Harry Potter co-stars of Sir Michael Gambon, who played Professor Albus Dumbledore in six films, are among those paying tribute to the stage and screen legend after his death aged 82
Daniel Radcliffe said the “brilliant, effortless” actor “loved his job but never seemed defined by it”.
Emma Watson thanked Sir Michael for “showing us what it looks like to wear greatness lightly”.
Writer JK Rowling hailed a “wonderful man” and “outstanding actor”.
Another Potter star, Fiona Shaw, said Sir Michael has shown during his long and varied life that he “could do anything” as an actor.
The Dublin-born actor, who died in hospital after a bout of pneumonia, worked in TV, film, theatre and radio in his six-decade career. He won four Baftas.
Sir Michael’s family had moved to London when he was a child but he made his very first stage performance in Ireland, in a production of Othello in Dublin in 1962.
His career took off when he became one of the original members of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre acting company in London. He went on to win three Olivier awards for performances in National Theatre productions.
Although he always regarded his theatre work as the most important, he won acclaim for a series of key TV and cinema roles in the 1980s and 1990s.
These included the ground-breaking and controversial BBC One drama The Singing Detective, in which he played the eponymous sleuth in a complex tale from writer Dennis Potter.
He played a very different detective, Parisian Jules Maigret, in two series of an ITV adaptation of Georges Simenon’s classic novels, and portrayed Oscar Wilde in 1985 in a three-part BBC Two series focused on the writer’s criminal trial and imprisonment.
One of his most memorable cinematic outings was as the gluttonous and irredeemable “thief” in 1989’s The Cook, the Thief, his Wife and her Lover,
Dame Helen Mirren – who played his adulterous wife, said he was a “naughty but very, very funny” friend.
In an interview for this weekend’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Dame Helen recalled how he had kept her “constantly in laughter” during filming and also when they appeared on stage in Antony and Cleopatra seven years previously.
She added that in recent times the two had discussed growing older, and how that affected their work:
Sir Michael was “utterly realistic” about his situation, she said. “He found it increasingly difficult to remember lines, which I have the greatest of sympathy with, and that sort of took him away from theatre,” she said.
Sir Michael played Dumbledore in six Harry Potter filmsHarry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe described Sir Michael as one of the most “brilliant, effortless” actors
Other notable film roles in the following decade saw him playing opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest names, in big-screen hits such as Toys, Sleepy Hollow, Gosford Park. There was even time for a comedic cameo as the prime minister in Ali G Indahouse.
‘Magnificent trickster’
But when a fellow acting titan, Richard Harris, died in 2002, Sir Michael accepted the challenge of succeeding him in the role of Dumbledore – headmaster of wizarding school Hogwarts – in the hit Harry Potter series.
In her tribute on X, formerly Twitter, JK Rowling – the creator of the books – said: “The first time I ever laid eyes on him was in King Lear, in 1982, and if you’d told me then that brilliant actor would appear in anything I’d written, I’d have thought you were insane.
“Michael was a wonderful man in additional to being an outstanding actor, and I absolutely loved working with him, not only on Potter but also The Casual Vacancy.”
As Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe ended up working with Sir Michael throughout his teenage years and he issued a statement that said: “Michael Gambon was one of the most brilliant, effortless actors I’ve ever had the privilege of working with,but, despite his immense talent, the thing I will remember most about him is how much fun he had doing his job.”
Recalling Sir Michael’s habit of “blurring the lines of fact and fiction” when speaking to journalists at press event, Radcliffe added: He was silly, irreverent and hilarious. He loved his job, but never seemed defined by it.”
Emma Watson, who played Hermione Grainger, said in a post on Instagram: “You never took it too seriously but somehow delivered the most serious moments with all the gravitas.”
Rupert Grint said his “personal role model” had “brought so much warmth and mischief to every day on set”.
Jason Isaacs, who played Lucius Malfoy in the series, wrote on social media: “I learned what acting could be from Michael in The Singing Detective – complex, vulnerable and utterly human.
“The greatest thrill of being in the Potter films was that he knew my name and shared his fearless, filthy sense of fun with me.”
Fiona Shaw, who played Petunia Dursley in the films, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “He varied his career remarkably and never judged what he was doing, he just played.”
She said she would always think of him “as a trickster, just a brilliant, magnificent trickster”, adding: “With text, there was nothing like him. He could do anything.”
The actor had an illustrious theatre career
And James Phelps, who played Fred Weasley in the films, called Sir Michael “a legend” in a tribute on X, formerly known as Twitter.
He also recalled that Sir Michael once offered to go over lines one weekend when he had a part in Peter and the Wolf with the Manchester Halle Orchestra.
“We spent what should have been his downtime going over my weekend gig. It is a memory that I’ve always had as one of the highlights of my (Harry Potter) days,” he said.
Dame Joan Collins, who played Sir Michael’s wife in BBC sitcom Mama’s Back in 1993, called him a “great actor and great fun”.
Dame Eileen Atkins, a longstanding friend of Sir Michael, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One he was “a great actor, but he always pretended he didn’t take it very seriously” and that he had amazing stage presence.
“He just had to walk on stage and he commanded the whole audience immediately,” she said. “There was something very sweet about him, this huge man who could look very frightening – but there was something incredibly sweet inside Michael.”
She added: “I will always remember that man.”
Sir Michael starred alongside Sir Michael Caine in 2018 film King of Theives
‘The Great Gambon’
His other film work that he juggled alongside the Potter movies in later years included the big screen adaptation of Dad’s Army and the King’s Speech, in which he portrayed King George V, father of the stammering King George VI.
He was nominated for Emmy awards for his role as Mr Woodhouse in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma in 2010, and for playing President Lyndon B Johnson in Path to War in 2002. He also got a Tony nomination in 1997 for a role in David Hare play Skylight.
He was knighted for services to the entertainment industry in 1998. Although Irish-born, he had become a British citizen in his childhood.
The actor, known as “The Great Gambon” in acting circles, had last appeared on stage in 2012 in a London production of Samuel Beckett’s play All That Fall.
American actor Ryan Phillippe said he felt “so lucky” to work with Sir Michael on Gosford Park. He recalled that Sir Michael was in his 60s at the time and he was only 25, but they “got along like schoolmates due to his irrepressibly youthful spirit”.
“The car rides home from work, in his vintage convertible, at breakneck speed, with the Stones full volume on the radio, will stay with me forever.. Rest in peace, mate,” he said in a post on X.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar paid tribute, saying: “A great actor. Whether performing in Beckett, Dennis Potter or Harry Potter, he gave his all to every performance.”
May Edochie, the estranged spouse of Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, has found herself overwhelmed with joy as she received a cash gift of ₦5 million (equivalent to US$6,276) from her fans.
This surprise came as part of the celebrations for her recent birthday, leaving her deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from her admirers.
May had organized a charity event to mark her birthday, which saw the presence of several notable Nollywood actresses, including Uche Nnanna, Anita Joseph, and Rita Edochie, among others.
Videos circulating online captured the emotional moment when May was presented with this generous gift, a collaboration between her fans and actress Anita Joseph.
Expressing her heartfelt appreciation, May found it difficult to put her emotions into words, as this incredible surprise touched her profoundly.
She emphasised the extraordinary aspect of this gesture, as she had never personally met or interacted with any of these individuals who showered her with this indescribable love.
“I was made to understand that @patienceblogs pulled this stunt on her YouTube channel (Patience Blog Official) in conjunction with @realanitajoseph and @bella_jordie. Words cannot describe the moment this awesome surprise came during @maysoasisfoundation PROJECT FEED & EMPOWER A WIDOW!”
In a touching Instagram post, May expressed her gratitude, saying, “I’ve never seen or met any of you yet you show me unexplainable love. Thanks, y’all from deep within for this gesture and generosity. May God bless and reward y’all immensely.”
May Edochie also humorously acknowledged @cutemisianoskincare for their part in this heartwarming conspiracy, while appreciating their ability to keep a secret.
On Wednesday, exactly a year and two months after their shocking divorce, Nollywood star Funke Akindele and her ex-husband, JJC Skillz, reunited at the premiere of ‘She Must be Obeyed.’
Funke is the lead star in She Must be Obeyed, a captivating five-part mini-series delving into the intriguing world of stardom and secrets, the series debuts exclusively on Prime Video on 29 September.
Produced by SceneOne Entertainment, the series was directed by the once inseparable duo, three years before their divorce.
It seems to mark their last major collaboration under the aegis of SceneOne Production, a company they both founded in 2016.
It was in July 2022, that JJC Skillz revealed on social media that their marriage of six years had ended despite being parents of twin sons.
Funke Akindele, ex-husband reunite at movie premiere
However, the premiere of ‘She Must be Obeyed,’ an event graced by a lot of Nollywood stars including, Femi Adebayo, Olumide Oworu, and Lateef Adedimeji, reunited the couple again.
Fans and admirers were taken aback by the unforeseen reunion between the former power couple at the grand premiere of their latest mini-series.
A standout moment of the evening occurred when JJC Skillz, and Funke Akindele were caught on camera being genuinely cordial.
They delighted onlookers with an impromptu dance and an affectionate hug, leaving the audience in awe of their renewed friendship.
Funke Akindele, ex-husband reunite at movie premiere
Their reunion at this event is reminiscent of their previous encounter at the 2022 AMVCA awards, where they stood united in the face of persistent divorce rumours.
The intrigue surrounding their reunion is compounded by the fact that JJC Skillz has remarried while Funke is single.
This unanticipated reunion is their second public appearance together following their divorce announcement, the first being during the 2022 AMVCA awards ceremony in Lagos.
An Unforeseen Parting of Ways
After seven years of marriage and the birth of twin sons in 2018, JJC Skillz and Funke Akindele parted ways.
Together, they enjoyed a fruitful partnership, achieving milestones such as producing Nollywood’s highest-grossing movie, ‘Omo Ghetto: the Saga II,’ which raked in over N600m at the box office.
Their jointly-owned entertainment company, SceneOne Production, also birthed acclaimed shows like ‘Jenifa’s Diary,’ ‘Industreet,’ and ‘My Siblings & I.’
Also, nine months after the announcement of their separation, JJC Skillz embarked on a new chapter in his life, marrying Falilat Raji, a native of Kogi state, in a private ceremony held in Kano on 10th February.
Videos and pictures of the wedding surfaced on social media, adding another layer of complexity to the unfolding narrative of their intertwined lives.
All these happened while Funke was busy running for the position of Deputy Governor of Lagos State, a position she failed to snag during the last general election.
Despite widespread speculation about the cause of the divorce, Funke chose to keep mum regarding the intricacies of their separation.
However, destiny had other plans as the two found themselves side by side at the premiere of ‘She Must Be Obeyed,’ a project they had jointly produced and directed before their marital dissolution.
Nollywood actress, Linda Osifo, has revealed that she contemplated bleaching her skin while in Canada because of racial slurs.
The actress, who was born in Benin City, Nigeria, before moving to Canada at 16, said the racism she suffered was traumatising for her because it came from “within”.
She disclosed this in a recent interview with media personality, Chude Jideonwo.
The host, Chude, asked: “You talked about wanting to bleach your skin because when you grow up people would call me a monkey (sic). [Did] this literally happen?”
Osifo replied: “Yeah. It happens absolutely. And it happens from your shade too, you know. So, that’s why it’s even more of a weird thing.”
Linda Osifo
“I always feel that those who get bullied, don’t get bullied by outsiders. It’s from within. Because if somebody else says it, you may not care but if somebody who is around you, who you are always kinda seeing every other day says it, it hurts more.”
“This was when I was a teenager in Canada. The positive aspect of moving [back] to Nigeria, was seeing more of individuals who look just like me.”
She added that relocating to Nigeria made her appreciate herself more.
Ghanaian actress, Bella Agyeman, has ventured into movie production with a new web series, Eva, that tales relocation to Accra for hook-up business.
The young and ambitious Ghanaian actress ventured into the movie scene in 2020 and has been featured in 10 movies including ‘Till Sunset’, ‘Khutam’, ‘Homecoming’, ‘Eno’, ‘Our husband’ among others.
After working with top producers like Abdul Salam, Venus Films, and Shirley Frimpong Manso, the ‘ Too Good To Be True’ actress has derived enough inspiration to take the mantle of telling her unique stories through her self-produced movies.
Poised to be one of Ghana’s new school producers, Bella Agyeman has announced a newly shot series titled ‘Eva’.
Giving a spoiler of what story Eva will be telling, Bella said “Eva is a comic, educative series which portrays a young girl coming to the city to hustle. Her hustling is not to work hard but to sleep with big men to make money“.
Bella has told reporters at the launch of the series that Eva is a non-fictional story with fictional characters that will highlight and expose the hookup shenanigans in Accra.
“Hookup as some of you know, is a term that refers to sleeping with men for money, it is happening live in Accra and it will shock you to know the popular people who engaged in it. It is a serious matter,” she said.
