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Estée Lauder’s executive group president leaves company after racist Instagram post

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Beauty company Estée Lauder said John Demsey, executive group president, was told to leave the company on Monday, after posting a racist meme to his Instagram account.

Demsey’s shared image was a meme of a children’s book cover showing the Muppet Big Bird wearing a mask over his mouth and the Muppet Snuffy sick in bed. The meme made light of COVID-19 and, as a way to describe Snuffy, used the N-word as part of the book’s title.

“This decision is the result of his recent Instagram posts, which do not reflect the values of The Estée Lauder Companies, have caused widespread offense, are damaging to our efforts to drive inclusivity both inside and outside our walls, and do not reflect the judgment we expect of our leaders,” the company said in a staff memo signed by Executive Chairman William P. Lauder, as well as Fabrizio Freda, president and CEO.

Social media quickly responded, condemning Demsey’s decision to share the meme.

Adrienne Lawrence, vice president of Jennifer Brown Consulting, a diversity organization, tweeted, “While I’m glad Estée Lauder acted swiftly by firing this executive for posting a racist meme, I hope the company takes the next step of rooting out how racism is impacting those within its ranks.”

Demsey posted an apology note to his Instagram, saying he is “deeply ashamed that I hurt so many people when I made the horrible mistake of carelessly reposting a meme without reading it beforehand.”

Despite reports that the executive was fired from the company, The New York Times reported that the company placed Demsey on unpaid leave, according to a regulatory filing. Demsey has agreed to retire, effective March 4.

Dierks Bentley and Elle King debut new song at the Ryman Auditorium

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Dierks Bentley and Elle King are teaming up for a new song.

On Monday night, Elle headlined the Ryman Auditorium and brought her “Different for Girls” duet partner out as a surprise guest to perform a new song they’re releasing. Fans at the show have shared videos where Elle can be heard saying that the title of the track is “Worth a Shot.”

“Jumped up on stage with my buddy @ElleKingMusic at @theryman last night! So fun to debut a new song we have together… love you Elle!” Dierks writes alongside a candid shot of them performing.

“Love you Dierks!!” adds Elle.

“Different for Girls” was released in 2016 as the second single off Dierks’ Black album. It scored them a Grammy nomination and win for Vocal Event of the Year at the CMA Awards.

Elle is currently climbing the country charts with Miranda Lambert, as “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” is in the top 10 on the Billboard Country Airplay chart.

Jennifer Lopez to co-author bilingual children’s book with Jimmy Fallon

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jennifer Lopez is adding another title to her expansive resume — children’s book author. The Marry Me star is teaming with late-night show host Jimmy Fallon to create the bilingual tale Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure. And Jennifer could not be more pumped to release her new project.

“I’m so excited to launch my first children’s book and it’s even more special to collaborate with Jimmy,” she raved to People.

Jennifer and Jimmy are longtime friends. The late-night show host said the two “have always wanted to do something together.”

“Since we’re both parents, we thought a children’s book would be the perfect fit,” Jimmy added. “It’s fun and educational and my Spanish teachers from high school would be so impressed to know that I’m teaching kids to speak Spanish with Jennifer Lopez.”

The book will feature “a plucky chicken named Pollo” who will help introduce children to the Spanish language.

This marks Jennifer’s first children’s book, and Jimmy’s sixth. He previously authored Your Baby’s First Words Will Be Dada, Everything Is Mama, This Is Baby, Five More Sleeps ‘Til Christmas, with a book titled Nana Loves You More coming out in March.

Con Pollo: A Bilingual Playtime Adventure is already available for preorder and will be released on October 11.

Alex Lifeson on collaborating with Rush band mate Geddy Lee again: “It’ll happen when it happens”

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson says he has no current plans to collaborate with his fellow surviving band mate, singer/bassist Geddy Lee, but isn’t ruling out working with him on new music in the future.

“We’re not putting any pressure on it or anything,” Lifeson explains in a new interview with Guitar World. “We had a lot of good years together and we still love each other very much. I talk to Geddy every other day — we’re best friends. There’s more to our life together than just writing music. So if it happens, it happens. And it’ll happen when it happens.”

Rush played its final show in August 2015, when the band wrapped up its R40 40th anniversary tour. Any chance for a full reunion ended with the passing of drummer Neal Peart, who died of brain cancer in January 2020 at age 67.

