In a video posted to his Instagram Monday, Dave Chappelle has responded to those who protested his Netflix special The Closer, claiming it was “transphobic.”
“I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said,” he says in the clip while seated on stage in front of an audience.
“You said you want a safe environment at Netflix,” he says of his detractors, “but it seems like I’m the only one who can’t go to the office anymore.”
“Even though the media frames this as if it’s me vs. that community, that’s not what it is,” the Mark Twain Prize winner explains. “I do not blame the LGBT community for any of this s***…This is about corporate interests and what I say and what I cannot say!”
Dave explains to the crowd, “Everyone I know from this community has been nothing but loving and supporting. So I don’t know what all this nonsense is about.”
Chappelle says he’s willing to meet members of trans community, but adds, “I am not bending to anyone’s demands. And if you want to meet with me…I have some conditions: First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny.”
Gadsby had slammed Chappelle’s comedy, as well as Sarandos for posting the specials.
Chappelle also notes that he’s being dis-invited from film festivals that previously asked him to screen his documentary Untitled, so he’s releasing it to 10 American cities.
“…You cannot have this conversation and exclude my voice from it!” he emphasized. “You have to answer the question: Am I cancelled or not?” To which the audience yelled, “NO!”
“Then let’s go!” he exclaimed before thanking the audience, and tossing the mic.
The video then listed the 10 cities:
11/4 – San Francisco
11/7 – Minneapolis
11/9 – Des Moines
11/12 – Indianapolis
11/14 – Cleveland
11/15 – Toronto
11/17 – Cincinnati
11/19 – Columbus
11/21 – Atlanta
11/22 New York
Add one more person to the list of 14 people claiming to be the offspring of the late DMX.
Raven Barmer-Simmons from Georgia contacted DMX’s alleged adult children, and all of them will be DNA tested to confirm their paternity, Page Six reports.
The “Party Up (Up in Here)” rapper, born Earl Simmons, died on April 9 at age 50 from a heart attack. He did not leave a will, and his estate is estimated to be worth one million dollars.
On Friday, DMX’s three sons — Xavier, Tacoma and Sean Simmons — from his 16-year marriage to Tashera Simmons, were appointed as temporary administrators of his estate by Judge Helen Blackwood.
The fiancée of the three-time Grammy nominee, Desiree Lindstrom, who is the mother to DMX’s 5-year-old son, Exodus, asked to be legally declared his “common-law wife,” but her request was denied, reports Page Six.
“The next big thing is to determine who are the rightful heirs. The estate is going to ask everyone to prove paternity through DNA testing,” said Herbert Nass, the trusts and and estates attorney for Xavier, Tacoma and Sean Simmons. “All the legal children of DMX will be entitled to an equal share of his estate.”
(NEW YORK) — Lawyers for the drug kingpin known as El Chapo argued Monday for a new trial, insisting “breathtaking jury misconduct” and an “unparalleled set of stifling defense restrictions” marred his conviction.
Joaquin Guzman, 64, was sentenced to life in prison after he was found guilty in February 2019 of running an industrial-sized drug trafficking operation, the Sinaloa cartel, one of the world’s largest, most profitable and most ruthless drug smuggling organizations.
Guzman’s attorney, Marc Fernich, argued El Chapo did not get a fair trial because his solitary confinement in what the lawyer called a “modern dungeon” impaired his “cognitive, emotional and mental” faculties.
“The combination of unprecedented restrictions made it impossible to meaningfully prepare a defense,” Fernich said in court Monday.
Under questioning from a three-judge panel of the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals, Fernich conceded the defense made no specific objections during trial. Prosecutors said the strict conditions of El Chapo’s confinement were deemed necessary.
“This judge was presented with a defendant who had already escaped from prison twice in Mexico in dramatic fashion, who had a history of intimidating and killing perceived rivals and who had previously run his criminal enterprise while incarcerated,” the Justice Department’s Brett Reynolds said in court Monday.
Guzman’s appeal also argued the trial judge should have more forcefully questioned whether jurors disobeyed repeated instructions to avoid information about the case that was not included as evidence.
An anonymous juror told Vice News that five jurors consumed news coverage or followed the trial on social media. Fernich called them “5 jurors who don’t know the meaning of an oath” and urged the appellate court to pursue an inquiry.
“It’s very disquieting in a case like this to do an end-around and let it go,” Fernich said. “This guy is going to be in a box for the rest of his natural life. I’m not asking you to play violins for him and I’m not playing any violins for him either. This is very, very serious business for everybody concerned.”
Prosecutors argued the Vice article was insufficient to merit an inquiry.
“The evidence here is not competent. It’s just not. It’s anonymously sourced. It’s non-corroborated. It is hearsay and double hearsay,” the Justice Department’s Hiral Mehta said in court Monday.
Zhao (center) and Eternals cast/Marvel Studios, Walt Disney Pictures
(SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD) Sure, superheroes exist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but thanks to a couple of lines in the Eternals, costumed do-gooders from Marvel Comics competitor DC are apparently also a thing.
