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    'The Voice' Recap: One Coach Uses His Save Right Away as the Battle Rounds Begin

    NBC

    A new episode of the long-running singing competition show marks the premiere of Battle Rounds in season 20, featuring singers going head-to-head before some of them advance to the Knockout Rounds.

    Mar 30, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    “The Voice” returned with a new episode on Tuesday, March 29. The episode marks the premiere of Battle Rounds in season 20, featuring singers going head-to-head before some of them advanced to the Knockout Rounds. During this round, each coach was given one steal and one save.

    The first battle was between Team Kelly Clarkson’s Ryleigh Modig and Gean Garcia. The pair took the stage to sing “POV” by Ariana Grande. Coach Blake Shelton commented, “If Kelly was here I would tell her, why did you pair these two together, it’s awful, what is she doing.” Kelsea Ballerini, who stepped in for Kelly as she was sick, was having a hard time to choose one between the amazing singers. Eventually, Riley won with John Legend and Nick Jonas hitting their buttons to steal Gene. Gene chose John.

    The next singers to go head-to-head were Connor Christian and Aaron Konzelman from Team Blake. The two sang Waylon Jennings’ “Ain’t Living Long Like This”. Nick gushed over Connor’s “rasp” while he loved Aaron’s “professional qualities.” As for John, he said, “I really had a fun time listening to the whole thing.” Coach Blake commented, “Aaron, I don’t know how you manage to do anything else when you are so good at this. Connor, once you are in the zone, nobody can get you out of there.” Blake eventually announced Connor as the winner and no one unfortunately stole Aaron.

    Dana Monique and Devan Blake Jones from Team Nick then hit the stage to belt out “Stuck on U” by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber. Blake mentioned about Dana’s “powerful” vocal. John added, “Devan, I really think you are a great vocalist, you have so much fire, my only concern is that there were a few accuracy issues when it came to the pitch. Dana, you looked natural up there, when it came to execution you were on point the whole time.” Dana won the battle. However, Devan stayed on the competition as Nick decided to save him.

      See also…

    Battling next were Team John’s Christine Cain and Pia Renee who sang Brandy’s song “Baby”. “I feel like I just watched a sass off. Both of you look amazing, you look like I have it together, I am ready to go, and I think as a woman in music it is important to know yourself like that and I see that in both of you as well and that is really amazing,” Kelsea gushed. Meanwhile, Blake said, “Christine, you are such a good singer but at times I felt like you were so laid back and it goes to Pia and she explodes with these vocal moments that really hit the mark. For that reason, I think I would go with Pia.” The winner of the battle was Pia and no one stole Christine.

    Team Nick’s Jose Figueroa Jr. and Awari were then up next, singing “You Say” by Lauren Daigle. “This is genuinely a tough decision Nick Jonas. I feel like your voice Jose was a little more fluid and a little more effortless. Awari I love how strong and solid your voice is. Nick, I might very slightly edge towards Awari and I’m not even sure about that, it’s very close,” John commented. Nick also called the duet “phenomenal.” Eventually, Nick picked Jose as the winner of the battle. Awari was sent home as nobody hit their buttons.

    The final battle that night was between Ethan Lively and Avery Robinson as they sang “Just Got Started Lovin’ You” by James Otto. “I felt like it was inviting, the performance. This song did have that low note and I felt like Ethan has that robust low tone. It is amazing to me that Ethan is only seventeen. I think at this moment, Ethan did a little bit better, but this song played to his strengths,” John raved. “Ethan, you made Nick half the man, you made him jealous. Avery, you came in high demand, you had all four coaches want you. I say you come alive up there,” Blake added. After a tough decision, Ethan was named as the winner. As Avery was available to steal, Kelsea stole Avery on behalf of Kelly.

