(NOTE LANGUAGE)Sarah Paulson is almost unrecognizable as Linda Tripp in the upcoming FX series Impeachment: An American Crime Story, but one part of her portrayal as the figure gave her regret. Namely, her figure.
Tripp was a former White House employee who recorded her phone calls with friend Monica Lewinsky, played in the series by Beanie Feldstein, and in turn exposed Lewinsky’s sexual relationship with then President Bill Clinton. Clive Owen plays the disgraced — and eventually impeached — president.
Paulson, also an executive producer for the series, gained 30 pounds for the role, but she supplemented that with a padded suit, according to an interview with the Los Angeles Times; it was a physical choice she says that, in retrospect, she would have avoided.
“It’s very hard for me to talk about this without feeling like I’m making excuses,” Paulson admitted. “There’s a lot of controversy around actors and fat suits, and I think that controversy is a legitimate one. I think fat phobia is real. I think to pretend otherwise causes further harm.”
The actress continued, “Should I have known? Abso-f***ing-lutely. But I do now.” She also vowed, “And I wouldn’t make the same choice going forward.”
Paulson called the role the “challenge of a lifetime,” and commented, “I would like to believe that there is something in my being that makes me right to play this part. And that the magic of hair and makeup departments and costumers and cinematographers that has been part of moviemaking, and suspension of belief, since the invention of cinema.”
She added rhetorically, “Was I supposed to say no [to the role]? This is the question.”
Impeachment: An American Crime Story debuts on September 7 at 10 p.m. ET on FX.
After her “Rumors” collabo with Lizzo debuted at the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, Cardi B launched her second fashion collection with Reebok over the weekend.
“I was so happy to see the love for my first Reebok apparel collection so I’m really excited to introduce this one,” the “WAP” rapper said in a statement. “This NYC-inspired collection features some of my favorite pieces to wear — from corsets to tracksuits to fly kicks, all inspired by my time and love of New York.”
The “Let Me Be…In My World” line follows Cardi’s ’90s-inspired “Summertime Fine Collection,” which was released in April.
In addition to apparel, the new collection also includes a Cardi B leather sneaker for kids and women. The Grammy winner, who is pregnant with her second child, made sure her designs fit females of various sizes, from 2XS to 4X.
“DONT worry momma BARDI got you!!!,” she tweeted. “I made this collection Witt everybody body shapes in [mind]!!!!!” Cardi also posted a video on Instagram in which models displayed two outfits from her line in a mini-fashion show.
Before working with Reebok, the New York City native partnered with Steve Madden in 2017. She also released two collections with Fashion Nova.
Cardi ended her mini-show informing fans not to wait to support her collection. “If it sells out,” she said on Instagram, “don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Check out Cardi’s “Let Me Be…In My World” line on the Reebok website.
(LA.) — Medical facilities in Louisiana are reeling from Ida, which demolished coastal regions of the state after making landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on Sunday afternoon. Ida, now a tropical storm, is one of the strongest hurricanes on record to touch down in Louisiana.
Ochsner Health System, a not-for-profit health care provider, is almost completely relying on emergency power generators following the storm, according to Mike Hulefeld, the chief operating officer. Thousands of homes and businesses are also without power, and the outages may last for days, according to local utility companies Entergy and Cleco.
At Ochsner’s Kenner facility, parts of the roof came off the building as workers sheltered inside the building, and almost all of Ochsner’s facilities have suffered from roof or water damage, Hulefeld told reporters in a press conference.
Since city and parish water systems are damaged, local hospitals are also relying on their own well systems to supply water to their locations. These damages — and more — reflect regionwide issues that health care workers are having to tackle amid the Ida aftermath.
“People will get tired, and they have been challenged by COVID, but we had 100% of our staff show up … when we called essential personnel,” Hulefeld said, “and that speaks to the commitment that our people have.”
The storm and its subsequent destruction came as the state struggled to contain its fourth COVID-19 wave, putting hospitals on the brink.
About 90% of beds in Louisiana’s intensive care units are filled, according to Johns Hopkins University, and only about 41% of the population is vaccinated. New Orleans specifically is experiencing a severe outbreak, according to the mayor’s office, with a seven-day average of 220 new infections.
There were at least 2,684 people in Louisiana hospitals due to COVID-19 before the storm hit, the mayor’s office reports.
The storm has only intensified the pressure on the state’s health care system to tackle the virus.
“This fourth surge we went through was the most difficult one that we’ve experienced since COVID started in March 2020,” Hulefeld said. “Now we have a major hurricane that ends up being a little worse than we anticipated going into it …. So, I think staff are challenged.”
