Celebrity Scoop – 04/22/2020

PLAYON FEST TO FEATURE ED SHEERAN, CARDI B, COLDPLAY & MORE PERFORMANCES – (04/22/2020)

PlayOn Fest, a new virtual music festival, will feature performances from Cardi B, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, among others.

Warner Music Group shared plans for the three-day online event, which will stream from noon to midnight ET this Friday through Sunday on PlayOnFest.com and the Songkick YouTube channel.

The festival will also feature concert footage from Weezer, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Puth, The Flaming Lips, Bruno Mars, Panic! at the Disco, Green Day, Korn, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Roddy Ricch, Lil Uzi Vert, Paramore, Death Cab for Cutie, Twenty One Pilots, David Guetta and others.

The event is meant to entertain people self-isolating at home amid the coronavirus pandemic and raise funds for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization (WHO).

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Full Story: Variety

TAYLOR SWIFT’S ‘SOON YOU’LL GET BETTER’ GETS BIG SALES BOOST AFTER ‘ONE WORLD’ SPECIAL: After past weekend’s One World: Together at Home special, sales of songs performed on the show experienced a 735% increase, according to Nielsen Music. One of the big winners was Taylor Swift’s heartbreaking song “Soon You’ll Get Better,” a deep cut from her Lover album she originally wrote about her mother’s cancer battle. Billboard reports that after the Saturday telecast, the song sold 1,000 downloads – up from “essentially nothing” on Friday. The other two winners were Kacey Musgraves’ touching ballad, “Rainbow,” which sold nearly 3,000 downloads, and “Carnaval,” by Latin star Maluma, which sold a little over 1,000 downloads. Both songs barely sold anything on Friday.

FRIENDS PILES ONTO ALL IN: Speaking of Friends, the cast is getting involved in the now viral celeb All In Challenge. Jennifer Aniston, Lisa Kudrow, David Schwimmer,Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry and Matt LeBlanc took to social media and announced what they will be offering for the Challenge. They are giving fans the opportunity to be their “personal guests in the audience for the taping where you’ll get to see us all together again for the first time in ages, as we reminisce about the show and celebrate all of the fun we had. PLUS, sip a cup of coffee with us in Central Perk, and get the Friends VIP experience on the Warner Bros. Studio Tour.”

JOE JONAS AND SOPHIE TURNER DONATE 100 MEALS TO EAST LA DOCTORS HOSPITAL – (04/22/2020)

Joe Jonas and his wife Sophie Turner, along with Joe’s manager, Phil McIntyre and wife Shonda, teamed up with the Fueling the Fearless campaign to donate 100 hot meals to the East Los Angeles Doctors Hospital.

Platters of falafel, pita, salad, rice, and Mediterranean dips from Aliki’s Greek Taverna were delivered directly to the hospital’s doctors and nurses.

“A BIG THANK YOU to @joejonas @sophiet @philymack @shondamcintyre for donating 100 meals to East LA Doctors Hospital,” the campaign shared their thanks for the donation on their Instagram.

The Fueling The Fearless Campaign works to hire local restaurants struggling to make ends meet as a result of the worldwide outbreak.

Jonas, 30, and Turner, 24, are expecting their first child and have been holed up in quarantine together amid the coronavirus outbreak.

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Full Story: Page Six

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/21/2020

DID RIHANNA’S DAD REALLY HAVE THE CORONAVIRUS? – (04/21/2020)

A source close to Rihanna has denied that the superstar’s father Ronald Fenty contracted COVID-19. During a recent interview with The Sun,  Fenty claimed that RiRi sent him a ventilator after he tested positive for coronavirus. He told the publication that he spent 14 days in an isolation center in Barbados, saying, “I thought I was going to die to be honest. I have to say, I love you so much, Robyn. She did so much for me. I appreciate everything she has done.”

However, a source close to Rihanna disputed the story, telling Page Six, “He doesn’t need a ventilator, and she didn’t send him one.”

