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Producer apologizes for calling Jenna Ortega “toxic” over her ‘Wednesday’ comments

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Steven DeKnight, a producer with credits including Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Netflix’s Daredevil, is walking back comments he made last week regarding Wednesday star Jenna Ortega.

As reported, Ortega appeared on Dax Shepard‘s Armchair Expert podcast and explained she was “protective” of her title character, Wednesday Addams, to the point of being “almost unprofessional” on the set of the Netflix hit when it came to changing lines and questioning the character’s motives in the script. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to put my foot down more on a set in a way that I had to on Wednesday,” she said in part.

DeKnight took to Twitter last Tuesday to call the comments “beyond entitled and toxic.” He added, “I love her work, but life’s too short to deal with people like this in the business.”

He also tweeted, “She’s young, so maybe she doesn’t know any better (but she should). She should also ask herself how she would feel if the showrunners gave an interview and talked about how difficult she was.”

However, on Wednesday, DeKnight backpedaled, explaining of Jenna in part, “She’s an amazing talent. It was just an unfortunate situation to expose creative differences publicly, and also I’ll admit that writers are on edge because of the impending strike, myself included. A perfect storm.”

He also expressed “over and over” that Ortega is “fantastic,” adding of his comments, “It was an unfortunate gaffe to say that publicly. We’ve all had them. Learning experience for everyone. Me included.”

As one might have guessed, Jenna’s legions of fans didn’t accept the quasi apology, with many expressing sentiments similar to this user‘s: “No, you attacked her for speaking her mind…But you keep defending your attack on a young, woman, of color.”

Fort Hood investigating death of soldier who complained of sexual harassment by superior

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(FORT HOOD, Texas) — The Army is investigating the death of 21-year-old Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, a combat engineer at Fort Hood, Texas, who had served with the division for the last 15 months.

Basalduaruiz, who was found dead last month, told her mother she was being sexually harassed by a superior and her family offered to pick her up from the base, her family told ABC News.

The Army Criminal Investigation Division and the chain of command are actively investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding Basalduaruiz’s death, Fort Hood told ABC News.

Army Spc. Vanessa Guillén was murdered at the same base after reportedly being sexually harassed by another soldier. The soldier killed himself while being pursued by police. A report released nearly a year after her death confirmed that Guillén had been sexually harassed by a superior.

An autopsy will be conducted on Basalduaruiz’s body Thursday, according to her aunt, Itzi Ortega.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Pvt. Ana Basalduaruiz, and we extend our sympathies to her father, mother, and her sister,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Sullivan, commander, 91st Engineer Battalion. “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. She was an exceptional teammate that will truly be missed.”

Basalduaruiz’s family was told they will not hear anything else until the investigation into her death is completed.

According to the Department of Defense’s fiscal year 2021 report on sexual assault and harassment in the military, 29% of women and 7% of men experienced sexual harassment. The 29% for women is an increase from the last report on fiscal year 2018 — when 24% of women stated they suffered sexual harassment. The increase was driven by the experiences of enlisted women and those under the age of 25, according to the report.

Basalduaruiz joined the military in 2020 but did not start training until August 2022 because of the pandemic, her aunt said.

Guillén’s sister, Mayra Guillén, reacted to Basalduaruiz’s death on Twitter.

“I’m aware of the death of Ana Basaldua in Ft Hood, TX. May she Rest In Peace. She was only 21 years old … I will be speaking to the family soon, I find it very sensitive to speak on something I’m not fully aware off yet and this is also very triggering for me … I need to gather my thoughts and then I’ll be able to share them,” she said in a Tweet.

Justin Bieber celebrates regaining mobility of his face after Ramsay Hunt syndrome diagnosis

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Justin Bieber shared some very good news with his fans on Wednesday — he’s regained mobility in his face.

