Ruby Rose (Batwoman; Orange Is the New Black) tearfully revealed that it took her hours to get accepted into an emergency room due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, EW.com revealed. Rose took to her Instagram Story and explained her hospitalization was due to a complication from surgery, although she didn't go into detail about the procedure she had. "Everyone was amazing, all the front-liners are amazing," Rose said of her healthcare team. COVID-19 numbers are increasing in California and across the United States due to the highly transmissible Delta variant, which is now the most common strain in the country, according to the CDC.
Matt Ryan, who has played pansexual mystical detective John Constantine on DC's Legends of Tomorrow since season three, will be wrapping up his arc as the DC antihero in the current sixth season—but Ryan is not going anywhere, Deadline noted. At the show's Comic-Con@Home panel, executive producer/co-showrunner Phil Klemmer revealed that Ryan will be back as a series regular in season seven as a new character, Dr. Gwyn Davies—an eccentric scientist from the early 20th century who might be the team's only hope next season. The character is now being phased out on the show as a Constantine reboot from J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot and Warner Bros. TV is in the works for HBO Max with a darker tone and a new take on John Constantine, likely as a character of color.
Rolling Stone named Beyonce's "Formation" the best music video of all time, Page Six noted. According to director Melina Matsoukas, Queen Bey wanted the video to show the "historical impact of slavery on Black love, and what it has done to the Black family," as she explained to The New Yorker in 2017. A few others on Rolling Stone's list included Johnny Cash's "Hurt," (#2), Madonna's "Vogue," (#3), Childish Gambino's "This Is America," (#4), New Order's "The Perfect Kiss," (#5), a-ha's "Take on Me," (#14), Prince's "Kiss," (#18), Jay-Z's "Moonlight," (#46), Beck's "Loser" (#74) and The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" (#100)—the very first video MTV aired.
After months of lockdown, social distancing, pandemic restrictions and isolation, The Dinah—considered by some to be the largest all-girl music festival in the world—will celebrate its milestone 30th anniversary in Palm Springs, California, on Sept. 29-Oct. 3, per a press release. Non-binary artist and actor Kat Cunning has been confirmed to appear at the Friday Pool Party. Following CDC guidelines, full COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test will be required to enjoy the festivities. Visit TheDinah.com for updates and info.
SNL's Michael Che faced backlash after posting an Instagram story in which he said he wanted to poke fun at four-time Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles and then sharing the responses—which included a joke about former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, EW.com reported. News and gossip site BallerAlert captured screenshots of Che including select responses to his story and posted them to Twitter. One of those jokes referred to Nassar, who was accused of sexually abusing Biles and countless other athletes and sentenced to prison in 2018. Che later cleared his Instagram account.
Speaking of Biles, WNBA player Brittney Griner showed her support of the gymnast, saying Biles' issues "hit close to home," ESPN.com noted. A year ago, Griner left the WNBA's bubble in Bradenton, Florida, for what was described as personal reasons. "I've always been very vocal about it: I've dealt with some really bad depression, and suicidal thoughts when I was younger. I felt like I was hurting my team, but also felt like I was crushing [myself] on the inside. If you're not your best self, that's when injuries come in because you're not all the way focused." A gold medalist at the Rio de Janeiro Games, Griner is now playing in her second Olympics for Team USA.
Rosie O'Donnell revealed that she'll be making a guest appearance in an episode of Amazon's upcoming hour-long A League of Their Own series, out.com noted, citing Deadline. "I'm playing a bartender in one of the scenes at the local gay bar," she said on on Danny Pellegrino's podcast, Everything Iconic. She also said Abbi Jacobson, the show's creator, sent her the pilot of the show and that it "was just beautiful, really well done." She'll be shooting her scenes in the upcoming months.
Hulu renewed Love, Victor for a third season, per a press release. Season two found a newly out-of-the-closet Victor (played by Michael Cimino) entering his junior year at Creekwood High. But being out brings with it new challenges as Victor faces a family struggling with his revelation, a heartbroken ex-girlfriend in Mia, and the difficulties of being an openly gay star athlete—all while navigating his relationship with Benji.
Jamie Lee Curtis revealed that her younger child is transgender, according to Page Six. The Halloween star told AARP Magazine that she and husband Christopher Guest "have watched in wonder and pride as our son became our daughter, Ruby." Curtis also shared that Ruby and her fiancé are getting married next year in a wedding that the star will officiate. Ruby's transition helped the Knives Out actress realize gender isn't fixed, and she since has tossed out that "old idea," instead learning that her life is a "constant metamorphosis."
