‘Terrifier’ Star Suits Up as a Psychotic Steamboat Willie in First Look at Latest Public Domain Horror Flick

The first official image of David Howard Thornton, best known for playing Art the Clown in the Terrifier franchise, as a slasher version of Steamboat Willie has been revealed, along with a new release schedule. Starring Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey and directed by Steven LaMorte, who helmed the Grinch slasher film The Mean One, re-imagines the first version of Disney’s iconic mascot now in the public domain. Titled Screamboat, the movie centers on a late-night ferry ride in New York City where Mickey Mouse, specifically Steamboat Willie, kills the passengers.

Iconic Events Releasing, via Variety, revealed the first look of actor David Howard Thornton as Steamboat Willie in Screamboat. The distribution company also announced that the film’s release date would be pushed back from January 2025 to April 2025, with several pre-screening events planned across the United States ahead of the new release date. Screamboat will also get a push at horror conventions before the movie opens in theaters. Writer-director LaMorte said this regarding the film:

“I’m so excited to share our mischievous monster mouse with the world. ‘Screamboat’ is my way of paying homage to Disney while putting a sinister, yet comedic twist on the classic. Watching David Howard Thornton bring Steamboat Willie to life with the magicians at Quantum Creation FX has been nothing short of amazing — he’s hilarious and murderously entertaining. I can’t wait for audiences to meet Willie and experience the chaos we’ve created.”

While the Walt Disney Company retains exclusive rights to the iconic depictions of Mickey Mouse, the Steamboat Willie version of the character entered the public domain on January 1, 2024. As is the case with many beloved IPs commonly associated with Disney that enter the public domain, cheap slasher horror re-imagines are immediately put into production to cash in. Screamboat is one of those films, as it was announced the day after Steamboat Willie entered the public domain.

‘Screamboat’ Isn’t the First ‘Steamboat Willie’ Horror Film Close

Despite the character only being in the public domain for a little over a year, Screamboat is actually going to be the second Steamboat Willie-based slasher film. The first was Mouse Trap, which was released on demand on Aug. 6, 2024, and was widely panned by critics. Neither Screamboat nor Mouse Trap are part of the other slasher horror franchise based on public domain characters commonly associated with Disney called The Twisted Childhood Universe (TCU).

Often referred to as The Poohniverse, seemingly named after the financially successful first entry, Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey, and not the quality of the productions. Despite sounding like a series of SNL bits, it has become a horror series that includes Winnie-the-Pooh: Bloody and Honey 2, Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare, and upcoming titles like Bambi: The Reckoning, Pinocchio: Unstrung, and the team-up film, Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble.

Related Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey Director Says Steamboat Willie Projects ‘Might Get a Bit of a Shock Soon’

Winnie-The-Pooh: Blood and Honey director warns others on using Steamboat Willie.

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While the entire enterprise of turning a piece of media often associated with children’s media into an R-rated slasher film has already become a tiresome trend, which has burned out quicker than the multiverse, Disney live-action remakes and legacy sequels, it does speak to a possible desire for a return to slasher movies.

Slasher movies dominated cinema in the late 70s and 1980s, with Scream (1996) both deconstructing and reviving them simultaneously. However, aside from the remake trend of the 2000s, slashers gave way to other horror genres, like found footage, paranormal hauntings, and the more surreal atmospheric horror popularized by many A24 entries.

The Terrifer films have become a new iconic horror franchise, with David Howard Thornton’s Art the Clown being the most popular new horror villain since Jigsaw in Saw back in 2004. He himself has become a big name in the horror community, and combined with general audiences perhaps being curious about a killer Mickey Mouse movie, Screamboat, could prove to be rather popular.

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Screamboat HorrorComedy Director Steven LaMorte Cast David Howard Thornton , Jesse Kove , Jesse Posey , Jarlath Conroy , Allison Pittel , Amy Schumacher , Anthony E. Williams , Charles Edwin Powell Main Genre Horror

Celebrity Bear Hunt line-up unveiled with surprise name in the Netflix series

The official line up for Celebrity Bear Hunt has some big names

As the full line up for Celebrity Bear Hunt is confirmed host Holly Willoughby says: “I don’t think they knew what they were signing up for.”

The show’s first look images have dropped alongside a trailer which shows famous faces struggling to breathe as they are stranded at sea, others being kidnapped by Bear and another trials Spice Girl Mel B dubs as “terrifying”.

The show looks like I’m A Celebrity crossed with a twist of Channel 4 show The Island with Bear Grylls thrown in for good measure.

Holly adds: “The ultimate survival challenge, twelve celebrities are in the Costa Rican jungle going head-to-head with the legendary Bear Grylls.”

.Amongst the famous faces will be ex-sportsmen Danny Cipriani and Boris Becker mixed with Spice Girl Mel B and TV host Steph McGovern.

Boris says: “I survived prison. I wanna compare that to the wild.

“It’s about overcoming and not falling down.”

Strictly head judge Shirley Ballas will also hope to hot foot it through Costa Rica in front of the cameras whilst the half-sister of Kate Moss, Lottie, will go from the cat walk to keeping her eye out for wildcats.

First look images show Mel B padding along a river and Boris Becker doning a headband as he gets into survival mode. Whilst the celebs are in combat trousers and matching T-shirts one big name still looks like she is on holiday.

