Bruce Willis to “step away” from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia

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Bruce Willis is “stepping away” from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia, which leads to the loss of ability to understand or express speech, his family said in a statement posted to social media.

In an Instagram post, Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Willis, shared that her father’s diagnosis “is impacting his cognitive abilities.”  The statement read:“To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our beloved Bruce has been experiencing some health issues and has recently been diagnosed with aphasia, which is impacting his cognitive abilities. As a result of this and with much consideration, Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him.”  The statement was also signed by other members of Willis’ family: Emma, Demi, Scout, Tallulah, Mabel and Evelyn. Moore also shared the statement in a post on her Instagram page.

The news comes just weeks after Bruce Willis celebrated his 67th birthday. According to the Mayo Clinic, aphasia “is a condition that robs you of the ability to communicate. It can affect your ability to speak, write and understand language, both verbal and written.”  It most commonly arises after a stroke or brain injury, though can also come on more gradually to due the growth of a brain tumor or a degenerative disease. The family did not say what the cause is in Willis’ case.

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‘Flash’ star Ezra Miller arrested, charged with harassment and disorderly conduct in Hawaii

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“Flash” star Ezra Miller was arrested in Hilo, Hawaii early Monday following an incident at a karaoke bar. The 29-year-old actor was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment, according to a press release from the Hawaii Police Department.

According to South Hilo patrol officers, the 29-year-old Miller became agitated and started yelling obscenities at patrons singing karaoke, grabbing the microphone from a 23-year-old woman who was performing. Miller “later lunged at a 32-year-old man playing darts,” according to police.   The bar owner told officers that despite repeated attempts, he could not calm the unruly customer. Miller was charged with disorderly conduct and harassment and was released after posting $500 bail.

Miller made their debut as The Flash in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Next month, Miller will appear in the film Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, reprising the role of Credence Barebone/Aurelius Dumbledore.

In the upcoming ‘The Flash” movie, set for release next year, Miller will be joined by both Ben Affleck and Michael Keaton reprising their roles as Batman. Sasha Calle as Supergirl and Kiersey Clemons as Iris West also star.

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Taylor Swift to address graduates, receive honorary doctorate from New York University

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Taylor Swift will receive an honorary degree from New York University – her first — and will address graduates during a commencement ceremony in May. The upcoming NYU commencement will honor the classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022 following the pandemic, to be held on May 18 at Yankee Stadium.

Swift will receive a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, and speak at NYU’s morning commencement event. Disability rights advocate Judith Heumann will also receive an honorary degree and address graduates.

NYU president Andrew Hamilton in a press release:  “I cannot overstate how thrilled I am to be coming together in person with graduates, parents, faculty, and honorees for NYU’s Commencement. Since 2019, we have been deprived of Commencement’s festive, communal joy, and its absence has been keenly felt. Few groups of graduates are more deserving of a celebration than these classes: their pursuit of their studies disrupted, isolated by a daunting pandemic, these classes — 2022, 2021, and 2020 — have distinguished themselves with their grit, grace, and forbearance. We reconvene at Yankee Stadium with a renewed sense of appreciation for the act of celebrating together in person, a recognition of our graduates’ enormous achievements, and a respect for their character and perseverance.”

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Elton John announces last North American dates on his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour”

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Elton John has announced the final dates of his North American Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Final Tour, added to his previously announced stadium dates.   John posted on Instagram“I am loving every minute of these shows and I can’t wait to see you on the last dates of my Farewell Yellow Brick Road The Final Tour  🏟  Tickets go on sale on April 6. Join the Rocket Club for an exclusive presale from April 1.  Full info at EltonJohn.com #eltonfarewelltour

Elton will launch the upcoming leg at North American stadiums this summer.  The newly announced shows will include concerts in East Rutherford, NJ, Foxborough, MA, Toronto, ON, Vancouver, BC, and Phoenix, AZ, along with a third show added at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA. and stops in Santa Clara, CA, San Diego, CA, and Tacoma, WA.  Elton shared: “This year will see my grand finale in North America, playing stadiums all around the country, with the most spectacular production I’ve ever had. Thank you for sharing this journey with me. I cherish these memories we’re making together. It has been nothing short of incredible and I look forward to seeing you very soon one last time, on my Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.”

General tickets go on sale on April 6; join the ‘Rocket Club’ for an exclusive presale from April 1.  For more details and information, head to EltonJohn.com.

Elton John Adds More Dates to his “Farewell” Tour

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Kim Kardashian apologizes for her controversial “get up and work” comments

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Kim Kardashian appeared on Good Morning America, where she responded to backlash over her recent advice to women in business, saying her controversial comments about work were “taken out of context.”

In an interview with Variety earlier this month, the 41-year-old television Kardashian said the advice she’d give to women is to “Get your [expletive] up and work. It seems like nobody wants to work these days.” However on GMA, Kardashian said that her comments became a sound bite really with no context, explaning she made the remarks after being told that “After 20 years of being in the business, you’re famous for being famous. My whole tone and attitude changed with the previous question that went into that question about what advice would you give to women. The advice that I would give is just that having a social media presence and being on a reality show does not mean overnight success. You have to work really hard to get there, even if it seems like it is easy.”  Kardashian acknowledged that people work hard, saying, “It wasn’t a blanket statement towards women, or to feel like I don’t respect the work or think that they don’t work hard. I know that they do. That was taken out of context, but I’m really sorry if it was received that way.”

