Chiefs' Hollywood Brown Looked All the Way Back During Start of Arrowhead Debut

Kansas City Chiefs fans received some incredible news ahead of Saturday's game versus the Houston Texans—not only would quarterback Patrick Mahomes be playing in the contest (he suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 15), but so would wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown, whom the Chiefs' acquired on a one-year deal during the offseason.

Brown, who was intended to bolster the KC's receiving corps, suffered a sternoclavicular joint injury on the first play of the preseason and has been unable to play since then.

So, of course, given Kansas City's tight margins of victory these past few weeks, all eyes were on the receiver's Arrowhead Stadium debut. And so far, things have been going quite well.

For one, Brown was reportedly welcomed into the stadium with a "very nice ovation," per The Athletic's Nate Taylor.

And then, Brown made his first catch as a Chief off a dart from Mahomes, successfully converting the fourth down. That drive would eventually end in a touchdown.

Brown then had another snag roughly midway through the second quarter.

There's plenty of game left, but so far, Brown is looking all the way back.

Fox News Entertainment Newsletter: Kai Trump shares celebrity crush, Jessica Simpson shows off new look

Kai Trump, granddaughter of Donald Trump, revealed her celebrity crush. Jessica Simpson shared photos of her new look after weight loss and sobriety. (Kai Trump/Jessica Simpson/Instagram)

Welcome to the Fox News Entertainment Newsletter.

Top 3:

- Donald Trump's granddaughter Kai Trump, 17, shares celebrity crush: 'I'm blushing.'

- Jessica Simpson's new look highlights 100-pound weight loss and sobriety success.

- Kimberly Williams-Paisley 'felt trapped in my own body' when she couldn't speak for 2 years.

Kimberly Williams-Paisley lost the ability to speak for two years. (John Shearer/WireImage/Getty Images; Kimberly Williams-Paisley/Instagram)

'BRINGING SEXY BACK' - Justin Timberlake suffers mortifying wardrobe malfunction at Nashville concert.

'RESPECT OUR PRESIDENT' - Jelly Roll defends Donald Trump encounter at UFC event.

REVENGE BODY - Sydney Sweeney goes shirtless after slamming body-shamers.

Sydney Sweeney went shirtless in new photos. (Getty Images)

'AGAINST ALL ODDS' - Rock legend Phil Collins admits it's still 'sinking in' that he'll never perform again.

'LIVING THE DREAM' - 'Home Alone' star Daniel Stern ditched Hollywood for quiet life on a farm.

LABOR OF LOVE - Sarah Michelle Gellar blames America's marriage woes on 'disposable' society.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, who's been married to fellow actor Freddie Prinze Jr. for 22 years, spoke about how to make things last. (Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Knott's Scary Farm)

'PURE POISON' - King Charles haunted by Prince Andrew as 'grubby' duke humiliates monarchy in 'year from hell': experts.

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This article was written by Fox News staff.

Celebrity Cruises’ Ship Rescues Lone Sailor From Damaged Boat

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The captain and crew of Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Reflection rescued a lone sailor from a dinghy about 40 miles from Cuba. The sailor had abandoned what appeared to be a capsized catamaran.

The 3,000-guest Celebrity Reflection was on the second day of her 6-night Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale when the incident happened at about 11 a.m. on December 16, 2024.

The ship was bound for her first port of call, Cozumel, Mexico, when the ship's officers received an emergency distress signal. Guests, who had spotted the man in a small boat, saw that he had sent up at least one flare.

Celebrity Reflection diverted to the location of the distress signal and dispatched a rescue vessel to try to reach the sailor. Big swells and high winds hampered efforts, video of the rescue shows, and the operation took about an hour to complete.

"The wife and I were on the balcony when we came by the first time and saw him shouting. His first flare went into the water then he shot off the second right in front of our eyes. Glad he was safe," one guest posted on Reddit. 

"It got harrowing at moments when he lost his kayak and he got into his little plastic boat and just seemed so exhausted," the guest added.

Crew members finally reached the sailor, who was safely brought onboard the Solstice-class ship exhausted but seemingly not injured. It was not known how long the sailor had been foundering at sea.

A crew member onboard the Celebrity Cruises ship with the Facebook page named Khing At Sea also captured the rescue unfold:

One guest posted his reaction to the scene that unfolded before his eyes.

"When I tell you I never thought I would see a rescue at sea lol. Right in front of my cabin too. 40 miles off the coast of Havana Cuba. Our Captain and his crew saved a man this morning!!  What a great day!!!" the guest wrote on Facebook.

The sailor was expected to disembark the ship when it called at Cozumel on December 17, 2024. The ship will continue on to Grand Cayman and Bimini before returning to Fort Lauderdale. No changes to Celebrity Reflection's itinerary were made as a result of the rescue.

The Celebrity Reflection incident was the second time in a day that a cruise ship came to the rescue of sailors in distress. On December 16, 2024, Costa Cruises' Costa Fascinosa came to the aid of a stranded sailing yacht that had run out of fuel.

Read Also: How to Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Cruise Vacation

Both ships were sailing transatlantic voyages. The yacht was headed to St. Martin from the Canary Islands when it experienced a mechanical failure that impacted her ability to sail. The yacht needed more fuel to complete the crossing, and the Costa Cruises' ship obliged by refueling the sailing vessel.

After the transfer, both ships continued on their journeys. Another transatlantic rescue happened a few weeks earlier, in November 2024, when Royal Caribbean's Voyager of the Seas came to the aid of a family and their dog off the coast of Morocco.

The family's sailboat lost engine power and its masts. All those aboard were transferred to Voyager of the Seas.

Under International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) rules, all vessels are required to assist those in distress at sea. Cruise ships routinely help stranded and foundering boats, and those with refugees onboard.

Donna Tunney

Donna Tunney is a travel news/feature writer and editor with 20-plus years covering cruise news, luxury travel, and Europe and UK destinations. A former staffer at Travel Weekly and at the USAToday Network, she also was a luxury travel columnist at Travel Market Report, and a cruise columnist at Sherman's Travel.

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How entertainment industry convergence is accelerating technology innovation

Video streaming has upended traditional viewing habits and spawned multi-billion-dollar companies in just a few decades. Audiences have higher expectations for content quality and accessibility than ever before and increased appetites for personalised entertainment experiences across an expanding array of platforms and devices. Coupled with recent advancements like generative artificial intelligence (AI), that demand is prompting companies to broaden intellectual properties (IP) into new verticals and adopt new tools to expand their reach, relevance and revenue. As a result, we're seeing multiple disruptions taking place that are setting the stage for an industry-wide convergence that will unlock new forms of entertainment.

Samira Bakhtiar, general manager of media & entertainment, games, and sports at AWS Shifting viewer trends 

Across online video, games, music, and features, global consultancy firm Omdia predicted the entertainment industry would surpass $1 trillion in value in 2024, with 35 per cent of that revenue coming from online video and 25 per cent coming from gaming. While those numbers seem staggering, consider that 5.75 billion people have mobile devices, frequently consuming content on-the-go. Additionally, 3.5 billion people play video games each week globally, whether it's immersing themselves in virtual worlds for hours or spending a few minutes decoding a five-letter word. 

