Discover more from Morning Martini
4/26/2022: Elon Musk Buys Twitter
PLUS: Private Shuttle Splashes Down, Lizzo’s New Tour, and Kim & Pete Go to Washington
Today is Tuesday, April 26, 2022.
It is the 116th day of the year.
249 days remain.
TRENDING
Elon Musk was trending after taking over Twitter. More on the purchase in Hit List.
Melissa Lucio was trending after a Texas court halted her execution on Monday. The mother of 14, from South Texas is convicted of killing her 2-year-old child. The hold came amid new evidence that potentially supports her innocence.
#JohnnyDeppVsAmberHeard landed in Twitter’s Top 10 Trends as the defamation trial continues.
#MyBigBusinessIdea was trending Monday. Tweets included, “An ice cream truck, but with frozen cocktails,” “Lager called Responsibly due to the zero advertising costs…please drink responsibly” and “23 and Please Not Me: It tries to prove that you’re not actually related by blood to your bizarre family.”
###
HIT LIST
Elon Musk will be the new owner of Twitter.
After weeks of chatter that the Twitter Board would fight the buyout tooth-and-nail, they ultimately folded – and went for the $54.20-per-share offer that Musk originally said was his best and final offer. That works out to about $44 billion total.
The deal still faces regulatory oversight and shareholder approval, but the board did unanimously sign off on it.
MEANWHILE: In the statement announcing the buyout, Musk said his ideas include “making the algorithms open source to increase trust” – a wink and a nod to the suggestion Twitter suppresses users with wrongthink.
###
The first all-private space mission to the International Space Station successfully splashed down on Monday.
The adventure was brokered by Axiom Space, which trains paying customers and books space on rockets – which in this case was a SpaceX ship.
It’s estimated the astronauts shelled out north of $50 million each for the experience.
###
WELL, THIS STINKS: A woman visiting a national park in Washington needed professional help to get rescued from a latrine, after she fell in while trying to retrieve the phone she dropped in it.
She first tried to fish it out with dog leashes, but when that didn’t work, she tried to use the leashes to tether herself while reaching farther inside the giant turd bucket.
That’s when she fell in, face first.
Fortunately – or as fortunate as one can be in this situation – her phone still worked and she could call for help.
###
General Motors head Mark Reuss announced Monday that an “electrified” Corvette would be available for sale some time next year.
The wording might be intentionally vague; he did not say if that meant next year’s model would be a hybrid or fully electric. In either case, he did say the Corvette will soon be all-electric.
###
The Dow rallied Monday, gaining 240 points after spending most of the day in the red.
Brent Crude also dipped below $100-a-barrel Monday afternoon.
###
CHARTS
Top 5 Songs on iTunes:
HA SUNG WOON & Jimin, “With You”
HA SUNG WOON & Jimin, “With You (Instrumental)”
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Luke Combs, “Tomorrow Me”
Top 5 Songs on Spotify:
Harry Styles, “As It Was”
Jack Harlow, “First Class”
Camila Cabello, “Bam Bam (ft. Ed Sheeran)”
Justin Bieber, “Ghost”
Glass Animals, “Heat Wave”
###
DEATHS
KANE TANAKA has died.
The Japanese woman, who was certified as the world’s oldest person, passed away Tuesday at a hospital in Fukuoka city.
She was 119.
###
BABY NEWS
Actress ALLISON WILLIAMS, 34, and actor ALEXANDER DREYMON, 39, reportedly welcomed a baby boy named ARLO this past winter.
Multiple sources confirmed the news to PEOPLE after the family-of-three was spotted on vacation in the Bahamas.
In photos from the vacay, Williams appears to be wearing an engagement ring, though an engagement has not been confirmed.
###
SICK BAY
CARY ELWES, 59, was airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on Saturday after being bitten by a rattlesnake.
TMZ reports that the actor was working in his yard when he was nipped by the snake. It is unclear where he was bit, but sources told the outlet that he is expected to be okay.
###
WEDDINGS
Actor EWAN MCGREGOR, 51, and actress MARY ELIZABETH WINSTEAD, 37, are married.
The former “Fargo” costars tied the knot over the weekend, a source confirmed to PEOPLE.
Insiders told the outlet that it was a small wedding, with only family and close friends in attendance.
###
THE SWAMP
Even after ELON MUSK takes control of Twitter, don’t expect to see former President DONALD TRUMP back on it.
He told Fox News on Monday that instead he would be launching his account on Truth Social, the social media app he bankrolled. While Truth has been active for a few weeks, Trump still hasn’t posted on it.
