ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Million Dollar Listing's Fredrik Eklund Welcomes Twins. Fredrik Eklund finally has his happily ever after! The Million Dollar Listing star announced that he and husband Derek Kaplan welcomed twins, a boy and girl they named Fredrik Jr. and Milla, on social media Tuesday. Dressed in a pair of hospital scrubs and holding their bundles of joy close, Fredrik captioned the precious snapshot, "Happiest moment of my life. Welcome Fredrick and Milla to the world." The accomplished real estate mogul first revealed they were expecting via surrogate in August, two years after their previous surrogate suffered a heartbreaking miscarriage. "We've been blessed two times over - we're six months pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl!" he captioned a celebratory photo of the couple kissing in front of the Eiffel Tower. "It was important for us to take the time to keep the news for ourselves, but now we are ready to celebrate all the love." And over the Thanksgiving holiday, Eklund reflected on their future in a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to their twins and surrogate. He wrote, "The last photo before the twins arrive in just a few days. So thankful... most of all to our surrogate, she's become family through this." The proud papa continued, "At night I put my hand on her stomach and feel Milla and Fredrick kicking & we can't wait to finally welcome them home.... It's hard to explain but Derek and I've both been so giggly all the time lately. It's like entering another dimension this thing, if you've had kids perhaps you can relate? I think my heart is going to explode when I finally hold them. We're so appreciative of all the well-wishes and love. Happy Thanksgiving from us!" Throughout their journey to becoming first-time dads, Fredrik has shared just how much they've prepared for the babies' arrivals. Fredrik and Derek decorated the nursery like a castle, and decked the entire room out with toys, books and clothes. Four years after tying the knot, it's obvious this celebrity pair will be the most doting of dads to little Fredrik and Milla! Congratulations, you two! (Eonline)
Nicole Kidman on Building a Better Future for ''Our Daughters:'' Big Change Is Happening. Nicole Kidman is looking toward the future. The Big Little Lies star was honored at the 2017 Gotham Awards, where E! News caught up with her about more and more women making their voices heard about injustice in the entertainment industry. "There's big change happening right now and we can feel it," Kidman shared. "Hopefully the people that are following us will be the recipients of that change. But it's still only in the beginning process of it happening. In terms of our industry and women, statistically it's still crazy how it's not balanced at all." She also noted that the apparent shift taking place not only benefits one gender, but everyone. Nicole continued, "As much as we say it's for our daughters, everyone prospers when there's equality. We take care of each other." When asked about her and Keith Urban's two daughters, 6-year-old Faith and 9-year-old Sunday, Nicole told us she'd much rather watch them pursue their own interests than follow in her acting footsteps. "I want to see them be what they want, what they're passionate about," she shared. "I came from a father who was a psychologist and a biochemist and a mother who was a nurse educator, so they were like, 'Actor? What are you talking about?' They were thrown by that, but at the same time they never devalued it. They let me follow my path, which was very self-motivating." Nicole's close pal and co-star Reese Witherspoon reflected on that path in an emotional speech at the Gotham Awards. Calling Kidman "unwaveringly passionate," Reese touched on her unique ability to captivate audiences on and off screen. "She stands up for what she believes in and she pushes the envelope with every single role she takes," Witherspoon said onstage with tears in her eyes, adding, "She's a magician, she's magic and she's one of the greatest actresses I've ever known and it is a privilege to get to watch her work..." (Eonline)
Meghan Markle's Dog Mystery Sparks Social Media Frenzy. Only one of Meghan Markle's dogs has made it to London. On Monday it was revealed that Markle is engaged to Prince Harry after one and a half years of dating. The former Suits star is now in the U.K., but in Monday's BBC interview with her fiance, she shared only one of her dogs was currently with her in London. "Well I have two dogs that I've had for quite a long time, both my rescue pups," Markle said. "And one is now staying with very close friends and my other little guy is - yes he's in the UK, he's been here for a while." Markle's Beagle, Guy, is said to be in London with her, but her dog Bogart is staying with a friend, as she stated in the interview. Markle didn't reveal the reason as to why Bogart wasn't with her. In response to the news, people are leaving comments on Instagram pictures of Markle's dogs. "@meghanmarkle why did you leave one of your dogs behind ??? How sad for that dog to not only lose his mumma but best friend too," one comment reads. "Praying Bogart gets to join you in London. It will break his heart to be left behind," another Instagram user wrote. A third comment pleads with Markle, "Please take them with you should you move to London. Do not leave them behind, remember men come and go, animals don't!!!" What do you think about this royal dog mystery? The couple is set to tie the knot this May at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Eonline)
Harry Styles kissed Lorde twice at the ARIAs and Twitter can't cope. He may have lost out on a Grammy nomination, but Harry Styles won big at the ARIAs in Australia Tuesday. The former One Direction star picked up Best International Artist following the release of his eponymous debut solo album earlier this year. On his way to accept the award, Harry kissed fellow nominee Lorde TWICE, and Twitter officially lost it. We're 99% sure it was just a friendly moment between two competing artists, but who doesn't love the idea that these two could be BFFs? They're definitely two of the coolest names in pop, so could collaboration be on the cards? We'll wait. (British Glamour)
Home is where the heart is. And for Ben Affleck, that's with girlfriend of seven months Lindsay Shookus. The pair were spotted looking at L.A. homes together in October and are now "fully living together," reveals a source. But their new pad isn't on the West Coast. The source reveals NYC-based Saturday Night Live producer Shookus, 37, and the 45-year-old Justice League star "recently" snapped up an apartment in the city's Upper West Side neighborhood. Whenever Affleck is in town, explains the source, "he'll be living there with Lindsay." But his kids keep him firmly rooted in L.A. The actor and ex-wife Jennifer Garner are amicable, and he even spent Thanksgiving Day at her California spread with their children Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5, and other family members. "My mom's coming out, and my brother will come over," he said to E! News of fellow actor Casey ahead of the holiday. In September, the star, who has been open about his ongoing struggles with alcohol addiction, turned to Garner when he felt old demons coming back to haunt him. With her support, he briefly checked himself into rehab. Though he checked himself out after five days, he is now participating in outpatient programs. "Friends and family have never seen Ben so proactive and serious about wanting to get better," reveals a source. "He has learned that dealing with his addiction is an ongoing battle," the insider adds. And as he fights, "He will do what it takes to be the best dad." And a solid boyfriend. Despite their bicoastal status, says the insider, he and Shookus "are happy and going strong." (US Weekly)
Aaron Carter Leaves Rehab After 2 Months. After spending two months in rehab, Aaron Carter has left the treatment facility, E! News can confirm. The "I Want Candy" singer checked into rehab back in September. Carter's rep Steve Honig told E! News the child star entered the facility to "improve his health and work on his overall wellness." Cater also addressed his fans directly via Twitter. "My loved ones, I would like to tell all of you that I will be disappearing for a while to work on myself," he tweeted at the time. "I would also like to announce that I am releasing a gift to you on Oct. 27. In time for Halloween, a new version of 'I Want Candy.' 4 weeks later, I will be releasing my first single from my new album, LOVE. I'll see you soon looking amazing and ready to play all my new songs LIVE. Most importantly, my stressors haven't subsided with family and this year has been crazy and I need some time off from all of it." Carter left the treatment facility in early October to address "several legal and personal matters," per Honig. However, the rep did not disclose details regarding these matters at the time. Still, the "Aaron's Party" singer returned to finish his treatment later that month. Carter continued to document his journey to wellness -- posting before-and-after pictures of his 30-pound and then 45-pound weight gain. "This is my before and after pics. I went from 115 to 160 pounds in two months I feel amazing," he captioned the photo showing his 45-pound weight gain. "2018 I'm ready for you!! My new Music is on its way!" He's also recently spent some time helping others. Last week, the "That's How I Beat Shaq" singer volunteered at Project Angel Food with Charo. It seems like the musician is doing well. Yesterday, he posted a picture of him standing in front of a pair of wings. He captioned the photo, "I may not be there yet but I'm closer than I was yesterday." Carter continued to tease new music throughout his journey. He even posted a picture of himself "back in the lab" (a.k.a his recording studio) last week. However, fans might get to hear the new music sooner than they think. E! News had learned that the singer is releasing new music in early 2018. (Eonline)
Naya Rivera's Friends and Family Are ''Very Concerned For Her Well-Being'' After Arrest. It's been dramatic week for Naya Rivera following her arrest for misdemeanor domestic battery after allegedly assaulting husband Ryan Dorsey in West Virginia on Saturday. Days later, a source tells E! News that the former Glee actress' friends and family are worried about her welfare after the unsettling event. A source tells E! News, "Naya's friends and family are very concerned for her well-being." Kanawha County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Brian Humphreys told E! News that a police deputy responded to a call about a domestic violence complaint at a residence in Chesapeake, West Virginia on Saturday and talked to Dorsey, who said Rivera struck him in the head and face. Hours after the alleged incident, her teary arraignment was caught by cameras and the whole world got a glimpse at the aftermath of the duo's troubled relationship. The source also claims, "This is not the first time that their relationship has been violent, and the fact that she hit her husband and lashed out like that, is very scary to everyone around her." On the heels of the drama, Ryan tweeted a statement to fans on Tuesday, writing, "This is a difficult time for everyone in the family especially for Naya and I. This isn't some reality show, this is our life, and I ask that everyone especially 'the media' please respect our privacy and treat us/this situation how you would want a loved one to be treated. Perhaps with kindness, respect, without judgment, and as negative a situation this is, with positivity and love. Thanks." Meanwhile, Naya has yet to comment on the situation or the arrest. After the arraignment, Naya was released on bond and picked up by her father-in-law. The source adds, "Ryan's family has been trying to console both of them but are very disappointed." As for Naya's side, the insider says, "Many people close to Naya are urging her to seek immediate help for the sake of her son and herself." The source also adds that the on-again/off-again couple, "have had a toxic relationship for a while now, and although they tried to make it work again, source thinks that a divorce will be a conversation very soon. Everyone wants what is best for Josey and thinks that a permanent separation is needed." Naya and Ryan welcomed a child, a son named Josey Hollis Dorsey, in September 2015. The two have had a long their fair share of relationship issues over the years. Three months after her break up with Big Sean, Ryan and Naya got married in a secret wedding ceremony in Mexico in July 2014. The two had previously dated before her relationship to the rapper. In November 2016, Naya filed for divorce. "After much consideration, we have made the decision to end our marriage," the two stars said in a joint statement on Nov. 21, 2016. "Our priority is and always will be our beautiful son that we share together. We will continue to be great co-parenting partners for him. We ask for respect and privacy for our family during this difficult time." Last month, E! News confirmed the 30-year-old was no longer moving forward with her divorce from Dorsey. She filed a request for dismissal of the divorce paperwork, which she originally filed in November of 2016. "She is back together with Ryan Dorsey," a source told us at the time of the reconciliation. "They want to make it work for the sake of their son." E! News has reached out to her rep for comment. (Eonline)
Matt Lauer Fired From NBC News Over Inappropriate Sexual Behavior. Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News, Savannah Guthrie announced on Today Wednesday. On Monday night, NBC News chairman Andy Lack received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace on Lauer's behalf. As a result, the organization decided to terminate his employment. Hoda Kotb joined Guthrie to announce his firing, "because this is a sad moment here at Today and NBC News," Guthrie said. Guthrie then read the e-mail Lack sent NBC News staffers moments before: "Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he's been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident. Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected, and to ensure that any actions run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events but we will face it together as a news organization -- and do it in as transparent a manner as we can." An emotional Guthrie remained professional as she delivered the news. "We just learned this moments ago, just this morning. As I'm sure you can imagine, we are devastated, and we are still processing all of this," she said. "And I will tell you right now, we do not know more than I just shared with you, but we will be covering this story as reporters as journalists. I'm sure we will be learning more details in the hours and days to come, and we promise we will share that with you. And Hoda, for the moment, all we can say is we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner and he is beloved by many people here. And I'm heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story, and any other women who have their own stories to tell. We are grappling with a dilemma that so many people have faced these last few weeks: How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that they have behaved badly? And I don't know the answer to that. But I do know that this reckoning that so many organizations have been going through his important, it's long overdue, and it must result in workplaces where all women -- all people -- feel safe and respected. As painful as it is, this moment in our culture and this change had to happen." "Yeah, it did," Kotb said in agreement. "This is a very tough morning for both of us. I've known Matt for 15 years and I've loved him as a friend and a colleague. And again, just like you were saying, Savannah, it's hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man who we know, who walks in this building every single day. We were both woken up with the news kind of pre-dawn. We're trying to process it and trying to make sense of it, and it'll take some time for that." "We're processing it with all of you at home," Guthrie told viewers, "and we promise to be transparent and be straightforward and continue this important conversation." Lauer has not commented on his termination. (Eonline)
Katie Couric straight-up said Matt Lauer pinched her on the ass a lot during their 9-year run on the "Today" show. Katie appeared on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live" back in 2012, and during a segment -- Plead the Fifth -- Andy asked about Matt's most annoying habit. What's interesting ... Katie's answer came and went ... it was hardly picked up by the media. It's interesting ... NBC said no one has complained until this week, yet their longtime co-anchor talked about ass-pinching in 2012 and NBC apparently didn't bat an eye. As we reported ... Matt was fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior" in a stunning announcement Wednesday. We're told the investigation has been going on for weeks and the New York Times and other media outlets were working on a story about Lauer. (TMZ)
Kathie Lee Gifford wants to forgive Matt Lauer. The "Today" star, alongside co-host Hoda Kotb, addressed Lauer's prompt firing after an employee raised allegations of sexual harassment against him. "I'm grappling with, should I even share something? But I guess I really should," Gifford, 64, said during the 10 a.m. hour of "Kathie Lee & Hoda." "I don't feel that Matt has betrayed us in any way at all but when I found out that my husband [Frank Gifford] had betrayed me, you question your own judgment. You say, 'Was everything a lie?' And I think we have to very much fight against that, that the man we know and adored was the man we loved and adored and continue to." Gifford said she reached out to Lauer, 59, Wednesday morning and told him, "I adore you." She described the day as a "very, very sad one" at NBC. She continued, "No person is perfect in this world. ... And what we need now is forgiveness and mercy for one another." Page Six exclusively reported Wednesday that the star "Today" show anchor allegedly sexually assaulted a female NBC staffer during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. (Page Six)
