Believe it or not, Leonardo DiCaprio is pretty close to kissing his 40s goodbye, and the who’s who of Hollywood showed up in Beverly Hills Friday night to help him ring in the big 4-8.
Page Six reports the likes of Leo’s fellow Oscar winners Bradley Cooper, Rami Malek, Jamie Foxx, Casey Affleck and Adrien Brody were on the guest list, as were living legends like Mick Jagger and LeBron James. Longtime pal Tobey Maguire was also on hand, as well as Ashton Kutcher and Rebel Wilson, among others.
Despite the star power, don’t expect to see anything but paparazzi shots from outside the event: All cellphone cameras were reportedly taken away from Leo’s guests to keep the celebration private.
Jay Leno is reportedly receiving care at a Los Angeles burn center after suffering injuries to his face from a car fire.
TMZ reports the well-known car collector was in his massive Los Angeles garage when one of the autos burst into flames. The 72-year-old former Tonight Show and Jay Leno’s Garage host was reportedly burned on the left side of his face. The gossip site says Jay’s ear and eye were spared from injury.
In a statement to Variety, Leno clarified he suffered “some serious burns from a gasoline fire.”
The comedian added, “I am ok. Just need a week or two to get back on my feet.”
The trade reports that Leno was forced to cancel a Sunday night corporate gig for The Financial Brand in Las Vegas due to a “serious medical emergency,” but the organizers didn’t specify at that time what had happened.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
After being met with backlash from Aaron Carter‘s family, management team and friends like Hilary Duff, the publisher who was going to release the late singer’s memoir decided to shelf the project “out of respect.”
As previously reported, Ballast Books announced shortly after Aaron’s untimely death that it would release Aaron Carter: An Incomplete Story of an Incomplete Life. The decision was criticized by fans, friends and colleagues of the late singer.
In response to the backlash, Ballast Books delayed the release. Company’s attorney Scott Atherton and author Andy Symonds said in a joint statement to Page Six, “Out of respect for the Carter family, my client has decided to defer the further release of the book at this time.”
The statement continued, “Mr. Carter was not just a celebrity but also a father, a brother, a son, and a friend to many still grieving for him.”
“The more important story is about Mr. Carter’s life and what people can learn from his professional success, personal struggles, and tragic passing,” it added.
Atherton noted Carter “wanted his story told,” while author Symonds expressed, “In addition to being cathartic for him, Aaron hoped this book would help others struggling with addiction and mental illness.”
Despite these claims, the singer’s publicist condemned the memoir and alleged the singer didn’t approve it.
“Aaron, in the midst of [working on the book], said, ‘I want nothing to do with this’ and stopped,” his publicist told the outlet, adding that releasing the memoir goes “against Aaron’s wishes.”
Aaron, who was 34, died November 5. The cause of death is currently unknown.
Singer Roberta Flack is no longer able to sing following a diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, otherwise known as ALS.
Her management team announced Monday the singer’s ALS symptoms have “made it impossible to sing and not easy to speak.” The statement adds, “But it will take a lot more than ALS to silence this icon.”
Her team announced, “Miss Flack plans to stay active in her musical and creative pursuits. Her fortitude and joyful embrace of music that lifted her from modest circumstances to the international spotlight remain vibrant and inspired.”
Flack is said to be looking forward to “a banner year in 2023,” and will pursue a “number of projects and anniversaries” celebrating her career and influence.
Among them is the 50th anniversary of her Grammy-nominated album Killing Me Softly, which is RIAA-certified twice Platinum. The record featured the number-one hit “Killing Me Softly with His Song,” which won the 1973 Grammy for Record of the Year.
Flack’s documentary, Roberta, will air at DOCNYC on November 17 and later on PBS on January 24. It explores how she crafted her music genius and became a powerhouse in the industry.
Flack will also release the children’s book The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music on January 10. “I have long dreamed of telling my story to children about that first green piano that my father got for me from the junkyard in the hope that they would be inspired to reach for their dreams,” the artist said in a statement. “I want them to know that dreams can come true with persistence, encouragement from family and friends, and most of all belief in yourself.”
