development opportunity was totally missed. In an interview with Variety this week, Isaac Hempstead-Wright revealed that there was another scene that was filmed but cut from the finale, in which Sansa went to Bran and asked him to use his Three-Eyed Raven skills to tell her what Littlefinger was really up to. "We actually did a scene that clearly got cut, a short scene with Sansa where she knocks on Bran's door and says, 'I need your help,' or something along those lines," Wright said. "So basically, as far as I know, the story was that it suddenly occurred to Sansa that she had a huge CCTV department at her discretion and it might be a good idea to check with him first before she guts her own sister. So she goes to Bran, and Bran tells her everything she needs to know, and she's like, 'Oh, s--t.'" While we would have loved another moment with Arya, it is nice to know that Sansa would have realized she had the means to check to make sure she was about to execute the right person. (Sure, her siblings are weird AF now, but she can't deny they're super useful.) Keeping that full scene in the show might have made the execution scene slightly less impactful, but it would have at least given us some kind of a hint that Sansa knew what she was doing and wasn't being totally manipulated by the realm's master manipulator. It was such a satisfying end to such an awful man that it would have still been good even if we knew it was coming, especially since the whole lead up was so completely unsatisfying. Sansa and Arya should never have gotten that close to murdering each other, no matter what Littlefinger did. And for those of you who don't think Littlefinger deserved what he got, allow Sophie Turner to clear that up for you. A fan on Twitter described Littlefinger as a "heartbroken man" and called his execution "fan service," explaining that the way they saw it, "he wanted justice on the society for his humiliation, they looked down on him out of his poor background. He never hurt Sansa." That's when Turner jumped into the convo. "Nah... just willingly sold her to the Boltons... Who killed her family... who ended up torturing her... But ur right.. no harm done," she wrote with a big sarcastic thumbs up. All hail the Lady of Winterfell, who is correct as usual. Game of Thrones will most likely return to HBO in (shivers) 2019. (Eonline)
FXX's 'You're The Worst' Kicks Off Season 4 at The Museum of Ice Cream. Showrunner Stephen Falk addressed the fascination with "bad people" at the show's season-four premiere: "Villains are more interesting." "We're acutely aware of the fact that villains are more interesting," showrunner Stephen Falk told The Hollywood Reporter at the season premiere of FXX's You're the Worst on Tuesday. "Bad people or bad sides of people are always more interesting to write than good sides." When it comes to breaking up in a less honorable fashion, according to Falk, pretentious, narcissistic Jimmy Shive-Overly (Chris Geere) takes the cake by fleeing the scene of a marriage proposal to his equally emotionally volatile girlfriend Gretchen Cutler (Aya Cash) in a season-three finale cliffhanger that has left the show's fans rabid for resolution. "I constantly have to go against my own natural instincts for all of these things," Geere commented on getting into the headspace of a character like commitment-phobic, irresponsible Jimmy. "I look at these storylines and personally, I'm reading them saying, 'No! What are you doing? Why are you doing that?'" Desmin Bourges, who plays PTSD-addled, heroin-addicted war veteran Edgar Quintero, added that playing such troubled characters requires "due diligence. We do our research. We want to play these characters and the situations that they're in and the illnesses that they're dealing with not only as truthfully as possible, but as respectfully as possible." But what makes it possible, in large part, for the show's tight-knit ensemble to portray a cast of characters so wretched and yet so likeable is the witty, never-stale dialogue between the characters. "The writing is so great on the show," said Kether Donohue on getting into her character of recently divorced, unstable Lindsay Jillian. "I think it's just trusting that the lines and the rhythm of the scenes and the collaborations with the other actors and energy on set." Season four of You're The Worst premieres Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on FXX. (Hollywood Reporter)
David Madden Exits as Fox Entertainment Chief, Replaced by Michael Thorn. Sources say Madden is negotiating to take the top job at AMC. Three years into the job, Fox entertainment president David Madden is stepping down, and will be replaced by 20th Century Fox TV veteran Michael Thorn. The move marks the first high-level executive shakeup of Fox Television Group chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden's tenure, though insiders say it was ultimately Madden's move. Per multiple sources, he is expected to announce soon that he will be taking the top job at AMC, which has been left vacant since Joel Stillerman's departure. In that role, Madden will oversee programming at AMC and Sundance, and will play a key role at the studio, given his past experience running Fox TV Studios. Back at Fox, Thorn will assume all responsibility for scripted programming and development as well as oversee casting at the network. He will