Category: Entertainment

  • James Marsden Joins Jon Hamm for a High-Octane ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Season 2: TV Review 

    James Marsden Joins Jon Hamm for a High-Octane ‘Your Friends & Neighbors’ Season 2: TV Review 

    The lifestyles of the rich and famous are so often discussed and portrayed that it feels tawdry. These stories become dull tapestries of self-absorbed people doing self-obsessed things. However, in his Apple TV dramedy, “Your Friends & Neighbors,” Jon Hamm manages to paint an intriguing picture of the ultrawealthy. The show is an in-depth, outlandish and witty depiction of some of the world’s most deplorable — and the other folks who happen to get sucked into their manic orbits. Created by Jonathan Tropper, Season 1 was a fascinating assessment of the fragility of the American dream. In Season 2, “Your Friends & Neighbors” gets more textured, showcasing a different level of affluence, the costs of lies and why wealthy white men, in particular, constantly fail upward.

    In the final episodes of “Your Friends & Neighbors” Season 1, Andrew “Coop” Cooper (Jon Hamm) is exonerated after being accused of killing a neighbor. He is also given the opportunity to return to his former employer, the prestigious hedge fund Bailey Russell. Getting cleared of a gruesome crime has boosted his social cache in his upper-class neighborhood of Westmont Village, a fictional New York suburb. But, turning down his old job as a fuck you to his former boss, Jack Bailey (Corbin Bernsen), who had so viciously ousted him in the first place, has left Coop exactly where viewers met him one year ago, financially strapped and playing pretend.

    Coop appears content to continue on with his new stream of income, partnering with Westmont house cleaner Elaina (​​Aimee Carrero) to rob his friends and neighbors of their most valuable possessions, and then pawning them on the black market. However, the arrival of a new billionaire neighbor, Owen Ashe (a perfectly cast James Marsden), quickly proves to Coop that being suspected of murder barely registers on the list of terrible things that could happen to him, especially when he’s too preoccupied providing a life he’s not certain he wants anymore.

    At first glance, Ashe appears to be a charming man-boy who throws his money around like tic tacs and acquires friends like collectibles. Yet, lurking just below the surface is something so devilishly disturbing and sinister that it unnerves even Coop. There is an sinister quality to the widowed father’s appeal wafting throughout the entire season. An absolutely sensational performance by Marsden proves that, as much as people think they know about the filthy rich, they actually don’t understand anything at all. Ashe easily reels in the Westmont residents, latching on to them so they can’t get away before his true nature emerges.

    Still, this 10-episode second season is hardly just the Coop and Ashe show. Amid an unexpected life change, Barney (Hoon Lee), Coop’s best friend and business manager, finds himself jumping over the line of morality even as his wife Grace (Eunice Bae) gets increasingly suspicious. Former NBA champion Nick Brandes (Mark Tallman) is moving on following a bad breakup with Mel (Amanda Peet), Coop’s ex-wife. Mel is adrift after getting fired from her job as a therapist and isolated from her friend group due to Coop and Sam’s (Olivia Munn) affair. She is also increasingly rageful, especially as perimenopause begins wreaking havoc on her body. Meanwhile, though Sam is a social leper in Westmont, Ashe’s interest in her may be the currency she needs to return to the in-crowd. This season also zooms in on Coop and Mel’s teenage kids, Tori (Isabel Gravitt) and Hunter (Donovan Colan), as well as Ali (Lena Hall), Coop’s sister, who is trying to find her footing without Coop looming over her.

    Season 2 fully leans into the outlandish. It has yachts, fancy cars, affairs and piles of dog shit. Yet, it is also surprisingly tender and reflective. Episode 6, “For Everything Else, There Was Bowling,” acts as an interlude in the season, reminding the audience that despite all of the privilege and chaos swirling around Coop, he’s only human and life, particularly the most devastating parts of it, touches everyone, no matter where they fall on the socioeconomic scale.

    In its second season, “Your Friends & Neighbors” ups the stakes, unveiling a world that Coop and his Westmont comrades hadn’t been privy to before. Though this season boasts several truly bonkers moments, particularly from Mel’s perspective, the series has never been more fun or shocking. It once again proves that with enough money and access, there are no rules, and the sky truly is the limit.

    Your Friends & Neighbors” Season 2 premieres April 3 on Apple TV with new episodes dropping weekly on Fridays.