Though she played the lead role as Eva, Bella Agyeman says the story is not entirely about her. “I won’t say much, I’ll leave the rest for you to discover after watching the series,” she told reporters who asked if Eva is her true story.
According to the actress famed for her appearance in TV commercials for Lufart, London Biscuit, Polythank, Game Park, Tasty Tom, Betika among others, her new series, Eva, will be released in episodes exclusive to her YouTube channel.
The exact date for the release of the first episode is yet to be announced by the actress. However, she has dropped the trailer for the new series which features Andy Tetteh, Sabina Dzifa, Benson The Actor, Efe Clemenand other budding actors and actresses.
The actor Sir Michael Gambon has died aged 82, his family has said.
He was best known for playing Professor Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight Harry Potter films.
The Dublin-born star worked in TV, film, theatre and radio over his six-decade career. He won four Baftas.
His widow Lady Gambon and son Fergus said their “beloved husband and father” died peacefully in hospital with his family by his side, following a bout of pneumonia.
Sir Michael’s family had moved to London when he was a child but he made his very first stage performance in Ireland, in a production of Othello in Dublin in 1962.
His career took off when he became one of the original members of Laurence Olivier’s National Theatre acting company in London. He went on to win three Olivier awards for performances in National Theatre productions.
He played French detective Jules Maigret in ITV series Maigret and was also known for his role as Philip Marlow in Dennis Potter’s The Singing Detective on the BBC.
Sir Michael took on the role of Dumbledore – headmaster of wizarding school Hogwarts – in the hit Harry Potter series, based on JK Rowling’s novels, after the death of Richard Harris in 2003.
Fiona Shaw, who played Petunia Dursley in the films, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One: “He varied his career remarkably and never judged what he was doing, he just played.”
She said she would always think of him “as a trickster, just a brilliant, magnificent trickster”, adding: “With text, there was nothing like him. He could do anything.”
Sir Michael played Dumbledore in six Harry Potter films
Dame Eileen Atkins, a longstanding friend of Sir Michael, told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One he was “a great actor, but he always pretended he didn’t take it very seriously” and that he had amazing stage presence.
“He just had to walk on stage and he commanded the whole audience immediately,” she said. “There was something very sweet about him, this huge man who could look very frightening – but there was something incredibly sweet inside Michael.”
She added: “I will always remember that man.”
‘The Great Gambon’
His other film work includes the big screen adaptation of Dad’s Army, Gosford Park and the King’s Speech, in which he portrayed King George V, father of the stammering King George VI.
He was nominated for Emmy awards for his role as Mr Woodhouse in an adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma in 2010, and for playing President Lyndon B Johnson in Path to War in 2002. He also got a Tony nomination in 1997 for a role in David Hare’s play Skylight.
He was knighted for services to the entertainment industry in 1998. Although Irish-born, he had become a British citizen in his childhood.
The actor, known as “The Great Gambon” in acting circles, had last appeared on stage in 2012 in a London production of Samuel Beckett’s play All That Fall.
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar paid tribute, saying: “A great actor. Whether performing in Beckett, Dennis Potter or Harry Potter, he gave his all to every performance.”
A flying saucer seen by a guest house, a 7ft alien-like figure coming out of a hedge and a “cigar-shaped” UFO near a schoolyard. These are just some of the 450 reported extraterrestrial encounters from one of the UK’s largest mass sightings in a remote Welsh village.
The village of Broad Haven has since been described as the “Bermuda Triangle” of mysterious craft sightings and sightings of strange beings.
Residents who reported these encounters across a single year in the late seventies have now told their story to the new Netflix documentary series ‘Encounters’, made by Steven Spielberg’s production company.
It all happened back in 1977, when the Cold War was at its height and Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind – Spielberg’s first science fiction blockbuster – dominated the box office.
Broad Haven’s headteacher said he was surprised that the drawings from his pupils were so similiar
BROAD HAVEN SCHOOL
There was a heightened awareness of things from out of this world – and the west Wales village made international headlines when 16 schoolchildren claimed to witness a UFO in the Pembrokeshire sky.
What is the ‘Broad Haven Triangle’?
“The spaceship looked like a cigar shape with a dome on it with yellowy, orange to red light on the top of it,” one child told BBC cameras at the time.
Another child said he didn’t just see a UFO, adding: “I saw a man, but I couldn’t see its face because it was too far away.”
Now more than 45 years later, those 10-year-olds who reported the strange sights during lunchtime at Broad Haven primary school still insist this was no childish hoax.
David Davies, 57, said he was initially sceptical when his school friends rushed back into class from the playground claiming to have seen a spaceship.
“I totally regarded the story as being nonsense as to me flying saucers didn’t exist,” he said. “They were in bad 1950s sci-fi movies or in tabloid newspapers.”
Expecting to dismiss the fuss as just kids telling tales, he went out to see for himself – and still remains stunned as to what he said he witnessed.
David Davies has said UFOs has been a subject which has gone on to “dominate” his life
“From behind some trees, this thing popped up in front of me,” he said.
“It was silver, cigar-shaped and about 45ft long and there was just this thought that came into my mind that I had to run away.
“Mothers can tell when you’re lying and [mine] was absolutely convinced what I was saying was the truth.”
The pupils were asked to draw and write an account of what they saw on their return to school by school headmaster Ralph Llewhellin, who separated the children to ensure there was no copying.
Pupil drawings taken from Broad Haven school’s 1977 UFO scrapbook
“It’s not like today, there was no social media or mobile phones so there was no opportunity to have collaborated,” David said.
Mr Llewellyn later told the BBC’s children’s current affairs show John Craven’s Newsround that all the descriptions were “similar”.
Where were the other UFO sightings?
The school field spaceship sighting was just the first of what another former pupil called “some pretty strange” goings-on.
As the media descended on the small village, other locals also reported close encounters with strange crafts and creatures.
The Broad Haven pupil’s sightings sparked a media frenzy
A few months after the schoolyard sighting, hotel owner Rose Granville – who lived a few hundred yards down the coast – reported seeing a spacecraft just as she was going to bed.
“She looked through the window and saw this thing sort of hovering,” her daughter Francine recalled to Encounters.
“These two figures came out of it. They looked a little unsteady.”
Rose reported them having “very long arms and legs” with no facial features. The Granvilles said the spaceship had left a scorch mark and a ridge on the ground where it had landed.
X-Files from the government later showed Rose had written to her local MP on Haven Fort Hotel-headed notepaper, explaining that the event “left me greatly agitated and disturbed and not the least bit desirous of another encounter”.
A month or two later, and a few miles around the Marloes peninsula, Mark Morston claimed he saw not only a spaceship while walking alone – but also said he came face-to-face with a figure.
Mark Morston said he came face-to-face with a 7ft figure that stepped out into the road in front of him
Netflix
Claiming he saw an “upside down saucer in a glow” on a ridge near his house, he then described hearing a rustle in the hedge further down the road.
“This thing stepped out of the hedge,” said Mark. “It was a good 7ft tall, it had a silver suit with a motorbike visor as a face.
“I thought ‘that’s not a man, no way is that a man’. It started walking towards me and I thought ‘this is not happening’.
“I was quite scared. It kept walking, so I legged it.”
The next day Mark returned to the scene with his dad where he said they found a huge footprint in the mud “too big to be an ordinary man”.
Broad Haven is a small seaside resort with a population of less than 1,000 people
Google
Mark’s uncle and aunt later told a TV reporter they saw an 8ft (2.4m) featureless silver figure outside their isolated farmhouse.
The police were called to that incident, and the officer who took the call from the family later stated “in all of my 26 years service, that’s the most frightened family I’ve come across”.
Why are Spielberg producers doing a Welsh UFO doc?
It wasn’t so much the Welsh Roswell, but the multiple sightings of flying saucers did give the area the nickname ‘The Broad Haven Triangle’.
Producers scoured Europe for a story that was out of this world, but chose the “incredible” Welsh story because it wasn’t just one encounter.
“There [were] hundreds and hundreds of people that said they witnessed something,” said Encounters director Yon Motskin, who was approached by Spielberg’s production house Amblin Television.
“That critical mass with 450 people is huge and also entertaining.”
Critics have suggested the unexplained aircraft were planes heading to the former nearby Royal Air Force base at Brawdy. But those who say they have seen UFOs insist what they saw were not jets.
How does a UFO encounter affect you?
Yon points out that many of the those who spoke publicly in 1977 about having a close encounter didn’t benefit from telling their story.
In fact it impacted some negatively – including David Davies.
“What I didn’t enjoy was the attention it brought me,” David said.
“My first four years of secondary school were horrendous, I was getting physically assaulted on an almost daily basis.
“Most of the time they wanted me to say I hadn’t seen a UFO and that I was lying. But I couldn’t go back on my principles and say I was lying when I wasn’t.”
Legendary film director Steven Spielberg gave his “blessing” to the Broad Haven UFO and alien encounter story in his studio’s latest Netflix release
GETTY IMAGES
The out-of-this-world story eventually attracted interest from Amblin – the film house renowned for making science fiction smash hits like E.T, Back to the Future, War of the Worlds, Men in Black and Jurassic Park – and is part of the new four-part series.
The Black Book has become Netflix’s “biggest ever” Nigerian film, its director has said.
The action movie, which arrived on Netflix last Friday, follows a deacon who takes justice into his own hands after his late son is framed for kidnapping.
Director Editi Effiòng said on X, the social media platform formally known as Twitter: “Just got off a call with Netflix. #TheBlackBook is a global hit! The biggest film out of Nigeria on Netflix ever.”
Data from the popular streaming platform shows that in the two days following its release, The Black Book was watched 5,600,000 times.
It also became that week’s fourth most-watched film.
The Black Book was released on September 26 and stars Richard Mofe-Damijo, Ade Laoye, Alex Usifo, Olumide Oworu, Shaffy Bello and more.
Netflix has boosted its collection of African-made films and TV shows over the past five years, adding popular products such as South Africa’s Blood and Water and pan-African reality TV show Young Famous and African.
Oscar-winning Italian film star Sophia Loren, a national icon and one of the most enduring movie divas of the 20th century, has had surgery after a fall in her home in Geneva, her spokesperson said on Monday.
The operation on Loren, 89, “went well and now she needs to rest and everything will be resolved,” the spokesperson told Reuters in an email.
He gave no details but said Italian media reports were correct. The reports said she had an accidental fall in her home in Geneva on Sunday and had suffered a broken hip.
Loren has won two Oscars, the first in 1961 for her tragic portrayal of a war-time mother in Vittorio De Sica’s neo-realistic classic “La Ciociara” (Two Women). The second was a career award in 1991.
Some of her most memorable and successful film were made with fellow Italian co-star Marcello Mastroianni, who died in 1996. She has also co-stared with Cary Grant, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Paul Newman, among other 20th century film giants.
Her most recent starring role was in 2020’s “La Vita Davanti a Se” (The Life Ahead).
In it, she plays a former prostitute and Holocaust survivor who looks after children of working prostitutes in the southern Italian city of Bari and helps an orphaned Senegalese migrant boy who had robbed her.
It was directed by her son, Edoardo Ponti.
News of the fall and hospitalisation was first reported on the Facebook page of Sophia Loren Restaurant, a chain of venues that bears her name.
It said she had been planning to open a new one, the fourth in Italy, in Bari on Tuesday.
The Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike is officially over.
On the 148th day of the work stoppage, the board of the WGA West and the council of the WGA East voted unanimously on Tuesday to lift the strike order as of 12:01 a.m. PT on Wednesday, following a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
That means writers can go back to work as of Wednesday even before the final ratification vote.
The ratification vote will be held from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9. The WGA will hold member meetings on both coasts this week in person and on Zoom to discuss the details of the contract. Given the enthusiastic endorsement of the WGA negotiating committee, it is expected to be easily ratified by strike-weary members.
The vote to lift the strike order followed unanimous votes by the WGA’s negotiating committtee, the WGA West board and the WGA East council to send the contract to members for ratification.
The WGA West will hold a member meeting Wednesday night at 7 p.m. PT the Hollywood Palladium. The WGA East will convene the same night at Manhattan Center at 6 p.m. ET. Zoom meetings will be held Thursday at 5 p.m. PT and Friday at 11 a.m. PT.
The WGA also released the complete 94-page contract and a summary of the new terms. The deal includes gains in compensation, a new requirement for minimum staff levels in TV writers rooms, improvement payment terms for screenwriters and protections for the use of artificial intelligence in the writing process. Per the guild’s agreement:
AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, and AI-generated material will not be considered source material under the MBA, meaning that AI-generated material can’t be used to undermine a writer’s credit or separated rights.
A writer can choose to use AI when performing writing services, if the company consents and provided that the writer follows applicable company policies, but the company can’t require the writer to use AI software (e.g., ChatGPT) when performing writing services.
The Company must disclose to the writer if any materials given to the writer have been generated by AI or incorporate AI-generated material.
The WGA reserves the right to assert that exploitation of writers’ material to train AI is prohibited by MBA or other law.
