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Ultra Pro has named gaming industry veteran Richard Dracass as its new Director of Entertainment.
In his new role, Dracass will drive business development and growth strategies for Ultra Pro's entertainment division.
Richard's dedication to surpassing industry standards and ability to see beyond the status quo really stood out to me. His exceptional track record and ability to understand market dynamics make him an invaluable addition to our team, and we look forward to his leadership in advancing our mission to deliver high-quality, innovative products to our customers.
— Jay Kuo, President and CEO at Ultra PRODracass has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, with roles such as Director of Operations at Passport Games Studios, Entertainment Gaming Account Manager at Upper Deck Entertainment, and Global Brand Trade Marketing Manager at Wizards of the Coast.
"I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place here and finding new ways to enhance our entertainment offerings," Dracass says. "Together, we'll continue to shape the future of the gaming industry and bring exciting new experiences to our community."
Sofía Vergara has shared some behind-the-scenes stories about The Hollywood Reporter's latest cover story, highlighting this year's drama actress roundtable.
The Griselda star, who recently had extensive knee surgery, said on Thursday night's Jimmy Kimmel Live! that the cover shoot with Nicole Kidman, Jodie Foster, Jennifer Aniston, Anna Sawai, Brie Larson and Naomi Watts was less than two weeks after her operation.
So her team wanted her to cancel, with them telling her, "We don't think you're in good shape, you're not looking good.'" At the time, she was relying on a walker to move around, as she couldn't walk.
"I was like, 'I'm not missing that cover with Jennifer Aniston, with Nicole Kidman, with all [of them]," she recalled.
As Kimmel displayed the cover, Vergara explained some of what was behind her appearance alongside her fellow Emmy hopefuls.
"Even if I can't grin … like you cannot see it here, but there was this face of discomfort," Vergara said, pointing at her facial expression on the cover. "And the leg, they put it in a cushion very high and obviously they cut my leg [from the cover photo]."
Vergara, who wore her own clothes for the feature, also said that she was told to arrive dressed in "business casual" attire, but she decided to follow the dress code loosely. "Look at what I'm wearing," she joked as she pointed to her sultry ensemble.
"To me, that's business. Look at all of them! They look like they're going to pray," she quipped. "I'm like, what business are they in? None of them work in the church or in the bank. To me, business casual is this."
Earlier, Vergara said her surgery lasted eight hours, but she is feeling "OK" and back to work.
However, her recovery was still apparent in her uncharacteristic shoe choice: a pair of white sneakers.
"Sorry I've come to your show in tennis shoes," the Modern Family alum told Kimmel, while trying to get comfortable in her chair. "I don't even want to look down," she joked about her footwear. "Tennis shoes are only for sports activities and touristy activities."
On the roundtable, Vergara talked about shifting from comedy to drama, with Griselda, after her 11-year run on Modern Family.
Fresh off a much needed vacation, I spent part of this week at the 4se conference here in New York City (presented by Leaders Group and Sports Business Journal). My experience as the event was as good, if not better than last year's. For one thing, it was gratifying to focus on the business side of sports and entertainment with my still licking my fandom wounds from the Knicks' playoff exit.
For another thing, I geek out on the convergence of sports, entertainment, fashion and music and becoming even more conversant about the ecosystem in which our clients thrive—and I got to know a number of people who feel the same. Unsurprisingly, against the backdrop of artificial intelligence's emergence, the import of authenticity, loyalty and understanding consumers' and fans' emotions and desires was prominently highlighted.
What *was* most surprising what was not that the WWE has a writers room of 50 people (jarring enough to learn that pro wrestling is scripted!) but rather that there was not one Taylor Swift and/or Travis Kelce reference in any of the panel discussions (I guess they've had their 15 minutes…). In any event, I look forward to leveraging all that I learned about to make me a more well-rounded, business-minded lawyer and you, better-informed readers.
To that end, let's get to it, shall we?
Endorsement Deals, Sponsorships & Investments
NCAA, Power 5 agree to let schools pay playersMay 24, 2024 via ESPN
Caitlin Clark, one day after injury scare, signs latest major endorsement dealMay 21, 2024 via The Guardian
NBA Sponsorship Revenue Hits Record $1.5B, Fueled by Tech BrandsMay 21, 2024 via Sportico
WNBA is investigating whether Vegas tourism authority can sponsor Aces players for $100K eachMay 18, 2024 via Vegas Inc
Sports
The NBA's Final Four May Not Be Exactly What the League EnvisionedMay 20, 2024 via Front Office Sports
Inside the NBA is beloved because of its real authenticity and chemistryMay 20, 2024 via Awful Announcing
Taylor Declines A-Rod, Lore's 'Loser Pays' Offer In T-Wolves ArbitrationMay 19, 2024 via Sportico
Fanatics Sues Marvin Harrison Jr. for Refusing to Honor ContractMay 19, 2024 via Sportico
Music Biz
Spotify Accused in Suit of Cheating Songwriters Out of RoyaltiesMay 17, 2024 via Claims Journal
Film & TV
OpenAI accused of mimicking Scarlett Johansson, tech company pauses ChatGPT voiceMay 21, 2024 via Fox Business
OpenAI Inks Data Deal with Reddit; Sony Warns AI Giants over Use of its Artists; Amazon Prime Video Becomes US' Biggest Ad-Supported Streaming PlatformMay 20, 2024 via ExchangeWire.com
Freestyle Digital Media Acquires Social Drama 'Global Harmony' and Thriller 'Ghost Trap'May 17, 2024 via Variety
'Across The River And Into The Trees': Level 33 Entertainment Acquires WWII Drama Starring Liev Schreiber &Josh Hutcherson For U.S. And Canada ReleaseMay 17, 2024 via Deadline
The month of May saw the death of some notable figures in Hollywood and the world of sports. Some of the stars' deaths raised eyebrows due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding their shocking demise.
Here are the celebrity causes of death that were revealed in May 2024.
Golfer Grayson Murray Reportedly Dies Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning In His HomeLate golfer Grayson Murray reportedly died from suspected carbon monoxide poisoning after filling his Florida townhouse with toxic exhaust gasses.
According to the DailyMail, Murray is believed to have left his Land Rover running in his ground-floor garage, which filled the three-story property in Palm Beach Gardens with fumes.
A concerned neighbor who remained anonymous recalled hearing prolonged revving at around 12:30 am Saturday.
"I thought it was a kid revving a car. I went, but by then, there was no sound," the neighbor said. Later, locals heard a carbon monoxide alarm, prompting police to visit the $800,000 home, where the two-time PGA tour winner lived with fiancée Christiana Ritchie at 10:49 am.
Murray, who had been open about his struggles with alcohol and mental illness, was found dead in the upstairs master bedroom. His family confirmed his death was a suicide.
The Palm Beach Gardens Police Department is investigating, and a police statement noted: "The decedent was discovered on Saturday, May 25, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am. The initial inquiry does not reveal signs of foul play. There is no apparent risk to the public, and no further information will be released as the investigation is being conducted."
Dabney Coleman's Death Certificate Identifies Cardiopulmonary Arrest (CPA) As The CauseMEGA
Dabney Coleman, known for his roles in "9 to 5" and "Tootsie," passed away at age 92 on Thursday, May 16, at his home in Santa Monica, California, and according to a death certificate obtained by The Blast, his cause of death has been confirmed as cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA).
The death certificate also indicated that Coleman had underlying health issues, including dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and chronic systolic congestive heart failure.
His daughter, Quincy Coleman, confirmed his passing in a statement on May 17.
