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Patina Miller and Omar Epps explain why ‘Power Book III: Kanan’ was the perfect series for them to join

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Patina Miller and Omar Epps say it wasn’t a tough decision to sign on to Starz’s Power prequel, Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

For Epps, joining the cast as Detective Malcolm Howard — a corrupt NYPD cop in Queens — was an opportunity for him to learn more about of one of Power‘s most notorious villains.

“I was a fan of Power,” Epps tells ABC Audio, before noting that he was “attracted” to “the notion of how far Kanan went [to become] the monster that he was.”

Epps says he was also interested in exploring Kanan’s origin story, and how “a pimple-faced teenager” from a single parent home could “evolve” into the Kanan Stark that fans first saw in Power.

“That was really interesting to me,” he says.

Epps’ co-star, Patina Miller, who plays Kanan’s fierce and protective mother Raquel, shares similar sentiments, adding that she loved the idea of joining the wildly popular Power universe as a central figure.

“I love pressure,” she says. “But there was no pressure because we’re dealing with a really amazing piece. It’s very well written. The characters are so fleshed out. Every character in our series is three dimensional. Every character has a secret. It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s gritty. It’s raw. It’s all the things that make for incredible television.”

The Tony-award winning actress’ excitement for the series doesn’t stop there.

“We have the best actors in my opinion [and] I love coming to work with each and every one of them,” Miller continues. “And I’m so excited for everyone to get to see some really amazing, talented people with some incredible writing. The all around production of this entire show [that] I’m so proud of.”

Power Book III: Raising Kanan airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on Starz.

Luke Combs pays for the funerals of three fans who died at music festival

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Luke Combs paid his respects to the three fans who died at Michigan’s Faster Horses Festival by paying for their funerals. Combs was one of the festival’s headliners.

ABC affiliate WXYZ in Detroit reports that the three victims — identified as Kole Sova, 19, Dawson Brown, 20, and Richie Mays Jr., 20 — were found deceased inside a trailer at the campgrounds. Authorities believe they died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a nearby generator.

A representative for Combs confirmed the “Beautiful Crazy” singer handled the victims’ funeral expenses but declined further comment.

No foul play is suspected at this time. Authorities say that, in addition to the deceased, two other men were found in critical condition at the trailer and remain hospitalized. Authorities told WXYZ another woman was found deceased on the grounds but don’t believe her death is related to the incident.

Combs was one of the headliners for the three-day music festival, which takes place at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan. In addition to Combs paying the funeral expenses, the Michigan Center Athletic Boosters set up a GoFundMe page to cover medical costs and set up “future scholarships in honor of Dawson, Kole and Richie.” The campaign has raised over $62,000 as of Friday morning.

Listen to new Bullet for My Valentine song, “Parasite”

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Bullet for My Valentine has unleashed a new song called “Parasite.”

The track, which is available now for digital download, will appear on the Welsh metallers’ upcoming self-titled album. It’s the second cut to be released from the record, following lead single “Knives.”

“‘Parasite’ is an absolute RAGER from start to finish!!!” Bullet says. “Easily one of the gnarliest tracks we’ve ever written — we couldn’t be more stoked to finally get it out there.”

Bullet for My Valentine the album will be released October 22. It’s the follow-up to 2018’s Gravity.

(Video contains uncensored profanity.)

Benifer 2.0 makes it Instagram official, thanks to Leah Remini

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

While the pair have been spotted together many times since reportedly rekindling their 2000s-era romance in April, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have kept their coupling off Instagram — until now.

Thanks to a snap from a slideshow on J. Lo’s bestie Leah Remini‘s Instagram page, the old-new couple have been captured together on the social media platform for the first time.

Remini shared a series of black and white pictures from a photo booth that had been set up for her 51st birthday party on Thursday. Among them is a snap of the buzzed-about couple. Luckily, fans can pause the slideshow to get a good look.

