ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Jonathan Rhys Meyers Publicly Relapsed After Wife Mara Lane Suffered a Miscarriage. After red flags were raised over Jonathan Rhys Meyers' recent behavior, his wife has revealed some heartbreaking news. Mara Lane, who married the Vikings actor last year, took to social media over the weekend to defend her famous husband after photos were taken of him with a policeman at a Dublin airport while he appeared to be intoxicated. To begin, Lane shared that she suffered a miscarriage while pregnant with the couple's second child and noted that Meyers was having a difficult time coping with their loss. "Child was very very much wanted (right now especially by J, so he took the news particularly not so well) and we are still working with coping skills over here... when life throws us curve balls such as these," she wrote on Instagram along with a photo of a woman facing a lion. "Depression is a real concern from past abuse as well as alcoholism which he was born with. He has been able to turn any ugliness and hurt in his life into art and is the strongest person I know. I do not know anyone who has been through what he has been through and reached his level of successes. It does seem though that every time we seem to be making so much progress... sometimes it's like two steps forward, one step back." In discussing the actor, with whom she shares 9-month-old son, Wolf, Lane addressed the photographer who snapped the images of him and assured fans that the star is seeking detox treatment. "To some others, my husband is an Irishman who battles alcoholism and depression and drank between jobs to try to cope with the sadness of this news. I am trying to and still learning/adjusting to living with the public, like one would as a concerned mother-in-law. I feel that whomever took photos of my husband was slightly in the wrong and was concerned for the wrong reasons but ... it's ok. It's ok. Maybe you have/had a family to feed and need/needed money? I don't know. We forgive you," she wrote. "He is safe and with his sober living companion and bodyguard to get into a detox closer to home since he was denied hospital help twice in Ireland because of an already two month wait period." Meyers previously went to rehab for alcohol addiction in 2007 and 2010. Despite her personal challenges, Lane concluded on an encouraging note. As she finished, "Life is life. Life is beautiful. Life is tough sometimes though so let's try not looking down at someone unless we intend on helping them up." (Eonline)

Colin Farrell Shares the Touching Moment His Special-Needs Son Took His First Steps: 'It Was Humbling to See'. Colin Farrell is opening up about one of the most special moments of his life. The 41-year-old actor, who stars in the dark drama The Killing of a Sacred Deer, stopped by the PEOPLE, Entertainment Weekly and InStyle studio at the Toronto International Film Festival with costar Nicole Kidman and director Yorgos Lanthimos. Farrell, who plays a father given a terrible choice in the movie, shared a joyful story from his real life as a dad. "When James took his first steps a couple weeks short of his fourth birthday, it was pretty amazing and humbling to see," Farrell says. The actor's firstborn son, who turns 14 next week, has a rare genetic disorder called Angelman syndrome, which causes motor and developmental disabilities, among other symptoms.. Farrell says that while any child taking their first steps is a momentous occasion, it meant even to him knowing his son worked hard to reach that milestone. "People talk about the children taking the first step, it's obviously a monumental moment and it's been represented in film," Farrell says. "But to be told your child may never take the first step and then see those first steps is just kind of a different sport all together." Farrell then jokingly tells Kidman to "beat that," but she responds that her two youngest daughters with husband Keith Urban have put a gag order on telling stories about them. "I'm not allowed to talk right now about my children because they're becoming aware of what I say and it gets reported back to them so I've been silenced," Kidman admits. "I'm just very, very proud of them and would love to be able to discuss them, but have been told to cut it out." (US Weekly)

Life hasn't always been easy for Taylor Kitsch. Long before he was starring on the big screen, the True Detective alum, 36, was homeless and slept on the subway in New York City. "That's very true," the Lone Survivor actor confirmed to Us Weekly exclusively at the American Assassins premiere in New York on Wednesday, September 6. "It was a blue train from downtown all the way up to 182nd and at night they'd change, they'd take longer, A, C or E." Although the Canada native was only homeless for "a few weeks," he still struggled to get on his feet. "Then I was in an apartment with no electricity or power or hot water for months," he recalled. "I'd take candles from my friend's girlfriend and light the apartment with them. Not smart," Kitsch told The Daily Beast of the experience in 2013. "There was no furniture -- just a blow-up mattress I borrowed from my same friend's girlfriend and I stole a cooking pot from a garage sale to boil chicken." \Nonetheless, despite the hardships he endured, the X-Men star never gave up. "Oh, I had beats like that, but when you don't have a contingency, it's funny what you'll put up with," he continued to Us. "At the time you're not thinking that, you're just doing it and you're young." The A-lister, best known for his role on Friday Night Lights, also dished on the show's continual success six years after the season finale. "The resurgence, being on Netflix, there's a whole new heartbeat to it," he gushed. "I mean, all of us are so flattered by it. I loved being a part of it." (US Weekly)

Leah Remini forgives mother for introducing her to Scientology. Leah Remini snapped Anthony Bourdain's four-year Emmy winning streak, taking the trophy for Best Informational Series or Special at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Remini won her first Emmy, off her first nom, for A&E's "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," exploring accounts of former Scientology members whose lives have been significantly impacted by the org's practices. Picking up her statuette, an emotional Remini began by saying she wanted to thank her mom, who was in the audience and who, Remini said, for years had hoped to attend a ceremony at which her daughter won an Emmy. "Mom, thank you. You are officially forgiven for getting us into a cult," she joked. She dedicated the Emmy to "our brave contributors who, despite ongoing risk and repercussion, spoke out and told their stories" and the network for its support. Backstage, Remini acknowledged that "as an actress, you want to get an Emmy nom or win an Emmy" but, as she got older and "realized what's really important" is "more about doing the right things." For her, that has meant "exposing viewers to stories like this" in her A&E series. A few weeks earlier, the Television Critics Association also feted Remini's series with its best reality-series trophy. Accepting that statuette, the actress deadpanned, "I had always hoped to win something for comedy." "I spent most of my life being told the world outside Scientology would fail me, that I would fail, and that without it I wasn't worth a whole lot," she told critics at their annual awards ceremony in August. "I thank you for proving those theories wrong." (PageSix)

