Day: December 5, 2021

By DON BABWIN and SARA BURNETT, Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — An aspiring actor testified Wednesday that Jussie Smollett recruited him and his brother to stage a homophobic and racist attack on him in downtown Chicago nearly three years ago, saying the former “Empire” star even instructed them on how to throw fake punches. Abimbola Osundairo said Smollett detailed how Osundairo and his brother should carry out the Jan. 29, 2019, hoax. Smollett planned a “dry run" and gave him a $100 bill to buy supplies, Osundairo testified. Osundairo told jurors Smollett instructed him to punch Smollett but “not too hard.” Once Smollett was on the ground, Osundairo said Smollett said he should give Smollett “a bruise” and “give him a noogie” — or rub his knuckles hard on Smoll...

By SYLVIA HUI and JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The Duchess of Sussex won the latest stage in her privacy lawsuit against a British newspaper on Thursday, when three senior judges ruled its publisher breached her privacy by reproducing parts of a letter she wrote to her estranged father. The duchess formally known as American actress Meghan Markle said the Court of Appeal ruling was a victory of “right versus wrong." She issued a call to Vans Shoes For Womens “reshape a tabloid industry” that has long been the bane of both celebrities and British royals. Losing claimant Associated Newspapers said it was considering an appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court. Britain's High Court ruled in February that the publisher of The Mail on Sunday and MailO...

By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Paul Thomas Anderson's “Licorice Pizza” has been named the best film of the year by the National Board of Review. Anderson also won best director honors and the film's stars Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman were picked for their breakthrough performances in the coming-of-age comedy. The National Board of Review is an organization comprised of film enthusiasts, academics and film professionals that dates back to 1909. Both Will Smith (best actor) and Aunjanue Ellis (best supporting actress) won for their performances in the Richard Williams drama “King Richard.” Skechers Shoes Outlets ,The title of best actress went to newcomer Rachel Zegler for her performance in Steven Spielberg's “West Side Story.” Other picks inclu...

By JAKE COYLE, AP Film Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Film Critics Circle on Friday named “Drive My Car,” Ryusuke Hamaguchi's intimate three-hour epic and Haruki Murakami’s short story adaptation, the best film of the year. Hamaguchi's film, about a widowed actor played by Hidetoshi Nishijima, has been widely hailed since its debut earlier in the year at the Cannes Film Festival, Doc Martens Boots where it won for best screenplay. “Drive My Car,” which recently opened in limited theatrical release, is Japan's submission to the Academy Awards. It's only the second time in the last four decades that the critics' top honor went to a non English-language film. (The other was Alfonso Cuaron's “Roma” three years ago.) Jane Campion's Montana gothic drama “The Power...

By KELLI KENNEDY, Associated Press MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Legendary rocker Lenny Kravitz gave a private performance Friday for a star-studded crowd that included Leonardo DiCaprio and local Latin boy band CNCO during Miami's Art Week. The lavish party is an annual affair hosted by Sneakerheads2020 business mogul and art collector Wayne Boich. He and his wife also hosted a private dinner before the Richard Mille After Dark event at their waterfront estate. Venus and Serena Williams danced and sang along as Kravitz took the stage for a 75-minute concert as a yacht pulled alongside to hear the rocker. “This ain’t a concert. We’re just hanging out,” the “Are You Gonna Go My Way,” singer said, pulling Boich onstage to dance. Kravitz, who has lived on and of...

Jade Thirlwall is already having doubts about Little Mix's split. The girl group - comprised of Jade, 28, Perrie Edwards, 28, and Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 30 - recently announced they will be going on hiatus after their ‘Confetti’ tour next year but Jade admitted she is still worried they have made the wrong decision. According to The Sun Online, Jade said during an New Release Yeezy  appearance on 'The Graham Norton Show' that she still messages the girls, asking “are we sure we wanna do this huns? Are we sure?”. And speaking to Norton, Jade said: "It’s been terribly emotional. We’ve still got the tour next year and a few other bits, but it’s been 10 incredible years and we always said if we’re going to take a little break it would be on an incredible high, at our peak so it seems...