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Tag: Hollywood

  • Grammy organisers eliminate ‘secret’ nominating committees after allegations of corruption

    The organisers of music’s Grammy Awards on Friday announced an end to the so-called “secret” committees that have led to allegations that the highest honours in the industry are open to rigging.

    The Recording Academy said that nominations for the next Grammy Awards in January 2022 will be selected by all of its more than 11,000 voting members, instead of by committees of 15 to 30 industry experts whose names were not revealed.

    The Academy was slammed last year when Canadian artist The Weeknd got zero Grammy nominations, even though his critically acclaimed album After Hours was one of the biggest sellers of 2020.

    The Weeknd, in a Twitter post last November, said “The Grammys remain corrupt. You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency.”

    The Recording Academy said in a statement on Friday that the changes were significant and were made “to ensure that the Grammy Awards rules and guidelines are transparent and equitable.”

    Allegations that the Grammy nominations process is tainted were made in a legal complaint filed in early 2019 by the former chief executive of the Recording Academy, Deborah Dugan.

    At the time, the Academy dismissed as “categorically false, misleading and wrong” Dugan’s claims that its members pushed artists they have relationships with. Dugan was later fired.

    American pop star Halsey, also shut out of the 2021 Grammys, last year called the nominations process “elusive” and said she was “hoping for more transparency or reform.”

    Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik called in March for an end to “secret committees.”

    “I’m keeping the pressure on and fighting for transparency and inclusion. We need to make sure we are honouring and celebrating ‘creative excellence’ of all,” Malik tweeted hours ahead of the 2021 Grammy Awards ceremony.

    Malik had also lashed out the awards saying: “Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionery.”

    The Recording Academy on Friday also said it was adding two new Grammy categories — for best global music performance, and best Latin urban music album — bringing to 86 the total number of Grammy Awards each year.

  • Victoria Beckham would ‘rather die’ than wear crocs sent by Justin Bieber

    Victoria Beckham would ‘rather die’ than wear crocs sent by Justin Bieber

    It is not uncommon for celebrities to send each other products to promote. But when Justin Bieber decided to send Queen of Fashion Victoria Beckham a pair of crocs from his new collaboration, he probably never expected the reaction he got.

    Sharing a picture of the crocs she received with her 28.9 million followers, Victoria Beckham said: “A lot of people have been asking me what I’m planning on wearing after lockdown, what do we think about this suggestion from Justin Bieber?”

    Read more – Questlove actually had to the guts to wear golden crocs to the Oscars red carpet

    While thanking Justin by saying that “it is very kind of him” to send her these, she moved the camera closer to display the features of the crocs before going on to say: “Never worn a pair of crocs. This did make me laugh”.

    The former Spice Girls star also posted a poll asking her followers if they think she will ever wear these crocs or not. 57% of the voters voted ‘no’ bringing a sigh of relief to Posh, who said: “Well, that was close! I think I’d rather die but thank you anyway, Justin Bieber.”

    While Victoria may have come across as sarcastic and mean, her act sure did bring Bieber’s new collection to light.

  • Donald Trump bashes Oscars for being ‘boring and politically correct’

    Donald Trump bashes Oscars for being ‘boring and politically correct’

    Former president of the United States, Donald Trump has bashed the Oscars, calling the ceremony boring and offered advice on how to revive the plummeting ratings.

    In a statement emailed to reporters from his office, Trump said: “What used to be called The Academy Awards, and now is called the ‘Oscars’ —a far less important and elegant name—had the lowest Television Ratings in recorded history, even much lower than last year, which set another record low.”

    “If they keep with the current ridiculous formula, it will only get worse—if that’s possible,” added the former president.

    “Go back 15 years, look at the formula they then used, change the name back to THE ACADEMY AWARDS, don’t be so politically correct and boring, and do it right. ALSO, BRING BACK A GREAT HOST,” continued Trump.

