As the fallout from the Astroworld continues, Travis Scott has been removed from the Coachella 2022 lineup, according to reports from the city of Indio and the Community Services Manager Jim Curtis,KESQ reports.
The news comes after Scott’s own Astroworld Festival in November, where 10 died and hundreds were injured when the crowd surged toward the stage during Scott’s performance. Sources toldVariety that Scott’s manager, Cara Lewis, had been informed of Coachella’s plan to move the “SICKO MODE” rapper as a headlining act, and festival organizers even offered to pay a fee for the cancellation. However, Lewis reportedly has been adamant about keeping Scott on the lineup, offering to waive the entire performance fee, the insider revealed.
Reps for Scott, the festival and the city of Indio, Calif. have not confirmed the KESQ report, the outlet adds.
Nearly three hundred separate lawsuits have been filed against Scott and the promoters of the Astroworld Festival. The lawsuits accuse Scott, who headlined and organized the event on November 5 at Houston’s NRG Park, as well as promoters Live Nation and other companies involved in the festival, of criminal negligence in how they planned and conducted Astroworld.
On December 9, in an hour-long interview posted to Charlamagne’s YouTube page, Scott reiterated that he did not know the extent of the tragedy until after the show. He also denies hearing screams for help from the crowd during his performance, which would have prompted him to shut things down.
Scott added that wants to help improve concert safety measures for the future, so something like this never happens again.
(WASHINGTON) — President Joe Biden is facing significant skepticism from the American public, with his job approval rating lagging across a range of major issues, including new lows for his handling of crime, gun violence and the economic recovery, a new ABC/Ipsos poll finds.
As the White House confronts rising and widespread concern about inflation, Americans are especially negative on how the Biden administration is managing this issue.
More than two-thirds of Americans (69%) disapprove of how Biden is handling inflation (only 28% approve) while more than half (57%) disapprove of his handling of the economic recovery. Partisan splits for inflation show expected negativity in Republican views (94% disapproving), but the survey also reveals weaknesses from Biden’s own party with only a slim majority of Democrats (54%) approving. Biden’s orbit is also hemorrhaging independent voters, with 71% disapproving of his handling of inflation.
The ABC/Ipsos poll, which was conducted by Ipsos in partnership with ABC News using Ipsos’ KnowledgePanel, reveals these rocky ratings for Biden at a time when the bulk of Americans name inflation and paying everyday bills as a top concern. Concern about inflation has eclipsed worry about the coronavirus pandemic, according to recent polls from Monmouth and AP-NORC, as Republicans continuously spotlight rising prices at the gas pump and the grocery store as a key issue for the upcoming midterm elections — likely to be a referendum on Biden’s performance.
These low job assessments in areas of high public concern have led to a new low in Biden’s overall approval rating, measured by FiveThirtyEight at 43%.
The findings show Biden slightly above water in one sector: his handling of COVID-19. A slim majority (53%) of Americans approve of Biden’s handling of the pandemic. Even so, Biden’s COVID approval rating is now numerically at its lowest point in ABC/Ipsos polling since he took office, another warning sign for what might be a tough battle to maintain majorities in the U.S. House and Senate.
The White House has expanded federal COVID-19 mitigation efforts as the delta and omicron variants spur stricter vaccination and mask requirements across the country.
Biden has stood by his politically controversial decision to require vaccinations for federal employees and all contractors, a move affecting millions of workers in the public and private sectors. The decision, challenged by state GOP lawmakers, was recently blocked by a U.S. District Court. That said, a bare majority of Americans (51%) are on Biden’s side regarding vaccine mandates, and 7 in 10 Americans believe that mask mandates should remain the same or be more strict.
Biden also sees lagging support for his handling of rising rates of violence in many places across the county. As the national murder rates see historic jumps, only a little more than 1 in 3 Americans (36%) approve of Biden’s handling of crime, down from 43% in an ABC News/Ipsos poll in late October. Similarly, approval of Biden’s handling of gun violence is 32%, down from 39% in the October poll. That figure shrinks among nonpartisans with only 1 in 4 independents approving of Biden’s work on gun violence.