Busy Philipps' flipped ovary lands her in Boston ER. A weekend birthday celebration for actress Michelle Williams ended with a trip to the emergency room for Busy Philipps. "Last night ended super weird... I had a crazy excruciating pain in my lower right side and after a long time at Mass Gen, it was determined my ovary had flipped over- it's called torsion," the star, 38, shared on Instagram Sunday morning along with a photo of her with an IV in her arm. "Mine flipped back by itself and I'm ok but sometimes if it doesn't you have to get surgery or you can lose your ovary (which actually happened to a really good friend of mine)," she shared. Philipps said she initially felt like an "idiot" for going to the hospital, but as she explained it was the right decision. "It always is!" she said. "Even if they say you're fine and send you on your way! And a huge thank you to the amazing doctors and nurses who took care of me!" Before Philipps' night took a wrong turn, she shared photos with Williams strolling through the streets of Boston. The pals even wore matching leather jackets with a broken heart that read, "Best Friend." A request for comment on Philipps' condition wasn't returned. (PageSix)

"Deadliest Catch" captain Sig Hansen is reeling in more heat for his alleged spit-fest on an Uber driver. Waheed Lawal -- Sig's Uber driver during the night in question -- filed suit against the reality star and his son-in-law, Clark Pederson, for allegedly unloading saliva on the back of his head and kicking the crap out of his car. Lawal admits he refused to take cash for the trip, it's against Uber policy, and says that's what set them off. Sig was arrested afterward, and his criminal case is still pending. Lawal's suing for assault and battery. And get this ... his wife's a plaintiff too, claiming loss of consortium. In other words, the couple isn't having sex anymore due to his injuries. Sig's previously apologized for the incident. Not enough for Lawal, obviously. (TMZ)

'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' composer, lyricist dies at 41. Michael Friedman, an Obie-winning composer and lyricist known for the musicals "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" and "Love's Labour's Lost," has died. He was 41. Public Theater Artistic Director Oskar Eustis and Executive Director Patrick Willingham say Friedman passed away Saturday of complications related to HIV/AIDS in New York. Friedman's best-known work is the rock musical "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" which imagines the seventh president of the United States as an emo rock star. First performed in 2008, "Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson" opened on Broadway in September 2010 and closed in January 2011 after 120 performances. Friedman was a co-founder of The Civilians and artist-in-residence and director of Public Forum at The Public Theater. Eustis said in a statement that Friedman was one of the most brilliant, multi-talented theater artists of our time. (PageSix)

Eric Chase Bolling, Jr. died in his bed, TMZ has learned, after enduring "emotional torture" over the humiliation his dad was suffering, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain a mystery. Sources familiar with the death investigation tell TMZ, Eric Chase was "destroyed" by his dad's departure from Fox News Channel ... forced out because years ago Eric Sr. had texted pics of his genitalia. Sources connected with Eric Sr. tell us he actually made the decision to part ways earlier than he wanted because he knew his son was having trouble dealing with the publicity and the embarrassment. Our sources say Eric Chase was found in his bed Friday afternoon with the covers over him in normal position. There was no suicide note, we're told, and no pill bottles or drug paraphernalia. Nevertheless, the operating theory is that this was some form of overdose. As one source tells TMZ, "19-year-olds just don't go to sleep and not wake up." Eric Sr. found out about his son's death 2 hours after making his exit deal with FNC. We're told the coroner is conducting toxicology and other tests to determine cause of death. (TMZ)

THE OTHER STUFF . . .

Miss North Dakota Cara Mund Crowned Miss America 2018. Ladies and gentlemen, may we introduce you to the new Miss America. Sunday night marked the annual competition that featured beauty pageants from every state competing for the special crown. Hosted by Chris Harrison and Sage Steele, the event, broadcast live from the Boardwalk Hall Arena in Atlantic City, was filled with suspense as 51 contestants dwindled down to one big winner. So who came out on top? Congratulations are in order for Miss North Dakota Cara Mund, who grabbed the attention and praise of judges for her beauty, talent and brains. Whether it was her talent of jazz dancing to "The Way You Make Me Feel" by Michael Jackson or to her answers to her two rounds of questions, the panel was quite impressed. This year's competition was intense like never before as 15 semifinalists were chosen to move on to the swimsuit portion of the competition. Soon after, the Top 12 were announced and asked to compete in the evening gown portion. The talent competition, which only allowed for 10 contestants, was next up. Some highlights included Miss Missouri Jennifer Davis' Bollywood dance from the film Jai Ho, Miss Texas Morgana Wood's contemporary dance to Adele's "When We Were Young," Miss District of Columbia Briana Kinsey singing "Born This Way and Miss Alabama Jessica Procter's rendition of "Over the Rainbow." Of course, it's possible Miss Louisiana's ventriloquist/yodeling act may have stolen the show! But only seven moved on to the first, light-hearted round of the always unpredictable Q&A portion and then five to the final round, where judges asked questions ranging from opinions on what should happen to confederate statues to whether or not President Donald Trump was guilty of colluding with Russia in the 2016 election. During Miss North Dakota's first round she was asked about what was tops on her "Bucket List," which she sweetly said that making it Miss America's Top 10 was No. 1. Then Cara was asked a hard-hitting question about President Trump decision to withdraw the U.S. from the climate accord aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. When asked whether or not she thought it was a good decision, she said, "It's a bad decision...There is evidence that climate change is existing and whether or not you believe in it, we need to be at that table." The first runner-up was Miss Missouri Jennifer Davis, the second runner up was Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel, third runner up was Miss District of Columbia Briana Kinsey, the fourth runner up was Miss Texas Margana Wood. Congratulations to the all the contestants and finalists, especially Cara! (Eonline)