    Remarking that the broadcast has become too political, Trump said: “These television people spend all their time thinking about how to promote the Democrat Party, which is destroying our country, and cancel Conservatives and Republicans. That formula certainly hasn’t worked very well for The Academy!”

    Last year, when Trump was still president, he had live-tweeted his criticism on the Oscars and bashed voters for giving the best picture to Parasite. At a rally, Trump while talking about the South Korean film had said: “What the hell was that all about? We’ve got enough problems with South Korea with trade. On top of that, they give them best movie of the year. Was it good? I don’t know.”

    Meanwhile, this year’s ceremony drew only 10.4 million viewers, a record low, according to final Nielsen numbers released on Tuesday — a staggering if widely expected drop for a ceremony that many viewers found short on humour and star power.

    With movie theaters shut for most of the year, many viewers had not seen or even heard of nominees such as Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland, which was the night’s big winner with three prizes but which has taken just over $2 million at the domestic box office.

    Several blockbuster films whose stars could have drawn interest at this year’s Oscars saw their release dates shunted to next year due to the pandemic, from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story and the mega-budget sci-fi Dune to an array of popular superhero titles.

    This year’s unorthodox Oscars ceremony was moved from a Hollywood theater to a glammed-up Los Angeles train station to abide by strict Covid-19 protocols and reunited Hollywood filmmakers and actors en masse for the first time in more than a year.

    Reviews of the show were mixed, with several critics complaining about the show’s lack of humor and musical performances.

    While many Oscars begin with gag-heavy monologues, producers turned this year to Regina King, who was one of many stars who referred to racism and police violence — specifically last week’s conviction of Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd. Other political statements made during the Oscars did not focus on Trump, but on topics like gun violence and policing.

    “I know that a lot of you people at home want to reach for your remote when you feel like Hollywood is preaching to you,” she predicted.

    Regina King

    Variety slammed the decision to go without a host for a third straight year, calling the ceremony “lost and guide-less.”

    But the decision to strip out musical performances and most clips of nominated movies — and allow winners to speak at length without being “played off” the stage by an orchestra — drew some praise.

    The Oscars drew more than 43 million viewers as recently as 2014, but audiences have become increasingly fragmented in the streaming era.

  • Hilary Duff to star in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ sequel

    Hilary Duff to star in ‘How I Met Your Mother’ sequel

    Cult classic How I Met Your Mother is finally getting a sequel and Hilary Duff has been roped in as the lead.

    Titled How I Met Your Father, the gender-swapped upcoming show, which will stream on Hulu, will feature the Lizzie McGuire star play the female version of the original’s lead character, Ted Mosby.

    According to a press release, the story will “catapult us back to the year 2021 where Sophie and her close-knit group of friends are in the midst of figuring out who they are, what they want out of life, and how to fall in love in the age of dating apps and limitless options.”

    The sequel’s format will be the same as the original CBS comedy which ran from 2005 to 2014.

    Duff, in a statement, expressed her excitement over the development, saying: “I’ve been incredibly lucky in my career to play some wonderful characters and I’m looking forward to taking on the role of Sophie. As a huge fan of How I Met Your Mother, I’m honoured and even a little nervous that Carter and Craig would trust me with the sequel of their baby.” Carter Bays and Craig Thomas are the co-creators of the new show.

    “Just fangirling over here getting to join the Hulu Originals and 20th families. I realize these are big shoes to fill and I’m excited to slip my 6 ½’s in there,” added Duff.

    The actor later also shared the news on social media “The news came out that I am going to be shooting How I Met Your Father. Today is a good day,” she captioned the post.

    No timeline for the show’s filming or release date has been announced as yet.

    Read more – Hilary Duff confirms ‘Lizzie McGuire’ reboot cancelled

    This is not the first time a sequel to the superhit series has been planned. Back in 2014, soon after How I Met Your Mother wrapped up CBS had ordered a pilot episode of a similar-sounding spinoff show called How I Met Your Dad starring Greta Gerwig (who has since written and directed the movies “Little Women” and “Lady Bird”), but it was ultimately scrapped.

