7/6/2023: That’s Hot!
PLUS: Tension Over UPS Agreement; Tom Cruise Does It All; and King Charles in Scotland
Today is Thursday, July 6, 2023.
It is the 187th day of the year.
178 days remain.
WHAT’S ON TAP
An international vandal plays the stupid card to stay out of trouble – for now. More in HIT LIST.
MACHINE GUN KELLY punched a fan in the face at his recent show in Belgium and BRITTANY MAHOMES has pissed off PETA. More in SHOWBIZ.
“Jeopardy!” fans are ecstatic over the return of KEN JENNINGS and RUSSELL CROWE is contemplating retiring from the biz. More in CASTING CALL.
YE has hired a new CEO for his Yeezy company, but the guy comes with several scandals of his own. More in KARDASH.
The Scots have made KING CHARLES’ reign official. More in ROYALS.
###
HIT LIST
FOLLOW UP: Authorities have identified the mystery vandal caught carving his and his girlfriend’s name into a brick of the Colosseum in Rome last week.
27-year-old Ivan Dimitrov is a British fitness instructor who says he had no idea how old and special the ancient monument is. “It is with deep embarrassment that only after what regrettably happened did I learn of the antiquity of the monument,” he said in a statement published in an Italian newspaper.
Dimitrov left Italy before he could be detained, though it appears he’ll still be prosecuted and could face a $15,000-plus fine and jail time. No word what kind of extradition arrangement would have to be in place, or if he’ll just have to stay out of some countries indefinitely. [via The Independent]
###
A competitive runner missed out on taking first place during a race in Atlanta on Tuesday – because she went the wrong way!
Senbere Teferi held a healthy lead heading into the home stretch, but when a police motorcycle guiding the course veered away, she followed behind. The error gave the racers behind her time to catch up. While Teferi did soon notice her mistake, and started sprinting to catch up, it wasn’t enough – she ended up in third place by a mere four seconds behind the winner.
Those four seconds cost her the $10,000 grand prize, too.
A statement by race organizers acknowledged the confusion: “As an organization, we are disappointed whenever we fall short of perfection, and in this case, it appears we did.” [via 11Alive]
###
A rep for the teamsters union representing UPS drivers says they will strike at the end of the month if a new labor contract can’t be agreed to before then.
Both the company and union reps pointed fingers at the other for making no progress on negotiations over the holiday, and no more sessions are scheduled. Even though a few weeks remain to figure something out, the union members still need to vote and ratify any agreement. [via Bloomberg]
WORTH NOTING: About 1 in 4 parcels shipped domestically is carried by UPS.
###
Earth’s highest-ever global temperature was recorded Monday at 62.6 degrees. That record was then broken the following day -- Fourth of July -- with a reading of 62.9 degrees.
It likely doesn’t end there, however. Dr. Robert Rohde of the Climate Change Institute says there will be “even warmer days over the next six weeks.”
What’s causing all the heat? Rohde says it is all from this year’s El Nino weather pattern, which impacts wind and water currents. The World Meteorological Organization warns that El Nino is on track to be “one of the most impactful in recent memory.”
The last global record was 62.5 degrees, which was noted in 2016.
The Earth’s temperature has been regularly recorded for the past 140 years. [via Climate Change Institute, WMO]
###
Doctors in Singapore were shocked when they found an octopus stuck inside a man’s throat.
The unnamed patient checked into the Tan Tock Seng Hospital after some severe vomiting and trouble swallowing. Doctors did a quick scan to see what was causing his issues and that is when they noticed the eight-legged mollusk lodged in the guy’s esophagus.
Using an endoscope to flip the octopus so it was legs down, doctors were able to grab its head with some forceps and remove it. After two days in the hospital, the patient was recovered and discharged.
As for how the cephalopod ended up in the man’s throat? He says it was part of a meal he had recently dined on.
ON THAT NOTE: Six people die a year from eating the live octopus dish known as sannakji. [via NY Post, Food & Wine]
###
DEATHS
Chinese pop-star COCO LEE has died.
She passed away Wednesdsay after attempting suicide on Sunday, according to a statement from her siblings.