Michelle Williams is breaking her silence about former costar Kevin Spacey -- and about sexual harassment in Hollywood. Earlier this month, the House of Cards actor was accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen people. In wake of the scandal, director Ridley Scott decided to replace Spacey in the upcoming drama All the Money in the World, casting Christopher Plummer to reshoot Spacey's scenes, portraying billionaire J. Paul Getty. Williams, who also stars in the possible Oscar-contending movie, spoke to Entertainment Weekly about Spacey's exit in the magazine's new issue. "This doesn't do anything to ease the suffering of people who were all too personally affected by Kevin Spacey, but it is our little act of trying to right a wrong," said the actress, 37, who was stunned by the allegations against Spacey, 58. "And it sends a message to predators -- you can't get away with this anymore. Something will be done." "I'm so very proud to be a part of this -- we're all here for Ridley," Williams added. "When this idea was hatched I immediately started to feel better." The actress, who worked on acclaimed movies including Blue Valentine and My Week with Marilyn for Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Company, hadn't previously addressed the sexual harassment scandals roiling Hollywood. In October, Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance toward him in 1986, when he was just 14 years old. The same day, Spacey issued a statement in which he apologized to Rapp (though he said he didn't remember the incident) and came out publicly as gay. In the weeks that followed, several more men came forward to accuse Spacey of sexual harassment or assault. A rep for Spacey has since said the actor is seeking "evaluation and treatment." Director Scott announced on Nov. 8 he would reshoot all of Spacey's All the Money in the World scenes with Plummer instead, a costly decision that required the crew and cast -- including Williams and costar Mark Wahlberg -- to travel to London and Rome over Thanksgiving to finalize the film before its slated Dec. 22 release. (People)
Kim Kardashian's mission to free Alice Marie Johnson is kicking into high gear ... and the 62-year-old grandmother has expressed her "deep and heartfelt gratitude." According to a thank you note from Alice to Kim, obtained by TMZ ... Alice was floored when she found out Kardashian had enlisted high-powered lawyer Shawn Holley to help with her case. Johnson is currently serving a life sentence for her involvement in a cocaine ring ... her first offense. Alice wrote, "Ms. Kardashian you are literally helping to save my life and restore me to my family. I was drowning and you have thrown me a life jacket and given me hope." Johnson also believes Kim's crusade will be a defining moment in history, and will show she was a "key figure in meaningful criminal justice reform becoming a reality." Kim's not just focused on Johnson's case either -- she's also involved in the effort to free Cyntoia Brown, a Tennessee woman who killed a man who was allegedly using her as a sex slave when she was 16. Kardashian and Holley are continuing to communicate with Johnson, Brown and their lawyers in order to develop the best plan for clemency. And as Alice says ... "THE BATTLE IS ON!" (TMZ)
Jennifer Hudson agreed to let David Otunga see their son again, but only because he's out of her house and no longer a physical threat to her ... according to sources connected to the singer. The sources say Jennifer dropped the restraining order keeping Otunga away from 8-year-old David Jr., purely in the child's best interest. Although Jennifer's restraining order docs say, "I am now living in fear for my physical and emotional safety and that of my son" -- we're told she was referring to emotional scarring David Jr. would suffer if he saw his father threaten his mother. She never accused Otunga of physically threatening their child. As we reported, Otunga's been removed from their home, and as a result, we're told Jennifer's satisfied as the emotional risk to their son is no longer present. As for who's been the child's primary caregiver -- our Jennifer sources say she's always made mothering her top priority, even while working to support the family. When she first went to London a year ago to shoot 'The Voice' ... she not only brought Otunga and David Jr., but she also paid Otunga's mom to tutor her grandson. She did the same during her 6-month Broadway run in "The Color Purple." On the issue of custody going forward -- as we reported, David Jr. is with his father right now while Jennifer works in London. However, sources on her side stress David hasn't won anything. The judge hasn't ruled on custody yet, and neither parent's been deemed "primary" caregiver. We're told Jennifer will continue making decisions based on what's best for her son. (TMZ)
Daveigh Chase, the creepy little well girl from "The Ring," just got herself in a hole, 'cause she was busted for joyriding in a car that was reported stolen ... TMZ has learned. Chase was a passenger in a BMW cops pulled over Tuesday around 10 AM in Hollywood. After they quickly ran the plates, the whip popped up as stolen. Law enforcement sources tell us even though Daveigh wasn't driving she was booked for driving in a car without owner's consent ... which is a felony. The driver was booked for the same thing. We're told it's unclear who stole the car, but cops are investigating. Daveigh -- who's also the voice of Disney's Lilo from "Lilo & Stitch" -- is currently in jail on $25,000 bail. We've reached out to her reps ... so far no word back. (TMZ)
Floyd Mayweather's Beverly Hills Mansion got hit in a high stakes burglary ... TMZ Sports has learned. The jacking was discovered Tuesday afternoon when someone on Floyd's team found a broken window at the $26 million crib. According to law enforcement ... the staffer found a bunch of stuff was missing, including luggage, sunglasses and other accessories. That might not sound like much, but this is "Money" Mayweather's place. We're told the minimum value of the stolen property is at least $10k, and likely more than that. They're still taking inventory. These L.A.-area burglaries are an epidemic now with Jason Derulo, Yasiel Puig, Mariah Carey, Alanis Morissette, Demi Lovato, Drake, Nicki Minaj all getting hit ... to name just a few. Floyd just bought the 15,000 sq. ft palace in September, and our sources confirm there is a state-of-the-art alarm system. It's unclear if it was on. Floyd is out of the country right now touring China. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
The English Mansion With TV Ties Could Be Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Future Countryside Home. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...a countryside mansion? Maybe for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! As fans of the royal family remain abuzz over the newly engaged pair, some reports are speculating the two will eventually call this multi-million dollar countryside manor a home. While it has already been confirmed that the future husband and wife will reside at Prince Harry's Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace after their wedding, they may later establish some roots in Cotswolds, near where the prince spent some of his childhood, Prince Charles' Highgrove House residence. The name of the property is Luckington Court, tucked privately into the Cotswolds village of Luckington. With eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and roughly 157 acres of property, the Tudor-style dwelling house sounds perfectly fit for a prince and his bride. Much like the couple, the mansion has both British and TV show roots as the house's exteriors and interiors were used to portray the Bennet family's home in the BBC series, Pride & Prejudice. While there's some speculation that the approximately $10.35 million rural residence reportedly went off the market just as the two announced their engagement, only time will tell if their future includes Luckington. Perhaps it will be a wedding present from Queen Elizabeth II, just like she gifted Anmer Hall to William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton for their nuptials. If they do decide to move in at any point, the structure certainly lends itself to starting a family. After all, there are eight bedrooms and plenty of grass for any future youngster to run around in. Of course, there's a wedding to plan first. As Prince Harry said during their first joint interview on Monday, "I think one step at a time and hopefully we'll start a family in the near future." (Eonline)
Prince William Hopes Prince Harry Stays Out of His Fridge Now That He's Engaged. Prince Harry, now that you're engaged, stop scrounging food from your older brother Prince William's fridge. Clarence House announced this week that the younger royal and American actress Meghan Markle, who recently left the show Suits and retired from acting, are set to marry in May. "We're very excited and delighted for them both and wishing them all the happiness in this very exciting time," William told reporters on Wednesday during a royal visit to Helsinki, Finland, joking, "And for me personally, I hope it means he stays out of my fridge and will stop him scrounging my food, which he's done for the last few years." "It's a fantastic process to go through -- the engagement and then the buildup to the wedding," William continued. "They've got a lot of happy times ahead of them. I think they're very caught up in the moment and I wish them all the happiness and success in planning the wedding. I hope it goes really well." Hours after Harry and Meghan's engagement was announced, William and wife Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, had said in a statement, "We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together." "William and I are absolutely thrilled, it's such exciting news," Kate told ITV News during a visit to London's Foundling Museum in London on Tuesday. "It's a really happy time for any couple, and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment." William and Harry's stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said she was "absolutely thrilled" about the engagement. "America's loss is our gain," she said. "And we are all absolutely delighted. As you can see, they're so happy. Sometimes, you know, in a climate where we're surrounded by a lot of bad news, it's a real joy to have a bit of good news for once." (Eonline)
The Weeknd Deletes Selena Gomez From His Social Media. Selena Gomez...who? Almost a month after their "amicable" break up, The Weeknd is slowly taking steps to delete his famous ex-girlfriend (who was recently spotted kissing Justin Bieber) from his Instagram and seemingly his life. The "Starboy" singer has just unfollowed and wiped away all signs of the "Wolves" singer from his Instagram account, so say the rabid looky-loos who notice those sorts of things (and yes, we can confirm that that's true). Where once the two cozied up on each other for all to see, there is no trace of their short-lived love on Abel Tesfaye's 'Gram. So for any of you holding out for a reconciliation -- it may be time to let go. Interestingly enough, Gomez still has plenty of photos of the 10-month twosome on her 130 million-strong Instagram account. One photo was posted as recently as Sept. 5. Although who knows how long those coupled-up pics will stay on her social media now that Abel's wiped his Insta clean of his former lady love? Last month, rumors started swirling of The Weeknd and Selena's split after fans noticed that Abel had unfollowed Selena's mother, family members and other of her friends (which is exactly what he did before his break up with ex-girlfriend Bella Hadid). So we could pretty much it coming that the "I Feel It Coming" hit-maker got rid of all signs of his ex now that he's moved on. The singer's been sighted with a bevy of beauties since the breakup. On Nov. 10, the 27-year-old singer hung out with the Bieb's one-time love interest Jovanna Ventura, a 21-year-old model from Miami. The Weeknd and Yovanna were spotted leaving Hyde nightclub in Los Angeles together. As for Selena and Justin, the on-again exes have not commented on the status of their current relationship. "They are exclusive," a source told E! News. "They don't want to date anyone else. They both are very committed to making this work. Justin and Selena have grown up since the last time they were together." For fans who can't get enough of Jelena: look out for those two, who just can't seem to quit each other, to become Instagram official in the future. It's only a matter of time. (Eonline)
Gwen Stefani was hauling ass and avoiding questions about haters hating on BF Blake Shelton's Sexiest Man of the Year title, but it didn't matter because TSA eventually put the brakes on her hustle. Gwen was just like everyone else who traveled Tuesday ... trying to get through security at LAX, only she became one of the unlucky few who got a FULL pat-down and was wanded after her full body scan. She was given the once/twice/thrice over for a full 90 seconds before she was allowed to go on her merry way. (TMZ)
When it came to planning her Nov. 21 wedding to Ben Domenech, Meghan McCain was not in the mood to stress. "I was not really caught up in the details," she tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue, on stands Friday. "I just wanted everybody to have a good time." But when her father, Sen. John McCain, tore his Achilles tendon in the days leading up to the ceremony, the bride had to figure out a new plan for getting down the aisle. Enter her brother, Army guardsman Jimmy, 29. "He stepped in to walk me down the actual aisle and then my dad gave me away at the very end," Meghan explains. "I had nerves right before I was going to walk out, but Jimmy was making me laugh the entire time." Mom Cindy, 63, who sat in the front row, says her daughter's joy was palpable. "She was very calm and very positive," she says. "here and her dad was here, which was the most important thing." Tragically, her father's presence hadn't necessarily been a given. In July, 81-year-old McCain, the six-term Arizona senator and former Republican presidential nominee, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, a rare and highly aggressive form of brain cancer that has a median survival rate of 14 months. (Only 5 to 10 percent of patients make it past five years.) "I felt like a nuclear bomb went off in my life. I was a mess. I was barely functioning," Meghan says. Her father launched into an immediate round of radiation and chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor, followed by a second round six weeks later, when doctors found another tumor had appeared in its place. Four months later, "it's still a fight, but I'm doing fine," the senator tells PEOPLE in an exclusive phone interview from the family's ranch outside Sedona. "I'm getting treatment, and my progress is steady and good. People are saying, 'I hope you can get over this.' I believe I will." Meghan says her father's devastating diagnosis made her own life come into focus. The 33-year-old conservative co-host of The View had been dating Domenech, 35, cofounder of the website The Federalist, for two years, and "we were already talking about getting married, but this made it official," she says. "There was something about Ben being there for me, at my father's treatments. I was like, 'This is love.' I felt this overwhelming sense of time and my own mortality. We ended up saying, 'Let's do this now.'" "We were originally going to elope before everything happened with my dad, but obviously all these things have taken on new meaning," Meghan says. Adds her new husband: "This brought into focus how important it was for Meghan to have her dad see her get married, and to have that happen while he was still fully there and fully able to participate. This was something that she needed." The pair set about inviting 117 close friends, family members and former campaign workers for a Thanksgiving-week soiree with a western hunting-lodge theme. "We pushed everything up," Meghan says. "My dad is doing really well right now, but it's a deeply unpredictable cancer. You're really just living scan to scan. I wanted to make sure that he was -- that we were all -- there. Why wait?" The festivities took place at the McCain family ranch in Cornville, Arizona. "This beautiful valley has some special meaning because that's where we spent all our time with our kids growing up," Senator McCain explains. "The wedding was a celebration of life and also a chance for us to revisit and celebrate the past." For the reception, "we wanted it to be very Arizona, very Americana," says Meghan. Wedding planner Jim Bullock of Sedona's Events by Showstoppers decorated three Nordic kata tents with taxidermy, antlers, animal skins and a vintage American flag so it would look "like if Teddy Roosevelt had a hunting lodge," Meghan says. The senator says he teared up watching Meghan's first dance with Ben as Clay Aiken sang. He had to forgo a planned father-daughter dance because of his ankle, but Meghan says she didn't mind. "I'm not disappointed, and I genuinely mean that," she says. "I felt really blessed and loved, and I don't feel like I missed out on anything." Besides, adds her mom Cindy, it might have been for the best: "When John had a good leg, he still couldn't dance. So it was a good thing!" (People)
Music