  • ‘Friends’ reunion episode wraps up shooting

    ‘Friends’ reunion episode wraps up shooting

    The unscripted reunion episode of the 90’s popular sitcom Friends has wrapped up shooting which means that it will be coming to our screens very soon. The reunion episode was originally announced in February 2020 and will see Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer together on the screen for the first time since the show wrapped in 2004.

    As per details, the special episode was recorded at Warner Bros Studios in just three days. While a release date has not been announced, the episode will be available to stream on HBO Max.

    Earlier, Perry accidentally shared a behind-the-scenes picture of himself prepping for the episode, only to delete the post moments later.

    “Seconds before eating a makeup brush, not to mention reuniting with my friends,” he had captioned the photo.

    Though creators of the show are trying to keep details tightly under wraps, pictures from the sets emerged on social media and it has been reported that the special was shot on the show’s original soundstage on the Warner Bros lot in Burbank, California.

    It has further been reported that while a live audience participated in the reunion, they were “mostly union extras, Covid screened and hired for the gig”, after the pandemic prevented fans from attending.

    The revived set – partially based outdoors for COVID safety protocols – includes the iconic water fountain that the cast splashed around in during the show’s intro, sound-tracked by The Rembrandts’ theme tune, I’ll Be There For You.

    Friends aired for 10 seasons between 1994 and 2004. It was also nominated for 62 Primetime Emmy Awards and won the Outstanding Comedy Series award in 2002.

  • Samina Ahmed reportedly shooting for a Hollywood project in Thailand

    Samina Ahmed is reportedly shooting for a ‘Hollywood serial’ in Thailand, her husband Manzar Sehbai has revealed.

    Replying to an Instagram user asking where Samina is, Sehbai said: “She is in Thailand, shooting for a Hollywood serial. Will be back on 6th of May.”

    While Sehbai did not reveal what project Samina is shooting for, it is believed that the veteran actor is part of Disney+’s Ms Marvel. As per details, the series is currently being shot in Bangkok and Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar is also in the city for it.

    https://twitter.com/iHaroonRashid/status/1380274222128320512

    According to a report in the Indian media, “Farhan is currently stationed in Bangkok, along with an international cast and crew, for the shoot of a project with Marvel Studios, who are known to be one of the biggest film studios worldwide.”

    Marvel Studio’s upcoming original series Ms Marvel, will see Iman Vellani play Kamala Khan aka Ms Marvel. Churails actor Nimra Bucha is also part of the cast and is expected to have a titular role in the series.

    According to a press release, “The Marvel Studios original series centres on fan-favourite Kamala Khan — a 16-year-old Pakistani-American growing up in Jersey City. A great student, avid gamer, and voracious fan-fic scribe, Kamala has a special affinity for superheroes, particularly Captain Marvel.”

    The episodes of the series will be directed by Adil El Arbi & Bilall Fallah (Bad Boys for Life), Meera Menon (The Walking Dead, Dirty John, Outlander) and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy.

    The series is set to premiere on Disney+ later this year.

  • Chrissy Teigen deletes Twitter account after 10 years

    Chrissy Teigen has deleted her popular Twitter account, saying the site no longer plays a positive role in her life.

    “For over 10 years you guys have been my world,” Teigen wrote to her 13.7 million followers Wednesday night. “But it’s time to say goodbye. This no longer serves me as positively as it serves me negatively, and I think that’s the right time to call something.”

    Teigen’s account was popular for its mix of jokes about her husband John Legend and their children, their playful banter on the site, funny observations about assorted topics and fierce retorts for those she disagreed with or who criticised her.

    That reputation is at odds with who she really is, the model and cookbook author wrote.