More than 100 patients have been evacuated from Ochsner and its partner facilities to safety — but officials remain wary about the pressure on hospitals to perform.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell told “Good Morning America” that most medical facilities in the region are running off generators and have seen major damage to their facilities.
Criswell said her “biggest concern is still the fragility of our health care system” following the hurricane, warning that it has been “stressed from COVID-19, and the occupancy has been full.”
With two deaths reported in the region so far, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told MSNBC that he expects the death toll to go up as search and rescue efforts continue.
At a press conference on Monday, New Orleans Director of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness Collin Arnold warned residents to stay away from the post-hurricane aftermath.
“There’s not a lot open right now, there’s not a lot of fuel resources. There are not a lot of reasons to come back,” Arnold said. “With COVID, if you get hurt while you’re here, from debris … Hospitals are strained right now, so it’s just not a good time, if you’re out of the area, to come back in.”
The storm hit New Orleans on the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, a deadly storm that highlighted the vulnerable infrastructure of the port city. More than 1,800 people died in the storm.
After Ida, Mayor LaToya Cantrell applauded the evacuation and safety efforts of New Orleans and its people.
“We did not have another Katrina, and that’s something we should all be grateful for,” Cantrell said.
Luke Bryan is once again reigning at the top of the charts, as his latest single “Waves” claims the #1 spot at country radio.
This makes a whopping 27 #1 hits for the country superstar and is the fifth consecutive chart-topper off his 2020 album Born Here Live Here Die Here, following “Knockin’ Boots,” “What She Wants Tonight,” “One Margarita” and “Down to One.”
“Woke up this morning as a writer on the number one song in the country. Thank you @LukeBryanOnline and the whole team for making it a hit!” “Waves” co-writer Ryan Hurd writes in a celebratory Twitter post.
“Waves” is featured on the deluxe edition of Born Here, which reached #1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and the top five of the all-genre Billboard 200.
Luke continues on his Proud to Be Right Here Tour through October.
Halsey‘s new album If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, which was produced by Nine Inch Nails‘ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, has been turning a lot of heads, included that of the one and only Taylor Swift.
On Sunday, Swift tweeted a message of support to Halsey, writing that she’s “blown away” by the “Without Me” star’s “artistry and commitment to taking risks.”
“Giving us all a brave new era to dive into and explore together,” Swift commented. “Please stream and buy the album!”
Halsey then replied back, “Thank you T means so so much.”
When If I Can’t Have Love dropped on Friday, Halsey thanked the Nine Inch Nails duo for helping her take those artistic risks.
“They saw a festering crack in my armor and forced it open from miles away,” Halsey wrote. “This is the album I have always wanted to make, but never believed I was cool enough.”
She added, “There are not enough words to thank them for…taking a chance on me and lending me their genius talent. I hope you love our very unlikely and very special matrimony.”
In addition to Taylor Swift, Foo Fighters also want you to listen to If I Can’t Have Love, which features Dave Grohl on the song “honey.”
“Check it out,” the Foos tweeted Monday, along with a link to the album.
“Stay” is staying on top of the charts for yet another week.
The Justin Bieber/The Kid LAROI collab has notched a fourth week at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. That makes “Stay” Justin’s longest-running number-one hit as a lead artist, passing “Sorry,” which was number one for three weeks in 2016.
Yes, Justin was number one for 16 weeks with “Despacito,” but as Billboard notes, he was just a featured artist, not a lead artist, on that track, which was officially credited to Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee.
“Stay” has also just hit number one on Billboard‘s Pop Airplay chart for the first time. It’s LAROI’s first number one on that chart, and Justin’s ninth. He’s now tied with Bruno Mars among male solo artists for the most Pop Airplay chart-toppers.
Meanwhile, Dua Lipa has set a new record with her hit “Levitating.” It’s now spent a whopping 34 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 — the longest stay there ever for a song by a woman. The record was previously held by Cardi B as part of her collaboration with Maroon 5, “Girls Like You,” which lasted 33 weeks in the top 10.
The only songs overall that have spent more weeks in the Hot 100’s top 10 are Post Malone‘s “Circles” with 39, and The Weeknd‘s “Blinding Lights” with 57. It seems possible that Dua might pass Post Malone in the near future.
A pair a virtual Van Morrison concerts will stream globally at nugs.net on consecutive days, September 10 and 11.
The first show will feature Morrison delivering a 65-minute concert that will include renditions of songs from throughout his expansive catalog. The second concert features Van showcasing tunes from his 2021 studio album, Latest Record Project: Volume 1, as well as performing select classics.