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    Armie Hammer Loses 'Billion Dollar Spy' Role in Wake of Sexual Assault Allegations

    WENN

    The ‘Call Me by Your Name’ star is dropped from the Cold War drama movie following reports that he’s under police investigation regarding a woman’s claim of rape at the hands of the actor.

    Mar 30, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Armie Hammer isn’t going to be back to work in front of camera anytime soon as he continues battling sexual assault allegations. The actor has lost another role in the wake of his cannibalism scandal and damaging allegations by his exes that followed suit.

    In the latest aftermath of the scandal, Hammer is now reportedly dropped from upcoming thriller “Billion Dollar Spy”. The 34-year-old was supposed to star opposite Mads Mikkelsen in the Cold War drama from filmmaker Amma Asante.

    Representatives for Asante and Walden Media, the film company behind the movie, have not commented on the report, which was first brought to attention by Variety. There’s also no word on whether the filmmaker has found a replacement for Hammer.

    “Billion Dollar Spy” was the one last remaining project on Hammer’s slate as several studios, which initially struck a deal with him prior to the allegations, have now cut ties with him. He previously announced his departure from rom-com “Shotgun Wedding”, in which he was set to star opposite Jennifer Lopez, and was dropped from “The Offer”, which chronicles the making of “The Godfather”.

      See also…

    In February, his agency WME and his personal publicist also cut ties with him in the wake of the sexual assault allegations.

    The news of Hammer losing his “Billion Dollar Spy” role arrives after Los Angeles Police Department confirmed the actor was under investigation for alleged rape. A 24-year-old woman, who is only known as Effie, detailed a four-hour ordeal in 2017 involving the “J. Edgar” star earlier this month.

    During a press conference alongside her lawyer Gloria Allred, Effie accused Hammer of “mentally, emotionally, and sexually abusing” her during a four-year on/off relationship, during which the actor was still married to Elizabeth Chambers. Effie alleged she met Hammer on Facebook when she was 20 and admitted to falling in love with the actor although she now believes she fell victim to “manipulation tactics.”

    Hammer later denied the allegations, with his lawyer claiming that they have evidence to prove Hammer’s encounter with Effie was “completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.” In a statement, the lawyer said, “It was never Mr. Hammer’s intention to embarrass or expose (Effie’s) fetishes or kinky sexual desires, but she has now escalated this matter to another level by hiring a civil lawyer to host a public press conference. With the truth on his side, Mr. Hammer welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight.”

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    CBS Shuts Down Report That Sharon Osbourne Received $10M for Leaving 'The Talk'

    CBS/Monty Brinton

    The network announced Sharon’s departure in a statement on Friday, March 26, two weeks after the 68-year-old British was involved in a heated argument about race with black co-host Sheryl Underwood.

    Mar 30, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    CBS has responded to a report claiming that CBS gave Sharon Osbourne up to $10 million ahead of her exit from “The Talk”. According to Page Six, a source spilled that Sharon “is walking away with a $5 to $10 million minimum payout and was able to spin that it was her decision [to leave the show].”

    Another source, meanwhile, added that the wife of Ozzy Osbourne would be speaking out about her exit “when she is ready.” The informant continued, “She has been on that show for 11 years and knows all the secrets.”

    CBS, however, has denied the claims. “False, inaccurate or untrue. Take your pick,” a CBS spokesperson said.

    The network announced Sharon’s departure in a statement which was released on Friday, March 26, two weeks after the 68-year-old British was involved in a heated argument about race with black co-host Sheryl Underwood. “Sharon Osbourne has decided to leave ‘The Talk’. The events of the March 10 broadcast were upsetting to everyone involved, including the audience watching at home,” the statement read.

      See also…

    “As part of our review, we concluded that Sharon’s behavior toward her co-hosts during the March 10 episode did not align with our values for a respectful workplace,” the statement continued.

