3/27/2024: Strippers’ Bill of Rights
PLUS: WeWork Redux; Vasectomy Survivor; and Another PR Hit
Today is Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
It is the 87th day of the year.
279 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
Friends rally behind SAM BANKMAN-FRIED and a fast-food mashup for the ages. Details in HIT LIST.
Get an update on the DIDDY raid in SHOWBIZ.
Several sequels are (maybe) in the works. Details in CASTING CALL.
Is KIM trying to look like BIANCA? More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY’s public image rehab hits another snag. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
TOMORROW: Judge LEWIS KAPLAN decides how long SAM BANKMAN-FRIED will spend behind bars.
BUT FIRST: Days after the prosecution filed impact statements from victims of SBF’s fraud, the defense submitted letters from his friends, as he desperately seeks leniency.
One letter celebrates SBF’s veganism and love for farm animals, writing, “[Sam] never showed any interest in material possessions or personal wealth; he was far more interested in promoting animal welfare.” [via DailyMail]
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In October 2019, ADAM NEUMANN was forced out as the head of the coworking-space company he founded, with a nine-figure golden parachute. Since then, he’s mostly laid low and whispered about some new real estate projects.
NOW: He’s making a bid to buy back WeWork, which filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last November. The company has floundered since Neumann’s forced departure and the post-covid landscape still leaves deeply diminished demand for office space, especially in crime-ridden urban areas where it thrived.
A rep for WeWork says they’ve had informal conversations with Neumann’s current real estate company so far. [via Wall Street Journal]
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MCDONALD’S and KRISPY KREME have partnered to begin selling doughnuts at all American Arches locations in the next two years.
Don’t expect the sweet smell of doughnuts to weirdly mix with fries and burger patties, though: Krispy Kreme is currently ramping up its production and will distribute to McD’s locations.
The menu will be limited to original, chocolate iced with sprinkles, and chocolate-creme filled, available individually and six-packs.
Reps for Krispy Kreme say the partnership will also help alleviate the extensive wasted product that gets tossed every day. [via New York Post]
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Washington state has a new set of laws protecting exotic dancers, known locally as the “strippers’ bill of rights.”
The law, signed into effect on Monday, mandates training designed to prevent harassment, human trafficking, and conflict among and between guests of such establishments and the strippers. The rules also set standards for safety and security, including locked dressing rooms and panic buttons.
Stripping also requires some navigation of tax issues that this law alleviates. Most Washington strippers are actually entrepreneurial, keeping the cash tossed at them and paying a fee to the club for their time on the stage. This law caps how much the club can take, the less of $150 or 30%.
The rules are expected to go into effect early next year while the state’s Department of Labor hashes out the particulars and enforcement. [via ABC News]
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Less than week before Easter and egg prices are at near-historic highs for the second year in a row.
In the US, the average price of a dozen eggs was $2.99 in February, which is down from $4.21 last year, but still significantly higher than the $1.59 they cost in February 2021.
Bird flu, chicken feed prices and inflation are all being blamed for the rise in price. [via Syracuse]
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BABY NEWS
Actor ROBERT PATTINSON and his fiance, model SUKI WATERHOUSE have welcomed their first child together.
He’s 37 and she’s 32.
No other details are known.
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Actress ASHLEY TISDALE is expecting baby #2 with her husband, musician CHRISTOPHER FRENCH.
She’s 38 and he’s 42.
The couple are already parents to 3-year-old daughter Jupiter.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 31 points (.08%) to close at 39,282 on Tuesday. The S&P lost 14 points (0.28%) to close at 5,203 and the NASDAQ lost 68 points (0.42%) to close at 16,315.
🛢WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $81; BRENT CRUDE at $85.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.53 on Tuesday.
₿ BITCOIN dipped below $70,000 Tuesday evening, barely.
🛩 There were more than 3,250 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Tuesday and more than 50 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $865 million jackpot or a $416.1 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
UPDATE: SEAN “Diddy” COMBS has not yet been named as the target of the raids that occurred at two of his properties on Monday.
As for his private plane being tracked to Antigua, Diddy was not on it. He was instead stopped in Miami before boarding a flight by investigators who reportedly seized phones from him. During the stop Diddy’s alleged “drug mule,” 25-year-old Brendon Paul, was arrested after investigators found cocaine and marijuana edibles in his luggage. He has since been bailed out.
IN OTHER NEWS: Diddy’s two adult sons, who were seen in handcuffs during the raid, were released. Eyewitnesses spotted the two returning to the Los Angeles home late Monday night, packing bags and getting out of dodge. [via The Guardian]
RIPPLE EFFECT: Due to the intense nature of the raid, Diddy’s street was shut down, which ticked off several of his neighbors, including director RIDLEY SCOTT. [via TMZ]
DIDDY SAYS: On Tuesday afternoon, Diddy’s attorney Aaron Dyer issued a statement on the raid, calling it a “gross overuse of military-level force” and called out the “excessive show of force and hostility” that was shown to his sons and employees. As for Diddy, Dyer said he “was never detained, but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.” The statement concluded with Dyer saying his client is “innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.” [via TMZ]
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FOLLOW UP: A week after CHRISTIAN DUMONTET was arrested for alleged domestic violence, he has requested a temporary restraining order against his wife, “Selling Sunset” alum CHRISTINE QUINN.