The performances were recorded at Peter Gabriel‘s Real World Studios near Bath, U.K. The shows will begin at 6 p.m. ET. both days.
Tickets for the concerts can be purchased individually for $14.99 in HD and $19.99 for the high-res 4K format at nugs.net/vanmorrison. Two-night bundles also will be available. Nugs.net subscribers can purchase the streaming events for a discounted price.
Morrison released Latest Record Project: Volume 1 in May. The 28-track collection finds Van continuing to delve into his love of classic soul, blues, R&B and jazz. The album features a variety songs that offer commentary of modern life, some of which focus on Morrison’s dissatisfaction with how the U.K. government has handled the COVID-19 health crisis.
Elijah Wood stars as FBI profiler Bill Hagmaier in the new based-on-real-life drama No Man of God, which hit theaters and streaming services over the weekend after its Tribeca Film Festival debut in June.
The intense movie, directed by actress-turned filmmaker Amber Sealey, centers on the relationship that developed between Hagmaier and an incarcerated Ted Bundy leading up to the serial killer’s execution.
There have been several films about Bundy due to an ongoing national obsession with the killer, in part because his TV-ready looks and charm belied his brutal killings. But Sealey says she was careful not to glamorize him.
Emmy winner Luke Kirby plays the infamous murderer in No Man, and he explained to ABC Audio what his process was to get into Bundy’s head.
“Reluctant,” Kirby sighs. “…I found a lot of things to get distracted by and…I moved in and out of it as much as my stomach could bear for the day.”
Kirby credited Sealey with making his job easier. “…To come into a room and play make believe for a job is, you know, ridiculously fortunate. So I tried to keep it all in perspective.”
For his part, Wood was relieved by the mood on Sealey’s set, the first time many involved had worked since the COVID lockdowns. “I think what was sort of surprising about it was…the material is heavy…but the experience of making it was joyful and fun, partially because we all hadn’t been working on anything in quite some time, and we’d been in isolation.”
Wood continues, “And suddenly we were engaged in the creative process again, which was lovely. But also, you know, it’s Luke and Amber and this incredible crew that made the process fun and enjoyable.”
(NEW YORK) — Ida is barreling through Louisiana after making landfall in the state as a powerful Category 4 hurricane on Sunday afternoon.
It was one of the strongest hurricanes on record — by both wind speed and pressure — to roar ashore in Louisiana.
Ida, now a tropical storm, is hitting on the 16-year anniversary of Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane that ravaged the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Katrina unleashed a series of events, taking the lives of more than 1,800 people and leaving more than $100 billion worth of damage in its wake.
Here are the latest developments. All times Eastern:
Aug 30, 3:38 pm
911 service restored in New Orleans
Emergency 911 service has been restored in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said.
9-1-1 emergency services have been fully restored in the @CityOfNOLA.
Please call 9-1-1 for emergencies and 3-1-1 (504-658-2299) for non-emergencies‼️
As recovery efforts get underway, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will travel to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Tuesday morning to meet with Gov. John Bel Edwards and survey damage, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell will go to Jackson, Mississippi, Tuesday evening to meet with Gov. Tate Reeves.
Aug 30, 3:05 pm
Louisiana damage ‘catastrophic,’ governor says
In a briefing with governors and mayors affected by Hurricane Ida, President Joe Biden vowed full government support.
“We’re there to help you get back on your feet,” Biden said.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said he estimated nearly 2 million are without power.
Biden said, “We’re in close contact with local electric providers to see what they need. They are all private providers. We don’t control that, but we’re doing all we can to minimize the amount of time it is going to take to get power back up.”
In the meeting, Edwards touted the success of the levee system, saying none of them were breached. But, he added, “Damage is still catastrophic.”
Edwards said a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew rescued seven patients from a hospital in Lafourche Parish after its roof was ripped off by the powerful winds.
Aug 30, 2:38 pm
At least 1 dead in New Orleans
At least one death has been reported in New Orleans, Mayor LaToya Cantrell said. Details have not been released.
This brings Ida’s death toll to at least two. A 60-year-old man in Ascension Parish died Sunday when a tree fell on a home, officials said.
At an emotional news conference Monday, Cantrell said the “worse-case scenario” with Ida “did not happen.”
“We did not have another Katrina … we should all be grateful,” she said.
Cantrell said New Orleans has a few collapsed buildings but not widespread destruction.
However, power is out throughout the city, 911 is not available and there are small pockets of standing water from blocked drains. The mayor stressed that residents should shelter in place.