Lee was 48.
###
JOHN BERYLSON, owner and chairman of the English football club Millwall F.C., has died.
He passed away early Tuesday morning in a car crash in Massachusetts, according to the Falmouth Police Department. The team also confirmed his death, calling it “sudden and tragic.”
Berylson was 70.
###
BABY NEWS
Musician MEGHAN TRAINOR has welcomed baby #2 with her husband, actor DARYL SABARA.
Trainor announced the birth of their son, Barry Bruce, on Instagram this week, telling fans that he arrived on July 1.
The couple are already parents to 2-year-old son Riley.
###
JAMES MIDDLETON, younger brother to PRINCESS KATE, and his wife ALIZEE THEVENET are expecting their first child.
Being a proud dog-dad, Middleton included his two dogs in the announcement, captioning a photo of them near Thevenet’s bump, “We have a new member of the pack coming soon, we couldn’t be more excited.”
Middleton and Thevenet tied the knot in 2021.
###
BREAKUPS
Former NY Mayor BILL DE BLASIO and his wife CHIRLANE MCCRAY are separating, but not divorcing.
The couple issued a joint statement on their decision, saying they will continue to live together as they date other people.
As for why the split? The pair says “the spark” has simply left their 29-year marriage.
###
WEDDINGS
JAY-Z’s mom GLORIA CARTER tied the knot with longtime girlfriend ROXANNE WILTSHIRE in New York City on Sunday.
The attendees included Gloria’s daughter-in-law, BEYONCE, grand-daughter BLUE IVY and Beyonce’s mom TINA KNOWLES.
The rapper has always been supportive of his mom’s sexuality and even wrote a song about it in 2017, when she publicly came out as a lesbian. The track is “Smile,” and is featured on his “4:44” album.
###
BY THE NUMBERS
📈 The DOW lost 129 points (0.37%) to close at 34,289 on Wednesday. The S&P lost 8 points (0.2%) to close at 4,446 and the NASDAQ lost 25 points (0.18%) to close at 13,791.
🛢 WEST TEXAS INTERMEDIATE closed at $72; BRENT CRUDE at $76.
⛽ The national average price of a GALLON OF GAS was $3.52 on Wednesday.
₿ BITCOIN fell on Wednesday over 1% and trading around $30,400.
🛩 There were more than 3,110 FLIGHTS delayed within, into, or out of the United States on Wednesday and more than 250 such cancellations.
💰Friday night’s MEGA MILLIONS drawing will be for a $427 million jackpot or a $220.6 million cash payout.
SHOWBIZ NEWS
As some musicians deal with being hit by objects while on stage, a guy at MACHINE GUN KELLY’s show in Belgium asked the rapper to punch him in the face.
Noticing a sign in the crowd that read, “I just came from Mexico 4 u 2 punch me in the face,” MGK asked, “Why do you want me to punch you in the face so bad?”
“I love you,” the fan responded.
Unconvinced, MGK continued on with the show, but later he did walk out into the crowd and gently punched the guy with the sign in his face, and mouthed “I love you” to show it was all for fun.
Last month several singers were injured by fans while onstage; BEBE REXHA was hit in the face by a cellphone, AVA MAX was slapped by a fan and KELSEA BALLERINI got beamed by a beaded friendship bracelet. [via People]
###
KEVIN COSTNER’s wish to have his estranged wife moved out of his home has been granted.
A judge ruled yesterday that the couple’s prenup is valid and CHRISTINE BAUMGARTER needs to vacate the home by the end of the month.
In response to the ruling, her attorney asked for more time, stating the July 31 move out date does not give his client enough time to get a place or get her finances in order.
No word on whether or not that has been granted. [via TMZ]
###
In an exclusive interview with People Magazine actress TATUM O’NEAL revealed that in 2020 she suffered a stroke after an overdose, which left her in a six-week coma.
“I almost died,” she told the publication, while her eldest son KEVIN MCENROE added that “It was the phone call we’d always been waiting for. We didn’t think she was going to survive.”
Since then, O’Neal, who has struggled with a drug addiction for decades, has been to several rehabs to regain her strength, memory and learn to write and read again.
