Philippa Kaur

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    Zoe Saldana Regrets Darkening Her Skin to Play Nina Simone in Biopic

    RLJ Entertainment

    The ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ actress is ‘so sorry’ for playing the female jazz icon in the 2016 biopic, saying she should have given the role to a dark-skinned actress.
    Aug 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Zoe Saldana has apologised for darkening her skin to play jazz great Nina Simone in a 2016 biopic.
    The “Guardians of the Galaxy” star’s casting in “Nina” was attacked by critics, who felt she was the wrong choice for the role.
    They also blasted the light-skinned black actress for wearing a full body suit, prosthetic nose, and false teeth to capture Simone’s look.
    Zoe defended her casting at the time but later apologised to fans of Simone when the film flopped, accepting she could have made better choices with her portrayal.
    And now, in an emotional new livestream published on her Instagram page, the actress accepts she “should never have played” Simone.
    “I should have done everything in my power with the leverage that I had 10 years ago… I should have tried everything in my power to cast a black woman to play an exceptionally perfect black woman,” she said.
    “I thought back then that I had the permission because I was a black woman – and I am. But it’s Nina, and Nina had a life and a journey that should be honoured to the most specific detail because she was a specifically detailed individual… She deserved better, and I am so sorry.”
    The film was previously attacked by Nina Simone’s daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly, who said the project was “not how you want your loved ones remembered.”

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    Former 'Ellen' Producer Claims She's 'Emotionally Abused and Fired for No Reason' From the Show

    WENN

    Hedda Muskat says she was subjected to emotional abuse while working on ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ and claims the television host was very rude to her employees.
    Aug 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Former “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” producer Hedda Muskat has alleged she was “emotionally abused” while working on the daytime programme.
    Claims about the “toxic” workplace environment first emerged in a Buzzfeed news article in June (20), when one current and 10 former employees spoke about their negative experiences on the show – under the condition of anonymity.
    On Wednesday (05Aug20), Muskat became the first of the show’s former producers to put her name to her allegations, recalling her time on the programme in an interview on Australia’s “Sunrise” morning show.
    “I was more emotionally abused, fired for no reason… they told me that they were just going to take the show in a different direction. They ended up gave my job to a guy I trained who was about 24 years old and had no experience,” she claimed.
    She claimed that Ellen was rude to her from the beginning, and she soon learned the hard way that she wasn’t welcome to talk to the host.
    “When you walk into her office for example, to pitch her your segments, there was always a snarl. I always felt that I was never welcomed in her office, she always hurried me, ‘like get to the point, get to the point,’ ” she said.
    After a few months, Muskat was allegedly told not to go into Ellen’s office anymore.
    She also claimed she was shown “so much disrespect” when she took her daughter into work one day and wanted to introduce her to the 62-year-old presenter.
    “She just snarled again, walked by and I was flabbergasted, she didn’t even make eye contact,” she said. “I was told later to no longer bring my daughter to work… I was told… ‘she doesn’t want kids in the office.’ ”
    Now, Muskat is hoping that her decision to come forward with her story will encourage others to publicly do the same.
    “I’m coming forward because… she trivialised and minimalised everybody’s accusations…. nobody wanted to listen to us until now,” she concluded.
    Ellen has yet to comment on the allegations about her show workplace environment herself, but has had celebrity friends including Katy Perry and Ashton Kutcher come forward in her defence.

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    'American Ninja Warrior' Cuts Ties With 2019 Winner Drew Drechsel Following Child Sex Arrest

    NBC

    Bosses at the television show have distanced themselves from last year’s champion Drew Drechsel after he’s accused of having an inappropriate relationship with an underage.
    Aug 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – The bosses of U.S. TV obstruction course challenge “American Ninja Warrior” have severed ties with 2019 champion Drew Drechsel following his arrest on federal child sex-related charges.
    Drechsel was taken into custody on Tuesday (04Aug20) following accusations he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.
    NBCUniversal and TV show producer A. Smith & Co bosses have released a joint statement, in which they confess they are “shocked and disturbed” to learn about Drechsel’s arrest.
    “American Ninja Warrior is a family show that has inspired countless people, and we will not let the actions of one contestant tarnish the hard work and amazing stories of so many,” the statement reads. “Moving forward, the American Ninja Warrior brand will sever all ties with Mr. Drechsel, including his appearance on future seasons of the show.”
    The 31 year old, who was arrested at his home in Florida, is accused of travelling to New Jersey to engage in sexual activity with an underaged girl he met during the filming of an episode of the show in 2014.
    He has also been accused of the manufacture of child pornography and enticement of a minor to travel for illicit sexual conduct.
    Drechsel’s lawyer, Frank J. Riccio II, has posted a statement on his client’s behalf on Twitter, which read, “Mr. Drechsel is presumed innocent of the charges and that presumption will remain throughout the pendency of his case. He intends on entering a not guilty plea.”

