Benifer 2.0 makes it Instagram official, thanks to Leah Remini

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

While the pair have been spotted together many times since reportedly rekindling their 2000s-era romance in April, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have kept their coupling off Instagram — until now.

Thanks to a snap from a slideshow on J. Lo’s bestie Leah Remini‘s Instagram page, the old-new couple have been captured together on the social media platform for the first time.

Remini shared a series of black and white pictures from a photo booth that had been set up for her 51st birthday party on Thursday. Among them is a snap of the buzzed-about couple. Luckily, fans can pause the slideshow to get a good look.

It shows Lopez striking a pose under the crook of a smiling Ben’s right arm, her hand on his chest. For good measure, Remini’s under Ben’s left arm, with her hand on his chest as well.

Remini commented to her 2.9 million followers, “Wanted to share a little video from my birthday with you all because I got so much love from you on my birthday but also everyday [sic]. I consider myself to have the best support system here on social media.”

She added, “Also, I can’t thank my family & friends enough for coming, for celebrating with me in a way that was very special to me. It’s been an interesting year, so this birthday meant a lot for many reasons.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Leah Remini (@leahremini)

Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich settle in NY over sexual harassment, discrimination

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Chef Mario Batali and his former partner Joe Bastianich violated state and city human rights laws with a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination at restaurants they owned, the New York attorney general said Friday announcing a settlement.

The company, formerly known as the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, agreed to pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees who were sexually harassed while they worked at the famed restaurants Babbo, Lupa or Del Posto.

“Celebrity and fame does not absolve someone from following the law. Sexual harassment is unacceptable for anyone, anywhere — no matter how powerful the perpetrator,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. “Batali and Bastianich permitted an intolerable work environment and allowed shameful behavior that is inappropriate in any setting.”

This agreement comes after a four-year investigation, the attorney general’s office said, looking at allegations between 2016 and 2019 that included unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate touching and sexually explicit comments from managers and coworkers, in addition to forcible groping, hugging and kissing by male colleagues.

The investigation also included accusations of sexual harassment by Batali of servers.

The investigation also looked into instances of discrimination, as female employees said chefs and managers supported male employees and made misogynistic comments, including commenting on women employees’ appearances.

The agreement includes $600,000 going to at least 20 former employees. It also includes revising training at B&B restaurants to be more comprehensive and encourage “a safe, healthy work environment,” the attorney general’s office said.

Batali has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. In 2019, he “fully divested” from the restaurants that made him famous. Before that, he had apologized and stepped away from day-to-day business responsibilities.

In 2019, he pleaded not guilty to an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged 2017 incident with a woman in a Boston restaurant.

Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich settle in NY over sexual harassment, discriminatio

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The investigation also included accusations of sexual harassment by Batali of servers.

In 2019, he pleaded not guilty to an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged 2017 incident with a woman in a Boston restaurant.

Whitney Houston hologram confirmed for Las Vegas residency

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Whitney Houston is heading to Las Vegas! Well, her hologram is.

The music icon, who died in 2012, will be brought back to life for a residency titled An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert, Rolling Stone reports. The show kicks off at Harrah’s Las Vegas on October 26 and currently has dates scheduled through April 2022.

As with other “virtual” concerts of its kind, the residency will use technology to produce a lifelike virtual image and vocals of the “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” singer as she serenades the crowd with a medley of her hits, accompanied by a live band, background singers and dancers.

Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.com.

Selena Gomez calls on Facebook to curb the spread of vaccine misinformation

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE

Selena Gomez is confronting Facebook again about not curbing COVID-19 misinformation. The “Lose You To Love Me” singer previously put the social media site on blast in December for not doing enough, saying its inaction would result in “thousands of deaths.”

Taking to Twitter, Selena called out the social media giant by retweeting her warning from last year, which said, in part, “Scientific disinformation has and will cost lives…Facebook is going to be responsible for thousands of deaths if they don’t take action now!”

