Future announced Tuesday he’s hosting a benefit concert in Miami to raise money for victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti.
“I would love for all my friends, family, music industry, fashion ad all other industries, and people as a whole to stand up for Haiti,” he tweeted.
“I want to use my voice for whatever I can to support Haiti doing these tragic times,” the “Life Is Good” rapper added.
The September 3 concert at Oasis Wynwood will also feature Lil Uzi Vert and many others. Tickets begin at $100 and are available on the Oasis Miami website.
On August 22, Haiti was devastated with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, which killed more than 2,000 people and injured over 12,000 more.
Netflix has just released its anticipated documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed, about the rise of late, legendary soft-spoken painter Bob Ross.
The streaming service calls the film a “shockingly untold story,” and for those who’ve seen Ross’ iconic The Joy of Painting series, it is eye-opening. Behind the canvas and those “happy little trees” the painter created was a seething battle over the rights to his image and his name that continued even after his untimely cancer death in 1995.
Director Joshua Rofé tells ABC Audio that he was intrigued at the very beginning of the project, noting, “As soon as we were met with resistance from people who were expressing fear of even speaking about Bob publicly due to concerns with being retaliated against from a legal standpoint, we knew that there really is something here.”
The filmmaker adds, “Bob is amazing, Bob is an icon, Bob is obviously magical and transcendent in all of these ways. But if you then introduce this other element that seems to be a part of the story, then you really have something.”
Ross’ usual on-air comments about his canvas being the “only place I have control” take on a different meaning when viewed in the context of his off-screen life, and what he saw as the loss of control of his destiny, and his legacy, both personally and financially.
Rofé says, “[Y]ou can see how angry he is, actually…But if you don’t know the context, you would never guess that Bob Ross is angry….It’s fascinating to see, because you can see how it is really just bubbling up inside of him and he has to get it out.”
Melissa McCarthy and her husband and producing partner Ben Falcone co-produced the film.
Mariah Carey doesn’t seem too impressed with Ryan Reynolds‘ attempt at lip-syncing her song “Fantasy.”
In a new TikTok video, Mariah “duets” to an earlier video made by Ryan. The two appear in split screen as Mariah begins lip-syncing to her 1995 hit. As Ryan begins lip-syncing with some overly dramatic choreography, Mariah jokingly shoots him the side eye before the clip ends.
“#Duet with @vancityreynolds,” she captioned the video. “That wasn’t part of the plan!”
Ryan’s initial video was posted last week as part of his promotion for the movie Free Guy, in which Mariah’s “Fantasy” is featured prominently.
“Go see Free Guy this weekend so I can stop doing this,” he captioned the video.
Mariah previously gave her stamp of approval to the song being used in the film. Before it hit theaters on August 13, she tweeted a clip from the movie in which Reynolds’ character hears “Fantasy” when Jodie Comer‘s character passes him and says, “I love that song.”
“I love that song too!” Mariah captioned the clip. “Come see #Fantasy on the big screen in @FreeGuyMovie, in theaters Friday!”
(NEW YORK) — A limited-time Ferris wheel is opening in New York City’s Times Square Wednesday offering tourists and residents a new view of the city.
The 110-foot-tall ride is in operation from Aug. 25 to Sept. 12.
Times Square Alliance President Tom Harris called it “an incredible new way to enjoy Times Square from a completely new vantage point as we navigate these times and reflect on all we have been through this past year.”
Six people can ride in each gondola.
The Ferris wheel runs from noon to midnight seven days a week. General admission tickets are $20.
When Halsey announced Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross as the producers of her new album, many were surprised by the news. As the Nine Inch Nails frontman Reznor tellsEntertainment Weekly, he felt the same way.
“It was completely unexpected,” Reznor says. “‘Would you be interested in working on this project that was not something that you had planned or even thought about?’ And it caught me in the moment, where I said, ‘Let me hear what you’re talking about.'”
“To my surprise, I really had fun writing material in a format I’d never thought about before,” he continues. “I found myself excited. I wanted to get up even earlier to start working on it.”
Reznor explains that what attracted him to the project, titled I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, was how artistically genuine it felt. He adds that he hopes “other people won’t think it’s a piece of s***.”
“Maybe I f***ed it up a little bit much,” he says.
Halsey, meanwhile, made her first post-baby red carpet debut Tuesday night to celebrate the premiere of her If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power film, which hits select IMAX theaters Wednesday night. She sported an all-black Dolce & Gabbana dress and black veil.
If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power, the album, arrives this Friday, August 27.
The “Kiss Me More” singer, who’s up for five trophies this year, announced the news on her Instagram Wednesday.
“I’m hosting the 2021 #VMAs this year Wowowowowowow,” she captioned the post, along with the mind blown emoji.