Trump was locked out of his Twitter account after the January 6 riots at the Capitol.
###
Let’s talk about media bias.
KATE SMITH used to be a “reporter” for CBS News. Her specific beat, in her own words, was covering abortion news. She left the job last July.
On Monday, she announced she’s starting a new role, as the first ever senior director of news content for — PLANNED PARENTHOOD!
WORTH ASKING: How many ‘shrooms do you have to eat to believe her “reporting” at CBS was even-keeled?
###
LOTTERY
No winner for Friday night’s Mega Millions drawing. Tonight’s drawing will be for a $31 million jackpot or an $18.4 million cash payout.
###
SHOWBIZ NEWS
The ladies of “The View” slammed Florida Governor RON DESANTIS on Monday for taking on Disney after the company spoke out about the “Don’t Say Gay” law.
“Bigotry is on the ballot when it comes to Ron DeSantis,” co-host SUNNY HOSTIN stated.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Their outrage is over DeSantis revoking Disney’s special tax status within the state.
HERE IS THE HYPOCRISY OF IT ALL: The Mouse House spoke out about the “Don’t Say Gay” law in Florida — which by the way, does not mention the word “gay” — yet remains mum on their connections to countries that have serious consequences for homosexuality.
These include:
The Caribbean islands, which punishes those who engage in same-sex canoodling to 10- to 15-year prison terms.
In Egypt, where Disney Vacation Club offers a Private Adventure, homosexual intercourse lands people three years behind bars.
How about Saudi Arabia, where homosexuality gets you a chemical castration and/or capital punishment.
Or Yemen, where same-sex acts can lead to execution.
Disney is fine with those acts, but telling educators that children under the age of 8 should not be forced to learn about such adult concepts is cause for outcry?!
###
Videos, photos and police body cam footage all part of the investigation into the fatal shooting of “Rust” cinematographer HALYNA HUTCHINS were released on Monday.
One clip shows ALEC BALDWIN, who fired the prop gun, asking about Hutchins’ condition, while another shows first responders treating her on the floor of the church.
In yet another clip, one of the responding officers is heard telling Baldwin that they are trying to avoid giving the media as much information as possible.
The files were released following the conclusion of the New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau’s investigation into the accidental shooting.
A criminal investigation into the incident is ongoing as are the many lawsuits against the production company, crew members and Baldwin.
###
A football signed by EMINEM, DR. DRE, MARY J. BLIGE, KENDRICK LAMAR and ANDERSON .PAAK following their Super Bowl Halftime Show has hit the auction block.
According to Heritage Auctions, the ball is expected to bring in $1,500.
The pigskin will come with letters of authenticity.
Bidding begins next month.
###
ALEXANDER SKARSGARD packed on 20 pounds of muscle for his role in “The Northman.”
Celebrity trainer MAGNUS LYGDBACK helped the actor transform into the hulking Viking warrior with six gym sessions a week for the three months leading up to filming. He also altered Skarsgard’s diet, having him eat roughly 3,700 calories a day.
FYI: Lygdback has his own YouTube channel where he breaks down some of his celebrity training sessions.
###
JOE ROGAN says he earned millions of subscribers after attempts to cancel his Spotify podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
The 54-year-old shared the news on Friday’s episode with British pundit commentator DOUGLAS MURRAY.
Spotify doesn’t publicly disclose the number of subscribers, but sources told The Hollywood Reporter that the subscriber base has grown “consistently” since Rogan joined the platform.
###
SHARON OSBOURNE says she received “death threats” after her exit from “The Talk” last year over supporting PIERS MORGAN’s right to free speech.
“They were saying they were going to come in the night, cut my throat, cut Ozzy’s throat, cut my dogs’ throats,” she told the UK Sunday Times.
Osbourne said she stayed at home to avoid the backlash, and later used ketamine therapy to help deal with her anxiety and depression.
###
BETHENNY FRANKEL is being sued by a photographer who claims the “Real Housewives of New York City” alum broke copyright laws by posting his photo on her Instagram.
The photo in question features a storm-ravaged area of Puerto Rico, which Frankel posted in May 2018 to promote her philanthropic efforts.
Her post came months after photographer MARCUS SANTOS registered the snapshot with the US Copyright Office, according to the lawsuit.
Santos is suing for damages and monetary relief, including profits attributed to the photo’s use.
###
CASTING CALL
FX’s latest documentary from “The New York Times Presents” series is centered on ELON MUSK.
The doc will take a deep dive into Tesla vehicles and the issues with their autopilot capabilities. It will feature interviews from former Tesla employees and look into Musk’s pressure on officials to drop the investigation into the cars, according to Deadline.