The singer took to his Instagram Story and captioned it “Wait for it…” in all capital letters. The video, set to Tems‘ song “Ice T,” sees him rolling his eyes from side to side, blinking and then flashing a wide grin. Justin revealed in June that he was unable to do most of those things after being diagnosed with Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a rare neurological condition caused by the chickenpox virus, which continues to lay dormant in a person after initial infection and can reactivate as a shingles rash, according to the Mayo Clinic. It happens when a shingles rash, which can be painful, breaks out near one’s ear. Side effects include facial paralysis and hearing loss.

Half of Justin’s face was paralyzed as a result of his condition. The singer shared a video demonstrating the effect it had on his facial mobility and explained, “This eye is not blinking. I can’t smile on this side of my face. This nostril will not move. So there’s full paralysis on this side of my face.”

He added, “This is pretty serious.”

As a result of the diagnosis, the singer called off the remainder of his North American tour dates so he could focus on his recovery. He then canceled all 80 shows left on the Justice World Tour itinerary last month.

The singer recently returned to the stage, joining rapper Don Toliver at the Rolling Loud festival in Los Angeles.

Goodbye, Sony: A new chapter awaits Miranda Lambert

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Miranda Lambert has departed from Sony Music Nashville, the record label she’s been with for two decades.

“Since I was 19-years-old, Sony has been my home in Nashville. Over the last 20 years Together we have released albums that allowed me to share my story with the world, and we’ve reached heights I’d never even dreamed were possible,” Miranda wrote in her surprise announcement on Instagram.

“I’m so thankful for our time together and everything they made possible for me,” the singer continued, “yet I wouldn’t be true to myself if I wasn’t constantly looking for the next challenge and a new way to stretch my creativity. With that in mind, I’ve decided to say goodbye to my Sony family. I can’t wait to see what the next adventure holds.”

A collage of the cover art from each of Miranda’s nine albums with Sony was included in this post. Her last album with Sony was 2022’s Palomino.

This news arrives on the 18th anniversary of her debut album, Kerosene.

Phoenix shares new version of “After Midnight” featuring Clairo

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Phoenix has premiered a new version of “After Midnight” with guest vocals by Clairo.

“A very big ‘Merci’ to @clairo!” the French band tweets of the collaboration. “We’re so happy with how this turned out! Wish we’d thought about asking for a clarinet solo at the end…maybe if we ever play this one live together?”

You can listen to the track now via digital outlets.

The original “After Midnight” appears on Phoenix’s new album, Alpha Zulu, which was released last November. It also includes the singles “Alpha Zulu” and “Tonight” featuring Vampire Weekend‘s Ezra Koenig.

Clairo’s most recent album is 2021’s Sling.

Motörhead’s Snaggletooth mascot added to Iron Maiden’s ‘Legacy of the Beast’ game

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Motörhead‘s Snaggletooth mascot is now a character in Iron Maiden‘s Legacy of the Beast mobile game.

As it’s done with bands including Avenged Sevenfold, Ghost, Five Finger Death Punch and Disturbed, Legacy of the Beast has added a Motörhead-themed level, in which you can play as Snaggletooth.

The level, dubbed Born to Raise Hell, is modeled after the famed Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, and includes references to Motörhead lyrics and albums.

You can play Born to Raise Hell in Legacy of the Beast now through March 22.

Report: Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen attacked in Florida

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen was the victim of an attack outside the Four Seasons Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, over the weekend.

TMZ obtained the police report from the incident, which reveals Allen was the victim of a sneak attack by 19-year-old Max Hartley, who was hiding behind a pole and rushed Allen as he was smoking a cigarette outside the hotel. A women tried to help the drummer, but was also attacked. Hartley knocked her to the ground, and grabbed her by the hair and dragged her as she tried to run back to the hotel to get help.

Hartley was eventually arrested after cops caught him breaking car windows at a nearby parking garage. He was charged with elder abuse, battery and criminal mischief. He was eventually released on bail.

So far there’s no word on Allen’s condition. He and the band were in Florida for a stop on their tour with Mötley Crüe. The Stadium Tour’s next show is happening May 22 in Sheffield, England.