    CBS also denied Sharon’s claims that she was “blindsided” by producers over the confrontation in the episode. “We also did not find any evidence that CBS executives orchestrated the discussion or blindsided any of the hosts,” the statement also read. “At the same time, we acknowledge the Network and Studio teams, as well as the showrunners, are accountable for what happened during that broadcast as it was clear the co-hosts were not properly prepared by the staff for a complex and sensitive discussion involving race.”

    “During this week’s hiatus, we are coordinating workshops, listening sessions and training about equity, inclusion and cultural awareness for the hosts, producers and crew. Going forward, we are identifying plans to enhance the producing staff and producing procedures to better serve the hosts, the production and, ultimately, our viewers,” the statement concluded.

    Sharon received backlash after she defended Piers Morgan who said that he didn’t believe Meghan Markle’s claims, including her racism experience in the royal family. “I am with you. I stand by you,” she tweeted at the time. “People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and that you’re just speaking your truth.”

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    New 'Transformers' Standalone Movie in the Works With Angel Manuel Soto

    Paramount Pictures

    The upcoming big-screen adaptation has secured a director and screenwriter as it is reportedly being developed separately from the universe of the original movie.

    Mar 30, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    A new “Transformers” film is in development from Angel Manuel Soto.

    The director is attached to develop a new feature based on the popular Hasbro brand with Marco Ramirez, the showrunner of the Marvel TV series “The Defenders”, writing the script.

    Details on the project are being kept under wraps but it is being developed separately from the universe of the main “Transformers” films that Paramount Pictures have been making since 2007.

    The movie is in the early phase of development and it is not yet clear who will produce it. It is thought that Lorenzo di Bonaventura, Don Murphy, and Tom DeSanto – who have served as producers on the previous flicks – are to be involved.

    A decision was made last year to revamp the “Transformers” franchise by having two simultaneous scripts in development – one penned by James Vanderbilt and another by Joby Harold.

      See also…

    “Creed” helmer Steven Caple Jr. is set to direct a new film while “Toy Story 4” filmmaker Josh Cooley will also direct an animated “Transformers” prequel.

    Harold’s screenplay was chosen as the basis for the next movie in the franchise and he completed his final touches to the script.

    The origin story will be set on the planet Cybertron, the planet where the living robots come from.

    The plot is set to focus on the relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron, the future leaders of the sworn enemies the Autobots and the Decepticons.

    The project is separate from the live-action “Transformers” series and “Bumblebee” spin-off and will exist outside the franchise timeline.

    It had been suggested that studios were more likely to focus on animated movies amid the coronavirus pandemic as it is easier to make an animated motion picture as the production can be completed whilst observing social distancing.

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    Demi Lovato's Rapist Appeared in Her Movie as Sexual Assault Was 'Swept Under the Rug'

    Instagram

    According to the former Disney darling, her sexual assault was completely covered up even though she confided in ‘somebody of power’ about the harrowing ordeal.

    Mar 30, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Demi Lovato’s rapist appeared in a movie with her, even after she had confided in “somebody of power” about the sexual assault.

    The 28-year-old singer has previously revealed she had been “hooking up” with a guy but didn’t want to have sex with him because she was still a virgin but he forced himself on her and, after seeking treatment for an eating disorder and addiction issues three years later, she confided in “somebody of power” about what had happened to her.

    She recalled, “She said, ‘I don’t think they should be in your movie coming out.’ That was completely swept under the rug. Nothing was done about it. That person was still in that movie.”

    And the #MeToo movement led Demi to a revelation in 2018.

    She said, “I realised, oh my gosh, this happens in the industry all the time.”

    After she was raped, Demi confided only in her mother and a few close friends and she was left with a sense she was “bad, wrong and dirty,” which caused her eating disorder to spiral.