  • Zendaya Delivers Final Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue Look on ‘The Drama’ Press Tour

    Zendaya Delivers Final Something Old, New, Borrowed and Blue Look on ‘The Drama’ Press Tour

    That’s a wrap on “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” for Zendaya.

    The Emmy Award-winning actress and fashion icon has completed her method dressing streak amid The Drama’s global press tour by stepping out at the New York premiere at Regal Union Square on Thursday night in a look by Schiaparelli with jewelry by Tiffany & Co.

    Zendaya stars opposite Robert Pattinson in A24’s The Drama, a film about a happily engaged couple whose relationship is put to the test when an unexpected revelation by the bride-to-be sends their wedding week off the rails. As a play on the plot — and perhaps as a cheeky nod to news that she is a newlywed herself after marrying longtime love Tom Holland — Zendaya and her stylist Law Roach have curated a series of looks that align with the wedding tradition of “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” It’s a well-known mix that, per Victorian-era codes, is meant to ward off evil spirits and deliver good luck to the couple.

    Her “something old” came courtesy of a Vivienne Westwood dress worn to the Los Angeles premiere after originally wearing it to her first Academy Awards in 2015. Zendaya wore “something new” to the Paris premiere with a custom Louis Vuitton dress with a back cut-out and oversized black bow that doubled as a train. The “something borrowed” debuted at the film’s Rome premiere in a loaned dress from Cate Blanchett’s closet that was made custom by Giorgio Armani Privé. The Oscar winner most recently worn the gown in another Italian city at the Venice Film Festival opening night ceremony in August 2025. But doubling down on the whole “borrowed” trend, Blanchett had also worn it before herself at the SAG Awards in 2022.

    Roach recently spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about their method dressing streak and why it makes sense for her films like Dune, Challengers and more. (See the video here.) Expect to see much more of it from Zendaya and Roach in 2026, as the actress has a dizzying slate of new releases. Up next is the long-awaited third season of Euphoria on April 12. Zendaya will then have about three months off before Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17. Two weeks later, the highly anticipated fourth Spider-Man film starring Holland will come out on July 31, followed by the third Dune installment, which is slated for a Dec. 18 release.

    Zendaya recently Fandango she hopes that “people don’t get sick of me,” and that she jokingly plans on going into “hiding for just a little bit” after the crush of new projects hits screens. “I really appreciate everyone who supports any of the movies or supports my career in any kind of way,” she said. “I’m deeply appreciative, and like I said, I just hope you guys don’t get sick of me this year, because, I’ll tell you what, I’m disappearing for a little bit. I’m going to have to go into hiding for just a little bit.”

    The Drama hits theaters Friday, April 3.

    Something old: Zendaya at the Los Angeles premiere.

    (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

    Something new: Zendaya at the Paris premiere.

    (Photo by Aurore Marechal/Getty Images)

    Something borrowed: Cate Blanchett and Zendaya

    Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Ernesto Ruscio/Getty Images

    Something blue: Zendaya at the premiere at New York’s Regal Union Square.

    (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)

  • The 9 Best Airbnbs in Los Angeles Near Universal Studios Hollywood

    The 9 Best Airbnbs in Los Angeles Near Universal Studios Hollywood

    If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

    Proximity, value, variety and hospitality (with bonus points for “cool factor”). That’s what we considered when narrowing down where to stay in L.A. near Universal Studios Hollywood.

    When zeroing in on the perfect Airbnb — especially when organizing a trip around a landmark — there are a few potential hurdles. Sometimes, it’s tricky to pinpoint a property’s exact location or the specifications of its surrounding area. Other times, its placement on Airbnb‘s virtual map isn’t entirely accurate (we ran into that a couple of times). And occasionally, hosts can be tough to get ahold of. Regardless, there are a lot of factors at play when booking an Airbnb as a non-local.

    When vetting rentals for this story, we spoke with each property manager directly to get the exact distance from their listing to the movie-studio-meets-theme-park, all indicated below (listings rarely include this information). Through this process, we also found the hosts of the below properties to be especially responsive and helpful. Apart from our experience, each of these hosts and their corresponding properties have dozens, if not hundreds, of exceptional reviews on Airbnb’s website.