The unanimous decision to end the strike comes two days after the writers and Hollywood studios successfully concluded talks for a new three-year deal on Sept. 24. Following a marathon negotiation session, the two sides were able to find compromises on key sticking points, including generative AI in the creative process, minimum staffing requirements for writers rooms and streaming residuals.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA said in a statement announcing the tentative deal Sunday.
WGA and AMPTP have yet to release the details of the tentative agreement, which WGA membership will vote to ratify in the coming days. Before the contract goes wide to the guild for that vote, the WGA negotiation committee must first vote to send it along to the WGA West and WGA East boards for approval, and the boards have to OK the document before it is sent to the larger membership for a ratification vote.
The WGA’s vote to end the strike order puts an official end to the work stoppage, which was still in effect as of Sunday, when the WGA told membership: “To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then. But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing. Instead, if you are able, we encourage you to join the SAG-AFTRA picket lines this week. “
The SAG-AFTRA is still picketing the AMPTP, awaiting its turn to return to the negotiating table amid its 75-day strike.
Renowned Nollywood actor, Pa Yemi Lawrence Adeyemi, affectionately known as Suara, has passed away.
The veteran actor’s family confirmed his passing on Sunday, September 25th, 2023, in an official statement released on Monday. They, however, did not disclose the cause of his demise.
Suara, a household name since his role in the Super Story series titled ‘Oh Father! Oh Daughter!,’ portrayed the character of a polygamist, sharing the screen with Buky Wright as his first wife and Sola Shobowale as his second wife.
According to a statement signed by his son, Adedotun Adeyemi, Suara actually passed away on Sunday, September 24th, 2023.
Adedotun expressed their deep sorrow, saying, “It is with heavy hearts and profound submission to God that we announce the departure of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, Oluyemi Lawrence Adeyemi (Suara), who peacefully passed away on Sunday, September 24th, 2023.”
“We take solace in the knowledge that he now rests in peace. During this grieving period, we kindly ask for privacy. Further details about the funeral arrangements will be shared soon.”
Suara gained widespread recognition through his role in the 2001 hit series ‘Super Story,’ created by Wale Adenuga. His legacy in Nollywood will forever be cherished.
Tory Lanez is fearful for his life in jail after being found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion, sources exclusively tell PageSix.
“Tory is scared for his life and safety in prison. He feels like he is an instant and direct target because of his celebrity status,” a source told Page Six.
The rapper arrived at North Kern State Prison in Delano, Calif., last week after being sentenced to a decade behind bars.
TMZ has reported that he’s being held in “Administrative Segregation” because of his high-profile status, which keeps him largely apart from other inmates.
According to the outlet, Lanez is “escorted to the showers where he bathes by himself,” and, “if he chooses to spend time in the yard, he’ll be the only one in the fenced-off area.”
“He stands in at 5-foot-3, so his size is definitely a setback,” a source. The insider added: “He is housed with real hardcore criminals, murderers. So he is really hoping that his lawyers will be able to continue to fight for his freedom while still maintaining his innocence. The whole thing is a mess.”
The “Chauffeur” artist’s prison mugshot was released on Sept. 19.
Just this month, another inmate at the same facility who is reportedly serving sentences for multiple killings was charged with first-degree murder in connection to the untimely death of his cellmate. (He pleaded not guilty in the case.)
A former inmate at the same prison was convicted this month of attacking two staffers in 2020.
The 31-year-old rapper, Lanez, was sentenced to 10 years in August. He was found guilty of shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion in the feet, after the pair left a party at Kylie Jenner’s home in Los Angeles in 2020.
Said our insider: “His family is concerned for him as well, especially his dad. He has been in contact with his family, and they are all trying to keep his spirits up.”
Lanez is currently being held in a California state prison.
The source said of Lanez, “He definitely had his moments where he has teared up,” and that in jail he is, “realizing who his real friends are.”
TMZ reported that he will be moved from his current state prison home to another facility when authorities decide where he should serve the rest of his sentence.
Lanez pleaded not guilty to three felony charges in December, including assault with a semi-automatic firearm as well as carrying a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle, and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.
The recording artist has maintained his innocence, and stated in an Instagram post in August: “I have never let a hard time intimidate me. I will never let no jail time eliminate me. Regardless of how they try to spin my words, I have always maintained my innocence and I always will.”
He added, “In no way shape or form was I apologizing for the charges I’m being wrongfully convicted of.”
Lanez has vowed that he’ll continue to fight the case, posting that, “I refuse to apologize for something that I did not do. I’ve faced adversity my whole life, and every time it looked like I would lose, I came out on top. This is nothing but another moment where my back is against the wall, and I refuse to stop fighting till I come out victorious. Tough times don’t last, but people do.”
Lanez maintains his innocence after being found guilty of shooting Megan Thee Stallion.
Reps for the rapper, whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, did not get back to us for comment.
Megan — born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete — give a victim impact statement in the case that reportedly read in part: “He not only shot me, he made a mockery of my trauma… He tried to position himself as a victim and set out to destroy my character and my soul.”
The major film and television studios and striking writers reached a tentative agreement on Sunday after days of marathon negotiating sessions, the Writers Guild of America said Sunday evening, paving a path forward to end the historic work stoppage that has frozen production and paralyzed much of Hollywood.
“What we have won in this contract – most particularly, everything we have gained since May 2nd – is due to the willingness of this membership to exercise its power, to demonstrate its solidarity, to walk side-by-side, to endure the pain and uncertainty of the past 146 days,” the WGA said in an email to members on Sunday. “It is the leverage generated by your strike, in concert with the extraordinary support of our union siblings, that finally brought the companies back to the table to make a deal.”
The terms of the agreement were not immediately known.
While the agreement still needs to be ratified by members of WGA, which represents more than 11,000 writers, this marks a significant turning point in the nearly five-month-long strike. The current walkout came close to beating the longest strike in WGA history, a 1988 strike that lasted 154 days.
“We can say, with great pride, that this deal is exceptional – with meaningful gains and protections for writers in every sector of the membership,” the WGA said in its message to members.
However, the tentative deal does not immediately end the strike.
“To be clear, no one is to return to work until specifically authorized to by the Guild. We are still on strike until then,” the WGA wrote. “But we are, as of today, suspending WGA picketing.” The Guild encouraged members to join the picket line for the actors’ strike instead this week.
The actors’ union, SAG-AFTRA, has also been on strike since mid-July; SAG-AFTRA represents about 160,000 actors.
Both Hollywood strikes have been drawn-out and costly, with the nationwide economic impact of more than $5 billion, according to economists. Industries like restaurants, service firms and prop shops have also felt the ripple effects from the ongoing disputes and have had to cut staffing as a result. In New York, disruption of 11 major productions resulted in a loss of $1.3 billion and 17,000 jobs, according to Empire State Development.
The WGA could on Tuesday authorize its members to return to work before the agreement is officially ratified by the union’s members, it said in its statement.
One person close to the matter said that, as a result, writers could potentially be back to work in just days.
People familiar with the matter on Sunday night voiced optimism the studios’ agreement with the writers will also allow it to reach a deal with the actors.
WGA concerns
Revenue streams from traditional linear television have been declining, and streaming services – while growing – are losing money. Seasons for streaming shows also tend to be shorter, which means less work for writers.
The writers have said they can’t afford to live under the current economics and pay structure of the television and movie industry, with fewer job opportunities on many shows and lower pay for many writers who do find work. There are many successful, even award-winning, writers who are finding themselves unable to make a living at the profession anymore.
Writers are also concerned about the rise of artificial intelligence and want protections to ensure movies and shows are written by humans, not machines.
In fact, the use of generative artificial intelligence in production was one of the final sticking points, a person familiar with the matter said.
Lloyd Kwadwo Ayirebi Aboagye, a talented Ghanaian-Italian filmmaker, has been making waves in the film industry with his compelling storytelling and artistic prowess.
His works, Newsman and Portraits, have recently been showcased at the prestigious Blackstar International Film Festival (BSIFF) 2023, earning acclaim from audiences and critics alike.
Lloyd Aboagye, who wears multiple hats as a writer, director, editor, and producer, has a rich filmography that includes notable productions such as “Testing the Waters” and “My Wife’s Husband,” released in 2013 in Italy.
His directorial debut, “L’amico Della Notte,” in 2015, was a collaborative effort with the film commission of Brescia, Italy.
Aboagye’s creative journey led him to Ghana in 2017, where he crafted “Arena,” a compelling film centred around the world of boxing.
His collaborations extend to fellow filmmakers, including Eddie Nartey and others. Notably, his portfolio includes remarkable short films like “Too late,” “Fucile Da Caccia,” “Bedtime,” and “Portraits.”
In 2020, Aboagye teamed up with renowned film actor and producer Prince David Osei to bring “Nnewsman” to life. A captivating fiction piece set in the pre-colonial era of modern-day Ghana, “Newsman” revolves around the hidden treasures of the Fanti people.
These treasures, lost for years, resurface in the journal of a French archaeologist, triggering a quest to reclaim them. Shot in Italy and Ghana, the film boasts a talented cast, including Prince David Osei, Aaron Adatsi, Donato Curtotti, Jeffrey Nortey, Giulia Amighetti, Ian Wordi, Peter Ritchie, and Ella Asante. “Newsman” has garnered recognition as a special presentation at this year’s BSIFF.
“NEWSMAN” trailer
Lloyd Aboagye’s short film “PORTRAITS” is another gem officially selected for the Blackstar International Film Festival 2023. Nominated in various awards categories, this film delves into the intricate dynamics of corruption and morality.
“Portraits” explores the moral dilemma faced by a struggling painter when confronted with officials plotting to embezzle government funds.
Torn between financial gain and exposing these corrupt individuals, the painter must decide whether to collaborate with the authorities.
Shot in Berlin, Germany, the film boasts an international cast, including Desiree Meischner, Kelvin Kioi Nganga, Marten Ziegler, Mayrann Queen Barkeling, and Mary Njeri.
The film was produced by Sascha Lasarzewski, with Ben Zola as the Director of Photography. Aboagye takes on the roles of writer and director, weaving a gripping narrative that questions the boundaries of integrity.
“PORTRAITS” trailer
Lloyd Aboagye’s creative prowess was on full display as he graced the opening of the 2023 Blackstar International Film Festival in Accra, Ghana. His works, Newsman and Portraits, have left a lasting impression on festivalgoers, reinforcing his reputation as a filmmaker to watch.
As the curtains draw to a close on BSIFF 2023, Lloyd Aboagye’s contributions to the world of cinema continue to be celebrated, and his future projects are eagerly awaited by both local and international audiences.
YouTube has suspended Russell Brand’s channels from making money from adverts for “violating” its “creator responsibility policy”.
The video platform said it was taking action “to protect” its users.
It comes after the Metropolitan Police received a report of an alleged sexual assault in 2003, in the wake of further allegations about the star.
Over the weekend the comedian and actor was accused of rape and sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013, which he denies.
“If a creator’s off-platform behaviour harms our users, employees, or ecosystem, we take action,” a YouTube spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The move also comes after the remaining shows of Brand’s Bipolarisation tour were postponed.
In recent years, the former TV and radio personality has repositioned himself, posting regular videos about spirituality, anti-establishment politics, and, recently, UFOs, to his 6.6 million subscribers.
YouTube’s decision to block his revenue streams applies to “all channels that may be owned or operated” by the 48-year-old, it confirmed to the BBC.
Other channels associated with his main YouTube page include Awakening With Russell, Stay Free With Russell Brand and Football Is Nice, which have about 500,000 subscribers between them.
While YouTube noted that such bans are rare, it pointed to previous examples including the suspension of adverts from the channels of Slovak internet personality David Dobrik and US YouTuber and make-up artist James Charles.
Speaking to the Guardian on Monday, Sara McCorquodale, chief executive of social media analysis agency CORQ, said Brand’s YouTube channel would “most likely” be “making £2,000 to £4,000 per video, not taking into account any affiliate deals and brand sponsorships that might be running in the background.”
How do YouTubers make money?
There are lots of different ways for people to make money on YouTube.
One of the most obvious is through ad revenue. After gaining enough viewers, YouTubers can have ads running before and during their videos, earning varying amounts. One YouTuber with half a million subscribers recently showed the BBC they made around £10,000 from a video with 1.5 million views.
But the exact money made from videos can vary dramatically and be much lower – or even higher – than this.
Other ways of making money include channel memberships, where people subscribe to see more of your content, as well as super chat and super thanks, where a viewer can pay to have their message to the creator, appear more prominently.
But the big way YouTubers make money is through sponsorships, known as “spons” in the community.
At the top of the description of all but his most recent video, in which he commented on the allegations, Brand has a prominently placed spon. The companies include a skincare firm, a food supplement powder, a VPN, and a coffee alternative.
Companies pay for prominent sponsorship on videos earning hundreds of thousands of views, and will generally pay much more for the amount of conversions – people who buy the product using the link. This could be anything from one-twentieth to half the purchase price.