A slim majority of Americans (51%) disapprove of Biden’s handling of climate change. But a large majority of Democrats (81%) approve on this issue, despite some grumbling from progressives that the administration has not done enough. Soon after assuming office, Biden issued a series of executive orders in an attempt to reduce greenhouse emissions and pause new oil and gas leasing on federal property.
Biden’s recent two-hour video call with Russian President Vladimir Putin did not appear to have impressed the American public. This poll finds that most Americans (55%) disapprove of how Biden is handling relations with Russia. Further, only 38% of Americans trust Biden to negotiate on America’s behalf with Putin, which is down from 49% in an ABC News/Ipsos poll in June.
This ABC News/Ipsos poll was conducted using Ipsos Public Affairs’ KnowledgePanel® Dec. 10-11, 2021, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 524 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 5.0 points, including the design effect. Partisan divisions are 29-25-36%, Democrats-Republicans-independents. See the poll’s topline results and details on the methodology here.
ABC News’ Dan Merkle and Ken Goldstein contributed to this report.
(BAYTOWN, Texas) — One person is dead and 14 are injured — three critically — after a shooting in Baytown, Texas, officials said.
A gunman opened fire on a crowd participating in a celebration of life in the area, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to ABC’s Texas station, KTRK.
KTRK spoke to HCSO’s sergeant, who said a mother was holding a vigil for her son who was killed at his home a couple weeks ago, when an unknown suspect drove down the road shooting rounds into the crowd.
“@HCSOTexas units responded to 1403 N Market Loop. Preliminary info: a large crowd gathered for a celebration of life. A vehicle approached and someone from the vehicle began shooting into the crowd. At least 8 people sustained injuries; 7 are non-fatal, but one has been,” Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tweeted.
“Update to shooting on N. Market Loop: told the number of wounded individuals is now up to 14; 1 has been pronounced deceased, 3 being taken by Lifeflight in critical condition, and the remaining ones are said to have non/fatal injuries,” he later added.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
ABC News’ Marilyn Heck contributed to this report.
(NEW YORK) — As the COVID-19 pandemic has swept the globe, more than 5.3 million people have died from the disease worldwide, including over 797,000 Americans, according to real-time data compiled by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering.
About 60.8% of the population in the United States is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing. All times Eastern:
Dec 13, 5:29 am
Omicron appears to spread faster and weaken vaccines, WHO says
The omicron variant appears to have a “growth advantage” over the delta variant, the World Health Organization said in a technical brief released Sunday.
“It is spreading faster than the delta variant in South Africa where delta circulation was low, but also appears to spread more quickly than the delta variant in other countries where the incidence of delta is high, such as in the United Kingdom,” the WHO said in the brief, which was dated Friday. “Whether omicron’s observed rapid growth rate in countries with high levels of population immunity is related to immune evasion, intrinsic increased transmissibility, or a combination of both remains uncertain. However, given the current available data, it is likely that omicron will outpace the delta variant where community transmission occurs.”
Meanwhile, preliminary findings from South Africa suggest omicron may cause less severe illness than delta, and all cases of omicron reported in Europe to date have been mild or asymptomatic. But the WHO said “it remains unclear to what extent omicron may be inherently less virulent” and that “more data are needed to understand the severity profile.”
The WHO also noted that “there are limited available data, and no peer-reviewed evidence, on vaccine efficacy or effectiveness to date for omicron.” However, preliminary evidence, and the considerably altered antigenic profile of the variant’s spike protein, suggests a reduction in vaccine efficacy against infection and transmission associated with omicron.
“There is some preliminary evidence that the incidence of reinfection has increased in South Africa, which may be associated with humoral (antibody-mediated) immune evasion,” the WHO said.
The diagnostic accuracy of routinely used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and antigen-based rapid diagnostic test (Ag-RDT) assays does not appear to be influenced by omicron. Therapeutic interventions for the management of severe or critical COVID-19 symptoms associated with omicron are also expected to remain effective, according to the WHO.