She’ll also help mark the 75th anniversary of Atlantic Records, which signed her in 1969.
(CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.) — A suspect is in custody after three football players were killed and two other students were injured in a mass shooting at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville on Sunday night, authorities said.
The shooting took place on a bus full of students returning home from a class field trip to see a play in Washington, D.C., university officials said.
All three victims killed were on the football team, University of Virginia President Jim Ryan said at a news conference. The victims were identified as wide receivers Lavel Davis Jr. and Devin Chandler and linebacker D’Sean Perry.
The suspect, identified as student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was taken into custody Monday morning following an overnight manhunt, authorities announced.
Jones was a running back for the university’s football team in 2018, though he never played in a game.
A motive is not clear, Ryan said.
One injured student is in critical condition and the other is in good condition, Ryan said Monday.
The shooting was reported on the University of Virginia’s campus at about 10:30 p.m. local time, according to police.
University of Virginia sophomore Em Gunter said she was in her dormitory doing schoolwork when she heard gunshots.
“I looked over to my friend and like, ‘Did you hear that?’ I was like, ‘I think that was like gunfire,'” Gunter recalled in a telephone interview with ABC News early Monday, while sheltering in place.
“I’m terrified,” she said.
Gunter invited her friend Nicholas Lansing to shelter in her third-floor dorm room, since his is on the ground floor.
“I have one locked door, but I also have a glass window that leads directly outside. So I’ve been up here on the third floor in Em’s room for the past three and a half hours,” Lansing, a University of Virginia junior, told ABC News via telephone.
The university’s president canceled classes for Monday.
Longo learned of the suspect’s capture in the middle of Monday morning’s news conference, when a captain with the Virginia State Police interrupted Longo and whispered in his ear.
UVA UPDATE: Police have the suspect in custody. This is the final alert message.
“We’ve just received information that the suspect is in custody,” Longo announced, before a lengthy pause absorbing the news.
“Just need a moment to thank God, breathe a sigh of relief,” he said.
The 22-year-old was taken into custody just before 11 a.m. in Henrico County, Virginia, according to Henrico police.
Longo said Jones is facing charges of three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony. Charges could change, he said.
Longo also revealed prior history involving Jones. In September, university officials investigated a report of Jones making a comment about possessing a gun, but Longo said Jones did not make a threat.
Jones was involved in a hazing investigation, which was later closed due to uncooperative witnesses, Longo said.
The university’s threat assessment team also learned of a prior criminal incident involving “a concealed weapon violation” from February 2021 in another city, Longo said. Jones is required as a student “to report that — and he never did — so the university has taken appropriate administrative charges,” Longo said. That matter is pending, Longo said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement Monday: “The President and First Lady are mourning with the University of Virginia community after yet another deadly shooting in America has taken the lives of three young people. Our deepest condolences are with the countless families, friends, and neighbors grieving for those killed as well as those injured in this senseless shooting.”
The press secretary called on the Senate to pass an assault weapons ban. The House narrowly passed a ban in a symbolic vote in July.
“We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets,” the statement said. “House Democrats acted, and the Senate should follow.”
ABC News’ Peter Charalambous, Jack Date, Melissa Gaffney and Lauren Minore contributed to this report.
The Linda Lindas are celebrating the holiday season with some new music.
The teenage punk rockers have premiered a new single called “Groovy Xmas.” The track certainly lives up to its name with lyrics about presents, holiday movies and Mariah Carey.
You can listen to “Groovy Xmas” now via digital outlets and watch its jolly accompanying video streaming now on YouTube.
The Linda Lindas released their debut album, Growing Up, in April. Last month, they performed at the When We Were Young festival.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Annabel’s
Sir Rod Stewart hopes his activism in increasing awareness about menopause will encourage more husbands to step up.
Speaking to Sunday Times, the hitmaker spoke about his experience watching his wife of 15-years, Penny Lancaster, go through menopause — something he admittedly didn’t know much about because his prior marriages “didn’t last that long.”
Said Stewart, “I hadn’t seen [the menopause] before because my marriages didn’t last that long [Alana Stewart was 39 and Rachel Hunter 37 when they and Stewart got divorced], so Penny was the first, but she would get into blinding fits of rage.”
