UPDATED : A Westwood man was sentenced today to more than 17 years behind bars for his role in supplying the fentanyl-laced pills that led to rapper Mac Miller ’s fatal overdose four years ago. Stephen Walter was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Walter, 49, pleaded guilty last year to a federal count of distribution of fentanyl. In September 2018, Miller died of a drug overdose — namely, a fatal mixture of fentanyl, cocaine and alcohol. Just a few days before the 26-year-old rapper’s death, Walter supplied the fentanyl that ultimately killed him. Two others were also charged. Ryan Reavis, 39, pleaded guilty to the distribution charge and was sentenced in April to almost 11 years behind bars. The case against Cameron Pettit, 30, of West Hollywood, is pending. The pills traveled from Walter to Reavis, who supplied the counterfeit oxycodone pills to the third defendant, according to papers filed in Los Angeles … [Read more...] about Mac Miller Death: Second Man Who Provided Fentanyl-Laced Pills Sentenced To 17 Years Behind Bars
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Why Deadline Can’t Publish Our Magazine Interview With Cannes Film Festival Head Thierry Frémaux
Long a bastion of artistic freedom, the Cannes Film Festival has a secret: it censors interviews with festival head Thierry Frémaux. The festival has not only been demanding copy approval as a condition for interviews with Frémaux (something no other festival or organization has asked of us), but after pledging not to make any changes to copy, it has been removing content including potentially uncomfortable answers from Frémaux relating to diversity and controversial filmmakers. Last month we were in Paris following the lineup announcement to interview Frémaux about the selection and the festival more generally for our Cannes Disruptors magazine. Following an entirely amicable and interesting on-record interview, I was belatedly told by the press team about the copy approval requirement. I was told that these conditions were adhered to by trade and French press, including Deadline in the past. I contested the practice as unethical but was told this was done primarily as a … [Read more...] about Why Deadline Can’t Publish Our Magazine Interview With Cannes Film Festival Head Thierry Frémaux
YouTube Kicks Off Upfront Week With Research Asserting Its Bond With Viewers Is Tighter Than TV, Streaming Or Social Media
As YouTube took its first step onto turf long controlled by television — upfronts week in New York — the Google-owned video operation released new research affirming its connection with viewers. The new study conducted with the firm Talk Shoppe was summed up with the acronym RISE, short for relevance, intellectual, sensorial and emotional. It found that 86% of survey respondents said YouTube delivered relevant and intellectual programming, compared with results in the 73% to 79% range for other platforms. In terms of emotion, the number was 84%, edging social media at 80%. The lone category where YouTube did not come out No. 1 was in sensorial — aka the way programming looks and sounds — where it rated 72% and trailed streaming’s 76%. The stats were delivered as part of a breakfast hosted at the St. Regis Hotel. Tara Wolpert-Levy, VP of the Americas for YouTube, delivered remarks along with Andrew Robertson, CEO of ad agency BBDO, and prominent creator Mark Rober. … [Read more...] about YouTube Kicks Off Upfront Week With Research Asserting Its Bond With Viewers Is Tighter Than TV, Streaming Or Social Media
Pixar Unveils Concept Art & Dates 27th Film ‘Elemental’ For Summer 2023
Pixar has dropped the concept art for its next feature, Elemental , which will hit theaters on June 16 (see it below). Disney already had the Father’s Day weekend date reserved for an untitled Pixar film. Directed by Peter Sohn ( The Good Dinosaur , Partly Cloudy short) and produced by Denise Ream ( The Good Dinosaur , Cars 2 ), Elemental journeys alongside an unlikely pair, Ember and Wade, in a city where fire, water, land and air-residents live together. The fiery young woman and the go-with-the-flow guy are about to discover something elemental: how much they actually have in common. The movie was inspired by Sohn’s childhood in New York. “My parents emigrated from Korea in the early 1970s and built a bustling grocery store in the Bronx,” said the director. “We were among many families who ventured to a new land with hopes and dreams—all of us mixing into one big salad bowl of cultures, languages and beautiful little neighborhoods. That’s what led me … [Read more...] about Pixar Unveils Concept Art & Dates 27th Film ‘Elemental’ For Summer 2023
Diddy and Celeb Friends Party Early Into the Morning After Billboard Awards
TMZ.com The party didn't stop at The Billboard Awards when the cameras turned off ... in fact, things got even crazier at the after-party with some of the night's biggest stars. Diddy and company headed to Tao in Vegas following the show ... letting loose with MGK , Megan Fox , Nelly , French Montana , Usher , Teyana Taylor , Mary J. Blige , Cara Delevingne and more. TMZ.com We got video from inside the bash, which also served as a bday party for Megan Fox -- complete with a cake and song to celebrate the occasion. At one point, Diddy also got behind the DJ booth to get the crowd going, having changed out of his award show garb, and wearing a Michael Jordan Bulls jersey with a red hat. Gallery Launch Gallery Getty As for the show itself, it seemingly went on without issue. Diddy, of course, hosted and the night was complete with performances from Travis Scott , Morgan Walle n, Dan + Shay , Maxwell , Ed … [Read more...] about Diddy and Celeb Friends Party Early Into the Morning After Billboard Awards