“However, monoclonal antibodies will need to be tested individually, for their antigen binding and virus neutralization and these studies should be prioritized,” the WHO added.
Dec 13, 4:37 am
South Africa’s president tests positive for COVID-19
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is receiving treatment for “mild COVID-19 symptoms” after testing positive for the virus on Sunday, his office said in a statement.
Ramaphosa, 69, began feeling unwell earlier Sunday after leaving a state memorial service in Cape Town in honor of Frederik Willem de Klerk, South Africa’s last apartheid president and a Nobel laureate, who died last month. Ramaphosa, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, was experiencing “mild” symptoms and a test confirmed he was infected, according to his office. The statement didn’t say whether he has the omicron variant, which was discovered by scientists in southern Africa last month and is spreading rapidly.
Ramaphosa is self-isolating in Cape Town and is being monitored by the South African Military Health Service. He has delegated all his responsibilities to Deputy President David Mabuza for the next week, his office said.
Last week, Ramaphosa traveled with a delegation to four West African nations. He and the members of the South African delegation were all tested for COVID-19 in each of the countries during their trip. They returned to South Africa on Dec. 8, after testing negative in Senegal. Ramaphosa tested negative again upon arriving in Johannesburg that day, according to his office.
The statement advised people who had contact with the South African president on Sunday to watch for symptoms or to get tested for COVID-19.
“President Ramaphosa says his own infection serves as a caution to all people in the country to be vaccinated and remain vigilant against exposure,” his office said in the statement. “Vaccination remains the best protection against severe illness and hospitalization.”
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Sunday’s sports events:
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
Milwaukee 112, New York 97
Brooklyn 116, Detroit 104
Dallas 103, Oklahoma City 84
San Antonio 112, New Orleans 97
Minnesota 116, Portland 111
LA Lakers 106, Orlando 94
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
Nashville 1, NY Rangers 0
Anaheim 3, St. Louis 2 (OT)
Colorado 3, Florida 2
Vegas 6, Minnesota 4
Vancouver 2, Carolina 1
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Atlanta 29, Carolina 21
Cleveland 24, Baltimore 22
Dallas 27, Washington 20
Kansas City 48, Las Vegas 9
New Orleans 30, NY Jets 9
Seattle 33, Houston 13
Tennessee 20, Jacksonville 0
Denver 38, Detroit 10
LA Chargers 37, NY Giants 21
San Francisco 26, Cincinnati 23 (OT)
Tampa Bay 33, Buffalo 27 (OT)
Green Bay 45, Chicago 30
TOP-25 COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Purdue 82, NC State 72
Baylor 57, Villanova 36
Southern Cal 73, Long Beach St. 62
Iowa St. 47, Jackson St. 37
Maryland 70, Florida 68
Seton Hall 77, Rutgers 63
Washington at Gonzaga (Postponed)
Christina Milian has a few reasons to flash that million-dollar smile.
The two-time Grammy nominee “loves” Christmas and loves getting into the holiday spirit, particularly now that she’s a mom to three kids: her new baby son, Kenna, his 1-year-old brother, Isaiah, and their nearly 11-year-old sister, Violet Madison.
“All these different stages in their life kind of make it even more exciting for me as a mom to do things that my parents did for us as kids,” Christina tells ABC Audio. “You know, making the cookies or…tracking the footsteps of Santa’s footsteps from the chimney to the door…”
She explains with a big laugh, “If you don’t have a fireplace, sometimes you just do it from the door to the tree!”
With the recent 20th anniversary of her self-titled debut album, and a number of acting roles under her belt, Christina says she wants to give music another go. She recently recorded a song for her STARZ show Step Up, and is looking at going further. “I feel like this is a good age to try one more time,” she explains. “And if it’s not, than I’ll just chill out. Maybe I’ll make a Christmas album,” she says with a laugh. “Maybe next year, I’ll get back in the lab.”
Milian has another reason to smile: She’s collaborating with Crest and Oral-B for an initiative to bring dental care to millions of underserved people in this country.
