THE OTHER STUFF . . .
Prince Harry and Prince William Still Have 'Anger and Resentment' Toward Each Other After Royal Family Drama. Royally on the rocks. Prince Harry and Prince William still have a tense relationship amid ongoing royal family drama, a source exclusively reveals in the new issue of Us Weekly. "Publicly, they've stopped short of trash-talking each other," the insider adds. "But behind closed doors, they're both filled with anger and resentment." Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle threw the royal family for a loop when they announced in January that they would be stepping down from their senior roles within the institution. The couple's departure from the royal family made a significant impact on an already fractured relationship between Harry and his brother, 37, who felt "blindsided" in the weeks after the news. "Harry knows William's mad at him for uprooting and leaving him to pick up the pieces," the source says. "But the way Harry sees it, Meghan's happiness is way more important ... Harry's fed up with being judged or expected to act a certain way." After making the unprecedented decision to leave their palace posts, Harry and the former Suits actress set down new roots in Canada with their 10-month-old son, Archie, in hopes of giving the little one "the most normal upbringing possible." Having grown up in the spotlight himself, Harry "wants to shield his son from the negativity and tension" that comes with being born into the royal family. Throughout his childhood, Harry was made out to be "the naughty little brother," and felt like William "downplayed his achievements." A separate source previously told Us that while the brothers have always had vastly different personalities, their opposite points of view only recently put a strain on their relationship. "There's always been a part of Harry that felt like he was living in his brother's shadow," the insider said in October 2019. "He doesn't envy the responsibility that comes with being the future king of England, but William's the 'golden boy' and Harry feels like he has a lot to live up to." For more on how Harry and William's relationship was affected by recent changes within the royal family, pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. (UsMagazine)
Another bizarre (yet necessary) scene ... the Olympic Torch Handover ceremony went down in Athens, Greece on Thursday -- with ZERO fans allowed at Panathenaic Stadium. In fact, Japan reportedly contacted little-known former Olympic swimmer Imo Naoko to represent the country ... since the athlete was already living in Greece. The original plan was to have a massive star-studded event for the flame-passing tradition -- but with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, organizers wanted as few people involved as possible. So, Japan contacted former Olympic swimmer Imo Naoko, who was already living in Greece, to represent the host country. The 43-year-old agreed and she was all smiles on Thursday. There were flags, there was a stage -- but absolutely NO fans at the venue. Super weird. FYI, Naoko swam in the 800-meter relay in the '96 Games in Atlanta. Now, the flame will be transported from Athens to Japan, for another scaled-down ceremony at a military base on Friday. Japan insists the 2020 Tokyo Games will go on as planned -- despite the fact most of the world is in quarantine. Stay safe out there everyone ... (TMZ)
The coronavirus pandemic is negatively impacting almost everyone in the world, but on the bright side -- people are looking for furry friends to keep them company during these social distancing days ... especially families with kids and the elderly. TMZ spoke with people who run animal shelters across the country, and though they are experiencing challenges like everyone else ... the good news is animal lovers are coming in big numbers to adopt and foster pets. Nikole Bresciani -- CEO of the Inland Valley Humane Society in Pomona, CA -- tells us ... meeting pets and adoptions are by appointment only now and all applications are online as COVID-19 precautions, but folks are still reaching out. In fact, Nikole says with kids being home from school, there's been an uptick in families reaching out about adding a cat or dog to their lives ... and more scheduled appointments are on the books for the upcoming week. The same goes for senior citizens. Randa Richter of SPCA Florida tells us ... they've seen at least a 20 percent increase in elderly people looking to adopt a pet because their normal social activities -- like Bingo -- are all canceled. So, Randa says they want a furry friend to pass the time with at home. Like Nikole, Randa says there's also an abundance of families with children home from school looking to get the kids out ... so they go visit the pets up for adoption and often end up taking them home. Same goes for a couple with no kids working from home, who now want to add another member to their household ... but not a kid. On top of this, Randa tells us they've had a huge rise in volunteers -- mostly high school kids who can earn credit for volunteering and now have much more free time, and seniors. The volunteer work includes walking dogs, kitty care and cleaning the facilities. Finally, Jack Hagerman of the Pasadena Humane Society SPCA tells us ... even though it has shut its physical doors to limit staff and the public to coronavirus exposure, it hasn't closed up shop, and the community has stepped up in a big way to find foster homes for all its animals. Jack says they've had more people than ever -- 368, which again includes families with kids and the elderly -- reach out and offer to foster animals in need now that it has closed. Jack says it currently has 180 animals including dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, and even baby squirrels, and fortunately ... so many people are at home and happy to help. He tells us he hopes the foster pets will all find forever homes soon, especially during these trying times. It would be a win-win for everyone ... and that's desperately needed right now. (TMZ)
Surgeon General Jerome Adams asks for Kylie Jenner's help to fight coronavirus. America's top doctor called on an unexpected hero to help save the nation from coronavirus -- Kylie Jenner. "What I really think we need to do [is] get our influencers," Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on "Good Morning America," naming the 22-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star as well as infected basketball stars Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. "We need to get Kylie Jenner and social media influencers out there, in helping folks understand that look, this is serious, this is absolutely serious. People are dying," Adams told the ABC show. He said they were needed to get the message across because he knows from his own kids -- ages 14 and 15 -- that "the more I tell them not to do something, the more they want to do it." He said the younger generation were more likely to ignore the quarantine -- and are also known to be at risk of both getting sick and spreading COVID-19 to those most vulnerable. "We are seeing new data from Italy that suggests that young people may be at higher risk than what we previously thought," he said. "But think about your grandfather, think about your grandmother, think about the fact you're spreading disease that could ultimately be what kills them," he told the morning show. (PageSix)