    “My life goal is to make people happy,” she wrote. “The pain I feel when I don’t is too much for me. I’ve always been portrayed as the strong clap back girl but I’m just not.”

    Last year, Teigen shared the heartbreak of a miscarriage on the site, posting an anguished picture of her in the hospital. Another image showed her and Legend grieving over a bundle cradled in her arms.

    While her candour about the loss of their son won praise, some criticised her for putting such painful moments on social media.

    She wrote Wednesday that she’s experienced so many attacks from low-follower accounts that she’s “deeply bruised.”

    In one of her final posts, she told her followers to “never forget that your words matter.”

    Teigen’s Instagram account, with more than 34 million followers, remains active as does Legend’s Twitter account, with 14 million followers.

  • ‘Timeless India in the heart of NYC’: Priyanka Chopra to open her own restaurant

    Priyanka Chopra is opening her own Indian restaurant in New York, with the name of ‘Sona’.

    Priyanka Chopra took to her Instagram account and shared the pictures from an intimate prayer ceremony that took place in 2019, to make the announcement.

    “Im thrilled to present to you SONA, a new restaurant in NYC that I poured my love for Indian food into. SONA is the very embodiment of timeless India and the flavours I grew up wit,” wrote Priyanka while making the announcement.

    “The kitchen is helmed by the incredible Chef Hari Nayak , a masterful talent, who has created the most delicious and innovative menu, taking you on a food journey through my amazing country.”

    Priyanka also added: “SONA is opening later this month, and I can’t wait to see you there.”

    She thanked her team members saying, “This endeavour would not have been possible without the leadership of my friends Maneesh Goyal and David Rabin. Thank you to our designer Melissa Bowers and the rest of the team for realizing this vision so clearly.”

    She concluded: “The second and third photos were taken in September 2019 when we performed a small intimate Puja (prayer ceremony) to bless the space that would soon become Sona Godspeed.”

    “Timeless India in the heart of NYC” the description of the restaurant say. As per the information available the restaurant will open its doors in late march.

  • ‘I failed’: Justin Timberlake apologises to Britney Spears, Janet Jackson after online criticism

    ‘I failed’: Justin Timberlake apologises to Britney Spears, Janet Jackson after online criticism

    Justin Timberlake on Friday apologised for moments he “fell short” and condoned misogyny, one week after the release of a blockbuster documentary on Britney Spears saw the behaviour of the former boy band star come under sharp criticism.

    The film, produced by FX and The New York Times, explores the vitriol both the media and entertainment industry aimed at Spears, who soared to global fame before publicly suffering a mental health crisis and becoming a paparazzi punching bag in the mid-to-late 2000s.

    Spears and Timberlake famously dated several years around the turn of the millennium, having met as children while cast members of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club variety show.

    The popular narrative of their breakup cast Spears as a cheating heartbreaker, offering sympathy to Timberlake especially after he released a revenge fantasy music video for the break-up hit Cry Me A River.

    The documentary Framing Britney Spears includes audio from a 2002 radio interview in which Timberlake jokes about the couple’s sex life; Spears for years was needled over the state of her virginity prior to the break-up.

    “So when are you apologising to Britney?” asked Spears fans on social media, flooding Timberlake’s accounts with tags.

    “I’ve seen the messages, tags, comments, and concerns and I want to respond,” Timberlake said Friday on Instagram.

    “I am deeply sorry for the times in my life where my actions contributed to the problem, where I spoke out of turn, or did not speak up for what was right,” he wrote. “I understand that I fell short in these moments and in many others and benefited from a system that condones misogyny and racism.”

    Timberlake, 40, said he “specifically wanted to apologise to Britney Spears and Janet Jackson both individually, because I care for and respect these women and I know I failed.”

    In Jackson’s case, the former NSYNC star was referring to the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” Jackson suffered during a much-watched Super Bowl halftime show when Timberlake appeared to pull off part of her outfit and expose her breast.