Eminem Announces Release Date for Revival Album. Guess who's back, back again? After dropping hints about the name of his new album, Eminem confirmed Revival will be released Dec. 15. Back in October, music manager Paul Rosenberg posted an Instagram photo featuring an ad for Revival, a phony drug company claiming to treat "Atrox Rithimus." Reddit users quickly learned the fake advertisement was part of a larger campaign to promote Eminem's new album. The campaign even featured a website, commercial and phone number -- all littered with clues tying back to Marshall Mathers. Playing off of the campaign, Eminem posted a video about Revival on Twitter and Instagram along with the album's release date. "Today I have great news for all of you suffering from AR," a man said in the video. "You see, Revival isn't a medication at all. Revival is the name of the new album for Eminem and it's coming out December 15. On behalf of everyone who took part in the Revival campaign, thank you. Don't worry, you won't be seeing us again." The man in the video, who went by Trevor, also said, "If you happen to run into me out on the street, please don't ask me anything about the album. Em, told me he likes to keep people guessing. Just kidding, I don't know sh-t. I've never met Eminem." The last album Eminem released was The Marshall Mathers LP 2 in 2013. The rapper has clearly been busy. In addition to working on Revival, the artist dropped a new song with Beyonce called "Walk on Water" earlier this month. (Eonline)
Blink-182 and Steve Aoki are both known for playing loud music to packed crowds, so seeing the band unplug for Aoki in a living room with only about 100 others is quite the sight. Aoki turns 40 Thursday, so Blink serenaded him with a couple songs. The band went with a non-traditional birthday jam, "What's My Age Again?," and added a personal touch for Steve by changing the lyrics from "Nobody likes you when you're 23" to ... "when Aoki's 40." The intimate get-together went down at billionaire Ron Burkle's. (TMZ)
Famed Bono & Chris Martin Cover 'One For My Baby' for AIDS Charity on Kimmel Sean Penn makes a cameo in the (RED) Shopathon special performance. For the third year in a row, Jimmy Kimmel donated some air time to (RED)'s Shopathon for a special episode filled with celebrity appearances, all in the name of fighting AIDS. Tuesday night's (Nov. 28) edition featured (RED) co-founder Bono offering up his take on Frank Sinatra's classic, "One For My Baby." The performance was lit in black and white, similar to Christmas specials of the past, with the singer sitting beside a bar with a red cocktail. The famous face serving up drinks was none other than Sean Penn, making a cameo for the charity event. Later in the song, the camera cut away from the black and white scene, and Coldplay's Chris Martin took over the vocals, sitting at a red baby grand piano. Bono also announced he would be breaking a massive pact he made in his teens for a charitable cause. (RED) has partnered with Omaze to raffle off incredible experiences with your favorite stars for a $10 donation, and Bono has contributed a chance to play mini-golf with him and his band - a sport he swore he'd never, ever play, because he was a true rock 'n roll guy. Make your contribution to (RED) and have a chance to play putt-putt with Bono and more here. (Billboard)
Bruno Mars Talks Going 'Live at the Apollo' for First TV Special. Bruno Mars will be traveling between concerts on the South America leg of his world tour when CBS Television Network premieres Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo Wednesday night (Nov. 29, 10:00 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/PT). But the multi-tasker has already viewed the telecast multiple times during the last several months as co-executive producer of his first primetime special. "We didn't want this to be just a television show where the Hooligans and I sing three songs and go to commercial then sing three more songs and go to another commercial," Mars tells Billboard during a day off from the tour. "The band and I wanted to create a vibe that translates what we felt at the Apollo Theater. As soon as we walked in there, we said this is the only place to do this special. Hopefully, the audience will feel that vibe at home." Before Mars stood on the legendary stage, the Apollo Theater already meant something special to him. Among his favorite childhood memories are watching the television series Showtime at the Apollo and listening to Brown's groundbreaking 1963 album Live at the Apollo. "You can feel an aura," says Mars of the venue. "There's definitely some kind of magic going on inside there." Like Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and others before him, Mars also rubbed the theater's fabled "Tree of Hope" stump for good luck. "Of course, I had to do that," he says with a laugh. Mars and the Hooligans also rubbed elbows with the residents of the Apollo's surrounding Harlem, New York neighborhood. "We wanted everybody in the community to come out to the show," says Mars. "So we passed out tickets as we met people in different locations. You'll see them in the audience at the Apollo." Teaser trailers promoting Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo follow Mars and the Hooligans as they cruise the streets, visit a local park, hang out in a restaurant kitchen and jam atop the Apollo marquee. Bruno Mars performs at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Besides the CBS television special, Mars is also celebrating the six nominations he received for the upcoming 60th Grammy Awards. Those nods -- including record of the year ("24K Magic"), album of the year (24K Magic) and song of the year ("That's What I Like") -- bring his total of career Grammy nominations to 27. Following his Nov. 28 performance in Chile, Mars will bring his world tour to Peru (Nov. 30), Ecuador (Dec. 2), Colombia (Dec. 5) and Costa Rica (Dec. 7) before returning to the U.S. for another North America run beginning with a two-night stand in Washington, D.C. (Dec. 20-21). (Billboard)
Rob Zombie Narrates Charles Manson Documentary 'The Final Words'. Following the death of cult-leader-slash-mass-murderer Charles Manson earlier this month, a documentary surrounding his story slated for 2018 has been pushed up and is slated to premiere this weekend. Charles Manson: The Final Words is filled with chilling clips of Manson ranting about his own assumed infamy, with narration by macabre rocker Rob Zombie. The film also further examines the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders with graphic re-creations, as well as interviews with other Manson family members. Charles Manson: The Final Words will premiere on Dec. 3 on Reelz. Following a series of hospitalizations in 2017, Manson died of natural causes on Nov. 20 at age 83 after more than 45 years in prison. (Billboard)
Mick Rock, Nikki Sixx, & More To Tell Personal David Bowie Song Stories at Sonos One Event. David Bowie's life will be celebrated through stories told by a diverse lineup of artists next week. Sonos is hosting a free event on Dec. 5, which will give a platform for never-before-heard personal stories to be recounted about the late star's songs. So far, four storytellers have been listed to share at the event. Legendary British photographer Mick Rock -- famous for shooting many iconic stars, including Bowie -- leads the lineup. Mötley Crüe co-founder Nikki Sixx is also scheduled to speak, along with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and MTV anchor/punk rocker Meredith Graves. RSVP here for the sure to be memorable event, which will take place at Sonos Store in New York. (Billboard)
German TV Drops Roger Waters Concerts Over His Support for Israeli Boycott. The ex-Pink Floyd frontman supports the Palestinian-led boycott, which calls on artists to refuse to perform in Israel. German public broadcasters have dropped plans to air concerts next year by ex-Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters, citing what they call "accusations of anti-Semitism against him." Waters is among the most prominent supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, or BDS, a Palestinian-led group that calls on artists to boycott Israel to protest the country's occupation of territories where Palestinians seek statehood. Waters, along with other supporters of BDS, have been accused of anti-Semitism for their protest. Five television and radio affiliates of Germany's national ARD network have dropped plans to broadcast concerts by Waters in Berlin and Cologne scheduled next summer. RBB, a regional ARD affiliate in Berlin and Brandenburg, said by dropping Waters it wanted to send a message to other artists who refuse to perform in Israel. "Taking a clear position here is an important signal for RBB to the Jewish communities in Berlin and Brandenburg," RBB director Patricia Schlesinger said in a statement. Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, supported the move, calling the "quick and decisive reaction" by the public broadcasters "an important signal that rampant antisemitism against Israel has no place in Germany." Marek Lieberberg, Waters's tour director (and the son of Holocaust survivors) called the broadcasters' decision "absolutely ridiculous." Speaking to Germany's Mannheimer Morgen newspaper, he said the surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party showed German Jews were right to be concerned about "clearly visible and growing antisemitism" in the country but argued that Waters "has a right to freedom of opinion." The BDS movement was launched in 2005 as a non-violent campaign to try and pressure Israel to comply with international law and end the occupation of territory it has held since the 1967 war. But while the movement has gathered momentum in recent years, it has also drawn sharp criticism from artists who say it unjustly punishes Israeli's artistic community. Australian singer Nick Cave said his recent tour of Israel was in direct, deviant response to the BDS movement which he said has tried to "bully" and "silence" musicians. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren has also rejected calls to boycott Israel. ARD in Germany was recently accused of anti-Semitism itself after one of its affiliates refused to air a documentary exploring discrimination, media bias and rising violence against Jews in Europe. ARD claimed the film: Chosen and Excluded -- The Hate on Jews in Europe was one-sided and did not meet its journalistic standards. But after the film was leaked online via a local tabloid, ARD broadcast the documentary, albeit in an highly-edited form with additional on-air commentary. (Billboard)
Movies
Christopher Plummer Replaces Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World Trailer. Christopher Plummer has replaced Kevin Spacey in the new All the Money in the World trailer. Plummer took on the role as J. Paul Getty after Spacey faced a series of sexual harassment allegations. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is about the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III. The new trailer shows Plummer playing the role of the billionaire oil tycoon asked to pay his grandson's ransom. Scott revealed Plummer would replace Spacey earlier this month -- giving the cast and crew only a few weeks to reshoot all of Spacey's scenes before its Dec. 22 debut date. According to Scott's exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director was finalizing the music for the film when he heard about the Spacey allegations. "I sat and thought about it and realized, we cannot. You can't tolerate any kind of behavior like that. And it will affect the film. We cannot let one person's action affect the good work of all these other people. It's that simple," he said. Still, it looks like Scott may make his deadline after all. Entertainment Weekly reports that the director finished filming the movie Nov. 29. "I'm so very proud to be a part of this -- we're all here for Ridley," Michelle Williams, who plays the kidnapped boy's mother, told Entertainment Weekly. "When this idea was hatched, I immediately started to feel better. This doesn't do anything to ease the suffering of people who were all too personally affected by Kevin Spacey, but it is our little act of trying to right a wrong. And it sends a message to predators -- you can't get away with this anymore. Something will be done." So, how did Plummer feel about taking on the role? "I think it's very sad what happened to him," the 87-year-old actor told Vanity Fair earlier this month. "Kevin is such a talented and a terrifically gifted actor, and it's so sad. It's such a shame." He later added, "It's really not replacing him [Spacey] -- it's starting all over again. Although the situation is very sad. I'm very saddened by what happened to Kevin, but what can I do? I've got a role. I admire Ridley Scott and I'm thrilled to be making a movie for him. And so I thought, that was it. Ages ago I was in contention for [the role], way back. So I was familiar with it, and then Ridley came to me and I agreed. I wanted to work with him. He's very good. I loved the script. The script is wonderful." Watch the trailer to see a sneak peek of Plummer's performance. All the Money in the World isn't the only job Spacey lost following the allegations. Netflix also cut ties with the former House of Cards star. "Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey," a statement from the company read. "We will continue to work with MRC during this hiatus time to evaluate out path forward as it relates to the show. We have also decided we will not be moving forward with the release of the film Gore, which was in post-production, starring and produced by Kevin Spacey." (Eonline)
First 'Avengers: Infinity War' Trailer Unleashes Thanos' Wrath. The Russo Bros. team-up opens May 4. The Avengers are calling everyone they know for this one. The first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War is basically a roll call of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and all the players have one goal: to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his Infinity Stone-powered rampage across the galaxy. The film from the Russo Bros. is written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who penned the three Captain America movies. Pre-pandemonium was at an all-time high ahead of the release, with Spider-Man actor Tom Holland causing a stir with a creative way to reveal the film's new poster, while a retrospective video showing fans reacting to old trailers is closing in on 500,000 views on YouTube in a matter of hours. Marvel Studios is opening the film May 4. (Hollywood Reporter)
'Star Wars': How Captain Phasma Ended Up With Her Own Nissan. Tie-ins get complicated when there's no product placement in a film: "Telling my own executives that we can't put a Rogue in the Death Star was a hard part of the initial conversation." In a nondescript warehouse next to the Burbank Airport, there is a one-of-a kind, multi-million-dollar Nissan Maxima in the middle of room with a team of automotive customizers scrutinizing every square inch. What makes this Maxima so special? It's one of seven custom show cars Nissan has produced with the team at Industrial Light & Magic and Lucasfilm for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It's helping build off of 2016's Nissan/Rogue One: A Star Wars Story partnership. While that crossover's limited-edition Nissan Rogue came with an exclusive Death Trooper helmet, this time around, Nissan and ILM wanted to take it a step beyond and build seven custom cars that echo characters in the film. The Maxima is an homage to the villainous Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie in the film. And creating it took hundreds of hours of handwork by Burbank's Vehicle Effects shop, best known for its work on the Fast and the Furious series. Phasma's Maxima is covered in high-gloss silver armor and the front fascia is shaped to form the character's mask. Both the fascia and hood are hand-crafted from aluminum and a custom red accent line runs the length of the car, all the better to match Phasma's cape and armor. Eric Shimp, project manager at Vehicle Effects, tells Heat Vision it took at least 100 hours to turn Phasma's mask from 2D into 3D and then more than 200 hours for the metal fabrication on this car alone -- never mind there are six more vehicles. "The detail work is insane," says Shimp, "Phasma's car is the most artisan of the bunch." The Captain Phasma Maxima is also a celebration of female strength. The Nissan's Maxima team us led by a female engineer, while ILM's vehicle designer is a woman -- as is the vehicle's brand director. All seven cars will be on display at the LA Auto Show Dec. 1-10 at the LA Convention Center. If you can't make it, Nissan is planning a full digital blitz around the The Last Jedi -- from in-dealer VR activations to regional auto show events, a digital microsite and, of course, a car giveaway and tickets to the Last Jedi premiere. When asked how a partnership like this makes sense -- as there is no product placement the film -- Nissan's Jeremy Tucker responds with a laugh. "Telling my own executives that we can't put a Rogue in the Death Star was a hard part of the initial conversation, but once I explained clearly to my team that there was no product placement, that instead of putting our cars into the movie and having the characters driving the cars, we would play with the themes and mythologies from the films for the creative, they were all on board," says Tucker, Vice President, Marketing Communications & Media for Nissan. "We weren't just going to do a logo slap and a product placement. Star Wars ... has millions of fans and if you piss them off, you are done." Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens Dec. 15. (Hollywood Reporter)
