Influencers overtaking journalists as news source: report

PARIS — TikTok influencers and celebrities are increasingly taking over from journalists as the main source of news for young people, according to a report published Wednesday by the Britain-based Reuters Institute.

The report found that 55 percent of TikTok and Snapchat users and 52 percent of Instagram users get their news from "personalities" -- compared to 33 to 42 percent who get it from mainstream media and journalists on those platforms, which are most popular among the young.

The figures were based on interviews with some 94,000 people across 46 countries, conducted for the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, part of Britain's University of Oxford.

"While mainstream journalists often lead conversations around news in Twitter and Facebook, they struggle to get attention in newer networks like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok," the report said.

Lead author Nic Newman highlighted people like Britain's Matt Welland, who discusses current affairs and daily life on TikTok for his 2.8 million subscribers.

"Or it could be a celebrity like a footballer talking about a topical news event," he told AFP, such as footballer Marcus Rashford's 2020 campaign to get free school meals for children from poor families.

For young people, "news" is not just the traditional focus on politics and international relations, but "anything new that is happening in any walk of life: sports, entertainment, celebrity gossip, current affairs, culture, arts, technology..." he added.

'FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE'

Facebook remains the leading source of news among social networks worldwide, but its influence is dropping, with 28 percent saying they use it to get news, compared with 42 percent in 2016.

This likely reflects Facebook's shift away from news-sharing towards a focus on friends and family, as well as young people's preference for more video-based apps like TikTok and YouTube.

TikTok now reaches 44 percent of 18-24-year-olds, and 20 percent get their news from the app, up five percent on last year.

The biggest challenge for traditional news outlets is the falling number who go direct to their websites -- just 22 percent, down 10 points since 2018 -- rather than relying on social media links.

In his foreword, Reuters Institute director Rasmus Kleis Nielsen said this shift presented "a much more fundamental change" for the news industry than even the shift from paper to digital a generation ago.

"Legacy media... now face a continual transformation of digital as generations come of age who eschew direct discovery for all but the most appealing brands, (and) have little interest in many conventional news offers oriented towards older generations' habits, interests, and values," he said.

These new audiences are aware of the risks of relying on algorithms, with only 30 percent thinking this is a good way to get a balanced diet of news -- but that is still considered better than relying on journalists, who scored just 27 percent.

None of this is good news for media firms reliant on subscribers and ad revenue.

The report found that 39 percent of subscribers had canceled or renegotiated subscriptions, though the overall share of people paying for news across 20 countries surveyed remained stable compared with last year at 17 percent.

Agence France-Presse

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck hold lavish estate wedding

WASHINGTON, United States - Celebrity couple Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot Saturday -- for the second time in just over a month -- in a lavish ceremony at the "Good Will Hunting" star's estate, US media reported.

The A-list lovebirds already wed in Las Vegas in mid-July, but made it official again, this time in front of friends and family at Affleck's 87-acre (35-hectare) waterfront compound in the southeastern US state of Georgia.

Among the Hollywood types in attendance at the three-day affair were longtime Affleck pal Matt Damon and director Kevin Smith, People magazine reported.

Guests wore all-white while Lopez donned a Ralph Lauren dress made in Italy, according to Fox News.

Images posted by celebrity gossip site TMZ ahead of the wedding showed dinner seating being arranged on what appeared to be a large, covered dock, with a substantial barge for pyrotechnics floating nearby.

The pair -- he is 50 and she is 53 -- first met on the set of the widely panned movie "Gigli" in 2002.

They became a media sensation as they dated but postponed their planned 2003 nuptials, then announced their relationship was over in early 2004.

"Bennifer" -- the couple's public nickname from their first highly publicized relationship -- set the internet alight last year when photos of them together again began circulating. 

Lopez and Affleck announced their engagement in April.

Lopez posted a video of herself appearing emotional and admiring a green ring in her newsletter, "On The JLo." US media reported that the ring was an emerald-cut pale green diamond.

This is the fourth marriage for Lopez and the second for Affleck.

Lopez discussed her renewed relationship with Affleck in an interview with People in February.

"It's a beautiful love story that we got a second chance," she said.