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    The “Sorry Not Sorry” hitmaker said, “I realised when I got to treatment (in 2010) that the reason why my eating disorder progressed so quickly and so badly was that I kept the secret of being raped…”

    “When this situation happened I felt so ashamed. That was what was replaying in my head: ‘You’re not married, you’re not married, you’re not married – you’re bad.’ ”

    “I went three years with ‘I’m bad, I’m wrong, I’m dirty.’ This is why I went away to treatment, pretty much. Three years of that will lead to somebody snapping on a plane in Colombia.”

    Demi was also sexually assaulted by her drug dealer following her highly-publicised overdose in 2018 and, in both cases, she tried to confront the men afterwards. However, she admitted, “It didn’t fix anything. All it did was make me feel worse.”

    But the “Sober” singer felt she had to do so in a bid to take back control.

    She told Sunday Times magazine, “I use the term ‘trauma re-enactment.’ And there’s a sense of agency that I guess I felt when I was the one to call them back and kind of correct the situation, in my eyes. Because if I was the one in control, then I was fixing it. Which obviously isn’t the case. Like, what happened still happened. And this is not going to make it any better.”

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    San Diego Comic-Con Defends Setting In-Person Event on Thanksgiving Weekend After Backlash

    Organizers update the announcement of the ‘Comic-Con Special Edition’ on the official website with an explanation as to why they chose the date, citing a ‘very packed Convention Center calendar.’

    Mar 29, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    San Diego Comic-Con has defended its scheduling after it sparked criticism for choosing to hold its postponed event on an annual holiday. After fans and talent expressed displease with organizers’ decision to set the in-person convention over Thanksgiving weekend, the organization took to the official website to explain the slot.

    In an updated announcement, organizers cited “a very packed Convention Center calendar” as the reason why it chose the date. “As conventions and events have had to cancel their in-person shows or have converted to virtual formats during the pandemic, some have been postponed to later years while others have been rescheduled to the later part of 2021, resulting in a very packed Convention Center calendar,” it explained.

    The organization went on elaborating, “When reviewing dates for an in-person event, it was clear that available meeting and exhibit space would limit our options. Of the dates presented with the fewest restrictions, Friday through Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend seemed to be the best balance of available space and our envisioned event.”

    It then offered solution to fans, “As longtime fans ourselves, we have attended many conventions over that holiday weekend, opting to spend Thanksgiving day with family and the rest of the weekend with friends and our families of choice. While this is not unusual in the convention trade, we understand this choice is not optimal for everyone.”

    The organization announced on Saturday, March 27 that the “Comic-Con Special Edition” is going to take place over the Thanksgiving weekend, on November 26-28 at the San Diego Convention Center. “While we have been able to pivot from in-person gatherings to limited online events, the loss of revenue has had an acute impact on the organization as it has with many small businesses, necessitating reduced work schedules and reduction in pay for employees, among other issues,” said David Glanzer, spokesperson for the nonprofit organization, “Hopefully this event will shore up our financial reserves and mark a slow return to larger in-person gatherings in 2022.”

    The announcement was met with backlash, with “Light of the Jedi” author and Daredevil comics write Charles Soule opting to miss out the convention. “So they scheduled #SDCC on the same weekend as the first chance most families will (hopefully) be fully able to celebrate Thanksgiving in two years. See you in 2022!” he tweeted.

      See also…

    “Fantastic Four” comic books writer Dan Slott echoed the sentiment. “My family missed Thanksgiving last year because of the pandemic. This year, we’ll all be vaccinated. There’s no way I’d be attending any event instead of spending that time with them. Even if everything were magically back to normal,” he wrote on Twitter. “I can’t imagine others feeling differently.”

    Another expressed the dilemma over the scheduling, “So many people go to Comic-Con for fun, but so many people also go for work. We all missed Thanksgiving with our families in 2020. Could we… not?”

    “A Thanksgiving #ComicCon? WTF? Am I supposed to wait in line for Hall H while eating leftover stuffing and cranberry sauce? #SDCC,” a fan posted on Twitter. Responding to the question, Entertainment Weekly writer Gerrad Hall advised the fan, “No, you aren’t. No one should go to this. I can’t imagine any talent will.”

