4/15/2024: Abs-olutely Fabulous Feat
PLUS: Loose Ships; Met Gala Invitees; and Harry & Meg Do Florida
Today is Monday, April 15, 2024.
It is the 106th day of the year.
260 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
SAM BANKMAN-FRIED readies his appeal and Haiti’s new leadership takes over. Details in HIT LIST.
SHAKIRA makes a big announcement and squatters take over GORDON RAMSAY’s London eatery. More in SHOWBIZ.
Three OG’s are returning for a “Melrose Place” reboot. Details in CASTING CALL.
CAITLYN JENNER reacts to the death of OJ SIMPSON. More in KARDASH.
PRINCE HARRY brought a camera crew to his latest public outing in Florida. Details in ROYALS.
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HIT LIST
A lawyer for SAM BANKMAN-FRIED formally filed his intention to appeal his guilty conviction and subsequent 25-year prison sentence on Thursday. The filing does not make any legal arguments in support of his appeal just yet, only his intention to do so.
The Bureau of Prisons has not yet announced where SBF will serve out his prison sentence. Judge LEWIS KAPLAN wrote a memo encouraging a sentence in California near his parents at a low-security site to accommodate the convicted fraudster’s mental health challenges. [via US Courts, Morning Martini]
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A glimmer of hope for Haiti: a transitional council has taken control of the government to oversee the implementation of new leadership.
The organization includes seven voting members and two non-voting members. Their first task will be to name a prime minister. In the coming months, the nine-person board will oversee governance of the beleaguered country, with a mandate to hold a presidential election by February 7, 2026, when the council loses its legal authority.
None of that matters, though, unless authorities contain rampant gang violence that’s exploded in recent weeks. Haiti’s international airport and seaport remain shut down, cutting off the desperate country from the outside world. [via CNN]
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Officials in Pittsburgh ordered the closure of a bridge spanning the Ohio River late Friday night after a string of nearly two dozen cargo barges broke loose and floated down river without a captain or pilot.
Three of the 23 ships were empty; the rest contained “dry cargo” – materials that wouldn’t cause harm if they were to be released into nature.
By Saturday morning the West End Bridge reopened. The cargo company, Campbell Transportation Company, blames high water levels resulting from flooding for the breakaway.
A nearby marina suffered extensive damage but no injuries were reported. The timing of the incident relative to the bridge collapse in Baltimore appears to be entirely coincidental. [via ABC News]
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Remember John Wayne Bobbit? He’s the guy whose wife lopped his dink off in 1993 while he slept.
Now, Bobbit tells The Sun he’s also had his toes amputated. Bobbit was stationed at the infamous Camp Lejeune while he served as a Marine in the 1980s. The government is administering a $1 BILLION compensation package for those who spent time there and as a result contracted cancer and other illnesses from contact with contaminated water.
Bobbit says he only recently discovered his Toxic Peripheral Polyneuropathy diagnosis, which destroyed the nerves in his feet. Last year, he completed a series of procedures to have all of his toes removed.
He says that the toxic effects of the water at Camp Lejeune – only recently made public – contributed to his tumultuous relationship with his wife, leading to the frightening events of 1993. [via The Sun]
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DonnaJean Wilde, a 58-year-old mom of five and grandma of 12, is the new Guinness World Record holder for longest time in an abdominal plank position for a female at 4 hours, 30 minutes, and 11 seconds.
She accomplished the feat at the high school where she was the vice principal prior to retiring.
The previous record of 4 hours and 19 minutes was set in 2019.
FOR THE RECORD: The current record for the men’s plank is 9 hours, 38 minutes, and 47 seconds. [via WLBT]
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DEATHS
Documentarian ELEANOR COPPOLA has died.
She passed away Friday at her home in Napa Valley, according to a statement from her family. No cause of death was shared.
Coppola is best known for chronicling the movie-making process of family members, including her husband Francis Ford Coppola and daughter Sofia Coppola.
She was 87.
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Italian fashion designer ROBERTO CAVALLI has died.
He passed away Friday at his home in Florence, Italy after a brief illness, according to a press release.
Cavalli is best known for his love of prints, especially animal prints.
