3/31/2023: Trumped Up Charges
PLUS: Russia Detains an American Journalist; Victory for Gwyneth Paltrow; and Meg Gets a Gracie
Today is Friday, March 31, 2023.
It is the 90th day of the year.
275 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An American journalist has been arrested in Russia and Virgin Orbit begins shutting down. More in HIT LIST.
Well, a former president has been indicted on criminal charges for the first time. Find out what’s next for DONALD TRUMP in THE SWAMP.
BILLIE EILISH sings in the rain and JOHN TRAVOLTA is reportedly trying to heal the rift between PRISCILLA PRESLEY and her granddaughter RILEY KEOUGH. More in SHOWBIZ.
RUSSELL CROWE has no part in the “Gladiator” sequel and “Summer House” gets a Martha’s Vineyard-based spinoff series. More in CASTING CALL.
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HIT LIST
An American journalist has been arrested in Russia on espionage charges.
Wall Street Journal reporter EVAN GERSHKOVICH was detained on Thursday in Yekaterinburg, about 1,000 miles east of Moscow. The official charges accuse Gershkovich of attempting to gain access to classified information, specifically about “the activities of one of the enterprises of the Russian military-industrial complex that constitutes a state secret,” according to the Federal Security Service – or FSB.
The Journal denies such claims and demands his release. Gerhkovich will remain imprisoned pending an investigation.
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A new study in the science journal Science paints a new picture of how the Tyrannosaurus rex would have looked.
Instead of bearing giant teeth, the rows of chompers were likely covered with some kind of lip, and only the points of the teeth would’ve been visible.
The conclusion comes from studying how modern-day reptiles’ heads and mouths are structured; the research team believes the same biology that covers lizards’ teeth would’ve scaled to cover up the T-Rex’s.
They also believe that had the teeth not been covered, they would’ve worn down, but most fossilized teeth remain in their original shape. [via Associated Press]
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A rumored investment into RICHARD BRANSON’s Virgin Orbit earlier this month has fallen through. The company told staff on Thursday they will layoff about 90% of its employees. This amounts to about 675 pink slips.
The remaining staff will stick around to wind down the company’s operations “for the foreseeable future.” [via NBCNews]
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A Maryland man still has his car after two dumbass teenagers tried to steal it from a gas station, only to find they couldn’t drive stick.
The victim was gassing up his car – and just when he returned the pump, the teens approached and demanded his keys. The victim complied; the kids hopped in, and – literally – got nowhere. That’s when they took off on foot.
Police rounded up the criminals a few blocks away. [via WBAL]
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Eric Kilburn tries to be just like any other 14-year-old kid – but standing 6-feet-10-inches tall and sporting size-23 feet, he’s never been able to find appropriate shoes.
UNTIL NOW: Robb Cropp, the senior director of product development for Under Armour, flew to Michigan to have Kilburn’s feet measured in a digital scanner. Cropp says he’s never seen a shoe size bigger than a 22 in the 30 years he’s been in the business. Cropp adds the shoe the company makes just for Kilburn will be the biggest the company has ever manufactured. [via ABC12]
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CHARTS
What’s Streaming?
New to Amazon Prime:
But I’m a Cheerleader (Rotten Tomatoes Score: 43%)
Come Play (Score: 56%)
Enemies Closer (Score: 79%)
Fallen (Score: 40%)
My Sweet Monster (No Score)
Outback (No Score)
Siberia (Score: 62%)
The Power (Score: 94%)
Zeros and Ones (Score: 55%)
New to Hulu:
Killing Gunther (Score: 46%)
Rye Lane (Score: 99%)
Stratton (Score: 0%)
New to Netflix:
Diary of a Mad Black Woman (Score 16%)
Murder Mystery 2 (No Score)
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DEATHS
Former NFL ref BILL LEAVY has died.
He passed away this week, according to league executive WALT ANDERSON. No cause of death was shared.
Leavy was 76.
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RELATIONSHIPS
Singer LANA DEL REY, 37, is engaged to musician EVAN WINIKER, 40.