Oscars: Family Ties Are Tested in Croatia's 'Quit Staring at My Plate'. Director Hana Jusic Marijana says her debut feature attempts to subvert the typical story of rebellious youth escaping from a small town. Not long ago, when people talked about Croatia, it was often in the same breath as the breakup of Yugoslavia and its attendant war and bloodshed. Now, 20 years later, Croatia is a member of the European Union and, with its historic architecture and miles of coastline, a top vacation destination. But Quit Staring at My Plate, the country's entry in the foreign-language Oscar race, depicts neither of those Croatias. The multilayered debut feature from director Hana Jusic shows a side of Croatia that most people will never see. Here, a hodgepodge of historical architecture and post-industrial decay takes a backseat to the small everyday life of Marijana, an unremarkable young woman in a deeply patriarchal society who might -- or might not -- want to break free from her unremarkable existence. The film is set in Sibenik, the picturesque seaside town where Jusic grew up. But in Marijana's world, beautiful vistas are crowded out by the details of her dingy home life and meddlesome family. "I wanted to make a film that wouldn't be a postcard of this town. This town is really beautiful when you see it, but I didn't want to show it in this way that people were used to seeing it. I wanted to have this 'verfremdungseffekt' (distancing effect), for people who live there to watch it anew from a different angle," says Jusic, referencing Berthold Brecht's estrangement effect where an audience is kept at an emotional distance from the material to remain a critical observer. Occasionally one spies a patch of blue -- a flash of the Adriatic Sea, like a glimpse of freedom -- at the end of a medieval alleyway, but it quickly disappears and the walls of the family's tiny two-bedroom apartment close-in. In a play on horror vacui, a horror of empty spaces, ugly piles of clutter fill every corner, from tchotchkes and plastic food containers to unwashed bedclothes. "I wanted to make the apartment a character in the film, like it's alive with them and it's pushing them inside toward each other," Jusic. "In Croatia people often buy too many things that are really cheap. They kind of bury themselves under these things and they never throw things away, so you have layers of lives that are being forgotten that are here, but you don't see these objects anymore. You're just walling yourself in with your stupid meaningless things." Every morning, Marijana leaves the apartment, which she shares with her tyrannical father, do-nothing mother and mentally disabled brother, and goes to her uninspiring job as a lab technician. And every evening, she returns home to their minuscule kitchen for a tense family meal where uncomfortable moments abound. In a rare outburst, Marijana talks back to her father, and he slaps her across the back of the head with a napkin. And yet, family dinners remain sacrosanct. "Family meals are rituals that give the impression that everything is going on fine in the family," Jusic explains. "These meals that are symbols of familial life are actually sometimes places where people are being the worst toward each other. Over these meals, you're facing each other and some conversations that are not very nice spring up. So these meals were actually twofold, a means of operation and means of closeness." The idea of closeness -- most of the time a suffocating physical proximity, but sometimes a familial tenderness -- is central to the film. Marijana and her family practically live on top of one another; privacy is nonexistent. (The film's title is a Croatian expression meaning "mind your own business.") But when her father suffers a stroke, she becomes the head of the family and starts doing as she pleases -- staying out all night and sleeping with strangers -- as a means of exerting control over her life. Marijana tries to leave it all behind, but her freedom is not sweet, and the bonds of home and family keep pulling her back. She is still a woman in a society dominated by men. She is neither wealthy nor beautiful. Realistically her options are few. If Plate were an American movie, Marijana would likely leave her small town and make it big. But Jusic wanted to subvert that idea, opting for a different conclusion, one where the protagonist can go home again and that might be OK. "(The idea) that you really have to do something with your life and you have to achieve something, you have to try hard not to waste your life -- sometimes for me, for my generation, this seems really oppressive," Jusic says. "And it seems very consoling sometimes that you just live your life from day to day and don't really try hard to do anything with it. "Sometimes you have a feeling that if you're at least a bit talented in something, you have to use it up," she adds. "So we are being commodified. We commodify ourselves in a way. And I don't think it's wasting [your life] if you live a simple life. It's not wasting anything, you just live." (Hollywood Reporter)
Just because Harvey Weinstein is out of the Oscars picture, it doesn't mean there won't be the usual dirty tricks, smear campaigns and intense awards jockeying behind the scenes. In a bombshell Hollywood Reporter interview, Armie Hammer -- who starred in last year's front-runner turned awards-poison "The Birth of a Nation" -- accuses an unnamed industry player of sinking that movie by leaking details to the media about director Nate Parker being accused of rape. The actor predicted he'll be hammered again this year for his latest film, "Call Me by Your Name," a gay romance set in 1980s Italy. Hammer claims the timing of headlines about rape allegations made in 1999 against Parker "was orchestrated for sure .?.?. There was another person in the industry, who had a competing film for the Academy Awards, who decided to release all of the phone records and information. I've been told who did it -- by several people." Hammer declined to name the culprit, but speculation has swirled that the competing leaker was uberproducer Scott Rudin, another awards mastermind, who had "Fences" up for the 2017 Oscars. But another source insisted of the speculation, "It had nothing to do with Scott. It was literally on Nate Parker's Wikipedia page. It was simply [distributor] Fox Searchlight's mistake." (Parker was acquitted in 2001.) Yet Hammer was expecting more subterfuge this season, adding: "Given my history .?.?. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop." By Tuesday, perhaps it already had. BuzzFeed had posted a critical piece on Hammer, asking, "How many second chances does a handsome white male star get?" after failures including "The Lone Ranger." Hammer tweeted in response: "Your perspective is bitter AF .?.?. Maybe I'm just a guy who loves his job and refuses to do anything but what he loves to do?" Then he deleted his Twitter account. Rudin, who declined to comment, gave Hammer his big break in "The Social Network." He also produced Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird," which is rivaling Hammer's movie for Oscar buzz. (Page Six)
TV
Meghan Markle Officially Leaving Suits After Season 7. Meghan Markle is hanging up her TV law degree and saying goodbye to Suits. The actress, who has spent seven seasons as Rachel Zane, a paralegal-turned-attorney, will exit with the seventh and final season after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry. USA Network confirmed the news just a day after Meghan's engagement was announced. "From all of us at USA Network and Universal Cable Productions, we want to send our most heartfelt congratulations to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their engagement. Meghan has been a member of our family for seven years and it has been a joy to work with her. We want to thank her for her undeniable passion and dedication to Suits, and we wish her the very best," USA Network and Universal Cable Productions said in a statement. During their first joint interview Prince Harry and Meghan acknowledged she was moving on from the series. "I don't see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change," she said. "It's a new chapter, right? And also, keep in mind, I've been working on [Suits] for seven years. We were very, very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series... I've ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I've done there, and now it's time to work with [Harry] as a team." Over the years, Markle's Rachel Zane became romantically involved with Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and grew professionally at Pearson Specter Litt. "Through the toughest of times -- whether professional or personal -- Rachel has proven to Suitors around the world that it's always worth it to fight for what you believe in and never lose faith in yourself," USA said in a blog post. Suits returns in early 2018. (Eonline)
Arrow's Oliver and Felicity Were the Worst Wedding Guests Ever in the CW Crossover. If there's one thing we learned from this year's CW crossover, it's to not invite Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak to your wedding. Or we guess we might be calling her Felicity Queen now, since she and Oliver tied the knot in what was probably the most obnoxious way possible, after the proposal happened in the most obnoxious way possible, and then they were all obnoxious about it while there were actual nazis (including a nazi version of Oliver!) roaming around trying to kill everyone. And to top it all off, they were among Barry and Iris' many friends who didn't RSVP for the wedding until the day before, which is just plain rude! But let's start with that proposal, which was barely a proposal. At the rehearsal dinner, Oliver just started talking about how he wanted his and Felicity's rehearsal dinner to be just like that, and Felicity got all "what are you talking about?" Finally he did actually ask her to marry him, and she said no, eventually declaring to the entire room of people focused on the happiness of Barry and Iris that she did not want to marry you, Oliver Queen. Whenever Oliver had a moment during any of the nazi-fighting, he brought up the fact that Felicity didn't want to marry him, either to Felicity or to Barry and Iris, and wanted to talk about it constantly. He had a nazi doppelganger married to nazi Supergirl, and all he wanted to do was talk about Felicity rejecting his proposal. Then, Barry and Iris were literally in the middle of an adorable impromptu ceremony with Diggle officiating (which was already awkward because it was right after Stein's funeral, still in funeral clothing, but whatever). Oliver and Felicity were supposed to be the best man and maid of honor, the silent witnesses to this beautiful event -- silent being the key word. Instead, Felicity stopped Diggle while he was pronouncing man and wife to ask if she and Oliver could SHARE THE CEREMONY. She realized right then and there that she did, in fact, want to marry Oliver, and they should do it now! Right now! While another couple was also getting married! She and Oliver didn't even have their own vows, because they couldn't compete with Barry and Iris. So they not only stole their ceremony, but also essentially stole their vows. Barry and Iris just stood there, saying nothing, while Oliver and Felicity blabbered on about what they were doing, with no one ever pointing out that Oliver and Felicity could have Diggle marry them literally any time they wanted, any other time that was not during the post-funeral wedding of someone else. But since no one pointed that out, they just continued on with it, and both couples were married together for some reason. And it was clearly supposed to be cute and heartwarming but instead it was just SO RUDE. And another thing: Barry and Iris' second wedding did not include the phrase "I do," which might not be such a big deal in a casual setting, but remember the waitress who was most likely Barry and Iris' future daughter? "Remember to say 'I do,'" is the last thing she said to him. Does this mean we should be worried?! Of course, it's The Flash and we should always be worried, but honestly, WestAllen has had enough wedding drama to last them a lifetime, which Oliver and Felicity should have realized, which is why they should have just let them have this one to themselves, gosh darn it! Anyway, don't invite the Queens to your wedding because they will most definitely make it all about them. The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Arrow airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. (Eonline)
Monica Lewinsky didn't shy away from sharing her thoughts about a forthcoming HLN special titled The Monica Lewinsky Scandal. The 44-year-old author took to Twitter on Tuesday, November 28, to offer her insight on the name. "Fixed it for you. You're welcome," the former White House intern captioned a screenshot of an article promoting the two-hour special airing on Sunday, December 2, at 9 p.m. ET. on CNN's sister network. The Monica: Her Story author replaced the title with her own correction, suggesting it be called The Starr Investigation or The Clinton Impeachment instead. Lewinsky received a great deal of support on Twitter following her Tweet on Tuesday. As previously reported, Lewinsky engaged in a sexual affair with then-President Clinton while she was an intern in 1998. Lewinsky has since spoken out about being publicly shamed and ridiculed for years after the news of the relationship went public. "I felt like every layer of my skin and my identity were ripped off of me in '98 and '99," the fashion designer told the Guardian in April 2016. "It's a skinning of sorts. You feel incredibly raw and frightened. But I also feel like the shame sticks to you like tar." While giving a TED Talk in Vancouver, Canada, in March 2015, Lewinsky further opened up about the scandal and revealed that it will always affect her. "Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of my mistake, and I regret that mistake deeply," she said at the time. "In 1998, after having been swept up in an improbable romance, I was then swept into the eye of a political, legal, and media maelstrom like we had never seen before ... I lost my reputation and my dignity. I lost my sense of self." Although Bill and Hillary Clinton have refrained from publicly supporting Lewinsky in the past, their view on the affair has changed as numerous allegations of sexual assault against men in Hollywood have surfaced in recent months. Hillary's communication director Jennifer Palmieri, who also worked for Bill's administration, spoke out about the repercussions of the affair during an interview with MSNBC earlier this month. "Monica Lewinsky was my intern and the relationship the president had with her was very inappropriate," Palmieri said. "It was a consensual relationship, but he was the President of the United States and she was a 24-year-old intern -- that is taking advantage of a power dynamic on a historic scale." (US Weekly)
HBO Launches Standalone Streaming Service in Seven More European Countries. "We are making it even easier for consumers to become HBO subscribers," says the CEO of HBO Europe as the service hits Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. HBO is expanding its standalone, or direct-to-consumer, streaming video service to seven more Central European countries. Viewers in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina will have direct access to HBO Go on a standalone basis starting Wednesday. The move follows the launch of such an offer two weeks ago in Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. HBO Go offers HBO's entire library of original series, films and documentaries, along with HBO Europe's locally-produced drama and documentaries and a wide selection of the best content from other premium TV services. Available over the internet, HBO Go enables subscribers to enjoy top original content, such as Game of Thrones, Westworld and Silicon Valley alongside popular classic series like Sex and the City, The Sopranos and The Wire. Subscribers will also get access to HBO Europe local programming, such as Shadows (Romania), Burning Bush (Czech Republic), The Pack (Poland) and Golden Life (Hungary). The service will be available across a range of internet-enabled devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. Herve Payan, CEO of HBO Europe, said: "With the further expansion of HBO Go into seven additional territories we are making it even easier for consumers to become HBO subscribers." (Hollywood Reporter)
ESPN Cutting 150 Employees. Network president John Skipper announced the cuts in a memo to employees Wednesday morning. ESPN is parting ways Wednesday with 150 employees, mostly from the studio production, digital content and technology departments, network president John Skipper announced in a memo Wednesday morning. The cuts, Skipper said, "generally reflect decisions to do less in certain instances and redirect resources." "We appreciate their contributions, and will assist them as much as possible in this difficult moment with severance, a 2017 bonus, the continuation of health benefits and outplacement services," Skipper said of the employees impacted. "They will also appreciate your support." The cuts represent less than 2 percent of ESPN's 8,000-strong workplace, and the network is still hiring. Summing up ESPN's operating strategy, he said, "We will continue to invest in ways which will best position us to serve the modern sports fan and support the success of our business." The cuts were widely expected, with most outlets reporting that 100-plus staffers would get the boot. Earlier, it was expected that on-camera talent would be targeted, but that narrative shifted, and the majority of employees impacted largely worked behind the scenes. ESPN parted ways with about 100 employees in April, mostly more high-profile, on-air talent. (Hollywood Reporter)