Agence France Presse

Heard and Depp both liable for defamation: jury

Depp jubilant, Heard 'heartbroken' after verdict

A US jury on Wednesday found Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamed each other, but sided far more strongly with the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star following an intense libel trial involving bitterly contested allegations of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Depp, who lost a libel case in London in 2020 against The Sun for calling him a "wife-beater," celebrated the split verdict as a victory and said the jury "gave me my life back."

The five-man, two-woman jury, after deliberating over three days, found that Heard had defamed Depp in an op-ed piece, and awarded him $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.

At the same time, the jury found that the 58-year-old Depp had made defamatory claims against the 36-year-old Heard and also awarded her compensatory damages -- but a much lower amount of $2 million.

Heard, her eyes downcast throughout, listened impassively, as the verdict was read out in Fairfax County Circuit Court near the US capital -- later declaring herself "heartbroken" by the outcome.

"The disappointment I feel today is beyond words," she said in a statement. "I'm heartbroken that the mountain of evidence still was not enough to stand up to the disproportionate power, influence, and sway of my ex-husband.

"I'm even more disappointed with what this verdict means for other women," she said. "It is a setback. It sets back the idea that violence against women is to be taken seriously." 

Depp, who has been in England for the past few days, was not in court for the verdict in the high-profile trial that hinged on lurid claims and counterclaims of domestic abuse between the Hollywood celebrities.

But in a statement he welcomed the verdict.

"The jury gave me my life back," he said. "From the very beginning, the goal of bringing this case was to reveal the truth, regardless of the outcome.

The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun."

Depp filed suit against Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which she described herself as a "public figure representing domestic abuse."

The Texas-born Heard, who had a starring role in "Aquaman," did not name Depp in the piece, but he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser and sought seeking $50 million in damages.

Heard countersued for $100 million, saying she was defamed by statements made by Depp's lawyer, Adam Waldman, who told the Daily Mail her abuse claims were a "hoax."

Both needed to prove the statements were defamatory, and to win compensatory or punitive damages, the jury needed to find they were made with actual malice -- with knowledge that they were false or with "reckless disregard" for whether they were false or not.

- 'Monster' -

Dozens of witnesses testified during the trial, including bodyguards, Hollywood executives, agents, entertainment industry experts, doctors, friends and relatives.

Depp and Heard each spent days on the witness stand during the televised trial, which was attended by hundreds of fans of the "Pirates" star and accompanied by a #JusticeForJohnnyDepp campaign on social media.

Video and audio recordings of heated, profanity-laced arguments between the couple were played for the jury, which was also shown photographs of injuries allegedly suffered by Heard during their volatile relationship.

Hours of testimony were devoted to a grisly finger injury that Depp suffered while filming an installment of "Pirates" in Australia in March 2015.

Depp, a three-time Oscar nominee, claimed the tip of a finger was severed when Heard threw a vodka bottle at him. Heard said she did not know how the injury occurred.

Both agreed that Depp went on to scrawl messages on walls, lampshades and mirrors using the bloody digit.

Heard said Depp would become a physically and sexually abusive "monster" during alcohol- and drug-fueled binges and resisted her repeated efforts to curb his drinking and drug use.

Depp testified that it was Heard who was frequently violent and said it has been "brutal" to listen to "outlandish" accusations of domestic abuse made against him.

Heard, who was married to Depp from 2015 to 2017, obtained a restraining order against him in May 2016, citing domestic violence.

Both sides claimed damage to their Hollywood careers.

Agence France-Presse

Oscars organizer says it does not condone violence

The organizer of the Oscars ceremony on Sunday tweeted that it does not condone violence following an incident in which actor Will Smith slapped presenter Chris Rock in the face on stage during the live broadcast.

"The Academy does not condone violence of any form," the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tweeted following the ceremony.

"Tonight we are delighted to celebrate our 94th Academy Awards winners, who deserve this moment of recognition from their peers and movie lovers around the world."

-reuters-

Facebook shields VIPs from some of its rules: repor

Facebook exempts certain celebrities, politicians and other high-profile users from some its own rules for posts as part of a program launched as a quality-control mechanism, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday.

The program, referred to as "cross check" or "XCheck," shields millions of elite users from rules that Facebook claims to apply equally at the social network, according to a report citing internal documents.

Facebook spokesman Andy Stone in a series of tweets defended the program, but noted the social media giant is aware its enforcement of rules is "not perfect".