“Elon Musk’s Crash Course” will premiere on May 20.
###
LIZZO is going on tour.
The 33-year-old announced the “Special Tour” on Twitter yesterday.
The tour will kick off in September and run through November.
It has been three years since her last tour.
###
DON WINSLOW is retiring from writing to focus on politics.
The bestselling author announced that the two already-written sequels to his current novel “City On Fire” will be his last books.
He told Deadline that his plan is to “donate his time to launching digital campaigns in support of Democratic causes and opposing ‘Trumpism’.”
###
“The Batman” earned 4.1 million views during its first week on HBO Max.
That beats “The Suicide Squad” (3.5M), “Wonder Woman 1984” (3.2M), “The Matrix Resurrections” (3.2M) and “Dune” (2.3M).
It is second to “Mortal Kombat” which racked up 4.3M views in its first seven days on the platform.
###
A premiere date has been announced for HBO’s limited series “Irma Vep.”
The show, based on Olivier Assayas’ 1996 feature film, centers on Mira, played by ALICIA VERKANDER, an American movie star who travels to France to star as Irma Vep in a remake of the French silent film, “Les Vampires.” She soon finds herself struggling to separate from the character, revealing the uncertain ground that lies between fiction and reality, per the official description.
It will debut on June 6.
###
COURT CASES
The cross examination of JOHNNY DEPP concluded on Monday in the defamation trial against his ex-wife, AMBER HEARD.
Over the four days of testimony, Heard’s attorney brought to light several of Depp’s violent text messages, audio from arguments between the former couple and several negative articles written about the actor. This was all done in an effort to show that Depp’s reputation was damaged prior to Heard’s Washington Post op-ed.
As previously reported, Heard’s claims about being a victim of domestic violence were published by The Post in 2018.
Depp is suing the actress for $50 million, claiming defamation.
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
KIM KARDASHIAN and PETE DAVIDSON will attend the 2022 White House Correspondents’ dinner this upcoming weekend.
The pair will be sitting at the Disney/ABC table, as the Kardashians’ new reality series is on Hulu, which is owned by Disney.
TREVOR NOAH will host the event.
Kim and Pete were in Washington, DC this past weekend to watch JON STEWART accept the lifetime achievement award for humor at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor show on Sunday.
###
KYLIE JENNER testified Monday that she warned her brother, ROB KARDASHIAN, when he started dating BLAC CHYNA that she has a history of violent outbursts.
The warning came when Kylie was dating rapper TYGA, who previously dated Chyna and fathered a child with her. He told Kylie that Chyna once stabbed him with a knife, leaving a six-inch long scar on his arm.
Tyga also said Chyna would abuse drugs and alcohol, which Kylie shared on the stand.
Kylie's testimony comes after her mom, KRIS JENNER’s.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN and KIM KARDASHIAN will likely also take the stand during the trial.
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
PRINCE ANDREW once referred to his ex-wife SARAH FERGUSON as a “fat cow,” according to an excerpt from TINA BROWN’s new book, “The Palace Papers.”
Brown writes that following the couple’s divorce, they continued to live together at Royal Lodge. When an American media executive was visiting Fergie at the Lodge, Andrew reportedly entered the room where the two were eating lunch and said, “What are you doing with this fat cow?”
The unidentified media exec is said to have been “stunned” by Andrew’s behavior and told insiders that he felt Fergie was “afraid of him.”
Others have commented on the pair’s “curious” arrangement, which seems to involve him bailing her out when she finds herself in financial trouble and her coming to his aid when he is involved in a scandal.
Last year, while promoting her book, Fergie bragged about her support of Andrew during his legal battle with accuser VIRGINIA GIUFFRE, calling him a “kind” and “great man.”
###
SPORTS
MIKE TYSON told JOE ROGAN that he would fight JAKE PAUL for one reason and one reason only — “to break the record.”
In a recent episode of his “Hotboxin’” podcast, Tyson told Rogan that he would face off against the YouTuber in the ring to beat the record setting fight between FLOYD MAYWEATHER and MANNY PACQUIAO, which brought in 4.6 million viewers on pay-per-view. It was the most profitable fight in boxing history.
Rumors of a Tyson-Paul fight have been circulating for months, though both sides maintain nothing is official.
WORTH NOTING: Paul’s last fight was in December when he beat TYRON WOODLEY.
MEANWHILE: Tyson’s last punch was thrown against a fellow passenger on his flight to Miami.