    As you’ll notice, we have not included pricing information as it can vary quite a bit based on factors like length of stay, season and how far in advance guests book. Nonetheless, we did our best to reflect a variety of price points. Below, the nine best L.A. Airbnbs whether you’re visiting Universal Studios or simply seeking a central location in the City of Angels.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: About 0.7 miles or a 10 minute walk
    – Accommodates: Up to 6 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2 (4 beds)
    – Bathrooms: 1

    Oozing with original charm yet stacked with modern amenities, this authentic Golden Age Hollywood home boasts an open concept floor plan and large backyard with an elevated deck overlooking Hogwarts Castle at Universal. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 1.7 miles
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2 (3 beds)
    – Bathrooms: 1

    Introducing: our dream home. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to stay in one of the famous Hollywood Hills “Boat Houses,” a group of 12 homes designed by California architect Harry Gesner and crafted by Norwegian boatbuilders. Beyond its unmatched views, Gesner’s midcentury modern masterpiece features a vintage Malm fireplace, ample natural light, impeccable decor, a dedicated workspace and, of course, a bathroom stocked to the brim with Dusen Dusen towels. No notes. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 1.4 miles
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2
    – Bathrooms: 1

    But wait, there’s another. A second Gesner “Boat House” has made the list, and it’s just as good as the last. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: About 1 mile or 6 minute drive (to Universal’s general parking area)
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2
    – Bathrooms: 1.5

    Nestled between the Hollywood Bowl and Toluca Lake, this private abode is a standout for its expansive outdoor living space with ample seating, lush gardens and tranquil design elements. Staying for a month? Take advantage of a 15 percent discount. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 10-15 minute walk
    – Accommodates: Up to 6 guests
    – Bedrooms: 3
    – Bathrooms: 2

    Located in the Hills west of Cahuenga and Ventura, this ultra-private home gives the feel of a cabin just minutes away from the big city’s buzz. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 1/2-3/4 mile drive; downhill walk of 20 minutes or less
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2
    – Bathrooms: 2

    Situated just south of Universal Studios, this “Tree House” is as good as it gets when it comes to location, but location aside, the two bedroom loft is a guest favorite for its breathtaking views and impeccable interiors. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: About 1.2 miles or 5 minute drive
    – Accommodates: Up to 6 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2 (3 beds)
    – Bathrooms: 2

    The home’s sleek furnishings and calm, monochromatic interior meet its vibrant, photo-ready patio finished with a custom Hollywood mural by local L.A. artist. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 10 minute drive
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2
    – Bathrooms: 2

    Take in the city’s finest views while enjoying a full outdoor gym, conversation-ready fire pit and downstairs game room/bar. Book now at Airbnb.

    Quick Facts
    – Proximity to Universal Studios: 1.5 miles
    – Accommodates: Up to 4 guests
    – Bedrooms: 2 (3 beds)
    – Bathrooms: 2

    Location, location, location. Another guest favorite, this gated, newly renovated home is loved for its sweeping views and first-rate host. Book now at Airbnb.

  • J.J. Abrams to Downsize Bad Robot, Production Company to Move From L.A. to New York

    J.J. Abrams to Downsize Bad Robot, Production Company to Move From L.A. to New York

    Big changes are underway at Bad Robot. Details are still coming together, but sources say J.J. Abrams is beginning to downsize the production banner.

    Sources were not clear on the exact number of cuts to come as a result of the downsizing, but it was characterized as being an across the board change rather than being specific to one division of the company versus another. Furthermore, Bad Robot will shutter its LA office and move operations to New York. With this smaller footprint, Abrams will continue to work with outside producers to develop feature and TV projects.

    The move comes amid serious belt tightening all across Hollywood. In December 2024, Bad Robot extended its long-term deal with Warner Bros, the company’s home studio since 2006. But instead of the five-year overall deal the company inked in 2019 — estimated at nine-figures, with a structure that allowed Abrams to sign other writers to overall deals — Bad Robot signed a more modest first-look production pact that covered film and TV productions.

    For nearly 30 years, Abrams and Bad Robot have been the force behind massive film and TV hits, particularly in the sci-fi genre, including “Alias,” “Lost,” “Fringe,” “Westworld,” “Super 8,” “Cloverfield,” the “Mission: Impossible” sequels and the latest “Star Trek” and “Star Wars” big-screen reboots.

    Abrams founded the Santa Monica-based production company in 1999. He co-leads the banner with executive VP Bryan Burk, with Katie McGrath serving as co-CEO and overseeing culture and philanthropy.