It’s impossible to accurately estimate how much this is, as the finances are agreed on a case-by-case basis. But suffice to say, it is not uncommon for a YouTuber to make more money through spons than any other income source on the platform.
Investigation and reaction
The allegations against Brand were made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
Ahead of its broadcast, Brand took to his online social media video platforms – YouTube, Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), as well as Rumble- to pre-emptively deny all claims of misconduct, saying he was the subject of “a co-ordinated attack” involving “very serious allegations that I absolutely refute”.
He added that his relationships had been “always consensual”.
On Monday, one of the women who has accused him of sexual assault when she was 16 told BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour his behaviour was an “open secret”.
The woman, known as Alice, added that allegations against him have been “a long time coming”.
Speaking for the first time since accusations became public, she said his denial was “laughable” and “insulting.”
Large following
Brand still has a presence on Rumble, where he has 1.4 million followers, and he hosts a regular show every weekday, but there was notably no new episode on Monday.
Prior to his reinvention as an online guru, the comedian’s traditional earnings were made through high-profile TV and radio presenting jobs, books, and movie appearances, as well as his live comedy shows.
He performed for a crowd of 2,000 fans at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre – part of his Bipolarisation tour – on Saturday in the immediate aftermath of the claims.
In the crowd, a woman held a sign reading: “We stand by you.”
PR guru Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail sections of his “cult” social media and podcast fanbase were likely to stand by him,
“I think there will be a profound amount of people who will stand by him. Normally with allegations like this, your career would be over, but not in this case, which is interesting,” he said.
London’s Metropolitan Police said Monday they were investigating an allegation of sexual assault in 2003 after a joint investigation into the comedian and actor Russell Brand by three British media outlets was published Saturday.
The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4’s “Dispatches” published an investigation in which four women alleged Brand sexually assaulted them in separate instances between 2006 and 2013. One of the women said she was 16 and Brand was 31 at the time of the alleged assault in London.
Without naming the British comedian – who denies the allegations – a Met spokesperson said on Monday: “We are aware of reporting by The Sunday Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches about allegations of sexual offenses.
“On Sunday, 17 September, the Met received a report of a sexual assault which was alleged to have taken place in Soho in central London in 2003. Officers are in contact with the woman and will be providing her with support.”
Downing Street also commented on the claims in the documentary.
“These are very serious and concerning allegations,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said Monday. “The Met Police has asked anyone who believes they have been a victim of a sexual assault to come forward to speak to officers.”
Brand preemptively denied the allegations in a video posted to his verified Instagram page, which he shared on Friday before the report was published. In the video, Brand described the claims as “very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.”
The women chose not to be identified by name in the report, according to The Times. CNN has not been able to independently verify their claims.
Brand performed at London’s Troubabour Wembley Park on Saturday. James Manning/PA/AP
Brand’s upcoming show at the Theatre Royal Windsor for his “Bipolarisation” tour has been postponed, following the publication of the joint investigation.
The theatre shared a statement from the promoters of the tour, saying: “We are postponing these few remaining addiction charity fundraiser shows, we don’t like doing it – but we know you’ll understand.”
The claims against Brand – who was a prominent figure on multiple UK television channels during the period in which the alleged assaults occurred – have spurred media companies that formerly employed Brand to launch internal investigations.
A BBC spokesperson said Sunday: “The documentary and associated reports contained serious allegations, spanning a number of years. Russell Brand worked on BBC radio programmes between 2006 and 2008 and we are urgently looking into the issues raised.”
The BBC had “evolved its approach” toward talent and complaints over successive years, the spokesperson added, and had “clear expectations around conduct at work.” The broadcaster would “always listen to people if they come forward with any concerns, on any issue related to any individual working at the BBC, past or present.”
Channel 4 has also removed all programs linked to Brand from its online platform.
“We’ve taken down all content featuring Russell Brand while we look into the matter. This includes episodes of the Great British Bake Off and the Big Brother box sets that he appeared on,” a Channel 4 spokesperson told The Telegraph on Sunday evening.
Russell Brand’s career
Brand has denied claims he said were put to him “in a letter and an email” from a “mainstream media TV company” and “newspaper.” Brand did not name the organizations, but said the communications listed “a litany of extremely egregious and aggressive attacks.”
“Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks, are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute,” Brand said his a video shared on social media.
Brand shared the video with his 11.2 million followers on X, formerly Twitter, and his 3.8 million followers on Instagram.
Brand gained fame as a comedian and actor, appearing initially in UK reality TV shows and films, and later a number of Hollywood movies.
In recent years he has built a vast digital platform around wellness.
Ghana Club, a membership-based social group in Accra will on September 19 and September 20, celebrate two of its members, Kwaw Ansah and King Ampaw for their significant contributions to the development of cinema in this country.
The programme is dubbed, ‘Film Pioneers Achievement Gala’ and it comprises the screening of King Ampaw’s ‘No Die To Die’ film on September 19 and Kwaw Ansah’s ‘Heritage Africa’ on September 20.
There will be question-and-answer sessions with the respective directors and comments from patrons after each screening.
The two filmmakers will be presented with citations at a dinner party on the second day.
Founded in 1947, Ghana Club is located near the Black Star Square and it is open every day for members and their guests.
It is generally described as a pleasant outlet for networking.
According to the Club’s President, Dr Adrian Oddoye, the upcoming event is the first in a series to honour people who have made remarkable inputs into various aspects of our national life.
“We deem it appropriate to kick off with our members who stand tall as far as cinema is concerned.
“People have done a lot for this country and we will with time, reach out to some of them in sports, music, visual arts, literature, architecture and more,” he said.
The best-known films directed by King Ampaw are Kukurantumi, Road to Accra (1983), Nana Akoto (1985) and No Time to Die (2006).
A love tale that also looks at the issue of funerals in our society but with a twist of comedy, ‘No Time to Die’ features actors such as David Dontoh, Fritz Baffour, Agartha Ofori, Kwesi France, Kofi Bucknor, Amartey Hedjoleh and Kofi Middleton-Mends.
Apart from making his own films, Ampaw has co-produced others which include the epic Cobra Verde in 1987. He also acted in it.
Others he has co-produced are, ‘African Timber’ directed by Peter Bringmann in 1989, ‘Anansi’ directed by Fritz Baumann in 2001 and ‘Welcome Home’, a German feature shot in Ghana in 2003.
Kwaw Ansah is regarded in many circles as Ghana’s most influential filmmaker. His breakthrough as a film director came in 1980 with ‘Love Brewed In The African Pot’.
His other works include Heritage Africa, Crossroads Of People, Crossroads of Trade, The Good Old Days, Suffering To Lose, The Love Of AA and Papa Lasisi Bicycle.
Respect and admiration for his general body of work have come in the form of several awards in Ghana, Burkina Faso, the United Kingdom, India and other places.
Philippa AMA Bentuma Arthur is coordinator for the Film Pioneers Achievement Gala.
She says planning has gone well so far and Ghana Club members and their guests are looking forward to some inspiring moments with two of the nation’s film stalwarts.
The fall TV schedule may be lacking a bit of new content, but the holiday season will be filled with new TV movies.
Hallmark Channel, Lifetime, Great American Family and more were able to fully complete their slate of holiday movies before the WGA and SAG strikes, Variety confirms.
The Writers Guild of America strike began on May 2, impacting both TV and film productions, while SAG-AFTRA has been on strike since July 14.
However, some of the holiday films set for the 2023 season began production in January.
“Christmas is a year-round business at Hallmark, so we were able to mitigate early in the year understanding that the strikes were unfortunately imminent,” says Executive vice President of programming at Hallmark Media, Lisa Hamilton Daly.
“We’re grateful to meet all our goals for a full, all-new holiday slate and to bring our viewers the content they love most to celebrate the season.”
Not all networks have not yet rolled out full lineups, but Hallmark has announced a few movies: “A Merry Scottish Christmas,” uniting “Party of Five” stars Lacey Chabert and Scott Wolf; “A Biltmore Christmas,” led by Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, filmed entirely on the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina; and “Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up,” the sequel to 2022’s movie, starring Lacey Chabert and Wes Brown.
Lineups are usually announced between mid-September and mid-October.UpTV, meanwhile, announced that this year they will have eight new movies and one music special, kicking off on November 3.
In 2022, there were nearly 150 new original holiday TV movies airing across Hallmark, Lifetime, Great American Family, UpTV, BET+, Discovery+, CBS, Netflix, OWN, Hulu and ION, among others.
Hallmark Channel led the group with 40 films; beginning in October, they began airing festive movies on the channel 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Lifetime aired 26 new movies while Great American Family rolled out 18 new movies while UpTV had 17.
Comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assault and emotional abuse during a seven-year period at the height of his fame.
The allegations were made in a joint investigation by the Sunday Times, the Times and Channel 4’s Dispatches.
Four women are alleging sexual assaults between 2006 and 2013.
Brand has denied the allegations and said his relationships have been “always consensual”.
During the years covered by the allegations, Brand had various high-profile jobs at different times, including at BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4, and as an actor in Hollywood films.
Other claims made as part of the investigation include allegations about Brand’s controlling, abusive and predatory behaviour.
The investigation has been published on the Sunday Times website, while the Dispatches documentary, Russell Brand – In Plain Sight, is being aired on Channel 4.
Within hours of the allegations being published online by the Sunday Times, Brand performed a scheduled comedy gig at the 2,000-capacity Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre in north-west London, as part of his current tour.
Russell Brand took to the stage at the Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre an hour later than scheduled on Saturday eveningBrand was photographed as he arrived to perform at the show
PA Media
Several women have made allegations against Brand as part of the investigation. Channel 4’s head of news and current affairs Louisa Compton said four of the women had alleged sexual assault.
One woman alleges that Brand raped her against a wall in his Los Angeles home. She was treated at a rape crisis centre on the same day. The Times says it has seen medical records to support this
A second woman alleges that Brand assaulted her when he was in his early 30s and she was 16 and still at school. She alleges he referred to her as “the child” during an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship
A third woman claims that Brand sexually assaulted her while she worked with him in Los Angeles, and that he threatened to take legal action if she told anyone else about her allegation
The fourth woman alleged being sexually assaulted by Brand and him being physically and emotionally abusive towards her
On Friday, Russell Brand released a video in which he denied “serious criminal allegations” he said were about to be made against him.
The actor and comedian said he had received letters from a TV company and newspaper, containing “a litany” of “aggressive attacks”.
Brand posted a video on YouTube denying the allegations, adding his relationships were “always consensual”
YOUTUBE
In the video, posted on YouTube and X, formerly known as Twitter, Brand said: “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.
“These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies, and as I’ve written about extensively in my books I was very, very promiscuous.
“Now during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”
Brand said he believed he was the subject of a “co-ordinated attack” and he was going to look into the matter because it was “very, very serious”.
While not referring to the comedian by name, the Metropolitan Police said it was “aware of media reporting of a series of allegations of sexual assault” but had not received any reports.
“If anyone believes they have been the victim of a sexual assault, no matter how long ago it happened, we would encourage them to contact police.”
The Sunday Times said all the women felt ready to speak only after being approached by reporters. The newspaper said several felt compelled to do so given Brand’s newfound prominence as an online wellness influencer.
Most of the women, who the Times said do not know each other, have chosen to remain anonymous.
The Sunday Times said it gave Brand eight days within which to reply to detailed allegations, and when given further opportunity to respond, Brand published the video on his YouTube channel.
Brand, pictured in 2014, started his career in stand-up comedy before moving into broadcasting and acting
GETTY IMAGES
The woman who said she was 16 when she first came into contact with Brand told the Times: “Russell engaged in the behaviours of a groomer, looking back, but I didn’t even know what that was then, or what that looked like.”
Another woman alleged to the newspaper that she repeatedly told Brand to get off her during one sexual assault, and that when he eventually relented he “flipped” and was “super angry”.
A different woman claimed that Brand pushed her up against the wall and raped her, without a condom. She alleged Brand tried to stop her leaving until she told him she was going to the bathroom.
“I ran out and I jumped in my car – thank God I didn’t park in his driveway – and booked it out of there,” she said.
Brand has hosted a number of radio and TV programmes for networks including Channel 4, MTV, Radio X and the BBC.
He started his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s but got his big break a few years later as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth on E4.
After his profile surged, Brand was cast in Hollywood films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek and Arthur.
The woman who said she was 16 at the time she met Brand told the Times she took her allegations to his literary agent Angharad Wood, the co-founder of Tavistock Wood, owned by Curtis Brown, in 2020.
Tavistock Wood told the BBC: “Russell Brand categorically and vehemently denied the allegation made in 2020, but we now believe we were horribly misled by him. Tavistock Wood has terminated all professional ties to Brand.”
PA MEDIA
A Channel 4 spokesman told the Sunday Times: “Channel 4 is appalled to learn of these deeply troubling allegations, including behaviour alleged to have taken place on programmes made for Channel 4 between 2004 and 2007.