Holly Willoughby, who can be seen in a flowery dress looking more relaxed than the others, hosts this action-packed competition show that sees a group of unlikely celebrities dropped into the Central American jungle as prey for one of the world’s most fearsome predators – Bear Grylls.

According to makers Netflix, Bear believes there’s an action hero inside us all – even the celebs – and now we get to watch how they manage to survive as Bear puts them through their paces.

Bear says: “I have done many wild things in my life but I have never hunted celebrities. The celebrities won’t come out of this the same.”

Those who fail to impress will face the dreaded ‘Bear Hunt’ – a brutal game of cat and mouse where they’ll be hunted down by Bear himself and, if captured, face elimination from the show.

The full line up for Celebrity Bear Hunt which kicks off on February 5 on Netflix is;

Leomie Anderson

31, London, Model & TV Host

Will she be a model team player or will she get caught in one of Bear’s traps?

Mel B

49, Leeds, Spice Girl

She’s here to spice up the jungle and face the Bear Pit head on!

Shirley Ballas

64, Cheshire, Ballroom Champion and TV Judge on Strictly Come Dancing

Will those high kicks and spins help when it comes to evading Bear Grylls?

Boris Becker

57, German, 3x Wimbledon Champion

He’s served on courts around the world but will he ace Bear Grylls’ challenges?

Kola Bokinni

32, London, Actor

He is ready to head into the Bear Pit, but will he captain his fellow team mates or go at it alone?

Danny Cipriani

37, London, Ex International Rugby Union Player

He will be tackling the challenges head on but will he be a match for Bear Grylls?

Zuhair Hassan (AKA Big Zuu)

29, London, TV Chef and Rapper

He’s confident in his skills, but will he be able to take the heat or will the pressure be too much to handle?

Una Healy

43, County Tipperary, Ireland, Singer, Songwriter

Our Irish beauty will not be able to sing her way out of these brutal challenges!

Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen

59, London, TV Interior Designer

There will be no changing rooms here, only changing strategy.

Steph McGovern

42, Middlesbrough, TV Presenter

Will Steph be sent packing or will she come out on top?

Lottie Moss

27, London, Model and half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss

Will this model student be able to outsmart the teacher?

Joe Thomas

41, Chelmsford, Actor from The Inbetweeners

The only thing standing in between him and freedom is Bear Grylls – but will he fold under pressure?

* Celebrity Bear Hunt is available to stream on Netflix from February 5

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Neil Gaiman Accused Of Sexual Assault By Multiple Women In Detailed Report

The Agency Episode 8 Review: I’m Pleasantly Surprised By How The Clever Spy Series Avoided Taking Obvious Story Routes

This story contains discussion about sexual assault.

Neil Gaiman has been accused of sexual assault by multiple women in a detailed report, following earlier allegations by five different women in 2024. Gaiman is a fantasy author best known for his novels and comics, in particular many that have been adapted into TV shows. This includes Starz’s American Gods, Netflix’s The Sandman, and Prime Video’s Good Omens. His work has also netted him various awards in writing, and, in 2023, placed him on Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list.

However, in 2024, Gaiman was accused of sexual assault and abuse by five women, who alleged he engaged in unwanted sex with them across various instances. While these allegations have been denied by the author, they’ve still resulted in fallout in his career. This includes Disney cancelling an adaptation of The Graveyard Book, and him stepping away from Good Omens season 3, which is now going to be a single episode long. But the initial accusations were just the start, as a new report has revealed more details about these abuse allegations from even more women.

A New Report Details Allegations Against Gaiman From 8 Different Women Accusations Against Gaiman Are Thoroughly Provided Close

Now, Vulture has released a very graphic report detailing allegations against Gaiman from eight different women, including detailed stories from some of his original accusers. The report’s most thorough account comes from Scarlett Pavlovich, who explained her first non-consensual sexual encounter with Gaiman at his home in Waiheke Island, New Zealand. She explained how she’d served as a babysitter for his ex-wife, Amanda Palmer, connecting her to the author. This allegedly resulted in a non-consensual BDSM sexual relationship, where Gaiman demanded Pavlovich call him “master” and participate in painful sexual activities.

Pavlovich claims she later signed an NDA regarding Gaiman’s alleged sexual assault, paying her $1,700, then nine payments totaling $9,200 over nine months.

While Pavlovich confided in Palmer and filed a police report, no statement from Palmer nor Gaiman meant the case couldn’t move forward. Another victim, Caroline, offered similar testimony, with The Graveyard Book author providing financial support for forced sexual favors. She later signed a $300,000 NDA, a number she came up with after the author initially offered her $5,000. Kendra Stout, who was 18 when she met Gaiman, also claimed he engaged in BDSM, beating her with a belt and, in 2007, allegedly raping her during a trip to Cornwall.

Five of the eight allegations in the report are also detailed in Paul Caruana Galizia and Rachel Johnson’s podcast Master.

Gaiman and representatives have denied the detailed relationships were non-consensual, including the claim Caroline had initiated their sexual relationship herself. However, the report, which can be read in full at the link below, offers some additional disturbing details, including Pavlovich explaining the types of bodily harm she’d endure during her sexual encounters with the author. The explanations in this report allege many disquieting attributes of the author’s sexual relationships with women, providing a deeply difficult, yet important, look into their sexual assault and abuse accusations.

