Entertainment

Angelina Jolie has joined Instagram, and while most celebrities do so to sell products or post selfies taken in picturesque locations, the Oscar winner is using her new platform to speak for the voiceless in Afghanistan.

“I’ve come on Instagram to share their stories,” the actress and United Nations Humanitarian Special Envoy for Refugees said. 

Jolie posted a letter from a young girl living in the country, now overrun by the Taliban amid the ongoing U.S. pull-out. “We all had rights, we [were] able to defend our rights freely, but when they came, we are all afraid of them, and we think all our dreams are gone,” the hand-written note from an Afghani girl declares. 

While the Biden Administration is communicating with the Taliban and the group is taking a moderate tone on social media, the girl is skeptical of their behavior. “Some people say the Taliban’s changed, but I do not think so because they have a very bad past,” she writes in the letter Jolie posted.

“We all had rights, we [were] able to defend our rights freely, but when they came, we are all afraid of them, and we think all our dreams are gone,” she continued.

For her part, Jolie added, “I was on the border of Afghanistan two weeks before 9/11, where I met Afghan refugees who had fled the Taliban. This was twenty years ago.”

She continued, “It is sickening to watch Afghans being displaced yet again…” adding, “To spend so much time and money, to have blood shed and lives lost only to come to this, is a failure almost impossible to understand.”

Jolie concluded, “I will not turn away. I will continue to look for ways to help. And I hope you’ll join me.”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Angelina Jolie (@angelinajolie)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In Free Guy, Ryan Reynolds plays Guy, and Lil Rel Howery plays his best buddy, named, well, Buddy — two plain monikers that hint at their seemingly meaningless lives: they’re actually just background characters in a video game. 

However, that revelation only comes to Guy when he dons a pair of glasses that lets him see that he and Buddy’s everyday lives — as, respectively, a bank teller and a security guard — are just cannon fodder for gamers in the real world.

That world-changing revelation doesn’t change their friendship, however, which is cemented in a moving speech Buddy gives at the movie’s climax.

“…[I]t’s always weird when you do speeches like that, you’re kind of like emotionally tied to it,” Howery said with a laugh at a recent press event. “I remember shooting it with [director] Shawn [Levy] and them…and I had to take a walk. I wasn’t like gonna tear up in front of y’all, but I was like, ‘Wow, that’s what that was.'”

He adds, “Buddy has a couple of those moments and which is what I loved about the character, is that, you know, his innocence came with how comfortable he was with his friendship…and that’s what I loved about that.”

Reynolds adds, “Rel and, I just immediately, from the moment we met, kind of clicked. I was a huge fan of his,” Ryan says before adding self-deprecatingly, “and I think we can all say he was a huge fan of [co-star] Taika [Waititi].” 

He continues, “So it was great to get out there and mess around and play and sort of form that bond and put it up on the big screen.”

Free Guy is now in theaters from 20th Century Studios, which is owned by ABC News’ parent company, Disney.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Selena Gomez took it upon herself to school her Only Murders in the Building co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short on pop culture, especially on Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion‘s smash hit single, “WAP.”

Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the conversation came about when Short, 71, was raving about his “fabulous” young co-star.

“She was in the makeup chair…and right away I could tell within five minutes she was fabulous, funny, loose, and wanted the set to be the way we all ideally wanted,” he began. “And I think every time the three of us went back to our little holding area, and read the news from each other’s phones and laughed, and, you know, she tells Steve lyrics to ‘W.A.P.'”

His story was cut short by Gomez, 29, who chimed in with, “Why did you say W.A.P? It’s WAP.”

“Why can’t you say W.A.P?” Short asked his co-star, to which Martin, 76, replied, “Cause that’s not what they say.”

“That’s not what the kids say,” corrected Gomez.

To back up his younger co-star, Martin jokingly quipped, “That’s like calling the U.S.A., USA” — sounding out the letters like a word instead of saying each one individually.

The trio also confirmed that Gomez “certainly did” explain the meaning behind the summer smash — with Short quickly declaring that he had “known it for years.”

The interview proved just how much chemistry the three have, with the “Lose You to Love Me” singer laughing about the comedy legends, “As you can tell, I can barely keep a straight face.”

Only Murders in the Building premieres August 31 on Hulu.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Hugh Jackman may not have had Wolverine’s signature adamantium claws in Lisa Joy‘s directorial debut, Reminiscence, but the actor admits that he did have to tap into something “broken” and primal when he took on the lead role of Nick Bannister, a private investigator of the mind, in the sci-fi thriller.

