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“A teachable moment” — Drew Barrymore apologizes for “making light” of Johnny Depp trial

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

In a new video posted on her Instagram, Drew Barrymore has apologized to fans who took issue with her goofing on the Johnny Depp/Amber Heard defamation trial during a segment of her talk show.

The E.T. actress had joked that the “crazy” trial was a “a seven-layer dip of insanity…offering up this information that nobody had to know.”

In her new mea culpa, an emotional Barrymore said, “It has come to my attention that I have offended people with making light of [Depp and Heard] and for that I just want to deeply apologize and appreciate everyone who spoke out.”

Barrymore noted, “This can be a teachable moment for me and how I move forward and how I conduct myself.”

She added, “All I want to do is be a good person, and I very much appreciate the depth of this, and I will grow and change from it.”

As previously reported, Depp is suing Heard for defamation, claiming that a Washington Post op-ed in which she claimed to have been a victim of “sexual abuse” was not only untrue, but devastated his career.

Depp’s testimony detailed the physical and emotional abuse he said he suffered during his 16-month marriage to Heard — including having the tip of his right middle finger severed by a vodka bottle reportedly thrown by Heard. Audio was also heard of the Aquaman actress admitting that she “hit” Depp, and daring him to accuse her publicly of domestic abuse. “[S]ee how many people believe or side with you,” she can be heard taunting.

Online, Barrymore’s critics had voiced their displeasure with her comments, with one saying Drew “didn’t only offend ‘fans’. She basically told male DV [domestic violence] victims that they deserve to be mocked if they come forward.”

Ex-Blue Öyster Cult member Joe Bouchard releases new song, “My Way Is the Highway”; solo album due in June

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Former Blue Öyster Cult bassist Joe Bouchard has released a new single titled “My Way Is the Highway” that’s an advance track from his forthcoming solo album, American Rocker.

The song is available now as a digital download and via streaming services, while a companion music video has premiered on the Deko Entertainment label’s official YouTube channel.

“The song ‘My Way Is the Highway’ is a dream of tour destinations while cruising down the coast as the sun sinks into the Pacific Ocean,” Joe explains. “It is powered by the drums of Mickey Curry, and cementing the groove is brother Albert on his iconic cowbell — the original ‘more-cowbell man’! This song makes you want to put the pedal to the metal while you dance to the rocking music of the 70s.”

Curry is best known as Bryan Adams‘ longtime drummer, and he’s also worked with many other famous artists, including Daryl Hall, Cher, Tina Turner, Alice Cooper and The Cult. Albert Bouchard was Blue Öyster Cult’s original drummer, and he and Joe have collaborated on many projects together, including their band Blue Coupe with original Alice Cooper bassist Dennis Dunaway.

American Rocker is an 11-track collection that will be released on June 3. CD copies of the album can be pre-ordered now at Merchbucket.com. Also available are special bundles pairing the CD with a t-shirt and an autographed booklet.

Joe’s upcoming concert schedule includes a July 16 show with Blue Coupe in Sacketts Harbor, New York, and a U.K. tour in August with Albert performing as The Bouchard Brothers.

Here’s American Rocker‘s full track list:

“My Way Is the Highway”
“In the Golden Age”
“Deadly Kisses”
“Love Out of Thin Air”
“Off Season Hotel”
“Hounds of Hell”
“Conspiracy”
“Rocket to Fame”
“The Devil’s in the Details”
“Katherine”
“Hey There Suzi Dear”

Lionel Richie coming home to Alabama to headline The World Games 2022

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

As one of the most famous musicians to hail from Alabama, it’s only fitting that Lionel Richie return to his home state for a very special performance in July.

The Tuskegee, Alabama native will headline the closing ceremony of The World Games 2022, which will be held July 17 at Protective Stadium. It’ll mark the first time Lionel’s performed in Alabama in more than 20 years.

The closing ceremony will also feature other Alabama musicians, such as the country group Alabama, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Motown legend Martha Reeves of Martha and the Vandellas, rapper Yung Bleu, and American Idol alums Ruben Studdard, Taylor Hicks and Bo Bice.

Funk legend Bootsy Collins will be the emcee for both the opening and closing ceremonies of The World Games, an international event featuring sports that aren’t part of the Olympic Games, like kickboxing, pool, squash and tug of war. Performers at the opening ceremonies include Sheila E., Tony! Toni! Tone!, Yolanda Adams and Nelly.

‘Doctor Strange’ sequel conjuring up better pre-sales than ‘Thor: Ragnarok’, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness doesn’t open until Friday, but presales for the sequel are already outpacing other hit Marvel movies, Fandango says.

The company announced that the Benedict Cumberbatch sequel, which was previously voted by Fandango users as their most anticipated movie of the summer, is selling five times as many tickets as the 2016 original, Doctor Strange.