Kristen Bell's Daughters Donate Piggy Bank Money to Charity Supporting Coronavirus Relief. "I couldn't have been prouder to add that extra, and important 7 dollars and 96 cents," the actress wrote of her children's contribution. Kristen Bell and her kids are pitching in to help their community during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a post shared on her Instagram on Wednesday, the Frozen 2 star, 39, revealed that her two daughters -- Lincoln, 6, and Delta, 5 -- had emptied out their piggy bank to add to her donation to No Kid Hungry, a charitable campaign dedicated to ending child hunger and poverty, amid the global health crisis. "NKH has always been there for kids who need them. They work tirelessly to provide food for the hungry bellys [sic] all over this country. I encourage anyone with the means to share to donate as well, any amount helps, so we can get through this together," the actress began her post, before sharing that her family recently contributed a total of $150,007.96 to the organization. "The reason the number is odd, is because when my kids overheard me making the donation, they asked if they could also donate the money from their piggy bank," she explained. "I couldn't have been prouder to add that extra, and important 7 dollars and 96 cents.??????" Millions of children are missing meals due to school closure across United States, according to No Kid Hungry. Bell is not the only celebrity who is helping feed those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. On Tuesday, Ciara and Russell Wilson announced in a video message that they will be donating a million meals to a local food bank to aid in relief efforts during the pandemic. Wilson, 31, began the video by noting how the coronavirus is "changing the world second by second, minute by minute," saying, "People are losing loved ones. The elderly and the young. The people in between. You think about people losing jobs -- even in Seattle." "What we've decided to do is partner up with our local food bank in Seattle, Seattle Food LifeLine, and we're gonna donate a million meals [and] hopefully make a difference," the NFL star said. "We want to encourage everyone out there to join us in whatever way that you can, big or small. Everything makes a difference. Everything that we do together makes a difference," Ciara, 34, shared. "Together, we will conquer this tough time we are going through," the singer said, to which Wilson added, "We will." This week, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pledged a $1 million to be split between two organizations representing food banks across the U.S. and Canada. "COVID-19 has brutally impacted older adults and love income families," Reynolds, 43, shared in an Instagram note. "Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA." Houston Texans' JJ Watt and wife Kealia Ohai also donated $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank, while Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and fiance Tom Bernthal launched the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Feeding Families in partnership with their local food bank to ensure families were being fed during the crisis. As of Wednesday morning, there have been 5,881 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 107 deaths. (People)
Ellen DeGeneres admits she's home "bored" while practicing isolation amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On Wednesday, DeGeneres, 62, dialed up some of her famous friends to vent about her cabin fever -- and shared videos of the conversations on Instagram. Two of the lucky recipients happened to be Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. "John!" DeGeneres excitedly shouted at the phone while lying upside down on her sofa. "Yeah! Who's this?" Legend, 41, hilariously responded back to which DeGeneres said "It's Ellen!" "What's going on?" Ellen asked. "Nothing much. Here's Chrissy too!" Legend said of his wife. "Hey Chrissy what's going on?" Ellen said to the Bring the Funny host, 34, who responded "Nothing, just with the kids. Say hi Miles!" "Hi Miles," DeGeneres said adding, "I wish I had kids right now, I'm so bored." Legend and Teigen, who share son Miles Theodore, 1, and daughter Luna Simone, 3, agreed, saying "We're bored too." "Alright, well I just wanted to call and say hey," Ellen said. "Well, thank you for thinking of us. Bye! Say hi to Portia," Teigen said, referring to DeGeneres' wife. Teigen also shared the phone call on Twitter captioning the clip, "Ellen does not know how to do nothing and it's still pretty early in the isolation game." Before calling Legend and Teigen, DeGeneres reached out to Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel. "Justin?" DeGeneres said. "What are you doing?" "Nothing," Timberlake, 39, said somberly as Biel, 38, chimed in to say "Hey Ellen." Biel also said she was doing "nothing." "Alright, well I'll talk to you later," DeGeneres said. Timberlake ended the call telling the talk show host to "Call me in an hour." DeGeneres also called Adam Levine to wish him a happy birthday. The Maroon 5 singer, 41, explained he's just hanging out with his family. In addition to checking in with her famous friends, DeGeneres has spent her time at home attempting to complete a 4,000-piece puzzle. DeGeneres shared moments from the journey on Instagram Tuesday and it was filled with hilarious twists and turns. "Okay, so I'm bored, I'm sure everybody is bored," DeGeneres said in one Instagram clip. "I remembered I have a 4,000 piece puzzle ... so this is what I'm going to do to keep busy. It's going to keep me busy for at least an hour. I haven't done [a puzzle] in a long time, but it shouldn't be that hard." The complicated puzzle is a rendering of a painting called "Galleria di vedute di Roma moderna" by Giovanni Paolo Pannini. "Let's see how this goes," she captioned the first video. But while DeGeneres quickly realized she was missing a piece of the puzzle -- literally. "Well, guess what? I attempted to do the puzzle -- because when I set out to do something I finish it," she said in a second clip. "I counted the pieces -- there's only 3,999, there's not 4,000 pieces. I don't know about you, but when you get to the end of the puzzle and you feel so good and accomplished but then there's one piece missing, it's not fun. It's not fair. So yeah, I'm not going to do it." In the clip, a disappointed DeGeneres is seen collecting the pieces and dumping them back in the box. "Portia suggested that I read a book," she added. "I'll let you know what I choose and what happens." As of Wednesday, there are now at least 5,881 confirmed cases of COVID-19in the United States. (People)
Going to bars is banned, but Suzanne Somers and her husband have opened their own hot spot at home -- for virtual cocktail parties. But they've been doing it well before the coronavirus outbreak: "My husband [Alan Hamel] and I have a wonderful ritual several nights a week ... We meet at our outdoor bar, which we have called Big Al's Bar," she told us. The star said that the couple, married since 1977, hosts a Facebook Live show from Big Al's at their Palm Springs, Calif., home once or twice a week for followers. She figures of the video meet-ups, "Why should that stop? Especially in today's world with the Internet and technology. So, we invite our family, grown children and grandchildren to join us by FaceTime ... It's very connecting and uplifting, and good for taking away loneliness ... We've come to look forward to it." The parties also help with self-care during social distancing. "Instead of schlumping -- my word -- I fix my hair, I put on some makeup and wear a favorite outfit," Somers, 73, said. She's having another video cocktail this week, and "I highly recommend it ... I would love everybody in the world to try this. What the world needs now is love, sweet love!" (Page Six)
