LOS ANGELES — The fast-moving “Woolsey Fire” ravaging Southern California has scorched the homes of some celebrities and a historic movie site recently used by the HBO series “Westworld.” The wildfire forced celebrities to join thousands of others who have fled flames that have claimed homes and forced an evacuation of …
Read More »Sinead O’Connor announces conversion to Islam, says new Muslim name is Shuhada’ Davitt
LONDON — Irish singer Sinead O’Connor has announced she has converted to Islam and said she has changed her name to Shuhada’ Davitt. The 51-year-old has been posting selfies of herself wearing hijabs on Twitter in recent days, as well as a video in which she sang the Azan, or …
Read More »“The Hate U Give” screenwriter dies day before film is released
LOS ANGELES — Audrey Wells, who wrote the screenplay for the brand new feature film “The Hate U Give,” died the day before the film was released after a five-year battle with cancer. She was 58. A representative from United Talent Agency said Wells died Thursday. Wells also wrote and …
Read More »Ariana Grande dropped out of “SNL” appearance for “emotional reasons”
Ariana Grande dropped out of a scheduled appearance on “Saturday Night Live.” Executive producer Lorne Michaels said it was because of “emotional reasons.” During an interview that aired Thursday on podcast “Origins,” Michaels revealed that she dropped out last minute. Grande was set to perform during the premiere of Season …
Read More »Alejandro Escovedo on what brought him back from the “depths of darkness”
Alejandro Escovedo’s career defies easy definition. He was the leader of a punk band that opened for the Sex Pistols, but his latest album, “The Crossing,” was recorded with an Italian band in Rome. It’s an apt title for a man whose life has had many crossings of its own. …
Read More »Kim Kardashian West attends White House meeting on prison reform
Reality TV personality Kim Kardashian West is at the White House for a listening session on prison reform, in particular, about the clemency process, the White House confirmed Thursday. “The discussion is mainly focused on ways to improve that process to ensure deserving cases receive a fair review,” Hogan Gidley, the White …
Read More »Jon Batiste on Aretha Franklin: “There’s a master class in every song that she’s recorded”
Tributes are pouring in from around the world to music legend Aretha Franklin, who died Thursday at the age of 76. Jon Batiste, bandleader for “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” dedicated Thursday night’s “Late Show” playlist to the “Queen of Soul.” “Oh, my goodness. The soul quotient of the …
Read More »Photographer says Bill Murray assaulted him at Martha’s Vineyard bar
Alan Dershowitz is not the only person allegedly stirring up trouble in Martha’s Vineyard this summer. A newspaper photographer, who happens to be singer Carly Simon’s brother, claims that he was assaulted by Bill Murray at a restaurant on the island. Photographer Peter Simon says the “Saturday Night Live” legend slammed …
Read More »Street artist Banksy paints Paris with murals of migrants
Anonymous and provocative street artist Banksy appears to have left his mark on Paris, painting several new works that many art experts say are a reference to the refugee crisis, The Associated Press reports. At least seven new murals have been found over the past week, including one near a …
Read More »Elin Hilderbrand writes her first murder mystery, “The Perfect Couple”
Elin Hilderbrand’s fans can expect a twist on the beach this summer with her new book, “The Perfect Couple.” The New York Times best-selling author who is known for her Nantucket-based novels is diving into a new genre: murder mystery. “It is my 21st book and I was looking for …
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