    Details of the three-day convention, including badge cost, attendance capacity and related information, will be announced at a later date.

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    Brooklyn Beckham to Serve as Production Photographer in Nicola Peltz's Directorial Debut

    Instagram

    The son of David and Victoria Beckham is believed to be working to document his fiancee’s new adventure in co-directing the independent drama with fellow first-timer Bria Vinaite.

    Mar 29, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Brooklyn Beckham has reportedly landed a new photography gig on the set of his fiancee Nicola Peltz’s directorial debut.

    The “Transformers: Age of Extinction” actress wrote the screenplay for “Lola James”, and will co-direct the independent drama with fellow first-timer Bria Vinaite, with “Sideways” star Virginia Madsen tapped to feature alongside Peltz as the titular character.

    The film, set in 2002, will revolve around the exploits of a 19-year-old, desperate to get her younger brother out of their toxic home, and according to Britain’s Sunday Mirror, Peltz will have the support of her husband-to-be onset, as Beckham will serve as the production photographer.

      See also…

    A source told the newspaper, “Brooklyn and Nicola are a very creative couple and Brooklyn has a way with capturing moments in images. Nicola is going to have a lot on and he is believed to be working to document this new adventure.”

    Beckham, the son of soccer icon David Beckham and pop star Victoria Beckham (Victoria Adams), proposed to Peltz last July (2020), after less than a year of dating. In his Instagram announcement, the 22-year-old wrote, “Two weeks ago I asked my soulmate to marry me and she said yes xx I am the luckiest man in the world. I promise to be the best husband and the best daddy one day [love emoji] I love you baby xx.”

    On the very same day, Peltz posted similar photo from the special moment in their life in her own account. “You’ve made me the luckiest girl in the world. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side,” she wrote in her post. “your love is the most precious gift. I love you so so much baby and thank you harper for this pic.”

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    Scarlett Johansson and 'Black Widow' Co-Star Florence Pugh Had Pneumonia While Filming

    Marvel Studios

    Director Cate Shortland shares in an interview that things were rough during the four-month filming as the two stars were ill while filming for the upcoming Marvel flick.

    Mar 29, 2021

    AceShowbiz –
    Scarlett Johansson and her “Black Widow” co-star Florence Pugh have given it all for their upcoming Marvel movie. The two actresses have been unraveled to have suffered pneumonia during filming, but decided to push through with the shooting.

    Director Cate Shortland opened up about the gruelling shooting’s toll on the two beauties when speaking in a new interview with The Gentlewoman. “It was like being in the army,” she recalled, before the publication noted, “By the end, Scarlett and her co-star Florence Pugh were both shooting while ill with pneumonia.”

    Noting that the filming took four months in multiple locations with relentless schedule, Cate applauded Scarlett’s outstanding work ethic. “She’s completely unpretentious,” the filmmaker stated, “and that makes her really fun to be around. She’ll be joking with the best boy or the runner; there’s no hierarchy. She appreciates people, and she makes people feel appreciated.”

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    In the interview, Cate also revealed what aspiration Scarlett has for the upcoming MCU movie. “She really pushed to make something that wasn’t flimsy or superficial,” the television writer/director said. “She wanted to make something that meant a lot to young people and to women. And she knew it was possibly her last film as Black Widow – she didn’t want to leave Marvel making a feel-good movie.”

    Scarlett herself agreed that Black Widow deserved a more thorough characterization. “She’s always been a part of something bigger than herself, and now that’s all gone,” the 36-year-old actress pointed out. When asked if it is scary to do a solo Marvel film, she admitted, “Yeah, it was exposing. But it was time, you know?”

    “Black Widow” is set to be released in the United States on July 9. Aside from Scarlett and Florence, its cast ensemble included David Harbour, O-T Fagbenle, William Hurt, Ray Winstone and Rachel Weisz.

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