"There aren't two systems of justice; it's an attempted safeguard against mistakes," Stone tweeted in response to the Journal report.

"We know our enforcement is not perfect and there are tradeoffs between speed and accuracy."

The article cites examples of posts from high-profile people, including one from soccer star Neymar showing nude images of a woman who accused him of rape and that Facebook subsequently removed. 

A double-standard regarding content moderation would defy assurances Facebook gave to an independent board set up as a final arbiter of disputes regarding what is allowed to be posted at the leading social network.

"The Oversight Board has expressed on multiple occasions its concern about the lack of transparency in Facebook's content moderation processes, especially relating to the company’s inconsistent management of high-profile accounts," board spokesman John Taylor said in response to an AFP inquiry.

The Journal article reports that some users are "white-listed," given protection from enforcement actions, while in other cases reviews of potentially problematic content simply fail to take place.

"White-listed" accounts have shared claims that Hillary Clinton had covered up "pedophile rings," and that then-President Donald Trump had called all refugees seeking asylum "animals," according to the Journal.

XCheck grew to include at least 5.8 million users in 2020, the report indicated. 

Facebook said in a post about cross-checking three years ago that it does not protect the profile, page or content from being removed but "is simply done to make sure our decision is correct." 

Agence France-Presse 

Shock, grief, and gratitude after death of Chadwick Boseman

“He was a gentle soul and a brilliant artist, who will stay with us for eternity through his iconic performances over his short yet illustrious career. God bless Chadwick Boseman.” — Denzel Washington, via a statement.

“Chadwick.....no words to express my devastation of losing you. Your talent, your spirit, your heart, your authenticity........It was an honor working beside you, getting to know you....Rest well prince...May flights of angels sing thee to thy heavenly rest. I love you!” — Viola Davis, co-star in “Get on Up” and the upcoming adaptation of August Wilson’s “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” via Instagram.

“During the premiere party for Black Panther, Chadwick reminded me of something. He whispered that when I received my honorary degree from Howard University, his alma mater, he was the student assigned to escort me that day. And here we were, years later as friends and colleagues, enjoying the most glorious night ever! We’d spent weeks prepping, working, sitting next to each other every morning in makeup chairs, preparing for the day together as mother and son. I am honored that we enjoyed that full circle experience. This young man’s dedication was awe-inspiring, his smile contagious, his talent unreal. So I pay tribute to a beautiful spirit, a consummate artist, a soulful brother...‘thou aren’t not dead but flown afar...’. All you possessed, Chadwick, you freely gave. Rest now, sweet prince.” — Angela Bassett, co-star in ”Black Panther,” via Instagram.

“I don’t have words. Rest In Peace, Bruh. Thank you for all you did while you were here. Thank you for being a friend. You are loved. You will be missed.” — Boseman’s “Black Panther” co-star Sterling K. Brown.

“I’m absolutely devastated. This is beyond heartbreaking. Chadwick was special. A true original. He was a deeply committed and constantly curious artist. He had so much amazing work still left to create. I’m endlessly grateful for our friendship. Rest in power, King.” — Chris Evans, who played Captain America in multiple Marvel films, via Twitter.

“What a man, and what an immense talent. Brother, you were one of the all time greats and your greatness was only beginning. Lord love ya. Rest in power, King.” — Mark Ruffalo, Boseman’s co-star in “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame,” via Twitter.

“THANK YOU @chadwickboseman for all you gave us. We needed it & will always cherish it! A talented & giving artist & brother who will be sorely missed.” — Samuel L. Jackson, co-star in “Avengers: Endgame”, via Twitter.

“This is a crushing blow.” — director and actor Jordan Peele on Twitter.

“Our hearts are broken and our thoughts are with Chadwick Boseman’s family. Your legacy will live on forever.” — Marvel Studios, via Instagram.


“Heartbroken. My friend and fellow Bison Chadwick Boseman was brilliant, kind, learned, and humble. He left too early but his life made a difference.” — Kamala Harris, on Twitter. Harris and Boseman were both graduates of Howard University, and his final tweet celebrated her selection as Joe Biden’s running mate.

