Giuliana Rancic and Vivica A. Fox Miss Emmys Pre-Show After Testing Positive For COVID-19

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Giuliana Rancic and Vivica A. Fox announced Sunday they would not be hosting the E! channel’s Emmy Awards pre-show special because they tested positive for COVID-19.

Rancic, 46, said in a video statement Sunday: “Hey, everyone. As I go into my 20th year on the E! red carpet, I have to say I do not take missing an award show lightly, but unfortunately this year is just so different. As part of E! and NBCUniversal’s very strict testing guidelines, especially before an event like this, I did find out that I tested positive for COVID-19. Now as much as I didn’t want to hear that, I’m very thankful I heard it before I traveled and possibly could have exposed other people. So, for that, I’m thankful.” Rancic went on to say her husband Bill and their son Duke also tested positive, but everyone is “doing well and taking care each other.”

Fox, 56, also missed the show, saying in a statement:  “I am terribly sorry I cannot be with my E! family tonight! Unfortunately, I have tested positive for the coronavirus. So, in an abundance of caution, I am isolating myself at home.”

Giuliana Rancic, Vivica A. Fox both absent from Emmys pre-show due to COVID-19

Via www.today.com
 

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Sam Smith Announces Album Release Date And Drops New Single, “Diamonds”

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Sam Smith has released their new single “Diamonds” alongside a new music video. The video features Smith singing and dancing to the electro-pop song. Smith also announced their pandemic-delayed album will drop with a new title this October.

Smith told fans their new album will be available on October 30. The album, Love Goeswas previously titled To Die For and was set to be released in June; but was re-titled in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

You can check out the new video for Diamonds at the link: here

Sam Smith announces new album Love Goes, releases new single Diamonds

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Justin Bieber And Chance the Rapper Release Video For ‘Holy’

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Justin Bieber and Chance the Rapper have released the video for their new track, “Holy.”  The five-minute long video stars Ryan Destiny from the Fox series “Star” and Wilmer Valderrama from “NCIS.”  The video casts Bieber as an out-of-work oil worker and Destiny as his love interest, a nurse. The video was directed by Colin Tilley, who recently shot Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s video “WAP.”

Bieber and Chance the Rapper previously collaborated on a number of tracks, including “No Brainer” in 2018 along with DJ Khaled and Quavo, “I’m The One” in 2017 and “Confident” in 2013.

“Holy” is Bieber’s first new track since his album “Changes” was released in February.  Take a look at the video for “Holy” at the link: here.

Justin Bieber kicks off another ‘new era’ with vaguely ‘Holy’ new song

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Comedy Central To Air ‘South Park’ Pandemic Special

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Comedy Central said in a news release that “South Park” is returning on September 30 for a hour-long special, tackling Covid-19. Titled “The Pandemic Special,” the episode will see Stan’s father Randy Marsh capitalizing on a growing market for pot for his recreational pot business “Tegridy Farms” as he “comes to terms with his role in the COVID-19 outbreak.”  A preview clip from the episode shows the kids back at school with barriers around their desks and face shield-wearing police replacing their teachers.

The long-running animated comedy series, from creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker, wrapped up its 23rd season last year.. A premiere date for the 24th season of the series has not yet been announced.

Comedy Central will debut the pandemic-themed episode at 8 p.m. ET. The episode will be available to stream on South Park Studios, CC.com and the Comedy Central App after it airs on the West Coast. It will also be available to stream on HBO Max 24 hours after it premieres.

South Park Announces Hour-Long Pandemic Special

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“Cheer” Star Jerry Harris Arrested On Federal Child Pornography Charge

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Jerry Harris, the star of the Netflix docuseries Cheer, has been arrested on a federal charge for allegedly producing child pornography. Harris, 21, was formally charged in Chicago on Thursday.  A statement from federal officials alleges Harris was arrested “for allegedly enticing an underage boy to produce sexually explicit videos and photos of himself.”

The statement continues that Harris, “contacted the underage boy on a social media application and repeatedly enticed him to produce sexually explicit videos and photographs of himself and send them to Harris, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago. The minor victim informed Harris during their initial online encounter that he was 13 years old, the complaint states.”

The news comes just days after two underage twin brothers filed a lawsuit against Harris for allegedly sexually abusing them and demanding nude photographs from them. That suit states the plaintiffs are both competitive cheerleaders who first met Harris in 2018, when they were 13.

Harris rose to fame on Cheer, a docuseries that follows Texas’ Navarro College competitive cheerleading team. Harris, a star on the team, was known for his positive demeanor and the way he inspired teammates.

‘Cheer’ star Jerry Harris arrested on charge of production of child pornography

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Madonna Will Direct Her Own Biopic For Universal Pictures

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Just last week, Madonna confirmed that she was writing the screenplay of her own biopic in collaboration with Diablo Cody, and now it has been announced that the 62-year-old pop music icon will also be directing the film.