report to Walden and Newman, and will transition from his role as executive vp development at the studio at the end of next month. Per the company press release, the pair intend to replace him at the studio, though it's not clear whether that replacement will come from within. He brings with him strong talent relationships and many years of experience working with broadcast fare, including recent breakouts This Is Us and Empire. "We've worked with Michael for the past decade, and in terms of creative chops and leadership skills, he's one of the best," Newman and Walden noted Wednesday in a joint statement, adding: "He's distinguished himself in our organization and in the creative community as an incredible executive who cares deeply about the work and our creative partners. As someone who's worked at the studio, a broadcast network and spent time as a producer, Michael's had the best possible training for this position. We're elated he'll be stepping into this expanded role." The game of musical chairs comes as Newman and Walden have been under increased pressure from those with the last name Murdoch to secure some fresh hits for the network. After all, Fox's No. 2 status for the broadcast season is based largely on the merits of the Super Bowl and the World Series, as opposed to a high-performing slate of originals. The pair clearly have high hopes for Thorn, who found success in a role formerly held by Jennifer Salke, now entertainment president at NBC. For his part, Madden had been brought over from Fox TV Studios to try his hand at the job shortly after Newman and Walden got the keys to the network in summer 2014. A Harvard-educated former film exec, he had spent the decade prior working on such cable fare as The Americans and The Killing. The quantity, pace and tone that broadcast required were each new, but Madden and his bosses almost immediately struck gold with the January 2015 launch of Empire, which shattered records and propped up the rest of the schedule -- at least temporarily. Now heading into its fourth season, Fox's Empire has lost a sizable chunk of its viewership (roughly 40 percent this season) and much of the zeitgeist that accompanied it. Though both Lethal Weapon and The Mick are worthy of praise, the network's other efforts have failed to draw numbers, and even a coveted post-Super Bowl premiere slot couldn't make a viable freshman out of 24 reboot Legacy. That Fox had passed on Dan Fogelman's This Is Us, which became a runway hit for rival NBC, and ultimately lost one-time juggernaut American Idol to ABC has not helped matters internally. By spring, the rumor mill had kicked into overdrive: Change was likely, and Madden, given the position, seemed likely to take the fall. The gig had become grueling, as any top network position today is, and his own purview had been minimized when, months earlier, he was stripped of his unscripted responsibilities. (In February, Walden and Newman tapped veteran reality showrunner Rob Wade as president of alternative, and ordered that he report directly to them.) Ultimately, that ax never fell, and Madden will move into a role at AMC -- where he has a relationship with Charlie Collier, with whom he worked on The Killing -- that returns him to prestige fare. "This brings to a close an incredible 17-year run working with our friend and colleague, David," Walden and Newman added in their statement. "He's a gifted executive who brings passion, intelligence and a tremendous amount of experience to all he does. We know he'll be successful in the next stage of his career and we wish him all the best." (Hollywood Reporter)
Jerry Seinfeld Still Considers Bill Cosby the "Biggest Comedian of All Time". The actor-comedian named the disgraced star one of his comedic influences during a visit to 'Norm Macdonald Live.' Despite an onslaught of sexual assault allegations aimed at Bill Cosby, Jerry Seinfeld still believes his comedic legacy is untainted. While discussing his early comedic influences during a visit to Norm Macdonald Live, the Seinfeld co-creator told the host, "I think Bill Cosby is the biggest comedian of all time. I don't think anyone will ever match his production and quality of material." After pausing to let Seinfeld's comment sink in, Macdonald echoed, "I love Bill Cosby." He added, "I had maybe the greatest Bill Cosby story ever, and now it's not top 10,000. Because I'll tell people the story, and then I'll constantly be interrupted by, 'Did he rape you?' He didn't ever rape me. It had nothing to do with the story." Seinfeld and Macdonald then shifted the conversation to touch on the disgraced comedian's downfall following multiple accusations from women claiming they were drugged and molested by him. Cosby is currently awaiting a retrial in November after the sexual assault case was declared a mistrial back in June. "How much are you bothered by the fact that this comedian who you really thought was great turns out to be this person doing horrible things? Do you separate his work from the person? Does it taint it at all?" Seinfeld asked, to which MacDonald replied, "Not at all." The host then countered Seinfeld's question: "[If] you hear Beethoven raped his own daughter ... would you give a good god damn?" "Yeah, I would. That's pretty bad. Pick a different crime," Seinfeld joked. (Hollywood Reporter)
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