In a recently resurfaced video, Gene Deal, a former security guard for Sean 'Diddy' Combs, alleged that the rapper abused Usher when he was a child. The ex-bodyguard claimed that some music executives told him Diddy abused a young Usher so severely that it caused him to bleed. These allegations come after Diddy was hit with over 100 lawsuits, including 25 involving minors at the time of the abuse. One of the youngest victims mentioned in the lawsuits was a 9-year-old boy. Sean Diddy scandal: Ex-bodyguard accuses him of abusing Usher In a clip shared by internet personality Mario Nawfal on X, Gene Deal, Diddy's former bodyguard, talked about the alleged abuse Usher endured. When asked, "What happened to Usher?" Gene responded, “I heard from some music executive from the industry and I’m not gonna speak the name. They doing programmes and everything. And then some may wanna speak themselves but I heard it from some music executives.” The host pressed for more details, asking, "What did you hear?" Gene then revealed, “You know, how people be talking…at the time I didn’t know who the f*** Usher was. It was that type of situation. But people were saying, ‘Puff sent this kid to the hospital’ and he was bleeding from the butt.” About the horrific Sean Diddy scandal The music mogul was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on September 16 at 8:25 p.m. The next day, a 14-page indictment was unsealed, revealing the charges against him. He is accused of allegedly organizing several "freak offs," which prosecutors described as "elaborate and produced sex performances." He also allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted his victims. On September 18, Combs was denied bail for the second time and is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky, who denied his bail on September 17, cited concerns about his alleged "substance abuse and what seems like anger issues.I don't know that you can trust yourself" not to harm others," she said. According to PEOPLE, Combs is reportedly no longer on suicide watch."He is focused and very strong. He is concentrating on his defense and preparing for his trial," a lawyer for Combs told PEOPLE. Combs' next court appearance is scheduled for early October. (With inputs from ANI)
06 October,2024 10:22 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentOscar winning-actress Kate Winslet, who turns 49 on Saturday, says she doesn't want a "big" birthday celebration and instead wants to spend the year doing 50 “remarkable things.” "I don’t like big parties, and I can’t stand surprises. I want to spend the year doing 50 remarkable things, whether that’s a particular hike I’ve never done, or a place I’ve never been, acts of kindness — I’m gathering a little list," she told people.com. The “Lee” actress, who was initially married to Jim Threapleton and has Mia, 23, with him as well as 20-year-old Joe with second husband Sam Mendes and 10-year-old son Bear with Edward Abel SMith, became a household name after she featured in the 1997 blockbuster “Titanic” opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. One of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Winslet feels women should be able to "stand with pride" and look back on the things that they have achieved in life without coming across as arrogant, reports femalefirst.co.uk. She said: "The pride I feel is enormous in the things that I have been able to do. And to be able to say that I'm proud of myself matters, because I think that that's something else I hope to put out there — that women should be able to stand with pride and acknowledge that and not feel like they are bigging themselves up. "It's a self-acceptance and an awareness of doing something that is challenging and that feels impactful and takes effort like you wouldn't believe." Last month, the actress spoke about the different standards set for male and female actors. According to deadline.com, Winslet’s comments have included pushing back when a crew member advised her to suck in her stomach to hide her “belly rolls” during a topless scene and subsequently dismissing her reaction being hailed as “bravery.” Winslet went on to speak on the topic in an interview during History Channel’s “History Talks” at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Saturday, “I quite like making statements. And actually, I have to say, I’m at the point where I’m just like, You know what? Life is too short,” she said. “But it is one thing that’s been happening to me quite a lot recently, people will say to me, ‘Oh, my God, so you were so brave in this performance, you had no make-up, and you look really kind of crappy.’ And I think, do we say to the men, ‘You were so brave, you grew a beard?’ “And then there’s another one, how do you juggle being a mother and having a career?” she added. “Do we say, ‘How do you juggle being a father and having a career?’ I mean, we’ve got to change this dynamic.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