The gig marks her hosting debut. She’ll also be performing during the ceremony, along with Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Lorde, Lil Nas X, Olivia Rodrigo and more.
The 2021 MTV VMAs will air live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, on September 12 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Jason Aldean is mourning the loss of his security guard, Ryan Fleming, a longtime friend who stood by the singer during some of his most difficult moments.
On social media, Jason looked back at his long relationship with his guard, whom he fondly refers to as Rhino. The pair were friends who grew up together in Georgia, Jason details, and Ryan worked as a bouncer at the singer’s favorite bar when they were both young adults.
“When it came time for me to hire a security guy that I knew would always look out for me and my family, there was no question for me that person was Rhino,” Jason goes on to say. “He came out and traveled the world with us and for years if you saw me, Rhino wasn’t too far away.”
In fact, it was Fleming who stepped in during the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting, when a gunman opened fire on the crowd during Jason’s headlining set.
“He was the person who pulled me offstage during the Route 91 shooting and put his life in danger to take care of me and my crew,” Jason reflects. “He was a good man and an even better friend.”
Fleming’s date and cause of death were not immediately available.
Lil Nas X is calling out an apparent double standard.
After pro skateboarder Tony Hawk announced he was releasing a new skateboard infused with his own blood, Lil Nas X is wondering why the reaction has been different compared to when he released limited edition sneakers that included a drop of human blood.
“Now that tony hawk has released skateboards with his blood painted on them, and there was no public outrage, are y’all ready to admit y’all were never actually upset over the blood in the shoes? and maybe u were mad for some other reason?” Lil Nas X tweeted on Wednesday.
Earlier this year, Lil Nas collaborated with design company MSCHF to release exclusive Satan sneakers to tie in with his devil-themed “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” video. The video and the shoes angered some religious conservatives, and Nike ended up suing MSCHF for trademark infringement for altering their Air Max 97 design without permission. The suit was later settled.
Joni Mitchell will be honored as the 2022 MusiCares Person of the Year at the charity’s 31st annual Person of the Year benefit gala, which will take place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on January 29, two nights before the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
“I’m honored to be chosen as Person of the Year by this great charity,” the 77-year-old Canadian singer/songwriter, an eight-time Grammy winner, says in a statement. “I look forward to being part of this gala that will help MusiCares continue their inspired work in providing a support system for those in need.”
The event traditionally features a tribute concert where many artists from across a various musical genres perform the songs of the honoree. The gala also features a dinner and a silent auction offering VIP experiences, celebrity memorabilia and more.
“We are so excited to bring together an amazing lineup of artists to celebrate the musical legacy of Joni Mitchell,” says MusiCares executive director Laura Segura. “She is being honored not only for her iconic music and lyrics, but for her trailblazing spirit and the inspiration she’s brought to so many artists.”
The Person of the Year gala benefits the MusiCares Foundation, which provides medical, financial and personal assistance to in-need members of the music community.
Last year’s gala was replaced by the virtual Music on a Mission event because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The presentation featured highlights from past Person of the Year galas.
(NEW YORK) — The United States is facing a COVID-19 surge this summer as the more contagious delta variant spreads.
More than 630,000 Americans have died from COVID-19 while over 4.4 million people have died from the disease worldwide, according to real-time data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Just 60.2% of Americans ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Here’s how the news is developing Wednesday. All times Eastern:
Aug 25, 4:25 pm
Gov. Abbott issues executive order maintaining ban on vaccine mandates
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order on Wednesday maintaining a ban on vaccine mandates.
I issued an Executive Order maintaining the prohibition of vaccine mandates.
Abbott also said he added the vaccine mandate issue to Texas’ Special Session agenda.
Abbott tested positive for COVID-19 last week and has since tested negative.
Aug 25, 2:35 pm
Pfizer asks FDA for full booster dose approval
Pfizer on Wednesday asked the Food and Drug Administration for full approval for a booster dose. The company said its Phase 3 data showed that people who received a third dose between five to eight months after the second shot had antibody levels three times higher than levels seen after the second dose.
Because the Pfizer shots were approved by the FDA on Monday, Pfizer is now asking the agency to consider a “supplemental” application for boosters for people ages 16 and over. This is a “rolling submission,” with Pfizer intending to complete the submission by the end of the week.
The Biden administration said its goal is to have boosters available beginning Sept. 20, with the recommendation of getting one eight months after the second shot of Pfizer or Moderna.
-ABC News’ Sony Salzman
Aug 25, 1:35 pm
Baby dies in Louisiana marking state’s 1st pediatric death in 6 months
A baby under the age of 1 died in connection to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in Louisiana, the state’s Department of Health said Wednesday.
This marked Louisiana’s first pediatric COVID-19 death in six months, the department said. The baby was one of 110 people in Louisiana to die of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.