In a statement to Variety, Madonna said she wanted to be able chronicle her life and career on her own terms. “I want to convey the incredible journey that life has taken me on as an artist, a musician, a dancer – a human being, trying to make her way in this world. The focus of this film will always be music. Music has kept me going and art has kept me alive. There are so many untold and inspiring stories and who better to tell it than me. It’s essential to share the roller coaster ride of my life with my voice and vision.”

The forthcoming biopic will be distributed by Universal Pictures and produced by Amy Pascal, who also worked with Madonna on the 1992 classic A League of Their Own.  Madonna isn’t expected to actually appear in the film itself; the role of young Madonna has yet to be cast, but Emmy-winning Ozark star Julia Garner is rumored to be a leading candidate for the part.

Madonna to Co-Write and Direct Her Own Biopic With Diablo Cody

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Lady Gaga Shares News That A Video for ‘911’ Is In The Works

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Lady Gaga has revealed to Billboard that she’s filmed an official video for her song, “911.” In Gaga’s new cover story for Billboard‘s 2021 Grammy Preview, the singer revealed that she felt alive making it, “Maybe more than at any other point during the making of Chromatica.”

Gaga did not reveal what the video will be about, but she did elaborate on the song’s important meaning — about antipsychotic medication — and its difference from other pop songs that don’t have much to say. “I mean, that’s poetry!” she says. “That’s not, like, ‘I’m in the club, there’s lots of bottles/ I’ll have another, then bring the models.'”

Lady Gaga Teases a ‘911’ Pop Emergency Is Coming!

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Health Agency Spokesman Michael Caputo To Take Leave After Posting Controversial Rant On Social Media

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The top spokesman at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Michael Caputo, will take a two-month leave of absence, the agency said on Wednesday. The move came two days after the New York Times reported that Caputo, a former adviser to President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, said on Facebook that government scientists were engaging in “sedition” in their handling of the pandemic.

Caputo said without evidence that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was harboring a “resistance unit” determined to undermine Trump, according to the report. He also said that armed left-wing squads were preparing for insurrection following the election. HHS said in a statement that Caputo had decided to go on a leave of absence “to focus on his health and the well-being of his family.” Caputo said he decided to take the leave to undergo screenings for a “lymphatic issue” discovered last week.

HHS official Michael Caputo to take medical leave after promoting conspiracies

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Lifetime’s First LGBTQ Holiday Movie, ‘The Christmas Setup,’ Will Feature Real-Life Married Actors

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Real-life married actors Ben Lewis and Blake Lee have been tapped to star in Lifetime’s first-ever romantic holiday movie featuring a same-sex couple. The cable channel announced earlier this month that “The Christmas Setup,” written by Michael J. Murray, would be a holiday-themed, LGBTQ-focused film.  

According to the network, the film follows a New York lawyer, Hugo, who travels to Milwaukee during the holidays and runs into Patrick, “a high school friend and secret crush of Hugo’s who has recently returned after a successful stint in Silicon Valley. As they enjoy the local holiday festivities together, Hugo and Patrick’s attraction to each other is undeniable…But as Hugo receives word of a big promotion requiring a move to London, he must decide what is most important to him.”

Lewis was cast as Hugo, and his husband Lee will play his romantic interest. In real life, the two were married in Jan. 2016.  Fran Drescher is also joining the cast as Hugo’s mother.

Lifetime casts real-life married gay couple in its first LGBTQ holiday movie

Via www.nbcnews.com
 

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Katy Perry Granted Restraining Order Against Alleged Stalker

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Katy Perry has obtained a temporary restraining order against a man she alleges in court documents “poses a credible threat” to her safety.  Perry says she has “suffered significant and severe emotional and psychological distress” after a man allegedly trespassed on her property. 

The protective order requires the man, William Terry, to stay at least 100 yards away from Katy, Orlando Bloom, their newborn daughter Daisy Dove Bloom and Orlando’s 9-year-old son Flynn. The man is prohibited from contacting Katy, either directly or indirectly through social media, and must not harass or threaten the singer.  In the filing, Perry describes the man as a “complete stranger” who “trespassed on my property, is stalking me, and who threatened my family.” Perry stated that on Aug. 3, 2020 the man attempted to enter her property by falsely claiming to her security team that he had been invited to her home. Then a month later, on Sept. 8, the man allegedly “jumped the fence” of Katy’s Beverly Hills, Calif. home, where he was placed under citizen’s arrest. The man was then arrested for criminal trespassing but has since been released from police custody. 

The temporary restraining order is in effect until Oct. 8, at which point a hearing will take place. 

Katy Perry Gets Court Protection from Alleged Stalker Arrested at Her Home

Via www.tmz.com
 

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