It's no longer sufficient to be great at just one type of media – versatility is imperative. That means broadcasters are now also streamers, games companies are now broadcasting and streaming companies, and live events companies are now building gamified experiential activations. The lines are blurring as media companies look to capture their target audience's attention and seize monetisation opportunities. 

However, this abundance of entertainment options is also contributing to shorter attention spans as viewers navigate different devices, platforms, and channels. Shorter attention spans can lead to fragmented experiences as audiences jump from one piece of content to the next. This makes it difficult for entertainment companies to understand and cater to their respective audiences. 

Technology transformation 

The problem with diversification is that it can introduce technical and logistical challenges. To meet audience demands, M&E technology teams need to be able to quickly spin up a new game studio or game servers; or become a movie streaming business; or stream live election night coverage for the first time. That's no small feat. True reinvention means embracing change, from the tech stacks to the right cloud solutions, so that customers can grow and scale to engage audiences in new ways. 

Convergence in play 

Epic Games, a leading interactive entertainment company and developer of Unreal Engine, is an example of a company driving this convergence. Epic operates Fortnite, one of the most-played video games in the world, and IP convergence is key to Fortnite's experiences, as brands and artists enter the digital world. After a live Snoop Dogg concert was recently streamed in-game to ten million players, the artist is being featured in the game for a limited time, introducing a new generation of fans to his music. The public concert was held in New York City's Times Square backed by fantastical visuals synchronised across the massive iconic digital displays, which also notably screened the live 2004 series finale for popular broadcast series Friends. 

Epic's Fortnite cross-over events are mutually beneficial; the game's audience grows as new content or experiences are added and collaborating brands get to highlight their IP to a massive global audience in a new way. Having the right tech stack in place to support these initiatives is essential, which is where the cloud comes into play. It provides the necessary agility to scale, centralises digital assets so that they can be repurposed more efficiently, and provides an easier path to leveraging advanced tools, like AI.

It's clear the entertainment industry is undergoing a seismic shift, in which reinvention creates new opportunity for those willing to embrace it. As it does, the cloud is unlocking new avenues to captivate audiences across video, gaming, music, and film in ways we never imagined.  As audiences demand more interactive experiences, traditional companies that diversify and explore new partnerships will reap the benefits.

Inside The Luxury Wig Industry: Hollywood, High Fashion And Hair Loss

Rihanna celebrates new Fenty Beauty launch in 2024 wearing a True Indian Hair wig

WireImage

Rihanna, Cardi B, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian and Keira Knightley are just a few bold-faced names to have regularly worn wigs. Whether for hair loss, entertainment or everyday appearance, these next-level pieces are so meticulously constructed it's near impossible to believe they aren't the person's own hair.

What some once associated with cheap, synthetic Halloween looks and other costume-driven aesthetics like Disneyland characters has grown into a near $3 billion luxury wig industry. According to Fortune Business Insights, one-third of that amount can be attributed to the North American market, which includes the rise of human hair wigs and colorful, high-end wigs.

The report acknowledges the boom in wig purchases since the pandemic, when consumers began turning to this alternative to hair extensions. It also highlights a rise in wig purchases among the Black community, thanks to businesses like Weave and Vivica A. Fox Hair, made by Black women to lift up their community. The breakdown also notes the rise of wig purchases among consumers with alopecia or in chemotherapy treatment—and lastly, a huge boom in wig-wearing mannequins used to drive sales for fashi on brands.

"I knew there was a need for this type of hair, and I didn't know of any Black woman or person in this space in New York," says Karen Mitchell, founder of 20-year luxury wig and extension brand, True Indian Hair. "I wanted to create a space where women would feel empowered by the way they look in real human hair extensions of the highest quality. To meet customer demand and growth in popularity, wigs were added to the product line around the fourth year."

The brand, which develops lace front wigs that go for up to $1,600, has grown to become a leading name in wigs and extensions, namely among the Black entertainment community.

"Our emphasis on quality starts with importing the best hairs to be used on our wigs," says Mitchell, whose pieces have been worn by Rihanna, Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B. "Although our wigs are made in China, we import our own hair to the factory to ensure only the best quality of hair approved by us is used. This is followed up by our quality control after production. We hand-inspect each piece before it's placed on our shelves or sold."

True Indian Hair isn't a transactional business for Mitchell—each sale offers an experience.

"We're not just selling a wig," she says. "It's a lifestyle brand actively engaged with our customers to ensure their satisfaction. Our products are unprocessed human hair that has not been chemically treated. There are no permanent or semi-permanent colors, perms or relaxers used to alter the color, texture or curl pattern of the hair. And to prevent tangling, all the hairs are placed with cuticles in the same direction."

UNice, another leading wig brand, positions itself as accessible luxury for the Black community.

"There's a combination of high-quality materials and craftsmanship used," says the brand's expert stylist, Dayonna Worrell. "UNice offers premium human hair, which provides a natural look and feel. Attention to detail in the construction, such as lace fronts and hand-tied caps, enhances comfort and realism. The brand also stays updated with the latest fashion trends, offering styles and colors that appeal to contemporary tastes. This commitment to quality and style ensures that their products look and feel luxurious, despite the affordable pricing."

As for how they keep their prices low?

"The brand streamlines its production and distribution processes," Worrell shares. "They often source materials directly from suppliers, cutting down on costs associated with middlemen. By leveraging economies of scale, they produce wigs in larger quantities, reducing the per-unit cost. Additionally, they focus on direct-to-consumer sales, which eliminates the need for retail markups."

The Allure Of Russian Hair

Daniel Alain $12,000 Grandeur wig worn on female client

Photo courtesy of Daniel Alain

The luxury wig industry is no joke. In fact, highest quality hair pieces go up to more than $10,000. Daniel Alain's 100% ultra-premium European Grandeur wig starts at $12,259. Available in nine colors and one length, this is the price consumers pay for scarce, pure Russian human hair. Unlike more commonly sourced hair, Russian hair cannot be bought in wholesale.

"The hair seller knows it, so if you don't buy it at their price, someone else will," explains a blog post on luxury hair site, Ouielle. "Why would he sell it cheaper? So, if you see a salon offering a full head of 22-inch Russian hair for around $350.00, you can be confident in knowing that this isn't Russian. In fact, for that price, with the markups salons need to place in order to pay their bills, you could even assume it isn't even 100% human hair."

Daniel Alain, the only mainstream Russian hair supplier in the U.S., got into the sourcing business early on.

"We had about 400 people collecting hair all throughout Russia at the time," says the brand's founder and CEO, Daniel Alain Hafid. "We kept buying all the hair that we could, and we knew there would be an endgame. Russia's gonna grow up, the salaries are gonna go up, and this won't last for a long time. So we were collecting hair for about eight or 10 years. We have about 60,000 kilos of hair, which is about, I don't know, $80 or $100 million worth of hair."

Hafid insists, "Everybody besides us, they're all selling Chinese hair and Indian hair. Nobody's using real, authentic European hair or Russian hair."