Aug 30, 2:15 pm
Ida’s latest forecast
Ida, one of the strongest hurricanes to make landfall in Louisiana, has dropped 18 inches of rain on parts of the state.
New Orleans has been hit with 13.7 inches of rain.
Numerous flash flood warnings remain in effect across parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Ida is expected to weaken to a tropical depression Monday before bringing heavy rain and possible flooding to the Tennessee Valley Monday night through Tuesday.
By Wednesday and Thursday, the storm will hit the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. The forecast calls for 4 to 6 inches of rain and possible flash flooding.
Aug 30, 1:40 pm
Coast Guard conducting search and rescue flights
The Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue flights across the devastated Gulf Coast.
The Coast Guard is also assessing damage and working to make sure ports can reopen.
President Joe Biden is set to hold a virtual meeting Monday afternoon with FEMA and leaders from areas impacted by Ida.
Aug 30, 1:05 pm
Hospital patients evacuated
Ida significantly damaged Louisiana’s Ochsner Health system, though neither patients nor employees have been injured, hospital officials said Monday.
About 65 patients at two of Ochsner Health’s facilities have been evacuated, they said. Ochsner Health officials said they’ve also been asked to help evacuate about 100 patients from Terrebonne General Health System in Houma, Louisiana.
Aug 30, 12:45 pm
AT&T wireless at 60% in Louisiana
AT&T said its Louisiana wireless network is operating at 60%.
“We had key network facilities go offline overnight, and while some have already been restored, some facilities remain down and are inaccessible due to flooding and storm damage,” AT&T said in a statement.
Aug 30, 12:24 pm
New Orleans to evacuees: Do not return until further notice
New Orleans residents who evacuated their homes should not return until further notice, the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said.
“There is widespread debris, power remains out, and emergency services are working to respond to those still in the city,” city officials said. “We will let you know when it is safe to come home.”
If you have evacuated out of #NOLA, we request that you DO NOT RETURN until further notice. There is widespread debris, power remains out, and emergency services are working to respond to those still in the city. We will let you know when it is safe to come home. #Idapic.twitter.com/r6rSzGxLX0
Tropical Storm Ida, now about 40 miles southwest of Jackson, Mississippi, is still bringing flash flood warnings to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama on Monday.
Up to 18 inches of rain has pummeled Louisiana. Up to 9 inches fell in Mississippi.
A tornado watch remains in effect in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.
By Tuesday, Ida will move northeast into the Tennessee River Valley.
By Wednesday night into Thursday, Ida will track into the Northeast, dropping up to 6 inches of rain. Major flooding is possible along the Interstate 95 corridor from New York City to Philadelphia.
Aug 30, 10:40 am
New Orleans airport expects all flights to be canceled
The Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is conducting damage assessments and said it expects all flights to be canceled Monday.
The airport added that passengers should check directly with their airlines for more information.
Aug 30, 10:29 am
Historic landmark tied to Louis Armstrong collapses
The Karnofsky Tailor Shop, a historic national landmark in New Orleans, is one of the multiple buildings that collapsed when Ida walloped the city.
The brick two-story shop, a former tailor business in the Central Business District of the city, dates back to 1913 and is where Louis Armstrong worked before embarking on his legendary jazz career.
The family that owned the shop provided a second home for Armstrong and loaned him money to purchase his first cornet, according to the National Park Service.
Aug 30, 10:17 am
Governor expects death toll to go up ‘considerably’
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards told MSNBC Monday that search and rescue efforts are ongoing and he expects Ida’s death toll to “go up considerably throughout the day.”
Helicopters are surveying damage because it will take “many days” to reach Louisiana’s southern coastal areas by ground, he said.
Nearly all of southeast Louisiana is without power, the governor said. All eight major lines that feed electricity to the New Orleans area have failed.
Aug 30, 8:20 am
‘We’re a broken community right now’
The president of hard-hit Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, told ABC’s “Good Morning America” Monday that all communication lines with Grand Isle were down.
Cynthia Lee Sheng said about 40 people are believed to have stayed on the barrier island, located about 100 miles south of New Orleans.
“We have lost contact with them since yesterday afternoon,” Sheng said. “We have first responder teams out there planning their strategy for today, ready to go out.”
Sheng also said there were concerns about Lafitte, Louisiana, saying officials had received reports of people trapped in their attics by high water.
“This is an area if you want to think of it like swampland, there’s alligators out there,” Sheng said.
She said rescue workers have not been able to reach the area due to darkness and downed power lines.
In addition to thousands in the area losing power, Sheng said the parish was losing pressure in its water system.
