2/29/2024: Six Years for SBF?
PLUS: Tobacco Ban Pullback; OnlyFans Saves The Day; and Court Tosses Harry’s Case
Today is Thursday, February 29, 2024.
It is the 60th day of the year.
306 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Parents yearn for their kids’ younger days and Denver grapples with a budget drain. Details in HIT LIST.
DREW BARRYMORE’s past comes back to haunt her. More in SHOWBIZ.
Drama is brewing for Bravo bigwig ANDY COHEN. Details in CASTING CALL.
YE gets sued for song sampling. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY loses his most recent legal battle. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
The new lawyer for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED filed papers on Tuesday arguing that his client deserves no more than six and a half years in prison for his conviction and not the 100 years recommended by prosecutors. The argument suggests the maximum sentencing guidelines were initially miscalculated by probation officers, but prosecutors have argued that trial evidence supports a lengthy sentence.
Prosecutors will file their response in the coming weeks, ahead of the March 28 sentencing date by Judge Lewis Kaplan. If that name is familiar, he’s the same judge who oversaw Virginia Giuffre’s sexual assault case against PRINCE ANDREW and one of former President DONALD TRUMP’s recent civil trials.
SBF’s new lawyer is also expected to initiate formal appeal proceedings to overturn the conviction of defrauding customers out of billions of dollars. [via AP News]
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A survey commissioned by baby-supply company Stokke reveals that most parents yearn for the days their child was just two years old. Participants said they would do things like abandon social media, forgo vacation time, and eat out for just a day with their child as a baby again.
Being a parent also makes people more sentimental: 84% say they have kept items related to childhood milestones as keepsakes; the average parent keeps nine such mementos, the most common of which were baby clothes, footprint or handprint molds or copies, and pregnancy tests and ultrasound images. About 1 in 4 have kept a baby tooth. [via New York Post]
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The City of Denver has announced extensive job cuts to free up millions of dollars to house and care for undocumented migrants and asylum-seekers traveling to the city.
Local media reports that the city is intentionally avoiding the term “layoffs” – instead telling hourly employees their hours will be reduced to zero. No word yet exactly which departments will be affected, but the Parks and Recreation and DMV staff are most likely on the chopping block, to the tune of about $5 MILLION in wage reduction. "All of our departments, all of our agencies, we’re going to have to find a way to prioritize," the mayor said.
Even amid the wage savings, the city says they’re short $180 MILLION to accommodate the new arrivals. While Denver has never formally declared itself a “sanctuary city,” in 2014 its city council passed a resolution to reject ICE detainer requests and in 2017 began offering taxpayer-funded legal assistance to undocumented people living there. [via 9 News]
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New Zealand’s government is scrapping plans to implement a national tobacco ban that was set to go into effect in July.
The law would have forbidden all tobacco sales for those born in 2009 and beyond and regulate the nicotine content in cigarettes. Instead, the government will take less drastic actions to discourage smoking and provide resources for those who want to quit. [via Reuters]
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You think your in-laws are bad, one woman’s mother-in-law faked a heart attack in response to her son’s engagement news and then made her son “cover all of her medical costs” because she felt it was “his fault.”
It gets worse…
The day of the wedding, the groom’s family reportedly refused to attend the ceremony, but did (allegedly) hire three people to ruin the big day. Two of the hired help tossed red paint on the bride as she was about to walk down the aisle and the third guy filmed the whole thing. Not letting her soon-to-be in-laws win, the bride went home, changed into a sparkling gold gown and returned to say “I do.”
It doesn’t end there…
When the paint job failed, the groom’s family (allegedly) placed an “anonymous” call to the police saying they “could find drugs” at the wedding. Officers responded to the ceremony, where everyone was searched and the groom was handcuffed. Thankfully no arrests were made and the night was able to carry on.
Wait, there’s more…
As the newlyweds were to embark on their honeymoon, the groom’s family reportedly hid his passport, and also allegedly tried to “bribe the travel agency to ruin the trip.” Fortunately for the couple, the thwarting failed and they were able to enjoy a well-deserved get away.
According to a Reddit post about the sordid ordeal, friends of the in-laws have questioned them about the allegations, which they have denied. [via Reddit]
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DEATHS
Actor BUDDY DURESS has died.
According to a recent statement from his brother, he passed away last November of cardiac arrest from a drug cocktail.
Duress is best known for his role in “Good Time.”
He was only 38.
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Actor RICHARD LEWIS has died.
He passed away Tuesday night at his Los Angeles home after suffering a heart attack, according to his rep.
