HOT or NOT? Roberto Cavalli by Fausto Puglisi Spring 2022 Menswear Collection!
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#RHOA: OOOPS! NeNe Leakes Hit With $4,000 Tax Lien Months After Walking Away From 'Real Housewives Of Atlanta!'
The government is coming for NeNe Leakes! The former Real Housewives of Atlanta star is being accused of owing thousands in taxes.
Radar Online has obtained a tax bill against the 53-year-old ex-Bravo personality's company Leakes Inc.
In the document filed by Gwinnett County in Georgia, ATL, NeNe is accused of owing $4,000 in state taxes from 2020.
The lien has been placed against her Georgia mansion, and the government is giving her a strict warning that she better pay up or else.
NeNe's tax lien comes just months after she announced her exit from the popular Housewives franchise.
After months of speculation, the RHOA OG revealed her departure in September.
“I have made the hard and very difficult decision to not be a part of Real Housewives of Atlanta season 13,” she said at the time. “It wasn’t an easy decision for me."
“I have been on an extremely, extremely long, exhausting, tiring, emotional negotiation," NeNe continued. "There has been a lot of emotion flying on both sides. I’m just so happy that I can say that I was a part of a genre that opened doors for Black ensemble reality shows.”
#NewMusic from Silk Sonic ‘Skate’!
Silk Sonic keeps the summertime vibes coming.
After topping the charts with their debut single “Leave the Door Open,” Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak follow it up with their latest heater, “Skate.” On the silky-smooth jam, the fellas take it to the roller rink.
“I’m excited, ‘Skate’ being our second single, because the sun is out and I’m hoping everybody’s outside, everybody’s at the pool, at the beach, barbecuing, listen to some Silk Sonic,” Bruno told Apple Music. “We wanted everyone to feel like they were floating and gliding, slipping and sliding. And we’re very proud of this record.”
In the video, directed by Bruno and Florent Déchard, the fellas serenade a female skate crew while playing the drums and congas.
LISTEN HERE
“Leave the Door Open” and “Skate” arrive ahead of Silk Sonic’s debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, due later this year.
#HipHopNews: Kanye West To Host Second ‘Donda’ Listening Event!
DONDA is coming back to Atlanta. Kanye West is reportedly planning to host a second listening event at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 5, the eve of his album release.
According to TMZ, Ye and his production team have booked the venue for another DONDA album release. Stadium employees have been hired and plan to work it the same as last week.
But he doesn’t want to repeat himself. The Yeezy visionary is reportedly brainstorming ideas to make the second event different. CAA and Live Nation are also applying pressure because they don’t think it will be as easy to sell tickets if it’s a repeat of the first experience. Some possible ideas include a new stage design or musical arrangement.
During last week’s sold-out listening party, Ye debuted tracks featuring Lil Baby, Lil Durk, Pusha T, Travis Scott, and Roddy Ricch, as well as a surprise collaboration with JAY-Z. The DONDA livestream was a huge hit, breaking the Apple Music record with 3.3 million viewers. Kanye’s estranged wife Kim Kardashian was in attendance, along with their kids.
Kanye has been living at Mercedes-Benz Stadium while he finishes his long-awaited album, which has been delayed to Aug. 6. Earlier this week, he shared his modest living quarters inside the 71,000-seat stadium.
UPDATE: Def Jam and Live Nation have officially announced “The DONDA Album Release,” which will be held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 9 p.m. ET. Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia will oversee the creative direction. It’s unclear if the event will be live-streamed like the last one.
Tickets are priced between $30 and $75 and go on sale Monday, Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. ET.
Hip-hop legend Biz Markie funeral to be held Monday, Aug. 2, at Patchogue Theatre!
Before the beloved hip-hop legend Biz Markie is laid to rest, his family will be hosting a funeral for him in grand fashion Monday, Aug. 2, at Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Biz Markie, the “Clown Prince of Hip-Hop,” who grew up in Patchogue, passed away Friday, July 16. He was 57.
The services will run from around 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Rev. Al Sharpton will deliver the eulogy, according to an announcement, and fellow hip-hop artists Fat Joe, Papoose, LL Cool J (a Bay Shore native), members of the Juice Crew and others will also be attending.
“Biz Markie touched the world with his infectious smile, amazing energy, and hip-hop hits,” the announcement reads. “Known for his Top 40 hit, “Just A Friend” and his recurring role on “Yo Gabba Gabba!,” he brightened every room he was in and every song he was on.”