06 October,2024 07:57 AM IST | Los Angeles | IANSFilm: House of Spoils Cast: Ariana DeBose, Barbie Ferreira, Arian Moayed, Marton Csokas, Amara Karan, Mikkel Bratt Silset, Gabriel Drake, Imola GasparDirector: Danielle Krudy, Bridget Savage ColeRating: * * 1/2Runtime: 101 min An attempted horror genre flick about an ambitious chef who gives up a high-paying secure job of a sous-chef at a swanky restaurant in the city, to open a restaurant on an abandoned estate in the middle of nowhere - only to end up battling kitchen chaos at every turn, is fairly engrossing thanks to the lead, Oscar winner Ariana DeBose’s presence. Cole and Krudy’s script has a witchy ghost wreaking havoc on Chef’s plans of serving up an original menu in the potential fine dining establishment that she’d dreamed up with restauranteur Andres (Arian Moayed). Tensions mount, Chef’s behavior becomes erratic and the haunting history of the house swirls up creepy visions that put the fast-nearing opening day in a quandary. Her ex-boss (Marton Csokas) had warned her that such dreams are often paths to failure but Chef decides to take the plunge anyway. The obvious stresses plague her. The estate and the interiors need renovation and heavy-duty cleaning, the original menu takes a long time coming and a sous-chef Lucia (Barbie Ferreira) is thrust into the mix even though she might not be competent for the task. It may not be an ideal setup but Chef is up to the challenge until she experiences ghostly interference. Eric Lin’s gross imagery helps establish the estate’s witchy past. The narrative’s character study is lent some weight as a young woman is shown facing up to the pressures of her new job surrounded by men who hold all the cards. DeBose is confident and stamps her presence on every scene. Her confrontations with the ghost serve up some levity even while letting in a modicum of fear. House of Spoils may not be game enough to go full throttle at generating horror but it is fairly tasty in keeping its rudimentary rustic enchantment intact. This is not a slasher movie and has very little blood, gore, special effects to add weight to the mayhem. Writer/directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy second feature is presented with some flair and is light-weight and enjoyable enough to watch on a streaming platform. Presents a refreshing welcome change from the typical horror-thriller genre film.
05 October,2024 07:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasGet ready for a trip to Genovia! Anne Hathaway has confirmed that she will be back for Princess Diaries 3 after years of teasing. On Friday, she shared her excitement on Instagram, posting a video where she recreates her iconic line “shut up!” from the original The Princess Diaries. Anne Hathaway reprises role in 'The Princess Diaries 3' According to Variety, The Princess Diaries 3 is being produced by Debra Martin Chase, who started the film series. Anne Hathaway will also produce it through her Somewhere Pictures company. Late Friday night, Anne announced the news on her Instagram with a selfie video that included clips from the first two films as she recited the famous line “Shut up!” The film has been in the works for two years. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Anne Hathaway (@annehathaway) Last year, Anne mentioned in an interview with V Magazine that they were in a good spot but had nothing to share at the time. It looks like things have progressed even further since then! Anne Hathaway celebrates 20th anniversary of Princess Diaries Just a month ago Anne Hathaway took a walk down memory lane as she celebrated the 20th anniversary of her beloved film 'The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement'. Hathaway took to Instagram on August 7 to honour the milestone, simultaneously paying tribute to Kelly Clarkson, whose hit song 'Breakaway' features prominently on the film's soundtrack. In her Instagram post, the 41-year-old actress shared a series of nostalgic images from the 2004 film, which include snapshots with co-stars Chris Pine, Callum Blue, Julie Andrews, and director Garry Marshall. The post also includes a clip from Clarkson's music video for 'Breakaway,' capturing her attendance at the film's premiere. "Happy 20th anniversary to #PrincessDiaries2 and @kellyclarkson's Breakaway!" Hathaway wrote in her caption, celebrating both the film and the iconic song that helped define its soundtrack. 'The Princess Diaries' films were pivotal in Hathaway's rise to fame, with the actress portraying Mia Thermopolis, a young woman who discovers she is the heir to a fictional European throne. The sequel, 'The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement', centres on Mia's quest to find a suitable husband to retain her claim to the throne.Reflecting on his role in the film, Chris Pine recently shared that his salary of USD 65,000 for the role was a significant moment in his career, according to People magazine. In an earlier interview obtained by People magazine, Pine described receiving the offer as a life-changing event, despite the final amount being less than initially expected."It was like they had just told me I'd made USD 50 million," Pine recalled.