Source: Vulture

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Neil Gaiman

Discover the latest news and filmography for Neil Gaiman, known for Good Omens and Coraline.

Birthdate November 10, 1960 Birthplace Portchester, Hampshire, England Notable Projects Good Omens , Stardust , Beowulf Professions Author , Screenwriter , Producer

Lucy Liu Says She Confronted Bill Murray on ‘Charlie’s Angels’ Set Over ‘Unacceptable’ Insults Because ‘I’m Going to Protect Myself’ When ‘Something Isn’t Right’

‘Alien: Romulus’ Director Fixed CGI Ian Holm for Home Release After ‘We Ran Out of Time to Get it Right’ for Theaters: ‘I Convinced the Studio to Spend the Money’ 3 days ago

Lucy Liu made headlines in 2021 when she appeared on an episode of the Los Angeles Times’ “Asian Enough” podcast and revealed that Bill Murray allegedly made “unacceptable” and “inexcusable” insults to her on the “Charlie’s Angels” set. Four years later, the actor was now asked by The Guardian why she decided to speak out about Murray’s conduct on set. The two filmed “Charlie’s Angels” alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in 1999. The movie opened in theaters the following year.

“I really didn’t think about it,” Liu said about speaking out. “I would have done that in any situation. I think when I sense something is not right, I am going to protect myself. It’s an innate thing to do if you feel there’s injustice, and I always feel that way.”

Liu acknowledged that she is not someone who stays quiet and plays the typical Hollywood game, adding: “If I was, it would have been a much easier road. But because I’ve never been that person, we had to find a way. I think there has never been an easy road, for me and for [other Asian American actors] – I really think it’s a group effort. I would never take credit. My career has not been paved by myself.”

Not counting the alleged Murray incident, Liu said she was mostly able to avoid toxic situations as an actor rising through Hollywood in the 1990s because she was “aware that some situations were not safe” and chose “not to get involved in that. I think having that sense of self saved me from a lot of probably bad situations of either being taken advantage of, or what people would think is quid pro quo…Everyone has an instinct, and I don’t know that everyone listens to it, but that’s one thing that I’ve always been able to channel and connect with.”

During her 2021 interview on the “Asian Enough” podcast, Liu said that Murray hurled insults at her on set one day.

“I won’t get into the specifics, but it kept going on and on,” Liu recalled. “I was, like, ‘Wow, he seems like he’s looking straight at me.’ I couldn’t believe that [the comments] could be towards me, because what do I have to do with anything majorly important at that time? I literally do the look around my shoulder thing, like, who is he talking to behind me? I say, ‘I’m so sorry. Are you talking to me?’ And clearly he was, because then it started to become a one-on-one communication.”

“Some of the language was inexcusable and unacceptable, and I was not going to just sit there and take it,” she continued. “So, yes, I stood up for myself, and I don’t regret it. Because no matter how low on the totem pole you may be or wherever you came from, there’s no need to condescend or to put other people down. And I would not stand down, and nor should I have.”

Shortly after the podcast interview went viral, Barrymore came forward on her daytime talk show to praise Liu for speaking out. She explained that “comedians can be a little dark sometimes” and Murray showed up on the “Charlie’ Angels” set “in a bad mood.”

“What you have to know is how much Lucy stood up for herself and that was the great thing that came out of an unfortunate circumstance,” Barrymore said. “She literally said, ‘I do not accept that kind of behavior from you.’ And we all supported her and backed her up and we moved forward.”

“In the workplace, it is so important that we respect each other, and if you don’t feel you’re being respected to speak up for yourself and to have people around you say, ‘I back this person,’” Barrymore continued. “I respected her then, I respect her now. I’m proud of us as a team and a company that we didn’t tiptoe on the eggshells. We dealt with it right then and there, we were strong, and we moved forward and we didn’t accept anything less moving forward.”

Liu’s 2021 comments originally resurfaced a year later when Searchlight Pictures suspended production on Aziz Ansari’s feature directorial debut in April 2022 over complaints about Murray’s inappropriate behavior on set. The film never went back into production. A few months later, Geena Davis revealed in her memoir, “Dying of Politeness,” that Murray allegedly harassed her during the making of their 1990 crime comedy “Quick Change.” Davis wrote that Murray tried to use a massage device on her in a hotel room and then berated her on set.

Pope Francis is introspective and self-critical in his autobiography, at least about his youth

ROME (AP) — An introspective Pope Francis has divulged some of the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the secret 2013 conclave that elected him pope and the resistance he has encountered ever since, in his autobiography being released Tuesday that also doubles down on some of his more controversial decisions as pontiff.

“Hope: The Autobiography” was only supposed to be published after Francis’ death. But at his own request, the book is hitting bookshelves now in more than 80 countries to coincide with the start of the church’s Holy Year.

Its publishers say it’s the first autobiography ever written by a sitting pope, though Francis has collaborated with plenty of other memoir-type books before, and much of his papacy and personal backstory are already well known.

But “Hope” does provide personal insights into how history’s first Latin American pope interprets his childhood in Buenos Aires and how it has informed his priorities as pope. Drawn from conversations over six years with Italian journalist Carlo Musso, “Hope” offers Francis’ own sometimes unflattering assessments of decisions he made or things he regrets — at least before he became pope.