Angelina Jolie Takes Her Kids to the Toronto International Film Festival -- but Maddox Jolie-Pitt Is Noticeably M.I.A. The Jolie-Pitts have taken over the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. Angelina Jolie flew into town over the weekend to promote her upcoming Netflix movie, First They Killed My Father (available globally Sept. 15). The director took four of her six kids -- Zahara Jolie-Pitt, 12, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 11, Knox Jolie-Pitt, 9, and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, 9 -- to see a screening of The Breadwinner at the Winter Garden Theatre Sunday afternoon. The family spent time with Loung Ung, who wrote the memoir First They Killed My Father, as well as the film's stars, Kimhak Mun and Sareum Srey Moch. Angelina, who produced the animated movie The Breadwinner, also introduced her kids to director Nora Twomey and actress Saara Chaudry. Noticeably missing? Maddox Jolie-Pitt, who produced First The Killed My Father. Though the 16-year-old joined his entire family over Labor Day Weekend for the film's premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, he did not appear to be in Toronto; his mom did not explain his absence. (Pax Jolie-Pitt, 13, was also M.I.A.) Maddox may have been busy, or perhaps Angelina didn't want to push him. After all, during an informal conversation at the Glenn Gould Theater earlier that morning, Angelina talked about her own upbringing as the child of two Hollywood actors. "I did grow up around film in a town where film was so important; it was all anyone talked about," Angelina said, adding, "I never really thought I could be anything else -- and I never really questioned it." Angelina "partially" began appearing in movies in the early '90s to impress her late mother, Marcheline Bertrand, who died in 2007. "It made her so happy. I realized when my mom passed away it was something I was very much doing for her. I haven't done much since she passed away, in front of the camera, and now I'm going to do it for my kids," she said. "It's fun." Regarding directing, she said, "I like championing other people and finding their greatness." That's not to say directing was always her dream. "I am one of those actors who was always aware of the whole. I believe strongly it's about how we contribute to the whole. I tried to stay very aware of that. I was curious about what everyone's job is. I never thought I could make a movie ever; I never thought I could write," she said. "...It was not a goal to become a director." But Angelina always had a point of view. "I believe our world is stronger for diversity. We have so much to share with each other, and the greatest way to deeply learn and know each other is to create together. The humanitarian work I do, I love it -- I'm passionate about it," she said. "The people I have met have taught me how to be a better mother, how to be a better person." Speaking about The Breadwinner, Angelina said, "I love this story because it says so much about family, about people, and the sad reality of so many girls having to work and not getting to go to school." First They Killed My Father, about the Khmer Rouge regime, is just as affecting. "The country deserves this film and needs this dialogue. I also made it for Maddox. I wanted him to work on it -- to see it. He was going to immerse himself in what his birth parents went though." (Eonline)

'Home Again' mansion has celebrity roots. Hollywood real-estate devotees have noticed a star in the background of Reese Witherspoon's new film "Home Again" -- the location. In the movie, Witherspoon plays a recently separated woman who lets three young men move in with her. A source tells us, "The house that they used to shoot 'Home Again' on North Tigertail Road in Brentwood used to be Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's." We hear that before that, the same home belonged to Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber. Affleck and Garner sold the property back in 2009 for $6.25 million and bought producer Brian Grazer's Pacific Palisades manse. (TMZ)

Anna Faris and Chris Pratt have clearly made their son a priority in their separation. Anna spent Saturday with 5-year-old Jack. She took him to an L.A. carnival. Sunday was Chris' turn. The two were spotted grabbing some ice cream. The couple announced their split last month after 8 years of marriage. Neither has officially filed for divorce and there's always a chance they could get back together ... but they've both been out without their wedding rings, which is not a hopeful sign of reconciliation. (TMZ)

The millionaire famous for scoring the best seats at NBA games -- and for being Rihanna's friend -- couldn't get into her NY fashion show. Jimmy Goldstein showed up Sunday night at RiRi's Fenty x Puma fashion show clearly expecting to cruise right into the Park Avenue Armory -- but he was denied because he wasn't on the list. Jimmy was left out front, surrounded by assistants frantically working phones trying to get him in, but we're told it never happened. It's shocking because Jimmy and Rihanna hang out at NBA games, and he even hosted her 27th birthday party at his Hollywood Hills mansion. Sources close to Jimmy tell us he was bummed he didn't get into the bike-heavy fashion show, but he knows it wasn't Rihanna's doing. We're told someone on his team just screwed up. Big time. (TMZ)

John Salley has a message for LaVar Ball -- I can take Big Baller Brand to the next level!!! Here's the deal ... Salley is a part-owner in Q4 Designs -- an apparel company that manufactures everything from shoes to shirts and more. The NBA legend says he's been actively trying to lock down a meeting with LaVar in an effort to join forces and he's confident they can work out something ASAP. "I'm trying to get Big Baller Brand to let us make the shoes," Salley says. This ain't no joke -- Salley is a shrewd businessman who already has a designer lined up and says he can deliver the upgrade that will help BBB compete with the biggest names in the biz. (TMZ)

Add Sly Stallone to the list of people who thought Mayweather vs. McGregor was a farce ... with Rocky himself telling us he's over the hype and moving on to the "REAL" fight -- GGG vs Canelo. We got Cobra (watch it, it's a forgotten classic) leaving the Palm Beverly Hills and asked if he thought the GGG/Canelo fight would be more interesting than Floyd and Conor. Stallone didn't hold back (just like he didn't in "Over The Top," another freakin' gem from his resume) and told our guy it was obvious which bout would be better, cause only one is legit. Listen to this guy ... he was able to clear his name after being framed in "Tango & Cash" ... (buddy cop staple on a "Lethal Weapon" level, just trust us). (TMZ)

Nicki Minaj just put designers who appropriate black style on blast. The rapper and actress electrified the diverse crowd at Philipp Plein's celeb-studded after-party on Saturday night with a short, smoky set. Rocking about-to-pop PVC pants, thigh-high boots, an army jacket and Cher hair down to her knees, the Queens native performed alongside 21 Savage, Yo Gotti and Rae Sremmurd. She closed her act by urging the audience, which included 50 Cent, Paris Hilton, Fabolous, Ne-Yo and Bella Thorne, to stay in school and pursue higher education. And then the singer called out the fashion world for its exploitative practices. "Thank you, Philipp Plein, for including our culture," said Minaj, who attended the Tom Ford and Monse shows earlier in the week. "Designers get really big and really rich off of our culture, and then you don't see a motherf?-?-?ker that look anything like us in the front row half the time. So let's make some noise for Philipp Plein tonight." (Page Six)