While not confirmed by the couple, who have only been together a few months, Del Rey was spotted with a giant rock on her ring finger at the Billboard Women in Music event.
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THE SWAMP
Former President DONALD TRUMP has been indicted on unspecified criminal charges, multiple outlets reported Thursday afternoon.
As expected, these charges are connected to whether he paid hush money to porn star STORMY DANIELS to keep their affair quiet.
Trump is expected to appear in court for his arraignment early next week, at which point details of the charges would be revealed. Afterward, Trump would get a mugshot and fingerprinted.
In response, Trump issued a statement saying in part, “Radical Left Democrats - the enemy of the hard-working men and women of this Country - have been engaged in a Witch-Hunt to destroy the Make America Great Again movement…. The Democrats have lied, cheated, and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable - indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference.” Whole thing here >
MEANWHILE: In a statement out Thursday, Florida Governor RON DESANTIS says his state will not help facilitate an extradition to New York.
WORTH NOTING: Some legal analysts say that there’s no reason that if re-elected, Trump couldn’t issue a pardon for himself.
ALSO WORTH NOTING: The modern American legal process moves slowly. There’s a chance the case isn’t even resolved by November 2024.
STILL WORTH NOTING: It’s amazing how this kind of announcement really knocks the news about President JOE BIDEN’s family receiving millions of dollars in direct payments from the Chinese Communist Party – America’s leading geopolitical adversary – completely out of the discussion.
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW added 141 points (0.43%) to close at 32,859 on Thursday. The S&P added 23 points (0.57%) to close at 4,050 and the NASDAQ added 87 points (0.73%) to close at 12,013.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $74; BRENT CRUDE at $78.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.48 on Thursday.
₿ BITCOIN slid Thursday, losing 1.13%, trading just over $28,000.
🛩 There were more than 3,740 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Thursday and more than 141 such cancellations.
💰Tonight’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $355 million jackpot or a $187.6 million cash payout. Saturday night’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $147 million jackpot or a $79.5 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
These albums drop today:
Alberta Cross, “Sinking Ships”
B. Cool-Aid, “Leather Blvd.”
Boygenius, “The Record”
Buzzy Lee, “Internal Affairs”
Charlie Cunningham, “Frame”
Conway The Machine, “Won’t He Do It”
Crazy Horse, “All Roads Lead Home”
Dead Lakes, “daydreamer”
Eddie Chacon, “Sundown”
Jake Pinto, “Sad Songs for Happy People”
Jared Mattson, “Peanut”
Katie Gately, “Fawn/Brute”
Kris Ulrich, “Big in the USA”
Louis VI, “Earthling”
Melanie Martinez, “Portals”
Netherlands, “Severance”
Nova One, “create myself”
Rachel Baiman, “Common Nation of Sorrow”
Samiam, “Stowaway”
Steve Gunn and David Moore, “Let the Moon Be a Planet”
The Who, “The Who with Orchestra Live at Wembley”
The Zombies, “Different Game”
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Actor JONATHAN MAJORS has texts from his girlfriend, stating that she is to blame for their recent domestic dispute and she does not wish to press charges.
Majors’ lawyer has turned over the texts to law enforcement.
As previously reported, the actor was arrested for misdemeanor assault, aggravated harassment, attempted assault and harassment last weekend. [via TMZ]
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JOHN TRAVOLTA is reportedly working behind-the-scenes to help PRISCILLA PRESLEY and her granddaughter RILEY KEOUGH kiss and make up.
As previously reported, the two have been feuding over LISA MARIE PRESLEY’s $35 million trust, with Priscilla claiming she should have been the beneficiary, not Riley.
Insiders told RadarOnline.com that the two women have become estranged over the issue, but apparently Travolta is on hand to help. [via RadarOnline]
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A LYNYRD SKYNYRD tribute will take place during Sunday night’s CMT Music Awards.