After largely virtual proceedings last year due to the pandemic, the Outfest Los Angeles Film Festival will once again screen nearly 200 films in venues across the city, out.com noted. It will run Aug. 13-22. The festival will kick off at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery with a Cinespia screening of Everybody's Talking About Jamie, the Amazon Prime Video film adaptation of the West End musical, which centers on a teen becoming a drag queen. Fanny: The Right to Rock—a documentary on one of the first female rock bands to achieve mainstream success—will close Outfest at the Orpheum Theatre. The full lineup can be seen at OutfestLA2021.com .
The backlash over DaBaby's sexist, homophobic remarks intensified with the release of a music video that appeared to reference the ongoing controversy, HuffPost noted. The rapper unveiled "Giving What It's Supposed to Give," which he directed. At one point in the video, he holds a sign that reads "AIDS," while rapping the lyrics, "Bitch, we like AIDS/I'm on your ass, we on your ass, bitch/we won't go away." The clip concludes with a rainbow-colored message telling viewers, "Don't fight hate with hate. My apologies for being me the same way you want the freedom to be you." Reaction on social media was mixed.
House of Gucci—starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek and an unrecognizable Jared Leto—will be out in theaters Nov. 24, according to a press release. The film is inspired by the shocking true story of the family empire behind the Italian fashion house of Gucci. House of Gucci spans three decades of love, betrayal, decadence, revenge and, ultimately, murder. According to CNN.com, the movie, set in Italy in 1995, centers around the story of Patrizia Reggiani—an Italian socialite (played by Gaga), who, after marrying into fashion royalty, was sentenced to 29 years in prison for plotting the murder of husband Maurizio Gucci (Driver), heir to the Gucci empire.
Lionsgate and BuzzFeed have set the LGBTQ romantic comedy My Fake Boyfriend as the partnership's second production, with the film to star Keiynan Lonsdale, Dylan Sprouse and Sarah Hyland, according to Deadline. Directed by Rose Troche (The Safety of Objects; TV's The L Word), the film follows a young man (Lonsdale) who, on the advice of his best friend (Sprouse), creates a fake social-media boyfriend to keep his ex out of his life. The plan backfires when he meets the real love of his life, and breaking up with his fake boyfriend proves hard to do.
Patrick J. Adams (The TV show Suits), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (TV's Modern Family) and Jesse Williams (TV's Grey's Anatomy) confirmed their return to the Broadway production of Take Me Out when the Richard Greenberg play begins performances next March, Deadline reported. The trio had been set to star in the Second Stage Theater production with a pre-pandemic opening of April 2020. Take Me Out begins previews at the Hayes Theater on March 9, 2022, and will officially open April 4; Adams and Williams will be making their Broadway debuts.
The Kennedy Center signaled a return to its annual awards show—rescheduled and reworked last year, due to COVID-19—by announcing its latest round of honorees: Bette Midler, Lorne Michaels, Justino Diaz, Berry Gordy and Joni Mitchell, Forbes noted. The 44th Kennedy Center Honors is expected to return to its hallmark program at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December, following a reimagined 43rd Kennedy Center Honors show in June in which filming had to be spread out over a week due to COVID-19. The Kennedy Center Honors began in 1978 and celebrates a select number of artists annually for their performing arts contributions to American culture.
American Cinema Editors (ACE) announced that the 72nd Annual ACE Eddie Awards, recognizing outstanding editing in film and television, will be held Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022, per a press release. The event will be held at the brand-new Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles. ACE is planning an in-person, black-tie affair adhering to all COVID safety protocols after last year's virtual affair. Submission deadlines and film/TV eligibility dates will be announced soon.
NBC will air the People's Choice Awards for the first time on Dec. 7 alongside sister network E!, per Deadline. It comes after NBC decided against airing the Golden Globes in 2022 as a result of the controversy surrounding the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. There will be 44 categories available for voting, including top movie, show, album and social star of 2021.
Oscar winner Mo'Nique (Precious) is to develop a range of unscripted projects after striking a deal Endemol Shine North America, according to Deadline. Mo'Nique will produce shows through Hicks Media, the production company that she set up with her husband and manager. The plan is to create and produce series for her to host and star in as well as to produce for other performers.
Capitol Nashville's Mickey Guyton released the title track from her album, Remember Her Name, a press release noted. "'Remember Her Name' is a song for anyone who has ever felt less than, forgotten or up against impossible obstacles," said Guyton. "I hope this song is a reminder of the importance of self-worth and the power of persistence and perseverance." Some of the other songs on the album include "Black Like Me," "Indigo," "Better Than You Left Me" and "Love My Hair."