Aside from scarcity, the entrepreneur—who also manufactures much less costly, non-European wigs—explains the beauty of the Russian ponytail.

"When you get a ponytail from China or from India, it's a reddish brown, right?" Hafid says. "It doesn't pop. Like if you see a lady here walking down the street and she's got blonde hair and she's dyed it in a beauty salon and she goes out in the sun, it pops. When you get the Russian hair, it's all golden brown, golden blonde. It pops."

Depending on the quality of hair from the jump, Hafid says a wig can last anywhere from six months to eight years.

Making A Difference

Daniel Alain customers often fly to the brand's picturesque Newport Beach, California headquarters for personal consultations before making a purchase. It's there that they're made to feel at home, and get to watch a magical makeover unfold in seconds before their eyes.

"You can transform a woman in a couple of minutes," Hafid says. "I mean, that's a pretty big thing you'd be giving to somebody. Hair loss is really a sad thing that happens to a lot of women, and I think having [our pieces on their head] is one of the things they appreciate the most. It's a big gratification. That's what puts a smile on the face every day."

For True Indian Hair's part, they host an annual initiative for breast cancer survivors during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Known as True Strength Glam Day, the brand partners with Pynk Magazine publisher Mecca Moore-Henson and Big Mouth Toothbrush founder and dentist, Dr. Bobbi Peterson. A head-to-toe makeover and dinner are provided to select cancer patients who've developed alopecia. The initiative also donates gifted wigs and extensions for similar makeovers to domestic violence organizations.

"It's such a good feeling to give back," Mitchell says of luxury wig industry perks. "Our goal is to put a smile on these women's faces and empower them to feel good about themselves, even when facing adversity. Our mantra is when you look good, you feel good. The recipients of the makeovers leave feeling beautiful and empowered."

Celebrity Faces Show Alarming Effects Of Ozempic Use As Hollywood Grapples With New Beauty Fad

Hollywood is abuzz with allegations of "Ozempic face," a term for "gaunt" features linked to rapid weight loss. Stars like Katy Perry, Lizzo, and John Goodman are currently facing scrutiny over their changing appearance allegedly linked to the Ozempic face phenomenon.

Ozempic is used in combination with diet and exercise to help manage blood sugar levels, the European Medicines Agency states. It can be used on its own or in addition to other diabetes medications, such as metformin, sulphonylureas, or insulin. 

Ozempic can also help reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease.

Hollywood is abuzz with allegations of "Ozempic face," a term for "gaunt" features linked to rapid weight loss

Image credits: Stewart Cook/ABC/Getty Images

While Ozempic is not approved for weight loss, some physicians prescribe it for this purpose, as per UC Davis Health. 

Ozempic can help with weight loss by reducing appetite, which can lead to the consumption of fewer calories.

"Ozempic face is not really anything unique to Ozempic so much as it is the effect of losing a significant amount of weight," Dr. Adam Rubinstein, a plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida, USA, told The Daily Mail on Thursday (December 19).

Dr. Smita Ramanadham, a plastic surgeon in New Jersey, added: "We see a loss of volume in the face [with weight loss], and when we lose fat in the face we see signs like the cheeks are more sunken in, more sagging skin and a general hollowing out of the features.

Image credits: lizzobeeating

"Sometimes, it can have the effect of actually making a person look older — because the fat in our cheeks is what gives us a more youthful look."

Dr. Sue Decotiis, a weight loss expert who has prescribed Ozempic to thousands of patients, reportedly explained that weight loss looks more dramatic on those with longer faces because of the way the skin is stretched.

Katy Perry is among the famous personalities to be often accused this past year of using Ozempic and developing the Ozempic face.

The California Gurls hitmaker particularly re-ignited these rumors on Monday (December 16), after fans said that she looked "gaunt."

Stars like Katy Perry and Scott Disick are currently facing scrutiny over their changing appearance

Image credits: BACKGRID/VidaPress

Dr. Rubinstein said of Katy: "Her cheeks do look thinner overall, and she certainly does look more angular and thinner. There is also less depth to her face.

"Over a year-and-a-half, this certainly could be because she is using Ozempic, or could also be because she is taking care of herself, going to the gym, and eating well.

"Over that time you can drop quite a bit of weight." 

Lizzo has also been scrutinized over her visible weight loss, which she often flaunts on her social media.

Amid accusations that the 36-year-old singer has been taking Ozempic, Dr. Rubinstein told The Mail that Lizzo had a "tremendous transformation," adding that, "with or without Ozempic, I applaud what she has been able to do."

Image credits: John Shearer/Getty Images

He added: "She looks healthier and there is obvious weight loss between the May photo and the more recent one.

"Her neckline and jawline now really pop, and there is also now the same contour in her cheeks that you couldn't see before.

"I wouldn't be surprised if she used Ozempic along with a good program, but the amount of change that she has been able to produce in herself is not something that you can do just by using medications alone."

Experts highlighted John Goodman, who they reportedly said had drastically less facial volume and, as a result, more loose skin that had formed wrinkles.

Experts pointed to Sharon Osbourne as a celebrity with one of the most dramatic examples of Ozempic face

Image credits: sharonosbourne

Dr. Ramanadham told the British tabloid: "He hasn't been in the news for anything on Ozempic, so I don't know if it's that.

"But even with just weight loss, you see more lines, more wrinkles, and more deflation in his face as he loses weight compared to when he was heavier and his face was fuller.

"These changes are just very typical of overall weight loss regardless of whether weight loss drugs were used."

The doctor further reportedly ranked Robbie Williams among the celebrities with some of the most prominent Ozempic faces.

Image credits: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/ Getty Images

Dr. Ramanadham explained: "You can see a hollowing under the eyes and the cheeks and more wrinkles appearing because of a loss of volume. 

"With Robbie, you can see the direct results of weight loss."

Dr. Sue Decotiis, a weight loss specialist, told The Mail: "He looks like a totally different person.

"He has a longer face, which means the weight loss is definitely making him look very drawn."

Among women, the experts pointed to Sharon Osbourne as a celebrity who has shown one of the most dramatic examples of Ozempic face.

Robbie Williams was among the celebrities with some of the most prominent Ozempic faces

Image credits: Action Press/VidaPress

Dr. Ramanadham said: "Her eyes look more sunken in, her cheeks have more hollowing.

"There is a significant loss in facial volume as well, and more wrinkling that is associated with it."

Lottie Moss, who is famous for being supermodel Kate Moss' younger half-sister, was reportedly rushed to the hospital after abusing Ozempic earlier this year.

She consequently opened up about the injectable prescription medicine's dangerous side effects and dissuaded people from taking Ozempic on her podcast, Bored Panda previously reported.

Image credits: Gilbert Flores/Variety/Getty Images

Celebrity use and social media promotion of Ozempic have reportedly contributed to a shortage of the drug, which is intended to treat diabetes. 

"The broad shortage of Ozempic seen currently, and GLP-1s in general, has been attributed to the misuse and self-administering of the drug by celebrities and social media influencers who are seeking rapid weight loss," Dr. Ahmed AK Hassoun, consultant of endocrinology at Fakeeh University Hospital, explained.