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
National Audubon Day
National Dissertation Day
National Help a Horse Day
National Kids and Pets Day
National Pretzel Day
National Richter Scale Day
National South Dakota Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1865 – Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth is found and killed.
Union soldiers found him 12 days after the murder of the president.
Booth had the help of Confederate sympathizers during his run. A doctor even mended his broken leg, and he had assistance getting across the Potomac river.
A $20,000 reward had been issued for information on his whereabouts.
Union soldiers finally found him at the farm of Richard Garrett, who claimed to not know who Booth was or what he had done.
When authorities surrounded the barn, Booth's much-forgotten accomplice David Herold surrendered, but soldiers set the barn on fire to smoke out Booth. Still, the assassin stayed. He was finally shot, but it took him 3 hours to die.
His last words, as he stared at his hands, were "Useless. Useless."
###
1954 – Just over a year after a cure for polio is announced to the public, trials begin in earnest.
Officials were willing to take their chances, vaccinating 1.8 million children over the course of a couple weeks.
The first children to receive the shots were from MacLean, Virginia.
Less than a year later, scientists announced that it was a success.
###
1977 – Studio 54 opens in New York City.
It was hugely popular in disco music and culture for a brief time in the late '70s, and discotheques boomed.
While it was open, even the likes of Jackie Onassis and Jimmy Carter's chief of staff made their way for a visit.
The club was shut down 3 years later after its founders were convicted for tax evasion.
###
1986 – The Chernobyl Disaster kills thousands and poisons tens of thousands more with radiation when a Soviet power plant near Kiev explodes.
Nearly 150,000 people in the 18-mile radius of the blast zone were relocated.
Soviet officials did not immediately announce the explosion, but two days later the Swedes started picking up unusually high levels of radiation in the atmosphere and grew suspicious.
It wasn't until later that year that the Soviets admitted the disaster, and years later that they released the horrifying details.
###
2009 – The United Auto Workers union and Chrysler reach a new labor agreement as the government forces restructuring in order to bail it out.
Ultimately, cost savings were reached by having employees pay more for their health insurance—a move approved by Barack Obama.
The money saved wasn't enough, and Chrysler went bankrupt at the end of the month; the first American carmaker to do so since 1933 when Studebaker went under.
It was bought by Fiat, and given $6.6 billion in rescue money from the US Government.
###
2018 - The Golden State Serial Killer is identified after 40 years.
James DeAngelo, 72, a former police officer, is arrested for 12 killings and 50 rapes in California during the 1970s and ‘80s.
The break in the case came after authorities were able to get a sample of DNA from an item discarded by DeAngelo, which matched several samples that had been taken from his victims.
The following year he would plead guilty to 13 counts of first degree murder, as well as 13 counts of kidnapping and be sentenced to multiple consecutive life sentences.
Also that year…
Bill Cosby is found guilty of sexual assault.
The comedian was on trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault stemming from a 2004 incident.
The jury took only two days to deliberate, finding him guilty on all charges. Months later he would be sentenced to 3-10 years in jail.
He was one of the first celebrities to be jailed in the #MeToo era.
###
2021 - US Census results show its population growth as the second slowest in recorded history.
The total population is recorded at 331,449,281. That is only a 7.4% increase from 2010.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Aaron Judge - baseball player - 30
Jessica Lee Rose - actress, “Sorority Forever” - 35
Channing Tatum - actor, “Step Up” & “Magic Mike” - 42
Jordana Brewster - actress, “As the World Turns & “Fast & Furious” - 42
Stana Katic - actress, “Castle” - 44
Avant - R&B singer - 44
Jason Earles - actor, “Hannah Montana” - 45
Tom Welling - actor, “Smallville” & “Judging Amy” - 45
Jay DeMarcus - guitarist, Rascal Flatts - 51
Melania Trump - model & former First Lady - 52
Tionne Watkins - R&B singer - 52
Kane - wrestler - 55
Kevin James - actor, “The King of Queens” & “Grown Ups” - 57
Jet Li - actor, “Lethal Weapon 4” & “Romeo Must Die” - 59
Giancarlo Esposito - actor, “Breaking Bad” & “King of New York” - 64
Carol Burnett - comedian & actress, “The Carol Burnett Show” - 89
Born On This Date
Joey Jordison - drummer, Slipknot - 1975 (d. 2021)
Bobby Rydell - pop singer - 1942 (d. 2022)
I. M. Pei - architect, designed the Louvre Pyramid - 1917 (d. 2019)
Frederick Law Olmsted - designer of Central Park - 1822 (d. 1903)
Antonius Marcus Aurelius - Emperor of Rome - 121 (d. 180)
###