There’s a line in the yet-to-be released film that acknowledges for the first time that regular people in the MCU are aware of Superman and Batman, and that’s because of Eternals‘ Oscar-winning director Chloe Zhao. “I take responsibility of that,” she tells Variety.
At one point in the movie, a young character recognizes Richard Madden‘s Ikaris from seeing in action, and exclaims, “That’s Superman!…With the cape, and you were shooting laser beams out of your eyes!”
Ikaris then winks, “I don’t wear a cape.”
Another scene has Don Lee‘s Gilgamesh referring to the butler of Kumail Nanjiani‘s Kingo as “Alfred,” who is, of course, the keeper of the Caped Crusader’s secrets.
While the reveals blew fans’ minds, Zhao explains to Variety how the multiverse-shaking name-drops came to be. “We’re playing on a genre that draws so much from mythology, and Superman, for example, was created in the comics and also by these brilliant filmmakers along the way — they’re modern reinterpretations of a mythical characters that exist in different cultures.”
She says, “Ikaris is our interpretation of it. It doesn’t mean we can’t pay tribute to the really iconic version that we’ve all grown to love and has influenced us.”
The unprecedented references obviously got the blessing of Marvel Studios’ head Kevin Feige. “I don’t think there was a conversation…except, he goes, ‘Oh, that’s cool,'” Zhao says.
Eternals hits theaters November 5.
Marvel Studios is owned by Disney, the parent company of ABC News.
Rapper Saweetie and Insecure actress Yvonne Orji are taking a seat in the barber’s chair for an upcoming episode of HBO’s The Shop:Uninterrupted.
The two stars will be featured on the season four finale, which airs Friday, October 29 at 9 p.m. ET. They join David Beckham, James Corden, Bubba Wallace and Paul Rivera. Hosted by Maverick Carter, The Shop:Uninterrupted centers on thoughtful conversations and debates among some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment. Past guests have include Tom Brady, Jay-Z, Drake, Will Smith, and former President Barack Obama.
In other news, Tisha Campbell and Emerson Brooks will star opposite Neil Patrick Harris in Netflix’s new comedy series, Uncoupled, Deadline reports. They join the cast as series regulars. Campbell will play high-powered real estate agent Suzanne, while Brooks will portray Billy, a TV weatherman and close friend of Harris’ Michael. Uncoupled follows Harris as Michael, a man who thought “his life was perfect until his husband blindsides him by walking out the door after 17 years.” A release date for Uncoupled has not been set.
Finally, Tessa Thompson is helping to develop Raven Leilani’s best-selling, award-winning debut novel, Luster, into a TV series. According to Deadline, Thompson’s production company Viva Maude and the studio Gaumont are teaming up to adapt the work for HBO. The book, released in 2020, follows Edie, a Black artist living in Brooklyn who begins an affair with a white man in his forties. Their relationship becomes even more complicated when Edie movies in with him and his wife and she forms “an unexpected bond with their adopted Black daughter, Akila.” Casting details for Luster has not be announced.
During a recent interview on a Dutch radio station, U.K. pop star Ed Sheeran randomly announced that he and Elton John were planning to release a joint Christmas single this year. But Elton wasn’t very amused, since the news was supposed to be kept on the down low — and besides, the record isn’t even complete.
Speaking to the British music publication NME, Elton laughs, “Yeah, he let the cat out of the bag didn’t he? I was sworn to secrecy and then big mouth f***ing Sheeran goes to the Netherlands!” Elton adds, “It’s supposed to come out — we haven’t finished it yet, so there’s still work to be done.”
Elton added, “I can’t say any more than that because it’s in his hands.”
If the record does come out, it’ll likely be Elton’s second big hit of 2021, following the U.K. number-one chart success of his Dua Lipa collaboration, “Cold Heart,” from his new album The Lockdown Sessions.
“Everything’s been a bonus with this record. Whether it sells one copy or a million copies, it doesn’t matter to me,” Elton says of the album. “I had so much fun and I learnt so much from doing it.”
Elton plans to resume his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour next year, and he confirms that yes, this really is it.
“At the moment, I finish supposedly in 2023, in the summer, by which time I’ll be 76,” Elton tells NME. “And that’s it, baby. I can’t wait to do it and have a great time, and I can’t wait to finish and say, ‘No more — I’ve had enough.'”
Elton confirms that he’ll continue to make records but as far as live shows, he admits, “I’ve had enough applause. I wanna be with my family. I wanna be with my boys.”
(NEW YORK) — Rental car giant Hertz announced it was buying 100,000 Tesla electric vehicles that will be available to customers starting next month.
Tesla stock soared on news of the massive order, and its market cap hit the $1 trillion milestone during intraday trading Monday, a feat very few U.S. companies have attained.
The announcement also comes just months after Hertz emerged from bankruptcy, after the COVID-19 pandemic gutted the travel and rental car industry in 2020.
In addition to the initial order of 100,000 Teslas by the end of 2022, Hertz also announced it was adding new electric vehicle charging infrastructure at outposts across its global operations.
