September 1, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC(SOUTH CAROLINA) — More than 15,000 people have signed a petition calling for a statue of Chadwick Boseman to replace a Confederate monument in the late actor’s hometown of Anderson, South Carolina.

The petition, which centers on the Confederate monument that stands in front of the Anderson courthouse, was launched by an anonymous Anderson resident and addressed to Anderson Mayor Terence Roberts, the South Carolina state Senate, the South Carolina House and South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, since officials would need to sign off on the original statue’s removal.

The petitioner wrote that there is “no need for political controversy in this decision,” and that the current statue would be better served in the Anderson County Museum, where it could be accompanied by an explanation of its history and the reasoning for its relocation.

“With Chadwick Boseman’s early passing, it is important that we honor a true local legend my immortalizing him in stone in front of the courthouse,” the petition reads.  “With help from the signers of this petition, I hope that it becomes apparent how popular this idea is. It is time to unify Anderson around a true local hero and time to honor all South Carolinians, not just the ideals of a few. Rest In Peace Chadwick Boseman.”

Black Panther star Boseman was 43 years old when he died of colon cancer, his representative announced last Friday.

In response, fans, both famous and not, flooded Twitter to express their condolences.

In related news, AMC Theaters announced Monday that starting September 3, it would re-release 42, the movie in which Boseman played baseball legend Jackie Robinson, as a tribute to the actor.

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 1, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC/Randy Holmes(VIRGINIA) –Johnny Depp is seeking to delay the defamation trial against his ex-wife Amber Heard so that he can shoot the third installment in the Harry Potter spin-off Fantastic Beasts series.

Variety reports Depp is suing Heard for defamation for her 2019 Washington Post op-ed titled “I spoke up against sexual violence — and faced our culture’s wrath. That has to change.”

Depp, who’s denied Heard’s abuse allegations in the past, wasn’t specifically named in the article, but the actor insists the article amounted to defamation by inference — which is punishable according to Virginia law. 

That being said, the case is slated to go before court between Jan. 11 through Jan. 28, 2021 — dates that conflict with Warner Bros.’ October 2020-February 2021 shooting schedule for the film in London.

Variety is seeking to delay the hearing until at least May of next year. 

By Stephen Iervolino
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 1, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

Starz(LOS ANGELES) — Ahead of the highly anticipated premiere of Power Book 2: Ghost on Sunday, 50 Cent has confirmed another Power spinoff is on its way.

In an Instagram post, 50, who also serves as an executive producer of Starz’s Power franchise, shared Deadline‘s write-up that Power Book IV: Force, starring Joseph Sikora, was now in development.

“I don’t know you might want to work with me,” he teased in the image’s caption.

The new series, which is the third spinoff in the expanded Power Universe, will center on Power‘s fan-favorite character Tommy Egan, played Sikora. It will follow his journey as he leaves New York for a better a life in a different state.

Power Book IV: Force is expected to come after Power Book III: Raising Kanan, a prequel story set in the ‘90s which will follow Power character Kanan Stark. As previously reported, Mekai Curtis will star as a young Kanan Stark while Tony-winner Patina Miller will play his mom. Other notable cast members include Raquel Thomas, Omar Epps, Hailey Kilgore and Lovie Simone.

Power Book II: Ghost, the first spinoff from the Power franchise, will premiere Sunday, September 6 at 9 PM ET, before moving to its regular time slot at 8 PM on Starz.

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

September 1, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

ABC Image Group LA(LOS ANGELES) — Mariah Carey has a lot to look forward to with the release of her memoir, The Meaning of Mariah Carey but part of that also entails taking a look back at her past — like her “extremely uncomfortable” 2008 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

In a recent interview with Vulture the 50-year-old icon reflected on the moment that her pregnancy was prematurely revealed on the daytime talk show.  

“I was extremely uncomfortable with that moment is all I can say. And I really have had a hard time grappling with the aftermath,” she said. “I wasn’t ready to tell anyone because I had had a miscarriage.”

During the interview Ellen DeGeneres pressured Carey into revealing her pregnancy by offering a glass of champagne. When the songstress faked a sip, DeGeneres declared she was expecting. Although that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, Carey did go on to have twins, now nine-year-old Monroe and Moroccan, with Nick Cannon in 2011. 

“I don’t want to throw anyone that’s already being thrown under any proverbial bus, but I didn’t enjoy that moment,” Carey confessed, referencing the ongoing scandal surrounding the alleged toxic work environment on The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

The “One Sweet Day” singer added that there is “an empathy that can be applied to those moments that I would have liked to have been implemented. But what am I supposed to do?” 

By Danielle Long
Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

September 1, 2020 • No Comments • Entertainment News

MTV(NEW YORK) — Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards delivered strong ratings, despite being forced to air remote, socially distanced performances and award presentations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

This year’s viewership dipped by just 5% from last year in terms of total linear viewership, according to Variety. A total of 6.4 million viewers tuned in across MTV and the 12 other ViacomCBS brands on which it was simulcast, as opposed to 6.8 million last time around, according to the industry trade. Those figures include the pre-show, main show, post-show, and encore performances of the show. 

The VMAs, hosted this year by Hustlers star Keke Palmer, also delivered a whopping 41.1 million impressions on social media, second only to the Super Bowl.

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