“In December I asked @Facebook and @Instagram to take action on lies about COVID and vaccines,” she penned in a new thread, citing recent data that claims only a handful of users are behind the vaccine misinformation.

“@CCDHate found that 12 people are behind 2 in 3 of all misinformation,” said Selena, linking to the study for her nearly 65 million followers to read. It claims that the 12 bad agents produce 60 percent of the lies spreading across the service.

“So why do they still refuse to act?,” she concluded in a final tweet.

Selena also commended President Joe Biden and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for putting pressure on Facebook to remedy the matter, while rebuking it for its alleged inaction.

While the president previously stated Facebook is “killing people” for allowing the spread of false information — sparking the media giant’s ire — Biden has since walked back his comments.

“My hope is that Facebook, instead of taking it personally… would do something about the misinformation, the outrageous misinformation about the vaccine,” Biden said last week.

As of Thursday, 610,264 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Coldplay releases “Coloratura,” a 10-minute “exhilarating, space-bound epic”

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Coldplay is back with their second offering from their upcoming ninth studio album Music of the Spheres.

On Thursday night, the British rock band dropped the 10-minute experimental track “Coloratura,” which serves as their new album’s closing piece. In addition to the track, the band also released its accompanying kaleidoscopic lyric video.

According to a press release, Coldplay views their latest song “as an album track rather than a single.” In addition, they described “Coloratura” as “an exhilarating, space-bound epic that includes namechecks for Galileo, Oumuamua and Betelgeuse.”

If you’re not up on your astronomy, “Oumuamua” is the first known interstellar object to be detected passing through the Solar System. “Betelgeuse” — pronounced “Beetlejuice” — is a star in the constellation of Orion. Galileo, a scientist who died in 1642, is considered to be the father of modern astronomy.

The gentle, dream-like piece is rife with piano riffs and guitar solos that are reminiscent of Pink Floyd‘s The Wall era — especially when Chris Martin‘s tranquil vocals are accentuated by a bevy of hazy strings.

As previously reported, Coldplay’s upcoming ninth studio album, Music of the Spheres, is set to be released on October 15. The album is produced by Max Martin.

There are 12 tracks on the upcoming studio effort, with five of the titles represented by emojis instead of names. Those tracks are described as the planet emoji, sparkle emoji, heart emoji, the Earth emoji and infinity symbol emoji.

You can pre-order Music of the Spheres at store.coldplay.com.

Music of the Spheres is the followup to 2019’s Everyday Life.

Britney Spears shouts out Cher and Jennifer Lopez while talking about her future dreams

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears shouted out Cher and Jennifer Lopez while discussing her dreams for the future in an Instagram post.

Without directly mentioning her ongoing conservatorship drama, the 39-year-old pop star shared a video on Thursday of herself smiling and dancing to Foster The People‘s “Pumped Up Kicks.”

However, Britney’s caption was much more serious: It began with the question, “So what do you guys do to keep your dreams alive ???? Just curious cause at this point I’m not sure it’s a good idea to listen to advice from some people.”

The “Toxic” singer continued, “Yesterday I realized all my tennis shoes were gone … I like them because I dance three hours most days.” She then explained that she went on a shopping spree to replace them.

Comparing herself to Carrie Bradshaw, the character Sarah Jessica Parker played on Sex and the City, Britney added, “My assistant’s HUMBLING APPROACH — why don’t you just see what you can find in your closet — DID NOT WORK ANYMORE.”

The singer then told her 32 million followers, “I’m not gonna settle and considering the other day I said I feel like I’m just getting here…THAT’S AN UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!”

“It’s been a while since I drove alone and well let’s just say it’s a DIFFERENT BALLGAME cause I’m not sure this stadium is gonna be anywhere near America,” she cryptically continued.

She then answered her own question about how she keeps her dream alive: “Thinking about visiting St. Tropez with @cher and eating ice cream…She was one of my favorite singers as a kid and I loved to dress up as her. ” Britney also dreams of “having a six pack like @jlo,” adding of Jennifer, “Lord she’s so inspiring in her new video !!!!”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Britney Spears (@britneyspears)

Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow break out of jail with new single “Industry Baby”

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Lil Nas X and Jack Harlow shut down the haters and bust out of jail with their new single, “Industry Baby.” The duo dropped the visuals and vocals for their collaboration on Friday.