He was 83.
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LORI and GEORGE SCHAPPELL, the oldest living conjoined twins, have died.
The pair passed away on April 7 at a hospital in Pennsylvania, according to funeral home officials.
They were 62.
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BABY NEWS
WNBA star BRITTNEY GRINER is expecting her first child with wife CHERELLE GRINER.
The couple shared the news in a joint Instagram post over the weekend, with a photo of an ultrasound and the caption, “can’t believe we’re less than three months away from meeting our favorite human being.”
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BREAKUPS
“Golden Bachelor” couple GERRY TURNER and THERESA NIST are calling it quits after just three months of marriage.
He’s 72 and she’s 70.
Following their January nuptials, Turner says the pair came to a mutual conclusion to dissolve the marriage.
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WEEKEND BOX OFFICE
10. SUGA Agust D TOUR ‘D-DAY’ THE MOVIE: $990k (new)
9. Shrek 2: $1.3 million (re-release)
8. The Long Game: $1.4 million (new)
7. The First Omen: $3.7 million (down from 4)
6. Monkey Man: $4.1 million (down from 2)
5. Dune: Part Two: $4.3 million (up from 6)
4. Kung Fu Panda 4: $5.5 million (up from 5)
3. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: $5.8 million (stayed at 3)
2. Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire: $15.4 million (down from 1)
1. Civil War: $25.7 million (new)
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BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 475 points (1.24%) to close at 37,983 on Friday. The S&P lost 75 points (1.46%) to close at 5,123 and the NASDAQ lost 267 points (1.62%) to close at 16,175.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $85 on Friday; BRENT CRUDE at $90.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.63 on Sunday.
₿ BITCOIN crashed over the weekend, down about 7% and trading around $64,500.
🛩 There were more than 2,765 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Sunday and more than 40 such cancellations.
💰Tuesday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $148 million jackpot or a $67.8 million cash payout. Tonight’s POWERBALL drawing will be for a $63 million jackpot or a $29.5 million cash payout.
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SHOWBIZ NEWS
Sales of OJ SIMPSON’s book “If I Did It” skyrocketed after the news of his passing last week.
Released in 2007, the tome centers on the hypothetical premise of how Simpson could have committed the 1994 double murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman -- of which he was infamously acquitted.
While many argue the renewed interest in the double murder victimizes the families, there is a silver lining; a portion of the book sales go to Ron’s family, who won a $33 million judgment against Simpson. [via TMZ]
MEANWHILE: OJ’s family says he will be cremated and his brain will not be donated, despite several requests from scientists, who wish to see if he suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) from his years in the NFL [via NY Post]
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During her surprise Coachcella performance, SHAKIRA announced that she is heading out on a world tour.
She joined BIZARRAP onstage to perform “La Fuerte” and “BZRP Music Sessions, Vol. 53.”
The “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran World Tour” -- named after her 12th album -- kicks off this November in California. [via SFGate]
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A band of “professional squatters” have taken over chef GORDON RAMSAY’s York & Albany pub and boutique in central London.
The group have reportedly used kitchen appliances to barricade the doors and have glued the locks shut. They also posted legal notices outside, threatening legal action against anyone who tries to force them out, adding they are “entitled” to stay as it's “a non-residential building.”
The Met, meanwhile, says that the issue is a “civil matter” so they are unable to step in.
WORTH NOTING: The restaurant was in a transition period; Ramsay was about to sign over the property to new partners. [via The Sun]
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A six-foot bronze statue of the late TINA TURNER will be erected in her hometown of Brownsville, Tennessee.
While the plans were announced last year, new reports now say it is all finally taking shape, with a spot in the city’s Heritage Park all mapped out.
Funds are currently being raised to cover the cost, which is expected to be upwards of $150,000. The hope is to have an unveiling in fall 2025. [via WION]
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SURI CRUISE turns 18 this week and many are wondering if that means reuniting with her estranged dad, TOM CRUISE.
Suri has led a relatively quiet life since her mom, actress KATIE HOLMES, blindsided the world by divorcing Tom in 2012, in an effort to shield her from a life in Scientology.