“We are determined to understand the full nature of what went on. We have carried out extensive document searches and have found no evidence to suggest the alleged incidents were brought to the attention of Channel 4.
“We will continue to review this in light of any further information we receive, including the accounts of those affected individuals. We will be asking the production company who produced the programmes for Channel 4 to investigate these allegations and report their findings properly and satisfactorily to us.”
It said that in recent years there had been extensive change in Channel 4’s management and it was committed to ensuring the TV industry is safe and inclusive.
The relationship with the 16-year-old is alleged to have taken place at a time when Brand was working as a presenter on BBC Radio 6 .
It is alleged Brand would undress in the studio while working on the show. The Times also said Brand made a series of sexual remarks on air about a newsreader, which he later implied he had been told by BBC production staff to apologise for.
The Times added sources had told the newspaper that a complaint was made to BBC management about “alarming display of aggression and disrespect” from Brand.
A BBC spokesman said: “Russell Brand worked for a number of different organisations, of which the BBC was one. As is well known, Russell Brand left the BBC after a serious editorial breach in 2008 – as did the then-controller of Radio 2.
“The circumstances of the breach were reviewed in detail at the time. We hope that demonstrates that the BBC takes issues seriously and is prepared to act.
“Indeed, the BBC has, over successive years, evolved its approach to how it manages talent and how it deals with complaints or issues raised.
“We have clear expectations around conduct at work. These are set out in employment contracts, the BBC Values, the BBC code of conduct and the anti-bullying and harassment policy.
“We will always listen to people if they come forward with any concerns, on any issue related to any individual working at the BBC, past or present.”
Russell Brand has released a video in which he denies “serious criminal allegations” that he says will be made against him.
The actor and comedian said he had received letters from a TV company and newspaper, containing “a litany” of “aggressive attacks”.
The BBC understands that a number of women will make serious allegations about Brand’s sexual conduct in a Channel 4 Dispatches programme and Sunday Times report expected to be aired and published this evening.
His relationships were “always consensual”, Brand said.
In the video, posted on YouTube and X, formally known as Twitter, Brand said: “Amidst this litany of astonishing, rather baroque attacks are some very serious allegations that I absolutely refute.
“These allegations pertain to the time when I was working in the mainstream, when I was in the newspapers all the time, when I was in the movies, and as I’ve written about extensively in my books I was very, very promiscuous.
“Now during that time of promiscuity, the relationships I had were absolutely, always consensual.”
Brand said he believed he was the subject of a “co-ordinated attack” and he was going to look into the matter because it was “very, very serious”.
He did not name the TV company or newspaper in his video.
Brand has hosted a number of radio and TV programmes for networks including Channel 4, MTV, Radio X and the BBC.
He started his career as a stand-up comedian in the early 2000s but got his big break a few years later as the host of Big Brother’s Big Mouth on E4.
After his profile surged, Brand was cast in Hollywood films such as Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him To The Greek and Arthur.
Actor Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness are to separate after 27 years of marriage, US media have reported.
According to celebrity magazine People, the Australian couple said they had been “blessed to share almost three decades together”.
“Our journey now is shifting and we have decided to separate to pursue our individual growth,” the statement said.
Jackman and Furness met on the set of TV show Correlli in 1995.
Furness was an established actress when they met while Jackman was fresh out of drama school.
They married in April 1996 and later adopted two children who are now 23 and 18.
According to the statement in People, the couple said their “family has been and always will be our highest priority”.
“We undertake this next chapter with gratitude, love and kindness. We greatly appreciate your understanding in respecting our privacy as our family navigates this transition in all of our lives.”
The couple sign off by saying “this is the sole statement either of us will make”.
Jackman, who is best known for playing Wolverine in the X-Men films and spin-offs, as well as roles in The Greatest Showman and Les Miserables, has posted frequently on social media about his relationship with Furness.
On their last wedding anniversary, in April, he said: “I love you Deb. Today is our 27th wedding anniversary. 27 YEARS!!
“I love you so much. Together we have created a beautiful family. And life. Your laughter, your spirit, generosity, humour, cheekiness, courage and loyalty is an incredible gift to me.
“I love you with all my heart.”
He also posted on their silver wedding anniversary in 2021, saying their marriage was as “natural as breathing”.
The couple were photographed together in July at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, where they were seen watching Carlos Alcaraz play Novak Djokovic
In April, Jackman told fans via social media that he had been given the all-clear following tests for skin cancer.
The actor had his first skin cancer removed in 2013 and has since had at least six procedures.
Nollywood star Richard Mofe-Damijo, popularly known as RMD, has revealed why he was afraid to marry his wife, Jumobi Adegbesan.
If you were an avid AIT fan in the late 1990s and early 2000s, you most likely have seen her anchor the popular program ‘Lunch Break’.
Jumobi would eventually leave the show to follow her other pursuits. At that time, one of the interests she decided to pursue was building a family with RMD.
Richard and Jumobi have been married for 23 years and have two children. However, before his marriage in 2000, RMD married the late Nigerian journalist/publisher May Ellen-Ezekiel (MEE).
She died in 1996 from surgery complications.
In a recent interview with comedian Teju Babyface, the 62-year-old actor revealed why he was initially reluctant to marry Jumobi, citing an unusual reason.
While recalling instances where she showed him acts of kindness before their marriage in 2000, he said, “I was terrified to marry her because she was too nice. I told her I hope you won’t change when I marry you. She said no. I told her that if she changed, I would kill myself because she was so good. Before we married, I told her that my biggest problem was that I didn’t deserve to marry her.’’
RMD and his wife Jumobi
The actor, also a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Delta State in 2009, narrated a specific instance where Jumobi came to his house before they married. She met some women there, but her reaction baffled him.
He said, “I’m like, why are you so nice? I don’t get it! Why don’t you say something? I was really afraid to marry her.”
Richard further disclosed that at the lowest point in his life, he would apologise to her, and her reactions always build more responsibility for him to slow down and cherish her more.
Infidelity
During the interview, RMD admitted how hard it is to be faithful in marriage, describing women as ‘Delilah’ and ‘Jezebels’.
The actor said that these days, most married male celebrities are often the target of desperate young women who aim to lure them into infidelity.
The 62-year-old actor noted that the temptations from these women can be irresistible if one is not careful.
He said, “Being faithful is hard. You know, being in the line of work that we do, it’s tough because let’s face it. Every one of us that is married we are the target. “I mean, look at how women are. How can you escape it? Women are like Delilah. They are like Jezebel. They prepare.”
The actor, who is a theatre arts graduate, said that the only way one can perpetuate the real intentions of the enemy is to constantly aim at the image of God or the symbol of authority in any home.
“You shoot him down. It’s like a general in the army, then the battalion scatters. Their mission is to take down the head of the house.”
Divorce
However, when asked how a wife is supposed to deal with the side chics aiming for husbands, RMD said that the man has to get to the point where his wife understands what she is up against as well.
He noted that if the wife is not up to speed, his flanks would be left open, and it would be easy to attack.
The host further asked why women quickly divorce their husbands when they cheat, even if it’s once.
The actor noted that these marriages always end because the women do not understand the role they play in the situation.
“It is not a competition; it’s a partnership. They are not grounded enough. They have to understand the concept of what they are involved in.”
In comparison to how animals protect their territories, he said the couple, mainly the women, should be able to do the same.
Escaping scandals
Scandals are one thing celebrities are well known for, particularly as regards their marriage and relationships.
During the podcast discussion, Teju Babyface asked the actor how he has managed to maintain minimal scandals throughout his career.
RMD noted that he smiles through it all and tries to be civil because there are pitfalls like mine set around a person. So, one has to be very careful.
He said, “You tread carefully, and if you manage to tread carefully long enough, you master it. It becomes a dance, you know.”
He likened his lifestyle to the famous boxer Mohammed Ali, who was once asked how he had managed to remain a champion, and he said he started by avoiding women and clubs.
“So, I avoid the clubs as well. I go when it is essential. I’m out of town if it’s not work or I’m not entertaining people. I just enjoy my time with a close circle of friends who protect my flags. I’m sure to leave there safe no matter what happens,’’ he explained.
One of the major challenges currently facing the Ghana film industry is the lack of highly skilled and trained talents whose works are able to compete on a global scale and project the industry in a way that boosts investors’ and stakeholders’ confidence.
With the exception of a few whose works are able to transcend the corridors of the Accra Mall Silverbird onto the global stage, many Ghanaian productions die off after the premiere night
Ghanaian filmmaker McListowel Koranteng is among a selected few whose works have made their way to the global stage. He made headlines last year when his directorial debut, “The Curfew” secured a simultaneous acquisition by five major international airlines and followed by a streaming deal with Amazon Prime.
The latest milestone for the ambitious filmmaker is gaining admission into one of the most prestigious film intuitions in the world, NFTS.
The National Film and Television School is regarded as the UK’s most esteemed film school and one of the best globally. With a 3% acceptance rate, NFTS is highly competitive and one of the hardest film institutions to get into.
Situated in Beaconsfield studios, Buckinghamshire, about 40km from soho, the entertainment district of the United Kingdom, the school boasts of some of the most famous and inspiring luminaries in cinema history.
Among these accomplished alumni are notable figures such as Roger Deakins, the Oscar-winning cinematographer behind “1917”; Laurie Nunn, the creator of the globally acclaimed Netflix series “Sex Education”; David Yates, the BAFTA-winning director renowned for the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” series, Academy award-winning animator, Nick Park, and Dario Marianelli, the Oscar-winning composer, among others.
With about 14 Academy awards and 146 BAFTAs, NFTS is one of the most awarded film schools.
In 2013 the school became the first film school in history to win all three of CILECT’s main international film and TV school associations that include 160 schools from 60 countries.
With a graduate employment rate of over 90%, NFTS graduates go on to become key creative leaders for much of the UK’s largest and most high-profile film and television landscape.
According to Charlotte Moore, The BBC’s Chief Content Officer, the NFTS is a “world leader when it comes to developing creative talent – it has produced some of the most gifted filmmakers in the business and provides a vital pipeline for the UK’s creative industries”.
Mclistowel is inspiringly illuminating the space where he stands. His journey not only underscores the significance of talent and unwavering determination but also underscores the relentless pursuit of excellence.
In the words of David Puttnam, “If we’re to have a future as an industry, we need skills. To have skills, we need investment. To have investment we need to be constantly making our case to why we are a really significant component of the nation’s economy and tourism”
Highlife musician Rex Omar is not happy about the growing trend of local TV stations showing foreign telenovelas with Twi translations.
According to him, the influx of foreign soap operas on Ghanaian television with Twi translations is detrimental to the growth and recognition of local talents and portrays Ghana as unserious with its creativity.
In a recent interview with Property FM, Rex Omar argued that the overreliance on foreign content sends a message that the country lacks confidence in its own creative prowess and that not only diminishes the visibility of Ghanaian actors, writers, and producers but also limits opportunities for local storytelling and the development of indigenous talent.
“Right now look at our media landscape, all the soap operas we’re showing on TV are foreign which they’ve used our local languages to interpret. This thing is causing the nation a lot of havoc and who is talking about that but Ghana is like a country without governance so everyone does what they want.“
“Because there is nowhere in any civilised country like you go to India and they are showing Ghanaian soap opera on TV but they’re using India language to do the interpretation. Or maybe you go to Britain and they’ll be showing Ghanaian soap opera on their popular TV station with their language, it doesn’t happen and it’s only Ghana.”
He expressed the belief that investing in homegrown talents, supporting local productions, and providing a platform for Ghanaian stories will not only boost the economy but also contribute to the preservation of the country’s unique cultural heritage.
The first trailer for “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” is here.
The movie is the sequel to the 2018 hit movie, and Jason Momoa returns to the sea as Arthur Curry, King of Atlantis.
In the trailer, Black Manta, played by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, vows to avenge his father’s death, saying, “I’m gonna kill Aquaman and destroy everything he holds dear.”
Nicole Kidman plays Arthur’s mother, Queen Atlanna. Amber Heard plays Arthur’s love interest Mera, princess of Xebel.
According to the official movie synopsis, “This time Black Manta is more formidable than ever before, wielding the power of the mythic Black Trident, which unleashes an ancient and malevolent force. To defeat him, Aquaman will turn to his imprisoned brother Orm, the former King of Atlantis, to forge an unlikely alliance. Together, they must set aside their differences in order to protect their kingdom and save Aquaman’s family, and the world, from irreversible destruction.”
The first “Aquaman” made over $1 billion at the box office. The film is produced by DC Studios, which like CNN is a unit of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Nigerian actress Moyo Lawal has denied claims that she leaked her now viral sex tape for popularity status.
The actress who has been a subject of conversations and news headlines on both traditional and social media since Saturday says she feels violated and vulnerable at the unfortunate incident.
In a video posted on her Instagram page, Moyo Lawal said the incident is an invasion of her privacy and has taken an emotional toll on her.
The said video which has been trending on Twitter since Saturday has sparked both criticisms and support among fans and her colleagues.
Some critics are very certain Moyo deliberately leaked the video.