The source added that Rihanna was not aware of her dad’s diagnosis and is not happy with the story.  

SAM SMITH IS PRETTY SURE THEY HAD CORONAVIRUS – (04/21/2020)

Sam Smith is convinced that they once had coronavirus, despite not being tested for it.

The musician spoke to Zane Lowe in a recent interview and shared that they self diagnosed the infectious virus. “I didn’t get tested but I know I have it,” Sam shared. “I’m just going to assume that I did because everything I’ve read completely pointed to that. So yeah, I think I definitely had it.”

Sam revealed that their sister was also showing the same symptoms. Sam and their sister did quarantine for three weeks after that in order to protect their family. Sam believes they had the virus just as UK was going on lockdown and started to quarantine.

Last month, Smith confirmed that the title and release date of their third album will be changed, in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Originally entitled To Die For, Smith’s third LP was set to be released on May 1st.

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Full Story: Billboard

 ‘ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME’ ALBUM RELEASED – (04/21/2020)

A live album featuring the performances from the One World: Together At Home event has been released to stream, with profits going to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organization.

The album features all of Saturday night’s televised songs – from Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Billie Eilish, Lizzo and more – plus several hours of performances from earlier in the day, when Adam Lambert, Kesha, Maren Morris with Hozier, Ellie Goulding, Niall Horan and others played live on the Internet. The album includes 79 tracks, which adds up to a total running time of over four hours.

The special – hosted by late-night TV’s Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon – also featured Kacey Musgraves, Alicia Keys, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, Usher, Eddie Vedder, Chris Martin, J Balvin, John Legend, Camila Cabello, Shawn Mendes, Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, Billie Joe Armstrong, LL Cool J and many more.

The album is available to stream on Apple Music, Spotify and Amazon Music and will boost the money already raised by the event, which previously totally almost $128 million.

The full eight-hour event, including the two-hour primetime lineup, can also be watched again on YouTube.

The TV special, which aired across 30 networks over the weekend, notched 20.7 million viewers, according to Nielsen. That figure does not include the number of people who viewed the special over streaming.

The concert, organized by Global Citizen and curated by Lady Gaga, aimed to celebrate the heroes of the coronavirus pandemic and encourage spread-preventing measures like social distancing.

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Full Story: Billboard

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/20/2020

TAYLOR SWIFT PERFORMS ‘SOON YOU’LL GET BETTER’ FOR FIRST TIME ON TOGETHER AT HOME SPECIAL; CANCELS 2020 PERFORMANCES – (04/20/2020)

Taylor Swift has said that she would likely never perform her song “Soon You’ll Get Better,” but she debuted the song with an emotional performance on the One World: Together At Home special.

Taylor wrote the song about her mom Andrea Swift’s battle with cancer and the song is on her latest album Lover. “We as a family decided to put this on the album, and it’s something I’m so proud of, but it’s just really hard,” Taylor told fans back in August 2019. “I can’t sing it. It’s hard to just emotionally deal with that song.” “It was hard to write, it’s hard to sing. It’s hard to listen to for me, but sometimes music is like that,” she added.

Meanwhile, Taylor announced Friday that she is canceling all scheduled 2020 live performances, and will reschedule the U.S. and Brazil legs of her tour for 2021.

In a tweet, Swift expressed her regret but encouraged her fans to continue supporting the stay-at-home orders in many states, social distancing and other quarantine measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Swift also attached a screenshot of a larger statement from her tour citing the recommendations of Health organizations and governments as the reason for canceling her live appearances and tours. Tickets for U.S. and Brazil shows would transfer to the new dates when they are announced later this year. Ticketmaster will issue refunds upon request beginning May 1st.

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Full Story: Insider

BILLIE EILISH SINGS BOBBY HEBB’S ‘SUNNY’ DURING ONE WORLD SPECIAL; GOES TO PROM WITH JOHN KRASINSKI AND THE JONAS BROTHERS – (04/20/2020)

Billie Eilish covered Sunny Hebb’s song “Sunny” while performing during the One World: Together at Home special on Saturday night. Billie was joined by brother Finneas O’Connell, who played the piano while she sang.