It’s almost confessional at times, an 88-year-old Jesuit performing the Ignatian examination of his conscience at the end of his life to identify things he said or did that he now realizes could have been done better. Whether it’s the time when he insisted that a schoolmate pay to repair a bike he had broken, or knocked another schoolmate nearly unconscious, he seems deeply ashamed of his younger self and says he still doesn’t believe himself worthy of the papacy.

“If I consider what is the greatest gift that I desire from the Lord, and have experienced, it is the gift of shame,” he writes at one point.

Curiously, two periods of Bergoglio’s past which have remained somewhat mysterious to outsiders are once again avoided in “Hope.” One concerns his stint in Córdoba, Argentina from 1990-1992. Francis has never really explained the internal Jesuit dynamics that resulted in him being exiled to work as a confessor at the Jesuit church more than a decade after he was provincial of the order in Argentina. The period is mentioned only in passing when Francis refers simply to “the dark night at Córdoba.”

The other period of unknown in Bergoglio’s backstory concerns the time he spent in Germany doing research on the theologian Romano Guardini for a dissertation he never finished.

Also given short shrift was the impact of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, which convulsed his papacy for several years. The scandal exploded during Francis’ 2018 trip to Chile and the pope mentions the scandal briefly in the book. But he spends far more time recalling a more heart-warming memory from the Chile trip, when he married a pair of flight attendants on board the papal plane during the flight to Iquique.

The second half of the book, focusing on the papacy, is far less self-critical and in fact is strident in defending his sometimes controversial decisions. It is here that Francis provides further details of his emotions as the votes started going his way on the second day of balloting during the March 2013 conclave that elected him pope.

Francis reveals that he was among those cardinals receiving “stopgap votes” in the first rounds, when cardinals toss out votes to see which way the balloting winds are heading. He says he wasn’t keeping count in the early rounds but realized that his fate was sealed once he got 69 votes on the fourth ballot, out of the 77 needed for a two-thirds majority of the 115 cardinals.

The fifth ballot – the one that made him pope — actually had to be done twice. An extra ballot paper got stuck to one that a cardinal had filled out, so that when the papers were counted there were 116 rather than 115. The papers were burned without having even been opened and a new fifth ballot called.

“When my name was pronounced for the seventy-seventh time, there was a burst of applause, while the reading of the votes went on,” he writes. “I don’t know exactly how many votes there were in the end, I was no longer listening, the noise covered the voice of the scrutineer.”

One of the first things he did after the vote was to embrace Cardinal Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan who had been such a favorite going into the conclave that the Italian bishops conference had dummied up a press release announcing his election. “He deserved that embrace,” Francis writes.

Once in the sacristy, known as the “Room of Tears,” to be outfitted with the papal garb, Francis reveals that he had in his pocket his old episcopal ring which he used, suggesting that he had an intuition getting dressed in the morning that he would indeed be elected.

“The red shoes? No, I have orthopedic shoes. I’m rather flat-footed,” he writes of his sartorioal choices that night. Nor did he want the red velvet cape, known as a mozzetta, favored by his predecessor. “They were not for me. Two days later they told me I would have to change my trousers, wear white ones. They made me laugh. I don’t want to be an ice cream seller, I said. And I kept my own.”

Those looking for current Vatican gossip in “Hope” will be somewhat disappointed, as Francis only fleetingly touches on the more controversial parts of his papacy. He is far more certain of his decisions made as pope, even doubling down on blasting traditionalist Catholic priests as rigid and mentally unstable.

“This rigidity is often accompanied by elegant and costly tailoring, lace, fancy trimmings, rochets. Not a taste for tradition but clerical ostentation,” he writes. “These ways of dressing up sometimes conceal mental imbalance, emotional deviation, behavioral difficulties, a personal problem that may be exploited.”

He writes that the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy, particularly the effort to impose international accounting and budgeting standards on its finances, have been the most difficult task of his papacy and one that generated “the greatest resistance to change.”

“I have been summoned to a battle,” he writes.

He strongly defends his decision to authorize a sweeping trial of 10 people, including a cardinal, accused of alleged financial misconduct related to an investment in a London property. The trial resulted in several convictions, but also cost the Holy See reputational harm, given questions about whether the defendants received a fair trial and Francis’ own role in the saga.

“The decisions that I made in that respect were not easy, I was sure there would be problems, but I also know that the truth must never be hidden and being opaque is always the worst choice,” he writes.

After African bishops unanimously rejected his approval of gay blessings, Francis stands by his decision and insists that the blessing is for the people, not the relationship. “Homosexuality is not a crime,” he writes, repeating a statement he first made in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Pope Francis is introspective and self-critical in his…

ROME (AP) – An introspective Pope Francis has divulged some of the behind-the-scenes dynamics of the secret 2013 conclave that elected him pope and the resistance he has encountered ever since, in his autobiography being released Tuesday that also doubles down on some of his more controversial decisions as pontiff.

“Hope: The Autobiography” was only supposed to be published after Francis´ death. But at his own request, the book is hitting bookshelves now in more than 80 countries to coincide with the start of the church’s Holy Year.

Its publishers say it´s the first autobiography ever written by a sitting pope, though Francis has collaborated with plenty of other memoir-type books before, and much of his papacy and personal backstory are already well known.