“One night she threw utensils, so me and the boys gave her a hug and since then she’s worked to let people know what it is. And men have to understand and not just go down the pub,” the singer continued of his 51-year-old wife.
He said that the experience inspired him to support Lancaster’s Menopause Mandate awareness campaign and learn more about hormone therapy, known as HRT.
Stewart, who is 77, backed Lancaster’s Menopause Mandate in April, which aims to eradicate “scaremongering” by increasing education on menopause, and improve women’s health options by expanding access to affordable treatment and helping them understand the signs and symptoms of menopause.
Elsewhere in the interview, Sir Stewart teased he’ll make a biopic one day. “I keep getting offers,” he said, adding, “But I’ll be the last to do it — even f***ing Robbie Williams has one now.”
The singer admits he won’t shy away from anything in the inevitable documentary and proclaimed, “Yeah, I have no skeletons in the closet, as far as I know. I just wish someone would make one before I kick the bucket.”
Theory of a Deadman and Skillet are teaming up for a co-headlining tour in 2023.
The joint outing, dubbed the Rock Resurrection tour, kicks off February 17 in Gary, Indiana, and will wrap up March 26 in Los Angeles. Saint Asonia will also be on the bill.
“We’re super stoked to be touring with our good friends in Skillet and Saint Asonia this winter,” says Theory vocalist Tyler Connolly. “We’re also really looking forward to playing new material for our fans!!”
“We are so excited to be touring with our friends from Theory again!” adds Skillet frontman John Cooper. “It’s been several years since our last tour together, and this time we are also joined by our friends in Saint Asonia. We are looking forward to kicking off 2023 the right way by joining forces for a super-charged rock show! Panheads get ready!”
Tickets go on sale this Friday, November 18, at 10 a.m. local time. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit TheoryOfficial.com and Skillet.com.
Theory just dropped a new single called “Dinosaur” in October, which follows their 2020 album, Say Nothing. Skillet’s most recent album is this year’s Dominion.
Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images Image Group LA/Disney Channel via Getty Images
Britney Spears unleashed another poignant essay about adjusting to her life post-conservatorship, and this one raised a few eyebrows over what she said about wanting to persecute her family.
Taking to Instagram on Sunday, the pop singer hinted that she doesn’t want to go through the lengthy process of going to court over the alleged abuse she suffered during her 13-year conservatorship.
“People say you will have to put up a lot of money and sue and sit for hours and not be able to use my feet again. When I want to run outside … NO THANK YOU to prove these allegations are true !!! I will never put up more money to go to court to see if my dad gets prosecuted,” she wrote.
The singer added, “I choose to smile and put it in my family’s face until the day I die.”
This is an about-face from what she said a year ago to California Superior Court Judge Brenda J. Penny. “I’m in shock. I’m traumatized. … I’m so angry it’s insane,” she expressed in her bombshell testimony that laid out the alleged abuse she suffered. “I would honestly like to sue my family, to be totally honest with you.”
Britney also told the judge, “My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a key role in punishing me… They should be in jail.”
ABC Audio has submitted a request for comment to Britney’s attorney Mathew Rosengart.
(CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.) — The University of Virginia is in mourning after three members of the football team were killed in a mass shooting on the Charlottesville campus Sunday night.
Two other students were injured in the shooting which unfolded on a bus as it returned from a field trip.
The suspect, also a student, is in custody.
Here’s what we know about the lives lost:
Devin Chandler
Devin Chandler was a second-year student from Virginia Beach, University President Jim Ryan said at a news conference Monday.
Lavel Davis Jr.
Lavel Davis Jr., who was from Ridgeville, South Carolina, was in his third year, Ryan said.
ESPN reporter Andrea Adelson in a tweet described Davis as “bright, thoughtful and engaging.” She said he was “a beacon of light determined to make the world a better place.”
In a university video last year, Davis said he loved movies and reading Shakespeare and the Bible.
He called the the university the “perfect place for anyone who wants to work hard and be great.”
D’Sean Perry
D’Sean Perry was a fourth-year student from Miami, Ryan said.
