Month: November 2021

Kevin Spacey has been ordered to pay nearly $31 million to TV studio Media Rights Capital (“MRC”) for breaching his contract with the TV series ‘House of Cards’, due to behavior leading up to his 2017 termination from the Netflix show amid allegations of sexual misconduct.

MRC filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court revealing the actor was ordered to pay the eight-figure sum after a “confidential,” closed-door arbitration proceeding that ended with the judgment that Spacey failed to overturn on appeal. The new filing is asking the court to confirm the award.  MRC says the secret proceeding included more than 20 depositions and an eight-day evidentiary hearing in front of a neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator found that Spacey “repeatedly breached” his contractual obligations in each of the five House of Cards seasons that he starred in and executive-produced, according to the paperwork. The arbitrator found MRC “had no choice” but to halt production of the show’s sixth season, remove Spacey’s character from the script and shorten the season from 13 to eight episodes “upon the revelations of Spacey’s pattern of harassment.”

The 62-year-old Spacey was filming the sixth and final season of the show in Oct. 2017, when accusations arose that Spacey attempted to have sex with actor Anthony Rapp at a party at his house in 1986 when Rapp was only 14 years old. Days later, allegations from eight anonymous House of Cards crew members were released, accusing Spacey of “predatory” behavior. Spacey said he didn’t recall the alleged incident with Rapp, but if it did occur, it was “deeply inappropriate drunken behavior.” He later said he was seeking treatment and has largely withdrawn from public life.

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Good Morning America co-host and NFL legend Michael Strahan announced that he will fly to space on Jeff Bezos’ ‘Blue Origin’ on its next flight, to take place on December 9.  It will be the rocket’s third human flight this year, and marks the first flight with a full astronaut manifest of six crew members in the capsule. Liftoff is set to take place at 9 a.m. CT on Dec. 9 at the “Launch Site One” facility in the West Texas desert.

Strahan said that one of the reasons he wants to travel on Blue Origin is the opportunity to be part of space exploration: “I believe that this is the way of being innovative, creative, pioneers in aviation, now space travel. And it’s going to take a while but I do believe that it will bring a lot of technological breakthroughs and also innovations to us here on Earth, and I just want to be a part of it.”

Joining Strahan on the mission will be Laura Shepard Churchley, the eldest daughter of Alan Shepard, who is the first American to fly to space and the namesake of New Shepard on the space flight. They will also be joined by Space industry executive and philanthropist Dylan Taylor, investor Evan Dick, and Bess Ventures founder Lane Bess and his child, Cameron. Lane and Cameron will be the first parent-child pair to fly in space.

Strahan began preparing for the mission two weeks ago, and has spoken to his fellow crew members via Zoom. The crew members will meet in Texas to begin training and undergo safety briefings soon.

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General Hospital’s Steve Burton, who has played the role of Jason Morgan on and off since 1991, is leaving the long-running ABC soap opera after deciding not to get vaccinated. The 51-year-old actor took to social media on Tuesday, November 23 to confirm he had been fired by the series for not complying with the show’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

Burton said via Instagram: “Well, I know there’s a lot of rumors and speculation about me and General Hospital, and I wanted you to hear it from me personally. Unfortunately, General Hospital has let me go because of the vaccine mandate.”  In his video, Burton explained that he “did apply for my medical and religious exemptions, and both of those were denied, which, you know, hurts. But this is also about personal freedom to me.”  He also noted that he’ll always be grateful for the show that gave him his start, adding: “I love it there, I grew up there, I grew up with some of you. Maybe one day if these mandates are lifted, I can return and finish my career as Jason Morgan. That would be an honor.”

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the network later confirmed that Burton was dismissed for his inability to comply with their vaccine policy. His last day was October 27.  Burton’s departure comes two weeks after his costar Ingo Rademacher, who played Jasper “Jax” Jacks on GH, was also fired for refusing to get the vaccine. Rademacher had been outspoken on social media about his opposition to vaccine mandates, posting Nov. 7th on Instagram: “I will stand with you to fight for medical freedom” and adding the hashtag “no mandates.”

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Celebrity chef Bobby Flay has signed a new deal with Food Network, whom he has been with for nearly three decades. Courtney White, president of Food Network and food streaming content for Discovery, told Variety on Monday: “We are thrilled to continue Bobby Flay’s long-standing relationship with Food Network. He captivates our audience with his incredible culinary skill, fierce competitive spirit and his trademark ability to share a deep passion for food. Bobby generously invites viewers into his culinary world, sharing his #WeCook philosophy and inspiring everyone in the kitchen. Continuing this creative relationship with such an extraordinary talent is the perfect way to usher in the holidays.”

The restaurateur and cookbook author has been at the Food Network since the channel began in 1994. The deal will keep Flay at The Food Network for three years after his current contract is up at the end of 2021. Multiple media outlets reported last month that Flay planned to leave the network at the end of this year because they couldn’t come to terms that were satisfactory for both sides.

Over the years, Flay has hosted or appeared on the shows Grillin’ and Chillin,’ Beat Bobby Flay, Brunch at Bobby’s, Chopped, Iron Chef America, Worst Cooks in America, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, The Next Food Network Star, The Flay List, The Throwdown! with Bobby Flay and Boy Meats Grill.

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