NBC is scrambling to meet with talent and production staff from its news shows to go over various issues related to Matt Lauer's firing. We're told Noah Oppenheim, President of NBC News, will be leading the meetings. Our NBC sources say Oppenheim and other execs will be addressing staff from each of its shows, including "Today," "NBC Nightly News," "Meet the Press" and "Dateline." There will be a series of meetings ... one for each show. Our sources say virtually everyone at NBC was in the dark that Lauer was on the chopping block. The lawyer for the woman whose complaint triggered Lauer's firing told The New York Times he and his client met with NBC Human Resources and the legal depts. Monday at 6 PM and lodged her complaint. As we reported, we're told NBC had been investigating Lauer for weeks and wanted to get ahead of The New York Times and Variety which were preparing stories on Lauer and alleged sexual misconduct. (TMZ)
Nicole Kidman on Building a Better Future for ''Our Daughters:'' Big Change Is Happening. Nicole Kidman is looking toward the future. The Big Little Lies star was honored at the 2017 Gotham Awards, where E! News caught up with her about more and more women making their voices heard about injustice in the entertainment industry. "There's big change happening right now and we can feel it," Kidman shared. "Hopefully the people that are following us will be the recipients of that change. But it's still only in the beginning process of it happening. In terms of our industry and women, statistically it's still crazy how it's not balanced at all." She also noted that the apparent shift taking place not only benefits one gender, but everyone. Nicole continued, "As much as we say it's for our daughters, everyone prospers when there's equality. We take care of each other." When asked about her and Keith Urban's two daughters, 6-year-old Faith and 9-year-old Sunday, Nicole told us she'd much rather watch them pursue their own interests than follow in her acting footsteps. "I want to see them be what they want, what they're passionate about," she shared. "I came from a father who was a psychologist and a biochemist and a mother who was a nurse educator, so they were like, 'Actor? What are you talking about?' They were thrown by that, but at the same time they never devalued it. They let me follow my path, which was very self-motivating." Nicole's close pal and co-star Reese Witherspoon reflected on that path in an emotional speech at the Gotham Awards. Calling Kidman "unwaveringly passionate," Reese touched on her unique ability to captivate audiences on and off screen. "She stands up for what she believes in and she pushes the envelope with every single role she takes," Witherspoon said onstage with tears in her eyes, adding, "She's a magician, she's magic and she's one of the greatest actresses I've ever known and it is a privilege to get to watch her work..." (Eonline)
Meghan Markle's Dog Mystery Sparks Social Media Frenzy. Only one of Meghan Markle's dogs has made it to London. On Monday it was revealed that Markle is engaged to Prince Harry after one and a half years of dating. The former Suits star is now in the U.K., but in Monday's BBC interview with her fiance, she shared only one of her dogs was currently with her in London. "Well I have two dogs that I've had for quite a long time, both my rescue pups," Markle said. "And one is now staying with very close friends and my other little guy is - yes he's in the UK, he's been here for a while." Markle's Beagle, Guy, is said to be in London with her, but her dog Bogart is staying with a friend, as she stated in the interview. Markle didn't reveal the reason as to why Bogart wasn't with her. In response to the news, people are leaving comments on Instagram pictures of Markle's dogs. "@meghanmarkle why did you leave one of your dogs behind ??? How sad for that dog to not only lose his mumma but best friend too," one comment reads. "Praying Bogart gets to join you in London. It will break his heart to be left behind," another Instagram user wrote. A third comment pleads with Markle, "Please take them with you should you move to London. Do not leave them behind, remember men come and go, animals don't!!!" What do you think about this royal dog mystery? The couple is set to tie the knot this May at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. (Eonline)
Harry Styles kissed Lorde twice at the ARIAs and Twitter can't cope. He may have lost out on a Grammy nomination, but Harry Styles won big at the ARIAs in Australia Tuesday. The former One Direction star picked up Best International Artist following the release of his eponymous debut solo album earlier this year. On his way to accept the award, Harry kissed fellow nominee Lorde TWICE, and Twitter officially lost it. We're 99% sure it was just a friendly moment between two competing artists, but who doesn't love the idea that these two could be BFFs? They're definitely two of the coolest names in pop, so could collaboration be on the cards? We'll wait. (British Glamour)
Home is where the heart is. And for Ben Affleck, that's with girlfriend of seven months Lindsay Shookus. The pair were spotted looking at L.A. homes together in October and are now "fully living together," reveals a source. But their new pad isn't on the West Coast. The source reveals NYC-based Saturday Night Live producer Shookus, 37, and the 45-year-old Justice League star "recently" snapped up an apartment in the city's Upper West Side neighborhood. Whenever Affleck is in town, explains the source, "he'll be living there with Lindsay." But his kids keep him firmly rooted in L.A. The actor and ex-wife Jennifer Garner are amicable, and he even spent Thanksgiving Day at her California spread with their children Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5, and other family members. "My mom's coming out, and my brother will come over," he said to E! News of fellow actor Casey ahead of the holiday. In September, the star, who has been open about his ongoing struggles with alcohol addiction, turned to Garner when he felt old demons coming back to haunt him. With her support, he briefly checked himself into rehab. Though he checked himself out after five days, he is now participating in outpatient programs. "Friends and family have never seen Ben so proactive and serious about wanting to get better," reveals a source. "He has learned that dealing with his addiction is an ongoing battle," the insider adds. And as he fights, "He will do what it takes to be the best dad." And a solid boyfriend. Despite their bicoastal status, says the insider, he and Shookus "are happy and going strong." (US Weekly)
Aaron Carter Leaves Rehab After 2 Months. After spending two months in rehab, Aaron Carter has left the treatment facility, E! News can confirm. The "I Want Candy" singer checked into rehab back in September. Carter's rep Steve Honig told E! News the child star entered the facility to "improve his health and work on his overall wellness." Cater also addressed his fans directly via Twitter. "My loved ones, I would like to tell all of you that I will be disappearing for a while to work on myself," he tweeted at the time. "I would also like to announce that I am releasing a gift to you on Oct. 27. In time for Halloween, a new version of 'I Want Candy.' 4 weeks later, I will be releasing my first single from my new album, LOVE. I'll see you soon looking amazing and ready to play all my new songs LIVE. Most importantly, my stressors haven't subsided with family and this year has been crazy and I need some time off from all of it." Carter left the treatment facility in early October to address "several legal and personal matters," per Honig. However, the rep did not disclose details regarding these matters at the time. Still, the "Aaron's Party" singer returned to finish his treatment later that month. Carter continued to document his journey to wellness -- posting before-and-after pictures of his 30-pound and then 45-pound weight gain. "This is my before and after pics. I went from 115 to 160 pounds in two months I feel amazing," he captioned the photo showing his 45-pound weight gain. "2018 I'm ready for you!! My new Music is on its way!" He's also recently spent some time helping others. Last week, the "That's How I Beat Shaq" singer volunteered at Project Angel Food with Charo. It seems like the musician is doing well. Yesterday, he posted a picture of him standing in front of a pair of wings. He captioned the photo, "I may not be there yet but I'm closer than I was yesterday." Carter continued to tease new music throughout his journey. He even posted a picture of himself "back in the lab" (a.k.a his recording studio) last week. However, fans might get to hear the new music sooner than they think. E! News had learned that the singer is releasing new music in early 2018. (Eonline)
Naya Rivera's Friends and Family Are ''Very Concerned For Her Well-Being'' After Arrest. It's been dramatic week for Naya Rivera following her arrest for misdemeanor domestic battery after allegedly assaulting husband Ryan Dorsey in West Virginia on Saturday. Days later, a source tells E! News that the former Glee actress' friends and family are worried about her welfare after the unsettling event. A source tells E! News, "Naya's friends and family are very concerned for her well-being." Kanawha County Sheriff's Office spokesperson Brian Humphreys told E! News that a police deputy responded to a call about a domestic violence complaint at a residence in Chesapeake, West Virginia on Saturday and talked to Dorsey, who said Rivera struck him in the head and face. Hours after the alleged incident, her teary arraignment was caught by cameras and the whole world got a glimpse at the aftermath of the duo's troubled relationship. The source also claims, "This is not the first time that their relationship has been violent, and the fact that she hit her husband and lashed out like that, is very scary to everyone around her." On the heels of the drama, Ryan tweeted a statement to fans on Tuesday, writing, "This is a difficult time for everyone in the family especially for Naya and I. This isn't some reality show, this is our life, and I ask that everyone especially 'the media' please respect our privacy and treat us/this situation how you would want a loved one to be treated. Perhaps with kindness, respect, without judgment, and as negative a situation this is, with positivity and love. Thanks." Meanwhile, Naya has yet to comment on the situation or the arrest. After the arraignment, Naya was released on bond and picked up by her father-in-law. The source adds, "Ryan's family has been trying to console both of them but are very disappointed." As for Naya's side, the insider says, "Many people close to Naya are urging her to seek immediate help for the sake of her son and herself." The source also adds that the on-again/off-again couple, "have had a toxic relationship for a while now, and although they tried to make it work again, source thinks that a divorce will be a conversation very soon. Everyone wants what is best for Josey and thinks that a permanent separation is needed." Naya and Ryan welcomed a child, a son named Josey Hollis Dorsey, in September 2015. The two have had a long their fair share of relationship issues over the years. Three months after her break up with Big Sean, Ryan and Naya got married in a secret wedding ceremony in Mexico in July 2014. The two had previously dated before her relationship to the rapper. In November 2016, Naya filed for divorce. "After much consideration, we have made the decision to end our marriage," the two stars said in a joint statement on Nov. 21, 2016. "Our priority is and always will be our beautiful son that we share together. We will continue to be great co-parenting partners for him. We ask for respect and privacy for our family during this difficult time." Last month, E! News confirmed the 30-year-old was no longer moving forward with her divorce from Dorsey. She filed a request for dismissal of the divorce paperwork, which she originally filed in November of 2016. "She is back together with Ryan Dorsey," a source told us at the time of the reconciliation. "They want to make it work for the sake of their son." E! News has reached out to her rep for comment. (Eonline)
Matt Lauer Fired From NBC News Over Inappropriate Sexual Behavior. Matt Lauer has been terminated from NBC News, Savannah Guthrie announced on Today Wednesday. On Monday night, NBC News chairman Andy Lack received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace on Lauer's behalf. As a result, the organization decided to terminate his employment. Hoda Kotb joined Guthrie to announce his firing, "because this is a sad moment here at Today and NBC News," Guthrie said. Guthrie then read the e-mail Lack sent NBC News staffers moments before: "Dear colleagues, on Monday night, we received a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace by Matt Lauer. It represented, after serious review, a clear violation of our company's standards. As a result, we've decided to terminate his employment. While it is the first complaint about his behavior in the over 20 years he's been at NBC News, we were also presented with reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident. Our highest priority is to create a workplace environment where everyone feels safe and protected, and to ensure that any actions run counter to our core values are met with consequences, no matter who the offender. We are deeply saddened by this turn of events but we will face it together as a news organization -- and do it in as transparent a manner as we can." An emotional Guthrie remained professional as she delivered the news. "We just learned this moments ago, just this morning. As I'm sure you can imagine, we are devastated, and we are still processing all of this," she said. "And I will tell you right now, we do not know more than I just shared with you, but we will be covering this story as reporters as journalists. I'm sure we will be learning more details in the hours and days to come, and we promise we will share that with you. And Hoda, for the moment, all we can say is we are heartbroken. I'm heartbroken for Matt. He is my dear, dear friend and my partner and he is beloved by many people here. And I'm heartbroken for the brave colleague who came forward to tell her story, and any other women who have their own stories to tell. We are grappling with a dilemma that so many people have faced these last few weeks: How do you reconcile your love for someone with the revelation that they have behaved badly? And I don't know the answer to that. But I do know that this reckoning that so many organizations have been going through his important, it's long overdue, and it must result in workplaces where all women -- all people -- feel safe and respected. As painful as it is, this moment in our culture and this change had to happen." "Yeah, it did," Kotb said in agreement. "This is a very tough morning for both of us. I've known Matt for 15 years and I've loved him as a friend and a colleague. And again, just like you were saying, Savannah, it's hard to reconcile what we are hearing with the man who we know, who walks in this building every single day. We were both woken up with the news kind of pre-dawn. We're trying to process it and trying to make sense of it, and it'll take some time for that." "We're processing it with all of you at home," Guthrie told viewers, "and we promise to be transparent and be straightforward and continue this important conversation." Lauer has not commented on his termination. (Eonline)
Katie Couric straight-up said Matt Lauer pinched her on the ass a lot during their 9-year run on the "Today" show. Katie appeared on Andy Cohen's "Watch What Happens Live" back in 2012, and during a segment -- Plead the Fifth -- Andy asked about Matt's most annoying habit. What's interesting ... Katie's answer came and went ... it was hardly picked up by the media. It's interesting ... NBC said no one has complained until this week, yet their longtime co-anchor talked about ass-pinching in 2012 and NBC apparently didn't bat an eye. As we reported ... Matt was fired for "inappropriate sexual behavior" in a stunning announcement Wednesday. We're told the investigation has been going on for weeks and the New York Times and other media outlets were working on a story about Lauer. (TMZ)
Kathie Lee Gifford wants to forgive Matt Lauer. The "Today" star, alongside co-host Hoda Kotb, addressed Lauer's prompt firing after an employee raised allegations of sexual harassment against him. "I'm grappling with, should I even share something? But I guess I really should," Gifford, 64, said during the 10 a.m. hour of "Kathie Lee & Hoda." "I don't feel that Matt has betrayed us in any way at all but when I found out that my husband [Frank Gifford] had betrayed me, you question your own judgment. You say, 'Was everything a lie?' And I think we have to very much fight against that, that the man we know and adored was the man we loved and adored and continue to." Gifford said she reached out to Lauer, 59, Wednesday morning and told him, "I adore you." She described the day as a "very, very sad one" at NBC. She continued, "No person is perfect in this world. ... And what we need now is forgiveness and mercy for one another." Page Six exclusively reported Wednesday that the star "Today" show anchor allegedly sexually assaulted a female NBC staffer during the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014. (Page Six)