It shows Lopez striking a pose under the crook of a smiling Ben’s right arm, her hand on his chest. For good measure, Remini’s under Ben’s left arm, with her hand on his chest as well.

Remini commented to her 2.9 million followers, “Wanted to share a little video from my birthday with you all because I got so much love from you on my birthday but also everyday [sic]. I consider myself to have the best support system here on social media.”

She added, “Also, I can’t thank my family & friends enough for coming, for celebrating with me in a way that was very special to me. It’s been an interesting year, so this birthday meant a lot for many reasons.”

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Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich settle in NY over sexual harassment, discrimination

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

(NEW YORK) — Chef Mario Batali and his former partner Joe Bastianich violated state and city human rights laws with a culture of sexual harassment and discrimination at restaurants they owned, the New York attorney general said Friday announcing a settlement.

The company, formerly known as the Batali & Bastianich Hospitality Group, agreed to pay $600,000 to at least 20 former employees who were sexually harassed while they worked at the famed restaurants Babbo, Lupa or Del Posto.

“Celebrity and fame does not absolve someone from following the law. Sexual harassment is unacceptable for anyone, anywhere — no matter how powerful the perpetrator,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James in a statement. “Batali and Bastianich permitted an intolerable work environment and allowed shameful behavior that is inappropriate in any setting.”

This agreement comes after a four-year investigation, the attorney general’s office said, looking at allegations between 2016 and 2019 that included unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate touching and sexually explicit comments from managers and coworkers, in addition to forcible groping, hugging and kissing by male colleagues.

The investigation also included accusations of sexual harassment by Batali of servers.

The investigation also looked into instances of discrimination, as female employees said chefs and managers supported male employees and made misogynistic comments, including commenting on women employees’ appearances.

The agreement includes $600,000 going to at least 20 former employees. It also includes revising training at B&B restaurants to be more comprehensive and encourage “a safe, healthy work environment,” the attorney general’s office said.

Batali has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women. In 2019, he “fully divested” from the restaurants that made him famous. Before that, he had apologized and stepped away from day-to-day business responsibilities.

In 2019, he pleaded not guilty to an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged 2017 incident with a woman in a Boston restaurant.

Mario Batali and Joseph Bastianich settle in NY over sexual harassment, discriminatio

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

The investigation also included accusations of sexual harassment by Batali of servers.

In 2019, he pleaded not guilty to an indecent assault and battery charge stemming from an alleged 2017 incident with a woman in a Boston restaurant.

Whitney Houston hologram confirmed for Las Vegas residency

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Whitney Houston is heading to Las Vegas! Well, her hologram is.

The music icon, who died in 2012, will be brought back to life for a residency titled An Evening with Whitney: The Whitney Houston Hologram Concert, Rolling Stone reports. The show kicks off at Harrah’s Las Vegas on October 26 and currently has dates scheduled through April 2022.

As with other “virtual” concerts of its kind, the residency will use technology to produce a lifelike virtual image and vocals of the “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” singer as she serenades the crowd with a medley of her hits, accompanied by a live band, background singers and dancers.

Tickets are available now at Ticketmaster.com.

Selena Gomez calls on Facebook to curb the spread of vaccine misinformation

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Global Citizen VAX LIVE

Selena Gomez is confronting Facebook again about not curbing COVID-19 misinformation. The “Lose You To Love Me” singer previously put the social media site on blast in December for not doing enough, saying its inaction would result in “thousands of deaths.”

Taking to Twitter, Selena called out the social media giant by retweeting her warning from last year, which said, in part, “Scientific disinformation has and will cost lives…Facebook is going to be responsible for thousands of deaths if they don’t take action now!”

“In December I asked @Facebook and @Instagram to take action on lies about COVID and vaccines,” she penned in a new thread, citing recent data that claims only a handful of users are behind the vaccine misinformation.