"My father crafted his time here on Earth with a curious mind, a generous heart, and a soul on fire with passion, desire, and humor that tickled the funny bone of humanity. As he lived, he moved through this final act of his life with elegance, excellence, and mastery," Quincy said.
She added: "A teacher, a hero, and a king, Dabney Coleman is a gift and blessing in life and in death as his spirit will shine through his work, his loved ones, and his legacy eternally."
Morgan Spurlock's Family Reveals His Cause Of DeathMEGA
On May 24, it was revealed that director Morgan Spurlock had passed away at the age of 53.
Spurlock gained fame after directing and starring in the 2004 Oscar-nominated documentary, "Super Size Me," in which he ate only McDonald's food for 30 days.
According to Deadline, Spurlock's family said that he "died peacefully in New York, surrounded by family and friends."
The director's family also noted that his cause of death was complications of cancer. Spurlock was undergoing chemotherapy earlier this year following his diagnosis with the deadly disease.
'Sister Wives' Star Garrison Brown's Cause Of Death Ruled As Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound To The HeadGarrison Brown, the son of Janelle and Kody Brown, was found dead in his Flagstaff, Arizona home on March 5, and according to an autopsy report obtained by People on May 15, the Coconino County Medical Examiner determined that the "Sister Wives" star died from a gunshot wound to the head, ruling his death a suicide.
The report also cited ethanol intoxication, or alcohol poisoning, as a contributing factor. The 25-year-old's blood alcohol level was .307% based on Garrison's iliac blood analysis and .370% based on his vitreous analysis, significantly above the U.S. legal limit of .08% and approaching the potentially fatal level of .40%. Traces of caffeine were also found in his system.
The Flagstaff Police Department confirmed to the outlet that they responded to a report of a "death inside a home" and that Garrison's brother Gabriel had discovered him in an apparent suicide.
O.J. Simpson's Official Cause Of Death Revealed To Be Prostate CancerMEGA
O.J. Simpson's attorney and executor of his estate, Malcolm Laverne, confirmed to TMZ that the death certificate listed prostate cancer as the cause of his death on April 10.
Simpson first disclosed his cancer diagnosis in a video from May 2023, and in the weeks leading up to his death, the 76-year-old appeared frail and was seen using a cane.
However, despite battling cancer, Simpson had often downplayed his health issues. In a video posted to X on February 11, he said: "Thank you to all the people who reached out to me. My health is good,"
He added: "Obviously, I'm dealing with some issues, but I think I'm just about over it, and I'll be back on that golf course hopefully in a couple of weeks."
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Despite the recent split, Ruth Langsford is maintaining a positive relationship with her three stepchildren from her marriage to Eamonn Holmes.
Over the weekend, it was revealed that Ruth and Eamonn, both aged 64, have decided to go their separate ways.
The pair, who tied the knot in 2010 after more than twenty years together, announced their separation with a joint statement on Saturday.
The duo, known for co-hosting This Morning, reportedly met through mutual friends back in 1997.
Read More Related Articles Read More Related ArticlesRuth and Eamonn started a romance and share a son, Jack Holmes, who is now 22 years old, reports the Mirror.
Eamonn's three children from his previous marriage to Gabrielle Holmes are also part of the family dynamic.
Eamonn and Gabrielle, who separated in 1996, have Declan, 35, Rebecca, 32, and Niall, 30.
Throughout the years, Ruth has openly discussed her role as a stepparent and seems to have a strong bond with her stepchildren.
Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)Following the announcement of her split from Eamonn, the Loose Women star continues to follow Declan, Rebecca, and Niall on Instagram, indicating that their good terms persist.
In a candid conversation on ITV's Loose Women in 2021, Ruth shared insights into her relationship with Eamonn's kids during a segment about stepparenting.
She expressed her gratitude at the time, saying: "I'm very lucky - I have a fantastic relationship with my stepchildren."
Read More Related Articles Read More Related ArticlesRuth Langsford, who has previously joked about signing cards as their "wicked stepmother," commented: "I always think a stepmother has to be very nurturing actually, y'know, it's a very difficult balance and a fine tight rope you're walking."
Ruth, who admitted she was "very nervous" when meeting Eamonn's children for the first time, also discussed the relationship between the siblings during a separate Loose Women chat in 2021.
She expressed to her fellow panellists that she had been worried about Eamonn's eldest children feeling "pushed out" after Jack's arrival.
However, Ruth revealed that her son is "so close" to his siblings, which she described as "lovely".
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Ruth explained: "Eamonn's very close to his children and I was very aware when I had Jack that they didn't feel pushed out. [...] 'As soon as she has that baby that'll be us and Dad won't want to see us or know us'. [...] Jack, although he didn't grow up with his older two brothers and sister ... they're so close. He turns to them for advice and they talk all the time. It's so lovely and I think that's because we maintained this kind of very civil, friendly ... y'know I never tried to be their mother, that's the other thing as well."
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NORTH MIAMI, Fla. – A witness caught a North Miami man abusing his dogs in two separate videos and called police, leading to his arrest on Thursday, authorities said.
North Miami police said Juan Pablo Gaviria Arce, 22, punched his dog 10 times, but initially claimed the video only showed him hitting a stuffed animal. Authorities said he would later tell the truth.
Police said they became aware of the abuse on Tuesday and went to Gaviria Arce's apartment in the 300 block of Northeast 125th Street to investigate.
A May 1 video showed him "grabbing his dog, lifting it into the air and punching the dog with a closed fist 10 times," an arrest report states.
"According to the witness, the dog could be heard yelping from a block away," police wrote.
The second video, taken on Tuesday, showed Gaviria Arce holding a broomstick with two dogs locked inside of a crate, police said.
In that clip, police said he "sticks the handle of the broomstick through the wire and shoves it into the body of the two dogs four separate times."
The witness again heard the dogs yelping from a block away, the arrest report states.
Police said they went back to Gaviria Arce's apartment on Thursday and brought him to North Miami police headquarters for questioning.
Gaviria Arce, police said, "originally claimed that the dog that was being punched was a stuffed animal."
"He later admitted that it was in fact one of his dogs and that he let his anger get the best of him," the report states. "(He) also claimed that the incident with the broom was due to the two dogs fighting inside the crate, however, once shown the video, (Gaviria Arce) admitted that using the broomstick was 'unnecessary.'"
Police said his actions caused the dogs "repeated and unnecessary pain," leading to his arrest on two felony counts of animal cruelty with intent to injure or kill.
Jail records show that the Colombian national was being held in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $5,000 bond as of Thursday evening.
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Nelly Voukaki, Co-Founder and Chief Customer Officer at Looper Insights, has 16+ years of experience in the digital media sector.
gettyToday, we live in a world where competing for attention from your dream customer is an intimidating challenge. It has been found that 63% of marketers say their biggest challenge is generating traffic and leads when dealing in B2C. Becoming a master at the art of promotion could be likened to attaining a black belt, but it is the difference between success and failure across all industries.
Amid having to wrestle your way in front of competing messages and striking promotional materials, one sector in particular never fails to succeed: the entertainment industry. To me, it is quite clear why that is, with the industry attracting avid storytellers with a real passion for conveying innovation and creativity.
This article will explore how these tactics can be extended to other industries as lessons learned, with those outside of entertainment being able to benefit from elevated promotional campaigns. I'll uncover three actionable tactics that I have monitored through working with global leading clients in the industry, which will help deliver promotional excellence across a plethora of sectors.
Strength In PartnershipsIt's no secret that in recent years streaming services have been cosying up with one another, leaving film and TV fans with a new hope that they will have a one-stop shop with all of their favorite content. Gone are the days of hopping from one service to the next, followed by hours of scrolling. The film and TV industry has had fantastic results cross-promoting these partnerships, being able to extend their reach toward a larger audience.