Britney Spears Shares Another Intense Workout Routine -- and Her Pump-Up Jam. Britney Spears is always documenting her sweat sessions on social media, but a workout is nothing without the perfect playlist. The pop star, 35, shared a montage of an outdoor arm workout combined with some exercises on a yoga mat in the gym to Instagram on Sunday. The video was set to JAY-Z's song "BBC," which features a reference to Spears' famous "Britney, bitch" lyric. "When this song came out, I lost my mind like a little kid!!!" the singer captioned the post. "I fangirled and cried!!" Spears donned a pink sport bra and purple shorts that showed off her toned abs before sporting a grey top for her indoor workout. Spears is a documented fitness fanatic who gives fans a peek into her intense gym sessions-and showes off the results on Instagram. It's not rare to see her breaking for selfies mid-split to doing an impressive handstand in only a bikini top when browsing her social media feed. The singer even includes her boyfriend Sam Asghari in her active lifestyle, sharing photos of them hiking for his 23rd birthday and of her standing on his shoulders in the pool. Spears previously said having her sons -- Sean, 11, and Jayden, 10 -- changed her approach to exercise. "After I had Jayden, it was real easy for me to get back in shape," she told Women's Health. "But five years later, I started noticing changes in my body. My hips are a bit wider because I've had kids. So it was crucial for me to be continuous with my exercise. Consistency is key." "Daily exercise is important for me both mentally and physically," Spears added. "I don't mind working out. Trainers keep you motivated, but I don't have a problem being motivated." (People)

The cats who call the Hemingway House in Key West home are all safe and accounted for after the bulk of Hurricane Irma spared the island city ... TMZ has learned. Staff members that work at the Hemingway House tell us all 55 cats -- and the people who stayed behind to care for them -- are a-okay at the property ... which itself is still standing and suffered no major structural damage. We're told all 10 Hemingway occupants, including manager Jacque Sands, lucked out big time since Irma left significantly less destruction than in the other Keys. Sources tell us while there are a few trees down on the estate, everything else at the house appears to be fine. The Hemingway House also avoided major flooding. A source at the National Weather Service tells us Key West only saw a water surge of about 3 feet as opposed to the 15-20 feet anticipated throughout the Keys as Irma approached. We're told Key West was in the eye wall -- the strongest part of the hurricane -- for 2 hours. Water has begun to recede as Irma moves north. As a result, those at the house are not currently inundated by water unlike Miami -- but are staying inside until winds die down. As for those 6-toed cats ... talk about nine lives, huh? (TMZ)

Kid Rock gloats over Sharpton kid's bust. Kid Rock was gloating online Sunday over the arrest of Al Sharpton's daughter amid his feud with the Manhattan reverend activist. The musician retweeted The Post's story of Ashley Sharpton's weekend arrest on charges she struck a cab driver and stole his keys and added, "These 'activists' are such nice people... not." The move comes after Sharpton's National Action Network announced plans to protest Kid's upcoming concert and appearances because he raises the Confederate flag on stage. "Why is he retweeting this stuff?" Sharpton groused to The Post on Sunday after Rock re-posted stories about his daughter's arrest. Sharpton said Kid Rock has "added fuel to the fire" in their contentious relationship and that NAN still plans to protest his upcoming concert and appearances. (PageSix)

Music

Lady Gaga says she's taking a 'rest' from music after tour. Lady Gaga says that she's planning to take a "rest" from music and "slow down for a moment for some healing." The pop star was at in Toronto on Friday for a pair of concerts and to premiere a Netflix documentary about herself, "Gaga: Five Foot Two." The film, playing at the Toronto International Film Festival, chronicles her life, February's Super Bowl performance and her struggle with chronic pain. Gaga teared up speaking to reporters about her health issues. "It's hard," she said, "but it's liberating too." She later told The Associated Press that she will finish her current tour, which runs through December, and then take some time for herself. "When this tour is over I will take a little downtime from myself, and then I'll get back to doing what I love," she said. "I'm never not making music. I'm never not creating. I just am excited to spend some time reflecting on that past ten years and getting excited about what I want to create next." The singer said at the earlier press conference that she'll still be creating during a break from music. "It doesn't mean I don't have some things up my sleeve," said Gaga. Gaga recently shot a remake of "A Star is Born," co-starring Bradley Cooper. (PageSix)

Avril Lavigne Reunites With Ex Chad Kroeger on Stage During Nickelback Show. It's been almost three years since Avril Lavigne played a concert and nobody would have guessed she'd break her streak the way she did on Friday night (Sept. 8). Surprising the crowd at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, Lavigne came out and joined Nickelback on their song "Rockstar," sharing a stage with 'Back singer Chad Kroeger two years after the pair ended their two-year marriage. "You never know who will join us for 'Rockstar' karaoke," the band wrote about the surprise guest appearance. The band also invited up a fan named Own to jam with them on the song that serves as an audience sing-along during their shows. Lavigne, 32, has been lying low for several years following her disclosure of a difficult battle with Lyme disease and in a post about her "Rockstar" cameo she wrote, "Good to be back on stage! Feeling excited, happy and grateful." The good news for fans is that she's hard at work on her next album, as evidenced by this in-studio post from last week. Lavigne thanked fans earlier this month for their patience as she works on her upcoming album, telling them "It's been a long recovery and I want to make sure that this is perfcet for you guys!!" The still untitled effort will be the follow-up to Lavigne's 2014 self-titled album, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200. (Billboard)

Listen to The Weeknd Cover R. Kelly's Classic Track 'Down Low'. The Weeknd recently took to social media to drop bread crumbs of a possible upcoming release, posting an image of Drake's OVO Sound Radio logo and the succinct caption, "Down Low." Turns out the cryptic caption was, in fact, the title to a new Weeknd song -- in the form of a new version of R. Kelly's 90s classic hit of the same name. On the slow-burning, sultry ballad, The Weeknd is entangled in a love affair with a female who wants to be "secret lovers" but is in a relationship with another man. "While making love to him girl, you're silently calling on me/ What is a man to do in a situation like this?/ I feel there is something that I, I don't wanna miss," he sings to his lady and despite her relationship, he urges her to keep their affair "on the down low." While Abel sticks to Kelly's original lyrics, the Canadian crooner sprinkles his flair onto the nostalgic track, feathering the arrangement with eerie synths and a somber piano melody. The Weeknd is currently in phase two of his Starboy: Legend of the Fall Tour and will make his way to Boston, MA, Washington, D.C, Philadelphia, PA and more before heading to Europe in December. (Billboard)