“I love the world of the film,” Jacks tells ABC Audio. “When Lisa told me about it, this idea that we’re in the near future, that feels very believable, where Miami is pretty much submerged, where it’s so hot that you have to live at night — not in the day. And playing a character like Nick that has literally been through the wars, probably suffering PTSD, like, at a high level, I found it challenging to play someone who on the surface is so closed off, but broken on the inside.”

Jackman then pauses for a moment to contemplate his character.

“Well, it sounds a bit like Wolverine in a way,” he laughs. “But it’s very different to who I am as a person, so I really enjoyed that journey.”

That journey, which Jackman also takes with co-stars Rebecca Ferguson and Thandiwe Newton, can be described as a “wild ride” into the days of future past — a theme his X-Men character could surely relate to, if not offer his insight about. Jackman says it’s that familiar theme that makes the film worth watching.

“And then, for [Nick] to have these walls stripped away, to fall in love so deeply, so quickly, then to be taken on this wild ride where he’s wondering if any of it was real… When I read it — and I hope for audiences, and for me playing it — there was never a comfortable moment,” he notes.

Reminiscence is now available in theaters and on HBO Max.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Just over a week after being announced as the new host of the syndicated version of Jeopardy!, Mike Richards is stepping down “effective immediately” amid resurfaced controversial remarks.

He announced his decision Friday in an internal note sent to Jeopardy! staff and obtained by ABC News.

“It pains me that these past incidents and comments have cast such a shadow on Jeopardy! as we look to start a new chapter,” Richards began.

“As I mentioned last week, I was deeply honored to be asked to host the syndicated show and was thrilled by the opportunity to expand my role,” he continued. “However, over the last several days it has become clear that moving forward as host would be too much of a distraction for our fans and not the right move for the show. As such, I will be stepping down as host effective immediately.”

Richards said Sony Pictures Entertainment, which produces the quiz show, “will now resume the search for a permanent syndicated host.”

He said guest hosts will be brought back in the meantime so production on the new season can continue, and that further details will be announced next week.

“I want to apologize to each of you for the unwanted attention that has come to Jeopardy! over the last few weeks and for the confusion and delays this is now causing,” Richards concluded the memo. “I know I have a lot of work to do to regain your trust and confidence.”

A spokesperson for Sony Pictures Television said the company supports Richards’ decision and was “surprised this week to learn of … the offensive language he used in the past” on a podcast he hosted from 2013 and 2014.

“We have spoken with him about our concerns and our expectations going forward,” the spokesperson added. “Mike has been with us for the last two years and has led the Jeopardy! team through the most challenging time the show has ever experienced. It is our hope that as [executive producer] he will continue to do so with professionalism and respect.”

Richards was announced as the successor for Alex Trebek, who died last November after a years-long battle with pancreatic cancer, on Aug. 11. The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik was simultaneously tapped to host for future “Jeopardy!” primetime specials and spinoffs.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch alum Melissa Joan Hart is begging fans to “stay vigilant” after she contracted COVID-19, even though she was vaccinated.

Hart, in an emotional video posted to Instagram, explained, “I am vaccinated and I got COVID and it’s bad.  It’s weighing on my chest.  It’s hard to breathe.”

The actress believes she isn’t the only member of her family who is sick, telling fans, “one of my kids, I think, has it.”

While not revealing who in her family may also be struggling with COVID-19, Hart said she is “praying” that the rest of her family stays healthy.

“I’m mad, really mad,” expressed Hart, 45. “We took precautions and we cut our exposure by a lot, but we got a little lazy and I think as a country we got lazy.”

“I’m really mad that my kids didn’t have to wear masks at school and I’m pretty sure that’s where this came from,” she sighed, adding that her youngest, Tucker, who is eight, chose to wear a mask in school “because he’s used to it from last year.”

“Now, if he does get [COVID-19], I can at least tell him he was a superhero… because he protected his teacher and classmates,” Hart said as her voice swelled with emotion before admitting she is “scared” for her family.

“If someone has to be taken to the hospital, I can’t go with them,” Hart tearfully explained, noting how she is “disappointed” in herself and in “our leaders.”

“I just wish I’d done better, so I’m asking you guys to do better,” she closed. “Protect your families, protect your kids, it’s not over yet. I hoped it was, but it’s not. So, stay vigilant and stay safe.  Okay?”

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Melissa Joan Hart (@melissajoanhart)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Mike Richards, who was recently announced as the new host of Jeopardy!, has issued an apology about his past controversial behavior.

Following the announcement that he will serve as host of the beloved game show, replacing the late Alex Trebek, allegedly sexist comments Richards made between 2013 and 2014 came to light.  