At the song’s end, Eilish thanked medical workers everywhere for their continued work. “Sending our love to you,” she said. “I want to thank all of the healthcare workers who are risking their lives to save ours.”

Billie also recently performed during a virtual prom hosted by John Krasinski. The Jonas Brothers also joined the virtual prom, performing their hit “Sucker.” Chance the Rapper and Krasinski’s The Office costar Rainn Wilson also appeared on the stream.

The virtual event took place on Krasinski’s YouTube channel Some Good News, where he shares videos of himself highlighting positive stories amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the stream, Krasinski encouraged fans to attend the after party, hosted on DJ D-Nice’s Instagram Live. The DJ played music with a homemade “SGN Prom” sign on the wall behind him.

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Full Story: Billboard

CHARLIE PUTH JOKES ABOUT HIS ‘TOGETHER AT HOME’ UNMADE BED – (04/20/2020)

Charlie Puth was one of several stars to perform in the live, virtual charity event One World: Together At Home, which aired on Saturday.

Puth performed his hit song “See You Again” live from his bedroom, featuring his unmade bed in the background.

People were divided on Twitter. Some seemed annoyed by what they perceived as laziness, a lack of respect, or an affront to moms and neat-freaks. But others seemed to appreciate Puth’s unmade bed, with some calling it an unfiltered sign of quarantine.

Puth later responded to the comments by tweeting: “Ooops I forgot to make my bed,” “Honestly…I don’t think I’ve made my bed since 2008,” and “Single & I’m lit.”

The event – which raised almost $128 million for the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund – was a partnership between Global Citizen and the World Health Organization, and had a celebrity lineup curated by Lady Gaga.

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Full Story: Yahoo

GABBY BARRETT, CHARLIE PUTH RELEASE ‘I HOPE’ REMIX – (04/20/2020)

Gabby Barrett has teamed up with pop star Charlie Puth for the remix of her hit single, “I Hope.” The track is now available on all streaming platforms and digital retailers.

The collaboration was sparked by Charlie’s Instagram story applauding the song. The two have now reimagined “I Hope” as a two-part breakup story featuring a fresh dual perspective. This is Charlie’s first venture into Country music, and the remixed version will be included on Gabby’s debut album, which is due out this year.

Gabby said, “I can’t wait for fans to hear this! With Charlie being on this track, it changes the perspective of the song. When I wrote it I was writing from a woman’s perspective, and so with him being on it, it kind of shows the men’s perspective too. That both sides get cheated on and it’s not just a one-sided thing.”

Charlie added, “I fell in love with the song when I first heard it, and to be able to reimagine it with Gabby and the writers and producers and take it to a new place, is really exciting.”

The two teamed up for a live Q & A with Amazon Music over the weekend.

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/17/2020

DRAKE JOINS THE ALL IN CHALLENGE – (04/17/2020)

Drake is the latest celebrity to join Michael Rubin‘s All In Challenge after being challenged by Tom Brady. In a video shot at his Toronto mansion, the rapper said that the winner will get to fly on his  Virgil Abloh-designed private jet dubbed Air Drake. Once on board, they will receive an OVO and Nike care package before traveling to L.A. to party with Drake and friends at Delilah in West Hollywood. 

The prize also includes round-trip airfare on Air Drake for the winner plus seven guests and two-night hotel accommodations for eight people. He will also provide the winner with four tickets to one of his upcoming shows in their hometown.

The rapper was supposed to challenge three people, but instead decided to open to challenge to anyone. He explained,  “I really just want to challenge anybody who’s willing to step up for this cause. We all need it right now. We all need the love, we need the relief.”

Fans can enter for a chance to win for as little as $10. All the money raised from the auction will provide food for Americans amid the coronavirus crisis through non-profit organizations including Feeding America, Meals On Wheels, World Central Kitchen, and No Kid Hungry.