Swae Lee might be a real crowd pleaser onstage, but he ain't no water bottle thrower -- which is why he says he's countersuing the guy accusing him of just that. We got Swae Friday at LAX and asked him about a new lawsuit from a Michigan man suing Rae Sremmurd -- Swae and his bro, Slim Jxmmi -- for allegedly chucking water bottles into the crowd at one of their shows last year ... and leaving him with a busted nose. Swae's not only denying that account ... he says he's firing right back with a lawsuit of his own, 'cause 3,000 shows prove the dude's wrong ... according to him, anyway. He's pretty confident here -- but the question is ... cashing his checks before they clear? (TMZ)

Judge Rules 'We Shall Overcome' Verse Not Under Valid Copyright. "We Shall Overcome," the iconic anthem of the civil rights movement, has itself overcome copyright control. On Friday, a New York federal judge partially granted summary judgment to those seeking to free it from the grips of a publisher. The lawsuit against Richmond Organization and Ludlow Music came in April 2016 from the same legal team at Wolf Haldenstein who previously got Warner/Chappell to back off from ownership claims over "Happy Birthday to You." In the complaint, the plaintiffs -- which would later include the producers of Lee Daniels' The Butler -- alleged that the song emanated from an old African-American spiritual before being picked up by folk singer Pete Seeger and others in the 1940s labor protest movement. They contended that "We Shall Overcome" was in the public domain, and that producers shouldn't have to pay up to $100,000 to license it in films and television shows. In response to the lawsuit, the defendants pointed to 1960 and 1963 copyright registrations and argued they were entitled to own their derivative works as sufficiently original and distinguishable from what came earlier. Additionally, the publishers noted how licensing revenue on the anthem went to support art and research projects in the African-American community as well as the preservation of Civil Rights Movement documents. The summary judgment motions went to such issues as the presumption of validity afforded copyright registrations as well as what constitutes originality. Evidence presented including Seeger's thoughts on the song's authorship and expert reports. In the day's decision, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote writes that Richmond and Ludlow may not rely on the presumption of validity because plaintiffs "have offered more than sufficient evidence to rebut the presumption. They have shown that the Defendants' 1960 and 1963 applications for a copyright in the Song were significantly flawed." Specifically, Cote notes that the copyright applicants didn't identify the original work on which their derivative was based and didn't clearly identify the differences in the words of the crucial first verse of "We Shall Overcome." Nor did the applicants list Seeger, the one who supposedly changed "will" to "shall," as an author. More critically, the judge concludes that the defendants have not convincingly demonstrated that changes made rose to sufficient originality to merit copyright protection. "As a matter of law, the alterations from the PSI Version are too trivial," writes the judge, referring to a version published in the 1940s. "A person listening to Verse 1/5 of the Song would be hearing the same old song reflected in the published PSI Version with only minor, trivial changes of the kind that any skilled musician would feel free to make. As §101 of the Copyright Act teaches, a judgment about modification to an original work must be based on a consideration of the derivative work 'as a whole.' More specifically, the changes of 'will' to 'shall' and 'down' to 'deep' and the melodic differences in the opening measures and the seventh measure, do not create a distinguishable variation. These differences represent 'variations of the piece that are standard fare in the music trade by any competent musician.'" Cote adds, "The record shows that the listed authors of the Copyrighted Song were well aware of the historic and to them venerable roots of the Song. They sought to copyright the Song in order to protect it from undesirable commercial exploitation. In opposing this motion, the Defendants emphasize their own and the listed authors' virtuous motives. But, unless Verse 1/5 qualifies as a derivative work under the ordinary application of copyright law, that protection is unavailable for that verse. These principles regarding the creation of copyright protection for derivative works apply equally whether the original work is humble or distinguished and whether it is noble or quite the opposite. The gap in the proof of originality cannot be filled by good intentions." The judge defers judgment on other issues including who really authored the song and whether there was a fraud on the Copyright Office. A trial may be in order to settle those aspects, which would pertain to whether the copyright as a whole is invalidated and what sort of damages would be awarded. For now, the big outcome of the ruling is that the much-sung first verse of "We Shall Overcome" appears to be outside of anyone's copyright control. Says plaintiff attorney Randall Newman, "We are gratified that the Court has put an end to this charade and given this iconic Civil Rights song back to the public." (Billboard)

Movies

Fifty Shades Freed Teaser Trailer Shows Wedding, Danger and Sex. Eternal love is still pain. Anastasia "Ana" Steele" and Christian Grey finally tie the knot in Fifty Shades Freed, the third film in the BDSM-themed erotic romance series, and the first teaser trailer was released Saturday. The video shows Dakota Johnson in Ana's wedding dress -- a gorgeous, long-sleeve, boat neck lace gown -- as she weds her troubled lover, played by Jamie Dornan. He recites his wedding vows and places a wedding band on her finger as she gives her signature doe-eyed stare, her head and face covered in a veil and her hair styled in an updo. The teaser trailer also features footage of Christian shirtless by the sea, James Bond-style, and Ana lounging on the beach and lifting her sunglasses off her face to stare at his chiseled body. Oh, right! There's the good stuff, too; There is a sneak peek of a sex scene, or sex scenes, showing Christian wielding a riding crop under Ana's chin as she appears to kneel before him and him also moving to kiss her stomach as she stands above him in her underwear. And danger lurks; In one scene, a man holds Ana at knife-point. She is also shown being stalked while driving and holding a small pistol she found inside a drawer. Christian later points gun at one of his ex-lovers. Fifty Shades Freed is set for release on Feb. 14, Valentine's Day 2018. (Eonline)

