Today is Wednesday, February 19, 2025.
It is the 50th day of the year.
315 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
NOTABLE & NOTEWORTHY: Closure for victims of the FTX began to arrive on Tuesday.
MEGYN KELLY causes controversy and TEDDI MELLENCAMP’s loved ones share an update. SHOWBIZ
There are mixed reviews about BLAKE LIVELY and RYAN REYNOLDS attending the “SNL” special. Details in CASTING CALL.
MEGHAN MARKLE offers yet another rebrand in ROYALS.
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The first tranche of payments to FTX customers who lost their investments when the exchange imploded in November 2022 hit bank accounts on Tuesday.
While the development brings welcome relief, the repayments are still worth about one-fifth of the value they would have been today, given Bitcoin’s astronomical rise in the last three years.
These first payments are just a start, though, with repaying balances worth $50,000 or less, for about $1.2 BILLION total. By June, total payouts will be worth about $16 BILLION.
SPEAKING OF CRYPTO: The Wyoming Highway Patrol Association voted last week to formally invest in Bitcoin as part of its investment strategy. It would likely be the first law enforcement group in the country to make such an investment.
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UBER has rolled out a new service for travelers in Europe on a mountain holiday: a special ride-hailing service with vans equipped to store and carry skis and snowboards.
Uber Ski promises to whisk travelers from airports and train stations in seven European countries to their resort destination, fully equipped to carry all their gear, too. The service will provide transportation to nearly 100 different resorts.
In addition to the gear, each van will accommodate up to five passengers and can be booked up to two months in advance. [via Uber]
FLOYD MAYWEATHER wants to buy a 10% stake in the NY Giants.
Insiders say the heavyweight champ has teamed up with real estate magnate MEYER ORBACH and together they plan to make an offer of around $700 million.
The Giants are currently owned by JOHN MARA, grandson of founder TIM MARA, and STEVE TISCH. Both are looking to sell part of their stake in the team.
MEANWHILE: Mayweather already owns around 20% of the Minnesota Timberwolves. [via TMZ]
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CONOR MCGREGOR filed an appeal to the ruling in his civil assault case that took place last November in Ireland.
At the time, jurors found the MMA star liable for assaulting accuser Nikita Ni Lamhain at a hotel after a Christmas party in 2018. Per the ruling, McGregor was ordered to pay Lamhain $250,000 in damages. [via Yahoo Sports]
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Filmmaker BRADY CORBET says he made no money on his last two films, one of which being “The Brutalist,” which brought in $31.3 million at the global box office.
The film, which premiered at Cannes last year, doesn’t end when the camera shuts off, Corbert explained on the “WTF with Marc Maron” podcast, saying it takes time to promote it.
“So I’ve been doing this for six months. And had zero income because I don’t have any time to go to work. I can’t even take a writing job at the moment,” he continued.
“The Brutalist” earned four BAFTAs and three Golden Globes. It's also nominated for 10 Academy Awards. [via Page Six]
BY THE WAY: The Directors Guild of America says directors get paid a salary depending on the length of time and type of project they are working on. The org chose not to comment on Corbet’s statements.
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UP NEXT: SIMONE BILES’ goes on a well-overdue honeymoon, harsh words for BLAKE LIVELY and RYAN REYNOLDS, a major ruling for DOGE in The Swamp, and an iconic inventor earns a major patent.
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