GLP-1s is the class of medications to which Ozempic belongs.

"This inappropriate off-label use of Ozempic has led to an unprecedented surge in demand among the general population, resulting in difficulties for diabetics accessing the medication," Dr. Hassoun added.

"People will do anything to avoid changing their diets," a reader commented

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Celebrity Cruises makes a key beverage package improvement

Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience.Generate Key Takeaways

Royal Caribbean Group-owned Celebrity Cruises is a wine lover's cruise line that proudly holds the title of most awarded wine collection at sea. The cruise line was honored with 18 Wine Spectator Awards in 2024, including five coveted "Best Of" Awards of Excellence for Celebrity Cruises Edge Series.

Celebrity has racked up 136 Wine Spectator awards over the last 12 years, demonstrating the cruise line's commitment to remaining at the forefront of beverage trends and meeting the preferences of its passengers.

Related: Celebrity Cruises adds a massively popular homeport

When sailing on a Celebrity cruise ship, passengers can choose from more than 500 wine selections representing the world's most sought-after regions. The wide selection ranges from the most acclaimed labels to Celebrity's own private label wines. In every restaurant on a Celebrity cruise ship, a trained sommelier is available to help guide passengers through the extensive choices from around the world.

But having a robust, award-winning wine collection doesn't mean there aren't opportunities to improve the wine program, especially when it comes to providing value to the passengers paying to drink the wine on its ships.

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Many Celebrity Cruises ships have wine bars. Image source: Shutterstock

Celebrity Cruises works to offer more value to wine drinkers

Many Celebrity cruise passengers who want to drink wine during their cruise purchase one of the cruise line's drink packages to do so. For that reason, maintaining the Celebrity wine program's appeal requires making sure its drink packages reflect the quality of the program.

Last year, Celebrity upset many passengers when it moved a number of popular wine selections from its Premium Drink Package to an enhanced list, offering them at an upcharge. Acknowledging its need to bring quality wines into alignment with its current drink packages, the cruise line recently created an internal wine division tasked with bringing value back to the packages.

Related: Celebrity Cruises makes a bold move to improve its drink packages

In a recent LinkedIn post where she shared one of the cruise line's Captain's Club webinars, Celebrity Cruises President Laura Hodges Bethge expressed her excitement about the progress the team has made in enhancing its wine program and beverage packages.

"As a fellow wine lover, I've listened to your feedback and spent time on our ships to understand your preferences," said Bethge. "Working with our Beverage Director, Daniele Salamone, and Wine Operations Lead, Chris Arora, we've introduced new wines across our fleet and expanded our wine package. This is another step in our commitment to delivering consistent, elevated, hospitality."

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Celebrity Cruises' wine team shares additions to its wine program

During Celebrity's Nov. 25 Captain's Club webinar, the team emphasized their commitment to bringing both quality and value to Celebrity's wine program as they tasted some of the wines they've added to the Premium Drink Package. Featured wines included Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio, Montinore Estate Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, and Silver Ghost Cabernet Sauvignon.

Beverage Director Daniele Salamone noted that to add value to the premium package, the team focused on offering some more unique wines to help passengers discover new favorites.

"It's very important that we really analyze what actually is moving well and really analyze and bring value back to the premium package with unique product," he explained. "So you might not know the brand right away but once you taste it, all other brands unfortunately you forget. So cheers to that."

Related: Celebrity Cruises ends ship class, plans new one, amping another

Celebrity Cruises' Wine Operations Lead Chris Arora also highlighted Jacques Dumont Sancerre, which the cruise line is offering outside of its premium package at an upcharge of $5.

"One of the feedbacks I got a lot from our guests is nickel and diming. We really, really want to move away from that," said Arora. "So we are making sure that all of the wines at an upcharge are less than $5 and really making sure it's worth it."

The team shared that some of Celebrity's wines from smaller producers like the trendy Sancerre are offered at an upcharge because the cruise line isn't able to secure enough of the wine to supply it at volume fleetwide. For wines like these, Celebrity is focused on making sure the wine is high quality enough to justify the upcharge.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

Voice Teacher Eric Vetro Is Hollywood’s Not-So-Secret Weapon

The walls of Eric Vetro’s studio are lined with keepsakes and mementos. In one corner, Ariana Grande’s first ever platinum record sits not far from a translucent guitar designed by Shawn Mendes. In between hangs a gold record from Sabrina Carpenter. On the opposite wall, platinum records from Mendes and his ex-girlfriend Camila Cabello sit atop each other, next to other plaques from Rosalía and Becky G. Beside his “wall of selfies”â€"hundreds of pictures of Vetro and his favorite studentsâ€"hangs the platinum record for Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream.

“I keep a lot of them around,” Vetro admits over Zoom as he virtually takes me on a tour of his musical dojo, located in his home in Toluca Lake, California. Over the course of his career, the 58-year-old has become indispensable to his A-list clientele. He’s the voice teacher you call when your client needs to hit the high noteâ€"whether that’s in the booth or on a soundstage. This film season alone, he’s responsible for getting Grande into Glinda shape for Wicked, teaching Angelina Jolie to hit high C’s as opera diva Maria Callas in Maria, and helping Timothée Chalamet channel Bob Dylan for A Complete Unknown.

While we’re in the middle of chatting, he gets a FaceTime call. “Omar? Can I call you back in five minutes? I’m on with Vanity Fair,” Vetro says apologetically. “Absolutely not,” recording artist and Queer star Omar Apollo jokes, apparently a few hours early for his own FaceTime voice lesson. “He taught me everything I know,” Apollo tells me after Vetro virtually introduces us. After figuring out how they got their wires crossed, Apollo bids a fond farewell to Vetro, who he’ll see in approximately two hours. “Phew! Okay. Now we have more time,” Vetro tells me, regaining his focus. Clearly, getting time with Vetro is a rare and valuable thing.

Despite working with celebrities day in and day out, Vetro never dreamt of stardom himself. Growing up in rural upstate New York, he had quirky tastes, preferring the vocal stylings of Elvis Presley and Judy Garland over the popular music of the day. Ironically, he got to work with bothâ€"in his own wayâ€"when he coached Austin Butler and Renée Zelwegger for Elvis and Judy, respectively. “I don’t think a lot of kids fantasized about giving a voice lesson to Judy Garland, but I did,” Vetro says.

When he was cast in his high school production of West Side Story, Vetro was happiest when he was handpicked by the musical director to help his classmates learn their parts. “That gave me an identity because I didn’t have a strong identity growing up,” he says. “Like, Oh, this is what I doâ€"I play the piano. I’m good at helping people learn songs.”

Vetro went on to do what many talented, musical-theater-pilled kids do upon high school graduation: He went to NYU. After graduation, he dabbled in performance for a few months, before finding that a light dose of stage fright confirmed he was happiest behind the scenes as a vocal coach. “I’ve actually never done anything since,” Vetro says. “I’m essentially doing the same thing now that I did when I was in junior high and high school.”