Michelle Williams is breaking her silence about former costar Kevin Spacey -- and about sexual harassment in Hollywood. Earlier this month, the House of Cards actor was accused of sexual misconduct by more than a dozen people. In wake of the scandal, director Ridley Scott decided to replace Spacey in the upcoming drama All the Money in the World, casting Christopher Plummer to reshoot Spacey's scenes, portraying billionaire J. Paul Getty. Williams, who also stars in the possible Oscar-contending movie, spoke to Entertainment Weekly about Spacey's exit in the magazine's new issue. "This doesn't do anything to ease the suffering of people who were all too personally affected by Kevin Spacey, but it is our little act of trying to right a wrong," said the actress, 37, who was stunned by the allegations against Spacey, 58. "And it sends a message to predators -- you can't get away with this anymore. Something will be done." "I'm so very proud to be a part of this -- we're all here for Ridley," Williams added. "When this idea was hatched I immediately started to feel better." The actress, who worked on acclaimed movies including Blue Valentine and My Week with Marilyn for Harvey Weinstein's Weinstein Company, hadn't previously addressed the sexual harassment scandals roiling Hollywood. In October, Star Trek actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey made an unwanted sexual advance toward him in 1986, when he was just 14 years old. The same day, Spacey issued a statement in which he apologized to Rapp (though he said he didn't remember the incident) and came out publicly as gay. In the weeks that followed, several more men came forward to accuse Spacey of sexual harassment or assault. A rep for Spacey has since said the actor is seeking "evaluation and treatment." Director Scott announced on Nov. 8 he would reshoot all of Spacey's All the Money in the World scenes with Plummer instead, a costly decision that required the crew and cast -- including Williams and costar Mark Wahlberg -- to travel to London and Rome over Thanksgiving to finalize the film before its slated Dec. 22 release. (People)
Kim Kardashian's mission to free Alice Marie Johnson is kicking into high gear ... and the 62-year-old grandmother has expressed her "deep and heartfelt gratitude." According to a thank you note from Alice to Kim, obtained by TMZ ... Alice was floored when she found out Kardashian had enlisted high-powered lawyer Shawn Holley to help with her case. Johnson is currently serving a life sentence for her involvement in a cocaine ring ... her first offense. Alice wrote, "Ms. Kardashian you are literally helping to save my life and restore me to my family. I was drowning and you have thrown me a life jacket and given me hope." Johnson also believes Kim's crusade will be a defining moment in history, and will show she was a "key figure in meaningful criminal justice reform becoming a reality." Kim's not just focused on Johnson's case either -- she's also involved in the effort to free Cyntoia Brown, a Tennessee woman who killed a man who was allegedly using her as a sex slave when she was 16. Kardashian and Holley are continuing to communicate with Johnson, Brown and their lawyers in order to develop the best plan for clemency. And as Alice says ... "THE BATTLE IS ON!" (TMZ)
Jennifer Hudson agreed to let David Otunga see their son again, but only because he's out of her house and no longer a physical threat to her ... according to sources connected to the singer. The sources say Jennifer dropped the restraining order keeping Otunga away from 8-year-old David Jr., purely in the child's best interest. Although Jennifer's restraining order docs say, "I am now living in fear for my physical and emotional safety and that of my son" -- we're told she was referring to emotional scarring David Jr. would suffer if he saw his father threaten his mother. She never accused Otunga of physically threatening their child. As we reported, Otunga's been removed from their home, and as a result, we're told Jennifer's satisfied as the emotional risk to their son is no longer present. As for who's been the child's primary caregiver -- our Jennifer sources say she's always made mothering her top priority, even while working to support the family. When she first went to London a year ago to shoot 'The Voice' ... she not only brought Otunga and David Jr., but she also paid Otunga's mom to tutor her grandson. She did the same during her 6-month Broadway run in "The Color Purple." On the issue of custody going forward -- as we reported, David Jr. is with his father right now while Jennifer works in London. However, sources on her side stress David hasn't won anything. The judge hasn't ruled on custody yet, and neither parent's been deemed "primary" caregiver. We're told Jennifer will continue making decisions based on what's best for her son. (TMZ)
Daveigh Chase, the creepy little well girl from "The Ring," just got herself in a hole, 'cause she was busted for joyriding in a car that was reported stolen ... TMZ has learned. Chase was a passenger in a BMW cops pulled over Tuesday around 10 AM in Hollywood. After they quickly ran the plates, the whip popped up as stolen. Law enforcement sources tell us even though Daveigh wasn't driving she was booked for driving in a car without owner's consent ... which is a felony. The driver was booked for the same thing. We're told it's unclear who stole the car, but cops are investigating. Daveigh -- who's also the voice of Disney's Lilo from "Lilo & Stitch" -- is currently in jail on $25,000 bail. We've reached out to her reps ... so far no word back. (TMZ)
Floyd Mayweather's Beverly Hills Mansion got hit in a high stakes burglary ... TMZ Sports has learned. The jacking was discovered Tuesday afternoon when someone on Floyd's team found a broken window at the $26 million crib. According to law enforcement ... the staffer found a bunch of stuff was missing, including luggage, sunglasses and other accessories. That might not sound like much, but this is "Money" Mayweather's place. We're told the minimum value of the stolen property is at least $10k, and likely more than that. They're still taking inventory. These L.A.-area burglaries are an epidemic now with Jason Derulo, Yasiel Puig, Mariah Carey, Alanis Morissette, Demi Lovato, Drake, Nicki Minaj all getting hit ... to name just a few. Floyd just bought the 15,000 sq. ft palace in September, and our sources confirm there is a state-of-the-art alarm system. It's unclear if it was on. Floyd is out of the country right now touring China. (TMZ)
THE OTHER STUFF . . .
The English Mansion With TV Ties Could Be Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Future Countryside Home. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes...a countryside mansion? Maybe for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle! As fans of the royal family remain abuzz over the newly engaged pair, some reports are speculating the two will eventually call this multi-million dollar countryside manor a home. While it has already been confirmed that the future husband and wife will reside at Prince Harry's Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace after their wedding, they may later establish some roots in Cotswolds, near where the prince spent some of his childhood, Prince Charles' Highgrove House residence. The name of the property is Luckington Court, tucked privately into the Cotswolds village of Luckington. With eight bedrooms, seven bathrooms and roughly 157 acres of property, the Tudor-style dwelling house sounds perfectly fit for a prince and his bride. Much like the couple, the mansion has both British and TV show roots as the house's exteriors and interiors were used to portray the Bennet family's home in the BBC series, Pride & Prejudice. While there's some speculation that the approximately $10.35 million rural residence reportedly went off the market just as the two announced their engagement, only time will tell if their future includes Luckington. Perhaps it will be a wedding present from Queen Elizabeth II, just like she gifted Anmer Hall to William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton for their nuptials. If they do decide to move in at any point, the structure certainly lends itself to starting a family. After all, there are eight bedrooms and plenty of grass for any future youngster to run around in. Of course, there's a wedding to plan first. As Prince Harry said during their first joint interview on Monday, "I think one step at a time and hopefully we'll start a family in the near future." (Eonline)
Prince William Hopes Prince Harry Stays Out of His Fridge Now That He's Engaged. Prince Harry, now that you're engaged, stop scrounging food from your older brother Prince William's fridge. Clarence House announced this week that the younger royal and American actress Meghan Markle, who recently left the show Suits and retired from acting, are set to marry in May. "We're very excited and delighted for them both and wishing them all the happiness in this very exciting time," William told reporters on Wednesday during a royal visit to Helsinki, Finland, joking, "And for me personally, I hope it means he stays out of my fridge and will stop him scrounging my food, which he's done for the last few years." "It's a fantastic process to go through -- the engagement and then the buildup to the wedding," William continued. "They've got a lot of happy times ahead of them. I think they're very caught up in the moment and I wish them all the happiness and success in planning the wedding. I hope it goes really well." Hours after Harry and Meghan's engagement was announced, William and wife Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, had said in a statement, "We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together." "William and I are absolutely thrilled, it's such exciting news," Kate told ITV News during a visit to London's Foundling Museum in London on Tuesday. "It's a really happy time for any couple, and we wish them all the best and hope they enjoy this happy moment." William and Harry's stepmother Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, said she was "absolutely thrilled" about the engagement. "America's loss is our gain," she said. "And we are all absolutely delighted. As you can see, they're so happy. Sometimes, you know, in a climate where we're surrounded by a lot of bad news, it's a real joy to have a bit of good news for once." (Eonline)
The Weeknd Deletes Selena Gomez From His Social Media. Selena Gomez...who? Almost a month after their "amicable" break up, The Weeknd is slowly taking steps to delete his famous ex-girlfriend (who was recently spotted kissing Justin Bieber) from his Instagram and seemingly his life. The "Starboy" singer has just unfollowed and wiped away all signs of the "Wolves" singer from his Instagram account, so say the rabid looky-loos who notice those sorts of things (and yes, we can confirm that that's true). Where once the two cozied up on each other for all to see, there is no trace of their short-lived love on Abel Tesfaye's 'Gram. So for any of you holding out for a reconciliation -- it may be time to let go. Interestingly enough, Gomez still has plenty of photos of the 10-month twosome on her 130 million-strong Instagram account. One photo was posted as recently as Sept. 5. Although who knows how long those coupled-up pics will stay on her social media now that Abel's wiped his Insta clean of his former lady love? Last month, rumors started swirling of The Weeknd and Selena's split after fans noticed that Abel had unfollowed Selena's mother, family members and other of her friends (which is exactly what he did before his break up with ex-girlfriend Bella Hadid). So we could pretty much it coming that the "I Feel It Coming" hit-maker got rid of all signs of his ex now that he's moved on. The singer's been sighted with a bevy of beauties since the breakup. On Nov. 10, the 27-year-old singer hung out with the Bieb's one-time love interest Jovanna Ventura, a 21-year-old model from Miami. The Weeknd and Yovanna were spotted leaving Hyde nightclub in Los Angeles together. As for Selena and Justin, the on-again exes have not commented on the status of their current relationship. "They are exclusive," a source told E! News. "They don't want to date anyone else. They both are very committed to making this work. Justin and Selena have grown up since the last time they were together." For fans who can't get enough of Jelena: look out for those two, who just can't seem to quit each other, to become Instagram official in the future. It's only a matter of time. (Eonline)
Gwen Stefani was hauling ass and avoiding questions about haters hating on BF Blake Shelton's Sexiest Man of the Year title, but it didn't matter because TSA eventually put the brakes on her hustle. Gwen was just like everyone else who traveled Tuesday ... trying to get through security at LAX, only she became one of the unlucky few who got a FULL pat-down and was wanded after her full body scan. She was given the once/twice/thrice over for a full 90 seconds before she was allowed to go on her merry way. (TMZ)
When it came to planning her Nov. 21 wedding to Ben Domenech, Meghan McCain was not in the mood to stress. "I was not really caught up in the details," she tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week's issue, on stands Friday. "I just wanted everybody to have a good time." But when her father, Sen. John McCain, tore his Achilles tendon in the days leading up to the ceremony, the bride had to figure out a new plan for getting down the aisle. Enter her brother, Army guardsman Jimmy, 29. "He stepped in to walk me down the actual aisle and then my dad gave me away at the very end," Meghan explains. "I had nerves right before I was going to walk out, but Jimmy was making me laugh the entire time." Mom Cindy, 63, who sat in the front row, says her daughter's joy was palpable. "She was very calm and very positive," she says. "here and her dad was here, which was the most important thing." Tragically, her father's presence hadn't necessarily been a given. In July, 81-year-old McCain, the six-term Arizona senator and former Republican presidential nominee, was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma, a rare and highly aggressive form of brain cancer that has a median survival rate of 14 months. (Only 5 to 10 percent of patients make it past five years.) "I felt like a nuclear bomb went off in my life. I was a mess. I was barely functioning," Meghan says. Her father launched into an immediate round of radiation and chemotherapy to treat a brain tumor, followed by a second round six weeks later, when doctors found another tumor had appeared in its place. Four months later, "it's still a fight, but I'm doing fine," the senator tells PEOPLE in an exclusive phone interview from the family's ranch outside Sedona. "I'm getting treatment, and my progress is steady and good. People are saying, 'I hope you can get over this.' I believe I will." Meghan says her father's devastating diagnosis made her own life come into focus. The 33-year-old conservative co-host of The View had been dating Domenech, 35, cofounder of the website The Federalist, for two years, and "we were already talking about getting married, but this made it official," she says. "There was something about Ben being there for me, at my father's treatments. I was like, 'This is love.' I felt this overwhelming sense of time and my own mortality. We ended up saying, 'Let's do this now.'" "We were originally going to elope before everything happened with my dad, but obviously all these things have taken on new meaning," Meghan says. Adds her new husband: "This brought into focus how important it was for Meghan to have her dad see her get married, and to have that happen while he was still fully there and fully able to participate. This was something that she needed." The pair set about inviting 117 close friends, family members and former campaign workers for a Thanksgiving-week soiree with a western hunting-lodge theme. "We pushed everything up," Meghan says. "My dad is doing really well right now, but it's a deeply unpredictable cancer. You're really just living scan to scan. I wanted to make sure that he was -- that we were all -- there. Why wait?" The festivities took place at the McCain family ranch in Cornville, Arizona. "This beautiful valley has some special meaning because that's where we spent all our time with our kids growing up," Senator McCain explains. "The wedding was a celebration of life and also a chance for us to revisit and celebrate the past." For the reception, "we wanted it to be very Arizona, very Americana," says Meghan. Wedding planner Jim Bullock of Sedona's Events by Showstoppers decorated three Nordic kata tents with taxidermy, antlers, animal skins and a vintage American flag so it would look "like if Teddy Roosevelt had a hunting lodge," Meghan says. The senator says he teared up watching Meghan's first dance with Ben as Clay Aiken sang. He had to forgo a planned father-daughter dance because of his ankle, but Meghan says she didn't mind. "I'm not disappointed, and I genuinely mean that," she says. "I felt really blessed and loved, and I don't feel like I missed out on anything." Besides, adds her mom Cindy, it might have been for the best: "When John had a good leg, he still couldn't dance. So it was a good thing!" (People)
Music
Eminem Announces Release Date for Revival Album. Guess who's back, back again? After dropping hints about the name of his new album, Eminem confirmed Revival will be released Dec. 15. Back in October, music manager Paul Rosenberg posted an Instagram photo featuring an ad for Revival, a phony drug company claiming to treat "Atrox Rithimus." Reddit users quickly learned the fake advertisement was part of a larger campaign to promote Eminem's new album. The campaign even featured a website, commercial and phone number -- all littered with clues tying back to Marshall Mathers. Playing off of the campaign, Eminem posted a video about Revival on Twitter and Instagram along with the album's release date. "Today I have great news for all of you suffering from AR," a man said in the video. "You see, Revival isn't a medication at all. Revival is the name of the new album for Eminem and it's coming out December 15. On behalf of everyone who took part in the Revival campaign, thank you. Don't worry, you won't be seeing us again." The man in the video, who went by Trevor, also said, "If you happen to run into me out on the street, please don't ask me anything about the album. Em, told me he likes to keep people guessing. Just kidding, I don't know sh-t. I've never met Eminem." The last album Eminem released was The Marshall Mathers LP 2 in 2013. The rapper has clearly been busy. In addition to working on Revival, the artist dropped a new song with Beyonce called "Walk on Water" earlier this month. (Eonline)