    Bad Robot most recently produced “The End of Oak Street,” a new sci-fi thriller starring Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. The movie, from filmmaker David Robert Mitchell (“It Follows”), is set to debut theatrically on August 14. Then, “The Great Beyond” — Abrams’ first directorial effort since 2019’s “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker,” starring Glen Powell, Jenna Ortega and Samuel L. Jackson — will debut in Imax theaters this November.

    The company is also producing the animated feature adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic “Oh the Places You’ll Go.” Jon M. Chu and Jill Culton are directing the movie, which features voice performances from Ariana Grande and Josh Gad; WB dated the movie for 2028. Additional titles in the works include the “Hot Wheels” movie, “Them!,” and the animated feature “Emily the Strange.” On the TV side, Bad Robot is producing a U2 biographical scripted series at Netflix and Season 2 of “Presumed Innocent” at Apple TV.

    Last year, Bad Robot’s games division also inked a deal with Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) to produce and publish the studio’s upcoming project, a four-player, cooperative shooter game.

    Cynthia Littleton contributed to this report.

  • Blake Lively’s Sex Harassment Suit Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni Gutted by Judge

    Blake Lively’s Sex Harassment Suit Against Co-Star Justin Baldoni Gutted by Judge

    A judge has thrown out Blake Lively‘s sexual harassment claims against Justin Baldoni, gutting her headline-grabbing lawsuit that followed the release of the domestic violence film “It Ends With Us.”

    In a ruling issued Thursday, Judge Lewis Liman threw out 10 of the 13 claims in Lively’s lawsuit, including claims of harassment, defamation and conspiracy. He allowed three claims to proceed to a trial, including claims of breach of contract, retaliation and aiding and abetting in retaliation.

    The two sides did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Lively, the female lead, accused Baldoni, the director and co-star, of sexually harassing her on set by making unwelcome comments about her appearance and weight. She also alleged that Baldoni hired an army of publicists to retaliate against her by seeding and amplifying negative stories online.

    Baldoni and his lawyers countered that Lively used exaggerated charges of misconduct to seize control of the film and then to cast Baldoni as a villain. Baldoni’s team argued that Lively’s allegations about on-set behavior amounted to nothing more than “minor grievances,” and that he had a right to defend himself from what he saw a false allegations.

    “It Ends With Us” grossed $350 million worldwide, making it a remarkable hit in 2024. But the film’s release was shadowed by persistent rumors of a rift between the two leads, which has led to more than a year of messy litigation.

    “It’s all a fucking disaster,” wrote Tom Rothman, film chair at Sony Pictures Entertainment, in an August 2024 email summing up the situation. “None of the who is right or wrong matters at all. The mess is the story now and will define the film. No one can watch the film in the same way. Tragic.”

    A trial is due to take place in May. Baldoni and Lively attended a mediation session with a magistrate judge in February, but that did not result in a settlement.

    The fight has involved several high-profile names, most notably Taylor Swift, whose lawyers have sought to keep her out of it. In a text message to Lively in the fall of 2024, Swift referred disparagingly to Baldoni, saying “I think this bitch knows something is coming because he’s gotten out his tiny violin.”

    Lively also messaged Swift that Baldoni was a “clown,” and a “doofus director.”

  • Gucci Mane Allegedly Kidnapped, Held at Gunpoint By Pooh Shiesty

    Gucci Mane was allegedly kidnapped and held at gunpoint by Pooh Shiesty, who forced the rap mogul to sign a document releasing him from his recording contract, according to federal prosecutors.

    Pooh was of nine people charged on Thursday for executing a “coordinated armed takeover” of a Texas music studio, prosecutors said. They face sentences of up to life in prison.

    According to the complaint, Pooh arranged a meeting in January with Gucci to discuss the terms of his recording contract. Once he was inside the studio, others in his group stormed the room, with one of the defendants barricading the door to prevent people from escaping. Pooh proceeded to brandish a pistol and demanded that Gucci release him from his contract.

    Federal prosecutors said that victims were robbed of cash and jewelry, among other valuable items. One victim was choked until he was almost unconscious, the complaint alleged.

    Hours after the operation, several of the defendants posted pictures on social media showing the allegedly stolen items, which include Rolex watches.