Floyd Mayweather's comeback is off ... at least for now ... with the boxer telling people he will likely NOT fight in 2020 in the wake of the multiple personal tragedies and the coronavirus. As we previously reported, 43-year-old Floyd was planning on TWO fights in 2020 -- one event involving the UFC and another fight against an established, respected boxer. But, sources close to Floyd tell us ... Mayweather is reeling after both his ex, Josie Harris, and his uncle, Roger Mayweather, died in the span of a week. And, the last thing on his mind is fighting. Floyd has 3 children with Josie who died unexpectedly last week while in her car in front of her home in Valencia, CA. In fact, she was found by one of their children. Uncle Roger -- who was also Floyd's trainer -- had been ill for a while, but we're told Floyd was extremely fond of him and is having a tough time accepting that he's gone. On top of all that ... we're also told Floyd was crushed by the death of his friend, Kobe Bryant -- he took that one particularly hard. In other words, he's dealing with A LOT right now -- and it would be extremely difficult for him to focus on boxing. Plus, with the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing -- and so many events being canceled or postponed -- it's unclear when Floyd would be able to lock down a fight date in 2020 anyway. As always with Floyd, the situation is fluid -- and he's been known to change his mind when it comes to major career decisions -- but as of now, this is where his head's at. Eonline)
WWE just made a MAJOR change to WrestleMania 36 -- the event will be split into 2 nights ... and future pro football hall of famer Rob Gronkowski will be hosting the whole thing!! Vince McMahon's org. just made the historic announcement Wednesday afternoon ... saying the ex-Pats superstar will be the face of the event from the WWE Performance Center in Florida. The event is slated to go down April 4 and 5 -- in front of an empty crowd, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. As we previously reported, Gronk finalized a deal with WWE in a "part-time, cameo" type of setting last week ... with ProWrestlingSheet's Ryan Satin initially breaking the news Gronk was close to a deal. Of course, there's gonna be a different feel to the huge event this year ... with the original plan in Tampa scrapped for a live-streamed event at WWE headquarters with ZERO fans. A rep for WWE told us at the time, "Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE's training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania." (TMZ)
Elon Musk's offering to make ventilators to help coronavirus patients who desperately need them, but his proposal begs the question ... what's the freakin' holdup?! The Tesla founder stirred the pot on Twitter late Wednesday night when he replied to someone who told him to "stop being an idiot" about the COVID-19 pandemic and use his factory to make ventilators as quickly as possible. Elon's response -- "We will make ventilators if there is a shortage." It's not necessarily the most heroic way of putting it, but it's promising to see Musk committing to helping out ... following the footsteps of other major motor companies that have already promised to lend a hand in any way possible. Problem is ... health experts are already clear ... there WILL be a shortage of ventilators for those seriously infected with the coronavirus. So, Elon's "if" seems moot. Of course, just days ago he said the "danger of panic still far exceeds danger" of COVID-19, and cited a CDC suggesting if we over-allocate medical resources to coronavirus it will come at the expense of treating other illnesses. He may be right, but if time is of the essence with producing ventilators ... there's no time to argue. (TMZ)
Amazon is doing its part to help stabilize its home turf, pouring additional millions into the Seattle area ... a community devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. The shipping giant is behind a number of community-related efforts underway in several locations, but especially in Seattle, its primary HQ. Amazon's created a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to local companies in Seattle and Bellevue, WA. The money's intended to help them continue paying employees, and cover rent and other costs. The corporation's also made a million-dollar donation to provide sick leave pay or health insurance to Seattle residents -- and pitched in another mil in Washington, D.C. toward medical response teams for the homeless, the elderly and hourly workers. Of course, the goodwill efforts come on the heels of Amazon catching flak from some of its employees around the world -- some of whom reportedly feel overworked and not totally safe from the pandemic in their warehouses. We're told Amazon's committed to paying them even if they can't work due to COVID-19 cases or schedule changes. Amazon's payroll expense is about to jump anyway ... because it's hiring at least 100k more people in the U.S. to meet surging demand. All those quarantined customers shopping from home want their stuff now. (TMZ)
People Are Putting Up Christmas Lights to Spread Cheer Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic. A bright idea, indeed! With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic happening around the world, people have been spreading cheer in a simple but inspiring way: Christmas lovers are decorating their homes with festive lights. That's right! Christmas has come early, and it's lighting up people's mood during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many have taken to social media to share their decorations, which range from colorful lights dangling on windows and doors to creating shapes with their lights. For example, one person created a heart that hung outside their balcony for everyone to see. "I saw something posted on this topic earlier today and I couldn't stop thinking about how something so small like Christmas lights can lift people's spirits during such a difficult time," Heather Johnson, who joined in on the fun and shared her decorations on Instagram, told E! News. "It's something easy (and pretty) homes can do to display hope for each other... for our world, really!" Another person told us they saw this festive idea as an opportunity to "show love and support to one another." "I saw the trend on Twitter today and wanted to be a part of it," Carson Jean expressed. "I feel like the lights are a reminder that we're all in this together and that we're going to come out of this stronger than ever. I hope that everyone takes part in the #lightsforlife trend to show love and support to one another." And because people are practicing social distancing, that doesn't mean you have to leave your home to see people's decor. You can still soak up that Christmas cheer by scrolling through Twitter and Instagram, where many are sharing their lit up homes. According to some, this special and heartwarming action is called "Lights For Life," which you can easily search on your fave social media platforms. "You don't have to break isolation in order to look at people's lights," Sarah Bang explained to us, and shared the heartfelt design she made out of her own lights. "Since I was home anyway, it was no great effort on my part to string up some lights in order to cheer people up and give them hope. I wanted to send some love and light out into the world, so I made a heart." So, if you could use a little pick-me-up during this time, you can either join in on the fun and decorate your house or scroll through your Twitter and Instagram feed! (Eonline)