She is also in daily therapy and attends twelve step meetings. [via People]
###
A clip of JACKIE CHAN and who many presumed to be his daughter has gone viral, but not for the feel-good moment it appears to be.
In the clip, which is actually a scene from his movie “Ride On,” Chan is a famous former stuntman who is reminiscing about his martial arts moves alongside a younger woman. That woman many assumed was his biological daughter, ETTA NG CHOK LAM, but is actually an actress named LIU HAOCUN.
In reality, Chan is reportedly estranged from his daughter, Etta, who claims the actor abandoned her after she revealed that she is a lesbian.
Chan had Etta out of wedlock in 1999 with model ELAINE NG YI-LEI. Despite the affair, Chan and his wife, actress JOAN LIN have remained married, celebrating 40 years in 2022. [via Newsweek]
###
KELLY CLARKSON’s latest album, “Chemistry” is her 10th Top 10 charting-title on Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart.
It is also her fourth No. 1 on the chart. Her other chart-topping albums include “Piece by Piece” (2015), “All I Ever Wanted” (2009) and “Thankful” (2003).
Billboard’s Top Album Sales chart ranks the top-selling albums of the week based only on traditional album sales. “Chemistry” sold 43,000 copies in its first week. [via Billboard]
###
Former actress and NXIVM cult member ALLISON MACK has been released from federal prison after serving less than two years behind bars.
Mack was sentenced to three years in prison in June 2021 after pleading guilty to helping NXIVM leader KEITH RANIERE brainwash women into joining the sex cult.
After getting sprung on Monday, Mack will now serve three years of supervised release.
Raniere is currently serving 120 years behind bars. [via US Weekly]
###
BRITTANY MAHOMES, wife of NFL all-star PATRICK MAHOMES, is on PETA’s radar after posting photos swimming with dolphins on a family vacation to Hawaii.
The animal rights organization came for Brittany, noting on her post how “dangerous” physical interactions with dolphins can be for not only the animal but also the individual in the water.
Brittany hasn’t responded to the backlash, but does still have the photos up, which she captioned, “Ever snuggled a 400lb dolphin? 😍” [via TMZ]
###
CASTING CALL
“Jeopardy!” fans welcomed the return of host KEN JENNINGS with cheers, after spending weeks bashing MAYIM BIALIK’s hosting skills.
“Ken Jennings is back hosting Jeopardy. All seems right in the world. #Jeopardy,” one fan tweeted, while another used his return to pressure producers to keep him on full time, writing, “Please don’t let her [Bialik] back on the air.”
Executive producer MICHAEL DAVIS has repeatedly asked fans to be “more patient” with Bialik.
Neither Jennings nor Bialik have commented on the backlash. [via NY Post]
###
After four decades of acting, RUSSELL CROWE says he is thinking about hanging it up.
Weighing his options while speaking at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, Crowe said, “I will take Ridley Scott as my role model: he is still discovering new things in his work. Or I will just stop and you will never hear from me again.” [via Daily Mail]
FOR THE RECORD: RIDLEY SCOTT is an 85-year-old director.
###
Not only does TOM CRUISE do his own stunts, he can also do his own hair and makeup.
Speaking at a press junket in Sydney for his new film “Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning,” Cruise revealed that he learned to do his “own styling” because of distancing protocols in place on set during the pandemic.
He was however stopped before giving himself a haircut, saying, the hairdresser exclaimed, “Stop, stop, stop!” to which Cruise -- scissors in hand -- said, “Look, there’s this little part right here.” Adding, “She was having a heart attack.”
“Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning” hits US theaters July 12. [via Evening Standard]
###
THE DAILY KARDASHOPUS
YE has hired disgraced Jewish American Apparel founder DOV CHARNEY to be the new CEO for his Yeezy brand.
Insiders told The Sun that the hire is part of Ye’s plan to revamp his brand after losing several big deals due to his antisemitic rants.
BUT WAIT!
Charney has his own scandalous history. In 2014, he was fired by the American Apparel board for violating the sexual harassment policy and offering significant severance packages without board approval.