Lewis starred opposite LARRY DAVID on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”
He was 76.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 23 points (0.06%) to close at 38,949 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 8 points (0.17%) to close at 5,069 and the NASDAQ lost 87 points (0.55%) to close at 15,947.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $78. BRENT CRUDE at $81.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.29 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN’s surge continued, up nearly 6% and trading over $60,000. A rocketship of gains stalled after exchange platform Coinbase suffered a technical glitch that showed customer balances at $0, but the company insists and has since proven everyone’s funds are safe. The fiasco triggered a 7% fall in Bitcoin valuation in a matter of minutes that slowly recovered.
🛩 There were more than 2,880 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 160 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $607 million jackpot or a $286.9 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
FOLLOW UP: Ben McDonald, the photographer who was allegedly attacked by SCOTT SWIFT, says he is ready to forgive and move on, but only if Tay’s dad apologizes.
He probably shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for that apology as a rep for TAYLOR SWIFT already said her dad did nothing wrong.
McDonald doubled down on the incident Wednesday, telling TMZ that he was just doing his job and what went down is well documented on several different videos.
The ordeal is still under investigation. [via TMZ]
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Fans grew concerned Wednesday after STEPHEN BALDWIN shared a post asking for prayers for his daughter, HAILEY, and her husband, JUSTIN BIEBER.
The post, from Victor Marx, founder of All Things Possible Ministries, read, “Christians, please when you think of Justin & Hailey, take a moment to offer a little prayer for them to have wisdom, protection and to draw close to the Lord.”
No additional context was shared by Baldwin. [via Page Six]
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BEYONCE’s new country song “Texas Hold ‘Em” is making headlines again, but this time for its similarity to a theme song from the children’s show, “Franklin.”
Bey’s song was compared to the theme song shortly after it was released earlier this month, with many TikTok users suggesting the two are very similar.
Now, Bruce Cockburn, who sung the “Franklin” theme song is weighing in on the comparison, saying “the rhythmic feel is similar [...] but to my ears that’s where the similarity stops.”
BUT HOLD ON: “Franklin” aired in Canada from 1997 to 2004 and Bey’s co-songwriters are Canadian, so could there have been some unconscious rhythmic overlap? [via People]
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THE EAGLES may follow in U2’s footsteps and land a residency at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
The band is kicking off their “The Long Goodbye” farewell tour this September, so should things pan out, the residency wouldn’t start until the end of the year.
U2 is set to wrap up their run in the Sphere this weekend. [via Daily Mail]
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Actor MAX GREENFIELD wants to honor his late friend, fellow actor LESLIE JORDAN, with a new book about fears and anxieties.
Greenfield told People that he is writing a children’s book called “Good Night Thoughts,” which he says was inspired by conversations he had with Jordan about their own anxieties.
“Good Night Thoughts” will hit shelves this September. [via People]
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ZAYN MALIK’s forthcoming, not-yet-titled album, will be different from what fans are used to from the former ONE DIRECTION member.
Rolling Stone reported that the 31-year-old has been working with David Cobb, who is known for his ties to country and rock artists.
Malik previously spoke about his new music, saying it’s based on “real-life experiences,” including several mentions of his daughter. [via Rolling Stone]
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DREW BARRYMORE says her past choices are being used against her, by her own daughter.
Barrymore detailed a recent exchange on her self-titled talk show about how when she told her eldest daughter, Olive, she couldn’t wear a crop top, the preteen responded by reminding her that she was once on the cover of Playboy.
In her defense, Barrymore said when she decided to pose for Playboy she “didn’t know she’d have kids later.”
Touche Olive, Touche. [via Decider]
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“Sopranos” alum DREA DE MATTEO is thanking OnlyFans for “saving [her] from the brink of financial ruin.”
Despite being hesitant to join the platform, Matteo says the service was a “saving grace” after her home went into foreclosure, her mom died and she ran out of money to pay for care for a family member with dementia.
“It saved us. Anybody that wants to condemn me and put me down, go for it. I just hope you never find yourself in the position I was in to take care of two little kids,” she told the Daily Mail after receiving a “lot of heat for doing it.” [via Daily Mail]
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CASTING CALL
Former Bravo star LEAH MCSWEENEY has filed a lawsuit claiming the network’s bigwig ANDY COHEN snorts cocaine with a slew of his favorite “Housewives.”
Elsewhere in the suit, Sweeney alleges Bravo “preyed” on her alcohol problem by “intentionally exacerbating it” or “preventing her from seeking help for it” in an attempt to boost ratings.