“The true power of @ChadwickBoseman was bigger than anything we saw on screen. From the Black Panther to Jackie Robinson, he inspired generations and showed them they can be anything they want — even super heroes.” — Joe Biden, via Twitter.

“We are devastated by the tragic loss of Chadwick Boseman. His transcendent performance in ’42′ will stand the test of time and serve as a powerful vehicle to tell Jackie’s story to audiences for generations to come.” — Major League Baseball, via Twitter.

“This broke me.” — Actor and writer Issa Rae on Twitter.

“i will miss you, birthday brother. you were always light and love to me. my god.” Don Cheadle, via Twitter.

“So stunned. Honored to have worked with @chadwickboseman early on. Truly an amazing man. God bless his wife and family in this difficult time. Rest In Peace, brother.” — Terry Crews, via Twitter.

“A warrior of light til the very end. A true king. I am without words. May he rise in power.” — Actor Kerry Washington, on Twitter.

“I met you at the premier of 42 in Pittsburgh in 2013. Even though you were in the spotlight and all eyes were on you, I remember you saying, ‘I’m that one that’s starstruck by all of these athletes here.’ That’s the man you were. Humble. You will be missed.” — Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Andrew McCutchen, a former National League Most Valuable Player when he played for Pittsburgh, on Twitter.

“Just when you thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse... A deeply gifted man is gone too soon. His memory will blaze on fiercely... from here to eternity.” — Mark Hamill, on Twitter.

“Hard to hear about this. Rest in love, brother. Thank you for shining your light and sharing your talent with the world. My love and strength to your family.” — Dwayne Johnson, via Twitter.

“Our makeup artists are friends and he used to get on the phone and ask me to sing “You Mean The World To Me” because it was his favorite song of mine and now this song will be forever dedicated to him.” — Toni Braxton, recording artist, on Twitter.

“In power. Eternally in power.” — “Moonlight” director Barry Jenkins, via Twitter.

“We love you, Chadwick. Your legacy will never die.” — Lena Waithe, on Twitter.

“An immeasurable loss. From “Black Panther” to “Da 5 Bloods,” Chadwick Boseman brought strength and light to the screen, every time.” — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, via Twitter.

“We’ve lost a great one. My heart is truly broken.” — Octavia Spencer on Instagram.

Associated Press

Clint Bondad trends after posting cryptic messages days after messaging Sam Milby

MANILA – Clint Bondad became a top trending topic on Twitter Philippines after he posted several cryptic messages on Instagram Story Wednesday night.

This comes just days after he sent a direct message to actor Sam Milby, asking if he wants to become his "client." Milby is currently in a relationship with Bondad’s ex-girlfriend, Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

While Bondad’s posts seemed random, some of them contained the word “Sam” although it is unclear what he’s actually pertaining to.

He also posted that that "dating app" is not equivalent to "church," which made some netizens wonder if Bondad is alluding to how Milby and Gray met.

He also said in three consecutive posts that there’s no need to worry because he is only the ex.

Towards the latter part, Bondad posted “Become my Client, Friend.” 

Bondad also wrote “P.S. I create Queens” followed by another post which says “Because I push Yiu Beyond all your Limits.”

Aside from Bondad, Gray also trended on Twitter early Thursday morning.

news.abs-cbn.com

Chris Rock, Rosie Perez appear with New York Gov. Cuomo, urge mask wearing

(Reuters) - Comedian Chris Rock and actress Rosie Perez made a surprise appearance at New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s daily news conference to underscore his message that the public should wear masks to help curb the coronavirus pandemic.

The celebrities, both of whom grew up in the New York City borough of Brooklyn, said they would take part in public service campaigns urging New Yorkers to take the pandemic seriously, wear masks and take other steps to prevent the spread of the sometimes fatal virus.

Rock said he was seeing about 40 percent of people in Brooklyn wearing masks.

“It’s the kids who really aren’t wearing a mask, and you know, it’s sad,” he said. “It’s sad that our health has become, you know, a sort of political issue ... It’s a status symbol, almost, to not wear a mask.”

Perez briefly spoke in Spanish.

“To mi gente, wear a mask, please,” she said. “The numbers in our communities are staggering. This is not a joke. This is not a hoax. This is real.”

Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by David Gregorio

-reuters-

Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin open their lives for candid new series on Facebook Watch

LOS ANGELES - Justin Bieber and his wife Hailey Baldwin are opening up in an intimate series for Facebook Watch in which they discuss their marriage, their problems and their lives together. "The Biebers on Watch" launched on Monday with the first of 12 episodes shot by the couple in and around their Toronto home where they are currently under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The first episode sees the couple taking a boat out onto a lake near where Bieber grew up and talking frankly about the challenges and rewards of being married.

"There's a lot of things I need to work on. Forgiveness things, jealousy things, insecurities that I didn't even realize I had until I chose to spend my life with you. Realized there were blind spots in my life that I didn't realize I had," Bieber told Baldwin.

The series is being shot on GoPro cameras, Facebook Watch said.

Bieber, 26, and Baldwin, 23, met in their early teens, attended the same church and started dating again seriously about two years ago. The Canadian singer and the model married privately in 2018 and held a second wedding for friends and family in September 2019.

The series follows a 10-part documentary on YouTube earlier this year where Bieber emerged from a long period out of the public eye to chronicle the making of his first album in four years, "Changes."

Bieber shot to worldwide fame as a 13 year-old, got hooked on drugs, hit the headlines for a string of arrests and bad behavior, and abruptly pulled out of his "Purpose" world tour in 2017 citing the need for rest.

He has since spoken frankly of his struggles with drugs, depression and fame. (Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by David Gregorio)

-reuters-

Gigi Hadid confirms baby on way with Zayn Malik

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Supermodel Gigi Hadid on Thursday confirmed she was expecting a baby with former One Direction singer Zayn Malik, saying the couple were both excited and happy.

Hadid, who turned 25 last week, appeared remotely on Jimmy Fallon’s “Tonight Show” on Thursday to give the news following rumors circulating for several days in the celebrity media.

“We wish we could have announced it on our own terms but we are very excited and happy and grateful for everyone’s well wishes,” said Hadid, according to an advance excerpt of the video.

Hadid and British singer Malik started dating in late 2015 and their on-off romance made them one of the most sought-after celebrity couples. They appeared together in Malik’s romantic “Pillowtalk” music video in 2016 and at the Met Gala in New York but announced in 2018 that they had split up.

They were spotted together again in January in New York.

Hadid on Thursday gave no details on when the baby was due but said the couple were relishing their time in lockdown due to the coronavirus.

“It is a nice silver lining to be able to be home and be together and really experience it (the pregnancy) day by day,” said Hadid.

The child will be the first for both Hadid and Malik.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Tom Brown

-reuters-

Who's Who of pop culture unites for 'One World' coronavirus special

Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce and Oprah Winfrey on Saturday headlined a special broadcast of music, comedy and personal stories celebrating those around the world on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The two-hour “One World:Together at Home” event, broadcast across multiple television channels in the United States and overseas, featured a Who’s Who of pop culture in the biggest celebrity gathering so far to mark the effects of the virus.

Contributions, all filmed in their homes, also came from Elton John, Jennifer Lopez, Stevie Wonder, British soccer star David Beckham, former U.S. first ladies Michelle Obama and Laura Bush, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, Billie Eilish, Bill Gates and dozens of others.

“I’m so grateful for the healthcare workers, the medical workers, all the grocery store workers and delivery people, the postal workers, all the other nonprofits that are working so hard,” said Gaga, who helped organize the event.

“This is really a true love letter to all of you all over the world, and I hope a reminder of the kindness that’s occurring right now,” she added.

The event, led by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the nonprofit group Global Citizen, told the personal stories of teachers and healthcare, grocery, delivery, postal and other workers.

It showed social media postings and news clips of doctors and nurses being applauded by communities around the world, deserted world landmarks, families greeting each other through windows, and acts of kindness in support of those who are isolated and frail.

“We aren’t asking for money tonight,” said Stephen Colbert who hosted the broadcast alongside his U.S. late night television rivals Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon.

Instead of seeking public funds, the event encouraged philanthropists and companies to contribute to the WHO’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Corporate and other donors have already contributed some $150 million, organizers said.

“What I’d like tonight, if I can, is to give you the permission for the moment to... ‘Smile’,” said Gaga, kicking off the evening by launching into a version of the ballad made famous by Nat King Cole.