Other celebs that have also donated unique experiences and items to the “All In Challenge” including Justin Timberlake, Meek Mill, Yo Gotti, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen DeGeneres, Kevin Hart, and Quavo.

FANS REACT TO MICHAEL CHE’S MOVE TO PAY RENT IN HONOR OF GRANDMOTHER – (04/17/2020)

Saturday Night Live star Michael Che is paying tribute to his late grandmother Martha, who recently died of the coronavirus. He shared his decision to pay one month’s rent for 160 people living in his grandmother’s public housing complex in NYC. 

He wrote: “It’s crazy to me that residents of public housing are still expected to pay their rent when so many New Yorkers can’t even work. Obviously I can’t offer much help by myself. But in the spirit and memory of my late grandmother, I’m paying one month’s rent for all 160 apartments in the NYCHA building she lived in. I know that’s just a drop in the bucket so I really hope the city has a better plan for debt forgiveness for all the people in public housing, at the very least.”

Fans were impressed, especially considering he lacks the budget many Hollywood heavyweights have. One wrote: “The man just paid what amounts to a 6 figure yearly salary to cover the rent for a bunch of strangers. The guy is on SNL, he doesn’t exactly have George Clooney money!” Another opined, “I’m so sorry he lost his grandmother. He’s doing a wonderful thing in her name. A good man.”

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CHADWICK BOSEMAN SPARKS CONCERN AFTER PHOTO SHOWING WEIGHT LOSS – (04/17/2020)

Fans are concerned about Black Panther star Chadwick Boseman after seeing images of him online. Boseman popped up on social media to promote Operation 42, a $4.2 million fundraiser for personal protective equipment. The PPE is destined for hospitals that cater to African-American communities hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. 

The name, as many noted, is a reference to his role as Robinson in the 2013 film 42. And as thrilled as many were to see the fundraiser, many also pointed out his thinner frame. 

“I hope your [sic] okay, your appearance has changed,” one follower wrote.

“Dude, I’m all in for this, but please reassure your fan base about your health ’cause even I am starting to be kinda worried,” wrote another.

TBD if the weight loss is for a role. He is slated to appear in the TV series The Black Child and Black Panther II. 

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/16/2020

JUSTIN BIEBER, MEEK MILL OFFER AMAZING EXPERIENCES FOR THE CORONAVIRUS ‘ALL IN’ CHALLENGE – (04/16/2020)

Justin Bieber and Meek Mill have joined the “All In Challenge,” kicked off by Fanatics founder Michael Rubin.

Celebrities offer once-in-a-lifetime experiences that fans can win by simply donating as little as $10 to COVID-19 relief.

Bieber announced in a video: “I am going to auction off a cool experience where I fly to the winner’s home and I sing them ‘One Less Lonely Girl.’ I think this can be a cool opportunity and it’ll be fun for me!” In the caption, he adds that he might just serenade the lucky winner with “a few other” songs, too. He also added that he was inspired to donate the experience because many fans have been asking for it. He nominated Chris Brown, Kanye West and Chris Pratt to join the challenge.

Meek Mill donated his 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom for the challenge. “I’m in a position where I can help out, so you know me, they said ‘all in’ and I came right out the door with my biggest car, my favorite car.” he explained, before challenging James Harden, LeBron James and Floyd Mayweather.

Other experiences up for auction came in from Yo Gotti, Miguel, Robin Thicke, Timbaland and more.

Fans can buy 10 chances for $10 and up to 200 chances for $200. As of late Tuesday, the All In Challenge has raised over $2 million dollars’ 100% of the proceeds will be divided between Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry and America’s Food Fund, who will then disperse the funds to World Central Kitchen and Feeding America. 