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    50 Cent Slams Emmys for Snubbing 'Power' Again

    Starz

    It is hardly the first time for the ‘Power’ actor/creator to criticize the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as he previously also accused the academy of racism.
    Aug 6, 2020
    AceShowbiz – 50 Cent is attacking the 2020 Emmy Awards with some tough messages. The actor/rapper took to his Instagram account to express his feelings after his TV series “Power” earned zero nominations at the upcoming awards-giving event.
    “ok here it is Emmy’s, My Black a** for your consideration to kiss,” he wrote on Tuesday, August 4 alongside a picture of a black man’s bottom. “F**k your organization I only care about NAACP awards.”
    In the comment section, fans showed support to the “In Da Club” rapper. “Fck they trophies. Being number 1 in the hood is priceless,” one fan commented. Thinking that Fiddy’s posts on the photo-sharing platform were all gems, another fan added, “I just be liking everything this dude post lmao.” Meanwhile someone else suggested Fofty to “create your own academy.”
    It is hardly the first time for the hip-hop star to criticize the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. “The EMMY’s can kiss my black a** in slow motion,” he wrote back in 2019. “F**k em I’m #1 They a bunch of Bengay my back hurt smelling a** old people anyway.”
    He also accused the organization of racism. “I’d like to say it’s racial. That’s the easy way to get out of things. I just think [the voters] overlook it,” he said.
    This year’s Emmys will go virtual due to Coronavirus pandemic. The announcement was made last month in a letter from this year’s Emmy executive producers sent to key acting nominees. “As you’ve probably guessed, we’re not going to be asking you to come to the Microsoft Theatre in downtown L.A. on September 20th,” read the letter. “This year, it’s still going to be TV industry’s biggest night out… but we’ll come to you!”
    The TV Academy also claimed in the letter that they’re “going to make you look fabulous” in addition to “exploring the cutting edge of technology to allow to use good cameras and lighting and look forward to working with you to produce your unique ‘on screen’ moments.”
    The 2020 Primetime Emmys announced its nominations on Tuesday, July 28. “Ozark”, “Watchmen”, “Succession”, “Dead to Me”, “Killing Eve” and “Schitt’s Creek” lead the nominations with three nods apiece. Jimmy Kimmel will serve as the host.

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    'Mulan' to Get Disney Plus Release in September

    Walt Disney Pictures

    Disney CEO Bob Chapek claims that the Niki Caro-directed reboot will be released in theaters on the same day in countries where the streaming platform is not yet available.
    Aug 5, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Disney’s live-action “Mulan” reboot will no longer be premiering in cinemas.
    Bosses at the studio have decided to release the much-anticipated film on the Disney Plus streaming platform from September 4 at a cost of $30 to viewers.
    “We thought it was important to find alternative ways to bring this film out in a timely manner,” Disney CEO Bob Chapek says, revealing in countries where Disney Plus is not yet available, “Mulan” will be released in theaters on the same day.
    Mulan was originally scheduled to open in theaters in America on March 27, but the COVID crisis and the shutdown of cinemas forced movie chiefs to pull the film from the calendar.
    The “Mulan” release won’t affect the roll-outs of Disney blockbusters “The New Mutants” and “Black Widow”, which are still scheduled to hit cinemas on August 28 and November 6, respectively, according to Rolling Stone.

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    Ryan Reynolds Shares His Cut of 'Green Lantern' for 'Justice League' Crossover

    Warner Bros. Pictures

    Prior to posting the re-edited version of his 2011 movie, the ‘Deadpool’ actor teases that he may be in Zack Snyder’s cut of the 2017 superhero ensemble film.
    Aug 5, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Ryan Reynolds is making use of his editing skills to put a twist on one of his infamous films. While he is now part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe through his portrayal of Deadpool after Disney’s acquisition of 20th Century Fox, the Canadian actor apparently still wants his place in the DCEU.
    The 43-year-old hunk, who for years has poked fun at the “Green Lantern” major flop, is bringing up his inglorious past to claim his part in “Justice League”. On Tuesday, August 4, he shared his cut of the 2011 movie that features Ben Affleck’s Batman, Henry Cavill’s Superman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, Jason Momoa’s Aquaman, Ray Fisher’s Cyborg as well as Ezra Miller’s The Flash.
    “Here’s the secret Reynolds Cut of GL you all haven’t been waiting for. In order to make it as great as possible we made some judicious cuts,” he wrote in the caption, though the word “judicious” was used as a joke since the clip reduces the 2-hour runtime to less than 30 seconds.

