Kelly on survivor

Getty R. Kelly was once prosecuted for allegedly abusing a minor -- an infamous case from 2008 in which she never testified ... but that's all about to change now as he heads to trial anew. The disgraced singer, who's already been convicted of sex crimes in New York and faces 30 years behind bars, has another day in court ahead of him. Come Monday, his federal trial in Chicago -- for which he's facing similar charges and sentencing -- is going to begin. Getty On top of the 4 accusers in this Chicago case -- all of whom will testify -- the woman who Kelly was accused of urinating on on tape at just age 14, among other heinous crimes, is set to take the stand as well ... to speak on the '08 case and her experience with him in general. Per new court filings, cited by AP , prosecutors say the unidentified alleged victim from back then -- now in her 30s -- will address claims that R. Kelly rigged the 2008 case in an attempt to obstruct … [Read more...] about R. Kelly’s Alleged Victim from 2008 Set to Testify in New Trial

On Sept. 25, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures held its opening gala with a starry guest list that included Lady Gaga, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman, Queen Latifah, Patty Jenkins, Tiffany Haddish, Kristen Stewart, and Jurnee Smollet. It was a moment long in the making, given that planning of the Renzo Piano-designed mecca celebrating the history of film first began back in 2005 and was delayed by the rise of the Covid pandemic. Though eyebrows were raised by the fact that the A-list revelers mingled maskless inside the 33,000-square-foot space on Wilshire Boulevard at a time when celebrities were publicly chastising those who ignored Covid precautions, a much bigger controversy was brewing. Donors and influential Academy members, many of whom already had received private tours, were outraged that Hollywood ’s origin story — wherein a group of mostly Jewish émigrés fled persecution in their home countries to create what would become a multibillion-dollar, American-led industry — … [Read more...] about ‘Where Are the Jews?’: Scandal Erupts at the Academy Museum

It would be impossible to list the Oscar-worthy performances of 2010 without highlighting Javier Bardem in Biutiful . Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu ( Babel , 21 Grams , Amores Perros ) describes Uxbal, the character Bardem embodies in flesh and spirit, as “devoted father, tormented lover, mystified son, underground businessman, ghost seeker, spiritual sensitive, consumer-goods pirate, guilty conscience and urban survivor.” All of this and more can be seen on Bardem’s indelibly expressive face. Uxbal wanders the mean streets of Barcelona trying to put his life in order, evading the law while caring for his two kids, Ana (Hanaa Bouchaib) and Mateo (Guillermo Estrella), since their bipolar mother (an amazing job from Maricel Álvarez) is incapable. Biutiful (the title is derived from Ana’s misspelling) digs out beauty in the rubble. Shot hand-held with a poet’s eye by Rodrigo Prieto, the film is relentless but as riveting as the world a remarkable actor lets … [Read more...] about Biutiful

Teddy Ray , whose viral social media presence marked him as a comedy star to watch, died Friday at age 32. Details on the cause and location have not yet surfaced. Ray’s death was confirmed by Comedy Central, who shared the caption, “Teddy Ray was a hilarious and beloved performer. He’ll be deeply missed by the entire comedy community.” A regular at comedy clubs across the country, he was a social media star on YouTube and other outlets. He had a following of nearly 200,000 across various platforms. He performed at HaHa Comedy Club in Los Angeles on June 23 at “The Young OGs Comedy Show.” In addition to standup, Ray was a writer and actor on the comedy series How to Be Broke, appearing in six episodes in 2017-2918. He also appeared in a 2021 episode of the improv comedy courtroom show Cancel Court, and the HBO Max series Pause with Sam Jay. Fans poured out tributes to Ray on social media, led by Abbott Elementary creator Quinta Brunson, who left a message … [Read more...] about Teddy Ray Dies: Rising Comic On HBO Max’s ‘Pause With Sam Jay’ Was 32