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Full Story: Billboard

LEONARDO DICAPRIO, ROBERT DE NIRO OFFER GIG TO FAN IN FUND-RAISER – (04/16/2020)

Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro have offered a chance for a fan to get a walk-on role in their upcoming film, Killers of the Flower Moon, directed by Martin Scorsese. The winner will spend a day on the set and be able to go to the premiere.

The fund-raising project, called The All in Challenge, was launched by Fanatics founder Michael Rubin and has stars auctioning off experiences to raise funds to feed the elderly, children and frontline workers amid the pandemic. 

Meals on Wheels America, No Kid Hungry and America’s Food Fund are dispersing the donations. Now, DiCaprio and De Niro challenged Matthew McConaughey, Ellen DeGeneres and Jamie Foxx.

DeGeneres accepted the challenge and said that she and wife Portia de Rossi will donate $1 million to the fund, and is offering an opportunity for fans to donate and “win” co-hosting duties on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. She then challenged Justin Timberlake and Laura Dern. 

McDonaughey also accepted and offered fans a chance to join him at the University of Texas football game. He then challenged Jimmy Kimmel and Jonah Hill. 

Other stars have also recently put together major fundraisers. Octavia Spencer, Aimee Carpenter, Leslee Feldman, Melissa McCarthy and husband Ben Falcone are teaming up with Frontline Foods to deliver meals to hospitals from nearby restaurants across the country. 

“We saw the incredible work that Frontline Foods and their army of volunteers were doing nationwide. This can benefit both the frontline healthcare workers who risk their lives every day in order to save ours and the local restaurants who are desperately trying to keep their lights on and pay their staff in these economically devastating times. Every little bit counts, whether it’s 5, 50 or 5000 dollars. It can make a real a difference,” said McCarthy and Falcone in a statement.

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SHAWN MENDES AND CAMILA CABELLO SURPRISE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN MIAMI WITH CUBAN SANDWICHES – (04/16/2020)

Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, who have been quarantining together in Camila’s hometown of Miami, sent a special food delivery to the healthcare team at Miami’s Jackson South Medical Center on Friday.

They placed the order for 200 Cuban sandwiches at El Rinconcito Latino restaurant, totaling $1,280. “When they say, ‘200 sandwiches,’ [we said], ‘What? At this time? It’s for what?’” restaurant employee Andreina Rodriguez said. “It’s important to support a local business, so Camila Cabello, thank you.”

The two also surprised patients at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. with a virtual visit last week, chatting with some young fans individually and answering their questions.

Camila and Shawn will also be taking part in this Saturday’s One World: Together at Home special to celebrate healthcare workers and support the global fight to end COVID-19. The special airs across multiple networks and platforms, starting at 8 p.m. [ET].

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Full Story: Miami Herald

CIARA HAD TO FACETIME RUSSELL WILSON DURING ULTRASOUND DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC – (04/16/2020)

Ciara has shed light on what pregnant women are going through during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

On Wednesday, the singer shared a video of herself at her doctor’s appointment, getting an ultrasound with hubby Russell Wilson watching on FaceTime. Ciara said, “Russ had to FaceTime me from the car for our Ultrasound. We don’t hear too much about US during this time.” She later invited “all my pregnant women to chat with me and my doctor today on IG LIVE 2pm PST,” adding the hashtag “#WomensWednesday.”

Ciara announced that she and the football quarterback are expecting their second child together in January. The duo shared that they are expecting a baby boy in a gender reveal video on Tuesday.

The singer and the NFL star – who wed in July 2016 – are also the parents of daughter Sienna, 2. Ciara shares her eldest child, 5-year-old Future Zahir, with her ex-fiancé, Future.

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Full Story: Us Weekly

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/15/2020

TAYLOR SWIFT, SHAWN MENDES, CELINE DION & MORE JOIN LADY GAGA’S ‘ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME’ EVENT – (04/15/2020)

Taylor Swift, Celine Dion, and Shawn Mendes have joined the One World: Together at Home event happening on Saturday.