At the time, Charney called the accusations “crap.” [via The Sun]
###
WE’LL NEVER BE ROYALS
KING CHARLES received the Honors of Scotland on Wednesday in a ceremony honoring him as the country’s monarch. These “Honors” include the crown, scepter, and sword of state. The ceremony was not formally a coronation in its own right, but a symbolic event honoring the new sovereign.
A new sword was made for the proceedings and was named for QUEEN ELIZABETH. The original Sword of Scotland made in 1507 is too fragile to be handled, even in a carefully-planned event.
AWKWARD: An anti-monarchy protest shouted “not our King!” slogans, which were picked up during parts of the broadcast of the event. [via Associated Press]
###
DAY OF THE YEAR
Umbrella Cover Day
International Kissing Day
National Fried Chicken Day
Take Your Webmaster to Lunch Day
Virtually Hug a Virtual Assistant Day
###
ON THIS DATE
1699 - Pirate Captain William Kidd is captured in Boston.
The captain allegedly sailed to Boston after burying treasure off the Connecticut coast, thinking he would receive clemency for his piracy. He was wrong.
Kidd spent a year in prison before being sent back to England where he would be convicted of murdering his gunner and of piracy, despite his claims of innocence. Fifteen days later he would be hanged at Execution dock, but the rope broke and he fell into the mud beneath the gallows.
He was then hanged again, his body dipped in tar, wrapped in chains and put in a steel cage where it hung for many years.
In 1910, his innocence would be proved.
###
1775 – A day after issuing the Olive Branch Petition, the Continental Congress gets to business building the case for greater sovereignty for the American colonies.
They issue a Declaration on the Causes and Necessity of Taking Up Arms. The document outlined reasons the colonies should be seen as equals across the ocean, rather than those who needed to be micromanaged and ruled over.
Much like the Olive Branch Petition, Congress used language critical of British policy, but not necessarily of the king. They hoped to remain a part of the British Empire, but to have more autonomy.
This argument grew into the Declaration of Independence one year later.
###
1933 – Major League Baseball holds its first All-Star Game.
Comiskey Park in Chicago hosted the event. It was meant to be a one-off deal, billed as the "Game of the Century," but has become an annual tradition.
More than 47,000 fans attended the inaugural event to watch the American League win 4-2.
The only year it was not held was in 1945, in the face of travel restrictions due to World War II.
###
1946 – The FBI arrests George "Bugs" Moran in Kentucky, along with two henchmen. Though Moran had a history of running huge crime rings, his career was diminished to pulling off small bank robberies at the time of his arrest.
He was huge competition to Al Capone at one point. That ended with the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in 1929, when his crew was decimated per Capone's orders.
###
1994 – "Forrest Gump" premieres.
The award-winning flick was based on a novel of the experiences of author Winston Groom.
The movie won six Oscars. Tom Hanks took home Best Actor in a Leading Role and Robert Zemeckis won for Best Director. It also won awards for cutting-edge CGI animation.
###
2020 - Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes agrees to the largest contract for an athlete in sports history.
He signed a 10-year deal worth $503 million.
###
BIRTHDAYS
Zion Williamson - basketball player - 23
Manny Machado - baseball player - 31
Cody Fern - actor, “House of Cards” - 35
Eva Green - actress, “Casino Royale” & “Kingdom of Heaven” - 43
Kevin Hart - comedian - 44
Tia & Tamera Mowry - actresses, “Sister Sister” - 45
50 Cent - rapper - 48
Larsa Pippen - reality star & ex-wife of Scottie Pippen - 49
Willie Randolph - baseball player - 69
Geoffrey Rush - actor, “The King’s Speech” - 72
Sylvester Stallone - actor, “Rocky” films - 77
George W. Bush - 43rd POTUS - 77
Dalai Lama - spiritual leader of Tibet - 88
Born On This Date
Bill Haley - rock singer, “Rock Around the Clock” - 1925 (d. 1981)
Nancy Reagan - First Lady, wife of Ronald Reagan - 1921 (d. 2016)
Frida Kahlo - painter - 1907 (d. 1954)
Harry Ford Sinclair - founded Sinclair Oil - 1876 (d. 1956)
###