But “Hope” does provide personal insights into how history´s first Latin American pope interprets his childhood in Buenos Aires and how it has informed his priorities as pope. Drawn from conversations over six years with Italian journalist Carlo Musso, “Hope” offers Francis´ own sometimes unflattering assessments of decisions he made or things he regrets – at least before he became pope.

It´s almost confessional at times, an 88-year-old Jesuit performing the Ignatian examination of his conscience at the end of his life to identify things he said or did that he now realizes could have been done better. Whether it´s the time when he insisted that a schoolmate pay to repair a bike he had broken, or knocked another schoolmate nearly unconscious, he seems deeply ashamed of his younger self and says he still doesn´t believe himself worthy of the papacy.

“If I consider what is the greatest gift that I desire from the Lord, and have experienced, it is the gift of shame,” he writes at one point.

FILE – Argentina’s Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio giving a mass outside the San Cayetano church in Buenos Aires, Aug. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko, File)

Curiously, two periods of Bergoglio´s past which have remained somewhat mysterious to outsiders are once again avoided in “Hope.” One concerns his stint in Córdoba, Argentina from 1990-1992. Francis has never really explained the internal Jesuit dynamics that resulted in him being exiled to work as a confessor at the Jesuit church more than a decade after he was provincial of the order in Argentina. The period is mentioned only in passing when Francis refers simply to “the dark night at Córdoba.”

The other period of unknown in Bergoglio´s backstory concerns the time he spent in Germany doing research on the theologian Romano Guardini for a dissertation he never finished.

Also given short shrift was the impact of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, which convulsed his papacy for several years. The scandal exploded during Francis´ 2018 trip to Chile and the pope mentions the scandal briefly in the book. But he spends far more time recalling a more heart-warming memory from the Chile trip, when he married a pair of flight attendants on board the papal plane during the flight to Iquique.

The second half of the book, focusing on the papacy, is far less self-critical and in fact is strident in defending his sometimes controversial decisions. It is here that Francis provides further details of his emotions as the votes started going his way on the second day of balloting during the March 2013 conclave that elected him pope.

Francis reveals that he was among those cardinals receiving “stopgap votes” in the first rounds, when cardinals toss out votes to see which way the balloting winds are heading. He says he wasn´t keeping count in the early rounds but realized that his fate was sealed once he got 69 votes on the fourth ballot, out of the 77 needed for a two-thirds majority of the 115 cardinals.

The fifth ballot – the one that made him pope — actually had to be done twice. An extra ballot paper got stuck to one that a cardinal had filled out, so that when the papers were counted there were 116 rather than 115. The papers were burned without having even been opened and a new fifth ballot called.

“When my name was pronounced for the seventy-seventh time, there was a burst of applause, while the reading of the votes went on,” he writes. “I don´t know exactly how many votes there were in the end, I was no longer listening, the noise covered the voice of the scrutineer.”

One of the first things he did after the vote was to embrace Cardinal Angelo Scola, the archbishop of Milan who had been such a favorite going into the conclave that the Italian bishops conference had dummied up a press release announcing his election. “He deserved that embrace,” Francis writes.

Once in the sacristy, known as the “Room of Tears,” to be outfitted with the papal garb, Francis reveals that he had in his pocket his old episcopal ring which he used, suggesting that he had an intuition getting dressed in the morning that he would indeed be elected.

“The red shoes? No, I have orthopedic shoes. I´m rather flat-footed,” he writes of his sartorioal choices that night. Nor did he want the red velvet cape, known as a mozzetta, favored by his predecessor. “They were not for me. Two days later they told me I would have to change my trousers, wear white ones. They made me laugh. I don´t want to be an ice cream seller, I said. And I kept my own.”

Those looking for current Vatican gossip in “Hope” will be somewhat disappointed, as Francis only fleetingly touches on the more controversial parts of his papacy. He is far more certain of his decisions made as pope, even doubling down on blasting traditionalist Catholic priests as rigid and mentally unstable.

“This rigidity is often accompanied by elegant and costly tailoring, lace, fancy trimmings, rochets. Not a taste for tradition but clerical ostentation,” he writes. “These ways of dressing up sometimes conceal mental imbalance, emotional deviation, behavioral difficulties, a personal problem that may be exploited.”

He writes that the reform of the Vatican bureaucracy, particularly the effort to impose international accounting and budgeting standards on its finances, have been the most difficult task of his papacy and one that generated “the greatest resistance to change.”

“I have been summoned to a battle,” he writes.

He strongly defends his decision to authorize a sweeping trial of 10 people, including a cardinal, accused of alleged financial misconduct related to an investment in a London property. The trial resulted in several convictions, but also cost the Holy See reputational harm, given questions about whether the defendants received a fair trial and Francis´ own role in the saga.

“The decisions that I made in that respect were not easy, I was sure there would be problems, but I also know that the truth must never be hidden and being opaque is always the worst choice,” he writes.