Billie Eilish released her sophomore studio album, Happier Than Ever, on Darkroom/Interscope Records, a press release announced. The album's essence, artwork and color palette were inspired by some of her all-time favorite recording artists Julie London, Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee, and the 1950s and '60s "golden era" during which they reigned. Also, Eilish will make her Disney+ debut with "Happier than Ever: A Love Letter to Los Angeles," a cinematic concert experience premiering globally Friday, Sept. 3. In addition, her 2022 tour will take Eilish from New Orleans to Los Angeles to London to Zurich.
Matt Bomer is set as a male lead opposite Michelle Monaghan in Echoes—Netflix's psychological thriller limited series from 13 Reasons Why showrunner Brian Yorkey, Deadline reported. Echoes is a mystery thriller about identical twins Leni and Gina, both portrayed by Monaghan, who share a dangerous secret. Out actor Bomer will portray Jack Beck, Leni's husband.
Marvel star Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Disney, alleging her contract was breached when the company released Black Widow on its streaming service Disney+ at the same time it debuted in theaters, CNBC.com noted. Johansson claims her agreement with Disney's Marvel Entertainment guaranteed an exclusive theatrical release for her solo film, and her salary was based, in large part, on the box-office performance. Gal Gadot and Patty Jenkins were reportedly each paid $10 million after Warner Bros. decided to release Wonder Woman 1984 in theaters and on HBO Max in December.
Prison Break actor Wentworth Miller revealed on Instagram that he was diagnosed with autism as an adult last year, telling his followers, "This isn't something I'd change … immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I've achieved/articulated," according to EW.com . Along with a photo of a blank white square, Miller wrote, "This fall marks 1 year since I received my informal autism diagnosis. Preceded by a self-diagnosis. Followed by a formal diagnosis." Autism Speaks defines autism spectrum disorder as "a broad range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication."
Naomi Osaka shot back at Megyn Kelly after the former NBC News anchor criticized the tennis champion for appearing on magazine covers after refusing to speak to the media at the French Open, NBC News noted. On Twitter, Kelly and conservative commentator Clay Travis appeared to accuse Osaka of not being genuine about her struggles after she graced the covers of multiple magazines earlier this month. In response, Osaka said in a now-deleted tweet: "Seeing as you're a journalist I would've assumed you would take the time to research what the lead times are for magazines. [If] you did that you would've found out I shot all of my covers last year." She then appeared to block Kelly after that.
Sharon Stone claimed she lost her SAG-AFTRA health insurance during the pandemic because she fell $13 short of qualifying, Deadline noted. She said in a video, "I lost my vested insurance after 43 years in the business because of COVID. I was $13 short and, you know, I don't really think that that is reasonable for any of us." Stone, who is running to be a SAG-AFTRA board member, also said she is "being threatened" that she'll lose a job she's been offered in Atlanta if she insists everyone on the show has to be vaccinated.
Emmy nominee Michael C. Hall as serial killer Dexter Morgan, the special event series Dexter: New Blood will premiere Sunday, Nov. 7, on Showtime, per a press release. Set 10 years after Dexter went missing in the eye of Hurricane Laura, the series finds him living under an assumed name in the small town of Iron Lake, New York. Dexter may be embracing his new life, but in the wake of unexpected events in this close-knit community, his Dark Passenger beckons. The eight-season run of the original Dexter premiered in 2006.
The Days of Our Lives universe is expanding on NBCU's Peacock, Deadline reported. The streaming service has ordered Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem, a five-episode limited series spawned by the long-running NBC drama. The first original Days of Our Lives limited series will bring together past and present residents of Salem including the return of Lisa Rinna along with actors such as Deidre Hall, Jackee Harry, Billy Flynn, Lamon Archey and Sal Stowers, among others.
Legendary British band Modern English announced that its performance of After the Snow, from Indigo at the O2, will be made available on CD, CD/DVD and digitally on Aug. 27, per a press release. Additionally, Modern English are about to embark on their U.S. fall headline tour, with stops at Chicago/Evanston (Sept. 1, at SPACE), Detroit (Sept. 5, at Magic Bag) and Philadelphia (Sept. 15, at Ardmore Music Hall), among other stops.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment is releasing The Flash: The Complete Seventh Season on Blu-ray and DVD on Oct. 12, a press release noted. After the previous season's cliffhanger that saw Eva McCulloch victorious and still-at-large in Central City, Barry Allen/The Flash must regroup in order to stop her and bring back his missing wife. With help from the rest of Team Flash, Barry will ultimately defeat Mirror Monarch and reunite with Iris West-Allen. But in doing so, he'll unleash two more devastating threats. The Flash stars Grant Gustin, Candice Patton, Danielle Panabaker and Carlos Valdes, among others.