Mama June and Geno Doak are gambling with their health -- maybe more so than usual -- because they're still hanging out in a Florida casino despite the coronavirus pandemic. June and her BF were hanging out Tuesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL -- and folks there tell us the couple seemed to be walking aimlessly around the casino floor. They meant it literally, not metaphorically. Seems Mama and Geno aren't about to let the outbreak stop their good times from rolling ... South Florida casinos are starting to shut down as officials recommend avoiding crowds, but the Hard Rock is staying open and implementing social distancing measures. As you can see, the casino floor is relatively empty. Mama and her man have taken a liking to the Hard Rock ... as we reported, they were chowing down on fries inside there just last month. FYI, this is the same resort where Anna Nicole Smith died back in 2007. Looks like Mama and Geno might be staying on the property now. Witnesses tell us June was wearing a dress over some swimwear, which is interesting because only hotel guests have access to the pool. Remember, Mama sold her house in Georgia, for way under its value. And, ever since then, she's been living on the move. If a "shelter in place" order comes down, June's place is TBD. (TMZ)
Disney Warns of Ad Sales Impact, Disruption to Content Production Amid Virus Crisis. The Hollywood giant says it has also "experienced supply chain disruption" from social distancing and other efforts to contain the virus spread. The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday pulled back the curtain a bit on the disruptions to its businesses from the coronavirus outbreak and measures to contain it. "The impact of the novel coronavirus ... and measures to prevent its spread are affecting our businesses in a number of ways," the Hollywood giant said in an regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "We have closed our theme parks; suspended our cruises and theatrical shows; delayed theatrical distribution of films both domestically and internationally." The global media giant has been seen as especially vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak owing to its theme park, film and media networks businesses, many of which need original content to drive customer growth. The company on Thursday didn't provide any estimates for the financial fallout, but for the first time cited "ad sales impacts." The conglomerate, led by CEO Bob Chapek and executive chairman Bob Iger, also discussed the fallout from programming that is disappearing from its lineup as film and TV productions have been shut down and movie releases postponed. "There has been a disruption in creation and availability of content we rely on for our various distribution paths, including most significantly the cancellation of certain sports events and the shutting down of production of most film and television content," Disney said. As the loss of pro and college sports costs TV outlets reduced viewership and ad revenues, ESPN will lose its coverage of NBA telecasts while the league is suspended. Disney highlighted to investors that the impact of the virus outbreak on its revenue and earnings was difficult to predict amid a fluid situation and the impact across various business areas. The financial impact will hinge on the size of disruptions to its businesses and how long they last, along with "governmental regulations that might be imposed in response to the pandemic," Disney explained. "Our businesses could also be impacted should the disruptions from COVID-19 lead to changes in consumer behavior," it continued in its SEC filing. "The COVID-19 impact on the capital markets could impact our cost of borrowing. There are certain limitations on our ability to mitigate the adverse financial impact of these items, including the fixed costs of our theme park business." To reduce the impact of the COVID-19 virus, Disney this week said it would close all of its North American stores and the studio will also close Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Orlando. Disney hotels in Walt Disney World and its Vero Beach Resort will also close by Friday. Last week, Disney said all of its North American parks and Paris park would be closed until at least the end of the month. The nearly unprecedented move came as pressure on the national, state and local level was being applied to businesses to help fight against the spreading coronavirus. Debt ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Wednesday put Disney on credit watch, with a negative outlook, over concerns about how the Hollywood company will weather the coronavirus outbreak in the near term. The agency said the virus outbreak will "materially weaken Disney's operating and credit profile over the near term (next two to three quarters)," but it expected the studio's businesses to "normalize gradually" in step with the return of economic activity as the coronavirus threat lessens. Disney in its Thursday regulatory filing said the new COVID-19 virus challenges senior management in forecasting future revenues, "particularly over the near to medium term." Disney management on its Feb. 4 earnings conference call, when it had closed its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong, estimated a $280 million hit to operating income in its theme parks, experiences and products unit in the current quarter. (Hollywood Reporter)
EU Asks Netflix to Limit High-Definition Streams to Avoid Internet Congestion Amid Coronavirus. A commissioner of the European Union after a conversation with Netflix chairman and CEO Reed Hastings tweeted: "To secure Internet access for all, let's #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary." Amid concerns that there could be a surge in online traffic driven by people forced to stay home amid the coronavirus crisis, a high-ranking member of the European Union has called on Netflix to do its part. EU Internal Market and Services Commissioner Thierry Breton has asked the streaming giant to limit streaming of its films and TV series to standard definition, not high definition, or HD, streams, which require more online bandwidth, at peak times. Breton said he spoke with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings about the issue on Wednesday. "Important phone conversation with @ReedHastings, CEO of @Netflix," EU Internal Market and Services Commissioner Thierry Breton wrote in a Twitter post. "To beat #COVID19, we #StayAtHome. Teleworking & streaming help a lot but infrastructures might be in strain. To secure Internet access for all, let's #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary." Breton, who served as CEO of France Telecom from 2002 until 2005, and Hastings discussed options to reduce internet congestion, such as a temporary automatic switch for streaming video users from high to standard definition during peak usage hours, Politico reported. They will have another conversation in the coming days, it added. "Streaming platforms, telecom operators and users, we all have a joint responsibility to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the internet during the battle against the virus propagation," Breton told Politico in a statement. Netflix didn't immediately comment. Despite concerns about congestion amid a surge in home streaming, there is limited evidence so far that networks are being overloaded beyond people on social media mentioning slow internet access. "From our current perspective, the increase in home office and streaming services will not lead to a situation, in which the network capacities reach their limits," a representative from German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom told news agency DPA. Vodafone spokesman Volker Petendor concurred, saying the company considered itself "well equipped" for an increase in online use, noting that it was "monitoring the situation very closely day and night" and could quickly react to ease congestion if necessary. In Italy, where the country has been on lockdown