Talking Heads to celebrate 40th anniversary of ‘Stop Making Sense’ with deluxe soundtrack, theater rerelease

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

Talking Heads‘ iconic concert film Stop Making Sense is about to celebrate its 40th anniversary, and that milestone will be marked by a new theatrical release, plus a deluxe edition of the movie’s soundtrack.

A24, the studio behind this year’s Oscar-winning film Everything Everywhere All At Once, will release a newly restored 4K version of the concert film to theaters later this year, sharing a trailer that features frontman David Byrne getting back into his iconic oversized suit.

On top of that, on August 18 a deluxe edition of the soundtrack will be released, containing for the first time ever the complete Stop Making Sense concert, including previously unreleased songs “Cities” and “Big Business/I Zimbra.”

Stop Making Sense (Deluxe Edition) will be released as a limited edition two-LP set and digitally, along with a Dolby Atmos mix. The vinyl version will include a 28-page booklet with previously unreleased photos and new liner notes from all the band members.

“We had done a live album before this, but coupled with the film, and with the improved mixes and sound quality, this record reached a whole new audience,” Byrne recalls in the liner notes. “As often happens, the songs got an added energy when we performed them live and were inspired by having an audience. In many ways, these versions are more exciting than the studio recordings, so maybe that’s why a lot of folks discovered us via this record.”

Stop Making Sense, directed by Jonathan Demme, was recorded over three shows at Hollywood’s Pantages Theater in December 1983. In 2021 it was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Here’s the track list for Stop Making Sense:

“Psycho Killer”
“Heaven”
“Thank You For Sending Me An Angel”
“Found A Job”
“Slippery People”
“Cities”
“Burning Down The House”
”Life During Wartime”
“Making Flippy Floppy”
“Swamp”
“What a Day That Was”
“This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)”
“Once In A Lifetime”
“Big Business / I Zimbra”
“Genius Of Love”
“Girlfriend Is Better”
“Take Me To The River”
“Crosseyed And Painless”

Canadian street renamed after Chris Jericho

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

A street in Canada is now named after Chris Jericho.

Winnipeg’s Wordsworth Way, where the Fozzy frontman and wrestling star grew up, is now known as Chris Jericho Way.

“Thx to [Winnipeg] Mayor [Scott Gillingham] and his amazing staff for the honor of re-naming the street I grew up on,” Jericho writes in an Instagram post alongside a photo of the newly designated road.

“This is by far one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced,” he continues. “My Mom & my grandma would be sooooo proud!!”

Jericho will be back in the U.S. next week to launch a Fozzy tour in continued support of their 2022 album, Boombox.

Treasury Secretary Yellen testifies ‘banking system is sound’

March 16, 2023 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told Congress on Thursday the U.S. “banking system is sound” after two bank failures stirred economic fears.

Yellen, testifying before the Senate Finance Committee, began her remarks by addressing the abrupt collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in California and Signature Bank in New York.

“I can reassure the members of the committee that our banking system remains sound, and that Americans can feel confident that their deposits will be there when they need them,” she said. “This week’s actions demonstrate our resolute commitment to ensure that depositors’ savings remain safe.”

Yellen faced a grilling from lawmakers on the government’s response and whether regulators missed warning signs that Silicon Valley Bank, the country’s 16th largest bank, was in jeopardy. Investigations are underway at the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Silicon Valley Bank’s demise.

Yellen told lawmakers in her opening remarks that the government took “decisive and forceful actions to strengthen public confidence in our banking system” in the wake of the failures.

That included guaranteeing the protection of all Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank deposits, which many Republicans have slammed as a prioritization of the rich.

Yellen also highlighted the Federal Reserve’s plan to establish a new lending facility to give additional support to banks to meet the needs of all depositors.

“Nerves are certainly frayed at this moment,” committee chair Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said as he began the hearing.

Sen, Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, pressed Yellen on whether there was a liquidity risk at Silicon Valley Bank. Yellen attributed the bank’s downfall to a run that led to liquidity problems.

“There will be a careful look at what happened in the bank and what initiated this problem, but clearly the downfall of the bank, the reason it had to be closed, was that it could not meet depositors’ withdrawal requests,” she told the senator.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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