After African bishops unanimously rejected his approval of gay blessings, Francis stands by his decision and insists that the blessing is for the people, not the relationship. “Homosexuality is not a crime,” he writes, repeating a statement he first made in a 2023 interview with The Associated Press.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP´s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

FILE – Pope Francis leaves after leading a holy mass at Tasitolu park in Dili, East Timor, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Firdia Lisnawati, File)

FILE – Pope Francis visits the Lac Ste. Anne pilgrimage site in Alberta, Canada, July 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

FILE – Pope Francis delivers his blessing from the window of his private library overlooking St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican, March 22, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, File)

FILE – Faithful gather to attend the Catholic Easter Sunday mass led by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, April 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

FILE – Pope Francis holds the pastoral staff as he presides over the Sunday mass at King Baudouin Stadium, in Brussels Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

The Weeknd Cancels Rose Bowl Show, Postpones Album Release Due to L.A. Fires

Leo Woodall Plays Prime Numbers Mastermind in ‘Prime Target’ Trailer

The Weeknd has postponed the release of his upcoming album, Hurry Up Tomorrow, and canceled his Rose Bowl Stadium concert following the relentless wildfires that are decimating the Los Angeles area. He announced that he pushed back his album release date from Jan. 24 to Jan. 31, and canceled his one-night stadium show in Pasadena, California, set for Jan. 25. The Weeknd, born Abel Tesfaye, said he made the decision “out of respect and concern of the people in Los Angeles county” in a social media post Monday. A new show date has not been announced.

“This city has always been a profound source of inspiration for me, and my thoughts are with everyone impacted during this difficult time,” he wrote in the Instagram post.

Hurry Up Tomorrow marks the last installment in his musical trilogy that includes 2022’s Dawn FM and 2020’s After Hours. As part of his forthcoming project, Hurry Up Tomorrow, he has released three music videos: “Dancing in the Flames,” “Timeless” with Playboi Carti, and “São Paulo” with Anitta.

“My focus remains on supporting the recovery of these communities and aiding its incredible people as they rebuild,” he continued.

The “Starboy” singer announced last month that the next installment in the trilogy would include a tour and a “musically driven psychological thriller,” starring Jenna Ortega and Barry Keoghan. The film, which shares the same name as the album, is directed by Trey Edward Shults and will release May 16.

The Weeknd’s canceled concert is among a slew of other live performances that have been nixed due to the ongoing wildfires, which have damaged more than 12,000 structures and killed at least 24 people. Last week, Rod Wave’s show, indie pop band Bad Bad Hats’ concert, and Cody Fry’s performance with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra were postponed due to the wildfires blazing the Los Angeles region.

Beyoncé donates $2.5 million to fire relief and Meghan delays show launch due to the disaster

Celebrities and entertainment organizations are pledging millions to help those who have been displaced or lost their homes, with Beyoncé directly millions to help families in the Eaton fire area.

Weaker winds and intense firefighting efforts over the weekend boosted containment of fires burning in and around Los Angeles, but the effects of the blazes on the entertainment world continue.

The Oscar nominations have been delayed and the film academy announced Monday that it would cancel a gathering of nominees due to the fire. It’s the latest shift to Hollywood’s awards season and other projects are also being delayed. Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, announced Sunday she would not launch a Netflix lifestyles program as planned this week and would wait until March.

Celebrities and entertainment organizations are pledging millions to help those who have been displaced or lost their homes, with Beyoncé directly millions to help families in the Eaton fire area.

While firefighters over the weekend were able to push the flames away from several populated areas, strong winds are expected to resume this week and last through Wednesday.

Thousands of homes have been destroyed, and 24 people have died as a result of the fires. More are reported missing and officials expect that number to increase.

Here’s more on how the fires are affecting celebrities and the entertainment world.

Beyoncé has contributed $2.5 million to a newly launched LA Fire Relief Fund created by her charitable foundation, BeyGOOD.

The announcement arrived via the BeyGOOD foundation Instagram account on Sunday. “The fund is earmarked to aid families in the Altadena/Pasadena area who lost their homes, and to churches and community centers to address the immediate needs of those affected by the wildfires,” the caption read.

Founded in 2013, the BeyGOOD foundation concentrates on economic equity, by “supporting marginalized and under-resourced programs,” according to its mission statement.

Last week, Beyoncé’s mother Tina Knowles shared that her Malibu bungalow was destroyed in the Los Angeles-area fires. “It was my favorite place, my sanctuary, my sacred happy place. now it is gone,” she wrote on Instagram. “God Bless all the brave men and women in our fire department who risked their lives in dangerous conditions.”

Netflix and Comcast NBCUniversal on Monday pledged $10 million each to organizations offering aid to victims of the LA-area wildfires.

Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos said its donation will be split among five recipients including World Central Kitchen and the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation. Comcast Corporation Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts allocated $2.5 million of its $10 million cash commitment to Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ ReBUILD LA initiative. The remainder of the money would go to other charitable foundations helping victims.

The Screen Actors Guild announced over the weekend it would commit $1 million to help members affected by the fires. While a lot of attention has been paid to stars who have lost homes, numerous less-famous industry workers have also lost homes or been displaced by the fires.

The nonprofit fundraising group Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS has awarded $500,000 in emergency grants to help Los Angeles-area residents and first responders with meals, shelter, medical care, clothing and emergency financial assistance.

“These wildfires have left deep scars, but they’ve also ignited a powerful wave of support from Broadway to the West Coast,” said Robert E. Wankel, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Board of Trustees president and chairman and CEO of The Shubert Organization.

The Duchess of Sussex has pushed back the release of her new Netflix series due to the wildfires that have ravaged the LA-area.

“With Love, Meghan” was set to debut Wednesday, but the streaming service said Sunday that it supports her request to push the premiere to focus on helping those affected by the fires.