Select friends, family members and colleagues will be invited inside for the viewing.
Village officials say a strip of East Main Street in Patchogue will be closed to ensure safety for the hundreds, if not thousands, of lifelong fans and well-wishers who are expected to gather outside to pay respect to the late, great artist.
Biz Markie was born Marcel Theo Hall.
The music pioneer’s cause of death has not been publicly addressed by family, but Biz Markie did have Type 2 diabetes and had been reportedly hospitalized last year due to complications related to the life-long illness, and he later suffered a stroke.
“We are grateful for the many calls and prayers of support that we have received during this difficult time,” Jenni Izumi, a representative for Biz Markie, said shortly after his death.
“Biz created a legacy of artistry that will forever be celebrated by his industry peers and his beloved fans whose lives he was able to touch through music, spanning over 35 years,” Izumi said. “He leaves behind a wife, many family members and close friends who will miss his vibrant personality, constant jokes and frequent banter.”
JAY-Z and Will Smith Invest In Startup That Helps Low-Income Renters Become Homeowners!
JAY-Z and Will Smith have placed their financial support behind a startup company that intends to make homeownership a possibility for low-income families. According to Bloomberg, Hov’s Roc Nation and Smith’s Dreamers VC were among a group of investors, including Cash App, Ethos, Instacart, Front, Flatiron Health and Tango, who poured into Landis Technologies and helped them to make more than $165 million. The donations will reportedly be used to buy roughly 1,000 homes, which will then be rented out to low-income families working toward mortgage eligibility.
Additionally, as renting clients work on their credit, save money, and minimize their debt, staff at Landis Technologies will provide renters with coaches that will school them about various topics like money management, improving credit scores and other essential information that will help them to eventually qualify for mortgage.
The overall goal of Landis Technologies, per the report, is to turn 80 percent of renters into homeowners within two years. Once eligible, clients can buy the home back for a predetermined price up to two years after Landis made the initial purchase.
“Financial inclusion is really important to us,” Landis co-founder Cyril Berdugo said in a statement. “An aspect of Landis that we’re very proud to be a part of is wealth creation for low-income Americans. We make money when our client buys the house back. If we leave money on the table, that’s our problem.”
Will Smith stars as tennis stars Serena & Venus Williams’ dad in ‘King Richard’ trailer
“What makes Landis unique is our ability to coach anyone to homeownership,” he added. “This new funding will allow us to help more Americans on their path to homeownership by expanding to new states, hiring talent nationwide and providing a better experience to our clients and partner agents and lenders.”
As of now, Landis — which is based in New York — operates in 11 states. The company is hoping to expand to 20 states next year.
#PARYERS: WSB-TV Anchor Jovita Moore Reveals Brain Cancer Diagnosis!
Atlanta’s WSB-TV veteran news anchor Jovita Moore revealed to the public that she has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
Moore underwent surgery back in April after doctors discovered two masses in her brain. After her surgery, Moore thanked viewers for their well wishes and concerns. “Thanks so much for every single positive word, well wish and prayer sent my way! I expect a long but successful road to recovery over the next few weeks. I’m thankful for my surgeon, Dr. Nduom, and his team who are absolutely amazing!” she wrote in a statement.
Earlier today, Moore revealed the diagnosis among her colleagues at the news station and asked to give viewers an update on her condition. During the reveal, they said it was ” tough news to share with all of our loyal viewers” as glioblastoma currently has no cure and can only be slowed down with treatments.
Moore’s close friend and colleague Condace Pressly called her a “fighter” and said she’s getting stronger each day.
“Our girl is strong. Our girl is a fighter and she’s doing great every day. She’s a very strong woman and is raising three very strong kids who are, as we all are, right there with her.”
Moore is currently undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatments to reduce the cancer’s growth and she’s reportedly in spirits as told by her surgeon, Dr. Edjah Ndoum.
She’s done fantastic. I was actually able to see her in clinic a couple of weeks ago. She was in good spirits, she was with friends and family as always. All of these things play into patients who do better when they face a disease like this and I got to tell you, Ms. Moore’s got one of the best teams I’ve ever seen.”
Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds Asks for Joint Custody amid Divorce with Nicole Pantenburg!
Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds divorce from wife Nicole Pantenburg is moving right along.
via People:In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, the 12-time Grammy winner, 62, has asked for joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter Peyton Nicole and listed himself as the party responsible for paying spousal support.
Though the documents state that the “full nature and extent of separate property assets and debts are unknown” to Edmonds at this time and the musician will “seek to amend” his filing once they have been ascertained, he has requested that the court uphold the pair’s prenuptial agreement.
The court papers also listed Edmonds and Pantenburg’s date of separation as October 15, 2020 — six years after their wedding on May 17, 2014 — and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split.
Edmonds and Pantenburg, 48, announced their separation earlier in July, telling PEOPLE in a joint statement: “After much thought and with great sadness, we have decided to end our marriage.”
“We continue to care and have respect for one another and share eternal love for our daughter and her well-being,” their statement read. “We ask for personal privacy for ourselves and our daughter as we navigate these new steps as a family.”
The “Every Time I Close My Eyes” singer began dating the actress back in 2007, and they tied the knot seven years later.
Edmonds was previously married to his first wife, Denise, and then to his second wife, Tracey Edmonds, whom he met in 1990 and wed two years later.
The music producer welcomed two children with Tracey — sons Brandon and Dylan — before divorcing 13 years later in 2005.
During a 2015 interview with NPR, Edmonds spoke candidly about Pantenburg when he was asked about love in his life.
“The big love of my life. That’s a hard question because there’s a lot of loves in my life. There’s my wife, Nikki,” he said. “There’s my daughter and my boys.”
“A couple of years ago I lost my mom, and when someone that important leaves this world, it leaves you with this feeling of wanting to grab every moment with those that are around you, and appreciate it,” he said at the time.
IN THE SAY WHAT FILES: Allen Iverson confused a cartoon alien with Janet Jackson after smoking with Biggie!
Former NBA star Allen Iverson freaked out over a cartoon alien after smoking with the Notorious B.I.G and Lil Cease in the 1990s.
Iverson wore a T-shirt inspired by Janet Jackson’s famous 1993 Rolling Stone cover to the smoke session — but the photo was replaced with an illustration of a cartoon alien in place of the diva.
“I just remember going to the bathroom… I’m looking in the mirror at the shirt, and I notice that the shirt did not have her face… it had an alien face on her body,” he recalled in an interview with The Player’s Tribune this week.
It appears the stoned hoops star had forgotten he was wearing a parody version of the Jackson image, and couldn’t figure out what had happened to Jackson’s face.
“I’m looking in the mirror and I’m trippin.’ I’m wiping the shirt off [to try and reveal the human Jackson’s face] and everything. I’m thinking like that’s supposed to be her, but it’s this alien cartoon character,” he said.
The retired 76’ers star dropped his own marijuana strain with retired basketball star Al Harrington’s cannabis company, Viola, last week. He relayed the high tale to promote the weed.
He added he also got repeatedly lost on his way back into the studio and kept ending up in the bathroom.
“A lady was walking by, and as I was walking by her, I was just stomping ‘cause I couldn’t feel my feet. And she was like, ‘Uh, A.I., you alright?'” he remembered.
“I went back to my hotel room — room was spinning or whatever. And that was like the weirdest experience that I had,” he said.
He said he thinks the problem was that he was used to smoking cannabis buds, but that — unbeknownst to him — he’d been smoking hash with Biggie.
Jay-Z Reportedly Holding Open Call To Hire 100 Employees For Reopening of Madison Square Garden 40/40 Club!
A true boss provides opportunities for others, and that’s the exact energy Hov’s giving this weekend.
The rap legend and serial entrepreneur is slated to add some spice to New York City‘s nightlife by reopening his Madison Square Garden nightclub. In doing so, Jay-Z is blessing 100 lucky candidates with the opportunity to come on board as waitstaff for the 40/40 Club.
“We’re thrilled to add a jolt to New York City’s restaurant and nightlife industry with the creation of these 100 new jobs,” says 40/40 Club manager Candice Williams in a recent statement.
Reportedly, employees will be compensated $20 hourly in addition to tips, which is $5 more than NYC’s minimum wage. Auditions are being held this weekend, July 31 and Aug 1, between 1 – 5 p.m. at the Madison Square location. Those interested will be expected to demonstrate skills, interview and apply for their desired roles during this open call.
August 4th, the 40/40 Club will officially be back in business, celebrating its 18th year.