Toronto: 'Three Billboards' Star Frances McDormand Likes "Being My Age". The 60-year old Oscar winner hardly ages gracefully in Martin McDonagh's grieving mother drama, which screened at TIFF. Frances McDormand didn't immediately jump at playing a cursing mother in Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, she revealed Monday while promoting the Fox Searchlight pic at the Toronto Film Festival. "I was flattered, but then I said no, I'm too old," McDormand remembered telling McDonagh two years ago, when she was 58-years old. Her fretting over the role ended, however, when her husband Joel Coen, intervened. "My husband just said, shut up and do it," she said. Now, as a 60-year-old performer, McDormand is happy to play a grieving mother with single-minded rage. "I'm really interested in playing my age. I like being my age. I kind of have a political thing about it," she added, as women from a working-class background, like her character in Three Billboards, don't often show up in Hollywood movies. In the film, McDormand plays a mother whose daughter was brutally raped and murdered. Her character decides to call out the police chief, played by Woddy Harrelson, on three giant billboards for failing to find the killer, hoping to drive him into action. "She's just a mother who's lost her child, a parent who has lost her child. That kind of grief is something we all, as humans, understand," McDormand explained. Having kept busy doing live theater, the Oscar winner added she has the luxury of turning down movie roles. Two roles now before her agents are both for 60-year-old women that recently lost their husbands. One surviving wife is grief-stricken, and the other happy over losing her husband. "I don't really want to do either of the (roles), but if I had to choose one, it would be the one that was happy about it, just for fun," McDormand said. Three Billboards earned the best screenplay prize in Venice, on its way to Toronto, and is set for a Nov. 10 release. The Toronto Film Festival runs through Sept. 17. (Hollywood Reporter)

Why Toronto Has Become Hollywood's Go-To Source for VFX Movie Magic. Skilled local talent and generous digital tax incentives are luring the major studios. When audiences inevitably marvel at the computer-generated worlds in Guillermo del Toro's The Shape of Water and the Angelina Jolie-produced animated drama The Breadwinner, both screening at this year's Toronto Film Festival, it will be thanks in large part to Ontario's thriving visual effects community. With pristine CG creatures and environments now commonplace in movies and TV, Toronto has become one of Hollywood's leading go-to spots when it comes to movie magic. Del Toro, who shot much of his effects-heavy sci-fi TV series The Strain in Toronto, even moved there. "He likes it here, and I like to stay here," says J. Miles Dale, a longtime producer for del Toro. The duo shot The Shape of Water, an otherworldly fairy tale, at Pinewood Toronto Studios, between seasons of The Strain and del Toro directing the Fantastic Voyage remake for James Cameron there. The city and its colony of VFX and animation shops is driven by larger, full-service players like Mr. X, a division of Technicolor; Spin VFX; and Soho VFX, which created Boyd Holbrook's robotic hand in Marvel Entertainment's Logan. "We're definitely widening the skills and always trying to add new tools to the toolbox," says Soho VFX visual effects supervisor Berj Bannayan. "It allows us to attack different projects when we might have been more timid in the past." Toronto also has smaller FX outlets that producers turn to when they have too much to do, too little time and a tight budget. John Wunder's shingle The Coalition Group shot the indie thriller Huntsville, starring Game of Thrones' Sophie Turner, in Los Angeles, then handed postproduction on the project to Toronto's Eggplant Picture & Sound. Wunder recalls Eggplant saving the day with a tight turnaround on a very difficult VFX shot. "They delivered the shot one week later, and it was perfect," says Wunder. "It's not that people in L.A. can't do that, but it was done quickly and perfectly." Ontario, as elsewhere in a crowded and competitive global industry, is supported by digital tax breaks to entice L.A. studios to bring work there. The Ontario Computer Animation and Special Effects Tax Credit is an 18 percent refundable tax credit on eligible Ontario labor expenditures for digital animation and visual effects for film and TV. But Karen Thorne-Stone, president and CEO of the Ontario Media Development Corp., which markets Ontario to Hollywood, recommends looking at the creativity and customer service of Toronto digital artists and technicians, not the tax incentives and skill sets that, all things being equal, are found in rival jurisdictions like Vancouver, Montreal and L.A. "It's a bottom-line-driven industry, but no one wants to make poor quality," she says. "So quality first, price second." An emphasis on quality and efficiency is also driving Ontario's digital animation sector to new heights. The OMDC's last sector report in 2014 points to the VFX and animation industries in Ontario earning $397.8 million in 2014, up sharply from $156.3 million in 2010. Director Nora Twomey (Oscar-nominated film The Secret of Kells) and executive producer Jolie chose Toronto's Guru Studio to help design the stylized animation in The Breadwinner. "I had no idea it was possible to get such a beautiful result," Twomey tells THR. "Guru's commitment to finding the best artistic solutions to every problem we encountered makes the animation quite special." (Hollywood Reporter)