The three stars will also be joined by Alicia Keys, Amy Poehler, Awkwafina, Camila Cabello, Ellen DeGeneres, Jennifer Lopez, LL Cool J, Lupita Nyong’o, Matthew McConaughey, Oprah Winfrey, Pharrell Williams, Sam Smith, Usher and Victoria Beckham for the charitable event.

One World: Together At Home is the first-of-its kind global broadcast event to celebrate the heroic efforts of community health workers, and to support the World Health Organization in the global fight to end COVID-19.

Curated by Lady Gaga, it will be hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert.

The event has already raised more than $35 million to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As Gaga explained last week, One World: Together at Home is not a traditional benefit concert: “We want to raise the money before we go on air. When we do go on air, put your wallets away, your credit cards away, and enjoy the show,” she explained during an at-home live stream.

Prior to the 8 p.m. broadcast on Saturday, a six-hour live stream will include appearances from Adam Lambert, Andra Day, Angèle, Anitta, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Ben Platt, Billy Ray Cyrus, Charlie Puth, Common, Connie Britton, Don Cheadle, FINNEAS, Heidi Klum, Hozier, Jack Black, Jason Segel, Jennifer Hudson, Jessie J, John Legend, Kesha, Lady Antebellum, Liam Payne, Michael Bublé, and tons more.

As part of One World: Together At Home, brands such as Analog Devices, Cisco, Citi, The Coca-Cola Company, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, State Farm, Target, Teneo, Verizon, Vodafone and WW International, Inc. have supported the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO and regional charities that are working to meet immediate COVID-19-related needs on a local level.

One World: Together at Home airs on ABC, NBC, ViacomCBS Networks, iHeartMedia and Bell Media networks and will stream on Alibaba, Amazon Prime Video, Apple, beIN Media Group, Facebook, Instagram, LiveXLive, Tencent, Tencent Music Entertainment Group, TIDAL, TuneIn, Twitch, Twitter, Yahoo and YouTube.

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Full Story: Billboard

PINK COOKS UP SOUP TO FEED THE HUNGRY – (04/15/2020)

After recovering from her scary bout with COVID-19, Pink is giving back to those in need.

The singer posted on Instagram that she made a huge batch of soup to donate. She shared photos of the cooking process and the final products, all packaged and ready to go. She pointed out that she had mislabeled the soup containers with the wrong date, writing March instead of April. “I wrote 3/20 Because I lost a month somehow. Whoops,” she wrote.

Pink recently revealed that she and her son Jameson both contracted COVID-19.

“Two weeks ago my three-year-old son, Jameson, and I are were showing symptoms of COVID-19. Fortunately, our primary care physician had access to tests and I tested positive,” Pink wrote in an April 3rd Instagram post. “My family was already sheltering at home and we continued to do so for the last two weeks following the instruction of our doctor. Just a few days ago we were re-tested and are now thankfully negative.”

She also announced a $1 million donation, split between two COVID-19 relief charities in Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

Pink reflected on battling the virus, which has infected nearly 2 million people worldwide, during a virtual appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show Thursday. “This is the scariest thing I’ve ever been through in my whole life,” she told DeGeneres through tears. “It really is just a rollercoaster.” “We are doing all right, we are doing okay this week,” Pink later added. “I don’t even know what day it is but this is a better week than the last.”

During an Instagram Live chat last week with her friend and author, Jen Pastiloff, Pink said that while she and Jameson both got sick, her husband, Carey Hart, and their 8-year-old daughter, Willow Sage, have been healthy.

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Full Story: People

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ANNOUNCES NEW JERSEY CORONAVIRUS FUNDRAISER: Bruce Springsteen has announced a fundraiser for next week that will benefit his home state’s New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund. The Jersey 4 Jersey event will include Jon Bon Jovi, Tony Bennett, Jon Stewart, Danny DeVito, Whoopi Goldberg, SZA, Chelsea Handler, Charlie Puth, Kelly Ripa, Chris Rock, and more, with the stars appearing remotely while at home. The broadcast, which will be available to watch on Apple Music and AppleTV and carried on some TV stations, is scheduled for April 22nd.