since early March, online traffic passing through Telecom Italia's national network has surged by more than two-thirds, the company said, with much of the extra activity due to online games, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty. "We reported an increase of more than 70 percent of Internet traffic over our landline network, with a big contribution from online gaming such as Fortnite," Telecom Italia Chief Executive Officer Luigi Gubitosi said on a call with analysts last week. In the U.K., a spokesman for Vodafone Group's local unit said the company has been adding to network capacity ahead of planned government restrictions on public gatherings, restrictions that took effect this week. The issue of ensuring broadband connectivity has also been a topic in the U.S. where companies, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, have taken the Federal Communications Commission's "Keep Americans Connected Pledge," agreeing late last week that for 60 days they will not to cut internet service for customers, whether individuals or small businesses, that are unable to pay their bills due to the coronavirus and that they will waive late fees connected with the pandemic. (Hollywood Reporter)
Another bizarre (yet necessary) scene ... the Olympic Torch Handover ceremony went down in Athens, Greece on Thursday -- with ZERO fans allowed at Panathenaic Stadium. In fact, Japan reportedly contacted little-known former Olympic swimmer Imo Naoko to represent the country ... since the athlete was already living in Greece. The original plan was to have a massive star-studded event for the flame-passing tradition -- but with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, organizers wanted as few people involved as possible. So, Japan contacted former Olympic swimmer Imo Naoko, who was already living in Greece, to represent the host country. The 43-year-old agreed and she was all smiles on Thursday. There were flags, there was a stage -- but absolutely NO fans at the venue. Super weird. FYI, Naoko swam in the 800-meter relay in the '96 Games in Atlanta. Now, the flame will be transported from Athens to Japan, for another scaled-down ceremony at a military base on Friday. Japan insists the 2020 Tokyo Games will go on as planned -- despite the fact most of the world is in quarantine. Stay safe out there everyone ... (TMZ)
The coronavirus pandemic is negatively impacting almost everyone in the world, but on the bright side -- people are looking for furry friends to keep them company during these social distancing days ... especially families with kids and the elderly. TMZ spoke with people who run animal shelters across the country, and though they are experiencing challenges like everyone else ... the good news is animal lovers are coming in big numbers to adopt and foster pets. Nikole Bresciani -- CEO of the Inland Valley Humane Society in Pomona, CA -- tells us ... meeting pets and adoptions are by appointment only now and all applications are online as COVID-19 precautions, but folks are still reaching out. In fact, Nikole says with kids being home from school, there's been an uptick in families reaching out about adding a cat or dog to their lives ... and more scheduled appointments are on the books for the upcoming week. The same goes for senior citizens. Randa Richter of SPCA Florida tells us ... they've seen at least a 20 percent increase in elderly people looking to adopt a pet because their normal social activities -- like Bingo -- are all canceled. So, Randa says they want a furry friend to pass the time with at home. Like Nikole, Randa says there's also an abundance of families with children home from school looking to get the kids out ... so they go visit the pets up for adoption and often end up taking them home. Same goes for a couple with no kids working from home, who now want to add another member to their household ... but not a kid. On top of this, Randa tells us they've had a huge rise in volunteers -- mostly high school kids who can earn credit for volunteering and now have much more free time, and seniors. The volunteer work includes walking dogs, kitty care and cleaning the facilities. Finally, Jack Hagerman of the Pasadena Humane Society SPCA tells us ... even though it has shut its physical doors to limit staff and the public to coronavirus exposure, it hasn't closed up shop, and the community has stepped up in a big way to find foster homes for all its animals. Jack says they've had more people than ever -- 368, which again includes families with kids and the elderly -- reach out and offer to foster animals in need now that it has closed. Jack says it currently has 180 animals including dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs, and even baby squirrels, and fortunately ... so many people are at home and happy to help. He tells us he hopes the foster pets will all find forever homes soon, especially during these trying times. It would be a win-win for everyone ... and that's desperately needed right now. (TMZ)
Surgeon General Jerome Adams asks for Kylie Jenner's help to fight coronavirus. America's top doctor called on an unexpected hero to help save the nation from coronavirus -- Kylie Jenner. "What I really think we need to do [is] get our influencers," Surgeon General Jerome Adams said on "Good Morning America," naming the 22-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star as well as infected basketball stars Kevin Durant and Donovan Mitchell. "We need to get Kylie Jenner and social media influencers out there, in helping folks understand that look, this is serious, this is absolutely serious. People are dying," Adams told the ABC show. He said they were needed to get the message across because he knows from his own kids -- ages 14 and 15 -- that "the more I tell them not to do something, the more they want to do it." He said the younger generation were more likely to ignore the quarantine -- and are also known to be at risk of both getting sick and spreading COVID-19 to those most vulnerable. "We are seeing new data from Italy that suggests that young people may be at higher risk than what we previously thought," he said. "But think about your grandfather, think about your grandmother, think about the fact you're spreading disease that could ultimately be what kills them," he told the morning show. (PageSix)
Kristen Bell's Daughters Donate Piggy Bank Money to Charity Supporting Coronavirus Relief. "I couldn't have been prouder to add that extra, and important 7 dollars and 96 cents," the actress wrote of her children's contribution. Kristen Bell and her kids are pitching in to help their community during the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In a post shared on her Instagram on Wednesday, the Frozen 2 star, 39, revealed that her two daughters -- Lincoln, 6, and Delta, 5 -- had emptied out their piggy bank to add to her donation to No Kid Hungry, a charitable campaign dedicated to ending child hunger and poverty, amid the global health crisis. "NKH has always been there for kids who need them. They work tirelessly to provide food for the hungry bellys [sic] all over this country. I encourage anyone with the means to share to donate as well, any amount helps, so we can get through this together," the actress began her post, before sharing that her family recently contributed a total of $150,007.96 to the organization. "The reason the number is odd, is because when my kids overheard me making the donation, they asked if they could also donate the money from their piggy bank," she explained. "I couldn't have been prouder to add that extra, and important 7 dollars and 96 cents.??????" Millions of children are missing meals due to school closure across United States, according