Since the divorce, Suri has had no relationship with her dad, which is why many are now curious to see how -- as a legal adult -- she handles the ability to make that choice for herself.
ALSO: While Holmes reportedly signed several NDAs agreeing not to talk about Tom, their marriage, or his role in the Church of Scientology, Suri did no such thing, leaving the door open for her to speak out on all of those topics. [via Page Six]
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Exes MORGAN WALLEN and KT SMITH were spotted out and about over the weekend with their 3-year-old son, Indigo, putting to rest rumors that there is any bad blood.
Remember, many speculated that Wallen’s drunken chair-throwing antics last week were in response to Smith’s recent elopement, but it appears that is not the case.
Smith said as much following his arrest, but now there are photos to prove it. [via Daily Mail]
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RIHANNA, LILY GLADSTONE, OLIVIA RODRIGO, UMA THURMAN, SARAH PAULSON, KENDALL JENNER and GISELE BUNDCHEN are several of the big names expected to attend this year’s Met Gala.
No word on how many of Jenner’s famous sisters will also attend the event.
The 2024 Met Gala will take place on May 6 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC. This year’s theme is The Garden of Time, with co-chairs ZENDAYA, JENNIFER LOPEZ, BAD BUNNY and more. [via Page Six]
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CASTING CALL
KEANU REEVES fractured his kneecap while filming his latest movie “Good Fortune.”
His co-star AZIZ ANSARI -- who also wrote and directed the flick -- revealed that Reeves busted his knee after tripping on a rug in his trailer about 15 days into filming. Despite the injury, he “still filmed everything” and was “such a trouper,” Ansari added.
“Good Fortune” follows a down-on-his-luck gig worker who meets his guardian angel Gabriel in a Denny’s parking lot. It also stars SETH ROGAN, SANDRA OH and KEKE PALMER.
No word on when the film hits theaters. [via People]
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HEATHER LOCKLEAR, LAURA LEIGHTON and DAPHNE ZUNIGA are all set to appear in a “Melrose Place” reboot at CBS.
The three ladies will return as their iconic characters from the ‘90s drama that follows the love lives of a group of young adults living in Los Angeles.
The series first aired in 1992 and ran for seven seasons.
WORTH NOTING: This isn’t the first “MP” revival. In 2009, the show returned for one season, with all new faces. [via Huffpost]
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CBS’ daytime talk show “The Talk” will end this December.
The conclusion comes after 14 years of airtime, with several famous women sitting around the table, including creator SARA GILBERT, who kicked things off alongside SHARON OSBOURNE, JULIE CHEN MOONVES, LEAH REMINI, HOLLY ROBINSON PEETE and SHERYL UNDERWOOD; the latter of which is still on the show. [via The Hill]
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THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
CAITLYN JENNER reacted to the news of OJ SIMPSON’s death on X, writing “Good Riddance #OJSimpson.”
It’s news to no one that Jenner has never been a fan of Simpson, whose trial she attended when she was BRUCE JENNER and married to KRIS JENNER.
Remember, Kris was best friends with Nicole Brown Simpson, and her ex-husband, ROBERT KARDASHIAN, was part of OJ’s defense team.
ALSO: OJ was the best man at Kris and Robert’s wedding and is KIM KARDASHIAN’s godfather. [via Variety]
The Kardashopus tentacles are ubiquitous.
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WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE HARRY and MEGHAN MARKLE rolled up to the Grand Champions Polo Club in Florida over the weekend with an unmistakable film crew in tow.
Harry’s working on a documentary that looks behind the scenes of competitive polo, if that’s your cup of tea. Onlookers say he was involved with the production elements of the doc, watching back footage and interacting with the crew.
Harry also participated in a charity polo match with funds benefiting a cause he co-founded in 2006 to assist children infected with HIV in Africa.
Meg hopped onto the podium afterwards to present a trophy and take photos with Harry and his charity teammates. At one point, Meg rearranged the lineup so another woman wouldn’t be photographed standing next to Harry. Watch > [via DailyMail]
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DAY OF THE YEAR
Tax Day
World Art Day
International Microvolunteering Day
National Laundry Day
National Rubber Eraser Day
National Glazed Spiral Ham Day
Purple Up! Day
Titanic Remembrance Day
National Anime Day
National ASL Day
National That Sucks! Day
National Take a Wild Guess Day
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ON THIS DATE
1783 - The American Revolution draws nearer to an end.