Blink-182 and Steve Aoki are both known for playing loud music to packed crowds, so seeing the band unplug for Aoki in a living room with only about 100 others is quite the sight. Aoki turns 40 Thursday, so Blink serenaded him with a couple songs. The band went with a non-traditional birthday jam, "What's My Age Again?," and added a personal touch for Steve by changing the lyrics from "Nobody likes you when you're 23" to ... "when Aoki's 40." The intimate get-together went down at billionaire Ron Burkle's. (TMZ)
Famed Bono & Chris Martin Cover 'One For My Baby' for AIDS Charity on Kimmel Sean Penn makes a cameo in the (RED) Shopathon special performance. For the third year in a row, Jimmy Kimmel donated some air time to (RED)'s Shopathon for a special episode filled with celebrity appearances, all in the name of fighting AIDS. Tuesday night's (Nov. 28) edition featured (RED) co-founder Bono offering up his take on Frank Sinatra's classic, "One For My Baby." The performance was lit in black and white, similar to Christmas specials of the past, with the singer sitting beside a bar with a red cocktail. The famous face serving up drinks was none other than Sean Penn, making a cameo for the charity event. Later in the song, the camera cut away from the black and white scene, and Coldplay's Chris Martin took over the vocals, sitting at a red baby grand piano. Bono also announced he would be breaking a massive pact he made in his teens for a charitable cause. (RED) has partnered with Omaze to raffle off incredible experiences with your favorite stars for a $10 donation, and Bono has contributed a chance to play mini-golf with him and his band - a sport he swore he'd never, ever play, because he was a true rock 'n roll guy. Make your contribution to (RED) and have a chance to play putt-putt with Bono and more here. (Billboard)
Bruno Mars Talks Going 'Live at the Apollo' for First TV Special. Bruno Mars will be traveling between concerts on the South America leg of his world tour when CBS Television Network premieres Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo Wednesday night (Nov. 29, 10:00 p.m.-11 p.m. ET/PT). But the multi-tasker has already viewed the telecast multiple times during the last several months as co-executive producer of his first primetime special. "We didn't want this to be just a television show where the Hooligans and I sing three songs and go to commercial then sing three more songs and go to another commercial," Mars tells Billboard during a day off from the tour. "The band and I wanted to create a vibe that translates what we felt at the Apollo Theater. As soon as we walked in there, we said this is the only place to do this special. Hopefully, the audience will feel that vibe at home." Before Mars stood on the legendary stage, the Apollo Theater already meant something special to him. Among his favorite childhood memories are watching the television series Showtime at the Apollo and listening to Brown's groundbreaking 1963 album Live at the Apollo. "You can feel an aura," says Mars of the venue. "There's definitely some kind of magic going on inside there." Like Brown, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and others before him, Mars also rubbed the theater's fabled "Tree of Hope" stump for good luck. "Of course, I had to do that," he says with a laugh. Mars and the Hooligans also rubbed elbows with the residents of the Apollo's surrounding Harlem, New York neighborhood. "We wanted everybody in the community to come out to the show," says Mars. "So we passed out tickets as we met people in different locations. You'll see them in the audience at the Apollo." Teaser trailers promoting Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo follow Mars and the Hooligans as they cruise the streets, visit a local park, hang out in a restaurant kitchen and jam atop the Apollo marquee. Bruno Mars performs at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Besides the CBS television special, Mars is also celebrating the six nominations he received for the upcoming 60th Grammy Awards. Those nods -- including record of the year ("24K Magic"), album of the year (24K Magic) and song of the year ("That's What I Like") -- bring his total of career Grammy nominations to 27. Following his Nov. 28 performance in Chile, Mars will bring his world tour to Peru (Nov. 30), Ecuador (Dec. 2), Colombia (Dec. 5) and Costa Rica (Dec. 7) before returning to the U.S. for another North America run beginning with a two-night stand in Washington, D.C. (Dec. 20-21). (Billboard)
Rob Zombie Narrates Charles Manson Documentary 'The Final Words'. Following the death of cult-leader-slash-mass-murderer Charles Manson earlier this month, a documentary surrounding his story slated for 2018 has been pushed up and is slated to premiere this weekend. Charles Manson: The Final Words is filled with chilling clips of Manson ranting about his own assumed infamy, with narration by macabre rocker Rob Zombie. The film also further examines the 1969 Tate-LaBianca murders with graphic re-creations, as well as interviews with other Manson family members. Charles Manson: The Final Words will premiere on Dec. 3 on Reelz. Following a series of hospitalizations in 2017, Manson died of natural causes on Nov. 20 at age 83 after more than 45 years in prison. (Billboard)
Mick Rock, Nikki Sixx, & More To Tell Personal David Bowie Song Stories at Sonos One Event. David Bowie's life will be celebrated through stories told by a diverse lineup of artists next week. Sonos is hosting a free event on Dec. 5, which will give a platform for never-before-heard personal stories to be recounted about the late star's songs. So far, four storytellers have been listed to share at the event. Legendary British photographer Mick Rock -- famous for shooting many iconic stars, including Bowie -- leads the lineup. Mötley Crüe co-founder Nikki Sixx is also scheduled to speak, along with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh and MTV anchor/punk rocker Meredith Graves. RSVP here for the sure to be memorable event, which will take place at Sonos Store in New York. (Billboard)
German TV Drops Roger Waters Concerts Over His Support for Israeli Boycott. The ex-Pink Floyd frontman supports the Palestinian-led boycott, which calls on artists to refuse to perform in Israel. German public broadcasters have dropped plans to air concerts next year by ex-Pink Floyd musician Roger Waters, citing what they call "accusations of anti-Semitism against him." Waters is among the most prominent supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement, or BDS, a Palestinian-led group that calls on artists to boycott Israel to protest the country's occupation of territories where Palestinians seek statehood. Waters, along with other supporters of BDS, have been accused of anti-Semitism for their protest. Five television and radio affiliates of Germany's national ARD network have dropped plans to broadcast concerts by Waters in Berlin and Cologne scheduled next summer. RBB, a regional ARD affiliate in Berlin and Brandenburg, said by dropping Waters it wanted to send a message to other artists who refuse to perform in Israel. "Taking a clear position here is an important signal for RBB to the Jewish communities in Berlin and Brandenburg," RBB director Patricia Schlesinger said in a statement. Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, supported the move, calling the "quick and decisive reaction" by the public broadcasters "an important signal that rampant antisemitism against Israel has no place in Germany." Marek Lieberberg, Waters's tour director (and the son of Holocaust survivors) called the broadcasters' decision "absolutely ridiculous." Speaking to Germany's Mannheimer Morgen newspaper, he said the surge in support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party showed German Jews were right to be concerned about "clearly visible and growing antisemitism" in the country but argued that Waters "has a right to freedom of opinion." The BDS movement was launched in 2005 as a non-violent campaign to try and pressure Israel to comply with international law and end the occupation of territory it has held since the 1967 war. But while the movement has gathered momentum in recent years, it has also drawn sharp criticism from artists who say it unjustly punishes Israeli's artistic community. Australian singer Nick Cave said his recent tour of Israel was in direct, deviant response to the BDS movement which he said has tried to "bully" and "silence" musicians. Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren has also rejected calls to boycott Israel. ARD in Germany was recently accused of anti-Semitism itself after one of its affiliates refused to air a documentary exploring discrimination, media bias and rising violence against Jews in Europe. ARD claimed the film: Chosen and Excluded -- The Hate on Jews in Europe was one-sided and did not meet its journalistic standards. But after the film was leaked online via a local tabloid, ARD broadcast the documentary, albeit in an highly-edited form with additional on-air commentary. (Billboard)
Movies
Christopher Plummer Replaces Kevin Spacey in All the Money in the World Trailer. Christopher Plummer has replaced Kevin Spacey in the new All the Money in the World trailer. Plummer took on the role as J. Paul Getty after Spacey faced a series of sexual harassment allegations. Directed by Ridley Scott, the film is about the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III. The new trailer shows Plummer playing the role of the billionaire oil tycoon asked to pay his grandson's ransom. Scott revealed Plummer would replace Spacey earlier this month -- giving the cast and crew only a few weeks to reshoot all of Spacey's scenes before its Dec. 22 debut date. According to Scott's exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly, the director was finalizing the music for the film when he heard about the Spacey allegations. "I sat and thought about it and realized, we cannot. You can't tolerate any kind of behavior like that. And it will affect the film. We cannot let one person's action affect the good work of all these other people. It's that simple," he said. Still, it looks like Scott may make his deadline after all. Entertainment Weekly reports that the director finished filming the movie Nov. 29. "I'm so very proud to be a part of this -- we're all here for Ridley," Michelle Williams, who plays the kidnapped boy's mother, told Entertainment Weekly. "When this idea was hatched, I immediately started to feel better. This doesn't do anything to ease the suffering of people who were all too personally affected by Kevin Spacey, but it is our little act of trying to right a wrong. And it sends a message to predators -- you can't get away with this anymore. Something will be done." So, how did Plummer feel about taking on the role? "I think it's very sad what happened to him," the 87-year-old actor told Vanity Fair earlier this month. "Kevin is such a talented and a terrifically gifted actor, and it's so sad. It's such a shame." He later added, "It's really not replacing him [Spacey] -- it's starting all over again. Although the situation is very sad. I'm very saddened by what happened to Kevin, but what can I do? I've got a role. I admire Ridley Scott and I'm thrilled to be making a movie for him. And so I thought, that was it. Ages ago I was in contention for [the role], way back. So I was familiar with it, and then Ridley came to me and I agreed. I wanted to work with him. He's very good. I loved the script. The script is wonderful." Watch the trailer to see a sneak peek of Plummer's performance. All the Money in the World isn't the only job Spacey lost following the allegations. Netflix also cut ties with the former House of Cards star. "Netflix will not be involved with any further production of House of Cards that includes Kevin Spacey," a statement from the company read. "We will continue to work with MRC during this hiatus time to evaluate out path forward as it relates to the show. We have also decided we will not be moving forward with the release of the film Gore, which was in post-production, starring and produced by Kevin Spacey." (Eonline)
First 'Avengers: Infinity War' Trailer Unleashes Thanos' Wrath. The Russo Bros. team-up opens May 4. The Avengers are calling everyone they know for this one. The first trailer for Avengers: Infinity War is basically a roll call of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and all the players have one goal: to stop Thanos (Josh Brolin) and his Infinity Stone-powered rampage across the galaxy. The film from the Russo Bros. is written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, who penned the three Captain America movies. Pre-pandemonium was at an all-time high ahead of the release, with Spider-Man actor Tom Holland causing a stir with a creative way to reveal the film's new poster, while a retrospective video showing fans reacting to old trailers is closing in on 500,000 views on YouTube in a matter of hours. Marvel Studios is opening the film May 4. (Hollywood Reporter)
'Star Wars': How Captain Phasma Ended Up With Her Own Nissan. Tie-ins get complicated when there's no product placement in a film: "Telling my own executives that we can't put a Rogue in the Death Star was a hard part of the initial conversation." In a nondescript warehouse next to the Burbank Airport, there is a one-of-a kind, multi-million-dollar Nissan Maxima in the middle of room with a team of automotive customizers scrutinizing every square inch. What makes this Maxima so special? It's one of seven custom show cars Nissan has produced with the team at Industrial Light & Magic and Lucasfilm for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. It's helping build off of 2016's Nissan/Rogue One: A Star Wars Story partnership. While that crossover's limited-edition Nissan Rogue came with an exclusive Death Trooper helmet, this time around, Nissan and ILM wanted to take it a step beyond and build seven custom cars that echo characters in the film. The Maxima is an homage to the villainous Captain Phasma, played by Gwendoline Christie in the film. And creating it took hundreds of hours of handwork by Burbank's Vehicle Effects shop, best known for its work on the Fast and the Furious series. Phasma's Maxima is covered in high-gloss silver armor and the front fascia is shaped to form the character's mask. Both the fascia and hood are hand-crafted from aluminum and a custom red accent line runs the length of the car, all the better to match Phasma's cape and armor. Eric Shimp, project manager at Vehicle Effects, tells Heat Vision it took at least 100 hours to turn Phasma's mask from 2D into 3D and then more than 200 hours for the metal fabrication on this car alone -- never mind there are six more vehicles. "The detail work is insane," says Shimp, "Phasma's car is the most artisan of the bunch." The Captain Phasma Maxima is also a celebration of female strength. The Nissan's Maxima team us led by a female engineer, while ILM's vehicle designer is a woman -- as is the vehicle's brand director. All seven cars will be on display at the LA Auto Show Dec. 1-10 at the LA Convention Center. If you can't make it, Nissan is planning a full digital blitz around the The Last Jedi -- from in-dealer VR activations to regional auto show events, a digital microsite and, of course, a car giveaway and tickets to the Last Jedi premiere. When asked how a partnership like this makes sense -- as there is no product placement the film -- Nissan's Jeremy Tucker responds with a laugh. "Telling my own executives that we can't put a Rogue in the Death Star was a hard part of the initial conversation, but once I explained clearly to my team that there was no product placement, that instead of putting our cars into the movie and having the characters driving the cars, we would play with the themes and mythologies from the films for the creative, they were all on board," says Tucker, Vice President, Marketing Communications & Media for Nissan. "We weren't just going to do a logo slap and a product placement. Star Wars ... has millions of fans and if you piss them off, you are done." Star Wars: The Last Jedi opens Dec. 15. (Hollywood Reporter)