Dumontet was taken away in cuffs last week after Quinn called police, saying he hit their young son with a bag of garbage containing glass. The following day he was arrested again for breaking a no contact order by returning to their home.
Now, Dumontet says what actually happened is that he tossed the bag at the wall, nowhere near Quinn or their child, and there was no glass in the bag. He believes that Quinn is making up lies about the incident to use as “collateral” in a potential divorce. [via Radar Online]
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Celebs…they’re not really just like us!
TAYLOR SWIFT and TRAVIS KELCE reportedly shutdown a West Hollywood gym so they could workout in peace on Monday.
Eyewitnesses say fellow gym rats were forced to wait “outside for two hours” until Tay and Trav finished their sweat session.
The workout comes days after the two returned from their Bahamas getaway -- where they stayed at a lavish oceanfront mansion that cost them $15,000 a night. [via Daily Mail]
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Former football player ERIC DECKER is a “vasectomy survivor.”
The 37-year-old, who recently welcomed his fourth child with wife, country singer JESSIE JAMES DECKER, shared a photo of his recovery process, captioning it, “I survived.” [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
FOLLOW-UP: STEPHEN COLBERT sort of (but not really) apologized for comments he made during PRINCESS KATE’s absence.
Addressing the jokes -- specifically that Kate was hiding because PRINCE WILLIAM was having an affair -- Colbert extended “well wishes” to the royal for a “swift recovery.”
While he gets points for admitting that he was in the wrong, the fact of the matter is that Colbert gave a platform to gossip that he only felt bad about after Kate announced her cancer battle.
WORTH ASKING: Would he have felt bad if the jokes he made about Will’s affair were in fact true?
ALSO: Colbert, his “Late Show,” and CBS were hit with a letter from Will’s alleged mistress ROSE HANBURY’s team, stating that the affair allegation “is false.” [via NY Post]
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RONNA MCDANIEL’s time at NBC News is over.
She was given the boot Tuesday after intense backlash from the network’s top television anchors, including MSNBC’s RACHEL MADDOW, over her participation in wanting to investigate the 2020 election.
In a memo to staff on the decision, NBCUniversal News Group President Cesar Conde sympathized with those who were upset about McDaniel’s hiring, writing that the days since have “been difficult.” He continued on, taking “full responsibility” for her hiring and firing and apologized to those who felt “let down.”
MEANWHILE: McDaniel, who knew the end was in sight, spent Tuesday interviewing attorneys for a legal battle with NBC. [via Washington Post]
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A “John Tucker Must Die” sequel is in the works.
OG stars ARIELLE KEBBEL, JESSE METCALFE, and SOPHIA BUSH seemingly confirmed the news at Epic Cons Chicago, telling fans “there is a script.”
The original movie -- from 2006 -- follows high schoolers Heather (ASHANTI), Beth (Bush), and Carrie (Kebbel) who discover that John Tucker (Metcalfe) has been secretly dating all three of them. They enlist the help of a new girl, Kate (BRITTANY SNOW), to bust him. [via EW]
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JESSIE CAVE, who played Lavender Brown in the seven “Harry Potter” films, is hitting back at the “terrible” claims her co-star MIRIAM MARGOLYES made about adult fans of the franchise.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Cave said that Margolyes “just doesn't understand” the impact the books and films have on people’s lives. “It’s created a fan base that has aged and is still bonded through it and it’s passed on to younger generations and that’s what is so amazing.”
As for Margolyes saying adult fans “should be over” their obsession by now, Cave said, “Just let her be.” [via Daily Mail]
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JACK BLACK is ready for more “School of Rock.”
The actor was asked about his 2003 film during a recent interview, to which he responded that he would like to see a sequel come to fruition.
In the original, Black plays Dewey Finn, a substitute teacher who helps some of his misfit students form a rock band. [via Deadline]
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A follow-up to the 2019 documentary “Leaving Neverland” is in the works from Wade Robinson and James Safechuck.
In the first installment, the duo detail how they met and were sexually assaulted by MICHEAL JACKSON as young children. Those allegations are the basis for a current legal battle Robinson and Safechuck are in with Jackson’s estate.
No word on if the follow-up doc will affect their case. [via Radar Online]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
After lecturing BIANCA CENSORI about wearing revealing outfits around her children, KIM KARDASHIAN donned a similar get up.
In her latest Instagram post, Kim poses in a floor-length fur coat and brown tights with heels. There is nothing covering up her top half, exposing a significant amount of cleavage.
For the look Kim also slicked back her dark hair, which many in the comments compared to Censori’s go-to hairstyle.