    Prior to posting the re-edited version of “Green Lantern”, Reynolds teased that he might be in Zack Snyder’s cut of “Justice League” while debunking rumors that he would portay Hawkman in “Black Adam”.
    “I’m not playing Hawkman in Black Adam. Although I generally do whatever the hell @TheRock tells me to do,” he tweeted earlier on Tuesday. “I would however love to be in Zack Snyder’s Justice League movie and I’ve heard I may already be in it? #SnyderCut.”
    Responding to the Canadian actor’s denial of his involvement in “Black Adam”, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who will take on the title character in the upcoming movie, jokingly insisted, “You ARE playing Hawkman and that’s that.”
    The wrestler-turned-actor went on trolling Reynolds, “You’re also Deadpool, Green Lantern (when you want because you own the intellectual property), you’re in the Zack Snyder JL movie and you’re also @KevinHart4real’s dad. Like in real life, as per your blood test.”

    Dwayne Johnson responded to Ryan Reynolds’ tweet.
    Reynolds is currently leading the “Deadpool” franchise, though Disney has not given an official green light to a third movie yet. Meanwhile, the “Snyder Cut”, which is the director’s version of the superhero film, is scheduled to be released on HBO Max in the first half of 2021.

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    'The Ellen DeGeneres Show': Original DJ Tony Okungbowa Recalls 'Toxicity' on Set

    WENN/Daniel Tanner

    Meanwhile, Ellen’s brother Vance DeGeneres comes to his sister’s defense amid the public scrutiny, calling the vicious attack and allegations against the host ‘bulls**t.’
    Aug 5, 2020
    AceShowbiz – Amid the toxic environment controversy against “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”, more people came forward with more allegations in support of the damning claims. On Tuesday, August 4, Tony Okungbowa, who served as the morning talk show’s DJ for several years, took to his Instagram account to share his experience working on the daytime show.
    “Hey Guys, I hope you are all keeping safe out there during these trying times. I have been getting calls asking me about the Ellen Degeneres Show and I would like to address the time I spent there,” Okungbowa, who currently stars as Kofo on the CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola”, wrote in the post.
    Echoing current and former employees’ claims about the show’s toxic environment, Okungbowa added, “I was on air talent from 2003-2006 and from 2007 -2013. While I am grateful for the opportunity it afforded me, I did experience and feel the toxicity of the environment.” He concluded his message by saying that he stood “with my former colleagues in their quest to create a healthier and more inclusive workplace as the show moves forward.”

    Meanwhile, Ellen DeGeneres’ brother Vance DeGeneres came to his sister’s defense amid the public scrutiny. Calling her a “bright light in a dark world,” the 65-year-old said on Twitter on Tuesday, “If you think Ellen would knowingly allow bullying or racism on her show, you don’t know my sister. She has been and continues to be a bright light in a dark world. She’s one of the kindest, most generous people you’ll ever meet. And one of the funniest.”

    Vance DeGeneres defended his sister Ellen amid backlash.
    He doubled down on his support for the award-winning host on his Facebook post on the same day. “Ok, I need to say something. My sister is being viciously attacked. And let me assure you – it is all bulls**t. I put up a simple statement yesterday that said ‘I stand by Ellen.’ Only a handful of my Facebook ‘friends’ responded to it,” he wrote.

    He continued, “If you don’t support Ellen, then you don’t support me, so please unfriend me. I’m sick and tired of my sister being attacked. She always has – and always will – stand against bullying of any kind. She’s a smart, strong woman who has made a positive difference in the world. And to my friends who did respond with support for Ellen and my family, thank you so much. It means a lot.”

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    'Big Brothers All-Stars' Contestants Forced Into Quarantine After Testing Positive for COVID-19

    When promoting the new series, host Julie Chen admits that some of the people from seasons past she thought were definitely going in the house couldn’t go in because of coronavirus.
    Aug 5, 2020
    AceShowbiz – A handful of U.S. “Big Brother All-Stars” have been kicked off the upcoming reality TV show after testing positive for COVID-19.
    Promoting the new series, which debuts on Wednesday (August 05), host Julie Chen reveals all the hopefuls were forced into quarantine after undergoing a battery of tests to make sure they were coronavirus-free – and some didn’t make it.
    “We flew in a bunch of people; more than 16,” she tells CBSN Los Angeles. “And some people I thought were definitely going in the house, they tested positive for COVID-19 so they couldn’t go in.”
    Chen reveals she’ll discover who the 16 finalists are when America finds out, “I don’t even know all the confirmed 16 Houseguests. I know it’s eight women and eight men, all-stars that we all know from seasons past.”

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