Beyonce did not perform but sent a video message in which she noted the disproportionately high death rates from COVID-19 in the black community.

“This virus is killing black people at an alarming rate in America,” she said, urging viewers to protect themselves.

Swift, on piano, gave an emotional rendition of her ballad “Soon You’ll Get Better,” which was originally written during her mother’s battle with cancer.

The Rolling Stones, filmed in four separate locations, sang “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards playing acoustic guitars.

“We all appreciate the healthcare workers but never like now,” Winfrey said in a video message. “They truly are the best of us... We need to ensure that governments step up now and provide healthcare workers with the equipment and the funds they need.”

Wonder played the late Bill Wither’s classic “Lean on Me,” while McCartney, recalling that his mother was a nurse and midwife, sang “Lady Madonna.”

“You know the coronavirus is trouble when a Beatle gets involved,” quipped Kimmel.

Earlier on Saturday, pop, classical and rap musicians from the United States, Asia and the Middle East took part in a six-hour livestream that featured Latin star Luis Fonsi, R&B singer Jennifer Hudson, Hong Kong singer Eason Chan, India’s Vishal Mishra and Emirati musician Hussain Al Jassmi.

Celebrities called on people to stay at home, wash their hands regularly, practice social distancing and put pressure on their political leaders to introduce widespread testing for the disease.

-reuters-

Lunch with A-Rod, serenade by Bieber as #allinchallenge on coronavirus takes off

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Leonardo DiCaprio is offering a walk-on role in his next movie, Justin Bieber says he will serenade the winner in their hometown, and Ellen DeGeneres is offering one lucky American the chance to co-host an episode of “The Ellen Show.”

Former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez, offering a one-on-one batting lesson and lunch, and National Football League quarterback Tom Brady, whose offer is a private workout, are also among dozens of celebrities taking part in the #AllInChallenge, to raise money to help feed Americans affected by the coronavirus outbreak.

“Bob (De Niro) and I are going to be starring in a film called ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ and if you’ve ever wondered what it is be like to work with the great Martin Scorsese, this is your chance,” DiCaprio said in a social media video posting with Robert De Niro on Wednesday.

“We’re offering a walk-on role, you’ll spend the day on the set with the three of us, and of course you’ll attend the premiere,” De Niro added.

The challenge, launched on Tuesday by businessman Michael Rubin, asks celebrities to offer unique experiences. Some are available for auction to the highest bidder while others operate as a sweepstake to anyone donating as little as $10.

By Wednesday more than 50 celebrities had signed on for the challenge, raising more than $4 million for food charities including Feeding America, No Kid Hungry and Meals on Wheels, according to the AllInChallenge website.

The idea is the latest initiative by celebrities to support the millions of Americans who have been thrown out of work and seen their lives upended by the coronavirus which has killed more than 30,000 people in the United States.

Dozens of musicians, actors and sports stars are also taking part in a two-hour global concert on Saturday to show support for healthcare, grocery store and other workers on the front lines of efforts to slow the epidemic.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Jonathan Oatis

-reuters-

Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Fallon join star-studded commencement podcast for sheltering graduates

(Reuters) - Hillary Clinton, Jimmy Fallon, John Legend and Eli Manning are among more than two dozen personalities who will offer words of wisdom via podcast to high school and college graduates sheltering at home due to the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said on Tuesday.

IHeart Media Inc said it will debut the podcast called “Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020” on May 15. Graduations that typically take place in May and June have been canceled as Americans stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Many of the podcast speakers are people who normally would appear in person at commencement ceremonies to offer inspiration to graduates. The lineup includes entertainers Tim McGraw, Kesha and Pitbull; journalist Katie Couric; college basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski; and retired General Stanley McChrystal.

“High school and college seniors are always in need of inspiration, reassurance and life advice as they head into the next chapter of their lives, and that is especially true this year,” said Conal Byrne, President of the iHeartPodcast Network.

The commencement podcast “brings together some of the most experienced and inspiring people in the country today to celebrate the resilience, strength and accomplishments of this year’s graduates,” Byrne added.

IHeart Media also has announced a “virtual prom” on May 1 with Los Angeles radio station KIIS-FM for students who will miss that annual rite of passage. It will feature celebrity appearances including DJ sets by Joe Jonas, Dillon Francis and Loud Luxury.