'It' Makes Box-Office History, Sets New Bar for Horror Pics. Humbling is the word Warner Bros. Pictures president and chief content officer Toby Emmerich uses to describe watching the box-office returns for It pour in over the weekend. The movie, based on Stephen King's novel, shattered numerous records and set a new bar for horror films in opening to $123.1 million in North America and $185 million globally, by far the biggest launch ever for the genre. Put another way, It opened ahead of every 2017 summer tentpole domestically save for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, despite costing a modest $35 million to produce. And before It came along, Paramount's Paranormal Activity 3 boasted the biggest opening for a horror film with $52.6 million. It continues an enviable winning streak for New Line, which Emmerich ran for many years before getting the top gig at Warners last year. (The Conjuring series is another recent New Line victory, including current box-office champ Annabelle: Creation.) New Line has long been a bastion for horror, but It takes it to a new level, playing like a four-quadrant tentpole and jolting the domestic box office back to life after a tough summer that saw attendance hit a 25-year low and revenue plummet by 15 percent. "Speaking for my colleagues at Warner Bros. and New Line, we are incredibly happy and relieved. All the hard work paid off, but we know there was a certain amount of luck involved. I like to think New Line is really good at nurturing filmmakers and Warners is really good at marketing," Emmerich told THR on Sunday. "I think in general, the box office is more and more a world of the have and have-nots." When New Line was folded into Warner Bros. in 2008, both sides agreed that New Line should focus once again on horror. It, which had been in development at Warners, was subsequently ceded to New Line. Director Cary Fukunaga left the project over creative differences, with New Line hiring Argentine filmmaker Andres Muschietti (Mama) to replace him, according to insiders. "It has now taken horror into the $100 million openers club and raises the bar for the money making potential of the genre," says comScore analyst Paul Dergarabedian. "Not to mention that once they hit the small screen, they are equally as appealing." It follows a group of misfit kids in the 1980s who battle the demonic Pennywise the Dancing Clown, played by Bill Skarsgard. The pic follows the success of the Netflix original series Stranger Things, which likewise is set in the 1980s and revolves around a group of kids banding together to battle a supernatural threat. "That's the message of the movie -- that if we stick together and friendship is true and real, we can defeat evil," says Emmerich. "There is something about this movie that people are ravenously interested in. It isn't just about Stephen King, it isn't just about clowns and it isn't just about the 1980s, although the '80s are a thing and has a certain panache. We as a studio are betting big on the 1980s, including Steven Spielberg's Ready Player One," Emmerich continued. It also redefines how Hollywood views the month of September, which has never seen a movie open to such heights. Previously, Hotel Transylvania 2 was the crown holder with a $48.6 million debut. Adds Jeff Goldstein, president of domestic distribution for Warners: "It is just what the industry needed." (Hollywood Reporter)

TV

Kylie Jenner Opens Up About Being "Insecure" With Small Lips After a Guy Made Fun of Her: "I Took That Really Hard." Kylie Jenner is getting real. On Sunday night's Life of Kylie, the 20-year-old E! star goes to therapy where she opens up about insecurities with her appearance. "I was 15 and I was insecure about my lips," Kylie tells her therapist. "I had really small lips." Kylie says after experiencing her first kiss, the guy criticized her for having a small pout. "I took that really hard," she admitted. "When a guy you like says that, I don't know it just really affected me. I just didn't feel desirable or pretty. I really wanted bigger lips. I ended up getting my lips done." "Isn't it amazing how people can just say a couple things and it's just like gets right in there?" the therapist asks. "It sticks with you," Kylie admitted. Also on Sunday night's episode, Kylie and Kris Jenner travel to Peru for a charity trip for children. Kris also lectures Kylie on balancing work and fun while running and empire. (Eonline)

Chester Bennington's Appearance on 'Shahs of Sunset': Asa Soltan Explains Their 'Amazing' Instant Connection. The late Linkin Park frontman was a close friend of the reality star. Sunday night's (Sept. 10) episode of Bravo's Shahs of Sunset had a very surprising guest: late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. The episode was filmed at the end of last year at an art show hosted by Shahs star Asa Soltan. That appearance may seem unexpected, but Bennington's bond with Soltan goes way back, with her considering him one of her closest friends. In the Shahs After Show, Soltan explained that her husband Jermaine and her met Bennington and his wife Talinda during a vacation in Maui. Their bond was instant. "Jermaine was away shooting pictures and I was like 'I want to lay out.' I was by myself with Talinda and Chester, and we just hit it off," explains Sultan. "I was going to tell Jermaine 'We should have dinner with these people. They're leaving and they're amazing. They're so cool, you're going to love them,' I was waiting to tell him this, but he had gone to the gym after the shooting before I even could tell him this and Chester was like a fitness freak too. They were at the gym and [Jermaine] had connected with them. They were all kind of drawn to each other too. Isn't that incredible? He was like 'Oh my God, I met the two most wonderful people that you met at the pool. They were leaving that afternoon and they literally just changed their ticket. We explored the island together.'" Bennington even contributed a quote for Soltan's book Golden: Empowering Rituals to Conjure Your Inner Priestess. Soltan also discussed her relationship with the Benningtons on Watch What Happens Live, expressing her gratitude for those who have shared their love for Bennington and his work after his death. (Billboard)

Why Tig Notaro Took on Sexual Assault in Her Amazon Series. [Warning: This story contains spoilers from the full second season of Amazon's One Mississippi.] Tig Notaro says the second season of her Amazon series, One Mississippi, was motivated by truth. After following a loose version of herself (also named Tig) relive a version of the events from the most traumatic year of her life -- when she was both diagnosed with cancer and lost her mother in 2012 -- the end of the first season of One Mississippi revealed that TV Tig had been molested by her step-grandfather during her childhood. That simmering secret, once spoken out loud, steered the course for the show's second season (now streaming its six episodes on Amazon Prime Video). Initially in the second season, Tig is reluctant to discuss it further and hides behind her humor, but the topic never goes away. Notaro's wife, Stephanie Allynne, is also a writer on the series and plays Tig's love interest and radio producer, Kate. Through their on-air conversations, Tig realizes that Kate appears to be confused about times she has been assaulted in her past. Then something undeniable happens. In the fifth episode, "Can't Fight This Feeling," Kate goes into a pitch meeting with her male boss, Jack (played by Timm Sharp). At this point, Jack had been flirting with Kate but it seemed harmless. While an excited Kate sits down and starts talking, she gradually notices that Jack is masturbating while he listens. The scene shifts to bring viewers into Kate's point-of-view, as she is frozen in shock upon realizing what's happening. When he finishes, he acts like nothing ever happened. "We wanted to show that you can be assaulted without even being touched," Notaro tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Nothing can be said and you are still horrifically violated and scared." The use of this specific act has raised questions about the inspiration behind the storyline. Notaro recently gave an interview and when pressed about a similar allegation that has been leveled against Louis C.K. -- an executive producer on One Mississippi, which is produced under his FX Productions-based Pig Newton banner -- the comedian said: "I think it's important to take care of that, to handle that, because it's serious to be assaulted. It's serious to be harassed. It's serious, it's serious, it's serious." Though C.K.'s name is still credited in each episode's opening credits, Notaro has since said he has nothing to do with the show. She confirms that the pair haven't spoken in nearly two years, not even after their names shared headlines when C.K.'s Saturday Night Live sketch resembled one of Notaro's. (Hollywood Reporter)