Fifty-four percent of companies say partnerships are driving over 20% of their total revenue. They haven't taken this task lightly either, making sure that these promotions are practically impossible to turn away from. In a study by Deloitte, 75% of Gen-Zers and Millennials wanted a bundle that gave them access to content across all of their streaming services.
Disney and Hulu, in particular, have stayed consistent in appearing across myriad digital platforms, displaying a wide variety of content alongside visually stunning artwork to promote their tempting bundle offer. Strength is in numbers, and if you have a partnership that fits your service or product like a glove, no matter what industry, you too can benefit from doubling down on some epic promotions to give your target market more than they had bargained for.
Customer-Centric, AlwaysThe entertainment industry prioritizes understanding its audience's behaviors, whether tailoring recommendations and promotions or the content itself to their specific needs for better engagement. If you invest enough time and budget toward a customer-centric focus, any sector can reap the reward of better conversion. A study by Deloitte showed that customers who have a positive experience are likely to spend 140% more compared to those who don� ��t.
That being said, doing the opposite can be a killer. We've seen companies, one too many times, spend years building trust and credibility among their loyal customer base only to pull the rug from under their feet. An example of this was the introduction of advertising-based video on demand (AVOD) to streaming services that were previously subscription video on demand (SVOD) only.
Although the streaming industry succeeded in thinking outside the box, some services came under scrutiny when existing customers were served with the news that they would be required to pay additional fees to remove advertising. If your customers start to feel taken advantage of, you may lose their business altogether with one angry click of a "Cancel Subscription" button.
According to a Deloitte study, at least 48% of respondents said they would cancel their streaming subscription, such as Disney+ or Prime Video, if the monthly fee increased by $5, the price being a dominant value in how they value the service.
Putting the previous point aside, a more positive lesson that can be taken from this is the need to monitor monetization models that are working in other industries and apply them to your own, making sure to heavily promote your new offering.
Building The AnticipationThere is a lot to be learned from the global streaming giants regarding building hype and anticipation around your offerings. Paramount+ recently dominated the digital storefronts to promote its coverage of the Super Bowl LVIII, using clever "1 HOUR UNTIL" and "LIVE" calls to action, accompanied by real-time match scores on promotional assets to lure in users with the fear of missing out on the highly anticipated sporting event.
Prime Video makes a spectacle every year with its Black Friday promotions, giving its users whiplash over the incredible offers popping up on their digital platforms. This is a tactic that can be adopted by any sector, creating a buzz that keeps your customers coming back to check in regularly. Nobody likes the fear of missing out, after all. You just need to ask the question, "What is it that our customer base could get really excited about?"
As mentioned at the very beginning, mastering promotion is crucial for success in today's competitive landscape. By adopting these strategies from the entertainment industry, many other sectors can also start to elevate their campaigns and drive engagement. Prioritizing partnerships, customer-centric approaches and building anticipation through savvy marketing tactics are only a handful of ways in which this incredible industry can inspire others to boost revenues, but it's a great start.
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For months, Los Angeles residents believed the park had been vacated. Only the memory of P-22, the beloved celebrity mountain lion who had once made it his home, lingered as the city mourned his death.
That was until this month, when an apparent successor — another mountain lion, seemingly bigger, younger and stronger — emerged late one night.
"It's very mystical," said Vladimir Polumiskov, who captured footage of the big cat near his apartment complex, which borders Griffith Park, a sprawling urban reserve north of downtown Los Angeles. "They called P-22 the Brad Pitt of the Hollywood Hills," he said. "This is going to be the puma DiCaprio."
Mr. Polumiskov, 30, saw the "huge cat" around 9 p.m. on May 14, he said, just as he was returning home from dinner with his wife and their 2-year-old son.
He said he had just parked and was unbuckling his son from his seat when he noticed the creature standing just feet away from his car. He gingerly placed his son back into his seat, got back in the car, and closed all the doors — all while the animal stared at him. "I was shocked at how big he was," he said. "This guy is just beautiful."
Representative Ro Khanna, who represents California's 17th congressional district, held a fundraiser with Paris Hilton and Joseph Gordon-Levitt on May 28, The Hollywood Reporter has exclusively learned.
Khanna, a Democrat, is currently seeking reelection for his seat, competing against 26-year-old Republican candidate Anita Chen in the upcoming November election.
More from The Hollywood Reporter
He was introduced to Hilton a few years ago. The congressman tells THR he has had a "long friendship" with Hilton's husband Carter Reum, the co-founder of the technology-focused venture capital firm M13. Khanna said Reum is "one of the most innovative technology leaders and investors in the country."
A couple of years ago, Khanna met with Hilton regarding her long-standing push for more oversight of abusive youth centers. The heiress and reality TV personality has been vocal about her time at a "troubled teen" center in Utah, alleging in her memoir that she was beaten multiple times, "digitally" raped, verbally harassed by staff and more during her time at the school.
In April 2023, Khanna, along with four other representatives, introduced the bipartisan "Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act." The bill "would provide greater oversight and data transparency for institutional youth treatment programs, begin implementing urgent recommendations to develop robust information sharing systems among states and promote dissemination of best practices for identifying and preventing institutional child abuse."
"I was so moved by Paris' commitment," Khanna tells THR about Hilton's work in the space, noting that he met her family, others in her organization and victims. "I saw the passion about how she cared about survivors."
Asked how his party can win votes in 2024, Khanna emphasizes the importance of "cultural influencers" in trying to reach voters, particularly young voters, recognizing that "we're living in a different moment" with the prevalence of social media.
The congressman also touts the importance of his party harnessing the "incredible storytellers" in Hollywood "to help the Democratic party get our message out in this election and to inspire young voters."
"I just think we need to look to the storytellers in Hollywood for much more than money," Khanna says. "What we need to look at them for is their imagination, their ability to do creative videos, their social media following, their ability to inspire … and that I think is the real asset for the progressive movement and the Democratic party."
Khanna's district includes Silicon Valley. When asked how he thinks Democrats can gain support in the technology space, he says, "I think what the Democrats need to say is that, 'We are the party that's going to bring entrepreneurship and innovation and technology opportunities to every part of this country,'" adding that Democratic policies "have helped seed Silicon Valley."
The congressman also notes the increasingly strong link between entertainment and technology, pointing out that there is "now more interconnection between Hollywood and Silicon Valley than ever before," using Hilton and Reum as a symbol of that.
Amid the close 2024 presidential race, which has seen many polls showing Donald Trump ahead of Joe Biden, the congressman underlines how important he feels it is for the Democrats to take control of the House of Representatives: "Having [Rep.] Hakeem Jeffries as speaker of the house is the ultimate insurance policy against Donald Trump."
In particular, Khanna says he feels "optimistic" about Democrats winning back congressional seats in California and believes it's also possible in New York, which gives the party a path to the majority. For the House specifically, Khanna feels that there are three major issues for this election: the "insurance policy," abortion rights and codifying Roe v. Wade, and economic policy.
"People are desperate to be inspired, and they find this election fundamentally uninspiring," Khanna says. "I think that Hollywood can help us with what that inspiring story is that speaks to people in an authentic, real way. … The Democrats need the young talent today in Hollywood more than ever."
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
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In honor of this year's Father's Day, we're celebrating a few of the best celebrity dads out there. Obviously we don't know these proud dads personally, but we have seen them in action, loving their kids and embracing fatherhood as the beautiful journey it can and should be.
Being a dad isn't easy for anyone, but it can be especially difficult when you're always in the spotlight. Those typical parenting challenges — temper tantrums, big messes, battles of wills — can all seem amplified.