The Duchess was born and raised in Los Angeles and now lives in Montecito, California, with Harry, the Duke of Sussex and their two children.

On Saturday, the royal couple visited Pasadena to hand out food and water to fire victims and thank first responders.

“With Love, Meghan” is a lifestyle program featuring the Duchess chatting with celebrity pals and demonstrating tasks like floral arrangements and baking. “I’ve always loved taking something pretty ordinary and elevating it,” Meghan says in the trailer. The show will now drop March 4.

The publisher of Arnold Schoenberg’s works says original manuscripts and scores from the composer were lost in the Los Angeles wild fires.

Belmont Music Publishers, located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood, made the announcement Sunday.

“We have lost our full inventory of sales and rental materials,” the company said in a statement. “We hope that in the near future we will be able to ‘rise from the ashes’ in a completely digital form. … There are some scores and performing materials for which we have digital scans.”

Born in Austria, Schoenberg moved to the U.S. when the Nazis took power and settled in Los Angeles, where he died in 1951.

Schoenberg gained attention for a 12-tone technique of composition and along with his students, including Alban Berg and Anton Webern, became known as the Second Viennese School. Among his most-known works are “Ewartung,” ” Gurre-Lieder,” ” Verklärte Nacht ” and “Pierrot lunaire.”

Many Hollywood events have been postponed and canceled due to the ongoing fires in the Los Angeles area, but the Sundance Film Festival is still planning to move forward with the 11-day event next week in Park City, Utah.

In a letter Monday to registrants from Southern California, the Institute’s CEO Amanda Kelso and festival director Eugene Hernandez wrote that, “we may mourn, but we also know it is important to carry on.” Those who received the letter were also invited to share more about how they’ve been affected by the fires.

Michelle Satter, a founding director of the Sundance Institute and its artists programs, wrote on social media last week that she lost her home in the Palisades fire. Satter is among those being honored at the festival’s opening gala on Jan. 24.

BetRivers Welcomes Gambling Icon Phil Hellmuth as Brand Ambassador | Taiwan News | Jan. 13, 2025 21:30

Hellmuth to Bring His Bigger Than Life Personality Exclusively to Rush Street Interactive

CHICAGO, Jan. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Rush Street Interactive, Inc. (NYSE: RSI) (“RSI”), a premier online casino and sports betting operator, is thrilled to announce a new exclusive partnership with Phil Hellmuth, the world-renowned professional poker player and record-holder for the most World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament wins. Known as one of the most skilled gamblers in the world, Hellmuth will join the BetRivers team as a brand and content partner bringing his unparalleled expertise and charisma to deliver a variety of exciting and exclusive player experiences and entertainment across RSI’s Casino, Sportsbook, and Poker verticals, as well as throughout RSI’s media-owned productions such as the BetRivers Network and our long-running Poker Night in America poker show.

Hellmuth’s legendary career has made him one of the most recognizable figures in the poker world. With an unmatched 17 WSOP bracelets, he has cemented his status as a skilled gambler, captivating gambling audiences with his pride, passion, and larger-than-life persona. Beyond his accolades, Hellmuth’s engaging presence and entertaining personality have inspired countless fans and players worldwide.

This partnership will see Hellmuth integrated across RSI’s platforms and media production properties, delivering a mix of thrilling entertainment and engaging player opportunities.

Highlights of the partnership will include:

In-App Promotions: Exclusive themed casino, sportsbook, and poker events and challenges for players to test their skills and enjoy unique rewards.Interactive Entertainment: Hellmuth will host Live Casino Dealer events, provide sports betting commentary, and lead interactive sessions for players and fans. He will also participate in unique engaging poker events with VIPs.VIP Events and Experiences: Appearances at in-person and online VIP tournaments and events, offering players a chance to compete with, be entertained by, and learn from one of poker’s greatest. In the upcoming weeks, VIPs will have the opportunity go to the Super Bowl in New Orleans with the poker legend.Brick-and-Mortar Activations: Hellmuth will headline events at BetRivers land-based casino partners, creating unforgettable moments for attendees. In the coming months, Hellmuth will be participating in various tournaments at our casino partners including Rivers Casino and Little River Casino.BetRivers Network Collaborations: Hellmuth will play a prominent role in RSI’s entertainment media property, BetRivers Network, including appearances on flagship poker show production Poker Night in America, exclusive streaming events, and other branded activations. Be on the lookout for upcoming shoots and promotions including Hellmuth’s signed legendary BetRivers hat.BetRivers Online Poker: Dedicated tournaments and exclusive branded content designed to captivate online poker enthusiasts and casual players alike. Including, promoting RSI’s recently launched online poker platform developed in collaboration with acclaimed poker professional Phil Galfond.

“Phil Hellmuth is a living legend whose influence extends far beyond the poker table to all gamblers, and we are excited to welcome him to the BetRivers family,” said Richard Schwartz, CEO of Rush Street Interactive. “Phil’s unmatched passion, dynamic personality, and flair for entertainment make him the perfect ambassador as we continue to expand our offerings and elevate player experiences across our platforms. His expanded role in the BetRivers Network, including increased appearances on Poker Night in America, and his contributions to promoting our new online poker platform, will bring unparalleled excitement to our players. Additionally, his involvement with our best-in-class mobile casino and sportsbook promotional games will create unforgettable moments for players and fans alike.”