She is seeking unspecified damages.
IN RESPONSE: A rep for Cohen called the claims “completely false.”
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An “NCIS” spinoff is in the works at Parmount+.
The streamer announced that COTE DE PABLO and MICHAEL WEATHERLY will reprise their roles as Ziva David and Tony DiNozzo.
Production is set to begin later this year. No word on a title. [via ET]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
DONNA SUMMER’s estate is taking legal action against YE for sampling part of her hit “I Feel Love” in his “Good (Don’t Die)” track without permission.
According to the suit, the estate is seeking major damages and an injunction blocking further distribution of the song.
Ye also came under fire for sampling one of OZZY OSBOURNE’s songs without permission on his new album as well. No word on whether or not a lawsuit is in the works on that front. [via Page Six]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY has lost his appeal to require the British government to provide him with security when he’s in-country as a member of the Royal family.
The core of his case argued that he was treated beyond typical rules and procedures when the Metropolitan Police denied his request for the same level of security as other royals. The judge ruled that "any departure from policy was justified and that the decision was not irrational or marred by procedural unfairness.”
Harry is expected to further appeal the decision to Britain’s Court of Appeal. [via Express]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Toast Day
Rare Disease Day
Bachelor’s Day
Leap Year Day
International Underlings Day
Digital Learning Day
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ON THIS DATE
1644 - Dutch explorer Abel Tasman departs Batavia to explore and map present-day Australia.
Batavia at the time was the capital of the Dutch East Indies, on the site of present-day Jakarta, Indonesia.
Tasman’s ship followed the northern and western coasts of Australia but ultimately did not find any notable resources.
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1720 - Queen Ulrika Eleonora of Sweden abdicates the throne in favor of her husband, who became Frederick I.
She ascended to the throne at 30 years old following the death of her brother and had already been married five years. Ulrika desired a co-monarchy that the Swedish Constitution forbade and instead negotiated a deal for her to step aside, but also be next-in-line if he were to die before she did.
During this transition, Sweden’s government transitioned to give its parliament more power than the monarch.
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1796 - The Jay Treaty goes into effect between the United States and Great Britain.
The deal stabilized relations between the two countries and established regulations for trade. It also had Britain pull back its military presence in the Northwest Territories — much of the modern-day Midwest — to encourage westward expansion.
While the treaty averted war with Britain in the short-term, the internal divide of the treaty’s provisions helped cement party-line political disputes at home.
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1940 - Hattie McDaniel becomes the first Black woman to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in “Gone With the Wind,” taking home a Best Supporting Actress award. At the time, the award was not a statue but a small plaque.
Segregation laws prevented McDaniel from appearing at the film’s premiere in Atlanta. Though co-star Clark Gable threatened to boycott the event, she nobly encouraged him to attend anyway. McDaniel did appear at the Hollywood premiere a few days later.
Even the night of the awards ceremony, McDaniel was allowed entry to the whites-only hotel as a favor, and she had to sit at a separate table, though her white agent joined her there.
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1980 - Hartford Whaler right wing Gordie Howe scores his 800th career goal, the first NHL pro to hit the milestone. He was 51 years old at the time.
The record stood for 14 years, until Wayne Gretzky broke the record in 1994 with the Los Angeles Kings.
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2012 - North Korea agrees to stop its nuclear program and let in international inspectors in exchange for an aid package from the United States.
The news came shortly after Kim Jong Un succeeded his father as ruler of the communist nation.
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BIRTHDAYS
Tyrese Haliburton - basketball player - 24
Jessica Long - Paralympic swimmer - 32
Jesse Usher - actor, “The Boys” & “Level Up” - 32
Eric Kendricks - football player - 32
Cullen Jones - Olympic swimmer - 40
Mark Foster - rock singer, Foster The People - 40
Peter Scanavino - actor, “Law & Order: SVU” - 44
Ja Rule - rapper - 48
Antonio Sabato Jr. - actor, “General Hospital” - 52
Tony Robbins - motivational speaker - 64
Ken Foree - actor, “Dawn of the Dead” - 76
Born On This Date
Dave Williams - metal singer, Drowning Pool - 1972 (d. 2002)
Dennis Farina - actor, “Law & Order” - 1944 (d. 2013)
Joss Ackland - actor, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” & “The Hunt for Red October” - 1928 (d. 2023)
Dinah Shore - pop singer - 1916 (d. 1994)
Jimmy Dorsey - composer - 1904 (d. 1957)
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