E! News reports the remarks were made on a podcast, but also that the episodes in question have since been deleted.  The outlet reports that some remarks included Richards, who also produces Jeopardy!, saying one-piece swimsuits make women look “really frumpy and overweight,” and mocking celebrities affected by the 2014 hack that exposed their nude photos.

In response to the growing backlash, Richards addressed his past behavior on Thursday and issued an apology.

“It is humbling to confront a terribly embarrassing moment of misjudgment, thoughtlessness, and insensitivity from nearly a decade ago,” he told E! News. “Looking back now, there is no excuse, of course, for the comments I made on this podcast and I am deeply sorry.”

“The podcast was intended to be a series of irreverent conversations between longtime friends who had a history of joking around,” Richards continued. “Even with the passage of time, it’s more than clear that my attempts to be funny and provocative were not acceptable, and I have removed the episodes. My responsibilities today as a father, husband, and a public personality who speaks to many people through my role on television means I have substantial and serious obligations as a role model, and I intend to live up to them.”

Richards, as well as former The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik, were recently announced as Trebek’s replacements. Richards will host the syndicated Jeopardy! show and will remain executive producer, while Bialik will host Jeopardy!’s primetime and spinoff series, including the upcoming Jeopardy! National College Championship.

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In the new film Flag Day, opening today in select theaters, Sean Penn directs his daughter Dylan in her first starring role. They play a father and a daughter with a complicated relationship, and he tells ABC Audio it’s something he wanted to make for a while, though she was hesitant.

“If I was going to make the movie…the only way I was going to really know how to make it was with her,” Sean, 61, says, adding, “She was reluctant to do it…So we had to sit back and be patient.”

And patient he was, because Dylan reveals that it took her about 15 years to finally agree to the gig. 

“The first time he brought it to my attention, I was pretty young, I was maybe 15, 16,” the now 30-year-old actress explains.

“I never wanted to act…And then I just didn’t really feel like I was ready to take on a role like that,” she continued. “I read the book and I hadn’t grown up. So I think, 15 years later, I had grown up a bit.”

So, what’s it like working opposite, and being directed by, her superstar dad? 

“Overwhelming,” Dylan admits. “I was nervous…like a lot of people would be nervous to work in a professional environment with their family the first time. You don’t know how that’s going to play out.”

As for Sean’s take, he says working with his daughter made his job a little easier. 

“What you’re trying to do is express a feeling of a relationship. And I think that we were definitely able to use the emotional shorthand that we had from growing up together,” the Oscar winner says. “It’s a coming of age story where I’m the one coming of age.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Kandi Burruss had success as a member of Xscape and star of Real Housewives of Atlanta, and now she’s displaying her versatility with acting and producing her first Broadway play.

Last year she made her acting debut in the role of Roselyn Perry in season three of Lena Waithe’s The Chi, set on the south side of Chicago.

“I wanted people to see me in this light of being an actress and really feeling like I have embodied the character,” she tells Hello Beautiful. “I’m not just a reality TV star who got a break.”

The 45-year-old entertainer admits she was nervous, especially for her first sex scene.

“I was already trying to prepare my mind for it,” she recalls, “but, it’s like, I have to go through the motions with somebody that was a complete stranger.”

The Grammy-winning composer and singer also had to face jealousy from her husband, Todd Tucker.

“He was like a little weird about it,” she remembers. “He was supportive, but it was a little awkward for him. I’m not gonna lie about that, but he was still supportive. It wasn’t like, he was like, ‘No, you can’t do this show.’ He had to deal with it in his head.”

Now Kandi is focusing on her debut as a Broadway producer for Thoughts of a Colored Man which opens October 31, starring Dyllón Burnside from Pose.

“Broadway has been known as ‘The Great White Way’ for a long time in past history,” she says. “To have a show like this with all of us, you know, being a part of it, championing it. It has to be a success. It’ll be a win for not just us, but for the whole culture.”

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Big-screen tough guy Jason Statham and his actress fiancée Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are apparently expecting their second child. “Taaa daahhh !! #Round 2,” Rosie wrote on Instagram today, along with some cute emoijis, and photos of her showing off her tiny baby bump in various outfits.

Wrath of Man star Statham, 54, and Mad Max: Fury Road‘s Huntington-Whiteley also have a 4-year-old son, Jack Oscar.

The celebrity couple reportedly met in 2010, and in 2016 they made a red-carpet splash at the Golden Globes, announcing they’d gotten engaged.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Rosie HW (@rosiehw)

Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.