Page 7202 – 105.7 WDNY

Queen Latifah reacts to Chris Noth being fired from ‘The Equalizer’, Meagan Good breaks her silence on her divorce, and more

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Queen Latifah says it is “surreal” that Chris Noth will no longer appear on The Equalizer following sexual assault allegations against him.

“It is such a dicey, delicate situation that requires a great deal of respect,” Latifah told People. “That’s a personal thing that he’s going to have to deal with.” Noth starred as ex-CIA agent William Bishop who was an old friend of Robyn McCall, portrayed by Latifah.

“Chris’ character’s obviously a big part of the show, and it was amazing chemistry, amazing chemistry,” the Emmy winner added. “And my feeling is justice has to prevail, regardless. I just want the right things to be done, you know?

In other news, Meagan Good tells xoNecole.com that divorcing Devon Franklin is “the most painful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.” After nine years of marriage, the Harlem TV series star and the preacher announced their divorce in December.

“Still grieving, still hurt,” Good added. “It’s going to be a long time, but at the end of the day it has made God, even more, my lover and even more my husband, and even brought our relationship to new depths and new heights so I’m in gratitude for that.”

Finally, Deadline reports that Netflix has won a bidding war for Lee Daniels‘ untitled new film. The Empire TV series co-creator sold his true horror story for $65 million. The film will reunite Daniels and Andra Day, who starred in his 2021 movie, The United States vs. Billie Holiday. The singer earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for the title role.

Day will reportedly play a mother living in Indiana who believes her child has become demonically possessed. The new project will also star Octavia Spencer, Aunjanue Ellis from King Richard, and Glenn Close.

2nd NYPD officer dies from Harlem shooting

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — A second NYPD officer has died after being shot at a domestic violence call in Harlem this weekend.

Officer Wilbert Mora, 27, who died Tuesday, is “3 times a hero,” Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell tweeted. “For choosing a life of service. For sacrificing his life to protect others. For giving life even in death through organ donation.”

Mora was shot while responding to a 911 call Friday night from a woman who was in a dispute with her son. She said her son was in a back bedroom, and when the officers approached the bedroom, the door swung open and the suspect fired, police said.

Mora’s partner, officer Jason Rivera, 22, was struck first at the scene and died from his injuries.

A third officer, 27-year-old Sumit Sulan, opened fire on the suspect, LaShawn McNeil.

McNeil, 47, later died from his injuries.

Mora and Rivera are among five NYPD officers who have been shot this month, the commissioner said.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, a former NYPD captain, on Monday unveiled a new strategy to combat violent crime.

“New Yorkers feel as if a sea of violence is engulfing our city,” Adams said. “But as your mayor, I promise you I will not let this happen. We will not surrender our city to the violent feud. We won’t go back to the bad old days.”

GAYLE announces full headline tour, in addition to dates with AJR and Tate McRae

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

GAYLE‘s limited run of intimate March headline shows in Nashville, Hollywood and New York City sold out immediately, so now she’s announced a more extensive headline tour — as well as her first overseas performance and some shows with “You Broke Me First” singer Tate McRae.

After her March shows, GAYLE will open for Tate in Georgia, Washington, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston from March 25 through April 1. Then, her additional headline dates get underway April 3 in Toronto and run through an April 15 date in San Francisco.

As previously reported, the busy 17-year-old will also support AJR starting April 28 in Dallas, TX and ending May 21 in New York City. Then, on May 30, GAYLE will perform in London. Visit GayleOfficial.com for all the tour details.

GAYLE’s breakthrough hit “abcdefu” has just been certified Gold for sales of half-a-million copies. The song sits at number one on Billboard‘s Global 200 chart and is top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. She just released her new single and video, “ur just horny.”

Biden warns he would sanction Putin personally if Russia invades Ukraine

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday there could be some U.S. troop movements in the “nearer term” in Eastern Europe — and that he would consider personally sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine — a day after 8,500 American forces were put on “heightened alert” in the region.

“If he were to move in with all those forces, it would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world,” Biden told reporters at an unannounced stop at a local business in Washington.

Asked about what would lead him to deploy the troops staging nearby, Biden said that depends on “what Putin does or doesn’t do” but he repeated that American forces would not move into Ukraine.