In a crowded industryâ€"you can’t throw a rock in New York without hitting a voice teacherâ€"Vetro distinguished himself the old-fashioned way: “Good word of mouth,” he says, matter-of-factly. The power of good reviews landed Vetro a gig with cabaret singer Samantha Samuels. Together, they toured the country for a year. Instead of returning to the East Coast afterwards, he decided to give Los Angeles a try. He never left.

ken sawyer

One of Vetro’s first high-profile clientsâ€"and quite clearly, one of his favoritesâ€"was Ariana Grande, whom he met even before she made her Broadway debut at the age of 13. Vetro remembers being introduced to the “angelic” Grande via another student of his, and initially getting a reluctant vibe from her mother, Joan Grande. “Her mother had been a bit hesitant about her taking voice lessons because she did have such a great natural talent,” Vetro says. “Her mother didn’t want someone to step in and interfere with the naturalness of her voice.”

Nevertheless, Joan decided to take a chance on Vetro. “I knew the minute I met her, before I even heard her sing, I was, like, ‘There’s something about this girl. She is a star,’” he says.

Cut to 13 years later, when Grandeâ€"now a Grammy-winning pop sensationâ€"first got the call to audition for her dream role: Glinda in Wicked. After years of belting and riffing, retraining her voice to sing Glinda’s legit soprano required dusting off some cobwebs. “We worked every day for several monthsâ€"first on the audition, because she was insistent on earning the role,” Vetro says. “She worked really hard on the audition and actually sang for both roles the first time.”

Getting Grande to hit the notes wasn’t Vetro’s missionâ€"he knew she could do that in her sleep. “I wanted her to be able to just step out, whether it’s 3:00 in the morning or midnight, and be able to sing that music easily,” he saysâ€"a skill made even more necessary considering that she, Cynthia Erivo, and another client of his, Jonathan Bailey, all sang live for the film. Soon enough, his wish was granted. “‘My voice is so developed from everything we’ve done. I don’t need a long warm-up,’” he recalls Grande saying eventually. “That made me really happy because I thought, “She’s going to be able to do this under any circumstance. If they say, ‘stand on your head and sing a high C,’ she’ll be able to do it.”

Like the proud longtime vocal coach he is, Vetro quickly points to two Grande performancesâ€"“God Is a Woman,” from the 2018 VMAs, and the 2016 VMAs where she sang “Side to Side” while riding stationary bikeâ€"as evidence of her innate ability. “She’s able to do those things,” he says. “But I wanted to make sure she could hit the high notes and sound operatic.”

Hollywood News LIVE: Ariana Grande went through Wicked contract with Cynthia Erivo to make sure they were ‘aligned’ together

Hollywood News Live: Stay updated with the latest Hollywood news. Get real-time updates on movies, celebrity events, gossip, and red carpet highlights. We bring you the hottest entertainment stories as they happen, all in one place!

Hollywood News Live Today: Ariana Grande went through Wicked contract with Cynthia Erivo to make sure they were 'aligned' together

Hollywood News Live: Hollywood Get real time updates on Hollywood news, your go-to source for the latest updates in the entertainment world. From breaking celebrity news to new movie releases and red carpet moments, we've got you covered. Stay tuned as we bring you real-time updates on all the exciting happenings in Hollywood, including exclusive scoops, interviews, and much more!...Read More

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Dec 15, 2024 9:14 PM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: Ariana Grande went through Wicked contract with Cynthia Erivo to make sure they were 'aligned' together

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo play Glinda and Elphaba in Jon M. Chu's Wicked. The actor talked about ensuring equal terms and conditions for the project.

Read the full story here

Dec 15, 2024 4:12 PM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: World's highest-paid actor earned $156 million for one project, several times more than Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh, Brad Pitt

Not Tom Cruise, Shah Rukh Khan, or even Johnny Depp have been able to charge as much as this actor during his peak in the early 2000s.

Read the full story here

Dec 15, 2024 3:34 PM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: Denzel Washington apologised to director Ryan Coogler for spoiler on his potential role in Black Panther 3

Denzel Washington was not supposed to spill the news that he will be part of Black Panther 3. He has now shared that he apologised to the director.

Read the full story here

Dec 15, 2024 3:10 PM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: Pete Davidson says he doesn't want to be seen as a 'loser who just dates people'

"I just want to be known for doing good work," Davidson said while confessing he does not want his past relationships with A-listers being his sole identity

Read the full story here

Dec 15, 2024 7:30 AM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: Jim Carrey clarifies his old comment about retirement: 'You can't be definite about these things'

In 2022, when Jim Carrey was promoting the sequel to Sonic the Hedgehog, he had said he was retiring from acting.

Read the full story here

Dec 15, 2024 6:25 AM IST

Hollywood News LIVE: Ben Affleck, exes Jennifer Lopez and Jennifer Garner join same team for this blended family reunion during holidays

In the rarest of rare sightings, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and Jennifer Lopez came together for an unlikely family reunion in LA for their kids.

Read the full story here

Jurnee Smollett reflects on challenges of growing up in Hollywood

Jurnee Smollett opens up about facing sexual harassment as a child actor and highlights the need for stronger protections and safer environments in Hollywood and beyond.

Jurnee Smollett opens up about facing sexual harassment as a child actor and highlights the need for stronger protections and safer environments in Hollywood and beyond.

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Celebrity Cruises makes rescue; Cruisers learn $10,000 lesson

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Cruise ships are obligated to provide aid to ships at sea in need of help.

That can often mean taking in passengers from pleasure vessels that have run into trouble. Sometimes, it means taking people on board who were attempting to flee to the United States.

Related: Carnival Cruise Line defends beverage package after price hike

In all cases, anyone who gets rescued receives medical care and food. They do not get access to any passenger areas and are kept in strict quarantine.

Usually, the passengers are released either on their own or to the appropriate authorities in the next port.

This is not a choice for cruise lines. It's maritime law, and not offering help would actually be a crime.

Doug Parker has all the latest on a rescue where Celebrity Reflection helps an ailing sailboat and rescue its passengers on the latest edition of Cruise News Today. He also has a sad tale of a how a medical emergency ruined a recent MSC honeymoon cruise for one couple and that lesson that can be taken from it.

Are you taking a cruise or thinking about taking one? Visit our Come Cruise With Me website to have all your questions answered.

Celebrity Refectlion makes a save Transcript:

This is Cruise News Today with Doug Parker.

Good morning. Here's your cruise news for Tuesday, December 17.

Celebrity Reflection came to the rescue of a sailboat in distress off the coast of Cuba yesterday morning. The ship was sailing approximately 40 miles north of the Cuba coast when a guest saw a boat in the distance shoot up a small flare and then notified the ship. Reflection diverted course to rescue the boat and brought them on board.

Once he was transferred to this ship he was treated for medical attention, looking dehydrated per guests.

Last month, sister brand Royal Caribbean saved a family adrift on a sailboat off the coast of Africa. Good work.

Honeymoon cruise becomes a disaster; MSC offers a credit

And a honeymoon cruise turned into a financial nightmare for a couple when a stomach issue forced emergency surgery just two days into their trip.