Oscars: Family Ties Are Tested in Croatia's 'Quit Staring at My Plate'. Director Hana Jusic Marijana says her debut feature attempts to subvert the typical story of rebellious youth escaping from a small town. Not long ago, when people talked about Croatia, it was often in the same breath as the breakup of Yugoslavia and its attendant war and bloodshed. Now, 20 years later, Croatia is a member of the European Union and, with its historic architecture and miles of coastline, a top vacation destination. But Quit Staring at My Plate, the country's entry in the foreign-language Oscar race, depicts neither of those Croatias. The multilayered debut feature from director Hana Jusic shows a side of Croatia that most people will never see. Here, a hodgepodge of historical architecture and post-industrial decay takes a backseat to the small everyday life of Marijana, an unremarkable young woman in a deeply patriarchal society who might -- or might not -- want to break free from her unremarkable existence. The film is set in Sibenik, the picturesque seaside town where Jusic grew up. But in Marijana's world, beautiful vistas are crowded out by the details of her dingy home life and meddlesome family. "I wanted to make a film that wouldn't be a postcard of this town. This town is really beautiful when you see it, but I didn't want to show it in this way that people were used to seeing it. I wanted to have this 'verfremdungseffekt' (distancing effect), for people who live there to watch it anew from a different angle," says Jusic, referencing Berthold Brecht's estrangement effect where an audience is kept at an emotional distance from the material to remain a critical observer. Occasionally one spies a patch of blue -- a flash of the Adriatic Sea, like a glimpse of freedom -- at the end of a medieval alleyway, but it quickly disappears and the walls of the family's tiny two-bedroom apartment close-in. In a play on horror vacui, a horror of empty spaces, ugly piles of clutter fill every corner, from tchotchkes and plastic food containers to unwashed bedclothes. "I wanted to make the apartment a character in the film, like it's alive with them and it's pushing them inside toward each other," Jusic. "In Croatia people often buy too many things that are really cheap. They kind of bury themselves under these things and they never throw things away, so you have layers of lives that are being forgotten that are here, but you don't see these objects anymore. You're just walling yourself in with your stupid meaningless things." Every morning, Marijana leaves the apartment, which she shares with her tyrannical father, do-nothing mother and mentally disabled brother, and goes to her uninspiring job as a lab technician. And every evening, she returns home to their minuscule kitchen for a tense family meal where uncomfortable moments abound. In a rare outburst, Marijana talks back to her father, and he slaps her across the back of the head with a napkin. And yet, family dinners remain sacrosanct. "Family meals are rituals that give the impression that everything is going on fine in the family," Jusic explains. "These meals that are symbols of familial life are actually sometimes places where people are being the worst toward each other. Over these meals, you're facing each other and some conversations that are not very nice spring up. So these meals were actually twofold, a means of operation and means of closeness." The idea of closeness -- most of the time a suffocating physical proximity, but sometimes a familial tenderness -- is central to the film. Marijana and her family practically live on top of one another; privacy is nonexistent. (The film's title is a Croatian expression meaning "mind your own business.") But when her father suffers a stroke, she becomes the head of the family and starts doing as she pleases -- staying out all night and sleeping with strangers -- as a means of exerting control over her life. Marijana tries to leave it all behind, but her freedom is not sweet, and the bonds of home and family keep pulling her back. She is still a woman in a society dominated by men. She is neither wealthy nor beautiful. Realistically her options are few. If Plate were an American movie, Marijana would likely leave her small town and make it big. But Jusic wanted to subvert that idea, opting for a different conclusion, one where the protagonist can go home again and that might be OK. "(The idea) that you really have to do something with your life and you have to achieve something, you have to try hard not to waste your life -- sometimes for me, for my generation, this seems really oppressive," Jusic says. "And it seems very consoling sometimes that you just live your life from day to day and don't really try hard to do anything with it. "Sometimes you have a feeling that if you're at least a bit talented in something, you have to use it up," she adds. "So we are being commodified. We commodify ourselves in a way. And I don't think it's wasting [your life] if you live a simple life. It's not wasting anything, you just live." (Hollywood Reporter)
Just because Harvey Weinstein is out of the Oscars picture, it doesn't mean there won't be the usual dirty tricks, smear campaigns and intense awards jockeying behind the scenes. In a bombshell Hollywood Reporter interview, Armie Hammer -- who starred in last year's front-runner turned awards-poison "The Birth of a Nation" -- accuses an unnamed industry player of sinking that movie by leaking details to the media about director Nate Parker being accused of rape. The actor predicted he'll be hammered again this year for his latest film, "Call Me by Your Name," a gay romance set in 1980s Italy. Hammer claims the timing of headlines about rape allegations made in 1999 against Parker "was orchestrated for sure .?.?. There was another person in the industry, who had a competing film for the Academy Awards, who decided to release all of the phone records and information. I've been told who did it -- by several people." Hammer declined to name the culprit, but speculation has swirled that the competing leaker was uberproducer Scott Rudin, another awards mastermind, who had "Fences" up for the 2017 Oscars. But another source insisted of the speculation, "It had nothing to do with Scott. It was literally on Nate Parker's Wikipedia page. It was simply [distributor] Fox Searchlight's mistake." (Parker was acquitted in 2001.) Yet Hammer was expecting more subterfuge this season, adding: "Given my history .?.?. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop." By Tuesday, perhaps it already had. BuzzFeed had posted a critical piece on Hammer, asking, "How many second chances does a handsome white male star get?" after failures including "The Lone Ranger." Hammer tweeted in response: "Your perspective is bitter AF .?.?. Maybe I'm just a guy who loves his job and refuses to do anything but what he loves to do?" Then he deleted his Twitter account. Rudin, who declined to comment, gave Hammer his big break in "The Social Network." He also produced Greta Gerwig's "Lady Bird," which is rivaling Hammer's movie for Oscar buzz. (Page Six)
TV
Meghan Markle Officially Leaving Suits After Season 7. Meghan Markle is hanging up her TV law degree and saying goodbye to Suits. The actress, who has spent seven seasons as Rachel Zane, a paralegal-turned-attorney, will exit with the seventh and final season after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry. USA Network confirmed the news just a day after Meghan's engagement was announced. "From all of us at USA Network and Universal Cable Productions, we want to send our most heartfelt congratulations to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on their engagement. Meghan has been a member of our family for seven years and it has been a joy to work with her. We want to thank her for her undeniable passion and dedication to Suits, and we wish her the very best," USA Network and Universal Cable Productions said in a statement. During their first joint interview Prince Harry and Meghan acknowledged she was moving on from the series. "I don't see it as giving anything up. I just see it as a change," she said. "It's a new chapter, right? And also, keep in mind, I've been working on [Suits] for seven years. We were very, very fortunate to have that sort of longevity on a series... I've ticked this box, and I feel very proud of the work I've done there, and now it's time to work with [Harry] as a team." Over the years, Markle's Rachel Zane became romantically involved with Mike (Patrick J. Adams) and grew professionally at Pearson Specter Litt. "Through the toughest of times -- whether professional or personal -- Rachel has proven to Suitors around the world that it's always worth it to fight for what you believe in and never lose faith in yourself," USA said in a blog post. Suits returns in early 2018. (Eonline)
Arrow's Oliver and Felicity Were the Worst Wedding Guests Ever in the CW Crossover. If there's one thing we learned from this year's CW crossover, it's to not invite Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak to your wedding. Or we guess we might be calling her Felicity Queen now, since she and Oliver tied the knot in what was probably the most obnoxious way possible, after the proposal happened in the most obnoxious way possible, and then they were all obnoxious about it while there were actual nazis (including a nazi version of Oliver!) roaming around trying to kill everyone. And to top it all off, they were among Barry and Iris' many friends who didn't RSVP for the wedding until the day before, which is just plain rude! But let's start with that proposal, which was barely a proposal. At the rehearsal dinner, Oliver just started talking about how he wanted his and Felicity's rehearsal dinner to be just like that, and Felicity got all "what are you talking about?" Finally he did actually ask her to marry him, and she said no, eventually declaring to the entire room of people focused on the happiness of Barry and Iris that she did not want to marry you, Oliver Queen. Whenever Oliver had a moment during any of the nazi-fighting, he brought up the fact that Felicity didn't want to marry him, either to Felicity or to Barry and Iris, and wanted to talk about it constantly. He had a nazi doppelganger married to nazi Supergirl, and all he wanted to do was talk about Felicity rejecting his proposal. Then, Barry and Iris were literally in the middle of an adorable impromptu ceremony with Diggle officiating (which was already awkward because it was right after Stein's funeral, still in funeral clothing, but whatever). Oliver and Felicity were supposed to be the best man and maid of honor, the silent witnesses to this beautiful event -- silent being the key word. Instead, Felicity stopped Diggle while he was pronouncing man and wife to ask if she and Oliver could SHARE THE CEREMONY. She realized right then and there that she did, in fact, want to marry Oliver, and they should do it now! Right now! While another couple was also getting married! She and Oliver didn't even have their own vows, because they couldn't compete with Barry and Iris. So they not only stole their ceremony, but also essentially stole their vows. Barry and Iris just stood there, saying nothing, while Oliver and Felicity blabbered on about what they were doing, with no one ever pointing out that Oliver and Felicity could have Diggle marry them literally any time they wanted, any other time that was not during the post-funeral wedding of someone else. But since no one pointed that out, they just continued on with it, and both couples were married together for some reason. And it was clearly supposed to be cute and heartwarming but instead it was just SO RUDE. And another thing: Barry and Iris' second wedding did not include the phrase "I do," which might not be such a big deal in a casual setting, but remember the waitress who was most likely Barry and Iris' future daughter? "Remember to say 'I do,'" is the last thing she said to him. Does this mean we should be worried?! Of course, it's The Flash and we should always be worried, but honestly, WestAllen has had enough wedding drama to last them a lifetime, which Oliver and Felicity should have realized, which is why they should have just let them have this one to themselves, gosh darn it! Anyway, don't invite the Queens to your wedding because they will most definitely make it all about them. The Flash airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Arrow airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. (Eonline)
Monica Lewinsky didn't shy away from sharing her thoughts about a forthcoming HLN special titled The Monica Lewinsky Scandal. The 44-year-old author took to Twitter on Tuesday, November 28, to offer her insight on the name. "Fixed it for you. You're welcome," the former White House intern captioned a screenshot of an article promoting the two-hour special airing on Sunday, December 2, at 9 p.m. ET. on CNN's sister network. The Monica: Her Story author replaced the title with her own correction, suggesting it be called The Starr Investigation or The Clinton Impeachment instead. Lewinsky received a great deal of support on Twitter following her Tweet on Tuesday. As previously reported, Lewinsky engaged in a sexual affair with then-President Clinton while she was an intern in 1998. Lewinsky has since spoken out about being publicly shamed and ridiculed for years after the news of the relationship went public. "I felt like every layer of my skin and my identity were ripped off of me in '98 and '99," the fashion designer told the Guardian in April 2016. "It's a skinning of sorts. You feel incredibly raw and frightened. But I also feel like the shame sticks to you like tar." While giving a TED Talk in Vancouver, Canada, in March 2015, Lewinsky further opened up about the scandal and revealed that it will always affect her. "Not a day goes by that I am not reminded of my mistake, and I regret that mistake deeply," she said at the time. "In 1998, after having been swept up in an improbable romance, I was then swept into the eye of a political, legal, and media maelstrom like we had never seen before ... I lost my reputation and my dignity. I lost my sense of self." Although Bill and Hillary Clinton have refrained from publicly supporting Lewinsky in the past, their view on the affair has changed as numerous allegations of sexual assault against men in Hollywood have surfaced in recent months. Hillary's communication director Jennifer Palmieri, who also worked for Bill's administration, spoke out about the repercussions of the affair during an interview with MSNBC earlier this month. "Monica Lewinsky was my intern and the relationship the president had with her was very inappropriate," Palmieri said. "It was a consensual relationship, but he was the President of the United States and she was a 24-year-old intern -- that is taking advantage of a power dynamic on a historic scale." (US Weekly)
HBO Launches Standalone Streaming Service in Seven More European Countries. "We are making it even easier for consumers to become HBO subscribers," says the CEO of HBO Europe as the service hits Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina. HBO is expanding its standalone, or direct-to-consumer, streaming video service to seven more Central European countries. Viewers in Bulgaria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Bosnia & Herzegovina will have direct access to HBO Go on a standalone basis starting Wednesday. The move follows the launch of such an offer two weeks ago in Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. HBO Go offers HBO's entire library of original series, films and documentaries, along with HBO Europe's locally-produced drama and documentaries and a wide selection of the best content from other premium TV services. Available over the internet, HBO Go enables subscribers to enjoy top original content, such as Game of Thrones, Westworld and Silicon Valley alongside popular classic series like Sex and the City, The Sopranos and The Wire. Subscribers will also get access to HBO Europe local programming, such as Shadows (Romania), Burning Bush (Czech Republic), The Pack (Poland) and Golden Life (Hungary). The service will be available across a range of internet-enabled devices, including computers, smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. Herve Payan, CEO of HBO Europe, said: "With the further expansion of HBO Go into seven additional territories we are making it even easier for consumers to become HBO subscribers." (Hollywood Reporter)
ESPN Cutting 150 Employees. Network president John Skipper announced the cuts in a memo to employees Wednesday morning. ESPN is parting ways Wednesday with 150 employees, mostly from the studio production, digital content and technology departments, network president John Skipper announced in a memo Wednesday morning. The cuts, Skipper said, "generally reflect decisions to do less in certain instances and redirect resources." "We appreciate their contributions, and will assist them as much as possible in this difficult moment with severance, a 2017 bonus, the continuation of health benefits and outplacement services," Skipper said of the employees impacted. "They will also appreciate your support." The cuts represent less than 2 percent of ESPN's 8,000-strong workplace, and the network is still hiring. Summing up ESPN's operating strategy, he said, "We will continue to invest in ways which will best position us to serve the modern sports fan and support the success of our business." The cuts were widely expected, with most outlets reporting that 100-plus staffers would get the boot. Earlier, it was expected that on-camera talent would be targeted, but that narrative shifted, and the majority of employees impacted largely worked behind the scenes. ESPN parted ways with about 100 employees in April, mostly more high-profile, on-air talent. (Hollywood Reporter)
NBC is scrambling to meet with talent and production staff from its news shows to go over various issues related to Matt Lauer's firing. We're told Noah Oppenheim, President of NBC News, will be leading the meetings. Our NBC sources say Oppenheim and other execs will be addressing staff from each of its shows, including "Today," "NBC Nightly News," "Meet the Press" and "Dateline." There will be a series of meetings ... one for each show. Our sources say virtually everyone at NBC was in the dark that Lauer was on the chopping block. The lawyer for the woman whose complaint triggered Lauer's firing told The New York Times he and his client met with NBC Human Resources and the legal depts. Monday at 6 PM and lodged her complaint. As we reported, we're told NBC had been investigating Lauer for weeks and wanted to get ahead of The New York Times and Variety which were preparing stories on Lauer and alleged sexual misconduct. (TMZ)
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