to No Kid Hungry. Bell is not the only celebrity who is helping feed those affected by the coronavirus outbreak. On Tuesday, Ciara and Russell Wilson announced in a video message that they will be donating a million meals to a local food bank to aid in relief efforts during the pandemic. Wilson, 31, began the video by noting how the coronavirus is "changing the world second by second, minute by minute," saying, "People are losing loved ones. The elderly and the young. The people in between. You think about people losing jobs -- even in Seattle." "What we've decided to do is partner up with our local food bank in Seattle, Seattle Food LifeLine, and we're gonna donate a million meals [and] hopefully make a difference," the NFL star said. "We want to encourage everyone out there to join us in whatever way that you can, big or small. Everything makes a difference. Everything that we do together makes a difference," Ciara, 34, shared. "Together, we will conquer this tough time we are going through," the singer said, to which Wilson added, "We will." This week, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively pledged a $1 million to be split between two organizations representing food banks across the U.S. and Canada. "COVID-19 has brutally impacted older adults and love income families," Reynolds, 43, shared in an Instagram note. "Blake and I are donating $1 million to be split between FEEDING AMERICA and FOOD BANKS CANADA." Houston Texans' JJ Watt and wife Kealia Ohai also donated $350,000 to the Houston Food Bank, while Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and fiance Tom Bernthal launched the COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Feeding Families in partnership with their local food bank to ensure families were being fed during the crisis. As of Wednesday morning, there have been 5,881 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the U.S. and 107 deaths. (People)
Ellen DeGeneres admits she's home "bored" while practicing isolation amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. On Wednesday, DeGeneres, 62, dialed up some of her famous friends to vent about her cabin fever -- and shared videos of the conversations on Instagram. Two of the lucky recipients happened to be Chrissy Teigen and John Legend. "John!" DeGeneres excitedly shouted at the phone while lying upside down on her sofa. "Yeah! Who's this?" Legend, 41, hilariously responded back to which DeGeneres said "It's Ellen!" "What's going on?" Ellen asked. "Nothing much. Here's Chrissy too!" Legend said of his wife. "Hey Chrissy what's going on?" Ellen said to the Bring the Funny host, 34, who responded "Nothing, just with the kids. Say hi Miles!" "Hi Miles," DeGeneres said adding, "I wish I had kids right now, I'm so bored." Legend and Teigen, who share son Miles Theodore, 1, and daughter Luna Simone, 3, agreed, saying "We're bored too." "Alright, well I just wanted to call and say hey," Ellen said. "Well, thank you for thinking of us. Bye! Say hi to Portia," Teigen said, referring to DeGeneres' wife. Teigen also shared the phone call on Twitter captioning the clip, "Ellen does not know how to do nothing and it's still pretty early in the isolation game." Before calling Legend and Teigen, DeGeneres reached out to Justin Timberlake and his wife Jessica Biel. "Justin?" DeGeneres said. "What are you doing?" "Nothing," Timberlake, 39, said somberly as Biel, 38, chimed in to say "Hey Ellen." Biel also said she was doing "nothing." "Alright, well I'll talk to you later," DeGeneres said. Timberlake ended the call telling the talk show host to "Call me in an hour." DeGeneres also called Adam Levine to wish him a happy birthday. The Maroon 5 singer, 41, explained he's just hanging out with his family. In addition to checking in with her famous friends, DeGeneres has spent her time at home attempting to complete a 4,000-piece puzzle. DeGeneres shared moments from the journey on Instagram Tuesday and it was filled with hilarious twists and turns. "Okay, so I'm bored, I'm sure everybody is bored," DeGeneres said in one Instagram clip. "I remembered I have a 4,000 piece puzzle ... so this is what I'm going to do to keep busy. It's going to keep me busy for at least an hour. I haven't done [a puzzle] in a long time, but it shouldn't be that hard." The complicated puzzle is a rendering of a painting called "Galleria di vedute di Roma moderna" by Giovanni Paolo Pannini. "Let's see how this goes," she captioned the first video. But while DeGeneres quickly realized she was missing a piece of the puzzle -- literally. "Well, guess what? I attempted to do the puzzle -- because when I set out to do something I finish it," she said in a second clip. "I counted the pieces -- there's only 3,999, there's not 4,000 pieces. I don't know about you, but when you get to the end of the puzzle and you feel so good and accomplished but then there's one piece missing, it's not fun. It's not fair. So yeah, I'm not going to do it." In the clip, a disappointed DeGeneres is seen collecting the pieces and dumping them back in the box. "Portia suggested that I read a book," she added. "I'll let you know what I choose and what happens." As of Wednesday, there are now at least 5,881 confirmed cases of COVID-19in the United States. (People)
Going to bars is banned, but Suzanne Somers and her husband have opened their own hot spot at home -- for virtual cocktail parties. But they've been doing it well before the coronavirus outbreak: "My husband [Alan Hamel] and I have a wonderful ritual several nights a week ... We meet at our outdoor bar, which we have called Big Al's Bar," she told us. The star said that the couple, married since 1977, hosts a Facebook Live show from Big Al's at their Palm Springs, Calif., home once or twice a week for followers. She figures of the video meet-ups, "Why should that stop? Especially in today's world with the Internet and technology. So, we invite our family, grown children and grandchildren to join us by FaceTime ... It's very connecting and uplifting, and good for taking away loneliness ... We've come to look forward to it." The parties also help with self-care during social distancing. "Instead of schlumping -- my word -- I fix my hair, I put on some makeup and wear a favorite outfit," Somers, 73, said. She's having another video cocktail this week, and "I highly recommend it ... I would love everybody in the world to try this. What the world needs now is love, sweet love!" (Page Six)
Floyd Mayweather's comeback is off ... at least for now ... with the boxer telling people he will likely NOT fight in 2020 in the wake of the multiple personal tragedies and the coronavirus. As we previously reported, 43-year-old Floyd was planning on TWO fights in 2020 -- one event involving the UFC and another fight against an established, respected boxer. But, sources close to Floyd tell us ... Mayweather is reeling after both his ex, Josie Harris, and his uncle, Roger Mayweather, died in the span of a week. And, the last thing on his mind is fighting. Floyd has 3 children with Josie who died unexpectedly last week while in her car in front of her home in Valencia, CA. In fact, she was found by one of their children. Uncle Roger -- who was also Floyd's trainer -- had been ill for a while, but we're told Floyd was extremely fond of him and is having a tough time accepting that he's gone. On top of all that ... we're also told Floyd was crushed by the death of his friend, Kobe Bryant -- he took that one particularly hard. In other words, he's dealing with A LOT right now -- and it would be extremely difficult for him to focus on boxing. Plus, with the coronavirus pandemic still in full swing -- and so many events being canceled or postponed -- it's unclear when Floyd would be able to lock down a fight date in 2020 anyway. As always with Floyd, the situation is fluid -- and he's been known to change his mind when it comes to major career decisions -- but as of now, this is where his head's at. Eonline)