Sharing the story on Reddit, the passenger said, not only did I have appendicitis, but my appendix also ruptured. The passenger also stressed the value of travel insurance, saying, not only are we out our entire honeymoon budget, our savings have been wiped clean as well.

Doctors' bills were over $10,000.

And, passengers aboard the MSC Seashore are receiving a future cruise credit after that small fire that broke out of the ship's emergency generator room last Sunday. Now, the small fire, which caused no injuries, briefly disrupted services like elevators, dining venues, air conditioning, and internet.

ALSO READ: Top travel agents share how to get the best price on your cruise

MSC Cruises apologized with a note offering impacted guests a 20% discount on a future cruise fare. Some passengers were impacted more than others. They received an additional $200 in onboard credit.

The incident happened shortly after the ship departed Port Canaveral heading to their private island.

Tips@cruiseradio.net. Have yourself a great Tuesday. I'm Doug Parker with Cruise News Today.

Be the first to see the best deals on cruises, special sailings, and more. Sign up for the Come Cruise With Me newsletter.

Erivo, Grande, and the "Wicked" Weight of Public Concern

Source: Our Movie Guide, Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

Wicked is super pop-u-lar (pun intended!) and a cultural sensation, but there has been a flurry of posts and articles expressing worry about the film's two stars, Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande. For example, "They look scarily thin," "triggering," and "I'm concerned about them." As a therapist and eating and body image expert, I will give you the #1 thing you can do if you're concerned. But first, let's unpack why, at least in part, people seem so emotionally invested in these two.

Why do people feel so connected to these stars?

In addition to the fandom piece for "theater kids," the parasocial relationship with these celebs is probably a huge culprit here. A parasocial relationship is a one-sided relationship with a celebrity or influencer where you experience feelings for and about that person; internally, the person seems like a real and personal relationship even though you've never met (Haupt, 2023).

Parasocial relationships are common nowadays. Fifty-one percent of Americans seem to have had parasocial relationships, even though only 16% admit to it (Thriveworks, 2022).

Social media's access to celebrities' personal lives (e.g., home photos, glimpses into their routines, behind-the-scenes at photo shoots, and shares about their beloved pets) probably adds fuel to the feelings of familiarity and friendship. So, it seems reasonable to me that while I was reading the various threads and posts about Erivo's and Grande's body changes, it sounded like the celebs were the posters' besties!

Now that we are on the same page about where genuine concern may be coming from, we can move to what you can do about it (if that matches your position).

For those who are emotionally invested in Erivo's and Grande's weight and wellness, here's the #1 thing you can do: Put yourself in their shoes

Here's what I mean: Imagine you have a worldwide tour coming for a hugely anticipated film where you know you'll be vulnerable to massive public scrutiny and gossip simply for what you do and the talents you share. How would you prepare?

What would you need to do to feel as safe as possible from public ridicule, trolling, and bullying?

Consider how exposed you might feel as you pose before thousands of cameras and do interviews that will reach millions?

With the goal of feeling as safe as possible, what would you feel you needed to do physically? Mentally? Spiritually? Appearance-wise, etc.

Just because celebs get paid a ton partially for the trouble of giving up a lot of their privacy, it doesn't mean they stop being human or having insecurities like the rest of us.

And about all the accusations of eating disorders, they have family and friends who love them and care about their wellness. They also have teams that need them "at their best." In fact, some of their team members' incomes depend on their wellness and ability to maintain stardom. So if and when there are mental health items of concern, those people are probably frontline "alerters" and "interveners." Additionally, both Erivo and Grande have made mentions in interviews about utilizing therapy. So, they have people closer to them who are going to be a lot more effective at addressing any concerns if problems arise.

A side note: Did you know we cannot spot an eating disorder by someone's appearance (Bulik, 2015)? You can look super "healthy" and have one. You can look super "unhealthy" and not have one.

Finally, for those who have expressed concern via the word "triggering," the emotion behind that is for both the stars and yourself probably. This is a longtime Hollywood thing where we, the normal public, compare ourselves to celebrities, and it activates negative feelings about ourselves and tanks our own body image (Brown & Tiggemann, 2023). If you are "triggered," please take it to your support team. Whether that's a friend, family, or a therapist, you deserve your own nurturing and self-compassion about that.

Bottom line

The public's expressions of worry about Erivo's and Grande's weight changes may have gone too far. For example, USA Today, a mainstream news outlet, released "Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, and Why the Cruel Body Comments Around 'Wicked' Need to Stop" (Trepany, 2024). Genuine emotions and concerns are being spun into what fans probably didn't intend: fuel for the multi-billion dollar celebrity gossip industry.

So if you have real care about or for Erivo and Grande, please put yourself in their ruby red or sparkly crystal shoes, and act accordingly. We all want to feel safe in life—celebs included.

How D.C. Regulators Made 2024 the Year That Big Hollywood Deals Didn’t Happen

Media and entertainment giants have been in a near constant cycle of mergers and acquisitions since the turn of the century. However, 2024, will be remembered for the deals that didn't happen.

In July, Paramount Global reached a historic agreement for an $8 billion sale to David Ellison's Skydance Media after almost a year of fitful negotiations. There's little doubt that more studio-network conglomerates — think Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal — would have been involved in serious M&A negotiations (possibly even for Paramount) if the regulatory environment had been more hospitable. 

But by the fourth year of the Biden administration, key antitrust regulators at the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission had sent a clear message to the business community: Curb your urge to merge.

"This is a regime that was ideologically motivated to say big business is inherently suspect and that large companies present risks economically, politically and socially," says Mark Whitener, a senior policy fellow at Georgetown University's Center for Business & Public Policy. He previously worked for the FTC under the George H.W. Bush and Clinton administrations.

The DOJ and FTC have taken tough positions that are a departure from decades of past practice for weighing the potential harm to consumers. Their harder stance on antitrust concerns has led regulators to come out swinging against proposed mergers such as JetBlue's move to acquire Spirit Airlines or grocery giant Kroger Co.'s attempted takeover of Albertsons. In 2021, the DOJ fired a warning shot to Hollywood when it blocked Paramount's sale of Simon & Schuster to Penguin Random House. Private equity giant KKR wound up scooping up the storied publisher for $1.6 billion.

As always, the numbers tell the tale. For the first half of 2024, the dollar value of M&A activity across all sectors rose by 5% compared with the first half of 2023, to $1.3 trillion, according to research by PwC. But overall transaction volume fell by 25%, marking the third year of a downtrend.

For Hollywood, the dilemma of the Biden years has been that the hammer on big-dollar dealmaking came down just as the legacy studios really needed a lifeline, putting more pressure on companies that were already struggling in the face of technological disruption, earnings erosion and, in some cases, heavy debt loads. This turmoil has led plenty of industry insiders who identify as liberal Democrats to question the reflexive hostility toward big business (especially Big Media and Big Tech) expressed by far-lefties such as senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

"While they bow down to progressive doctrine, we're drowning," says a senior leader at one of the industry's largest studios. "It's amazing that they can't see the reality."