As with non-celebrity parents, it takes a lot of hard work, commitment and, of course, love. In short, the pressure's on for these dads, especially since they have the whole world watching their every move as they undertake the most important responsibility of their lives.
That said, celebrity dads such as Prince William and Tim McGraw have proven themselves to be both amazing father figures and role models for other dads out there. From taking sweet formal photos with their families to showing signs of devotion while simply walking down the street, these fathers go above and beyond to let their kids know that they are loved.
It's worth keeping in mind that celebrity kids never asked to be famous — they were simply born into a widely-recognized family. Therefore, it's paramount that celebrity parents are mindful about keeping their kids safe and protected from all the possible dangers that can come from fame, even if this may mean making the sacrifice to be out of the public eye entirely for a certain period of time. And for the dads out there who put their families before their fame, there's nothing but admiration.
For all things Father's Day, click here!
Scroll below to see a few of our favorite celebrity dads with their beloved kids.
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ComingSoon is exclusively debuting the trailer for Midas, a new movie that addresses corruption within the health insurance industry.
Entertainment Squad has shared the first trailer for Midas with ComingSoon, a heist film that marks the feature film debut of writer and director TJ Noel-Sullivan.
Check out the Midas trailer, along with a poster for the movie, below (watch more trailers and clips):
Exclusive Midas Trailer Tackles Health Insurance Industry Corruption
"Ricky Pryce is blessed with good looks and a devious charisma, but they're wasted on Grubhub Delivery orders and supporting his sick mother, as his high school friends graduate college and move on with their lives," the official synopsis reads. "When a little white lie meant to impress a girl instead lands him a job at the health insurance company that laid his mom off, he hatches a plan to take back what he feels is owed, and set his family up for life. With the help of his two best friends, Ricky must learn what it takes to become a successful criminal, while grappling with the consequences. Along the way he makes a troubling discovery that raises the stakes, and tests the limits of their greed."
Midas stars Laquan Copeland (The Dirty South), Preet Kaur (Finding Tony), Federico Parra (The Equalizer), Lucy Powers (Voyeur), and Bob Gallagher (Bad Senator).
"With MIDAS, we set out to create a heist film for a new generation. Entertainment Squad's commitment to bold storytelling made them the perfect partner to bring this electrifying vision to audiences." Noel-Sullivan said in a statement.
Entertainment Squad CEO Shaked Berenson added, "Midas combines thrilling heist action with a sharp critique of health insurance injustices, making it a must-watch for those who appreciate films that entertain and challenge the status quo."
Midas releases in select United States theaters on June 28, 2024, from Entertainment Squad.
The post Exclusive Midas Trailer Tackles Health Insurance Industry Corruption appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
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An actor who appeared in How I Met Your Mother was arrested at the U.S.-Mexico border apparently trying to flee the country after allegedly stabbing a Hollywood makeup artist earlier this month.
Nick Pasqual, 34, is due to be extradited to Los Angeles County to face an attempted murder charge for a brutal knife attack on Allie Shehorn, his ex-girlfriend. Shehorn, who prosecutors say had recently filed a restraining order against Pasqual, was left in intensive care "fighting for her life" after the attack, according to a GoFundMe raising funds for her, but is now "making positive steps to her recovery."
"This heinous incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence. We will ensure that the individual responsible for this egregious act is held accountable for their actions," Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a press release announcing Pasqual's arrest Wednesday.
Pasqual is accused of breaking into Shehorn's home on May 23 and stabbing her multiple times. In her bid for a restraining order that was granted just days before the attack, Shehorn accused Pasqual of raping and choking her, beating her with a belt, and breaking down doors.
The 35-year-old makeup artist has won several awards for her work and has been involved in such films as Mean Girls and Rebel Moon.
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Celebrity Cruises has announced a series of premium and personalized enhancements to The Retreat, its luxury suite experience. The new features include dedicated suite butlers, shore excursion help, and private excursion escorts.
"At The Retreat, the world really does revolve around our guests," said Laura Hodges Bethge, president of Celebrity Cruises. "We collected extensive feedback from past guests, loyalty members, and our trade partners to inform how The Retreat experiences are being reimagined to continue exceeding vacation expectations by delivering on the amenities and experiences Celebrity Cruises guests value most."
The new enhancements include access to dedicated butlers accessible through Butler Chat for faster communication, as well as a dedicated shore excursions expert to assist guests in planning activities and ensuring smooth transfers at Celebrity's ports of call.
Introduced as the Destination Experience Specialist, this crew member will help maximize guests' time on shore, while suite-to-car butler escorts are available for customized Private Journeys excursions. Guests can also enjoy the comfort of The Retreat Lounge, or Michael's Club on Celebrity Solstice, Celebrity Eclipse, and Celebrity Reflection, before embarking on excursions.
The culinary offerings at Luminae, the exclusive restaurant for suite guests, have also been enhanced with new signature dishes created by renowned French Chef Daniel Boulud, owner of the flagship Daniel restaurant in New York City. The restaurant will also feature a rotating dinner and dessert menu.
Read Also: Celebrity Cruises Ship Gets Updated Venues and New Suites
For guests of Royal Suites and above, in-suite dining has also been upgraded with complimentary specialty dining, including lunch, and a personalized complimentary stocked minibar.
Additional amenities for these categories also include complimentary laundry service, unlimited pressings, and access to SEA Thermal Suite on Celebrity Edge Class ships and the Persian Garden on Millennium and Solstice Class ships.
At certain ports of call, Royal Suite guests and above can also extend their stay on board until mid-afternoon with lunch at Luminare before departure.
The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises will continue to provide a range of exclusive amenities for passengers who book suites, which begin with the stylish studio Sky Suites, ranging from 254 to 362 square feet, and extend to the two-bedroom Iconic Suite on the Celebrity Edge, which just began its maiden voyage in Alaska.
This suite, the largest in Celebrity's fleet, offers panoramic views and spans nearly 2,000 feet across its interior and 689 square feet on its private terrace.
The suite experience for all guests booked in these categories begins with pre-cruise concierge services, priority check-in and departure, priority luggage drop-off and delivery, and priority tendering at select ports.
Food and beverage amenities for The Retreat include an Unlimited Premium Drink Package; full in-suite breakfast, lunch, and dinner service; a minibar stocked daily with soda, water, and beer; and afternoon tea hosted at The Retreat or Michael's Club.
Aqua Sky Suite guests also receive an option to dine in the holistic Blu restaurant, and Royal Suites and above also receive dinner each night and lunch on sea days, two complimentary bottles of premium spirits or wine, and premium in-suite coffee.
Additional special touches for suite guests include a welcome bottle of bubbly, a premium Wi-Fi package, premium towels and robes, a pillow menu, and a Cashmere Mattress with premium bedding. Higher-tier guests also receive complimentary sleepwear.
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Chace Crawford recently met up with his "Gossip Girl" co-star Ed Westwick in Paris and turns out they took a walk down memory lane during their sweet reunion! "I was telling him…I don't know how it came up on like Instagram, but it was an old Matthew Settle thing, like a magazine thing. You know Matthew played Rufus [Humphrey], but it was like 40-year-old Matthew Settle, and I'm like 'Buddy, we're like one year away from being as old as Matthew Settle on the show, how does that make you feel?" he recalled while chatting with Access Hollywood. "Yeah, it was a funny, funny moment to be like, now we would play the dads on that show." The 38-year-old also looked back at his "special" time filming the show and his strong connection with New York City. Plus, he dished on the "wild" and "chaotic" new season of "The Boys" and revealed his favorite part of playing the aquatic superhero The Deep. Season 4 of "The Boys" returns to Prime June 13.