Tickets for the upcoming film went on sale April 6, and it has already sold more pre-sale stubs than 2019’s Captain Marvel, 2017’s Thor: Ragnarok and 2017’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.

For the record, Captain Marvel went on to earn over a billion bucks at the box office, while Ragnarok made over $850 million worldwide, and the sequel to Guardians made over $860 million.

In polling those who said they wanted to see Madness, Fandango reported that 93% of its users wanted to see the Multiverse expanded more in the sequel; 92% want to see what happened in the MCU after the events of the hit Spider-Man: No Way Home; and 92% were Cumberbatch fans.

Oh, and since the movie is supposedly chock full of cameos, 85% said that they’re staying off social media until they see Multiverse of Madness for themselves.

Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.

Met Gala flashback: a few memorable looks from Black celebs on the famous carpet

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Met Gala Monday has officially commenced!

The 2022 event takes place at New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art tonight, with a livestream of the bash kicking off at 6 p.m. ET. In honor of the famous and exclusive “fashion’s biggest night out,” here’s a list of some of the iconic looks of Black celebrities who have graced the carpet in years past.

— In 2015, for the show’s theme of “China: Through the Looking Glass”, Beyoncé wore a sheer, long-sleeve Haute Couture Givenchy dress that was adorned with colorful gemstones. No stranger to rocking Givenchy on carpets, the star also wore the French luxury brand at the 2012, 2014 and 2016 Met balls.

— Rihanna also turned heads at the 2015 show, wearing a one-of-a-kind yellow, fur-trimmed embroidered cape with matching headdress, made by Chinese fashion designer Guo Pei. Speaking about the extensively long train, Rihanna told Vanity Fair, “I can’t really walk in it without any help — but it’s so worth it.”

— Cardi B stole the show at the 2018 Met Gala, when the very pregnant rapper walked the carpet for the first time alongside fashion mogul Jeremy Scott, who designed her bejeweled, scoop-neck gown that was paired with a long, fluffy cream-colored train. The following year, she stunned the crowd in her massive red Thom Browne dress and all of its 30,000 feathers, according to Vogue.

— As no stranger to neck-breaking carpet looks, Billy Porter showed up to the 2019 gala in a custom “Sun God” ensemble by The Blonds, which included a bejeweled catsuit and 10-foot wings, according to People.

— In 2018, Zendaya dressed up as Joan of Arc with her custom metallic Versace gown and matching armored neck piece.

Some of the stars expected to attend the 2022 gala include Amanda Gorman, Megan Thee Stallion, Chloe and Halle and more.

Johnny Depp’s agent called Amber Heard op-ed “catastrophic” to star’s career; says Depp lost out on $22.6 million for ‘Pirates 6’

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Johnny Depp’s agent called Amber Heard op-ed “catastrophic” to star’s career; says Depp lost out on .6 million for ‘Pirates 6’

On Monday, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were back in a Fairfax, Virginia, courtroom, where Depp’s defamation case against his ex-wife continues.

Much of the testimony in the morning session dealt with the impact Heard’s Washington Post op-ed had on Depp’s career — to establish damages, as is necessary in a defamation trial.

The article, titled “I Spoke Up Against Sexual Violence, and Faced Our Culture’s Wrath. That Has to Change” didn’t mention Depp by name, but Depp’s agent, Jack Whigham, testified remotely that the op-ed had a “catastrophic” effect on his career.

Depp’s attorneys had Whigham rattle off the salaries for movies Johnny had made before the article was published — including a $22.6 million fee he would have received for a sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.

Whigham testified that the project was a go, but both Disney and producer Jerry Bruckheimer stopped dealing with Depp after the article was released.

For that matter, Whigham argued, so did many others — Depp’s fee dropped to $1 million, and a film called Minimata was barely released.

For their part, Heard’s team claimed that there was no evidence Depp was to star in a sixth Pirates movie, and that Margot Robbie reportedly replacing Depp as the big star in a possible sixth Pirates film had nothing to do with the negative publicity from the op-ed.

A Depp security staffer of nine years, Travis McGivern, also testified remotely. He confirmed to Heard’s lawyers that he’d seen Depp smoke marijuana “more times than he could count” — a comment that drew a smile from Depp — but also said that Heard drank more times than he could recall.

McGivern also testified that Depp had a “chill” personality, even when sober — though Heard’s attorney implied his testimony favored Depp, as he is still employed by the star.

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

“Defying Gravity”: Maren Morris wants to audition for ‘Wicked’

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Is Maren Morris auditioning for Wicked?

In a Sunday tweet, the country star reveals that she has her sights set on the bright lights of Broadway. “Gonna send an audition tape in for Wicked on Broadway. What the hell. Let’s see what happens,” Maren declares, alongside a green heart and witch emoji.