    The 2004 scandal triggered widespread outcry, with much of the criticism aimed at Jackson.

    In both cases Jackson’s and Spears’ careers took serious hits, while Timberlake’s popularity remained largely unscathed.

    “As a man in a privileged position I have to be vocal about this,” Timberlake wrote, nearly two decades after the incidents in question.

    “Because of my ignorance, I didn’t recognise it for all that it was while it was happening in my own life but I do not want to ever benefit from others being pulled down again.”

    “I have not been perfect in navigating all of this throughout my career,” Timberlake added. “I know this apology is the first step and doesn’t absolve the past. I want to take accountability for my missteps in all of this as well as be part of a world that uplifts and supports.”

    Timberlake is now married to actress Jessica Biel.

    The documentary’s release this month has triggered renewed scrutiny of the conservatorship Spears, 39, has lived under since 2008, a legal guardianship dictating the course of her life and finances that’s largely been steered by her father Jamie.

    Spears filed last year to remove her father from the conservatorship and give sole power over her estate to a financial institution. Her court-appointed lawyer says she’s “afraid” of her father.

    On Thursday a judge ruled that both Spears’ father and Bessemer Trust would oversee the pop star’s finances, denying Jamie Spears’ bid to keep sole power to delegate investments.

    Spears’ lawyer did not seek Thursday to remove Jamie Spears’ from the legal arrangement normally intended for the elderly or infirm, but has not ruled out doing so in the future.

    The next hearing is set for March 17.

  • ‘Emily in Paris’ writer surprised with Golden Globe nomination

    The nominations for the 78th annual Golden Globe Awards were unveiled on Wednesday, and Netflix’s Emily in Paris ended up receiving two nominations – Best TV Series (Musical or Comedy) and Best Performance by an Actress in a TV series (Musical or Comedy).

    The unusual nominations did not sit very well with audiences who were upset with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association – a 90-member group known, and often criticised for, unpredictable choices – for snubbing out favourites such as I May Destroy You and Bridgerton.

    Read more – Every Pakistani girl wants to be ‘Emily in Paris’

    Interestingly, even the writers on the show are surprised with the nominations.

    “I’m a writer on the show. I tried to avoid reading its criticism, but I don’t live under a rock. It never occurred to me that our show would be nominated,” said Deborah Copakenn, a writer on the show.

    In a piece for The Guardian, Copaken said: “Emily in Paris aired a few months after I’d spent June and July marching for racial justice through the streets of New York with my kids. I could definitely see how a show about a white American selling luxury whiteness, in a pre-pandemic Paris scrubbed free of its vibrant African and Muslim communities, might rankle. Our show also aired soon after I read Caste by Isabel Wilkerson and gobbled down Michaela Coel’s I May Destroy You, a work of sheer genius about the aftermath of a rape. ‘That show,’ I told everyone who would listen, ‘deserves to win all the awards’.”

    She continued: “When it didn’t, I was stunned. I May Destroy You was not only my favourite show of 2020. It’s my favourite show ever. It takes the complicated issue of rape – I’m a sexual assault survivor myself – and infuses it with heart, humour, pathos and a story constructed so well, I had to watch it twice, just to understand how Coel did it.”

    Copaken added that though she is excited about the nomination, “but that excitement is now unfortunately tempered by my rage over Coel’s snub. I May Destroy You did not get one Golden Globe nod is not only wrong, it’s what is wrong with everything.”

    Created by Darren Star of the Sex and the City fame, Emily in Paris follows Emily as she navigates her life in Paris and tries to add an “American touch” to the firm she works at. The series has been produced by the show’s star Lily Collins.

    In November 2020, Netflix announced that it was renewing Emily in Paris for a second season.

    Note – An earlier version of the story wrongly credited Abby Govindan as a writer on the show after she tweeted: “As the creator of Emily in Paris, can I just say…why the f*** were we nominated for a Golden Globe. I made that show as a prank.”