While Kim’s children were not present for the photo, the reality star has been known to wear some pretty risque outfits around them as well. Though not to the extreme that Censori has. [via TMZ]
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
Another PR nightmare for the House of Sussex: PRINCE HARRY’s name appears in a sexual abuse lawsuit filed against SEAN “Diddy” COMBS.
While Harry isn’t implicated in any wrongdoing, the lawsuit argues that Diddy’s friendships with A-listers -- like the royal -- lend the mogul legitimacy that helps enable him to get away with his alleged crimes. [via DailyMail]
WORTH NOTING: While the lawsuit doesn’t create any legal liability for the prince, it does drag his name into headlines unnecessarily and makes him more toxic in the same entertainment circles his wife MEGHAN MARKLE so desperately wants to cement herself.
ALSO WORTH NOTING: This lawsuit was filed in February and details continue to emerge now, and are not necessarily directly connected to the raids on Diddy’s properties.
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DAY OF THE YEAR
American Red Cross Giving Day
World Theatre Day
National Spanish Paella Day
International Whisk(e)y Day
Manatee Appreciation Day
Quirky Country Music Song Titles Day
International Scribble Day
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ON THIS DATE
1513 - Explorer Juan Ponce de León spots land that he would call “La Florida” for the first time — marking the first time a European explorer set eyes on the peninsula.
The voyage took off from Puerto Rico, sailing northwest. Upon first sighting, he thought it was just another Caribbean island.
The crew made landfall near modern-day St. Augustine on Florida’s east coast, before setting out and following the coast south, around the tip, and up toward modern-day Tampa.
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1794 - President George Washington signs the Naval Act of 1794, which authorized the construction of six frigates with a $700,000 budget.
At the time, the new country had no standing army, let alone a naval fleet. Opponents to the measure believed a navy would be far too expensive to operate, especially as the United States was burdened with debt from the Revolutionary War.
Ultimately the measure passed, in particular to defend American merchant ships under attack in European waters by pirates. By law, four of the ships had to carry 44 guns and two ships had to have 36 on board.
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1912 - First Lady Helen Taft and the wife of the Japanese Ambassador ceremoniously plant two Yoshina cherry trees on the Potomac River.
Their trees accompanied the planting of another 3,020, gifted by the Japanese government.
The annual blossoming of the cherry trees is an event to behold in Washington each year. The fallen white petals from the cherry blossoms can make it look like it snowed a couple of inches even in warm spring temperatures.
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1939 - In the first NCAA men's basketball tournament, the University of Oregon beats Ohio State University 46-33.
In its first 12 years, only 8 teams competed in the entire tournament. In 2001, the NCAA instituted the contemporary 65-team tournament.
Since its unceremonious start, the men's basketball tournament has become a nationwide carnival of partying and gambling -- it's almost the most popular event to bet on, second only to the Super Bowl.
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1945 - The Nazis launch their last barrage of V-2 missiles from the last functioning launch base in the Netherlands.
More than 200 died in that final attack across England and Belgium.
After the US and Soviets rolled through formerly German-occupied territory, they stole much of the rocket technology, which led to their own development of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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1973 - Marlon Brando wins the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Vito Corleone in “The Godfather” — but he did not accept the award.
Instead, a young Native American woman took the stage in his place. She said that Brando would not accept the award as long as Native Americans were depicted unfavorably in films.
The only other actor to turn down an award was George C. Scott, for his roles in “Patton” and "The Hustler." He famously quipped, "I don't want any part of it."
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1980 - Mount St. Helens becomes active after 123 years.
A series of volcanic explosions began, and would later escalate into a major explosive eruption in May. That eruption would have a Volcanic Explosivity Index of 5, which is the most significant to occur in the contiguous United States.
It has been declared the most disastrous volcanic eruption in US history.
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2005 - “Grey’s Anatomy” premieres on ABC.
The show would become one of the longest-running medical drama series ever.
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2022 - The Slap Heard ‘Round Hollywood.
Will Smith storms the stage and slaps Oscars host Chris Rock after the comedian makes a joke about Smith’s wife.
Smith would later apologize for his actions and resign his Academy membership. He would also be banned from attending Academy events for 10 years.
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BIRTHDAYS
Halle Bailey - actress & R&B singer - 24
Sophie Nelisse - actress, “Yellowjackets” - 24
Jessie J - pop singer - 36
Brenda Song - actress, “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody” - 36
Buster Posey - baseball player - 37
Eric Bellinger - songwriter - 38
Fergie - pop singer - 49
Kendra Scott - fashion designer - 50
Nathan Fillion - actor, “Castle” & “The Rookie” - 53
Mariah Carey - pop singer - 55
Johnny April - guitarist, Staind - 59
Quentin Tarantino - director - 61
Born On This Date
Henry Royce - industrialist, Rolls-Royce - 1863 (d. 1933)
Wilhelm Rontgen - German physicist who discovered X-rays - 1845 (d. 1923)
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