“We’ve had a lot of water main breaks,” she said. “Our water system is losing pressure and so in order to be able to fight fires, that is a very critical element. So, we’re trying to clear roads to do those water repairs.”
Sheng added, “We’re a broken community right now.”
Aug 30, 7:33 am
Over 1.1 million customers without power in 2 states
Ida, with its blustery winds and torrential rain, has left more than 1.1 million utility customers without power in Louisiana and Mississippi on Monday morning.
More than 1 million customers were without electricity in Louisiana, mostly in the southeast part of Bayou State where Ida made landfall, according to state emergency management officials.
In Mississippi, another 105,417 homes and businesses were without electricity, state officials said.
Aug 30, 5:41 am
Ida downgraded to tropical storm
About 16 hours after making landfall in Louisiana, Ida was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm early Monday morning.
As of 4 a.m. CT, Ida was moving north at 8 miles per hour with the eye of the storm located about 95 miles south-southwest of Jackson, Mississippi, and 50 miles north-northeast of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The storm’s maximum sustained winds have decreased near 60 miles per hour with higher gusts, according to an advisory from the National Weather Service.
The storm surge warning has been discontinued from Morgan City to Grand Isle, Louisiana. The hurricane and tropical storm warnings have been discontinued west of Grand Isle. The hurricane warning has been replaced with a tropical storm warning from Grand Isle to the mouth of the Pearl River, including Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Maurepas and metropolitan New Orleans. Storm surge and tropical storm warnings remain in effect for Grand Isle to the Alabama-Florida border, according to the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, 16 states from Mississippi to New Jersey are still on alert for flash flooding. A flash flood watch is in place from the Gulf Coast to New Jersey.
So far, the highest rainfall total was recorded in LaPlace, Louisiana, which received 15 inches. A flash flood emergency remains in effect there, according to the National Weather Service.
Ida is forecast to rapidly weaken even more over the next day or so, becoming a tropical depression by Monday evening.
The storm will move farther inland over southeastern Louisiana early Monday and into southwestern Mississippi later in the morning. Ida is then forecast to move over central and northeastern Mississippi on Monday afternoon and evening before moving across the Tennessee Valley on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Aug 30, 4:40 am
Tornado warning issued for parts of southern Mississippi
The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for eastern Harrison County and northwestern Jackson County, both in southern Mississippi.
As Hurricane Ida approaches the Magnolia State, a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located via radar over Biloxi in Mississippi’s Harrison County early Monday at 2:46 a.m. CT. The “tornadic thunderstorm” was moving north at 65 miles per hour, according to an alert from the National Weather Service, which urged people to “take cover now!”
“Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows,” the National Weather Service said. “If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris.”
The storm could impact the Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport as well as several miles of Interstate 10 and 110 in Mississippi, according to the National Weather Service. The tornado warning will remain in effect until 3:45 a.m. CT.
“Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter,” the National Weather Service warned. “Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.”
Aug 30, 4:16 am
New Orleans ‘experiencing technical difficulties’ with 911 system
The emergency communications center for New Orleans said it is “experiencing technical difficulties” with its 911 system, after the city lost power due to Hurricane Ida.
“If you find yourself in an emergency, please go to your nearest fire station or approach your nearest officer,” the Orleans Parish Communication District announced via Twitter early Monday. “We will update you once this issue has been resolved.”
After cryptically teasing the release of his long awaited Certified Lover Boy album with a handwritten note Friday on ESPN’s Sportscenter, Drake confirmed the release date Monday morning on Instagram.
The “What’s Next” rapper posted, “Certified Lover Boy September 3” with twelve emojis of pregnant women. Numerous stars responded very enthusiastically, including Offset from Migos, who posted two hands-up emojis and two fire emojis. Trina was even more excited, commenting with six fire emojis, and Sevyn Streeter also commented with four fire emojis. black-ish star Marsai Martin is also pumped about the album, posting, “Yessirr.”
As previously reported, Sportscenter opened Friday morning with its usual montage of sports highlights. Then suddenly, an image appeared, reading “CLB September 3,” as captured by XXL Magazine.
The Champagne Papi’s sixth studio album was delayed after originally being scheduled for release in January. It follows Drake’s 2018, RIAA five-times Platinum album Scorpion, which features the number-one hits “Nice for What,” “In My Feelings,” and “Nonstop.”
Since the release of Scorpion, Drizzy dropped his Care Package compilation project in August 2019, the Dark Lane Demo Tapes mixtape in May 2020, and his Scary Hours 2 EP in March.
The first single from Certified Lover Boy, “Laugh Now Cry Later,” featuring Lil Durk, was released August 14, 2020 and hit number one.