“[So] many children, especially Black and Hispanic children, do not have the access to oral care or products that they deserve,” she explained, telling ABC Audio that her mother, a Cuban immigrant, suffered needlessly for years because of a lack of access to adequate oral care early in her life.
Armie Hammer has checked out of a Florida treatment facility where he spent most the of year following allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct.
On Sunday, Hammer’s lawyer told E! Online, “I can confirm that Mr. Hammer has left the treatment facility and is doing great.” An exact exit date was not confirmed.
The news comes after reports that the Call Me By Your Name actor entered rehab on May 31 seeking treatment for drug, alcohol, and sex issues — just months after he was embroiled in controversy after two women came forward lodging serious accusations against him.
In January, his ex-girlfriend, Paige Lorenze, released unverified DMs that allegedly came from Hammer and claimed the actor harbored fantasies involving cannibalism. In addition, the 22-year-old alleged Hammer was “obsessed” with the idea of “taking a piece of me…and consuming it.”
The second woman, a 24-year-old who goes by the name Effie, claimed she thought the the Golden Globe nominee was going to kill her after he allegedly “violently” raped her on April 24, 2017.
Hammer was subsequently dropped from multiple projects following the accusations.
Anna Barclay for Glastonbury Festival via Getty Images
Prepare for the fabric of reality to change when HAIM opens for Red Hot Chili Peppers next summer.
Speaking with ABC Audio, Alana Haim reveals that she’s a “huge” fan of the “Under the Bridge” rockers. What she’s most looking forward to, though, is seeing her older sister and HAIM bassist Este Haim meet RHCP bass extraordinaire Flea for the first time.
“I feel like the Earth is gonna open up and, like, flames of basses are just gonna fall through the sky,” Alana says.
“I don’t think the world will ever be the same when Este meets Flea,” she continues. “I’m gonna hire a camera crew just so I can get the first reaction. I feel like they’re both just gonna, like, do bass solos at each other for 45 minutes.”
In addition to the RHCP shows, which take place July 23 in Denver and July 27 in San Diego, HAIM will be embarking on their own headlining tour next year. The outing will mark the trio’s first full tour behind their 2020 album Women in Music Pt. III, which Alana calls their “favorite.”
“I mean, that album was made to be toured,” Alana says. “Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we couldn’t tour. But finally I can say we are touring next year, which is really exciting.”
“I’m just ready to get back on the road, I miss it so much,” she adds. “I’m dying to play.”
The “Blood//Water” rocker is set to open for Imagine Dragons on the band’s 2022 U.S. tour. He’ll join the “Radioactive” outfit from February 6 in Miami to February 23 in St. Louis.
“IMAGINE GRANNY ARENA TOUR 2022 LET’S DO THIS,” grandson tweeted in all caps in announcing the news.
Following grandson’s opening stint, ID’s U.S. tour will continue from February 25 in Milwaukee, to March 14 in Phoenix. They’ll be supporting their new album Mercury — Act 1, which includes the singles “Follow You” and “Wrecked.”
A revised and updated version of the authorized 1992 Queen biography Queen: As It Began, which told the story of the legendary British rock band through the 1991 death of frontman Freddie Mercury, will be published on March 24, 2022.
Queen: As It Began (Revised and Updated Edition) features new contributions from Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor, including exclusive interviews with the two band mates, and adds to the story of the group through 1996.
The updated version of the book features a new foreword penned by May, as well as many additional photographs.
Queen: As It Began was co-written by respected Queen expert Jim Jenkins and Jacky Smith, who has run the group’s official international fan club for 40 years.
The book offers an in-depth look at the band’s history, including the childhoods and early musical endeavors of its four members — Mercury, May, Taylor and bassist John Deacon — the band’s late 1960s origins as a group called Smile that initially featured May and Taylor, the emergence of Queen after the additions of Mercury and Deacon, the group’s path to global superstardom, Freddie’s tragic death at age 45 from AIDS, and its aftermath.
“A source of much pleasure to anyone who has an interest in the inside story of the making of that unusual phenomenon known as Queen,” May says of the book.
You can pre-order the updated version of Queen: As It Began now at the band’s official online store.