05 October,2024 10:19 AM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentSinger Kesha has revealed that her former beau broke up with her after she refused to take him to a party hosted by Grammy-winner Taylor Swift because she knew he was interested in her for her celebrity connections. The pop-singer, 37, who released her single Joyride earlier this year, revealed that the track was also inspired by the man she had been dating at the time. “The second it came out of my mouth, I was like, ‘This is my first single.’ It was me busting the door back down and saying, ‘No, no, it’s time to party again!’ We’re going to start with having fun, and then I’m going to try to dismantle all the shady. I had a feeling that he was in it for the wrong reasons,” she said in a recent interview. Kesha further added, “I decided to test that theory and took one of my friends instead of him to Taylor Swift’s party. He came over the next day and broke up with me.” Currently single, Kesha doesn’t shy away from admitting to giving herself importance after having the epiphany that she is “the one” for herself after years of looking for her soulmate. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
05 October,2024 08:34 AM IST | Los Angeles | AgenciesAn aggressive online promotional plan was charted out for The Apprentice, leading up to its October 18 release in India. But, with two weeks to go, the marketing team has encountered an unexpected hurdle. The biopic, which sees Sebastian Stan step into the shoes of former US President Donald Trump and also stars Jeremy Strong, has found its promotional campaign under fire after Meta’s platforms Facebook and Instagram have blocked all of the film’s reels. Reason? It turns out the parent company has stringent policies on content that touches on political themes, and blocks content that it interprets as political advertising or election-related messaging. Despite Ali Abbasi’s directorial venture tracing only Trump’s formative years, its association with the Republican nominee for the presidential race has drawn the attention of Meta’s AI-powered content detection system. That has made the film’s digital promotion tricky. An insider told mid-day, “While we knew The Apprentice would stir conversations, we didn’t expect Meta to block the reels entirely.” The source further adds, “Their AI systems seem to flag anything associated with Donald Trump, especially when it’s tied to elections, even if the content is unrelated to contemporary politics. It directs us to the policy on election advertising. We keep getting messages stating that these ads don’t comply with the platforms’ policy. Several accounts are getting deactivated for promoting this film.” Digital platforms have become an integral part of film promotions. With Instagram and Facebook blocking most of The Apprentice’s reels, the India marketing team is scrambling to change its strategy. Vishaal Shah, co-founder of a communication consulting firm working in the entertainment space, said that such a blanket blocking hinders them from reaching out to a wide audience. “When platforms restrict the promotion of content centred around Donald Trump in relation to The Apprentice, it hinders the ability to share key narratives about his life and career. Such limitations not only affect marketing strategies, but also deprive audiences of a well-rounded understanding of the topics the film aims to highlight,” he stated. Now, the team will have to resort to traditional methods of advertising to drum up the buzz before the biopic’s release. The source adds, “We are now strategising how to navigate this digital blockade. We are exploring other creative alternatives. We are also reaching out to media outlets and entertainment influencers, who may not be bound by such rigid content policies.” Meta’s strict stance on content is said to stem from its ongoing efforts to prevent the spread of misinformation during election periods. However, critics argue that these technologies sometimes apply overly broad restrictions, inadvertently censoring content that isn’t necessarily political. An employee of Meta India, on condition of anonymity, explained, “Meta’s policies surrounding elections have become increasingly cautious after the backlash from the 2016 and 2020 US elections, where the platform was accused of being a breeding ground for disinformation. In an effort to regain trust and control over the content circulating on its platforms, the company has since tightened its guidelines. But if the film’s marketing team reaches out to us and explains it, it can be rectified.” mid-day reached out to the US team of Meta, but did not receive an official response.
05 October,2024 07:16 AM IST | Mumbai | Mohar BasuStars like Rebel Wilson, Dave Bautista, Michael Buble, Jimmy Fallon, Daisy May Cooper and Tom Davies will feature in 'Jack in Time For Christmas', a special fronted by Jack Whitehall. Produced by Workerbee and Whitehall's Jackpot Productions, the project will launch exclusively on Prime Video worldwide in December, Variety reported. The show, part scripted comedy, part unscripted traveloge, will see Whitehall (whose recent big screen credits include "Jungle Cruise" and "Clifford the Big Red Dog") find himself stranded in the U.S. with just four days to make it back to the U.K. for Christmas. With time ticking away, he embarks on a journey involving planes, trains, huskies, and bobsleighs. As per the description, "a stockingful of conveniently located famous faces help (and hinder) along the way as Jack navigates the chaos of Christmas and tries to make it home in time." Meanwhile, Prime Video is launching a one-off special from "Clarkson's Farm" star Kaleb Cooper's national theater tour of "The World According to Kaleb" The show will launch globally on November 29.