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD — In an effort to boost safety on train lines, Metro has formally rolled out a pilot program in North Hollywood that requires rail passengers to tap their fare card to exit the subway station.
The move is aimed at providing more assurance that people who are riding the trains paid the fare to board the line. Sheriff Robert Luna said in recent comments that the vast majority of people arrested or detained in connection with wrongdoing on the transit system had not paid the proper fare to board.
Related: LA Metro beefing up police patrols, 'hardening' stations to stop rise in violence
Passengers are required to use a TAP card to pay the fare before boarding a bus or train. Under the pilot program that began Tuesday, passengers exiting the Metro B (Red) Line train at the North Hollywood station are required to again tap the fare card to leave the station.
Metro officials described it as an effort to boost compliance with fare requirements, noting that people who do not pay the fare are subject to citation or removal from the system.
According to Metro, similar tap-to-exit programs are already in place on other systems, including Bay Area Rapid Transit, Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority and Metropolitan Atlanta Regional Transit Authority.
Tapping the TAP card upon exiting the station will confirm that valid fare was paid for the trip. People who did not pay the fare when they boarded the train will be charged when they tap to exit, but those people could still be cited or removed from the transit system for failing to pay up front.
"We have also increased the visible presence of our teams at North Hollywood Station," according to Metro. "These include our Blue Shirts, who provide assistance with our Ticket Vending Machines, our Metro Ambassadors, who help riders navigate the system, connect you to resources and report issues they see, as well as our law enforcement partners, and our Transit Security Officers who enforce the Code of Conduct.
"… We are listening to your feedback, and this is one of many steps that we are taking to improve safety and cleanliness on your system."
Safety on the transit system has been a major topic in recent weeks, with a series of attacks on bus drivers and violence involving passengers, including Monday's incident in which a woman allegedly attacked and robbed a Metro bus driver on Spring Street just south of Temple Street, the stabbing of a man on a Metro bus in the Lynwood area, the recent shooting death of a bus passenger in Commerce and stabbing death of a woman on a B Line train between the North Hollywood and Studio City stations.
The Metro Board of Directors last week approved a pair of motions aimed at boosting safety on the transit system in response to a string of recent attacks involving drivers and passengers. The motions approved by the Metro board include a call for immediate deployment of more law enforcement on the transit system and at stations, along with the exploration of possible technological improvements that can be made on buses, trains and stations.
The board had previously voted to expedite the acquisition and installation of driver-protection barriers on about 2,000 buses.
The restaurant and foodservice industry has grown by leaps and bounds since the end of pandemic lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. In fact, sales for the sector in 2024 are projected to surpass $1 trillion for the first time in history, according to a report from the National Restaurant Association.
Unsurprisingly, that growth has attracted the attention of both established brands and new entrants hoping to grab a slice of this lucrative pie. In a marketplace that has seen a dearth of white space, embracing celebrity-backed restaurants is one way property developers and owners can cut through the clutter and come out ahead.
A JLL analysis of owned and licensed celebrity restaurant openings shows that from 2019 to 2024, 361 eateries backed by renowned chefs, actors, athletes or musicians opened in the U.S. and Canada. The appeal of these establishments for property developers and owners is that association with celebrities opens a new marketing dimension and word-of-mouth that run-of-the-mill businesses just can't replicate.
A new take on an old concept
Celebrity-backed restaurants are not a new phenomenon. Ever since boxer Jack Dempsey opened his namesake restaurant in New York City in 1935, actors, musicians, athletes and celebrity chefs have been mixing fame and gastronomy to cook up successful ventures. Dempsey made sure people knew he had become a restaurateur by putting his name in huge red letters across the front of the property and by making frequent appearances, shaking hands and signing autographs.
Thanks to social media, that kind of overt connection is less necessary today, as savvy celebrities use their influence to drive their large group of followers to their restaurants. For example:
Hart and James are not the only stars that successfully convert their millions of social media followers to restaurant customers. In fact, celebrities that opened restaurants between 2019 and 2024 had an average of 15.1 million Instagram followers. Those are a lot of mouths to feed.
The celebrity restaurant footprint is expanding
Social media has changed the nature of celebrity and, with it, the footprint of the celebrity restaurant market. Added to the ranks of typical celebrity restaurateurs like Gordon Ramsay and Robert De Niro, we now have social media influencers like Lisa Vanderpump and Tue Nguyen. Meanwhile, other chefs like Shane Roberts-Thomas, have used local television and national programs like Food Network's Chopped, to drive the expansion of their restaurants.
Celebrity-backed restaurants have also expanded their geographic reach to non-traditional markets. Historically, celebrity-backed restaurants have flourished in places like New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas that are home to a lot of celebrities, attract a lot of tourists, or both.
However, Atlanta ranked second for celebrity restaurant openings from 2019-2024. Nashville is another up-and-coming market, thanks to its status as the epicenter of country music. Within just a few blocks along Lower Broadway in downtown Nashville, patrons can choose from over a dozen bars and restaurants backed by chart-toppers like Blake Shelton, Miranda Lambert and Justin Timberlake. These second and third tier cities are seeing increased interest, media coverage, social engagement and foot traffic due in part to visitors being inspired by a celebrity restaurateur to visit the destination.
A boon to property developers
With the U.S. retail vacancy rate at 4.1 percent, according to JLL's Retail Q1 2024 report, the competition for restaurant space is high and availability is low, especially in the most desirable locations. One way property owners can increase their chances of filling open space and driving increased traffic is to have a famous name behind the food — whether they are a full or partial owner, a licensor or manager. Whether a star has been paid a fee or is an owner is irrelevant customers, as in their eyes it is still the celebrity's restaurant.
Landlords will be checking to make sure a prospective tenant has healthy financials, is backed by an experienced executive team and proposes a restaurant concept that fits with their vision of the surrounding development.
With all those boxes checked, a celebrity-backed restaurant can be a great way for landlords to maximize their space, for restaurateurs to supercharge the potential of their establishment, and for all parties involved to stand out in a crowded market and thrive. The result is a legion of loyal fans that easily turn into hungry customers.
Blake Lively has a long history of pulling pranks on her nearest and dearest, including her former Gossip Girl co-star, Penn Badgley.
On a recent episode of his Podcrushed podcast, the actor recalled a "remarkable prank" pulled by Lively, who convinced him that the Aerosmith frontman, Steven Tyler, was his father.
"I cannot muster a single eff to give about pranks. I actually really admire people who do," Badgley told his podcast co-hosts, Nava Kavelin and Sophie Ansari. "Somebody who may or may not be known for this — Blake Lively is, as I recall, very serious about pranks."
Sharing that the prank occurred during the height of their Gossip Girl days, he continued, "I get an email, just like, 'There's this press item that we're trying to kill, but just so you know, somebody thinks or Steve Tyler thinks he's your dad.'"
Badgley also revealed that his manager, publicist, and mother got in on the joke, telling him the story wasn't "going away" and that Tyler himself had confirmed his paternity. Speaking on his Podcrushed podcast, the actor said Lively eventually convinced him to call his mom and ask about the situation.
Gossip Girl stars Penn Badgley and Blake Lively. James Devaney/WireImage /Getty
"My mom is so not an actress, so not a prankster either, and she's upset," he continued. "I'm like, 'Mom why are you upset?!' And then she takes a pause, that is like, the pause that sold me, and she goes, 'Why do you think we moved out of Maryland?'"
