January 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

iStock/TrekAndShoot(LOS ANGELES) — While Hollywood studios had started to ramp up production following the spring’s COVID-19 shutdowns, Los Angeles-based productions have again screeched to a halt, following a surge in infections there.

Deadline reports Netflix has become the latest studio to hit pause in its shooting in the LA County area, even though such productions had technically been exempt from stay-at-home orders that affect other industries. 

Production on the Netflix sitcom Happy Family — which had been shooting without a studio audience to comply with COVID-19 protocols — has now gone dark, as have “several unscripted shows and additional photography for Netflix movies,” according to the trade.

The streaming giant is following the lead of other studios, which are either delaying new shooting starts or pausing their in-person productions for at least two weeks. Shows that had returned to an altered studio setting, like The Late Late Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live!, are headed back to work-at-home status, Deadline says. 

Additionally, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris agreed with health officials in Los Angeles who called for a pause, issuing a press release co-signed by the Producers Guild of America and the The Joint Policy Committee, which represents commercial production.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 vet said in the statement, “Southern California hospitals are facing a crisis the likes of which we have never seen before. Patients are dying in ambulances waiting for treatment because hospital emergency rooms are overwhelmed. This is not a safe environment for in-person production right now.

Los Angeles County currently has more reported COVID-19 infections than any other county in the U.S., according to Johns Hopkins University.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

BG026/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)(LOS ANGELES) — Whitney Port is opening up about her recent pregnancy loss.

In an Instagram post shared on Monday, the reality star and podcast host revealed that she suffered a miscarriage.

“Hey, Everyone. This is not an easy one,” she began. “We decided to start vlogging for our YouTube channel a couple months ago to share two stories: Renovating a new house and a new pregnancy journey. Sadly, I lost the pregnancy.”  

Port, 35, went on to explain that she and husband, Tim Rosenman, weren’t sure if they wanted to continue their video project, especially since this is their second miscarriage within two years. She previously suffered a pregnancy loss in July 2019. 

“I wasn’t sure I wanted to relive the pain,” the former The Hills star wrote. “However, this time around, I felt differently about the situation. Last time, I don’t think I was ready to have another child, and I had different feelings about the miscarriage. This time, I really connected. I was actually excited and enjoying the pregnancy.”

“I envisioned it all. I’m sad but I’m ok and we will try again. So here’s our story. I also have so much sadness in my heart for anyone that has to go through this or has gone through this. I know though that our community will share, band together and support- cause you always do,” she shared. 

Port, who is already mother to 3-year-old son Sonny, then directed fans to her YouTube where she will release one video a day for five days chronicling their journey.

The first video was published on Monday. 

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

January 5, 2021 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Laurent KOFFEL/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images(LONDON) — Vanessa Kirby, who co-starred in 2020’s Pieces of a Woman alongside Shia LaBeouf, broke her silence about the allegations brought against the disgraced actor.

In a Sunday interview with The Sunday Times, Kirby, 32, stated, “I stand with all survivors of abuse and respect the courage of anyone who speaks their truth.”

The British actress continued, “Regarding the recent news, I can’t comment on an ongoing legal case.”

Pieces of a Woman contains scenes where Kirby’s character is pressured into having sex with LaBeouf’s character, who also tries to hit her with an exercise ball, reports the Times.

LaBeouf, 34, is embroiled in a lawsuit filed by ex-girlfriend, FKA Twigs, who claimed the actor “hurts women…uses them [and] abuses them both personally and mentally.”

FKA, born Tahliah Barnett, claimed the actor “tormented” her, brandished a firearm while driving, and “knowingly” gave her an STD, among other accusations of similarly violent and controlling behavior. 

One such incident, Barnett said the actor strangled her and slammed her head against his vehicle. 

LaBeouf responded to Barnett’s allegations in a statement to the New York Times that read, “Although many of these allegations are not true, I am not in the position to defend any of my actions. I owe these women the opportunity to air their statements publicly and accept accountability for those thing I have done.” 

“Chandelier” singer Sia has also come forward with her own allegations against LaBeouf, stating on Twitter, “I too have been hurt emotionally by Shia, a pathological liar, who conned me into an adulterous relationship claiming to be single.  I believe he’s very sick and have compassion for him AND his victims.”

The actor, who starred in her 2015 music video “Elastic Heart,” hasn’t respond to those accusations.

By Megan Stone
Copyright © 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.