    The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas, published the above photos and alleged “the defendants added posts on social media, displaying what appeared to be some of the stolen jewelry, depicted in the photographs from the complaint.”

    U.S. Attorney’s Office, Northern District of Texas

    “Nine defendants travelled to Dallas, Texas, to kidnap and rob victims who thought they were coming into town for a business meeting,” said Ryan Raybould, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas, in a statement. “Instead of discussing business in a civil matter, the defendants resorted to violence and intimidation to achieve their purported business objectives.”

    Evidence incriminating the defendants include electronic monitoring data placing Pooh in the area of the alleged crime in violation of his house arrest, cell phone records and license plate reader data, rental car information, surveillance footage and fingerprints recovered from the studio. Pooh’s father, Lontrell Williams Sr., is accused of helping plan and execute the operation.

    Eight of the nine defendants were arrested on Wednesday in Dallas and Memphis. They include rapper Big30.

    Mane, whose real name is Radric Davis, wasn’t named by federal prosecutors, who identified one of the victims as R.D.

  • Kyle Cooke Says Amanda Batula His Been “Getting the Brunt” of ‘Summer House’ Scandal Backlash as West Wilson Has Received a Follower Boost

    Kyle Cooke Says Amanda Batula His Been “Getting the Brunt” of ‘Summer House’ Scandal Backlash as West Wilson Has Received a Follower Boost

    The cast of Summer House is reacting to news of Amanda Batula and West Wilson’s newfound relationship, with Batula’s husband Kyle Cooke being the most outspoken of the group — so far.

    The DJ spoke with TikTok creator Adam Glyn on the streets of New York City, and the impromptu interview was posted in three separate parts. In the first clip, posted on Wednesday, Cooke said he was “really worried about Amanda,” and pointed out the fact that Wilson has seen a bump in followers amid the controversy while his wife has been “cyberbullied.”

    “I understand people have all sorts of opinions, and I’m not justifying any behavior, but from where I’m standing, she’s kind of getting cyberbullied,” he said. “West seems to be the kind of guy playing multiple women at the same time, and I just looked, and somehow in all of this, 50,000 people have decided that West deserves their follow. And meanwhile, they’re just lighting up Amanda. I just feel bad.”  

    On Tuesday, Batula and Wilson released a joint statement confirming their new relationship after weeks of rumors claiming that their friendship had turned romantic. Batula and Cooke announced they were separating in January, while Wilson notably formerly dated Ciara Miller, one of Batula’s close friends and their fellow Summer House co-star.

    As gossip about their romance swirled around the Bravosphere in March, Batula and Wilson denied the claims. Cooke even defended the duo during a March 10 Watch What Happens Live appearance, where he called the rumors “outrageous.”

    In the third part of the interview published Thursday, Cooke was asked a few hard-hitting questions about the time of Batula and Wilson’s relationship, which has been speculated about online. The Summer House OG said he is still unsure about details, but that he’s prioritizing being there for Batula. 

    “There’s a little murkiness as to our separation and when we put the announcement out that I think we’ll have to address at the reunion,” he said. “Right now, I’m just honestly more concerned about Amanda’s mental health than I am trying to get to the bottom of it, because I am worried about her. I don’t think West is in a place to offer her what she needs. I’ve been caring and providing for her for 10 years. It’s a weird position to find myself in.” 

    “West kind of positioned himself to be this knight in shining armor for women, standing up for Amanda, checking me [on Summer House,] and I watched that. And for him to say what he said in his confessional and double down on Watch What Happens — I was like, ‘Something’s up,’” Cooke added, continuing by claiming that Wilson “piling on” him on the Bravo series was strategic.

    “West is smart enough to know who the audience is and he knows clearly what to say to women to win them over. Everyone’s like, ‘Oh my God, look at his redemption arc,’ and he was just piling on strategically, for sure,” the reality star said. “We film these confessionals after the fact. He knew what he was doing. He hitched his wagon on Amanda’s horse during her glow-up and made me look even worse with some of his comments.”

    When asked how his cast members are reacting to the news, Cooke added, “I think they’re all super disappointed, and I know that, just given we had a 10-year relationship and she’s been friends with Ciara for, what, six years, I know that she is probably getting the brunt of it. But again, I really think West is capable of manipulating any female. My wife included, because we’re not divorced yet.”

    The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Wilson’s reps for comment, but did not hear back by the time of publication.