Saginaw Grant, ‘The Lone Ranger’ and ‘Breaking Bad’ Actor, Dies at 85!
Saginaw Grant, the Native American actor known for his performance as Chief Big Bear in “The Lone Ranger” and for featured roles in “Breaking Bad” and other popular series and films, died Wednesday in Hollywood, according to the Associated Press. He was 85.
Grant’s publicist, Lani Carmichael, confirmed to the AP that he died peacefully of natural causes at a private care facility. “He loved both Oklahoma and L.A.,” Carmichael said about Grant, who was also the hereditary chief of the Sac and Fox Nation. “He made his home here as an actor, but he never forgot his roots in Oklahoma. He remained a fan of the Sooner Nation.”
Grant was born in Pawnee, Okla. in 1936 and later served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War. His acting career began after being approached to appear in a Chrysler commercial, and in the late 1980s he began acting in character roles, with early credits including “War Party” (1988), “Harts of the West” (1993-94) and a 1993 episode of “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles” where he played Grey Cloud opposite Harrison Ford.
In addition to “The Lone Ranger” and “Breaking Bad,” Grant also appeared on “Baywatch,” “My Name Is Earl,” “Saving Grace,” “American Horror Story,” “Shameless,” “Community,” “Workaholics” and “Veep,” according to his IMDb page.
In addition to portraying Native American characters on screen, Grant spent much time in Native American communities throughout his career. Carmichael shared that he was active in the California powwow circuit, and a memorial post on his Facebook page stated that these events saw Grant at his happiest.
He also traveled internationally to speak publicly about Native American life and culture, and participated in different cultural organizations in California, such as the American Indian Advisory Board of the San Diego International Film Festival.
Carmichael emphasized Grant’s kindness and humility throughout his life. “His motto in life was always respect one another and don’t talk about one another in a negative way,” she told the AP.
Kim Kardashian Hit With Cease And Desist Letter For SKKN Trademark!
Kim Kardashian may have plenty of skin in the beauty game, but her latest venture just hit a snag.
After the makeup mogul filed to trademark both SKKN and SKKN by KIM, her legal team received a cease and desist letter from Beauty Concepts LLC, who claim they’ve already locked down the moniker for salon, skincare and spa services.
In the July 21 letter, obtained by Page Six Style, Beauty Concepts owner Cyndie Lunsford claims she’s operated salons under the SKKN+ brand name since 2018.
The company also said they applied to trademark the SKKN+ name on March 28, just days before Kardashian filed her own trademark on March 30.
The reality superstar applied to use the now-contested name for products including skincare, hair care, nail care, perfumes and candles. Beauty Concepts is now demanding that she abandon the branding, claiming that it would cause confusion to customers.
“I have painstakingly built my successful small business with my own sweat equity, hard work, and research,” said Lunsford, a 28-year-old aesthetician and entrepreneur, who also operates social media accounts under the SKKN+ name.
“It’s clear that I established my brand first.”
Michael G. Rhodes, Kardashian’s attorney, told TMZ, “We certainly appreciate and support small businesses, and our hat is off to Ms. Lunsford. But the question at hand is one of trademark law and we’ve not done anything deserving of legal action by her.”
He added, “We are disappointed that she has chosen to run to the media knowing that we were scheduling a call for tomorrow, requested by her attorney. So while disagreeing with the letter, we’re hopeful that we can smooth things over once both sides speak.”
Kardashian is currently in the process of overhauling her KKW Beauty brand, and will be shutting down the site on August 1. A source told Page Six that her ex, Kanye West, helped her come up with a new name for the line, although it’s unclear if that name was SKKN.
The cease and desist letter marks the latest legal trouble for Kardashian’s companies: In June 2020, Seed Beauty – the beauty incubator company which launched both Kylie Cosmetics and KKW Beauty – sued beauty giant Coty, the brands’ parent company, for allegedly stealing trade secrets.
Kylie Cosmetics also recently revamped its products, introducing vegan formulas and new packaging, although it’s unclear if the changes were related to the lawsuit.
A rep for Kardashian declined to comment further on the matter.
Marc Jacobs Admits He Started Getting Work Done 'Many Years Ago': 'No Shame in Being Vain'!
Marc Jacobs has shocked some with his recent candor about his experience getting a facelift, but it was nothing new for him.