Starting in early November, the company said customers will be able to rent a Tesla Model 3 at Hertz airport and neighborhood locations in major U.S. markets and select cities in Europe. It will offer digitized guidance to educate customers about the electric vehicles, and soon hopes to offer an expedited electric vehicle rental booking process through its app.
“Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and we’ve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest,” Hertz interim CEO Mark Fields said in a statement Monday.
“The new Hertz is going to lead the way as a mobility company, starting with the largest EV rental fleet in North America and a commitment to grow our EV fleet and provide the best rental and recharging experience for leisure and business customers around the world,” Fields added.
The company said it was the first U.S. car rental company to introduce electric vehicles to its rental fleet in 2011 and that with the current order, electric vehicles will comprise more than 20% of Hertz global fleet.
Hertz is teaming up with seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady on an ad campaign about its new electric vehicle fleet.
“Although the company has been around for over 100 years, their constant evolution, especially now, is something that is amazing to be a part of,” Brady said in a statement. “I’ve been driving an EV for years and knowing Hertz is leading the way with their electric fleet speaks to how the world is changing and the way companies are approaching being environmentally and socially conscious. I’ve always loved how easy and convenient Hertz makes it for me when I’m traveling to my favorite places like New York, LA and Tampa and can’t wait to see what they continue to have in store.”
The move comes amid mounting pressure on the private sector and beyond to take action on climate change. The transportation sector generated the largest share of greenhouse gas emissions in 2019, per the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, primarily from burning fossil fuels for cars, trucks, ships, trains and planes.
(NEW YORK) — A coalition of Amazon warehouse workers in New York City have officially filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday.
Kayla Blado, the press secretary for the National Labor Relations Board, confirmed to ABC News on Monday that the union petition was filed in the NLRB’s Region 29. The petition must now go through the NLRB’s formal representation election process before a vote will be held.
The group of workers, which calls themselves the Amazon Labor Union, are being led by a former fulfillment center employee of the e-commerce giant, Chris Smalls. He became the face of the labor movement at Amazon when he was fired under contentious circumstances at the beginning of the pandemic after organizing a demonstration over working conditions amid the health crisis.
The milestone comes some six months after a high-profile union bid by Amazon workers in Bessemer, Alabama, who sought to be represented by the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. The unionization efforts garnered support from lawmakers and even President Joe Biden. Ultimately, however, the election resulted in the Alabama workers overwhelmingly voting not to form a union — though the RWDSU has accused Amazon of union-busting techniques — Amazon denies this — and has filed objections over the election with the NLRB.
“We’re completely independent, worker-led through and through, grassroots,” Smalls told ABC News Friday of the New York-based group, adding that they felt there were “missed opportunities” with the failed effort in Alabama.
“We’re just trying to navigate our way — we think we know the ins-and-outs of the company better than a third party or an established union,” Smalls said in describing why they’re seeking to create an independent union. He said he’d worked at Amazon for almost five years before his termination and that his fellow lead-organizers have similar experiences.
Smalls said organizers are seeking to obtain better job security, pay and working conditions through collective bargaining.
“Amazon has a high turnover rate — they hire and fire all the time,” he said. “We want to protect workers with their job.”
“We also want a decent living wage,” he added. “I know Amazon’s going to claim that they pay better than competitors, but with the cost of living in the New York state area, it’s still not sustainable.”
He said Amazon can afford to pay workers better, pointing to the wealth of founder Jeff Bezos, who was only recently unseated by Elon Musk as the richest man in the world, per Bloomberg’s real-time data on billionaires.
Smalls told ABC News on Friday that they have more than 2,000 workers who have signed union cards, and they plan to deliver these to the NLRB’s office on Monday to file for the union election for four facilities in Staten Island. There are approximately 7,000 workers at the facilities, according to Smalls, and organizers need signatures from at least 30% of the workers. He said they’re confident they’ll secure the remaining portion before Monday.
A statement from the newly formed coalition of workers said that they built trust among colleagues through months of organizing efforts that included hosting barbecues, handing out food and cold water and holding rallies.
“This is truly a remarkable historical moment for all Amazon workers all over the country,” the Amazon Labor Union stated. “Workers under the banner of the ALU have already broken barriers, and we will continue to do so. We’re not getting complacent, and we now need the support of the communities more than ever as our fight is just getting started.”
The move comes amid a spate of strikes and new employee activism in the workplace as the pandemic wanes in the U.S.
“The timing is, like, perfect, everybody’s been paying attention to the strikes, especially Amazon workers as well,” Smalls said. “So it’s kind of like we all stand in solidarity, even though we’re in different industries.”
“I think what we’re doing here is historical, and I think the Amazon workers are happy to be a part of it,” he added.
Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, told ABC News in a statement Friday that they don’t feel unions “are the best answer for our employees.”
“Our employees have the choice of whether or not to join a union. They always have,” Nantel said. “Every day we empower people to find ways to improve their jobs, and when they do that we want to make those changes — quickly. That type of continuous improvement is harder to do quickly and nimbly with unions in the middle.”