'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Unveils Season 9 Footage in New Trailer. Bryan Cranston appears to be playing Larry's therapist while 'Portlandia's' Carrie Brownstein appears as a colleague. HBO is giving fans a new look at the upcoming season of Curb Your Enthusiasm with the release of the official season-nine trailer. But as the promo says, "nothing has changed" in the world of Larry David. Released Sunday, the latest trailer is the first to feature footage from the highly anticipated upcoming season -- the HBO comedy's first in six years. In addition to the return of series regulars like David, Jeff Garlin, J.B. Smoove and Susie Essman, the latest footage also shows a first look at new guest stars like Bryan Cranston, with whom David worked on Seinfeld, and Portlandia's Carrie Brownstein. Cranston appears to be playing Larry's therapist, particularly with the line, "I enjoy the mind of Larry David." Brownstein, meanwhile, seems to be playing some sort of co-worker of Larry's, albeit not a very good one since she takes numerous days off to deal with constipation -- something Larry, naturally, takes issue with. However, the best exchange of the trailer might come from returning fan-favorite Richard Lewis: "You're devoid of anything that's remotely caring or empathetic," he tells Larry. Larry's response? "That was a great compliment," he says with a smile. Curb Your Enthusiasm premieres Oct. 1 on HBO. (Hollywood Reporter)

Why Alexis Bledel's Emmy Win for The Handmaid's Tale Is the Most Deserved Honor This Year. Four words we never thought we'd hear together, but that make perfect sense right now: "Emmy winner Alexis Bledel." Bledel took home her first Emmy for playing Ofglen in Hulu's The Handmaid's Tale. This is the same television year she returned to playing the role that made her famous, Rory Gilmore, in Netflix's Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. In the first season of The Handmaid's Tale, Bledel, who won for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series, turned in an unforgettable performance as Ofglen, one of the few fertile women in Gilead, the former United States, now ruled under totalitarian regime. It doesn't matter that Ofglen, or Emily as she revealed her real name to be, is a lesbian, she was assigned to a house of a commander and is forced to take part in a sexual ceremony in hopes of bringing more children into the environmentally-ravaged world. Men have all the power in Gilead, women are subjugated. Warning, spoilers for The Handmaid's Tale follow. Bledel's character becomes the spark that lights the fire of rebellion in Elisabeth Moss' Offred (Moss will probably, hopefully, finally win her first Emmy for this role). But their friendship was short-lived. Bledel's character was discovered to be having an affair with a Martha, a woman regulated to basically being the kitchen staff of a Commander, and she saw her lover killed and had clitoris removed. Then she was reassigned, but even that couldn't keep her down. Viewers last saw Bledel's Ofglen mowing down a guard in a stolen car, a final (?) act of rebellion. Well, maybe not so final. Bledel has been upped to series regular for The Handmaid's Tale season two. Shooting on the 13-episode season begins this fall with a 2018 premiere date. "I have been saying about the opening scene of season two that whatever you think it's going to be, just throw it out because it's gone in a completely different way that I never would've expected," Moss teased on Watch What Happens Live. Hmm... How Bledel will be reintroduced in season two remains to be seen. Bledel's performance in season one relied heavily on the use of her eyes. The pain she was able to express was palpable. It was a new side of the former Gilmore girl, one many didn't know was there. Bledel's eyes are often used to convey innocence and earnestness in projects, specifically Gilmore Girls, but in The Handmaid's Tale they were soulful, heartbreaking, and at time hopeful. She turned in the best work of her career, hands down, and deserved that Emmy win. Other nominated actors in her category were Cicely Tyson of How to Get Away With Murder, Laverne Cox for Orange Is the New Black, Stranger Things' Shannon Purser, The Americans' Alison Wright and Bledel's Handmaid's costar Ann Dowd, who was nominated in the category for The Leftovers. Bledel flipped the script on everything viewers have ever thought about her in four episodes of TV, making it a very deserved win. The win is even better because it was for a performance in four episodes of the buzziest new show in years. "I think it's a timely project, no matter who you are. I think everyone's going to be able to take something away from it that is really resonate and probably a bit emotional," Bledel previously told E! News about her series. It brings everything into focus, right? It's a time in your life when you only want to leave home to work if you absolutely love the project and feel it's important." Bledel's win is telling for what's ahead on Sunday, Sept. 17 at the 69th Annual Emmy Awards. Actual talent has been recognized, instead of the popularity game that sometimes takes place, and viewers can expect The Handmaid's Tale to pick up quite a few more trophies. The show was nominated for 11 Emmys (and won three already), with Moss, Dowd, Samira Wiley and the show itself in the Outstanding Drama Series category still up for wins on Sunday, Sept. 17. Its biggest competition? Netflix's The Crown. The TV Academy loves a good period drama and The Crown was quite exceptional. Tune in on Sunday, Sept. 17 at 8 p.m. on CBS to see how it all shakes out. (Eonline)

Leah Remini snapped Anthony Bourdain's four-year Emmy winning streak, taking the trophy for Best Informational Series or Special at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. Remini won her first Emmy, off her first nom, for A&E's "Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath," exploring accounts of former Scientology members whose lives have been significantly impacted by the org's practices. Picking up her statuette, an emotional Remini began by saying she wanted to thank her mom, who was in the audience and who, Remini said, for years had hoped to attend a ceremony at which her daughter won an Emmy. "Mom, thank you. You are officially forgiven for getting us into a cult," she joked. She dedicated the Emmy to "our brave contributors who, despite ongoing risk and repercussion, spoke out and told their stories" and the network for its support. Backstage, Remini acknowledged that "as an actress, you want to get an Emmy nom or win an Emmy" but, as she got older and "realized what's really important" is "more about doing the right things." For her, that has meant "exposing viewers to stories like this" in her A&E series. A few weeks earlier, the Television Critics Association also feted Remini's series with its best reality-series trophy. Accepting that statuette, the actress deadpanned, "I had always hoped to win something for comedy." "I spent most of my life being told the world outside Scientology would fail me, that I would fail, and that without it I wasn't worth a whole lot," she told critics at their annual awards ceremony in August. "I thank you for proving those theories wrong." (Page Six)