Eleven children in Louisiana have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, the department said.
Aug 25, 1:07 pm
Hospitalizations at highest point in 7 months
There are now over 100,000 COVID-19 patients in U.S. hospitals, the most in seven months, according to federal data.
The rate of hospital admissions per capita among Americans 29 and younger is at the highest point of the pandemic, according to federal data.
Compared with July 4, six times as many children are being admitted to hospitals, and daily deaths are up 281% over the last six weeks to 775, according to federal data.
Eight states have ICUs over 90% full: Alabama (100%), Arkansas (89.58%), Florida (93.52%), Georgia (92.74%), Kentucky (89.33%), Mississippi (92.93%), Oklahoma (88.93%) and Texas (93.12%).
-ABC News’ Arielle Mitropoulos
Aug 25, 10:56 am
Pentagon announces mandatory Pfizer vaccinations
The Pentagon on Wednesday announced mandatory Pfizer vaccinations, calling it “necessary to protect the safety of our service members and force.”
Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine was granted full approval by the FDA on Monday.
Aug 25, 10:37 am
Delta Air Lines raising health insurance premiums for unvaccinated employees
Delta is raising health insurance premiums for unvaccinated employees by $200 a month to cover COVID-19 costs like potential hospitalization, which the airline says has cost it $40,000 per person on average.
In recent weeks, all Delta employees hospitalized with COVID-19 were not fully vaccinated, Delta CEO Ed Bastian wrote in a memo to employees.
Currently 75% of Delta employees are vaccinated, according to the airline.
The health insurance premium begins Nov. 1.
Unvaccinated employees will also have to wear masks indoors and be required to take a weekly COVID test beginning Sept. 12.
Aug 25, 10:00 am
Moderna finalizes submission to FDA for full approval
Moderna has finalized submission of its application to the Food and Drug Administration for full approval of its COVID-19 vaccine, the company announced Monday.
It’s not yet clear how long the FDA will take to review Moderna’s application.
Pfizer completed its vaccine application in May and was granted full approval on Monday.
Aug 25, 7:00 am
J&J says its vaccine booster shot raises antibody levels 9-fold
In the midst of a delta variant surge, a new study finds that giving a booster dose of the Johnson & Johnson shot six months after primary vaccination results in a nine-fold increase of a crucial antibody response, according to a company press release.
Meanwhile, a prior study found that people vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine still had a durable immune response at least eight months later, even without a booster.
Collectively, the findings could help inform the U.S. government’s recommendations about booster shots for the 14 million people who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Boosting after six months “appears to be safe, and boosts immune responses substantially,” Dr. Dan Barouch, Ph.D., director of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, told ABC News.
Aug 25, 3:53 am
COVID-19 cases rise among athletes at Tokyo Paralympics
Several Paralympic athletes have tested positive for COVID-19 in Tokyo in recent days.
According to daily figures released by the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee, at least eight positive cases have been confirmed among unnamed Paralympic athletes so far, with two new cases reported on Wednesday following the opening ceremony.
The 2020 Summer Paralympics officially opened in the Japanese capital on Tuesday, after a yearlong delay due to the coronavirus pandemic. Like the 2020 Olympics, which ended on Aug. 8, this year’s Paralympics is taking place under a state of emergency as Japan struggles with a growing COVID-19 crisis.
Aug 24, 9:01 pm
Another Florida school district issues mask mandate
Leaders of the Orange County public school system voted Tuesday to require a mask mandate for all students and staff.
The rule goes into effect on Aug. 30 and will last for at least two months. There will be exemptions for medical reasons.
School board members cited the growing COVID-19 rates and hospitalizations in the area as the reason for their decision.
Aug 24, 5:54 pm
NYC School chancellor discusses teacher vaccine mandate
New York City Schools Chancellor Meisha Porter spoke with ABC News about the vaccine mandate for public school staff that goes into effect Sept. 27.
Porter said she was confident that teachers and other staff members would comply to ensure that classrooms are safe for everyone.
“This is the additional extra layer of protection that we didn’t have a year ago,” she said.
Porter said she has been in discussions with the United Federation of Teachers over what the penalties will be if a teacher doesn’t comply, and she was told that “many of their members are already vaccinated.”
The chancellor said those who still have concerns should know that the Food and Drug Administration has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine and it has shown to prevent severe illness.
Aug 24, 5:38 pm
Kentucky reports record hospitalizations, ICU patients
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear tweeted a dire update on the state’s COVID-19 cases.
The state health department reported that 2,014 people are currently hospitalized with the virus, 589 of whom are in intensive care units and 338 are on ventilators. Beshear said these are record numbers.
“Folks, this is dangerous. Please, get vaccinated and mask up indoors,” the governor tweeted.