After being left "speechless" for a few seconds, he soon realized what day it was. "Ah, f****** April Fools," Badgley recalls saying in the moment, adding that Lively "couldn't keep a straight face" when the prank finally dawned on him.
Badgley and Lively starred on Gossip Girl together for six seasons as Dan Humphrey and Serena van der Woodsen, respectively. The pair dated for three years in real life, breaking up in 2010, but remaining good friends.
In 2017, Badgley tied the knot with his wife, Domino Kirke, while Lively recently celebrated 11 years of marriage with her husband Ryan Reynolds, who is also known to fall victim to his wife's elaborate pranks.
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May 29, 2024, 9 a.m.
"There was just this nastiness that emerged in the way celebrities were covered in the 2000s."
Britney Spears became famous in the late 1990s and underwent a major — and very public — mental health crisis in the early aughts that drew headlines not just in tabloids and gossip magazines like US Weekly but also publications like The Atlantic and The New York Times — and a universal punchline for jokes about "crazy" women.
Spears' story goes beyond tabloid fodder. In 2008, she was placed under a legal conservatorship that gave her father, Jamie Spears, complete control over her personal affairs and her finances. This also meant that he also had control over Spears's performance and recording schedule and the millions of dollars that she earned.
There's a larger story here, about conservatorship abuse and the rights of people with mental health issues. But as Joanna Arcieri, a PhD candidate at Columbia Journalism School who is writing her dissertation on media coverage of Spears and the #FreeBritney movement, discovered in her research, the only media outlet that reported on the conservatorship when it happened was the National Enquirer.
"Even now, 15 years later, one article from August 18, [2008] stands out," Arcieri writes in an excerpt from her dissertation published by the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Journalism Ethics. "'Britney furious as court keeps dad in control' details the conservatorship and Jamie Spears' surveillance tactics. Spears is quoted as saying, 'You treat me like a prisoner.'"
"Britney's story," Arcieri writes, "is in fact a case study about how media institutions collectively failed her."
Coverage of Spears has changed over the past decade, especially since 2018, when Spears began her legal challenge to the conservatorship. The fan-led #FreeBritney movement, which originated on social media and then moved on to real-life street protests, offered her both moral and legal support. Outlets like The New York Times and New Yorker reported the story seriously, treating Spears with empathy instead of as a tabloid curiosity and her experience as an example of a larger epidemic of conservator abuse. When Spears' memoir The Woman in Me came out last October and became one of the year's bestsellers, many of the reviews were downright respectful.
This, for example, from the Times: "It's nearly impossible to come out of it without empathy for and real outrage on behalf of Spears, whose admitted bitterness over the dire circumstances of the last decade-plus of her life — she no longer speaks to her family, and says she has no immediate plans to return to recording — is tempered by an enduring, insistent optimism."
So what's changed? Arcieri has some thoughts.
The era just before the Great Recession, she believes, was quite possibly the worst time in modern history to be a celebrity: Traditional paparazzi was augmented by a 24/7 digital media cycle, creating a larger demand for stories, while reality TV showed the everyday lives of celebrities in all their banality.
"This is the new baseline," writes anthropologist and former celebrity journalist Vanessa Díaz in her book Manufacturing Celebrity. "We expect to have access to all personal details of celebrities, broadly defined. Access to this intimate information has shifted our own notions of community and our general discourse, with information about these personalities becoming the default conversation starters for many people, the shared imaginary community among Americans."
In the mid-aughts, when Spears was the subject of a lot of those conversations, there wasn't much of a way for her to join in and explain her version of the story, even if she wanted to. Social media was still in its infancy and celebrities were still speaking to the public through a network of publicists and PR that couldn't possibly keep up with the news cycle.
Díaz cites the work of two other anthropologists, Lara Descartes and Conrad Kottak, who "suggest that part of Americans' media obsession is to validate themselves by noting 'Bad things happen to people unlike me.'"
"There was just this nastiness that emerged in the way celebrities were covered in the 2000s," Arcieri says. "Not that it wasn't there before. But it was the combination of all these effects that made it difficult for [Spears], how she was covered and chased." US Weekly, for instance, relentlessly covered Spears's first two marriages, the births of her children, and her increasingly odd behavior, culminating in the very public head-shaving incident. It was all treated as entertainment, not a mental health crisis that, as Spears claimed later, arose from a combination of postpartum depression and grief over the death of a beloved aunt.
In her research, Arcieri spoke to reporters from publications such as People, US Weekly, Star, InTouch, and the National Enquirer who had covered Spears both in the early years of her career and more recently. None of the reporters who wrote about Spears 20 years ago regret their stories, exactly, but they have more empathy for her now, and they emphasize that they were part of a different media ecosystem.
"Several reporters out there have spoken publicly about growing up as Britney fans and then going on to become entertainment reporters," Arcieri says. "There's been a generational shift in how this coverage happens. Enough celebrities have spoken up about paparazzi culture that there's been pushback and laws have changed." The recession, and the accompanying shrinkage of media budgets, and the rise of digital photography also changed the market for paparazzi photos and made them less valuable than they once were.
There's also been a shift in how mental health is covered. Arcieri points out that the chatter around the actress Amanda Bynes — who, like Spears, became famous as a teenager and had her own mental health challenges, culminating in a conservatorship in the late 2010s — is less harsh than that around Spears a decade earlier (though even at the peak of her career, Bynes was never as well-known as Spears). Instead of making Bynes the butt of jokes, the conversation is more likely to be along the lines of "I hope she's taking care of herself."
Brooke Shields, another former child star, also suffered from postpartum depression and went public about it in 2005. But Shields, says Arcieri, was the sort of celebrity who was "allowed" to talk about her mental health challenges, and the media gave her sympathy instead of turning her into a sideshow. Shields was older, she was married, she had graduated from Princeton, and she spoke about her depression because she was promoting a memoir, not because she was acting out in public.
Arcieri can't say for sure how the Britney Spears story would be covered if it were happening now. "I'd like to think that it's different today," she says. "Journalism is a business and a celebrity in crisis is what sells magazines, but at the end of the day, it's a totally different industry now." That includes more public discussions of mental health, both of celebrities and of the reporters themselves, and that factors into what gets covered.One thing she is sure of, though, is that Spears herself would have more of a say, likely through social media, and she would take control of the narrative and push back against negative coverage the way Taylor Swift has. (Ironically, the rise of the #FreeBritney movement occurred when fans observed a shift in the tone of Spears' Instagram posts.)
"To me, this is a story of the media industry at large — what stories are allowed to be pursued, how they're framed and presented to the public, and what narratives persist," she says. "How we talk about celebrities at a certain moment in time reflects society at large."
Aimee Levitt is a freelance writer based in Chicago. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, Eater, Texas Monthly, and National Geographic Traveller, among other publications.
Mardi Gras #FreeBritney float in 2022. Photo by SCFiasco being used under a Creative Commons license.
Pickle is an imposing figure. In her uniform of vibrant pageant dresses and a bouffant blond wig, the vivacious, live-singing drag queen is hard to miss both on and off the stage. Perhaps a good quality to have as the inaugural official Drag Laureate of West Hollywood.
A native of Los Angeles, Pickle came up in the bars and clubs that cluster around the west end of Santa Monica Boulevard, a.k.a. the backbone of this tiny city-within-a-city. As one of only two official Drag Laureates in the country (the other is in San Francisco), Pickle has been tasked with highlighting and enhancing the appreciation and impact of drag culture in West Hollywood. "There's an unofficial saying: So goes WeHo, so goes California, so goes the nation," Pickle says. "WeHo is s uch a young city. … It's just a really vibrant patch of land."
Get to know Los Angeles through the places that bring it to life. From restaurants to shops to outdoor spaces, here's what to discover now.