The Kardashian-Jenner family will return to television in the new Hulu series The Kardashians.

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Take a look at the new trailer for Disney-Pixar’s film ‘Lightyear’

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Disney-Pixar shared a trailer for the animated sci-fi adventure film ‘Lightyear,’ a spinoff of the Toy Story film series. The new movie serves as an origin story for Buzz Lightyear, the fictional astronaut who inspired the Buzz Lightyear toy in Toy Story.  Pixar posted on social media: ‘Get ready to go beyond infinity with Disney and Pixar’s #Lightyear, only in theaters June 17.’

Chris Evans voices Buzz in Lightyear, which also features the voices of Keke Palmer, Dale Souls, Taika Waititi, Peter Sohn, Uzo Aduba and James Brolin. The trailer shows Buzz (Evans) take flight from a remote planet and face off with a “massive robot.”

Lightyear, written and directed by Angus MacLane, opens in theaters June 17.

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Latto joined by Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled on remix for “Big Energy”

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Rapper Latto is being joined by Mariah Carey and DJ Khaled for the remix of her hit song, “Big Energy.” That original track features a sample from Tom Tom Club’s 1981 single, “Genius Of Love,” which was also used on Carey’s hit, “Fantasy.” The original version of Latto’s “Big Energy” hit No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was the first top 40 hit for the 23-year-old Atlanta rapper,

Latto also just released her new LP, 777, which features other big names, including Lil Wayne, Childish Gambino, and more. Celebrating the release of 777, Latto wrote, “Just up still on a high from all the love I received on my album release day… I used to sell my mixtapes for a dollar dawg. This sh** hit different. I don’t take nothing about it for granted.”

Latto said of “Big Energy” in a recent interview with Billboard: “I basically took this masculine, trendy ‘big d–k energy’ quote from Twitter and made it a thing where all genders can have ‘big energy’ and take it deeper than just [something] sexual. I wanted it to be empowering. It’s an aura that you carry and a confidence. It’s just an overall vibe and when you walk in the room, you have ‘big energy’ and no one can tell you otherwise. It’s an uplifting thing and turning a funny quote into something positive.”  

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Imagine Dragons adds 2022 summer shows to their ‘Mercury World Tour’

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Imagine Dragons has announced 20 new shows on their Mercury World Tour.  The North American summer tour is in support of their latest album, Mercury – Act 1 and kicks-off this August in Salt Lake City, UT with special guests Macklemore and Kings Elliot on select dates, before wrapping up in Los Angeles, CA in September.

General tickets for the new shows go on sale starting Friday, April 1st at 10 am local time via Ticketmaster. Verizon will offer an exclusive presale for the Imagine Dragons 2022 tour in the US through the customer loyalty program Verizon Up. Members will have first access to purchase presale tickets for select shows now through Thursday, March 31st at 10 pm local time.

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Will Smith publicly apologizes to Chris Rock, the Academy, for slapping incident at the Oscars

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Will Smith has publicly apologized to Chris Rock after their onstage altercation Sunday night at the 2022 Oscars. Smith took to Instagram on Monday to express remorse for slapping Rock after he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.  While Smith had apologized to the Academy during his acceptance speech after winning his first Oscar for Best Actor on Sunday night, he didn’t directly offer an apology to Rock at that time.

Smith said in his apology posted to social media on Monday: “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous and destructive. My behavior at last night’s Academy Awards was unacceptable and inexcusableJokes at my expense are a part of the job, but a joke about Jada’s medical condition was too much for me to bear and I reacted emotionally.

“I would like to publicly apologize to you, Chris. I was out of line and I was wrong. I am embarrassed and my actions were not indicative of the man I want to be. There is no place for violence in a world of love and kindness.”

“I would also like to apologize to the Academy, the producers of the show, all the attendees and everyone watching around the world. I would like to apologize to the Williams family and my King Richard family.

“I deeply regret that my behavior has stained what has been an otherwise gorgeous journey for all of us. I am a work in progress.”

The incident took place when Rock took the stage to present at the Oscars, joking, “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t wait to see it,” referencing Pinkett Smith’s shaved head. Moments later, Smith confronted Rock onstage, slapping him with an open hand.  After hitting Rock, Smith returned to his seat and yelled, “Keep my wife’s name out of your [expletive] mouth.”  Jada Pinkett Smith has publicly spoken about her struggles with alopecia, an incurable autoimmune disorder that causes bald spots and hair loss.

The Academy condemned Smith’s actions and launched an official probe into the incident. Rock declined to press charges against Smith, and as of press time has not publicly addressed the altercation.

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‘The Lost City’ tops North American box office with $31M opening weekend

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The adventure comedy, The Lost City, starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, was the No. 1 movie in North America this weekend, earning $31 million in receipts.

Coming in at No. 2 is The Batman with $20.5 million, followed by RRR at No. 3 with $9.5 million, Uncharted at No. 4 with $5 million and Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie at No. 5 with $4.6 million.

Rounding out the top tier are X at No. 6 with $2.2 million, Dog at No. 7 with $2.1 million, Spider-Man: No Way Home at No. 8 with $2 million, Sing 2 at No. 9 with $1.3 million and Infinite Storm at No. 10 with $751,000.

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