The multi-faceted singer goes on to cite her credentials, including hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, performing with Dolly Parton at the Newport Folk Festival, flying with the US Air Force’s Thunderbirds, and even getting her bangs cut, as examples of other dreams that have come true.

“I’m into taking things head on, fail or succeed. Might as well cut the s*** on being coy. Chase your weird dreams down,” she says.

When pressed on which lead character she’d rather play, Glinda or Elphaba, “The Middle” hitmaker says she identifies “heavily” as Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. “Good god her songs are high,” Maren adds.

The singer’s announcement sent fans into a frenzy, with many of them creating memes that impose her face onto the green-skinned Elphaba.

Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel originated the roles of Glinda and Elphaba, respectively, when Wicked debuted on Broadway in 2003. It’s now being adapted into a film starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, set for release in 2024.

First trailer for Harry Styles’ ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ is here

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The trailer for Don’t Worry Darling — starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh — made headlines when it was first previewed at CinemaCon last week. Now, fans can finally see what caused the hype.

The trailer opens with Harry and Pugh — respectively playing Jack and Alice — living a perfect married life in an idyllic, experimental town housing project built to meet every resident’s need. But things quickly turn sinister as Pugh begins noticing there’s more to their picturesque ‘Victory Project’ community that meets the eye, despite being told she mustn’t question her surroundings. Her quest for clarity is met with harsh resistance from the project’s leader, played by Chris Pine, and her husband.

“Our life together, we could lose this,” Harry’s character warns, but it’s not enough to sway his wife, who sees her neighbors mentally unraveling around her.

Don’t Worry Darling is directed by Olivia Wilde, who said during CinemaCon the movie is “a love letter to movies that push the boundaries of our imagination.” Wilde said it also borrows elements from The Matrix, Inception and The Truman Show.

“What would it take for you to give up that life, that perfect life. What are you really willing to sacrifice to do what’s right?” she teased. “Are you willing to dismantle the system that’s designed to serve you?”

She also said Harry’s performance in the film “is nothing short of a revelation.”

Don’t Worry Darling is due out September 23.

New Mexico expands program that could make child care free for many families

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — New Mexico is expanding a program that waives the cost of child care, an initiative that could make child care free for many families in the southwestern state.

The announcement from Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham last Thursday said the state’s Early Childhood Education and Care Department estimates that over 30,000 more families will be able to take advantage of New Mexico’s Childcare Assistance Program starting this May, doubling the number of families who were already participating.

“Beginning May 1, 2022, all families enrolled in the state’s Childcare Assistance Program will no longer owe copays for child care services, making child care cost-free,” the announcement said.

The New Mexico Early Childhood Education and Care Department announcement notes that the expansion will run until June 30, 2023.

Families earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level, or $111,000 for a family of four, qualify to have their child care copayments waived. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services determines poverty levels, and for 2022, the federal department set the poverty guideline in the District of Columbia and the 48 contiguous states as $27,750 for a family of four.

The cost of child care in the U.S. is a significant burden for American families.

New survey data from 2019 from the HHS’s Administration for Children and Families shows that many families spend anywhere between 10% to 20% of their household budget on child care, including early child education. Amid the pandemic, many women also stopped working to take care of their kids at home, leading to a slowdown of employees returning to the national workforce.

In New Mexico specifically, think tank Economic Policy Institute estimates that the average cost of child care is approximately $8,617 a year.

Child care workers are also in short supply, and along with the expansion of copay waivers for families, New Mexico will also provide stipends to students who are pursuing higher education in early education.

Eligible students can apply for $2,000 each semester to help pay for their schooling at a New Mexico college or university.

The state is also pledging $10 million in grants to child care establishments to build or expand child care centers in underserved communities.

New Mexicans who are interested in joining the Childcare Assistance Program can visit the state’s “Am I Eligible?” site for more information.

Tory Lanez briefly detained at Las Vegas airport for marijuana possession

May 2, 2022 by WDNY Radio

In the latest of legal woes for Tory Lanez, the rapper was briefly detained at a Las Vegas airport on Sunday for traveling with a “large” amount of marijuana, according to police.

Authorities told ABC News that Las Vegas officers responded to a security checkpoint after TSA found the marijuana, which was then impounded before Lanez was released.

Earlier this month Lanez, born Daystar Peterson, was arrested temporarily following the judge’s verdict that the rapper violated a pre-trial protective orders that should have prevented him from contacting, speaking to or harassing Megan Thee Stallion, the victim of a 2020 shooting incident in which Lanez is named the shooter.

On October 8, 2020, Peterson was charged with one count of assault and one count of carrying a concealed, loaded and unregistered firearm in a vehicle. The trial date for the ongoing case is set for September 14 of this year.

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