Reporting by Lisa Richwine; Editing by Bill Berkrot

Taylor Swift, Oprah join huge global event to celebrate coronavirus workers

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez and Oprah Winfrey have joined a global broadcast special telecast this weekend that will recognize the efforts of workers on the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak, organizers said on Tuesday.

The “One World Together at Home” event, a combination of music, comedy and stories from doctors, nurses and grocery workers, also announced an additional six-hour streaming event that will include appearances by major sports stars, including British Formula One racing champion Lewis Hamilton, U.S. women’s World Cup soccer player Megan Rapinoe, World Cup skier Lindsey Vonn and dozens of other singers, actors and social media influencers.

The April 18 streaming event will precede the two-hour show to be broadcast across multiple North American and international television networks on Saturday evening in the biggest effort so far to show solidarity with frontline workers.

All those taking part in the event, organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and advocacy group Global Citizen, will appear remotely due to social distancing and shutdowns aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease that has killed more than 124,000 people worldwide.

“Our hope for the special is that everyone will come away believing that we, as a shared humanity, can emerge from this moment forever grateful for the work of doctors, nurses, teachers, grocery store workers, and all those who are the backbone of our communities,” Hugh Evans, co-founder and chief executive of Global Citizen, said in a statement.

Lady Gaga announced the event last week but it has since expanded dramatically and now includes some of the biggest celebrities in the world, including Celine Dion, Billie Eilish, John Legend, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Chris Martin, Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble.

While the special is not billed as a public fundraiser, it is also aimed at encouraging philanthropists and companies to dig into their pockets and contribute to the WHO’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. Gaga said last week that more than $35 million had been raised from corporations.

“When we do air live on April 18th, put your wallets away, your credit cards away, anything away that you need to and sit back and enjoy the show that you all very much deserve,” Gaga told a news conference last week.

Reporting by Jill Serjeant; editing by Jonathan Oatis

Vic Sotto, Pauleen Luna continue traditional ‘Pabasa’ at home

MANILA — Despite the lockdown, celebrity couple Vic Sotto and Pauleen Luna have continued the traditional Pabasa o Pasyon.

In her Instagram post on Thursday night, Luna shared photos of her husband doing the Pasyon inside their home.

“Continuing family tradition despite the lockdown. Vic and I take turn every 10-20 pages. Day 2 tomorrow. Around 60 pages left,” Luna wrote in the caption.

Apart from the Pabasa, Luna also initiated a prayer brigade, with the couple singing praise and worship songs.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Vlogger Mich Liggayu gives birth to first child

MANILA — Vlogger Mich Liggayu has given birth to her first child with her partner, singer Neo Domingo, she announced over the weekend.


Liggayu, 25, introduced her newborn daughter Anastasia Margaret through an Instagram post on Sunday.

Liggayu, who has referred to her pregnancy as a "second chance in life," once formed the popular YouTube tandem "Jamich," with the late Jam Sebastian.

Liggayu and Sebastian were engaged to be married, but the latter succumbed to lung cancer in March 2015 at age 28.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LOOK: Anne Curtis introduces baby girl Dahlia

MANILA --  Four days since she gave birth, actress-host Anne Curtis finally gave her fans and followers a glimpse of her baby girl, Dahlia Amélie Heussaff.

The "It's Showtime" host gave birth last March 2 in Melbourne, Australia.

In an Instagram post on Friday, Curtis vowed to do everything to protect her little one.

"Never knew I could love someone so much... So much that it hurts in a good way. It’s an unexplainable kind of love. The kind I’ve never felt before. It’s so overwhelming and fills your heart to the brim with pure happiness. I will always be here to love, protect, guide and hold her little hand every step of the way... even when that little hand isn’t so little anymore. Everyone, I would like to introduce our darling daughter, Dahlia Amélie Heussaff," Curtis wrote in the caption.

Meanwhile, Curtis' husband, restaurateur and blogger Erwan Heussaff, also posted about their "beautiful little daughter" in his social media accounts. 


"I never knew that my heart could grow so quickly in just one day. I also had no idea that I could fall in even more in love with my wife. Anne was so impressive throughout her pregnancy and labor and I will forever be in her debt," he wrote.