The fashion designer, 58, recently admitted to Vogue that he started getting cosmetic work done "many years ago. I don't remember exactly when, but Steven Meisel had recommended a doctor named Dr. Brandt who was, of course, pretty famous and everybody knew."
He explained that he's never really kept his procedures a secret. "I mean, there have been so many things that I've been transparent about," Jacobs said. "Like, once when I went to an event with a baseball cap, and people asked me, 'Why are you wearing a baseball cap?' And I said, 'Well, I just had a hair transplant.' People were amused and amazed that I answered."
Jacobs most recently documented his recovery from a facelift, posting a photo to Instagram of his face wrapped in gauze. He later shared a photo of himself recovering in a hyperbaric oxygen tank before revealing the finished product to his 1.6 million followers.
The former Louis Vuitton creative director was praised for his transparency by the likes of friends Lisa Rinna, Debi Mazar, James St. James, and Bianca Del Rio. "It's just funny how many people responded to my posts in that way of like, 'Thank you for your transparency, your transparency is everything,'" he said.
"I think you just need to start a conversation, and then maybe that will have a resounding echo that helps people feel less ashamed," Jacobs added. "I just don't think there's shame in being vain."
And although his scars aren't fully healed, that won't keep Jacobs from continuing to grace the social media landscape with his mug. "I've got some scars around my ears, and my face is swollen, and I have a bruised neck, but I'm still posting on Instagram," he said. "I don't care. I don't even see it as an effort to be transparent. I'm doing what I normally do, which is I'm living my life and sharing it with anybody who is interested."
"Yes, I'm vain. I find there is no shame in being vain. I find there's no shame in wanting attention. I find there's no shame in getting dressed up and showing off a look. You know what I mean?" Jacobs continued. "Those are some of the things that give me pleasure. Self-care on every level ... External and internal wellness are really important. I say the same thing about all of it, which is that the better I feel about myself, the better I'm able to be to others."
Beyoncé’s “Formation” named Rolling Stone’s Best Music Video of All Time!
According to Rolling Stone, Beyoncé’s “Formation” video is the best video of all time. In honor of MTV’s 40th anniversary, the magazine compiled a list of 100 of the greatest music videos to ever be released, and Queen Bey’s 2016 visual was on top of the list.
The Melina Matsoukas-directed “Formation” video came as a surprise the day before Queen Bey was set to headline the Super Bowl 50 halftime show. With its powerful messages about Black culture, its debut during Black History Month was not only strategic, but fitting. In the music video, Beyoncé addressed issues of police brutality, remembered Hurricane Katrina and danced over lyrics that flaunted her Black pride, her country roots and her Creole background.
The song and music video sparked backlash from conservatives and politicians, who called the Houston native out for allegedly spreading anti-police messages.
Despite the negative reactions, the visual helped Bey bring home a few awards, including six wins at the MTV Video Music Awards and the Best Music Video award at the 2017 Grammys. Billboard named “Formation” the best music video of the 2010s, and now, Rolling Stone is praising the visual as well.
“In under five minutes, Beyoncé moves from a plantation-style house where the Black denizens are the masters not the slaves to the top of a sinking police car,” the magazine wrote. “If Beyoncé’s self-titled visual album established her as one of the greatest artists of all time, her surprise-released ‘Formation’ video (and ensuing album Lemonade) marked her as one of the most important.”
Other notable songs in the top 10 are “This Is America” by Childish Gambino — which placed at No. 4 — the seventh song, D’Angelo’s “Untitled (How Does It Feel?)” and “Billie Jean” by the late Michael Jackson, which just made the cut as the tenth song on the list.
Scarlett Johansson's agent calls Disney response to 'Black Widow' suit 'a direct attack on her character'!
Disney has a bigger problem than Thanos to deal with now. Scarlett Johansson, longtime Marvel actress and star of the new superhero hit "Black Widow," filed a lawsuit against the movie studio in Los Angeles Superior Court Thursday. In documents obtained by USA TODAY, the suit alleges that her contract was breached when "Black Widow" was released on the Disney+ streaming service at the same time as its theatrical debut.
In the lawsuit, Johansson said her agreement with Marvel Studios guaranteed an exclusive release in movie theaters and her salary was based in large part on box-office performance.
The suit alleges that “Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms. Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel." In addition, the actress' representatives wanted to renegotiate her contract after learning of the Disney+ release strategy for “Black Widow" but the suit said that Disney and Marvel were unresponsive to the request.