However, the actress, who is renowned for her vibrant presence on social media, asserted that she was caught entirely off guard by the release of the said video.
“A private video of mine from a while ago has been inappropriately shared without my consent, violating my privacy and trust. l want to emphasise that this video, done with my ex I was to marry as at that time, was never intended for public consumption, and its unauthorised distribution is a breach of my personal boundaries. However, this criminal breach of privacy will definitely be treated with legal action.”
“It really hits me funny because I have always maintained a strict approach to my sexuality, even going as far as being celibate for a few years, refusing to date often and choosing to be alone most times.”
She also urged her fans and the public to respect her privacy during this difficult time and called for a more responsible and empathetic use of social media.
She emphasised that the incident has had a profound impact on her mental and emotional well-being.
“I am determined not to let this unfortunate incident break my spirit. I appreciate the support and understanding of those who have reached out to me during this challenging time. Please know that your kindness and goodwill means the world to me.”
An insider tells us the nuptials were “locked down tight,” as guests signed NDAs and phones were forfeited.
Page Six reported that Evans, 42, and Baptista, 26, invited their closest family and friends to witness the “beautiful” ceremony.
The guest list also included some of the actor’s Marvel co-stars, including Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth and Jeremy Renner.
chrisevans/Instagram
The “Avengers” actor and the Luso-Brazilian actress first sparked romance rumors in November 2022, when a source told People that the duo had been dating for “over a year.”
“They are in love, and Chris has never been happier,” the insider said, already calling their relationship “serious” at the time. “His family and friends all adore her.”
Just hours after the news broke, the couple was spotted holding hands during a stroll in Central Park.
While little is known about the low-key couple’s relationship, Evans has proudly been flaunting his affection for Baptista online.
The “Knives Out” star was spotted leaving a flirty comment on Baptista’s Instagram post around the same time that news broke of their relationship.
Then, in February, the “Captain America: Civil War” actor went Instagram-official with the “Warrior Nun” alum after posting a series of PDA-filled pics to his Instagram Story in honor of Valentine’s Day.
chrisevans/Instagram
Other snaps Evans posted in recent months featured the two picking apples, skiing, viewing the Northern Lights together and even kissing in the car.
While Evans’ successful career as a longstanding Marvel star has warranted his own accolades, Baptista has an impressive backstory of her own. The actress, whose mother is a translator, speaks five languages: Portuguese, English, German, French and Spanish.
Baptista is known for her role in “Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” and has won awards for her work, including the European Shooting Star Award at the Berlin Film Festival and an award for Best Actress at the Festival Ibérico de Ciné for her role in the short film “Miami.”
She was also named IMDb’s Top 10 Breakout Stars of 2020.
While Evans and Baptista have kept mum about their romance, the “Fantastic Four” actor opened up about wanting to get married last November.
“That’s absolutely something I want — wife, kids, building a family,” he told People at the time. “When you read about most of the best artists, whether it’s actors, painters, writers, most of them [admit] it wasn’t the work they made [that they are most proud of], it was about the relationships, the families they created, the love they found, the love they shared.”
He continued, “So it’s also something through my long 41 years that also rings true. Those things are the most important. I love the idea of tradition and ceremony, I had a lot of that in my life so the idea of creating that, I can’t think of anything better.”
Actor Simon Pegg has described his jazz musician father John Beckingham as a “loveable man”, following his death at the age of 77.
The Brockworth-born actor and screenwriter paid tribute to his dad on BBC Radio Gloucestershire earlier.
“ was such an important part of my relationship with dad. I always marvelled at his passion,” he added.
Mr Beckingham, who was a well-known and popular musician from Gloucester, died after a short illness.
His son, known for his roles in films including Hot Fuzz and the Mission Impossible series, said music had always been his father’s passion and played a big role in both of their lives.
Mr Pegg, 53, said: “He was a face on the Gloucester music scene.
“He was such a loveable man, beloved by many.
“A lot of the time we would be listening to music, he’d introduce me to stuff.
“He played a song by Randy Newman to me once to show me how it felt having to leave me as a child, which I know was difficult for him.
“The way he’d articulate that was through a song.
“I remember bursting out crying. That’s a song I will always remember.”
The actor said one of the strongest memories he had of his dad was seeing him for the first time after he had separated from his mother.
“He picked me up for his first visit and I remember him coming up the side alleyway at my nan’s in a blue-checked shirt and jeans with his arms open.
“I just really remember that. I’m 53 now and I was five or six then and I can just see it really clearly in my head,” said Mr Pegg.
Simon Pegg said music was a big part of his relationship with his father
Mr Pegg told BBC show Desert Island Discs during a recent appearance that his father was once in a band called Pendulum, who made it to the final of the television show Opportunity Knocks in 1975, before losing out to eventual winner Pam Ayres.
“That was a huge deal, that night dad was on the show,” Mr Pegg said.
“It meant something then, to be on TV.
“They were a show band, so they played That’s the Way I Like It,” he added.
‘How much we love each other’
Mr Pegg said it was amazing how many lives his father touched.
He recalled that his dad would often say “I’ve had enough and I’m going to quit” performing but would then sit for about four to six weeks “twiddling his fingers” before starting a new band.
“If anything positive has come out of this experience it is that everybody rallied around whilst dad was in hospital and there wasn’t a bed that had more people around it than his.
“We all found ourselves back together and that has been really nice, it was as if we were never separated.
“He made us remember how much we love each other.”
Mr Beckingham played in many bands over the years and was a regular contributor to BBC Radio Gloucestershire.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Tony Umez has taken to social media to debunk rumours of his death.
The actor personally confirmed to his fans and followers in a video on his official social media accounts, assuring his fans that he is alive and kicking.
His action is to quickly stop the rumour mill that has started grinding hard about his death.
In the video, Tony Umez who appeared in good spirits, and humourous said “I need to address this disturbing issue that has come to my attention. There are some unscrupulous individuals who have been using my pictures and videos maliciously, falsely reporting me as deceased in order to gain traffic to their pages.”
“First and foremost, I want to assure you that I am very much alive and well. These false reports are nothing but baseless rumours spread by individuals with ill intentions. I will be taking legal action against these persons, as their actions not only infringe upon my rights but also cause unnecessary distress to my loved ones and fans,” he stated.
The Nollywood icon did not only quash the false reports but also highlighted the importance of verifying information before sharing it.
“I understand the power of social media and the impact it can have on spreading information. However, it is disheartening to see how it can be misused by a few to spread false news for personal gain. I urge you all to be vigilant and only trust information that comes directly from me or my official channels.”
Ghanaian actress and model, Nikki Samonas says that the movie industry is doing better than it was before.
She explained that the industry did take a hit during and after the COVID-19 period since it was difficult for them to shoot.
That notwithstanding, the actress clarified that the movie industry has now received support from investors who help in marketing the movies.
“Now, with a lot of corporate investment and investors, especially Akwaaba Magic and a lot of investors coming on board because now we are using the digitisation of marketing movies so I think it has picked up tremendously,” Nikki said on Sunday, September 3.
The movie maker said this during the private listening session of the Nigerian singer, Patoranking’s upcoming album ‘World Best‘.
When asked why movies are not talked about in the media as compared to music, she said that “music is noisy and everywhere, it flows like water while movie is fire and earth, which is not as loud as compared to music.”
The actress shared with JoyNews’ Becky that she has three projects with Akwaaba Magic DSTV which are ongoing and should be anticipated.
Nikki also revealed that she had just premiered a movie in which she acted alongside fellow actresses Nana Ama McBrown and Gloria Sarfo titled Coming to Africa 2.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner are going their separate ways.
The singer filed a petition for divorce in Florida on Tuesday in Miami Dade County, according to public records obtained by CNN. The petition states the marriage is “irretrievably broken” as grounds for dissolution.
CNN has reached out to representatives for Jonas and Turner for comment.
The two are parents to two daughters who were born in 2020 and 2022. Jonas is seeking shared custody. He and Turner have a prenuptial agreement, according to the filing.
The two began dating in 2016 and became engaged in 2017. At the time, Jonas posted a photo to his verified Instagram page showcasing Turner wearing her new engagement ring, with the caption reading “she said yes.”
Turner and the Jonas Brothers singer went on to have two weddings.
The first in 2019 in Las Vegas after attending the Billboard Awards, where they exchanged vows in front of a small group of family and friends during a ceremony led by an Elvis Presley impersonator.
Joe Jonas and Sophie Turner (Patrick McMullan via Getty Image)
News of their wedding first came to light when DJ – and wedding guest – Diplo posted a series of photos and videos from inside the venue. A representative for Turner later confirmed to CNN that the pair had indeed wed.
The “Game of Thrones” star and Jonas wed again in a lavish ceremony that took place at the picturesque Château de Tourreau in the south of France, according to Elle.
Turner shared a glimpse into the wedding days later when she posted a black and white photo of the couple during their recessional to her Instagram page, writing “Mr and Mrs Jonas” in the caption.
Maise Williams, who co-starred in “Thrones” alongside Turner, reportedly served as her Maid of Honor, and Jonas’s brothers and bandmates Nick and Kevin were also present at the French soiree.
Actress Sandra Ababio is overwhelmed with gratitude to Deloris Frimpong-Manso, popularly known as Delay and actor Kwadwo Nkansah Lil Win for their pivotal roles in her journey to stardom.
Sandra Ababio, who is loved for her captivating performances on the silver screen, lavished lots of praise on Delay and Lil Win for their instrumental roles in shaping her career when she appeared on Delay’s show on Sunday, September 3.
She attributed her rise to prominence to their unwavering support and mentorship and described meeting Delay as a major step in her life.
“The next major step in my life was when I met you. I don’t know if you remember. You told me I was beautiful and that was when you were shooting Afia Schwarzenegger. I told you I was interested and you asked me to get in touch and gave me a role to play.“
“I came on set and things started picking up for me. After that, we went on set to shoot a TV commercial and I met Lil Win too and started getting the spotlight in the Kumawood industry.“
“You were the game-changer for me. Your guidance and mentorship were invaluable. You saw potential in me and gave me the platform to showcase my talent on the TV show. That exposure opened doors for me and helped me gain recognition in the industry,” Sandra said during the interview.
With a growing portfolio of successful movies and an ever-increasing fan base, Sandra Ababio has firmly established herself as one of Ghana’s most talented actresses.
The actress who has featured in a number of movies such as Nipa Hu Ye Hu, Sika Kyere Nipa Suban, Nea Di Makyi So among others also expressed her gratitude to Lil Win, who she has collaborated with on several projects.
“Working with Lil Win was a fantastic experience. His humour and talent are infectious, and I learned a lot from him. He encouraged me to push my boundaries and explore different genres, which ultimately contributed to my growth as an actress,” she said.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is reflecting on a particularly challenging time in his life when he had unplanned open heart surgery and had only a matter of months to recover and be back to top form.
In a video posted recently to his YouTube channel as part of his health and fitness group, Arnold’s Pump Club, the 76-year-old actor and bodybuilder recalled a frightening incident in early 2018 when he was supposed to undergo non-invasive heart surgery.
“I remember when I had my open heart surgery, my third one… I was really freaking out, and I woke up all of the sudden and the doctor was standing in front of me, and saying ‘I’m so sorry, but unlike what we planned, a non-invasive surgery… we made a mistake and poked through the heart wall, and there was internal bleeding, and we had to open you up to save your life.’” Schwarzenegger recalled.
“The bottom line is, you cannot roll the clock back,” he continued. “I was in the middle of a disaster… so now it’s about, ‘how do I get out of it?’ You have to shift gears.”
Schwarzenegger said he realized that the first step to recovery was getting healthy enough to get discharged from the hospital.
“[That meant] getting out of bed and start walking. First 10 steps, then longer and longer,” he explained, adding that when he needed extra motivation, “I called my buddies in and said, ‘You guys have to fire me up. You have to count the number of steps that I’m doing.’”
“And this is what we did, everyday. Everybody came into the hospital, They said, ‘OK, Arnold, it’s time to get up!’” Schwarzenegger recalled. “I wanted to get really going with the exercise, get out of the hospital as quick as possible, and then get going with the training again.”
“Because three months later, I started with Terminator 6,” he said, referring to Terminator: Dark Fate, which was set to start shooting after multiple delays. “So I had to be in shape, I had to be able to move around, run around, lift things up, do the fight scene, all these things.”
As Schwarzenegger reflected on his recovery journey, he also shared behind-the-scenes footage, both of him in the hospital and then training on workout machines after getting out.
“And I did it! Because I had a positive attitude and knew exactly how I was going to get there,” he explained. “[And] I had the support system, because none of this we can do by ourselves… When I started shooting Terminator 6, I was all back together again.”
Actress Sandra Sarfo Ababio has opened up on a personal chapter of her life, where she endured extreme poverty and hardship.
Contrary to the life she currently lives, Sandra said she was born into abject poverty, so extreme that their next meal was always uncertain.