“Partnering with Rush Street Interactive and BetRivers is an exciting new chapter for me,” said Hellmuth. “Ever since meeting the Rush Street Interactive executive team in 2012, I have been a fan. I have been impressed with RSI’s moxie, will, and determination to build a beautiful product — an online gaming experience that people love to use and play on. Today, I am proud to announce that we will elevate our collaboration to share my experience and love of poker, gambling, and entertainment with BetRivers players and fans, both online and in person. First up, I will attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans with BetRivers VIP players!”

This partnership reinforces RSI’s dedication to delivering premium content, unforgettable events, and dynamic entertainment experiences for its players. By aligning with Hellmuth, RSI continues to solidify its position as a leader in the online casino, sportsbook, and poker industries.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. RSI’s actual results may differ from their expectations, estimates and projections and consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “budget,” “forecast,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “should,” “believes,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, RSI’s expectations about its arrangement with Hellmuth, what RSI’s anticipated offerings and benefits arising from that arrangement will include and its future performance with respect to that arrangement. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside RSI’s control and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include, without limitation, changes in applicable laws or regulations, unanticipated product or service delays, and other risks and uncertainties indicated from time to time in RSI’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including those under “Risk Factors” therein, and in RSI’s other filings with the SEC. RSI cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. RSI cautions readers not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. RSI does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

About Rush Street Interactive

RSI is a trusted online gaming and sports entertainment company focused on markets in the United States, Canada and Latin America. Through its brands, BetRivers, PlaySugarHouse and RushBet, RSI was an early entrant in many regulated jurisdictions. It currently offers real-money mobile and online operations in fifteen U.S. states: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Virginia, West Virginia, Arizona, New York, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio and Delaware, as well as in the regulated international markets of Colombia, Ontario (Canada), Mexico and Peru. RSI offers, through its proprietary online gaming platform, some of the most popular online casino games and sports betting options in the United States. Founded in 2012 by gaming industry veterans, RSI was named the EGR North America Awards Customer Services Operator of the Year five years in a row (2020-2024), the 2022 EGR North America Awards Operator of the Year and Social Gaming Operator of the Year, and the SBC Latin-American Awards 2024 Casino Operator of the Year and 2021 Sportsbook Operator of the Year. RSI was the first U.S.-based online casino and sports betting operator to receive RG Check iGaming Accreditation from the Responsible Gaming Council. For more information, visit www.rushstreetinteractive.com.

About Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth is one of the most celebrated poker players in history, holding a record-breaking 17 World Series of Poker bracelets. Known for his competitive spirit, engaging personality, and entertaining presence, Hellmuth is a global ambassador for poker and remains a dominant force in the game.

Contacts

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Sean Combs Raped 16-Year-Old Babysitter, New Lawsuit Claims

The lawsuit comes after more than 40 people have sued the Bad Boy Records founder with allegations of sexual misconduct and assault

Sean Combs is facing a new Jane Doe accuser who alleges the Bad Boy Records founder drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was a 16-year-old high school student walking home from a babysitting gig in lower Manhattan in late August or early September 2000.

In her lawsuit filed Monday and obtained by Rolling Stone, the woman alleges she was a part-time babysitter at an apartment building where “a well-known woman whom the defendant was in a relationship also resided.” The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, does not name the allegedly famous woman. The plaintiff says she was exiting the building on her way to her parents’ residence around the corner when she encountered Combs sitting in an SUV with the door open.

“Combs engaged her in conversation, asking where she was going so late at night, and that it was not safe for her to be walking alone,” the lawsuit alleges. The plaintiff says she told Combs she lived nearby and would be okay, but Combs allegedly persisted and convinced her to get inside his vehicle.

“Getting into Combs’ car that day was something plaintiff would come to regret forever,” the lawsuit states. “During the ride, plaintiff became scared when they did not drop her off at home as promised. The defendant gave her a drink to ‘calm her down.’ She soon became groggy and unsteady.”

The woman alleges a male driver and another man were in the vehicle with Combs at the time. The men are identified as John Does in the new lawsuit. The lawsuit says Combs and the other men drove the teen to a location “where plaintiff was raped by Combs.” It says, “she was eventually taken home and left in the lobby of her building by the same driver.”

The plaintiff says she grew up in New York City and was a student at The Museum School at the time. The new lawsuit comes after at least 40 other plaintiffs have sued Combs over the past 16 months with allegations of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct.

In a statement, Combs’ legal team denied the woman’s claims. “No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted, or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor,” the legal team said in a previous statement shared again Monday. “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.” (The woman’s attorney, Michael F. Rubin, did not immediately reply for additional comment.)

The deluge of civil claims against Combs started when his former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed her graphic sex-trafficking complaint in November 2023. Combs settled with Ventura for an undisclosed sum within 24 hours, but her 35-page complaint, now the heart of the music mogul’s criminal prosecution in New York, opened the floodgates. Combs’ homes were raided in March 2024, and in May, CNN obtained and published the harrowing hotel surveillance video showing Combs throwing, kicking, stomping, and dragging Ventura in the hallway of the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. After first denying Ventura’s claims against him, Combs issued a video apology related to the incident, admitting his “behavior on that video is inexcusable.”

Combs, 55, was indicted in September and has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He was arrested in New York City on Sept. 16 and has been detained since. He’s currently housed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His trial is set for May.