“@CCDHate found that 12 people are behind 2 in 3 of all misinformation,” said Selena, linking to the study for her nearly 65 million followers to read. It claims that the 12 bad agents produce 60 percent of the lies spreading across the service.

“So why do they still refuse to act?,” she concluded in a final tweet.

Selena also commended President Joe Biden and Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy for putting pressure on Facebook to remedy the matter, while rebuking it for its alleged inaction.

While the president previously stated Facebook is “killing people” for allowing the spread of false information — sparking the media giant’s ire — Biden has since walked back his comments.

“My hope is that Facebook, instead of taking it personally… would do something about the misinformation, the outrageous misinformation about the vaccine,” Biden said last week.

As of Thursday, 610,264 Americans have died of COVID-19, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Coldplay releases “Coloratura,” a 10-minute “exhilarating, space-bound epic”

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Coldplay is back with their second offering from their upcoming ninth studio album Music of the Spheres.

On Thursday night, the British rock band dropped the 10-minute experimental track “Coloratura,” which serves as their new album’s closing piece. In addition to the track, the band also released its accompanying kaleidoscopic lyric video.

According to a press release, Coldplay views their latest song “as an album track rather than a single.” In addition, they described “Coloratura” as “an exhilarating, space-bound epic that includes namechecks for Galileo, Oumuamua and Betelgeuse.”

If you’re not up on your astronomy, “Oumuamua” is the first known interstellar object to be detected passing through the Solar System. “Betelgeuse” — pronounced “Beetlejuice” — is a star in the constellation of Orion. Galileo, a scientist who died in 1642, is considered to be the father of modern astronomy.

The gentle, dream-like piece is rife with piano riffs and guitar solos that are reminiscent of Pink Floyd‘s The Wall era — especially when Chris Martin‘s tranquil vocals are accentuated by a bevy of hazy strings.

As previously reported, Coldplay’s upcoming ninth studio album, Music of the Spheres, is set to be released on October 15. The album is produced by Max Martin.

There are 12 tracks on the upcoming studio effort, with five of the titles represented by emojis instead of names. Those tracks are described as the planet emoji, sparkle emoji, heart emoji, the Earth emoji and infinity symbol emoji.

You can pre-order Music of the Spheres at store.coldplay.com.

Music of the Spheres is the followup to 2019’s Everyday Life.

Britney Spears shouts out Cher and Jennifer Lopez while talking about her future dreams

July 23, 2021 by WDNY Radio

Britney Spears shouted out Cher and Jennifer Lopez while discussing her dreams for the future in an Instagram post.

Without directly mentioning her ongoing conservatorship drama, the 39-year-old pop star shared a video on Thursday of herself smiling and dancing to Foster The People‘s “Pumped Up Kicks.”

However, Britney’s caption was much more serious: It began with the question, “So what do you guys do to keep your dreams alive ???? Just curious cause at this point I’m not sure it’s a good idea to listen to advice from some people.”

The “Toxic” singer continued, “Yesterday I realized all my tennis shoes were gone … I like them because I dance three hours most days.” She then explained that she went on a shopping spree to replace them.

Comparing herself to Carrie Bradshaw, the character Sarah Jessica Parker played on Sex and the City, Britney added, “My assistant’s HUMBLING APPROACH — why don’t you just see what you can find in your closet — DID NOT WORK ANYMORE.”

The singer then told her 32 million followers, “I’m not gonna settle and considering the other day I said I feel like I’m just getting here…THAT’S AN UNDERSTATEMENT !!!!”

“It’s been a while since I drove alone and well let’s just say it’s a DIFFERENT BALLGAME cause I’m not sure this stadium is gonna be anywhere near America,” she cryptically continued.

She then answered her own question about how she keeps her dream alive: “Thinking about visiting St. Tropez with @cher and eating ice cream…She was one of my favorite singers as a kid and I loved to dress up as her. ” Britney also dreams of “having a six pack like @jlo,” adding of Jennifer, “Lord she’s so inspiring in her new video !!!!”

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