“I may be moving some of those troops in the nearer term, just because it takes time,” Biden said, adding it’s not to be “provocative” but to reassure NATO allies whom have reasons for concern.

“We have no intention of putting American forces, or NATO forces, in Ukraine. But we — as I said — they’re gonna be serious economic consequences if he [Putin] moves,” Biden added.

Asked whether the risk of an invasion is increasing, decreasing or steady, Biden compared assessing Putin’s intentions to “reading tea leaves.”

“The fact that he continues to build forces along Ukraine’s border from Belarus, all the way around, you’d say, ‘Well that means that he is looking like he’s trying to do something.’ But then you look at what his past behavior is and what everyone is saying on his team, as well as everyone else, as to what is likely to happen. It all comes down to his — his decision-making,” Biden said.

Amid the escalating tensions, Biden had a one hour and 20-minute conference call from the White House on Monday with the leaders of the European Commission, European Council, NATO, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, according to the White House, which said they planned to “discuss diplomacy, deterrence and defense efforts” as well as what would constitute potential sanctions against Russia.

The White House said after the call that Biden and European leaders “reiterated their continued concern about the Russian military build-up on Ukraine’s borders” and also discussed “preparations to impose massive consequences and severe economic costs on Russia for such actions as well as to reinforce security on NATO’s eastern flank.”

“We’re all on the same page,” Biden said Tuesday. “You’ve got to make it clear that that there’s no reason for anyone, any member of NATO, to worry whether or not we would, we NATO, would come to their defense.”

Director Matt Reeves on Kurt Cobain and “The Batman”: “[Bruce Wayne] is a kind of drug addict”

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

The Batman director Matt Reeves has further explained how the film’s version of the Caped Crusader is influenced by late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain.

In an interview with Esquire UK, Reeves details how the Nevermind song “Something in the Way,” which plays in the trailer for The Batman, is “part of the voice of that character.”

“When I considered, ‘How do you do Bruce Wayne in a way that hasn’t been seen before?’ I started thinking, ‘What if some tragedy happened…and this guy becomes so reclusive, we don’t know what he’s doing? Is this guy some kind of wayward, reckless, drug addict?'” Reeves shares.

“And the truth is that [Wayne] is a kind of drug addict,” the filmmaker adds. “His drug is his addiction to this drive for revenge. He’s like a Batman Kurt Cobain.”

Reeves previously told Empire magazine that he was reminded of the 2005 Gus Van Sant film Last Days, a fictional film that’s loosely based on Cobain’s death, while working on The Batman.

“I started making this connection to Gus Van Sant’s Last Days, and the idea of this fictionalized version of Kurt Cobain being in this kind of decaying manor,” Reeves said.

The Batman, starring Robert Pattinson in the title role, premieres in theaters March 4. The cast also features Zoë Kravitz, Paul Dano and Jeffrey Wright.

Ari Lennox is demanding “to be dropped from the labels”

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

One week after being nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist, Ari Lennox is so frustrated with the music industry, she’s demanding “to be dropped from the labels.”

The “Got Me” singer is signed to J. Cole’s Dreamville label which is distributed by Interscope Records. She also tweeted, “I’m done and tired.” Both messages have since been deleted.

Her public frustration follows an update she provided last week saying she only “needed 4 more songs and the album done.” It’s been nearly three years since Lennox released her debut album, Shea Butter Baby, in 2019. Last week Ari also tweeted that she “would love to just fall in love, start a family and live a peaceful life. Maybe perform once a year.”

In November, she traveled to The Netherlands and was arrested at the Amsterdam airport for disturbing the public order. Lennox claimed that she was the victim of racial discrimination.

Ari is featured on Khalid‘s new mixtape, Scenic Drive, and she is scheduled to perform at the Coachella Festival in April.

“21 years of dreams”: Céline Dion posts sweet birthday message to oldest son René-Charles

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Céline Dion may have postponed the start of her Las Vegas residency and canceled her North American tour dates, but at least there’s one thing she can celebrate: Her eldest son René-Charles turns 21 today, and she’s posted a sweet tribute to him on Instagram.

Captioning a photo of herself holding René-Charles as a newborn as her late husband René Angélil looks on, Céline wrote, “21 years of dreams have already passed. We gave you life…thank you very much for giving us the wonderful gift of becoming your parents. Since that day, I’ve been thriving as I watch you grow.”