The Continental Congress ratifies a peace treaty with Britain that had been signed five months earlier. But it wasn't until September that year that the Treaty of Paris was signed and formalized American sovereignty.
This document established the western border of the new country as the Mississippi River; gave America fishing rights in Newfoundland; and guaranteed that Loyalists would be returned any property seized from them during the conflict.
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1865 - Nine hours after being shot by actor John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln succumbs to the gunshot to the head.
He was unconscious during that time, and had been moved to a nearby boarding house. An Army surgeon in attendance at the play came over to help the president. It was initially thought by the crowd that he was stabbed, not shot. But the giant hole in the head begged to differ.
Booth initially escaped Ford's Theater, where he shot the president. He would be tracked down 10 days later on a farm in Virginia.
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1947 - Jackie Robinson starts for the Brooklyn Dodgers, making him the first African-American to play Major League ball. Since its inception in America, professional baseball had been segregated.
Robinson began in the Negro American League after serving in the military. But his talent was noticed by Branch Rickey, the Dodgers GM, who helped foster and develop Robinson's career.
His number was the first to be retired across the entire league, also on this date, in 1997.
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1998 - Pol Pot dies in prison.
The Cambodian despot was responsible for the killing fields that murdered anyone who was a threat to Pot's vision of an agrarian communist state. Anyone using modern technology as simple as wristwatches or glasses, along with intellectuals, or anyone who embraced any semblance of western culture, were among those murdered.
Those who remained were herded into government-supported communes.
Pot and his troops were forced into the jungle in 1978, after Vietnamese troops invaded Cambodia.
But his own Khmer Rouge turned on him and put him on trial in 1997. His body was never analyzed by a medical inspector, and it is thought he either committed suicide or was poisoned while under house arrest.
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2013 - Justin Bieber chaos controversy with the note he leaves at the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam.
He wrote that he hoped Frank would’ve been a Belieber — the name his ardent fans gave themselves.
While social media collectively wet their pants, the director of the Anti-Defamation League publicly noted that Frank was a big fan of pop culture and celebrities — and that Justin’s note was actually “a nice thing.”
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2013 - Three people are killed and more than 260 injured after two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon.
After an intense manhunt, police captured one of the two bombing suspects, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19. His older brother and fellow suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, 26, died during a shootout with officers.
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2019 - Notre Dame catches fire, topping its spire and destroying its roof.
Over 500 French firefighters were able to save the cathedral from complete destruction.
Relics such as The Crown of Thorns and the Tunic of St. Louis were saved by residents.
The fire has been ruled an accident.
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2020 - This date (at the time) was the US’s deadliest day during the COVID-19 pandemic with 2,752 deaths reported.
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BIRTHDAYS
Maisie Williams - actress, “Game of Thrones” - 27
Cody Christian - actor, “Pretty Little Liars” - 29
Jacquees - R&B singer - 30
Emma Watson - actress, “Harry Potter” films - 34
Samira Wiley - actress, “Orange Is the New Black” - 37
Iyaz - pop singer - 37
Ester Dean - pop singer - 38
Seth Rogan - actor, “Knocked Up” & “Superbad” - 42
Cooper Barnes - actor, “Henry Danger” - 45
Luke Evans - actor, “Three Musketeers” & “Ma” - 45
Chris Stapleton - country singer - 46
Flex Alexander - actor, “One on One” - 54
Emma Thompson - actress, “Sense and Sensibility” - 65
Born On This Date
Dodi Fayed - movie producer who died alongside Princess Diana - 1955 (d. 1997)
Elizabeth Montgomery - actress, “Bewitched” - 1933 (d. 1995)
Kim II-Sung - world leader - 1912 (d. 1994)
Guru Nanak - religious leader, founder of Sikhism - 1469 (d. 1539)
Leonardo da Vinci - painter - 1452 (d. 1519)
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