In a statement to USA TODAY, a spokesperson for Disney said there is "no merit whatsoever" to the filing and called the suit "especially sad and distressing in its callous disregard for the horrific and prolonged global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic."
The company insists it "fully complied with Ms. Johansson's contract" and also pointed out that the Premier Access release "has significantly enhanced her ability to earn additional compensation on top of the $20 million she has received to date."
On Friday, Bryan Lourd, co-chairman of the Creative Artists Agency and Johansson’s agent, issued a response, saying Disney "shamelessly and falsely accused Ms. Johansson of being insensitive to the global COVID pandemic, in an attempt to make her appear to be someone they and I know she isn’t." He also called it "a direct attack on her character" that's "beneath the company that many of us in the creative community have worked with successfully for decades."
Lourd added that Johansson and Disney have been partners on nine Marvel movies, "which have earned Disney and its shareholders billions," and that the company used her "Black Widow" salary in an attempt to weaponize her success as an artist and businesswoman, as if that were something she should be ashamed of.
"Scarlett is extremely proud of the work that she, and all of the actors, writers, directors, producers, and the Marvel creative team have been a part of for well over a decade."
Advocacy groups Women In Film (WIF), ReFrame and Time's Up agreed that Disney's "gendered character attack has no place in a business dispute."
"While we take no position on the business issues in the litigation between Scarlett Johansson and The Walt Disney Company, we stand firmly against Disney's recent statement which attempts to characterize Johansson as insensitive or selfish for defending her contractual business rights," the groups said in a joint statement to USA TODAY Friday.
WIF, ReFrame and Time's Up said the narrative Disney is perpetuating "contributes to an environment in which women and girls are perceived as less able than men to protect their own interests without facing ad hominem criticism."
Marvel email revealed in lawsuit
Johansson's suit includes a March 2019 email where Marvel Chief Counsel Dave Galluzzi said the release would go according to a traditional theatrical model: "We understand that should the plan change, we would need to discuss this with you and come to an understanding as the deal is based on a series of (very large) box-office bonuses.”
“It’s no secret that Disney is releasing films like 'Black Widow' directly onto Disney+ to increase subscribers and thereby boost the company’s stock price – and that it’s hiding behind COVID-19 as a pretext to do so," Johansson's attorney John Berlinski said in a statement to USA TODAY.
"But ignoring the contracts of the artists responsible for the success of its films in furtherance of this short-sighted strategy violates their rights and we look forward to proving as much in court. This will surely not be the last case where Hollywood talent stands up to Disney and makes it clear that, whatever the company may pretend, it has a legal obligation to honor its contracts.”
Because of the pandemic, Disney – as well as other studios – has had to rethink its strategy for releasing movies. This year, for major releases like "Raya and the Last Dragon," "Cruella" and most recently "Black Widow," the company offered Disney+ subscribers the films the same day as in theaters for an extra $29.99 Premier Access fee.
The Marvel movie set a pandemic box-office record earlier this month with an $80 million opening weekend in domestic theaters. Disney announced that the film also initially made $60 million additionally globally via Disney+ but has declined to release streaming numbers since.
Negotiating talent contracts around changing release plans is tricky territory. When Warner Bros. announced "Wonder Woman: 1984" would simultaneously stream on HBO Max over Christmas – while also shuffling its entire 2021 slate to a theater-and-streaming model, to major uproar – star Gal Gadot and director Patty Jenkins renegotiated an extra $10 million each to get on board, according to the New York Times.
“It's OK to demand or to ask what you're worth (and) we shouldn't be shy about it," Gadot told USA TODAY last December.
Johansson's lawsuit name-checks the evolving "Wonder Woman: 1984" deal structure.
"In the months leading up to this lawsuit, Ms. Johansson gave Disney and Marvel every opportunity to right their wrong and make good on Marvel’s promise," the lawsuit reads. "Unlike numerous other movie studios, however – including Warner Brothers who, on information and belief, settled with its talent on films such as Wonder Woman after it released those films 'day-and-date' to its streaming service HBO Max last year – Disney and Marvel largely ignored Ms. Johansson, essentially forcing her to file this action."
Since first appearing as Black Widow in 2010's "Iron Man 2," Johansson has appeared in nine Marvel projects including all four blockbuster "Avengers" movies and was an executive producer on the new film.