“Your intelligence, your generosity, your courage, and your great sensitivity never cease to move me,” she continued. “We guided you from our dreams, by holding your hand. Keep exploring and above all, listen to your heart, knowing that you are always carried by our love, so that now, your own dreams can come true.”

Céline concluded by writing, “Happy Birthday René-Charles! Have fun my darling… We adore you! T.V.E.C. – Dad, Mom, Nelson and Eddy.”

Nelson and Eddy are René-Charles’ brothers — Céline’s younger twin sons — while the letters “T.V.E.C” stands for the French phrase “Tout va être correct,” which means “Everything will be okay.” Reportedly, Céline and her family started using the phrase in 1999, after Angélil, who died in 2016, beat cancer for the first time.

Julian Lennon auctioning NFTs featuring images of John Lennon and Beatles memorabilia he owns

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

John Lennon‘s older son Julian is auctioning off a series of one-of-a-kind NFTs focusing on Beatles-related items from Julian’s personal collection and memorabilia that his late dad gave him.

The “Lennon Connection: The NFT Collection” auction will take place on Monday, February 7, and is being presented by the NFT marketplace YellowHeart in partnership with Julien’s Auctions. The sale will be held live at Julien’s Auction’s Beverly Hills location and online at JuliensAuctions.com.

The NFTs being auctioned, which will be offered as audio/visual collectibles, include images of an Afghan coat that John Lennon wore during the filming of the Magical Mystery Tour special, a black cape that John wore in the Beatles film Help!, three different electric guitars that Julian received as gifts from his father, and a sheet of notes for the recording of “Hey Jude” handwritten by Paul McCartney and featuring some doodles and drawings by Paul.

“As an artist, I have great respect for all that my father accomplished in his career. As a son, I hold dear the good memories I have of my time with him,” Julian says in a statement. “I feel incredibly lucky to live in a day and age where innovation allows me to share such personal pieces of my Lennon family history. Through this NFT collection, I’m able to grant exclusive access to special items that I cherish and carry on the legacy of my father in a new way.”

Some proceeds from the sale will benefit Julian’s White Feather Foundation, and will be used to support the charity’s efforts to help reduce global carbon emissions.

Online bidding on the NFTs began Monday. The auction will end with a live-bidding session that starts at 10 a.m. PT on February 7. Visit JuliensLive.com for more information.

Mark Wahlberg and Mel Gibson to star in ‘Father Stu’ for Sony Pictures

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Sony Pictures has announced plans to launch the based-on-real-life drama Father Stu in April, starring Mel Gibson and Mark Wahlberg.

The Daddy’s Home series co-stars are reuniting for a very different film: It’s based on the life story of boxer-turned-priest Father Stuart Long, “whose journey from self-destruction to redemption inspired countless people along the way,” according to the studio.

Oscar-nominated Wahlberg stars as the titular pugilist priest, while Oscar winner Gibson plays a supporting role, along with Academy Award-nominated Silver Linings Playbook co-star Jacki Weaver.

The film, from screenwriter and first-time director Rosalind Ross, the mother of Gibson’s youngest son, Lars, opens Friday, April 15, which not coincidentally is Good Friday, according to the Christian calendar.

Disney+ turning ‘Percy Jackson’ books into a series

January 25, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Disney+ has announced a long-in development series based on Rick Riordan‘s bestselling Percy Jackson books is coming to be. Well, specifically, Riordan himself announced it.

The wait is over, demigods,” Riordan delared in a video. “I am thrilled to be the first to tell you that Percy Jackson and the Olympians is really, truly, and for sure coming to your screens.”

The series follows the titular hero, a 12-year-old who finds out he’s actually the son of Greek god Poseidon. Accused of stealing a lightning bolt from Zeus himself, Percy goes on a quest to recover it.

While a pair of films were made from the books — Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief in 2010 and 2013’s Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters — the new series is apparently sticking closer to the age range of the hero and his demi-godly friends. While they were financial successes, Riordan was not a fan of the movies, to put it mildly.

James Bobin is directing the pilot Riordan is writing, the author explains, noting Bobin called the shots on the first installment of Disney+’s The Mysterious Benedict Society, “which I love,” Riordan admits. “James knows the Percy Jackson books well, his kids are fans,” the author explains, saying the show “is in great hands.”

Disney is the parent company of ABC News.

+ More