Curtis and Heussaff tied the knot in New Zealand back in November 2017. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

OPM artists to hold fundraising concert for Taal eruption victims

MANILA – It has been more than two weeks since the Taal Volcano erupted that left thousands of people in Batangas displaced.

Many celebrities have already begun doing their part in reaching out to the evacuees, and now artists in the local music industry are getting together for a fundraising concert.

“Tulong Taal: A Musical Collaboration for Taal Rehabilitation” will be held at the Cuneta Astrodome on Saturday, February 1.

According to website PEP, the concert was a brainchild of veteran composer Vehnee Saturno, who likewise composed the song “Tulong Taal” after the calamity struck.



The song was interpreted by a group of singers including Ice Seguerra, Isay Alvarez, Kakai Bautista, Robert Seña, Frenchie Dy, The Company, Poppert Bernadas, Ebe Dancel, Jaya, Aicelle Santos, Bayang Barrios and Angeline Quinto.

“The music video aims to inspire ang mga kababayang Batangueño at mga Pilipino. We hope to generate fund from this which will also go to funds for Tulong Taal,” Alvarez told PEP.

All the singers involved are hoping that with their upcoming fundraising concert, help may be extended to more displaced families in Batangas.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

LeBron James, celebrities flee multimillion-dollar homes in Los Angeles wildfire

LOS ANGELES - A fast-moving wildfire on Monday destroyed at least 5 multimillion-dollar homes in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles and forced celebrities to flee in the middle of the night.

Among neighborhoods under evacuation orders was the posh area of Brentwood, a section on the west side of the city that became world famous in 1994 when former football star O.J. Simpson was accused of killing his ex-wife and a waiter there.

Today Brentwood is home to basketball superstar LeBron James, A-list Hollywood actors, wealthy producers and media company executives.

James, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers, said he and his family had to drive around in the early morning hours looking for a place to stay after fleeing the home he shares with his wife and three children.

"Had to emergency evacuate my house and I’ve been driving around with my family trying to get rooms," James wrote on Twitter around 4 a.m. He later added that he found a place to take them in. "Crazy night man!" he said.

James bought a $23 million, 8-bedroom home in Brentwood in late 2017, according to media reports.

On the northern edge of Brentwood, a cluster of several multimillion-dollar homes were reduced to smoldering debris along a street festooned with Halloween decorations.

A fake bloody arm, part of the holiday decorations, had turned into melted plastic at one dwelling, and a giant skull replica remained in the front of another. Heavy smoke and ash filled the air as water-dropping helicopters and airplane tankers buzzed overhead.

DARK FATE

Actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger also said he was among the thousands who had to evacuate overnight.

"If you are in an evacuation zone, don’t screw around. Get out," Schwarzenegger wrote on Twitter.

A red-carpet premiere for Schwarzenegger's new movie, "Terminator: Dark Fate," that had been scheduled for Monday night was canceled due to fires in the area.

The "Terminator" premiere had been scheduled to take place in Hollywood, several miles from the fire zone. Food intended for the premiere party was being donated to local American Red Cross shelters that were housing fire evacuees, Paramount Pictures said.

"Agents of SHIELD" actor Clark Gregg and "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter also said on Twitter that they had been forced to leave their homes.

The streets of Brentwood became familiar to TV viewers when Simpson stood trial on charges of stabbing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and waiter Ronald Goldman. Prosecutors alleged Simpson killed the pair at her Brentwood home and then fled to his nearby mansion.

Simpson was acquitted of murder but later found liable for the deaths in a civil case. He told the Associated Press in June he now lives in Las Vegas.

Monday's fire erupted in the hills above where Simpson had lived and was near the Getty Center, a museum for the art collection of late oil magnate J. Paul Getty that includes works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, according to the museum's website.

The Getty fire has forced schools to close in several areas, including the public school district encompassing Santa Monica and Pacific Palisades and the University of California Los Angles (UCLA).

source: news.abs-cbn.com

'Game of Thrones' named best drama at Emmys

The cast and crew of "Game of Thrones" accept the Outstanding Drama Series award onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. The drama series, which premiered on HBO in April 2011 and concluded after 73 episodes in May 2019, received a total of 58 Emmy awards including 4 Outstanding Drama series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019.

source: news.abs-cbn.com