Her father, without a stable job, and her mother, working as a petty trader, faced the challenge of making ends meet and providing basic needs and security for their four children.
Sandra vividly recalled the constant movement from one home to another, and the only decent house they ultimately landed after years of struggle was a single room with a small porch.
She detailed how the small porch served as a makeshift stall for the things they sold and other times, it was their sleeping place.
To contribute to the family’s income, Sandra hawked various groceries which earned her the nickname “queen mother of tomatoes.”
With teary eyes, Sandra opened up on how miserable they became during rainy seasons as their roof heavily leaked.
At one point in her life, they had to live in a wooden structure where they continued to sleep on benches or the bare cold floor.
Despite facing daunting challenges in her formative years, she went on to become a successful actress and TV host kind courtesy recommendation by thespians Delay and actor, Kwadwo Nkansah (Lilwin).
Sandra Sarfo Ababio used the opportunity to remind her fans of the need to persevere and work hard, adding that it is possible to overcome adversity and achieve one’s dreams.
Barbie has officially become the year’s biggest box office hit after the doll’s big-screen earnings overtook the Super Mario Bros Movie’s total.
The Barbie movie, which sees Margot Robbie’s titular toy swap her pink fantasy home for the real world, has now made $1.38bn (£1.1bn) globally.
That has taken it past the $1.36bn taken by the Super Mario Bros Movie.
Barbie has also helped the US summer box office reach the $4bn (£3.2bn) mark for the first time since the pandemic.
Analysts did not expect cinemas to reach that milestone, but the success of Barbenheimer – Barbie and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which were released on the same day in July – propelled takings past last year’s total of $3.4bn (£2.7bn).
Industry experts also predicted that the Super Mario Bros Movie would be the biggest film of 2023. But Barbie, directed by Greta Gerwig, has proved them wrong on that front too.
The biggest films of 2023 so far
Barbie – $1.38bn
The Super Mario Bros Movie – $1.36bn
Oppenheimer – $853m
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 – $846m
Fast X – $705m
Source: BoxOfficeMojo.com
The Equalizer 3, starring Denzel Washington, proved to be another summer hit on its release this weekend, taking $34.5m (£27.3m) in its first three days at North American box offices.
However, there are concerns in Hollywood that there may be a drop-off for rest of the year after films including Dune: Part II, Kraven the Hunter and the Ghostbusters: Afterlife sequel moved their release dates to 2024, as the ongoing Hollywood strike prevents actors from promoting studio movies.
Nigerian filmmaker and producer Ruth Kadiri has threatened legal action against Ghanaian TV stations that broadcast her movies without her permission or any authorisation.
In a video that has gone viral, the actress stated that although she loves Ghana and appreciates the support, she is disappointed to see her intellectual property rights infringed upon.
Ruth Kadiri noted that she has seen this trend numerous times and contemplated watermarking her work as a result but decided against it.
She stressed that making films was expensive and not a walk in the park and thus could not have her creative efforts undermined.
The Nigerian filmmaker stated that she would appreciate it if TV stations desist from this or face the consequences.
Ruth Kadiri said that the next TV station that she infringes on her copyrights would hear from her lawyers.
“I love the country as a whole but I am very disappointed that a major TV station in Ghana would go on my platform, rip my content apart, show it on TV like they have the license to do that.”
“It is not even just one, not two, not three. I don’t want to put a watermark on my contents because I feel like it’s going to make it look tacky. This is the first warning and it is going to be the last one, because the next time, you’re going to hear from my lawyers.”
“I beg you, let’s not start dragging ourselves through the mud. I expect so much from you because you know how expensive it is to create content and instead of you to buy this content, you would rather rip it and show it on national TV,” she said.
After 16 years of marriage, famous Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo has announced his separation from his wife, Bunmi.
The couple reportedly met in 2004 and got married in 2007. They have two children together, a boy and a girl.
Before this development, the actor and his wife were said to have separated over infidelity claims in 2019 but reconciled in 2021.
On Friday, the actor made his announcement via an official statement on his Instagram.
The actor admitted that it was a sad reality for him and his children, but it was necessary for a peaceful future.
He wrote, ”My wife and I have decided to go our separate ways and headed for an irreconcilable marriage dissolution.”
”Please respect our privacy and pray for us during this process as we heal and move on with our independent lives while jointly caring for what we love most: our children!”
While expressing his sadness, he acknowledged that, in the end, people will all live with the consequences of their actions.
Bolanle Ninalowo with wife and kids
The actor also noted that now he has to be better for the sake of the same children, adding that he fought so hard never to be separated from his wife.
”The journey thus far only makes me stronger as I come to terms with what I truly need and deserve for all my relentless hard work & efforts in life.”
” Heartbroken but not shattered yet, I stand tall as I break this sad but true news to the same world that adores my beautiful family and me,” He added.
Acceptance
famous Nollywood actor Bolanle Ninalowo and his wife, Bunmi
Ninalowo noted that the crash of his marriage is a sad reality he has accepted, hoping that when his children are older, they will understand.
He said he hoped they would also know the pain and struggles towards them.
According to him, he has accepted reality as the end of the road and that it gives room and hope for a brighter and more fulfilling future.
Bolanle Ninalowo and wife Bunmi. Pic by Photo Kulture
Explaining why they took the hard decision, he said it was for the sake of his children, and it was necessary for a peaceful and loveable future.
“A sad reality I prayed, nurtured, and worked tirelessly hard never to experience for the sake of all.”A sad reality that screams that I won’t live or be around forever and must take care of my health & mental state for the goodness of all.” He expressed.
The actor further prayed for God to help and reward him. with all he truly deserves.
“Or punish me for all I have done wrong if that be the case.” He added.
Background
Before Ninalowo’s foray into the Nigerian movie industry, he worked as an accountant in a bank in the United States of America.
Upon relocating to Nigeria, he worked with Guaranty Trust Bank.
Ninalowo’s first shot in Nollywood was as a movie producer. He produced his first movie, titled “Rebirth”, in 2011.
David Attenborough has been confirmed to present another instalment of the award-winning nature documentary series Planet Earth.
The BBC announced the legendary broadcaster is returning for Planet Earth III, the latest instalment in the hit nature series.
Confirming the news on Thursday (August 31) morning, BBC Studios’ Natural History Unit revealed Planet Earth III will be the third chapter in the series, and will consist of eight 60-minute episodes.
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Releasing a statement alongside the announcement, series producer Mike Gunton shared his enthusiasm about Attenborough returning to present the third series.
“Planet Earth wouldn’t be Planet Earth without David, so I’m delighted he is presenting the third series,” Gunton began.
“As ever, he has brought his huge enthusiasm and wisdom, has been encouraging about our new perspective and has, I know, really enjoyed seeing the extraordinary new wonders brought to the screen.”
Gunton went on to tease ahead to what fans can expect from the upcoming production.
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“The opening of the series with David was filmed in the beautiful British countryside in exactly the location where Charles Darwin used to walk whilst thinking-over his Earth-shaking ideas about evolution,” he explained.
“It seemed the perfect place for David to introduce Planet Earth III and remind us of both the wonders and the fragility of our planet… and for him, of course, the sun shined under blue skies one of the only days it did all summer!”
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Planet Earth has received high praise from viewers and critics over the years and has collected a range of awards as a result, including four Emmy Awards and a BAFTA TV Award.
While the BBC has confirmed the show is set to air on BBC One later this year, the broadcaster has not yet revealed an official release date.
Former French Ambassador to Ghana Anne-Sophie Avé says she was afraid that Ghanaians would forget her once she completed her tenure in office.
Speaking to Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz, she said the love she received from Ghanaians while she was in office was overwhelming.
According to her, she grew to enjoy the love and warmth she received from Ghanaians to the extent of getting scared that she would be forgotten after her tenure of office ended.
She added that leaving Ghana was a devastating time for her.
“It was devastating. I enjoyed the music, the culture, the tradition and everything. You don’t need to be an ambassador to carry on enjoying it. I was maybe afraid of being out of sight and maybe they’ll forget me.”
Anne-Sophie Avé added that the love she received from Ghanaians did not just end after her tenure. She also added that she still receives massive love from Ghanaians.
Anne stressed that there is not even a single week where she does not receive messages or phone calls from Ghanaians.
“I was baffled when I realised that there hasn’t been a single week since I left when I didn’t have messages or phone calls from people who were checking up.”
She revealed that when she fell ill at the beginning of the year, most of the people who called to check up on her were Ghanaians and that alone blew the minds of her family and friends.
“Most of the people who were checking up on me at the beginning of the year were Ghanaians. My family could hardly believe it.”
The final funeral rites for the mother of actor and politician, John Dumelo will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023.
The family disclosed this at the one-week observance of the deceased who died on Tuesday, August 15, after a short illness. She was 71.
The event held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral, Adabraka in Accra yesterday, saw a number of entertainment figures including Yvonne Nelson, Bola Ray, Soraya Mensah in attendance to support John Dumelo.
John Dumelo, the parliamentary candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) shared the unfortunate news of the passing of his mother, Antoinette Dumelo on Wednesday, August 16, on his social media pages.
“My heart is broken. My dear mother passed away peacefully yesterday….my number one supporter. Heaven has gained an angel,” he wrote.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Nkem Owoh popularly known as Osuofia has broken his silence on the death of his 24-year-old daughter, Kosisochukwu,
Kosisochukwu was reported to have died on June 28 after a brief illness.
Her remains have since been laid to rest on Thursday, August 24, at Amagu village, Udi, Enugu state.
In a recent post on his Instagram page, the veteran actor expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming love and support that he and his family have received.
He said that the loss was a change he never anticipated.
“I want to thank you all for the support and love shown to me and my family When tragedy strikes, there is nothing more heartening than knowing that you’re not alone,” he wrote.
“It was with deep gratitude that I received your note, and calls with condolences. We have seen many changes over the years. But This is a change I did not anticipate, and I am feeling an acute sense of loss.
“However, I know that because of your encouragement, I will get through this time. Thank you for helping to push me through my grief.”
After the recent loss of his beloved daughter, Nkem Owoh, popularly known as Osuofia in the entertainment industry, has broken his silence about the tragic event.
The actor’s daughter was laid to rest on August 24.
In a heartfelt statement, Nkem Owoh conveyed his sincere appreciation for the overwhelming support and love that poured in from friends, family, and well-wishers.
He acknowledged that facing tragedy is never easy, but the outpouring of condolences and kind words has provided a source of comfort and strength.
He wrote, “I want to thank you all for the support and love shown to me and my family when tragedy strikes, there is nothing more heartening than knowing that you’re not alone. It was with deep gratitude that I received your note, and calls with condolences.”
“We have seen many changes over the years, but this is a change I did not anticipate, and I am feeling an acute sense of loss. However, I know that because of your encouragement, I will get through this time. Thank you for helping to push me through my grief”.
Kosisochukwu NkemOwoh passed on after a brief illness. She was 24. She was one of the two daughters of the veteran actor.
Steve Harvey’s wife, Marjorie, has addressed rumours that she cheated on the game show host with their bodyguard and personal chef — insisting that it’s all ‘foolishness and lies.’
Marjorie, 58, who has been married to Steve, 66, since 2007, slammed the accusations in a post shared to her Instagram account on Sunday evening.
She uploaded a screenshot of a website entitled ‘How to handle being lied about,’ which contained a quote from the Bible.
‘When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate,’ it read. ‘When he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.’
In the caption, Marjorie explained that she and Steve ‘don’t usually address all the foolishness and lies that are spread about them,’ but that she knows there is a ‘responsibility’ that comes with her ‘platform.’
‘My husband and I don’t usually stop to address all the foolishness and lies that have been spread about us. However, to whom much is given, much is required,’ she wrote.
‘I understand that with my platform comes some sort of responsibility to those that may not be as strong as we are.
‘Read and share this with your love ones that may not know how to properly cope. God bless all of you.’
Hours earlier, Steve angrily set the record straight about the subject while speaking at Invest Fest 2023 in Atlanta on Sunday.
He told the crowd, ‘Before I get started, just let me say, I’m fine. Marjorie’s fine. I don’t know what y’all doing, but find something else to do ’cause we fine.
‘Lord have mercy. Man. I ain’t got no time for rumours and gossip. God’s been good to me, I’m still shining.’
Rumors that Marjorie had been involved in an affair with Steve’s security erupted on Twitter last week, but it’s unclear where they originally came from.
Lucky Trip, the Ghanaian reality TV series that engages young people with entertaining education, is back for Season 3.
The series is in partnership with the United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Ghana Health Service, CFAO by Suzuki and Lifebuoy.
This season features 15 of Ghana’s beloved celebrities, including luminaries like James Gardiner, Roselyn Ngissah, David Osei, and Elikem the Tailor.
During each episode, unsuspecting riders catch a ride with a celebrity, engaging in a conversation about important public health issues.
“The episodes will shed light on vital topics like adolescent health, and family planning. We will learn important health messages, but in a way that makes it real to all of us,” said USAID Ghana’s Acting Health Office Director Dr Stephen Dzisi at Friday’s premiere.