For a city that stands at just 1.9 square miles, West Hollywood punches way above its weight in terms of cultural impact. As an unincorporated part of Los Angeles County until a coalition of LGBTQ activists, seniors and renters came together to establish the first city council in 1984, it has been the backdrop for the hippie movement of the 1960s and '70s, the punk rock scene of the '80s and a home to L.A.'s queer community since its inception.
It's also been the unofficial playground of Hollywood since Hollywood began. WeHo landmarks like Chateau Marmont and the Sunset Tower Hotel have been the stomping grounds of the biggest celebrities in the world, and music venues like the Troubadour and Whisky A Go Go birthed the careers of Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell and countless others. West Hollywood also knows how to party. Every October, ghouls, goblins, sexy firefighters and the like roam the open streets in one of the country's biggest Halloween carnivals, and come June, WeHo Pride transforms West Hollywood Park into the epicenter of music, art and all-around queer joy.
When it comes to politics and social issues, West Hollywood has always been at the progressive forefront. It was one of the first cities in the nation to begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses after the landmark Supreme Court ruling in 2008. (After the decree, actor George Takei, known for playing Sulu in the original "Star Trek" series, and his partner, Brad Altman, were among the first wave of people to obtain the new gender-neutral marriage licenses from West Hollywood City Hall. "May equality live long and prosper," he announced as he flashed the famous Vulcan hand salute.) WeHo also has one of the strictest rent-stabilization laws in the country, protections for senior housing and more public art per capita than any other city in the U.S.
And fun fact: The city council gave Stormy Daniels the keys to the city on May 23, 2018, naming it Stormy Daniels Day.
When I first moved to Los Angeles from New York, I didn't know West Hollywood was an independent city. What I did know is that my husband and I were nervous about leaving NYC's public transportation behind. So we made it a priority to find a neighborhood that was relatively central and had at least a few restaurants and shops within walking distance. Eleven years later and we still haven't left WeHo's wildly irregular borders. (Is it a tiny pistol? An aging T. rex?)
Thanks to traffic, nothing in L.A. is close. But the beauty of West Hollywood is that everything feels easy to get to. Eastside neighborhoods like Silver Lake or Los Feliz are a straight shot east on Fountain Avenue. I l ike twisting my way west on Sunset Boulevard to get to the beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu, snaking through the posh ZIP Codes of Bel-Air, Westwood and the Pacific Palisades. DTLA is a quick trip down the 101, and hiking in the hills is even easier.
And if we don't feel like traveling, there's plenty to do right in our own backyard. The Pickup, a free trolley service that runs the length of the city along Santa Monica Boulevard Friday through Sunday evenings, is an easy way to get to Or Bar or Schmitty's, our favorite watering holes, without having to worry about who's driving home or paying for the Uber.
This is the little city in the center of it all, in a city with no real geographical center.
This must be West Hollywood.
What's included in this guide
Anyone who's lived in a major metropolis can tell you that neighborhoods are a tricky thing. They're eternally malleable and evok e sociological questions around how we place our homes, our neighbors and our communities within a wider tapestry. In the name of neighborly generosity, we included gems that may linger outside of technical parameters. Instead of leaning into stark definitions, we hope to celebrate all of the places that make us love where we live.
The company of the net celebrity "Wang Ma" released a letter of apology online after its former staff members and job applicants reported their irrationally low payment but highly intensive workload at the company.
"Wang Ma", meaning a nanny surnamed Wang in Chinese, is the main character of an online short play presented at a douyin account called "Qi ke xing xing". The account so far has about 16.58 million followers at Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
The sitcoms have soon gone viral online after they debuted in March, as "Wang Ma" has been portrayed as a sober female with a sharp tongue who dares to fight against improper or irrational requirements from her boss with comedic and facetious acts. Many netizens commented online that they resonated with "Wang Ma" and had been cheered up and inspired by her.
However, some staff members and job applicants to the company — Wuhan Huangye Culture and Media Co in Hubei province, running the douyin account of "Wang Ma" — unmasked the harsher working environment and low pay at the company.
They revealed that the company required its members to work following "big week, small week" — working a six-day week every two weeks — and only pay 4,000 yuan ($552) or less for highly-intensive jobs, as reported by ChinaNews.com.
There were no working computers, and there was no additional pay for overtime work. No social insurance would be given to interns, and the insurance is also a vague problem for its permanent workers, according to ChinaNews.com.
The company made an apology on Tuesday on Weibo, claiming that it has paid full social insurance for its permanent workers and will optimize the payment management system in the future.
According to the company's apology letter, it has decided to raise the minimum payment to 6,000 yuan ($828) per month to all its workers and canceled the working hour rule of "big week, small week". It will offer extra holidays to its workers in addition to the nation's official holidays and offer office supplies like computers.
Also, it promised to hire extras, pay them reasonable salaries through regular brokerage firms and try its best to protect their rights.
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year]
ShareCelebrity birthdays for the week of June 2-8:
June 2: Actor Ron Ely ("Tarzan") is 86. Actor Stacy Keach is 83. Actor-director Charles Haid ("Hill Street Blues") is 81. Singer Chubby Tavares of Tavares is 80. Film director Lasse Hallstrom ("Chocolat," "The Cider House Rules") is 78. Actor Jerry Mathers ("Leave It To Beaver") is 76. Actor Joanna Gleason is 74. Actor Dennis Haysbert ("24″) is 70. Comedian Dana Carvey is 69. Actor Gary Grimes ("Summer of '42") is 69. Bassist Michael Steele of The Bangles is 69. Singer Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet is 64. Actor Liam Cunningham ("Game of Thrones") is 63. Actor Navid Negahban ("Homeland," ″24″) is 60. Singer Merril Bainbridge is 56. TV personality Andy Cohen is 56. Rapper B-Real of Cypress Hill is 54. Actor Paula Cale ("Providence") is 54. Actor Anthony Montgomery ("Star Trek: Enterprise") is 53. Comedian Wayne Brady is 52. Actor Wentworth Miller ("DC's Legends of Tomorrow") is 52. Keyboardist Tim Rice-Oxley of Keane is 48. Act or Zachary Quinto ("Heroes") is 47. Actor Dominic Cooper ("Mamma Mia") is 46. Actor Nikki Cox ("Unhappily Ever After") is 46. Actor Justin Long ("Accepted," ″Dodgeball") is 46. Actor Deon Richmond ("Van Wilder," ″Scream 3″) is 46. Actor Morena Baccarin ("Gotham," ″Homeland") is 45. Drummer Fabrizio Moretti of The Strokes is 44. Country singer Dan Cahoon of Marshall Dyllon is 41. Singer-songwriter ZZ Ward is 38. Actor Awkwafina ("The Farewell," "Crazy Rich Asians") is 36. Actor Brittany Curran ("The Magicians," "Men of a Certain Age") is 34.
June 3: Actor Irma P. Hall ("Soul Food") is 89. Singer Ian Hunter is 85. Singer Eddie Holman is 78. Actor Tristan Rogers ("General Hospital," ″The Young and the Restless") is 78. Actor Penelope Wilton ("Downton Abbey") is 78. Bassist Too Slim of Riders in the Sky is 76. Singer Suzi Quatro is 74. Singer Deniece Williams is 74. Singer Dan Hill is 70. Actor Suzie Plakson ("How I Met Your Mother") is 66. Actor Scott Valentine ("Family Ties") is 66. Guitarist Kerry King of Slayer is 60. Bassist Mike Gordon of Phish is 59. TV journalist Anderson Cooper is 57. Country singer Jamie O'Neal is 56. Singers Ariel and Gabriel Hernandez of No Mercy are 53. Actor Vik Sahay ("Chuck") is 53. Singer Lyfe Jennings is 51. Actor Arianne Zucker ("Days of Our Lives") is 50. Actor Nikki M. James ("The Good Wife") is 43. Actor Josh Segarra ("Chicago P.D.") is 38. Actor Lalaine Dupree ("Lizzie McGuire") is 37. Actor Anne Winters ("13 Reasons Why," "Grand Hotel") is 30.