Lifeson currently is preparing for release of the self-titled debut of his new group, Envy of None, which also features bassist/singer Andy Curran of the veteran Canadian rock band Coney Hatch, and a 24-year-old vocalist named Maiah Wynne from Portland, Oregon.

Alex tells Guitar World that Envy of None’s music doesn’t sound like anything he’s previously done.

“There’s lots of straight-ahead guitar, but there’s also mandola and lots of manipulated, sequenced things,” he notes. “And I’ve really become an aficionado of backwards guitar as well. So there’s everything from acoustic fingerstyle stuff to really heavy stuff, trippy kind of backwards things to Hendrix-y melodic parts. I’m really quite pleased with it.”

The Envy of None album, which can be pre-ordered now, will be released on April 8.

‘Jeopardy!’ contestant removes wig to destigmatize cancer recovery

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(LOS ANGELES) — Jeopardy! contestant Christine Whelchel has been competing on the popular TV game show since last week but it wasn’t just her winning performances that have been capturing viewers’ attention.

The piano teacher and church organist from Spring Hill, Tennessee, appeared without a light brown wig during Monday’s episode and explained why she wanted to do so during a Q-and-A with host Ken Jennings.

“After the winnings, I decided that I didn’t need to hide behind a wig anymore and I wanted to normalize what cancer recovery looks like,” Whelchel said.

Whelchel is a four-day Jeopardy! champion, having already won $73,602.

The game show shared a video clip of Whelchel discussing her decision on Twitter and in a caption added, “A strong Jeopardy! player and an even stronger person. ❤️”

A strong Jeopardy! player and an even stronger person. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/NQqJS2uAs1

— Jeopardy! (@Jeopardy) March 1, 2022

The tweet has already garnered over 90,000 views and more than 5,000 likes, with many commenting and sharing their own cancer recovery photos.

“Go go go, Christine! 🙌🏼 This was me with my husband, 3 months after my last chemo session,” wrote one commenter.

Another shared a smiling selfie and commented, “Go Christine! from a fellow warrior.”

Whelchel explained in an earlier Q-and-A last week that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago. Shortly after learning about her diagnosis, she said she decided to try her luck and take the Jeopardy! test, the first step in getting on to the game show. Whelchel also said she is currently cancer-free.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hair loss or alopecia is a common side effect of some cancer treatments like chemotherapy. After Whelchel was featured as the Play of the Day on Good Morning America Tuesday, co-anchor Robin Roberts mentioned that cancer patients who wear wigs don’t always do so for themselves.

“Sometimes we wear the wig to put others at ease,” she pointed out.

“[Whelchel] showed a lot of strength, a lot of courage. And I’m telling you, people were watching. It makes such a big, big difference,” Roberts, a cancer survivor herself, added.

Trump appeals ruling ordering depositions in New York probe

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Attorneys for former President Donald Trump have appealed a ruling that he and his two eldest children must testify in the investigation by the New York state attorney general into the family’s business practices.

Trump’s attorneys filed the notice of appeal on Monday, nearly two weeks after a New York judge ruled on Feb 17 that the three Trumps must sit for depositions within 21 days.

The Trump family had unsuccessfully tried to quash the subpoena for testimony, arguing that it was improper for the attorney general’s office to issue subpoenas for its civil investigation while the Manhattan district attorney’s office is still conducting its separate criminal probe.

Judge Arthur Engoron of the New York State Supreme Court rejected that argument.

“This argument completely misses the mark,” Engoron wrote in his decision. “Neither OAG nor the Manhattan District Attorney’s office has subpoenaed the New Trump Respondents to appear before a grand jury, The New Trump Respondents’ argument overlooks the salient fact that they have an absolute right to refuse to answer questions that they claim may incriminate them.”

The judge noted that when Trump’s son Eric sat for a deposition two years ago as part of the same investigation, he invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination more than 500 times.

Trump also argued that the investigation into his business practices is overtly political, and cited statements New York Attorney General Letitia James made during and after her campaign for attorney general about her intentions to investigate the former president and his family’s real estate firm.

The judge found those statements had no bearing on the legitimacy of the subpoenas.

“Attorney General James, just like respondent Donald J. Trump, was not deprived of her First Amendment rights to free speech when she was a politician running for a public office with investigatory powers,” the judge’s decision said.