Mabel Anim, Deputy Director for Health Promotion Division at the Ghana Health Service, highlighted their commitment to fostering health-conscious behaviours through media.
“Through mass media and TV programs, we enlighten Ghana’s population about essential health behaviours,” she explained.
Mawule Messan, speaking for production company Sacrefilms, shared the show’s evolution. “Lucky Trip originated from the idea of connecting celebrities with their authentic selves to inspire youth.
“It takes viewers on a visual journey through Ghana while addressing health challenges and solutions.”
Lucky Trip Season 3 brings together education, inspiration, and entertainment.
Season 3 merges public engagement with health messaging in an entertaining way that motivates young people to adopt new behaviours.
The project forms part of USAID’s commitment to helping Ghanaian youth adopt safe health behaviours that will ultimately improve public health.
Lucky Trip Season 3 airs on TV3 and JoyPrime every Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. respectively.
Chadwick Boseman may be gone, but he is not forgotten.
Monday marked three years since the “Black Panther” star died, and some of his Marvel co-stars took to social media to remember their friend.
Lupita Nyong’o, who starred alongside Boseman in the 2018 “Black Panther” movie, on Monday posted a black and white photo from that same year she said she took of the actor while in South Korea.
“Three years ago today, I experienced a singular pain at the news of @chadwickboseman’s death. The confusion was so profound that it took months to trust the feeling of joy again,” Nyong’o wrote.
She continued, “We had just learned to do the baby heart with our fingers. Here Chadwick was adding his suave flare. We spent a glorious 72 hours there, and the memory fills me with so much joy.”
“Death is hard to understand, maybe even harder to accept,” she added. “But the love generated from the life he lived will fuel every anniversary marking his absence.”
Boseman died in August 2020 while at home with his family and wife by his side after battling colon cancer since 2016, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account at the time. He was 43.
The actor had become a global star through inspiring performances in films such as “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Marshall” and “Da 5 Bloods.”
He is most well known for starring as King T’Challa in 2018’s hugely popular “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity Wars” movies, and went on to reprise the role in 2019’s “Avengers: End Game.”
Letitia Wright, who played T’Challa’s sister Shuri in the Marvel franchise, also remembered Boseman on Monday by reposting a 2022 video of him on her Instagram stories, writing “always celebrating you king. Love always.”
Daniel Kaluuya paid tribute to his “Black Panther” co-star as well on Monday, sharing a photo of himself with Boseman and Danai Gurira on his Instagram stories.
As Nyong’o wrote at the end of her post on Monday, “Chadwick may no longer be in our photos, but he will always be in our hearts.”
Linda Nwafor, wife of the late actor Obinna Nwafor, best known as Saint Obi, has broken her silence on her husband’s untimely demise.
Saint Obi passed on 8 May in Plateau State at 57 after battling a protracted ailment. He was buried on 18 August in his hometown, Umuezealaeze, Alaenyi Ogwa, in Mbaitoli Local Government Area, Imo State.
Mrs Nwafor, a chief enterprise business officer at MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, married the movie star in December 2006. Until his death, the couple were involved in a messy divorce controversy which hit the internet in February 2022.
Yes! Magazine captured her on video at the funeral. There, she said it was difficult to accept that her children would no longer have a father.
Linda Nwafor, Saint Obi’s widow and Yes! Magazine publisher Azuh Arinze at Saint Obi’s funeral in Imo State.
Narrating their love story, Mrs Nwafor said, “I believe our meeting was divinely orchestrated. You were highly domesticated; you could cook, bake and clean. I miss you. I still don’t know how to feel.
“You told our mutual friends immediately after you set your eyes on me that the only reason I wasn’t married was because I was waiting for you. You called me your wife even before you spoke to me. It was everything spiritual and a part of God’s plan. You told me that you knew that I would be your wife that very first day we met at the airport on my way to see my parents; it was October 2006.”
She also spoke about his death and the effect on their young family.
“This should not have happened. It is tough to accept that you are gone, that my children will no longer have a father, and that I will not hold your hulky frame again. My children and I pray for you daily. Your death has left us despondent. Losing you to the cold hands of death is my deepest sorrow. Nothing can heal the pain inside. I love you and always have.”
Linda Nwafor, Saint Obi’s widow
Shortly after Saint Obi’s death, a close associate of the late actor, Zik Zulu Okafor, set the internet agog with a lengthy post about the late actor’s marital life and how it may have led to his demise.
However, the family, in a statement signed by two of his sisters, Ugoeze Edith Chinyere Obichuku and Freda Nwachukwu, debunked Mr Okafor’s allegation, describing them as “false” and “malicious”.
Saint Obi, the family man
The late movie star was a father- of- three, with two sons and a daughter, Chideta, Obinna, and Nnemdi.
At his funeral, his first son, Chidera, noted that his dad’s death forced him to become a man.
He described his late dad as an ‘amazing actor who brought smiles to the faces of people’ and thanked him for impacting his life.
“Thank you for teaching me the way of life. I know you are watching over me. I have been forced to grow up into leadership. I will lead, Dad. I will protect my mum and siblings, especially from the preying press, as you did while you were here. I will always love you till we meet again,” he said.
More tributes
It was revealed that Saint Obi spent his last days with his sister, Nancy Jawfu, in Jos, Plateau State, where he later died.
The actor was the only son of his parents and had six sisters.
His immediate older sister, Hope Nwafor-Okpala, opened up on his last days and reminisced on their childhood.
She described the movie star as her twin brother, despite their age difference, saying they were fond of each other and even started school on the same day since they were inseparable.
Saint Obi
“During the last years of his life, Obinna and I were in constant communication, reminiscing over old friends, our family and our childhood. Even while I drove to work in the morning, we would speak on the phone, and in the evening, we would even have group calls with some of our sisters.
“I will always remember the last prayer we prayed to one another. Just as I will always remember and cherish the last text you sent to me, just the night before you passed, we even called each other by our childhood nicknames. I called you ‘Obikisa’, and you called me ‘Abunti’.”
Chadwick Boseman may be gone, but he is not forgotten.
Monday marked three years since the “Black Panther” star died, and some of his Marvel co-stars took to social media to remember their friend.
Lupita Nyong’o, who starred alongside Boseman in the 2018 “Black Panther” movie, on Monday posted a black and white photo from that same year she said she took of the actor while in South Korea.
“Three years ago today, I experienced a singular pain at the news of @chadwickboseman’s death. The confusion was so profound that it took months to trust the feeling of joy again,” Nyong’o wrote.
Chadwick Boseman and Lupita (Getty Images)
She continued, “We had just learned to do the baby heart with our fingers. Here Chadwick was adding his suave flare. We spent a glorious 72 hours there, and the memory fills me with so much joy.”
“Death is hard to understand, maybe even harder to accept,” she added. “But the love generated from the life he lived will fuel every anniversary marking his absence.”
Boseman died in August 2020 while at home with his family and wife by his side after battling colon cancer since 2016, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account at the time. He was 43.
The actor had become a global star through inspiring performances in films such as “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” “Marshall” and “Da 5 Bloods.”
He is most well known for starring as King T’Challa in 2018’s hugely popular “Black Panther” and “Avengers: Infinity Wars” movies, and went on to reprise the role in 2019’s “Avengers: End Game.”
Chadwick Boseman with Danai Gurira, Lupita Nyong’o and Michael B Jordan (Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images)
Letitia Wright, who played T’Challa’s sister Shuri in the Marvel franchise, also remembered Boseman on Monday by reposting a 2022 video of him on her Instagram stories, writing “always celebrating you king. Love always.”
Daniel Kaluuya paid tribute to his “Black Panther” co-star as well on Monday, sharing a photo of himself with Boseman and Danai Gurira on his Instagram stories.
As Nyong’o wrote at the end of her post on Monday, “Chadwick may no longer be in our photos, but he will always be in our hearts.”
Hannah Montana star Mitchel Musso has been arrested on suspicion of theft and public intoxication after allegedly stealing a packet of crisps.
The actor played Oliver Oken in the Disney sitcom, starring alongside Miley and Billy Ray Cyrus.
Police were called on Saturday to a hotel in Rockwell, Texas where the 32-year-old was alleged to have stolen the crisps, NBC reported.
BBC News has asked representatives for Musso for comment.
Musso pictured with Billy Ray and and Miley Cyrus in 2006, the year Hannah Montana launched
When asked to pay for the crisps, Musso allegedly refused and became verbally abusive.
Police ran a background check on Musso, which reportedly found the actor had several outstanding traffic warrants.
Musso spent the night in prison but was released on Sunday on a $1,000 (£793) bond.
The actor also faces charges of expired car registration, failure to display a driving licence and violating a “promise to appear” notice.
NBC, which obtained the jail records, also published a picture of Musso’s mugshot.
Mitchel Musso, pictured in 2018, starred opposite Miley Cyrus in US sitcom Hannah Montana
Musso has previously been arrested for driving under the influence in Burbank, California, in 2011.
For that offence, he was fined, sentenced to 36 months of informal probation, and required to attend alcohol education classes.
US sitcom Hannah Montana, which ran for four seasons between 2006 and 2011, followed a teenage girl who lived a double life as a famous pop star.
It starred Miley Cyrus, who has gone on to enjoy a successful solo career, opposite her real-life father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
Since the show concluded, Musso has voiced a character in another Disney series, Milo Murphy’s Law, and appeared in films Sins of our Youth and The Sand.
“Those lips have outdone Jagger, they’re the most famous lips in the world.”
Fifty years on from its stage debut in London, one of the Northern Ireland-born stars of The Rocky Horror Show has been sharing her memories.
Patricia Quinn played the original roles of Usherette and Magenta on stage in 1973 and is the owner of the sultry lips from the opening number of the 1975 film adaptation.
Getting the famous shot was hard work.
“I got a call to go to Elstree Studios to record the lips,” she told BBC Radio Ulster’s Talkback programme.
“They had no special effects at the time and every time I sang the song, mimed to it, my lips moved out of frame.
“There was an art lamp in a clamp. They said: ‘Take that lamp out of that and screw her head into that.’
“So they clamped my head so I wouldn’t move.”
Fishnets and corsets
The road to cult classic status was not a straight one.
“The film was a complete sleeper and nobody wanted it. They didn’t know how to promote it,” said Patricia.
“There was a boy at 20th Century. He said this should be put on at midnight on every campus in the States… and then a strange crowd arrived and they’ve been arriving ever since.”
Fans of The Rocky Horror Show are known to attend screenings and productions in costume
From Mick Jagger to Princess Margaret, there have been many famous fans of the movie and stage show over the years.
Patricia has met many celebrities over the years but she says one of her most memorable encounters was with King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time.
“I invited him to see the show but he said he couldn’t really go because of the fishnets and suspenders,” she said.
“I suggested he come as Brad, the nerd who wears a doctor’s coat and Y-fronts. I don’t think he was impressed.”
Patricia Quinn’s head was held in a clamp to get a steady shot of her lips for the opening number of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
It all began in Carrickfergus
Born in Finaghy, County Antrim, Patricia says she discovered a love for using her voice at a young age.
“When I was a wee girl, my mummy used to put me in for verse speaking festivals,” she said.
“It was in Carrickfergus. I remember loving it. That’s when I got a taste for all of this, that’s where I began.”
In school, her interests turned to drama.
“I remember my Latin and French teacher, Miss Crone, said: ‘How is it you can memorise the whole of Shakespeare and you can’t memorise 10 words of French vocabulary?’
“And then she proceeded to say: ‘Of course it is where the interest lies.’
“She wasn’t wrong.”
Patricia Quinn starred in the film adaptation alongside Tim Curry and Richard O’Brien
At 17, she moved to London to pursue a career in acting.
It was there that she first crossed paths with Richard O’Brien, the writer, composer and lyricist of The Rocky Horror Show.
Patricia reminisced on her first audition for the project, where she fell in love with the opening number.
“Richard O’Brien and Jim Sharman were there and I sang them a song. Well I tried to, and they looked a bit sceptical because I was singing Jessie Matthews Over My Shoulder instead of a rock and roll song,” she said.
“Richard played me Science Fiction and he said: ‘Do you think you could sing along with this?’
“I went skipping down the Kings Road after that song. I just knew it was special. I was so excited.”
She later accepted the job with the promise of being able to sing the opening number, Science Fiction Double Feature, in the role of the Usherette.
Two years later, she almost dropped out of the film over not being able to sing it.
“Jim Sharman invited me to lunch and to discuss making a film. He said we can’t have an usherette. It won’t work,” she reminisced.
“And I said: ‘So you mean, I’m not singing science fiction?’ And he said: ‘No.’ And I said: ‘Then I’m not doing the film.’”
The show’s creator, Richard O’Brien, took over singing duties for the opening number, but they made sure Patricia could still put her stamp on the song – miming the number in bright red lipstick.
You can hear more from that interview on Talkback on BBC Radio Ulster on Monday 28 August from 12:00 BST.
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