WWE just made a MAJOR change to WrestleMania 36 -- the event will be split into 2 nights ... and future pro football hall of famer Rob Gronkowski will be hosting the whole thing!! Vince McMahon's org. just made the historic announcement Wednesday afternoon ... saying the ex-Pats superstar will be the face of the event from the WWE Performance Center in Florida. The event is slated to go down April 4 and 5 -- in front of an empty crowd, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. As we previously reported, Gronk finalized a deal with WWE in a "part-time, cameo" type of setting last week ... with ProWrestlingSheet's Ryan Satin initially breaking the news Gronk was close to a deal. Of course, there's gonna be a different feel to the huge event this year ... with the original plan in Tampa scrapped for a live-streamed event at WWE headquarters with ZERO fans. A rep for WWE told us at the time, "Only essential personnel will be on the closed set at WWE's training facility in Orlando, Florida to produce WrestleMania." (TMZ)
Elon Musk's offering to make ventilators to help coronavirus patients who desperately need them, but his proposal begs the question ... what's the freakin' holdup?! The Tesla founder stirred the pot on Twitter late Wednesday night when he replied to someone who told him to "stop being an idiot" about the COVID-19 pandemic and use his factory to make ventilators as quickly as possible. Elon's response -- "We will make ventilators if there is a shortage." It's not necessarily the most heroic way of putting it, but it's promising to see Musk committing to helping out ... following the footsteps of other major motor companies that have already promised to lend a hand in any way possible. Problem is ... health experts are already clear ... there WILL be a shortage of ventilators for those seriously infected with the coronavirus. So, Elon's "if" seems moot. Of course, just days ago he said the "danger of panic still far exceeds danger" of COVID-19, and cited a CDC suggesting if we over-allocate medical resources to coronavirus it will come at the expense of treating other illnesses. He may be right, but if time is of the essence with producing ventilators ... there's no time to argue. (TMZ)
Amazon is doing its part to help stabilize its home turf, pouring additional millions into the Seattle area ... a community devastated by the coronavirus outbreak. The shipping giant is behind a number of community-related efforts underway in several locations, but especially in Seattle, its primary HQ. Amazon's created a $5 million Neighborhood Small Business Relief Fund to provide cash grants to local companies in Seattle and Bellevue, WA. The money's intended to help them continue paying employees, and cover rent and other costs. The corporation's also made a million-dollar donation to provide sick leave pay or health insurance to Seattle residents -- and pitched in another mil in Washington, D.C. toward medical response teams for the homeless, the elderly and hourly workers. Of course, the goodwill efforts come on the heels of Amazon catching flak from some of its employees around the world -- some of whom reportedly feel overworked and not totally safe from the pandemic in their warehouses. We're told Amazon's committed to paying them even if they can't work due to COVID-19 cases or schedule changes. Amazon's payroll expense is about to jump anyway ... because it's hiring at least 100k more people in the U.S. to meet surging demand. All those quarantined customers shopping from home want their stuff now. (TMZ)
People Are Putting Up Christmas Lights to Spread Cheer Amid the Coronavirus Pandemic. A bright idea, indeed! With the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic happening around the world, people have been spreading cheer in a simple but inspiring way: Christmas lovers are decorating their homes with festive lights. That's right! Christmas has come early, and it's lighting up people's mood during the COVID-19 outbreak. Many have taken to social media to share their decorations, which range from colorful lights dangling on windows and doors to creating shapes with their lights. For example, one person created a heart that hung outside their balcony for everyone to see. "I saw something posted on this topic earlier today and I couldn't stop thinking about how something so small like Christmas lights can lift people's spirits during such a difficult time," Heather Johnson, who joined in on the fun and shared her decorations on Instagram, told E! News. "It's something easy (and pretty) homes can do to display hope for each other... for our world, really!" Another person told us they saw this festive idea as an opportunity to "show love and support to one another." "I saw the trend on Twitter today and wanted to be a part of it," Carson Jean expressed. "I feel like the lights are a reminder that we're all in this together and that we're going to come out of this stronger than ever. I hope that everyone takes part in the #lightsforlife trend to show love and support to one another." And because people are practicing social distancing, that doesn't mean you have to leave your home to see people's decor. You can still soak up that Christmas cheer by scrolling through Twitter and Instagram, where many are sharing their lit up homes. According to some, this special and heartwarming action is called "Lights For Life," which you can easily search on your fave social media platforms. "You don't have to break isolation in order to look at people's lights," Sarah Bang explained to us, and shared the heartfelt design she made out of her own lights. "Since I was home anyway, it was no great effort on my part to string up some lights in order to cheer people up and give them hope. I wanted to send some love and light out into the world, so I made a heart." So, if you could use a little pick-me-up during this time, you can either join in on the fun and decorate your house or scroll through your Twitter and Instagram feed! (Eonline)
Mama June and Geno Doak are gambling with their health -- maybe more so than usual -- because they're still hanging out in a Florida casino despite the coronavirus pandemic. June and her BF were hanging out Tuesday at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, FL -- and folks there tell us the couple seemed to be walking aimlessly around the casino floor. They meant it literally, not metaphorically. Seems Mama and Geno aren't about to let the outbreak stop their good times from rolling ... South Florida casinos are starting to shut down as officials recommend avoiding crowds, but the Hard Rock is staying open and implementing social distancing measures. As you can see, the casino floor is relatively empty. Mama and her man have taken a liking to the Hard Rock ... as we reported, they were chowing down on fries inside there just last month. FYI, this is the same resort where Anna Nicole Smith died back in 2007. Looks like Mama and Geno might be staying on the property now. Witnesses tell us June was wearing a dress over some swimwear, which is interesting because only hotel guests have access to the pool. Remember, Mama sold her house in Georgia, for way under its value. And, ever since then, she's been living on the move. If a "shelter in place" order comes down, June's place is TBD. (TMZ)