As Donald Trump prepares for a return to power next month, there is heightened anticipation for signals from his emerging administration about its regulatory philosophy. Traditionally, Republicans have been more amenable to the needs of business, but their behavior is less predictable at a time when populism is winning votes. What's more, the dynamics for Big Media and Big Tech are complicated by the fact that Trump has had a contentious relationship with major players in both sectors. There's no doubt that Trump's fury at CNN contributed to the DOJ's ultimately unsuccessful effort to block the marriage between its parent company Time Warner and AT&T.

On Dec. 10, Trump disclosed his plan to appoint Andrew Ferguson to succeed Lina Khan as chair of the FTC. Ferguson, already a member of the commission, has been critical of Khan for what he describes as waging "a regulatory assault on American business." That suggests that the commission will take a different approach under his leadership. 

As the new year approaches, Hollywood's fortunes are slowly but surely improving. Jon Miller, a veteran investor who is CEO of Integrated Media, says that 2024 was the year that legacy studios such as Disney and Comcast's NBCUniversal took the hard steps to address the declining fortunes of their linear cable channels. At the same time, streaming platforms are starting to eke out real profits. That means conditions are even riper for discussions of intriguing new combinations.

"You have [cable] that has supported the business for 30 years hitting a real inflection point. And you have your growth area hitting a positive inflection point," says Miller. "The table has been set for significant M&A in the next 12 to 24 months — and not just all-out sales but also deals to reconfigure the portfolios and assets of entertainment companies."

Georgetown's Whitener says there is genuine debate in legal and policy circles that regulatory agencies — which are supposed to be removed from hardcore partisanship — are becoming yet another political battleground. Whitener notes that in the past, the FTC and DOJ would suggest remedies or concessions to a transaction that would allow companies to move forward with a merger. But those kinds of compromises have fallen out of favor.

"Antitrust enforcement moved from four decades of consensus and rational thinking that was bipartisan and predictable," Whitener says. "When you move to a more ideological-driven populist approach, then you risk all kinds of unexpected outcomes."

Donald Trump’s Granddaughter Kai Trump Reveals This ‘Outer Banks’ Star Is her Celebrity Crush

President-Elect Donald Trump's granddaughter Kai Trump has revealed she has a crush on an actor from a hit Netflix series. On Dec. 17, Kai posted a Q&A vlog to her YouTube page where she was asked who her celebrity crush is. "Drew Starkey from Outer Banks, I love him," she said. Kai started posting videos on YouTube in October of this year. In the latest vlog, she was also asked a few questions about her grandfather, including who is better at golf and her most embarrassing moment with him. Among the people who sent her messages for the Q&A were her father, Donald Trump Jr. and Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk.

Camilla Luddington, Neil deGrasse Tyson and more to compete on 'Celebrity Jeopardy!' season 3

The game show returns Jan. 8 on ABC.

December 19, 2024, 1:47 PM

We now know the famous contestants who will go head-to-head on "Celebrity Jeopardy!" season 3.

The star-studded group of contestants includes big names like "Superman" actress Rachel Brosnahan, "Family Guy" actor Seth Green, "New Girl" actor Max Greenfield, "Guardians of the Galaxy" actor Sean Gunn, "Grey's Anatomy" actress Camilla Luddington and astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

'Jeopardy!' Bar League to bring iconic quiz show to trivia nights nationwide

Brian Jordan Alvarez, Blake Anderson, W. Kamau Bell, Corbin Bleu, Yvette Nicole Brown, D'Arcy Carden, Margaret Cho, Sherry Cola, Chris Distefano, Omar J. Dorsey, Susie Essman, Fortune Feimster, David Friedberg, Mina Kimes, Natalie Morales, Ana Navarro, Melissa Peterman, Phoebe Robinson, Robin Thede, Jackie Tohn and Roy Wood Jr. are also competing this season.

Neil DeGrasse Tyson, left, and Camilla Luddington.

Getty Images

The celebrities will compete for a chance to win $1 million for the charity of their choice. Previous winners include "Eastbound & Down" actor Ike Barinholtz and "Abbott Elementary" actress Lisa Ann Walter.

Hosted by Ken Jennings, the spinoff of the beloved game show "Jeopardy!" premieres its third season Jan. 8 on ABC.

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Ryan Seacrest talks 'out of body' experience working with Vanna White

Episodes of "Celebrity Jeopardy!" will be available to stream on Hulu the day after they air.

Biggest Controversies of 2024: Here Are the Scandals That Shook the Industry

The year 2024 was not just a time of triumphs and milestones for Hollywood's A-listers; it was also a year marred by controversies that captured headlines and sparked widespread debate. From shocking allegations to missteps in marketing, the entertainment industry saw some of its biggest stars fall from grace. These scandals not only rocked individual careers but also tarnished the glamour of Hollywood itself.

Let's take a look at the most shocking Hollywood controversies of 2024 that left fans and critics alike reeling:

1. The Oscars Snub: Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig

The 2024 Oscars nominations faced intense backlash when Barbie, one of the most celebrated films of 2023, was noticeably absent from major categories. Margot Robbie, who starred in the film, and Greta Gerwig, its director, were both excluded from the Best Actress and Best Director categories, sparking a firestorm of criticism.

The snub raised questions about gender bias and the Academy's evolving criteria. Robbie addressed the controversy, stating, "Our success with Barbie has transcended any award, but this debate shows we still have a long way to go." Fans took to social media to express their outrage, making this one of the year's most-discussed awards season scandals.

2. Sean 'Diddy' Combs: Allegations of Abuse and Trafficking

Sean "Diddy" Combs was at the center of 2024's most disturbing controversy. In September, the music mogul faced multiple allegations of sexual abuse, sex trafficking, and physical violence after a lawsuit was filed in New York. Among the most shocking claims was his alleged coercion of women into attending his infamous "freak off" parties.

Following a raid on his Los Angeles mansion, authorities seized narcotics and other materials tied to the allegations. Diddy, who pleaded not guilty, remains in custody at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. If convicted, he faces life imprisonment. The scandal has sparked broader discussions about accountability in the music industry.

3. Blake Lively's Marketing Misstep: It Ends With Us

Blake Lively's film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's It Ends With Us faced severe criticism for its handling of domestic abuse themes. Critics accused the movie of glamorizing abusive relationships, while Lively's promotional efforts compounded the backlash. During the press tour, she focused on her haircare line and floral-themed outfits, actions many deemed tone-deaf given the film's serious subject matter.

Despite Lively's later attempts to steer the conversation back to the film's message, the damage was done. The controversy turned the movie's marketing campaign into an example of how not to handle sensitive themes.

4. Jennifer Lopez's Bronx Backlash

Jennifer Lopez faced intense criticism following the release of her Amazon Prime documentary, The Greatest Love Story Never Told. In the film, Lopez described her Bronx upbringing in a way that many perceived as performative and disconnected from her current life. A specific clip of Lopez reminiscing about her teenage years went viral on TikTok, where users accused her of misrepresenting her past.