From the jump, Lil Nas hits back at naysayers who thought he wouldn’t make it in the industry by rattling off some of his accomplishments, which include a “couple Grammys” and a “couple plaques.”

He then continues his taunts in the pre-chorus, singing, “And this one is for the champions / I ain’t lost since I’ve began, yeah / Funny how you said it was the end, yeah / Then I went, did it again, yeah.”

Meanwhile, the music video picks up right where Lil Nas’ teaser left off — with him being sentenced to jail. After a naked shower dance scene, a workout, and time spent in his cell, Harlow hands Nas a pickaxe to help him finish digging his escape route.

A few more shenanigans ensure, including Harlow being electrocuted and Nas knocking out a guard, played by Arrow alum Colton Haynes, before Harlow speeds out of the facility in a bus, with Nas riding on top and a group of other inmates following closely behind.

“Industry Baby” is more just a song and video, though. Nas also used the song’s release as a fundraiser and to raise awareness for cash bail in America, asking fans to donate to Lil Nas X’s Bail X Fund with the The Bail Project. Over $7,500 was been raised less than an hour after the song dropped.

“Industry Baby,” which is produced by Kanye West, follows “Montero (Call Me by Your Name)” and “Sun Goes Down.” Nas has yet to announce a release date for his upcoming album, Montero.

Sean Penn won’t return to ‘Gaslit’ set without stricter COVID-19 vaccination guidelines

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Li Yang/China News Service via Getty Images

Amid growing concerns over the highly contagious Delta variant spreading across the U.S., Sean Penn challenged Hollywood leadership to impose stricter COVID-19 vaccination guidelines on TV and film sets, according to Deadline.

The 60-year-old actor vowed not to return to work on Gaslit — his Starz series co-starring Julia Roberts — until everyone on the production has been vaccinated for the virus.

Penn is insisting that vaccinating everyone on the set against COVID-19 must be mandatory and is offering to facilitate the vaccination effort, free of charge, through his organization, CORE.

Earlier this week, NBCUniversal, the studio behind Gaslit, mandated vaccinations in “Zone A,” which constitutes the cast and those who come in close proximity to the cast. Production members must show proof of vaccination when they show up for their next shift.

Penn insists that unvaccinated individuals still put everyone else around them at risk on set, because crew that isn’t in “Zone A” still can come close enough to others to potentially spread a variant — for example, simply by being in the trailer of a cast member, for instance.

This is one of the first examples of a filmmaker or star directly challenging Hollywood leaders to go further than an agreement and impose strong rules on a production by requiring everyone to be vaccinated. If Penn follows through with his threat to stay out, it will delay the production.

Gaslit is a modern take on the Watergate scandal, which focuses on untold stories and forgotten characters of the time. Penn will play former Attorney General John Mitchell.

Chrissy Teigen thanks fans for sending the “most amazing” condolences after loss of baby Jack

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Chrissy Teigen is feeling thankful for her fans.

In videos shared to Instagram Stories on Wednesday, the 35-year-old Cravings author showed off the tons of mail she and husband John Legend received after she suffered a pregnancy loss last September.

“This is just piles of letters that we just got because the place we usually get mail from, where you guys send mail, has been shut down and it opened back up. And now we got everything,” Teigen said between sniffles as she sorted through the items. “You guys sent the most amazing condolence letters and cards and books and I just want you to know that we got all of them. All of them. I’m gonna read them all, OK? I love you guys.”

Two months after announcing her pregnancy in August 2020, Chrissy shared the heartbreaking news that she suffered a miscarriage of a son, whom they planned to name Jack.

“We are shocked and in the kind of deep pain you only hear about, the kind of pain we’ve never felt before,” she shared at the time.

Chrissy and John are also parents to Luna, 5, and Miles, 3.

+ More