    Miller herself has not yet directly responded to the controversy, though she did unfollow Batula and Wilson after they shared their statement on Instagram Tuesday. However, she did post to her Instagram feed on the same day her co-stars confirmed their relationship, sharing a video of her interviewing the cast of Your Friends & Neighbors

    “If you can’t trust your Friends & Neighbors, who can you trust?” Miller captioned the post.

    Sources have told THR that cameras will not pick up to capture the fallout from the scandal, and that the reunion will film in a few weeks. In the past, Bravo has resumed filming when controversies including its shows have arisen, most notably with the Vanderpump Rules season 10 cheating scandal called Scandoval

    In the days leading up to Batula and Wilson sharing their joint statement, the cast of Summer House shared subliminal posts to their Instagram Stories, leading viewers to believe the later confirmed rumors. On Sunday, Lindsay Hubbard posted a selfie with Miller to her Instagram Stories, and a second still of herself from Summer House with a shocked reaction. 

    Many other cast members posted several meme-style reaction posts, including Carl Radke and KJ Dillard. Southern Charm star Austen Kroll also chimed in on Sunday as well, sharing an Instagram Story that read, “Pasta and f* your friends exes are apparently so back.”

    On Thursday, Hubbard shared another Instagram Story post which blankly read, “Welp… I’m about ready to throw my phone today…” 

    Jesse Solomon replied to an Instagram account questioning if he knew of Batula and Wilson’s relationship prior, comparing the situation to what occurred with the Vanderpump Rules scandal when Tom Schwartz knew that Tom Sandoval was being unfaithful to Ariana Madix with Rachel Leviss. “I heard the rumors, but they were denied to me multiple times,” Solomon wrote in the comments section. 

  • Lindsey Buckingham Attacked by Woman in Santa Monica (Reports)

    Lindsey Buckingham Attacked by Woman in Santa Monica (Reports)

    Former Fleetwood Mac guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham was attacked by a woman in Santa Monica, according to multiple reports.

    An incident occurred involving Buckingham last Wednesday, March 25, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed with The Hollywood Reporter. (Multiple reports cite that the event occurred Wednesday, April 1.)

    “The Los Angeles Police Department, Threat Management Unit, is working with the Santa Monica Police Department to investigate the incident. To protect the integrity of the open and ongoing investigation, no further comment will be provided, at this time,” the LAPD said in a statement shared with THR.

    According to NBC4, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer was arriving to an appointment in Santa Monica when a woman threw an “unknown substance” at him. The outlet also reported that authorities described the woman as a “stalking suspect,” and is known by Buckingham due to past incidents.

    No arrests have been made in connection to the case yet, and Buckingham was not injured, per NBC4.

    Buckingham joined Fleetwood Mac in 1974, alongside Stevie Nicks. The guitarist had an extensively successful career with the beloved band, which saw them earn a Billboard Hot 100 hit (“Dreams” hit No. 1 in 1977) and four albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 200 (1975’s Fleedwood Mac; 1977’s Rumours; 1982’s Mirage; and 1997’s The Dance).

    He released his debut solo album Law and Order in 1981, and has released a total of seven solo records.

    Buckingham exited the band in 1987, and later returned in 1997. He remained in Fleetwood Mac until he was dismissed from the band in 2018, which resulted in him suing Nicks, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie and John McVie.

  • Bianca Censori Comes Further Into Focus in Filmaking Debut for Ye’s ‘Fathers’

    Bianca Censori Comes Further Into Focus in Filmaking Debut for Ye’s ‘Fathers’

    Ye, the rapper once known as Kanye West, released his 12th record and first solo effort in four years over the weekend. With pushed release dates and esoteric listening events, the rollout has had the hallmarks of an album drop from the lauded but mercurial artist whose wild and problematic recent past have seen him fulfill his dreams and then throw them all away, as he subjected the public to an endless series of offenses and tested the limits of those close to him.

    Ye has also remarried since his last solo release, and his wife, Australian architect and performance artist Bianca Censori, has made a distinctive splash while sporadically commanding collective attention. Holding her own was always going to be a tough task, given the highly scrutinized woman her husband divorced just before their secret nuptials in late 2022.