The backlash had tangible consequences. Ticket sales for Lopez's This Is Me… Now tour plummeted, leading to its eventual cancellation. The incident highlighted the risks of over-curating one's narrative in the social media age.

5. Kanye West's Legal Woes

Kanye West, now officially known as Ye, added another scandal to his long list of controversies. In 2024, his former assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, filed an 88-page lawsuit accusing him of sexual harassment and drug abuse. The allegations, which included inappropriate studio sessions co-hosted by Sean "Diddy" Combs, further tarnished West's already controversial public image.

These legal troubles came on the heels of previous scandals, including anti-Semitic remarks and fatphobic comments. As West's career continues to hang in the balance, many wonder if this latest lawsuit will mark the end of his reign in the entertainment industry.

6. Katy Perry's Controversial Comeback

Katy Perry's attempt to reclaim her pop crown backfired spectacularly in 2024. Her song "Woman's World" faced backlash for being produced by Dr. Luke, who was accused of abuse by pop star Kesha in 2014. Critics called Perry's message of female empowerment hypocritical given her decision to work with a controversial figure.

Additionally, Perry sparked outrage when her music video shoot disrupted the ecologically sensitive dunes of the Balearic Islands. Environmental groups criticized her for a lack of mindfulness, and public sentiment against her grew stronger. The controversy marked a significant low point in Perry's career.

7. Ezra Miller's Ongoing Legal Troubles

After a tumultuous 2023, actor Ezra Miller continued to face legal issues in 2024. Allegations of assault and disorderly conduct resurfaced during the year, with new accusations of financial impropriety involving fans. Despite the controversies, Miller managed to avoid significant professional repercussions, with their film projects proceeding as planned.

Critics argued that Hollywood's leniency toward Miller highlighted a double standard in how the industry handles misconduct, further fueling debates about accountability.

From shocking allegations to tone-deaf marketing campaigns, the controversies of 2024 revealed the fragility of celebrity reputations in an era of heightened scrutiny. These scandals not only exposed individual failings but also reflected larger systemic issues within the entertainment industry. As Hollywood grapples with these challenges, one thing remains clear: the spotlight has never been harsher, and the consequences of missteps have never been greater.

ALSO READ: Were Jennifer Lopez And Sean Diddy Combs Ever Together? Inside Their Relationship Amid New Exposé Against Rapper

From Marilyn to Elvis: Windsor author chronicles his father’s star-studded Hollywood legacy

A Windsor author's new book drops names like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis and more.

Dropping famous names is a fixture of show business biographies, and Windsor author Joel Brokaw's book about his father, Hollywood agent Norman Brokaw, is packed with them.

"If you're under 50, the names of celebrities you're going to recognize most are Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley," Brokaw said.

Readers with longer memories will recognize a lot of other names in the book: Natalie Wood, Clint Eastwood, Kim Novak, Donna Summer, Loretta Young, Motown founder Berry Gordy, Bill Cosby and Danny Thomas, among many others.

Before you ask, television journalist and author Tom Brokaw is not one of those names. There's no relation.

"His family background is apparently French Huguenot. Our family name was changed from Abreshkov to Brokaw at Ellis Island," Brokaw said.

The Abreshkovs, renamed Brokaw, immigrated to New York from Ukraine around 1890. Their son Norman was born in New York in 1927. He started work at age 15 at the famed William Morris Agency in the mail room and spent more than 70 years there, ultimately rising to CEO and chairman. He died in 2016 at age 89.

His son's book, "Driving Marilyn: The Life and Times of Legendary Hollywood Agent Norman Brokaw," was published in October.

The book's title is based on one of Norman's early jobs at the agency, which involved him escorting a young and not-yet-famous Marilyn Monroe.

In the early 1950s, Norman took Marilyn to the celebrated Brown Derby restaurant in Hollywood, a block from NBC's television studios, where she had just appeared on a show called "Lights, Camera, Action."

Publicists commonly took their clients to the restaurant, even calling ahead to make sure they'd be paged while they were there, sure to noticed and seen.

Not long after Norman and Marilyn were seated, actor William Frawley -- who played neighbor Fred Mertz on "I Love Lucy" -- walked over. Frawley was at the restaurant with New York Yankees baseball star Joe DiMaggio.

"He would like to meet the young lady," Frawley said. That's how Norman was present at the first meeting of Marilyn and Joltin' Joe, who married a year and a half later.

Later on, Colonel Parker, Elvis Presley's renowned manager, insisted that all matters related to Elvis go through Norman and his then-boss Abe Lastfogel.

One detail from the book focuses on Elvis' desire to play a more serious screen role than he had in his earlier movies. He had the chance to star opposite Barbra Streisand in "A Star Is Born," but the Colonel discouraged it.

The film, ultimately released in 1976, featured Kris Kristofferson co-starring with Streisand.

While celebrities abound in the book, it is not a standard tell-all expose.

"You can have a good intimate history without dirt," Joel Brokaw said. "I don't (think) I would've done that kind of book. I wanted to tell the story without scandal."

Part of that comes from Norman Brokaw's personal ethics.

"He was so emphatic about not embarrassing his clients," Joel said. "A lot of these people needed somebody who was on their side. He believed in relationships. He had a spirit about him of selflessness."

Norman was discreet above all.

"I feel like to get any stories out my father, you would've had to use power tools," Joel said.

However, the book includes Joel's own memories and impressions as a young boy in the background, as well as research from interviews with his father's surviving colleagues.

"I was in a race against time," Joel said. "Two of these people died while I was working on the book."

What raises Norman Brokaw's story above the average tale of a Hollywood agent is not just his client list but the fact that he was a leader and innovator in his field.

In the early days of television in the '50s, much of the programming was still filled with live variety shows. Norman saw that this new medium was an opportunity for established film stars to increase their fan bases while also solidifying their images and furthering their acting options.

Many of the A-list women actors of that era chose Norman to represent them, including Marilyn, Kim Novak, Natalie Wood, Loretta Young, Barbara Stanwyck and Susan Hayward.

Loretta Young was one of Hollywood's top leading ladies from the 1940s. Norman told her that if she moved to television, she could start her own production company and get top money.

"I'm staying with Morris Agency on one condition," Young told the firm's leadership at the time. "Norman is young enough to be my son, but I like the way he does business."

"The Loretta Young Show," a weekly drama anthology, was a success, running from 1953 to 1961.

During his long career, Norman never stopped innovating.

In the '70s, he was the first to expand the agency's client list beyond professional entertainers. He began representing politicians and sports heroes and signed President Gerald Ford and Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz.

Joel Brokaw is no stranger to show business or writing books. He has worked with his older brothers David and Sandy, who are twins, at their own advertising and promotion agency, The Brokaw Company.

"Driving Marilyn" is his ninth book. Two of his previous books made the New York Times bestseller list -- "Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life" with Tyler Perry, and "Life Is Not a Stage: From Broadway Baby to a Lovely Lady and Beyond" with actress Florence Henderson.

With the biography of his father, Joel has written the book that his father never would have — even though he had more than half a dozen offers for his memoir.

"He felt like he would've been betraying his clients," Joel said.

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com or 707-521-5243. On X @danarts.