Johansson skipped the "Black Widow" premiere and red-carpet events but she did do press interviews for the movie. In a discussion with USA TODAY, Johansson praised Disney for letting the "Black Widow" filmmakers tackle issues on screen such as child trauma and reproductive rights for women.
“It’s very brave in a lot of ways that Marvel let us go there," she said. “They understand the importance of their massive reach and that you can actually try to provoke some sort of collective consciousness about these very serious subjects.”
Drake Says ‘Certified Lover Boy’ Is Done And ‘On The Way’!
After a series of delays, Drake has announced that Certified Lover Boy is finally finished. During his appearance on Sound 42’s “Fry Yiy Friday” on SiriusXM on Friday, Drizzy provided another update on his sixth studio album.
“Album’s cooked. Looking forward to delivering it to you,” he told fans. “Certified Lover Boy on the way, and that’s for anyone in the way.”
It’s unclear who he was referring to, but some speculate that it could be Kanye West, whose highly-anticipated album DONDA is slated to arrive Friday, Aug. 6.
Earlier this month, Drake announced that he was in the home stretch and was headed back to Toronto to mix the long-awaited follow-up to 2018’s Scorpion.
“Definitely on the way home to reunite with my dog and just finish this thing up,” he told OVO Noel.
While he has yet to put an official date on it, Drake previously said that Certified Lover Boy would arrive by the end of summer after it was delayed from January. “I’m back in the studio with 40 tough. I’m just really excited about the music that we’re making and I feel like I’ve locked into a zone where I’m really trying to execute on a project that’s fulfilling for my soul.”
While fans await CLB, Drake can be heard alongside OVO Sound’s newest signee Smiley on the rising Toronto rapper’s single “Over the Top.”
Disney And Walmart Mandate Vaccine For Employees By October!
Disney and Walmart, two of America’s largest employers, announced on Friday that they will require employees to be vaccinated.
Disney told all of their salaried and non-unionized employees in America that they must get vaccinated within 60 days. Walmart told all employees at their headquarters and managers who travel within the U.S. to get vaccinated by early October.
Walmart’s mandate excluded front-line workers, who the retail giant claimed have a lower vaccination rate than management-level employees.
But Walmart is hoping that pushing executives to get the vaccine will inspire their entire workforce.
“We’re hoping that will influence even more of our frontline associates to become vaccinated,” a spokesperson for Walmart said.
Walmart has also doubled its incentive, offering employees in stores, clubs, and distribution centers $150 instead of $75 if they get vaccinated.
Disney’s mandate applies to all salaried and non-union workers at any of their sites.
The company said workers who aren’t already vaccinated have 60 days to complete their vaccination “with certain limited exceptions” and said it would begin conversations with unions representing employees over-vaccination issues.
‘SNL’s Michael Che Scrubbed his Instagram Account For Sharing Tasteless Jokes About Simone Biles!
“Satuday Night Live” comedian Michael Che is under fire for targeting Simone Biles — including reposting a joke about Larry Nassar, the former USA Gymnastics doctor who sexually abused her and dozens of other athletes.
Simone Biles withdrew from all-around competition at the Tokyo Olympics earlier this week to protect her mental health. “We have to focus on ourselves because at the end of the day, we’re human too,” the gymnast said. “We have to protect our mind and our body rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.” Instead of applauding her difficult decision, SNL cast member Michael Che shared a tasteless joke about Biles being sexually abused by former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar.
“man, i wanna make fun of Simone Biles,” the “Weekend Update” co-anchor wrote in an Instagram Story posted on Thursday night. “I got like 3 mins of simone biles jokes in my head. im going to the cellar tonight to say them into a microphone. as the dorky kids say, im choosing violence.” Che didn’t sare any of his material — instead, he shared jokes he received from his followers via direct message, and commented on them.
One person wrote, “Larry Nasser [sic] understands Simone Biles better than anyone. He too had to quit doing what he loved at the pinnacle of his career because of mounting pressure,” which Che called “rough” and “absolutely tasteless” and gave it a 9 out of 10. Another follower said, “Okay so I am shivering while typing this.. but you are encouraging me. Who said black don’t crack?” Che captioned it, “now thats a good joke. economical. referential. balanced. good job. 8/10.” He later claimed he was hacked.
No one believed him.
Looks like Michael has deleted all of his Instagram posts following the backlash.
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