    Soon, a Venetian water taxi sex scandal and her nearly nude red carpet appearance gave way to questions about Censori and Ye’s relationship. Then the unveiling of a Vanity Fair profile — her first public statements since she began to shed mere fame by proxy and come into focus. The main takeaway of that feature and lush spread was that she is not subservient to Ye, but that her life is in service of him — through antisemitic rants, wild bipolar mood swings, and whatever comes next.

    Devotion like this is destined to bleed into Censori’s art, which brings us to her directorial debut. She’s the woman behind Bully’s striking first music video, for the album track “Father.” The song features Ye loyalist Travis Scott, another hip-hop icon who knows his way around dark controversy. The video has the feel of a Jacques Tati film’s cinematography and the weight of an Andrei Tarkovsky epic, constrained to an under-three-minute track length.

    The set, as the psyche of Censori’s vision, is a church interior. Each parishioner seems symbolic (a girl in a blue veil seated in the background; a woman with a magician; the late King of Pop pulling focus in the back row), and the actions seen here are the rituals that define and control us. Scott and Ye are interchangeable men: the latter with his classic thousand-mile stare, the former confidently wedding two women at once. They are also alien beings, their spaceship landing and blasting off in the background. Meanwhile, a sleeping nun is hauled off by two cops; a child trips a chef delivering a massive cake. In Censori’s debut, the rituals of religious life and the looming terror of dystopian control take center stage, drifting in and out. The whole clip is captured in a single, continuous take.

    Censori declined to answer The Hollywood Reporter’s questions about her vision for the video, but offered this quote in a prepared release: “The film presents a church not as a real place, but as a surreal, dreamlike environment, where time feels slowed, spatial logic is distorted, and reality becomes fantasy,” she said.

    It plays as high art — almost like an installation. Censori sets Ye’s music to a highbrow video art piece where memory meshes with fantasy, and any frozen frame could make a striking still. With “Father,” she has taken the artistry found in Ye’s prior music videos to the next level. It may be seen as a challenge or a riddle to be solved, especially as it arrives from such a highly discussed couple, both deeply embedded in the worlds of high art and fashion. There’s plenty here to chew on.

    Is Censori, as portrayed so far — particularly in the one instance she spoke up, insistent yet somewhat unconvincing that she’s not subservient to Ye’s overpowering everythingness — truly independent? Then why has she opted here to meld the same fashion-performance art–religious iconography he has already dabbled in? “Bye-bye to my old self / Wake up to the new me,” Ye belts out on the track; his role in the video is largely ceded to his collaborator on “Father,” while a choir and, yes, a priest, clock the most screen time.

    But Censori is never going to be so obvious. She kept quiet for a remarkable stretch in the early years of her relationship with Ye, during which she was painted as another rag doll for him to toss around. She’s more than that, as she told Vanity Fair, and her debut as a filmmaker feels like an apt confirmation.

  • SAG-AFTRA Communications Staff Union Voluntarily Recognized

    SAG-AFTRA Communications Staff Union Voluntarily Recognized

    SAG-AFTRA has voluntarily recognized a union for its communications and marketing staffers after a card count found that a majority were in support of organizing.

    After a third-party checker examined union support cards this week, the union, aligned with National Organization of Legal Services Workers, United Auto Workers Local 2320 (NOLSW), was certified. NOLSW already represents organizing staffers at SAG-AFTRA.

    Staffers joining the union after the vote include writers, magazine staffers, social media workers, audio and video producers, event planners and publicists.

    “We sincerely appreciate that SAG-AFTRA has been an efficient partner in this process,” the organizing committee said in a statement. “The certification of the SAG-AFTRA Communications Staff Union is a positive step toward a brighter future for the SAG-AFTRA Communications & Marketing Department, and we look forward to productive bargaining on our first contract.”

    SAG-AFTRA moved quickly to gauge support for the union after staffers went public with their organizing drive on March 26. In their initial statements, the organizing staffers made clear that they were seeking to improve wages and establish guardrails around the use of generative A.I. within the union.

    In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the union’s organizing committee said they were responding to “the skyrocketing cost of living in Los Angeles” and emphasized that they wanted to ensure that SAG-AFTRA members “always get top-notch, human-made content from their union.”

    Now, both sides will begin the process of bargaining a first union contract. In a statement, a SAG-AFTRA spokesperson said the union looked forward to “productive” negotiations with its newest union. “We have a long and successful history of working with represented staff, who make up close to half of our employees, including staff represented by OPEIU, NOLSW and Teamsters,” the spokesperson added.