BILLY GIBBONS, CHUCK LEAVELL, CODY JOHNSON, PAUL RODGERS, SLASH and WARREN HAYNES will honor the band and the late GARY ROSSINGTON.
LEANN RIMES and WYNONNA JUDD will also be part of the tribute.
KELSEA BALLERINI and KANE BROWN are set to host the awards show which will air live from the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday night. [via ET]
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BILLIE EILISH isn’t afraid of a little rain.
When a severe storm forced her to cancel her concert in Mexico City this week, she took the stage to address the crowd, “I thought it was stupid for me to leave without coming out saying thank you for being here.” She then belted out a few songs acoustically.
According to insiders, fans appreciated her mini-concert.
The concert was rescheduled for last night. [via TMZ]
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GAYLE KING is set to earn $12 million per year for just one hour of work a week at her new gig on CNN.
The not-yet-titled primetime show will feature King alongside former NBA star CHARLES BARKLEY, according to RadarOnline.com.
Per the outlet, King already earns $13 million a year for “CBS Mornings” and Barkley makes $10 million for co-hosting “Inside the NBA” on TBS. The new CNN collab will make them the highest-earning on-air pair. [via RadarOnline]
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OZZY OSBOURNE is ready to get back on the stage.
According to Variety, Osbourne, METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, AC/DC, TOOL and IRON MAIDEN are all set to headline a new festival called Power Trip.
The festival will take place on the same grounds as Coachella, in Indio, California this October. [via Variety]
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FLO RIDA’s 6-year-old son ZOHAR is in a full-body cast and will have to learn to walk again after falling out a fifth-story apartment window earlier this month.
He suffered serious injuries from the fall, including a lacerated liver, collapsed lung, fractures to his feet and pelvis and internal bleeding. Insiders told TMZ his doctors said he is lucky to be alive.
This week, Zohar’s mom, Alexis Adams, filed a lawsuit against a construction company and window installation company, blaming them for her son’s fall. She is seeking damages, including money to cover medical bills.
WORTH NOTING: Flo Rida is not listed on the suit and one source told TMZ that he has never even met the child. [via TMZ]
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CASTING CALL
RUSSELL CROWE confirmed that he will not be appearing in the “Gladiator” sequel.
In the original film, Crowe played a former Roman general named Maximus who was sold into slavery and fought his way to get revenge on the emperor for murdering his family.
As previously reported, PAUL MESCAL will star in the sequel, playing Lucius, the nephew of Commodus, who was played by JOAQUIN PHOENIX in the original.
DENZEL WASHINGTON and BARRY KEOGHAN also have roles in the movie. [via Daily Mail]
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Bravo’s “Summer House” is getting a spinoff.
“Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard” features an all-Black cast vacationing in Martha’s Vineyard, a favorite escape for the rich, famous and politically connected, according to Bravo.
The new reality series is set to premiere on May 7. [via Deadline]
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COURT CASES
After a short deliberation on Thursday afternoon, the jury in the 2016 ski collision trial sided with GWYNETH PALTROW.
As previously reported, 76-year-old TERRY SANDERSON filed a $300,000 lawsuit against Paltrow, claiming she crashed into him on the ski hill and left him with serious and lingering injuries. She countersued for $1 and attorney fees, claiming she was not the one who caused the collision.
Following the verdict, Paltrow told reporters that she is “pleased with the outcome.” [via NBC News]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KHLOE KARDASHIAN responded to an Instagram follower this week who asked her if she “misses” her “old face.”
She replied with a quick, “No.” [via People]
WORTH REMEMBERING: Khloe finally addressed plastic surgery rumors in 2021, revealing that she has only had one nose job and the rest of her transformation is from injections and makeup.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
MEGHAN MARKLE has been announced as one of this year’s winners of a Gracie Award for her “Archetypes” podcast.
The Gracies celebrate exemplary programming and individual achievement created by, for and about women across all media in news and entertainment, according to a press release.
Others being honored for podcasts are KATIE COURIC for “Next Question” and ALEX COOPER for “Call Her Daddy.”