Following the news that he would not be returning for the second season of Bridgerton, Rege-Jean Page will star in and executive-produce a new, reimagined version of The Saint, for Paramount Pictures, Deadline noted. The 1920s book series followed Simon Templar, better known as The Saint—a Robin Hood-esque criminal and thief for hire who goes on a globetrotting adventure.
Rihanna will soon be launching Fenty's first fragrance, according to Yahoo! News. The singer, designer and beauty mogul is keeping the details under wraps, teasing only that it's "coming soon." The upcoming fragrance is the first for Fenty, but Rihanna has already dropped 11 perfumes with the fragrance house Parlux.
Paramount+'s planned revival of Criminal Minds may not happen after all, according to the series' longtime star, Paget Brewster, Deadline noted. Responding to the tweeted question "Any news on the #CriminalMIndsrevival?," Brewster responded, "No, and sadly, we think it's dead. I'll let you know if there is any progress but it seems unlikely. Which is a bummer." Paramount+ unveiled its plans to reinvigorate the Criminal Minds franchise Feb. 24.
Kelly Clarkson has been temporarily ordered to pay her estranged husband, Brandon Blackstock, nearly $200,000 in monthly support, Us Weekly reported. According to court documents obtained by The Blast on Tuesday, July 27, a Los Angeles County Court has ruled that starting on April 1, 2021, the "Miss Independent" singer, 39, was required to pay 44-year-old Blackstock $150,000 per month in spousal support and another $45,000 in child support. Following their breakup, the pair, who were married for nearly seven years before calling it quits, became involved in a legal battle with Clarkson's father-in-law Narvel Blackstock's company, Starstruck Management. Brandon also works for the management company.
Amanda Knox is not pleased by Tom McCarthy's new drama Stillwater, Yahoo! noted. The film stars Matt Damon as the Midwestern father of a college student (played by Little Miss Sunshine star Abigail Breslin) who is in a European prison after being convicted of murder. On Twitter, Knox accused the filmmakers of profiting off of her lived experience. "Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life?," posted Knox. "I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent."
The Drew Barrymore Show will return for its second season with a fully vaccinated crowd, according to Deadline. The show will start production with a full capacity audience at CBS Broadcast Center in New York on Aug. 26. She joins the majority of the late-night hosts—including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon—who have recently brought back audiences.
Jay-Z and Will Smith are among a list of investors involved in a startup that helps renters build credit until they can buy a home, Black Enterprise noted, citing Bloomberg. Landis Technologies is raising $165 million from a group of investors that include Sequoia Capital, Jay-Z's Roc Nation and Will Smith's Dreamers VC. In addition to helping renters become homeowners, Landis offers financial coaching for clients to help improve their credit and get lower down payments.
Singer Jackson Browne released his new album, Downhill From Everywhere, via Inside Recordings—and kicked off a tour with James Taylor in Chicago on July 29 (and that will last through Nov. 1), a press release noted. Also, ahead of the tour, Browne shared a "live from home" video for the album single "My Cleveland Heart" and also will have a series of "Evening With" shows that will span Aug. 8-Sept. 20.
Lance Bass posted a video to Instagram that he had shared on TikTok—and it showed Bass dancing joyfully with other people and including a message that read, "When JT [Justin Timberlake] finally responds to my text," according to Yahoo! Entertainment. Although some fans posted comments reflecting they were worried about possible tension between the two NSYNC bandmates, Timberlake shared his own response to clear the air and make sure Bass knew there was no bad blood. "Once those babies show up… your unavailability will all make sense, bro," Timberlake wrote, adding three laughing-with-tears emojis. Bass will know about parenthood, as he confirmed last month that he and husband Michael Turchin are expecting twins with a surrogate.
Rapper Nicki Minaj teased that she wants Andy Cohen to hand over the hosting baton for the next Real Housewives of Potomac reunion, Page Six noted. Minaj posted a trailer for the Bravo reality show to her Instagram, set to a remix of her 2010 hit "Moment 4 Life." She wrote in the caption, "I'll be hosting the reunion. lmk what y'all want me to ask chile." The official Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen account, meanwhile, asked Minaj to make a remix of "RHOP" cast member Candiace Dillard's song "Drive Back"—but the musician didn't seem interested.