June 4: Actor Bruce Dern is 88. Saxophonist Roger Ball (Average White Band) is 80. Singer-actor Michelle Phillips (The Mamas and The Papas) is 80. Jazz saxophonist Anthony Braxton is 79. Bassist Danny Brown of The Fixx is 73. Actor Parker Stevenson is 72. Actor Keith David ("Barbershop") is 68. Blues musician Tinsley Ellis is 67. Singer El DeBarge is 63. Actor Julie White (film's "Transformers," TV's "Grace Under Fire") is 63. Actor Lindsay Frost ("Crossing Jordan") is 62. Actor Sean Pertwee ("Gotham") is 60. Singer Al B. Sure! is 56. Actor Scott Wolf ("Party of Five") is 56. Ron Huebel ("What To Expect When You're Expecting") is 55. Comedian Horatio Sanz ("Saturday Night Live") is 55. Actor James Callis ("Bridget Jones") is 53. Actor Noah Wyle ("ER") is 53. Bassist Stefan Lessard of The Dave Matthews Band is 50. Actor Russell Brand is 49. Actor Angelina Jolie is 49. Actor Theo Rossi ("Sons of Anarchy") is 49. Actor Robin Lord Tayl or ("Gotham") is 46. Bassist JoJo Garza of Los Lonely Boys is 44. Model Bar Refaeli is 39. Drummer Zac Farro (Paramore) is 34.
June 5: News correspondent Bill Moyers is 90. Country singer Don Reid of the Statler Brothers is 79. Singer-performance artist Laurie Anderson is 77. Guitarist Fred Stone of Sly and the Family Stone is 77. Country singer Gail Davies is 76. Financial expert Suze Orman ("The Suze Orman Show") is 73. Drummer Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden is 72. Jazz drummer Peter Erskine (Steps Ahead, Weather Report) is 70. Singer Richard Butler of Psychedelic Furs is 68. Saxophonist Kenny G is 68. Actor Beth Hall ("Mom," ″Mad Men") is 66. Actor Jeff Garlin ("The Goldbergs," ″Curb Your Enthusiasm") is 62. Actor Ron Livingston ("Sex and the City," ″The Practice") is 57. Singer Brian McKnight is 55. Musician Claus Norreen (Aqua) is 54. Actor-singer Mark Wahlberg is 53. Actor Chad Allen ("Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman") is 50. Bassist P-Nut of 311 is 50. Actor Navi Rawat ("Numb3rs") is 47. Actor Liza Weil ("How To Get Away With Murder," ″Gilmore Girls") is 47. Bass ist Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy is 45. Guitarist Seb Lefebvre of Simple Plan is 43. Actor Chelsey Crisp ("Fresh Off the Boat") is 41. Actor Amanda Crew ("Silicon Valley") is 38. Musician Harrison Mills of Odesza is 35. Musician DJ Mustard is 34. Actor Sophie Lowe ("Once Upon a Time In Wonderland") is 34. Actor Hank Greenspan ("The Neighborhood") is 14.
June 6: Singer-songwriter Gary "U.S." Bonds is 85. Country singer Joe Stampley is 81. Jazz pianist Monty Alexander is 80. Actor Robert Englund (Freddie Krueger) is 77. Playwright-actor Harvey Fierstein is 72. Actor-comedian Sandra Bernhard is 69. Record producer and musician Jimmy Jam (The Time) is 65. Actor Amanda Pays is 65. Comedian Colin Quinn is 65. Guitarist Steve Vai is 64. Singer-bassist Tom Araya of Slayer is 63. Actor Jason Isaacs ("Harry Potter" films) is 61. Bassist Sean Ysealt (White Zombie) is 58. Actor Max Casella ("Analyze This," ″Doogie Howser, M.D.") is 57. Actor Paul Giamatti is 57. Singer Damion Hall of Guy is 56. Guitarist James "Munky" Shaffer of Korn is 55. Country singer Lisa Brokop is 51. Singer Uncle Kracker is 50. Actor Sonya Walger ("Lost") is 50. Actor Staci Keanan ("Step By Step," ″My Two Dads") is 49. Jazz singer Somi is 48. Actor Aubrey Anderson-Emmons ("Modern Family") is 17.
June 7: Director James Ivory ("A Room With A View," "Howard's End") is 96. Actor Virginia McKenna ("Born Free") is 93. Singer Tom Jones is 84. Talk show host Jenny Jones is 78. Actor Liam Neeson is 72. Actor Colleen Camp ("Die Hard: With A Vengeance") is 71. Actor William Forsythe is 69. Record producer L.A. Reid is 68. Latin pop singer Juan Luis Guerra is 67. Singer-guitarist Gordon Gano of Violent Femmes is 61. Drummer Eric Kretz of Stone Temple Pilots is 58. Guitarist Dave Navarro is 57. Actor Helen Baxendale ("Friends") is 54. Actor Karl Urban (2009′s "Star Trek") is 52. TV personality Bear Grylls ("Man Vs. Wild") is 50. Guitarist-keyboardist Eric Johnson of The Shins is 48. Actor Adrienne Frantz ("The Bold and the Beautiful," "The Young and the Restless") is 46. Comedian Bill Hader ("The Mindy Project," ″Saturday Night Live") is 46. Actor Anna Torv ("Fringe") is 45. Actor Larisa Oleynik ("3rd Rock From The Sun," ″Boy M eets World) is 43. Actor Michael Cera ("Juno," ″Arrested Development") is 36. Actor Shelley Buckner ("Summerland") is 35. Rapper Iggy Azalea is 34. Model-actress Emily Ratajkowski ("Gone Girl") is 34. Rapper Fetty Wap is 34.
June 8: Actor James Darren is 88. Singer Nancy Sinatra is 84. Singer Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) is 82. Singer Boz Scaggs is 80. Actor Kathy Baker ("Picket Fences") is 74. Actor Sonia Braga is 74. Singer Bonnie Tyler is 73. Actor Griffin Dunne is 69. "Dilbert" cartoonist Scott Adams is 67. Actor-director Keenan Ivory Wayans is 66. Singer Mick Hucknall of Simply Red is 64. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran is 62. Singer Doris Pearson of Five Star is 58. Actor Julianna Margulies ("The Good Wife," ″ER") is 57. Actor Dan Futterman ("Judging Amy") is 57. Actor David Sutcliffe ("Private Practice," "Gilmore Girls") is 55. Actor Kent Faulcon ("Tyler Perry's For Better or Worse") is 54. Singer Nicci Gilbert of Brownstone is 54. Actor Kelli Williams ("The Practice") is 54. Actor Mark Feuerstein ("West Wing," ″Good Morning, Miami") is 53. Guitarist Mike Scheuchzer of MercyMe is 49. Actor Eion Bailey ("Once Upon A Time") is 48. Rapper Ye (formerly Kanye West) is 47. TV personality Maria Menounos is 46. Singer-songwriter Sturgill Simpson is 46. Guitarist Derek Trucks (Allman Brother Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band) is 45. Singer Alex Band of The Calling is 43. Fiddler Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek is 43. Actor Torrey DeVitto ("Pretty Little Liars") is 40.