“The abhorrent statements made by Letitia leave no doubt that this is yet another politically motivated witch-hunt,” Trump attorney Alina Habba said in response to the ruling. “The court clearly had its mind made up and had no interest in engaging in impartial discourse on this critically important issue.”

Trump, in a statement following the ruling, blasted the investigation.

“She is doing everything within their corrupt discretion to interfere with my business relationships, and with the political process,” he said of James. “It is a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in history — and remember, I can’t get a fair hearing in New York because of the hatred of me by Judges and the judiciary. It is not possible!”

“Today, justice prevailed,” said James following the ruling. “Donald J. Trump, Donald Trump, Jr., and Ivanka Trump have been ordered by the court to comply with our lawful investigation into Mr. Trump and the Trump Organization’s financial dealings. No one will be permitted to stand in the way of the pursuit of justice, no matter how powerful they are. No one is above the law.”

Hulk Hogan says he’s divorced, has new girlfriend

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

If you don’t know, now you know — Hulk Hogan and his second wife Jennifer McDaniel have divorced and the wrestling legend has a new girlfriend.

Taking to social media on Monday, Hogan announced, “Yo Maniacs just for the record, the Facebook and Instagram posts are of me and my girlfriend Sky, I am officially divorced.”

“Sorry I thought everyone already knew, love my Maniacs4Life,” he concluded.

Prior to the announcement, Hogan had been spotted with another woman around Clearwater, Florida for weeks, TMZ reports. Additionally, the outlet obtained court documents that show Hogan filed for divorce in October 2021 and it was finalized that same year.

Hogan and McDaniel married in 2010, after he split from his first wife Linda Marie Bollea, to whom he was married from 1983 until 2009.

Danzig announces US tour, including in-full ‘Lucifuge’ performance

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Danzing has announced a U.S. headlining tour.

The spring outing launches May 5 in Reno, Nevada, and will wrap up May 19 in Austin, Texas. For just one of the tour stops, taking place May 7 in Ontario, California, Danzig will play is 1990 sophomore solo album, Danzig II: Lucifuge, in full.

Cradle of Filth and Crobot will provide support. For the full list of dates and all ticket info, visit Danzig-Verotik.com.

Danzig’s latest album is his 2020 Elvis covers compilation, Danzig Sings Elvis. His most recent original effort is 2017’s Black Laden Crown.

Jonas Brothers announce mini Las Vegas residency for June

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Jonas Brothers are joining the crowd of artists heading to Las Vegas.

The group will do a five-night mini residency at Dolby Live at Park MGM on June 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. Tickets go on sale March 7 at 10 a.m. PT via Ticketmaster.com. For full details, visit Jonas Brothers.com.

JoBros fan club members can buy tickets starting tomorrow, Wednesday, March 2, at 10 a.m PT, as can Citi cardmembers. Pre-sales for members of the MGM Rewards program, and Live Nation and Ticketmaster customers can get access to a pre-sale on March 4 at 10 a.m. PT.

Usher and Silk Sonic recently announced extended residencies at Dolby Live.

JoBros also have four dates scheduled for Mexico in August and September.

Franz Ferdinand cancels Russia dates in support of Ukraine

March 1, 2022 by WDNY Radio

Franz Ferdinand is the latest band to pull concert dates in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

In a Twitter thread posted Tuesday morning, the “Take Me Out” rockers write, “We are cancelling our Russian shows that are scheduled for this summer. The only reason for this is the invasion of Ukraine by the Russian state.”

“We love Russia,” the thread reads. “This great country has inspired our band through its art and literature and since we first played there seventeen years ago, we have built a rich and deep relationship with our Russian fans.”

“Since Thursday morning, we have spoken to many of our friends in Russia via social media and have encountered unanimous opposition to this violence and solidarity with our Ukrainian friends,” the band continues. “We know you see the madness of your country’s leadership. We know you do not want war. We do not want war.”

Franz concludes, “Despite the tragedy of this situation, we still burn a flame of optimism in our hearts and look forward to the day when we can return in a time of peace to share the joy of music together again.”

In that spirit of finding that light in the darkness, all of Twitter is making pretty much the same joke about Franz Ferdinand being named after Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, whose assassination led to the beginning of World War I.

Other artists who’ve canceled shows in Russia in support of Ukraine include Green Day, Imagine Dragons, AJR and Yungblud.

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