04 October,2024 03:54 PM IST | Washington | ANIIn an exciting development for literature and fans alike, Reese Witherspoon is set to make her debut as a published author. The announcement, made by her and Ben Sevier, president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing, reveals that Witherspoon will collaborate with renowned author Harlan Coben on a new suspense novel. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Reese Witherspoon (@reesewitherspoon) This forthcoming novel is based on an original concept from Witherspoon, who expressed her enthusiasm in a statement: "To say I am a fan of Harlan's body of work is a massive understatement. The fact that he found my idea for this thriller intriguing enough to want to partner with me on it as co-author is a dream becoming a reality," she said, as per The Hollywood Reporter. She added that brainstorming with Coben about how to captivate readers with intricate characters and plot twists has been "more fun than I can describe." Coben, who has written numerous bestsellers and created various popular television adaptations, also shared his excitement about the collaboration. "I've been a huge Reese Witherspoon fan for years," he said, adding, "Once we began discussing her idea, there was no turning back. Collaborating with Reese has been a pure joy and so creatively rewarding." Despite this being her first novel, Witherspoon is not new to the literary landscape. In 2016, she founded the media brand Hello Sunshine, which aims to spotlight women in storytelling across various platforms. Additionally, her Reese's Book Club has helped several selected titles achieve bestseller status and adapt into successful screen productions, including 'Daisy Jones & The Six' and 'Little Fires Everywhere'. Witherspoon also took to Instagram to share her excitement, humorously noting, "As a massive fan of Harlan's work, I can't believe he agreed to co-author a novel with me. I'm either the most persuasive person alive or the idea of this book is just TOO GOOD! Maybe both??" The North American rights for the novel were secured by Sevier in collaboration with literary agents from CAA and the Aaron M. Priest Literary Agency, as per The Hollywood Reporter. The book is set for publication in fall 2025, with simultaneous releases planned for the U.K. and Commonwealth territories through Century, a division of Penguin Random House UK. Sevier commented on the collaboration, stating, "Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben working together is a powerhouse collaboration that I wouldn't have dared to dream up. It is clear that their book will be supercharged by the combination of their enormous storytelling gifts." In addition to his successful writing career, Coben has created and produced various television adaptations, including Netflix's 'Fool Me Once' and 'Stay Close'. He is also set to debut new series on Netflix and Prime Video.
04 October,2024 03:07 PM IST | Washington | ANIIn a candid appearance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' recently, Jennifer Aniston addressed a variety of rumours and tabloid stories about herself, shedding light on both their truth and absurdity. The 55-year-old 'Friends' star began by tackling a particularly eyebrow-raising claim that she had a secret romance with former President Barack Obama. "Of all the calls you get from your publicist where you're like, 'Oh no, what's it gonna be?' Or the emails saying some cheesy tabloid's going to make up a story and then it's that," she joked, adding, "I was not mad at it." However, Aniston clarified, "I know Michelle [Obama] more than him," she said, as per E! News, Aniston also confirmed some unconventional rumours, including her experience with a salmon sperm facial. "Don't I look like a salmon? Don't I have beautiful salmon skin?" she quipped, embracing the bizarre tale. Perhaps even more shocking, she acknowledged travelling internationally with jars of olives and, surprisingly, a Ziplock bag containing her late therapist's ashes. "Can I plead the... it's a little true," Aniston said with a chuckle, adding, "Oh, I'm gonna sound like I really need a therapist after this. It's a long story." Additionally, Aniston reminisced about her childhood, revealing that one of her art pieces once hung in New York's Museum of Modern Art. As per E! News, the interview took a lighter turn when Kimmel asked if her family truly made her belly dance during Christmas Eve gatherings. "Anytime, not just Christmas Eve," she responded, sharing how her Greek heritage led to these family performances. "The Greeks love any kind of a family dinner. Yes, they would say, 'Let's get up and watch'... I get such anxiety when friends do that with their children because of the inner trauma from having to perform and belly dance in front of my great aunts and uncles and grandmothers," she said.