Mike O’Malley Multi-Cam Comedy Nears NBC Pilot Order
NBC is finalizing deals for a pilot order to an untitled multi-camera comedy (fka We Thought We Were Done ), from creator Mike O’Malley and Lionsgate Television, for which Jon Cryer is in talks to star. Written by Survivor’s Remorse creator O’Malley, the comedy centers on Jim and Julia who, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets hilariously more complicated for Jim when the owner of his favorite sports team enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart. O’Malley executive produces with The Conners EP Tom Werner, who also owns the Boston Red Sox, as well as Boston Celtics majority owner Wyc Grousbeck, his wife, Emilia Fazzalari, and George Geyer. The off-cycle pilot pickup comes on the heels of NBC making decisions on its two existing comedy pilots, Lopez vs. Lopez , which went to series, and the off-cycle Hungry , … [Read more...] about Mike O’Malley Multi-Cam Comedy Nears NBC Pilot Order
Anu Bhatia Joins WME As Head Of Film Client Marketing
EXCLUSIVE: Deadline has learned that Anu Bhatia has been hired by WME as their Head of Film Client Marketing. In his role, Bhatia will work with WME’s agents and filmmaker and talent clients on their marketing and distribution strategies for features. Bhatia joins WME from Netflix , where he played an integral role in growing the streamer’s film marketing initiative. During his nearly four years at Netflix, he worked on a diverse set of titles, leading the strategic, creative and digital efforts for each campaign. Those campaigns Bhatia oversaw include the OTT service’s top ten all-time films, i.e. Red Notice, The Adam Project and 6 Underground . He also ushered the campaigns for projects including The Trial of the Chicago 7, Mank and Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga . In addition, Bhatia helped launch Netflix’s animated feature efforts, overseeing the marketing campaigns for the Oscar-nominated projects Klaus and Over the Moon . … [Read more...] about Anu Bhatia Joins WME As Head Of Film Client Marketing
New York City Issues Alert Advising Masks Be Worn Indoors As City Teeters On Edge Of “High” Transmission, Per CDC
On Monday, New York City ’s Commissioner of Health and Human Hygiene, Ashwin Vasan, issued an advisory to residents that “All individuals, regardless of vaccination status or past Covid -19 infection, should wear a mask at all times when indoors and in a public setting.” The announcement notes that “New York City is approaching ‘high’ level of Covid-19 alert which represents high community spread,” according to the CDC . Today @NYCHealthCommr issued an advisory as the City approaches the high #COVID19 Alert Level. All New Yorkers should wear masks in all indoor public settings. Those at high risk of severe illness should avoid crowded settings and limit get-togethers: https://t.co/vgcrvAAAG4 pic.twitter.com/nZPEbbSMfX — nychealthy (@nycHealthy) May 16, 2022 The advisory is simply that: advice. But should the region tip into the high level of community spread, the CDC recommends that all residents “wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless … [Read more...] about New York City Issues Alert Advising Masks Be Worn Indoors As City Teeters On Edge Of “High” Transmission, Per CDC
Kehlani Schedules Extensive North American Tour Supporting ‘Blue Water Road’
Kehlani is hitting the road for an extensive, 28-city tour for the singer’s recently released third studio album, Blue Water Road. Kehlani will perform the tour’s opening show on July 30 at Raleigh, North Carolina’s Red Hat Amphitheater before wrapping in the fall with a final show at Honolulu, Hawaii’s Waikiki Shell on October 21. The stops in between include shows in Atlanta, New York, Cincinnati, Detroit, Toronto, Dallas, San Diego, Portland, Oakland, and more. Rico Nasty will join as opener for the North American leg with Destin Conrad, who will support for the entirety of the tour, including European dates. General sale for the Blue Water Road tour will begin on Friday, May 20 at 10 a.m. local time via the official Kehlani website. The 28-stop tour is set to be a translation of the multi-dimensional journey Kehlani explores on the record itself. In a statement about the album, they said: “Blue Water Road is a destination in my mind. I’m giving everyone access. It’s an … [Read more...] about Kehlani Schedules Extensive North American Tour Supporting ‘Blue Water Road’
Mac Miller Drug Dealer Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Lethal Fentanyl Sale
The top drug dealer convicted in the fatal fentanyl overdose of rapper Mac Miller was sentenced to 17 and a half years in federal prison Monday. The judge rejected his plea deal as too lenient after he continued to sell counterfeit oxycodone pills even after the rapper’s untimely demise in September 2018. Stephen Walter, 49, had agreed to a flat 17-year sentence under a deal with federal prosecutors struck last October, but considering the bargain was below federal guidelines, and because prosecutors previously claimed Walter continued to sell cocaine and the dangerous pills known as “blues” leading up to his 2019 arrest, U.S. District Judge Otis D. Wright, II, said he couldn’t accept it. “The court has elected not to accept that plea agreement. So, sir, if you want, at this point, you can withdraw your guilty plea and go to trial,” Judge Wright said. “I may as well lay it out, okay. When you continue to engage in this activity even after your activities killed someone, … [Read more...] about Mac Miller Drug Dealer Sentenced to 17.5 Years for Lethal Fentanyl Sale