A gala to celebrate the winners will be held on May 23 at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire in Los Angeles. [via People]
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LIST OF THE WEEK
In light of the ridiculousness that came out of the GWYNETH PALTROW ski collision trial this week, here are five other celebrities who won lawsuits over crazy claims.
Kiera Knightly - The Daily Mail claimed she had an eating disorder and caused the death of a woman who was battling anorexia. She filed a lawsuit and was awarded thousands of dollars.
Sharon Stone - A plastic surgeon told multiple media outlets that the actress had a face lift. Stone denied the claims, sued the surgeon and was awarded an unspecified amount in damages.
Cameron Diaz - She sued the British Sun after they reported that she had an affair with a friend while the two were in separate relationships. Diaz sued and was awarded an unknown amount.
Kate Winslet - The Daily Mail said she lied about her exercise routine and called her the “world’s most irritating actress.” She sued them for libel and was awarded 25,000 British pounds.
Rebel Wilson - The actress used Bauer Media after they published several stories claiming that Wilson made up her life story to make it Hollywood. She was awarded $4.5 million Australian dollars.
For more stories like these click here>>>
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DAY OF THE YEAR
National Tater Day
National Crayon Day
National Cream Cheese Frosting Day
National Prom Day
Eiffel Tower Day
Wear A Hat Day
World Backup Day
National Bunsen Burner Day
International Transgender Day of Visibility
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ON THIS DATE
1776 – Abigail Adams implores husband John Adams to “remember the ladies.”
In a letter dated on this date, 1776, Abigail implored her husband, who was part of the Continental Congress forming the new American government, to “remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors…. All men would be tyrants if they could.”
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1854 – The United States and Japan open up commerce between their countries.
The Treaty of Kanagawa opened ports in Shimoda and Hakodate to American trade. It also called for the creation of an American consulate in Japan.
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1889 – The Eiffel Tower opens to the public.
In a dedication ceremony featuring the tower’s designer, Gustave Eiffel, the monument was to honor the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution.
At the time it was the tallest structure in the world.
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1959 – The Dalai Lama goes into exile in India.
As the 14th Lama, he was the political and spiritual head of Tibet, which China invaded in 1950. For most of the decade, Tibet functioned as a national autonomous region but was subject to religious bans from the Communist Party.
After violent protests broke out nearly ten years later, The Lama fled the country.
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1995 – Selena Quintanilla-Pérez is killed by Yolanda Saldívar.
Saldívar had been managing the finances for Selena’s fan club but was embezzling the funds for herself. Selena and her managers started growing suspicious. The scandal culminated with a confrontation in a Corpus Christi hotel: After Selena demanded to see financial documents, Saldívar pulled a gun from her purse and shot the singer in the shoulder, hitting an artery that caused tremendous blood loss.
Selena fled to the lobby, but collapsed, and was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
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2021 - Paul Simon sells his entire catalog of over 400 songs to Sony Music Publishing.
The acquisition includes six decades of music from his time in Simon & Garfunkel to his solo career.
Financial details were not shared.
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BIRTHDAYS
Lexi Walker - pop singer - 21
Jay Rock - rapper - 38
Jack Antonoff - guitarist, Fun - 39
Chloe Zoe - filmmaker & director, “The Rider” & “Nomandland” - 41
Ewan McGregor - actor, “Big Fish” & “Moulin Rouge” & “Star Wars” - 52
Angus Young - guitarist, AC/DC - 68
Al Gore - Vice President & failed Presidential candidate - 75
Christopher Walken - actor, “Pulp Fiction” & “Eddie the Eagle” - 80
William Daniels - actor, “Boy Meets World” - 96
Born On This Date
Liz Claiborne - fashion designer - 1929 (d. 2007)
Gordie Howe - HOF hockey player - 1928 (d. 2016)
Cesar Chavez - civil rights activist & founder of the National Farm Workers Association - 1927 (d. 1993)
Johann Sebastian Bach - composer - 1685 (d. 1750)
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