Disney Warns of Ad Sales Impact, Disruption to Content Production Amid Virus Crisis. The Hollywood giant says it has also "experienced supply chain disruption" from social distancing and other efforts to contain the virus spread. The Walt Disney Co. on Thursday pulled back the curtain a bit on the disruptions to its businesses from the coronavirus outbreak and measures to contain it. "The impact of the novel coronavirus ... and measures to prevent its spread are affecting our businesses in a number of ways," the Hollywood giant said in an regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. "We have closed our theme parks; suspended our cruises and theatrical shows; delayed theatrical distribution of films both domestically and internationally." The global media giant has been seen as especially vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak owing to its theme park, film and media networks businesses, many of which need original content to drive customer growth. The company on Thursday didn't provide any estimates for the financial fallout, but for the first time cited "ad sales impacts." The conglomerate, led by CEO Bob Chapek and executive chairman Bob Iger, also discussed the fallout from programming that is disappearing from its lineup as film and TV productions have been shut down and movie releases postponed. "There has been a disruption in creation and availability of content we rely on for our various distribution paths, including most significantly the cancellation of certain sports events and the shutting down of production of most film and television content," Disney said. As the loss of pro and college sports costs TV outlets reduced viewership and ad revenues, ESPN will lose its coverage of NBA telecasts while the league is suspended. Disney highlighted to investors that the impact of the virus outbreak on its revenue and earnings was difficult to predict amid a fluid situation and the impact across various business areas. The financial impact will hinge on the size of disruptions to its businesses and how long they last, along with "governmental regulations that might be imposed in response to the pandemic," Disney explained. "Our businesses could also be impacted should the disruptions from COVID-19 lead to changes in consumer behavior," it continued in its SEC filing. "The COVID-19 impact on the capital markets could impact our cost of borrowing. There are certain limitations on our ability to mitigate the adverse financial impact of these items, including the fixed costs of our theme park business." To reduce the impact of the COVID-19 virus, Disney this week said it would close all of its North American stores and the studio will also close Downtown Disney in Anaheim and Disney Springs in Orlando. Disney hotels in Walt Disney World and its Vero Beach Resort will also close by Friday. Last week, Disney said all of its North American parks and Paris park would be closed until at least the end of the month. The nearly unprecedented move came as pressure on the national, state and local level was being applied to businesses to help fight against the spreading coronavirus. Debt ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Wednesday put Disney on credit watch, with a negative outlook, over concerns about how the Hollywood company will weather the coronavirus outbreak in the near term. The agency said the virus outbreak will "materially weaken Disney's operating and credit profile over the near term (next two to three quarters)," but it expected the studio's businesses to "normalize gradually" in step with the return of economic activity as the coronavirus threat lessens. Disney in its Thursday regulatory filing said the new COVID-19 virus challenges senior management in forecasting future revenues, "particularly over the near to medium term." Disney management on its Feb. 4 earnings conference call, when it had closed its theme parks in Shanghai and Hong Kong, estimated a $280 million hit to operating income in its theme parks, experiences and products unit in the current quarter. (Hollywood Reporter)
EU Asks Netflix to Limit High-Definition Streams to Avoid Internet Congestion Amid Coronavirus. A commissioner of the European Union after a conversation with Netflix chairman and CEO Reed Hastings tweeted: "To secure Internet access for all, let's #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary." Amid concerns that there could be a surge in online traffic driven by people forced to stay home amid the coronavirus crisis, a high-ranking member of the European Union has called on Netflix to do its part. EU Internal Market and Services Commissioner Thierry Breton has asked the streaming giant to limit streaming of its films and TV series to standard definition, not high definition, or HD, streams, which require more online bandwidth, at peak times. Breton said he spoke with Netflix CEO Reed Hastings about the issue on Wednesday. "Important phone conversation with @ReedHastings, CEO of @Netflix," EU Internal Market and Services Commissioner Thierry Breton wrote in a Twitter post. "To beat #COVID19, we #StayAtHome. Teleworking & streaming help a lot but infrastructures might be in strain. To secure Internet access for all, let's #SwitchToStandard definition when HD is not necessary." Breton, who served as CEO of France Telecom from 2002 until 2005, and Hastings discussed options to reduce internet congestion, such as a temporary automatic switch for streaming video users from high to standard definition during peak usage hours, Politico reported. They will have another conversation in the coming days, it added. "Streaming platforms, telecom operators and users, we all have a joint responsibility to take steps to ensure the smooth functioning of the internet during the battle against the virus propagation," Breton told Politico in a statement. Netflix didn't immediately comment. Despite concerns about congestion amid a surge in home streaming, there is limited evidence so far that networks are being overloaded beyond people on social media mentioning slow internet access. "From our current perspective, the increase in home office and streaming services will not lead to a situation, in which the network capacities reach their limits," a representative from German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom told news agency DPA. Vodafone spokesman Volker Petendor concurred, saying the company considered itself "well equipped" for an increase in online use, noting that it was "monitoring the situation very closely day and night" and could quickly react to ease congestion if necessary. In Italy, where the country has been on lockdown since early March, online traffic passing through Telecom Italia's national network has surged by more than two-thirds, the company said, with much of the extra activity due to online games, such as Fortnite and Call of Duty. "We reported an increase of more than 70 percent of Internet traffic over our landline network, with a big contribution from online gaming such as Fortnite," Telecom Italia Chief Executive Officer Luigi Gubitosi said on a call with analysts last week. In the U.K., a spokesman for Vodafone Group's local unit said the company has been adding to network capacity ahead of planned government restrictions on public gatherings, restrictions that took effect this week. The issue of ensuring broadband connectivity has also been a topic in the U.S. where companies, including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile and Sprint, have taken the Federal Communications Commission's "Keep Americans Connected Pledge," agreeing late last week that for 60 days they will not to cut internet service for customers, whether individuals or small businesses, that are unable to pay their bills due to the coronavirus and that they will waive late fees connected with the pandemic. (Hollywood Reporter)
Comments
Post a Comment