04 October,2024 03:04 PM IST | Washington | ANIFilm: Killer Heat (Amazon Prime)Cast: Richard Madden, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley, Babou Ceesay, Clare Holman, Abbey Lee, Manos Gavras, Argyris GaganisDirector: Philippe LacôteRating: 2/5Runtime: 97 min. “Killer Heat” based on “The Jealousy Man,” a short story by popular Norwegian crime novelist Jo Nesbø, lacks the intrigue, suspense, tension or effect that the story had in its written form. This film with noir elements fails to make it count because of its lack of intensity and storytelling smarts. Penelope Vardakis (Shailene Woodley), the wealthy trapped wife of a shipping-company CEO based in Crete has summoned expat PI Nick Bali to investigate the case of her brother-in-law’s purportedly accidental death while undertaking a high-risk adventure sport of free-solo climbing up a vertical rockface. Bali’s investigation has to be under wraps supposedly because the Vardakis family controls the police force and reigns over more or less everyone else on the island. Penny believes that there was something fishy behind his death. Unfortunately, as an audience we find it rather difficult to get invested in this silly plot even when its presented with all the seriousness of a ‘noir’ project. ‘Killer Heat’ doesn’t generate any heat even with a bedroom sequence included in the overall runtime. The central conceit is about twins competing with each other for a woman and since the narrative is pointedly post the death of one of the twins, we never get to see any real friction between the brothers, or of Penelope’s dilemma of having to choose one over the other. Since money is not the main factor here, the stakes don’t feel very high either. “Killer Heat” is just a murder mystery caught up in a love triangle that feels more like opportunism. The Jeremy Irons film ‘Dead Ringers’ with a similar conceit had much better smarts and was far more satisfying too. The narrative here just plays its card close to the chest and as a result fails to sustain either motive or passion. Nick seems to have a drinking problem and appears to be grappling with his own relationship issues. The shadow of his wife’s affair creeps into the current investigation without making much of a dent. The eventual whodunit resolution feels a little too convenient for comfort. Shailene Woodley is earnest while Gordon-Levitt, plays it casual so there’s no real intensity for the audience to gravitate to either.
04 October,2024 01:33 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasFilm: White BirdCast: Ariella Glaser, Orlando Schwerdt, Bryce Gheisar, Gillian Anderson, Helen Mirren, Jo Stone-Fewings, Patsy Ferran, Stuart McQuarrieDirector: Marc ForsterRating: 2.5/5Runtime: 120 min A fairly moving tale about kindness during Nazi brutality, this film is an adaptation of a YA graphic novel, “Wonder Story” by R.J. Palacio. A largely period set-up, this film has Helen Mirren playing a glorified cameo as the older woman who was once a young Jewish girl, Sara, caught in the crossfires of Hitlers Progrom in Nazi- Occupied France. Grandmere, as she is now referred to, tells her poignant story to her grandson, a highschooler, Julian Albans (Bryce Gheisar) who was suspended from Beecher Prep for being a bully. She is obviously trying to highlight her own survival during that dastardly period because of the kindness of a French family and their son, her schoolmate, who took great risks to keep her safe. Her grandson’s eventual capitulation doesn’t ring true or work up any emotion though. The narrative begins with Julian’s rustication and shift to a new school before setting up the central conceit about 15 year old Sara’s (Ariella Glacer) eventual escape after spending a year and more in hiding, beginning in the fall of 1942. Marc Foster’s narrative takes the earnest, sincere and fairly interesting route to telling this story. But the development of it is a little fractured and unsatisfying. We don’t really get to experience the closeness between Grandmere and Julian, her grandson, as the narrative concentrates on contrasting the grandson’s school-time fracas with that of Sara’s hiding and escape from Nazi brutality, when she was just a mere schoolgirl herself. This film’s major fault-line lies in trying to thrust Grandmere’s point-of-view without first establishing a closeness between Sara, now an accomplished and celebrated artist, and her grandson. Contriving an unannounced visit from Grandmère Sara, doesn’t sit well exactly. The performances are competent enough though. Primarily aimed at a target audience between the ages of 8 and 16, this adaptation of Palacio’s book manages to factor in appropriate messaging, symbolism and imagery. Forster’s visual sensibility may be refined but his storytelling craft doesn’t feel smooth or compelling. Matthias Konigswieser’s inviting cinematography lends a storybook quality to the telling and Mark Bomback’s screenplay stays fairly true to its novel origins. But the uneven pacing between dual timelines, contrived plot elements and obviously manipulative ending counters the effects earned from the largely gritty tone. It may well be understood that this old-fashioned call to virtue is Marc Foster’s way of warning the modern world of how burgeoning fascist sentiment could derail humanity. And for that alone, this movie is worth seeing!
04 October,2024 01:27 PM IST | Mumbai | Johnson ThomasADVERTISEMENT