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Celebrity Scoop – 04/14/2020

HEALTH EXPERT DOESN’T EXPECT LIVE CONCERTS TO RESTART UNTIL FALL 2021 – (04/14/2020)

Dr. Ezekiel “Zeke” Emanuel, a special adviser to the director general of the World Health Organization, told the New York Times that he doesn’t anticipate it to be safe to return to concerts, sporting events and other mass public gatherings for another 18 months.

While musical acts have postponed tours and other events to later this year or early 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Emanuel predicted “fall 2021 at the earliest” for people to return to such events.

He explained, “Restarting the economy has to be done in stages, and it does have to start with more physical distancing at a work site that allows people who are at lower risk to come back. Certain kinds of construction, or manufacturing or offices, in which you can maintain six-foot distances are more reasonable to start sooner.”

Emanuel continued, “Larger gatherings — conferences, concerts, sporting events — when people say they’re going to reschedule this conference or graduation event for October 2020, I have no idea how they think that’s a plausible possibility. I think those things will be the last to return. Realistically we’re talking fall 2021 at the earliest.”

Emanuel pointed out that there have been resurgences of the coronavirus in cities like Hong Kong and Singapore that have begun opening up and allowing more activity again. He called for “better testing and contact tracing” in such situations.

Meanwhile, in a move both apparently tone deaf and predatory, the nation’s largest ticket seller, Ticketmaster, has changed its policy in the wake of numerous canceled and rescheduled events.

Whereas Ticketmaster had previously allowed refunds for events that were “postponed, rescheduled or canceled,” it is currently giving out refunds only “if your event is canceled.”

With many artists opting to postpone or reschedule tours, sometimes to yet-to-be-determined dates, this essentially means obtaining a cash refund is impossible for quite some time even as the public faces financial struggles on a vast scale. A backlash has been building against Ticketmaster as a result.

Story source: Consequence Of Sound

DIDDY DENIES FAT SHAMING LIZZO – (04/14/2020)

Diddy has denied that he was fat-shaming Lizzo on his Instagram Live session on Sunday (April 12th). During his Dance-A-Thon, Lizzo started twerking and Diddy cut things short and asked to “play something a little bit family-friendly” but allowed Draya Michele to twerk to Juvenile‘s “Back Dat Azz Up.” 

Diddy said, “There’s one thing I want to make clear. My queen, my sister Lizzo when I stopped the music it’s because it had a lot of curses in there. Not because she was twerking. She’s one of the best twerkers in the world. Ok, lets keep that clear.”

He continued, “It wasn’t about twerking, you’re allowed to twerk on Easter. It was about, it was a lot cursing in the record and I don’t need child services knocking on my door right now. You understand. That’s why we stopped the record. Lizzo we love you. Everybody stop looking for the negative.”

BOB IGER RESUMES ROLE AT DISNEY – (04/14/2020)

Bob Iger is back in the driver’s seat at Disney two months after stepping down as chief executive, according to reports. He told the New York Times: “A crisis of this magnitude, and its impact on Disney, would necessarily result in my actively helping Bob [Chapek] and the company contend with it, particularly since I ran the company for 15 years!” 

On April 2nd, Disney started furloughing employees “whose jobs are not necessary at this time,” and with all parks, hotels and shopping districts shuttered, that number is expected to be considerable. Walt Disney in Disney alone furloughed 43,000 employees. In the weeks following his February 25th departure, the House of Mouse lost $500 million+ from closing the parks alone. Big ticket blockbusters like Mulan, Scarlett Johansson’s Black Widow and Dwayne Johnson’s Jungle Cruise have also been pushed back from their planned bows during the profitable summer season. 

Disney also announced that top execs are taking major pay cuts; Iger is giving up his salary and his nominal successor, Chapek, is taking a 50% cut. 

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