December 24, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage(LOS ANGELES) — Disgraced actor Kevin Spacey is keeping up his bizarre Christmas Eve tradition.

For the third year in a row, he’s released a holiday YouTube video message — but this time, he delivers the message as himself and not as his former House of Cards character, Frank Underwood.

In the clip, titled “1-800 XMAS,” Spacey sits on a park bench and begins by asking in Frank’s Southern drawl, “What would Christmas Eve be without a message from me?”

But he quickly breaks character and takes hold of the camera, earnestly addressing anyone who is struggling this year.

“If you’re standing in a place that you can no longer remain standing, if you’re suffering, if you need need help, if you feel guilt or shame, if you’re struggling with your identity, if your back’s up against the wall, or if you feel that there’s no path for you, whatever your situation, I promise you there is a path,” he says.

Spacey adds, “At this time during this holiday and beyond, even if you don’t feel it, there are people out there who understand and who can help, because you are not alone.”

He promises viewers “it does get better” and ends the video with the number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Spacey’s Christmas Eve videos began in 2018, in the midst of multiple sexual assault allegations against him.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 24, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Bill Inoshita / CBS 2020 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.(LOS ANGELES) — S.W.A.T. star Shemar Moore got something he surely didn’t want this Christmas: a COVID-19 diagnosis.

The actor confirmed he tested positive with a message on Instagram.

“I HAVE COVID!!!! Just found out moments ago…. I am gonna stay wrapping presents… Yes… I have been tested and told that I HAVE COVID!!!” he wrote.

He added that at first he thought he had food poisoning because he experienced “chills and aches.” He said he didn’t lose his sense of smell and taste and has “no cough, no runny nose.”

“I have to accept test results… I feel fine now… but I have to be responsible!!!!” Moore continued. “My Xmas n New Years is clearly not gonna be the best… my last year and a half has not been the best… but I WILL BE OKAY!!!!”

The former Criminal Minds star concluded, “This is a hard time for ALL OF US… the WORLD!!! But… I BELIEVE in the sun shining through the rain!!! Stay safe and appreciate everything and everybody you have and had!! MUCH LOVE!!!!”

Moore ended with the hashtag #wearamask.

It’s been a tough year for Moore. In February, he revealed the loss of his mom, Marylin Joan Wilson-Moore.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 24, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Craig Sjodin(LOS ANGELES) — Following The Bachelorette‘s season 16 finale on Tuesday, Ivan Hall shed some light on his conversation with Tayshia Adams about religion that led to his shocking elimination.

Adams, whose Bachelorette journey ended with an engagement to Zac Clark, an addiction specialist from Haddonfield, New Jersey, cited differences differences in religious beliefs as the reason for sending the 28-year-old aeronautical engineer home.

“She only wants to date a Christian and I’m not religious,” Hall claimed in response to a message from Bachelor alum Caila Quinn after his elimination, according to the New York Post.

“I’m open to and have dated any religion,” he continued.

“I feel like we started off really strong, and we found that trust,” Adams explained in a conversation with Ivan before letting him go.

“But also, this past week, we talked about some important subjects that I feel like we both needed to have, but there are some things kinda posed concern,” she added.

“I wish I could say that there were a lot of red flags prior to this week, and there haven’t been,” Tayshia continued.  At the end of the day, religion is part of my morals, my beliefs.”

Adams has the Bible verse Psalm 46:5 posted in her Instagram bio, which reads: “God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.”

By George Costantino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 24, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Rick Rowell(LOS ANGELES) — After facing backlash for taking on the role of Cleopatra in an upcoming film, Gal Gadot defended her decision in an interview with BBC Arabic this week.

Reporter Sam Asi asked Gadot, “Some Egyptians say that this is whitewashing. How do you respond to that?”

The Wonder Woman 1984 star, who is Israeli, replied, “First of all, if you want to be true to the facts then Cleopatra was Macedonian.” Gadot added, “We were looking for a Macedonian actress that could fit Cleopatra. She wasn’t there, and I was very passionate about Cleopatra.”

Gadot continued: “To me, as a people lover, and I have friends across the globe, whether they’re Muslims or Christian or Catholic or atheist or Buddhist, or Jewish of course, people are people, and with me, I want to celebrate the legacy of Cleopatra and honor this amazing historic icon that I admire so much.”

“But you know, anybody can make this movie, and anybody can go ahead and do it. I’m very passionate that I’m going to do my own too,” Gadot added.

In October, Gadot revealed that she would be co-producing and starring the Cleopatra biopic, re-teaming with her Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins.

Wonder Woman 1984 opens in select theaters and on HBO Max on Christmas Day.

By Andrea Tuccillo
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

December 24, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Courtesy of Pixar(NEW YORK) — Phylicia Rashad felt right at home when she took on the maternal role of Libba Gardner in the Pixar animated film Soul.

Rashad, who fans recall as the no-nonsense mother Claire Huxtable on the ’80s sitcom The Cosby Show, says it was easy to become the overbearing mother of Libba, because she had plenty of experience.  

“Connecting to the character was not difficult,” Rashad tells ABC Audio. “We understand what it is to love your own child and want the best for your child, even when your child is 40 years old.”

“That’s not hard for me to imagine,” she laughs.

In the film, which follows a middle-school band teacher named Joe who hopes to become a famous jazz musician, Rashad’s character is seen casting doubt on Joe’s life-long dream. Rashad says Libba’s motivation comes from “being a parent” and “wanting to protect [her] child.

“So you assume a protective stance in whatever measures you suggest in terms of which roads to take, which road to avoid,” she explains. “[But,] then comes a time when you come to understand that maybe you’re not supposed to do that anymore.”

Like Rashad, Angela Bassett also feels very connected to her Soul character Dorothea Williams, a respected jazz musician for whom Joe hopes to work.

“I think she’s relatable. She’s relatable to me,” Bassett says. “Oftentimes there’s someone… who’s doing exactly what we think we want to be doing.”

“How many times have I heard, a young actor approach me and say, ‘They’re looking forward to the day that we can work together,'” she continues. “And it’s like, ‘OK, all right.’ And who knows? But it’s good to be fueled by that kind of desire.”

Soul, also starring Jamie Foxx, is available Christmas Day on Disney+.

By Candice Williams
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.