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  • Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, solo artist, a founding member of the band Traffic, writer of the classic rock songs “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe” and sideman to the Rolling Stones, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix, has died, according to an announcement from his publicist. He was 79.

    Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the other original members of Traffic in 2004. In the 1970s he enjoyed solo hits with “Only You Know and I Know” and “We Just Disagree,” and over the years he also performed or recorded with David Crosby, Graham Nash, Michael Jackson, Cass Elliot, Leon Russell and others.

    A fiery guitarist and strong songwriter and singer, Mason first rose to prominence as a member of Traffic, the psychedelic-era band fronted by Steve Winwood. While he wrote some of the band’s biggest hits — notably “Hole in My Shoe” (which reached No. 2 on the British singles charts and was later covered in a novelty version by the comedy troupe the Young Ones) and the song “Feelin’ Alright,” later definitively covered by Joe Cocker — he had an on-off relationship with the band, although he contributed heavily to their first two albums, 1967’s psychedelic classic “Mr. Fantasy,” and the self-titled sophomore effort.

    Born in 1946 in Worcester, England, Mason was a professional musician by his teens and released his first music as a member of the instrumental combo the Jaguars with the 1963 single “Opus to Spring.” In that band he first met future Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi, and the two later joined the Hellions, which released several singles. In early 1966, he became road manager for the Spencer Davis Group, which featured a teenaged and precociously talented Winwood and enjoyed hits with “Gimme Some Lovin’” and “I’m a Man.”

    In March of 1967, Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group and formed Traffic with Mason, Capaldi, and flautist Chris Wood. While Mason’s relationship with the group was tenuous — he left and returned at least twice — Traffic was a major influence on multiple artists during the psychedelic era, and Mason contributed not only sparkling guitar playing and several of the group’s best known songs but also sitar (on the band’s classic debut single, “Paper Sun”) and other then-unconventional instruments. The flagship artist of late-1960s Island Records, Traffic were the first group among many to “get it together in the country,” workshopping their first album in a cottage in the hills of Berkshire in 1967. Traffic’s version of “Feelin’ Alright” was not a hit, but it was the rousing opening song of Joe Cocker’s landmark 1969 debut, “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

    Mason left Traffic in 1968 and worked as a sort of hired gun to the stars, playing on the Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet” album (as that band coped with the dissolution of founding guitarist Brian Jones) and Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” (that’s him playing 12-string acoustic on “All Along the Watchtower” and singing background on “Crosstown Traffic”). In late 1969 he joined the sprawling touring band of American duo Delaney & Bonnie’s, which also saw Eric Clapton and George Harrison guesting on multiple U.K. and European dates. This association led to him contributing to several tracks on Harrison’s classic “All Things Must Pass” album, and in mid-1970 he was briefly a member of Eric Clapton’s group Derek & the Dominos, but had left by the time the band recorded its epochal debut, “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.”

    Mason instead followed his own muse and released multiple solo albums, including one with former Mamas & the Papas singer Cass Elliot, into the 1970s and ’80s. His 1974 self-titled album (although it was actually his fifth studio effort) went gold in the U.S.; he enjoyed his biggest solo hit, a cover of Jim Krueger’s composition “We Just Disagree” and the album “Let It Flow” in 1977, although further chart success did not follow.

    The most curious turn in his career came in the 1990s when he briefly became a member of Fleetwood Mac, appearing on the 1995 album “Time” and on tour along with Bekka Bramlett — the daughter of his earlier collaborators Delaney & Bonnie — during a period when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had left the group. The revised lineup found disfavor among many Fleetwood Mac fans, and Buckingham and Nicks rejoined for a reunion of the “classic” lineup two years later.

    Mason’s health issues became known in 2024 when he canceled his tour for the following year, citing unspecified challenges.

    Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle. He was preceded in death by his son, True, and his sister, Valerie Leonard.

  • Ethereum Targets Lower Range As Resistance Zone Comes Into Play

    Ethereum Targets Lower Range As Resistance Zone Comes Into Play

  • Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, solo artist, a founding member of the band Traffic, writer of the classic rock songs “Feelin’ Alright” and “Hole in My Shoe” and sideman to the Rolling Stones, George Harrison and Jimi Hendrix, has died, according to an announcement from his publicist. He was 79.

    Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the other original members of Traffic in 2004. In the 1970s he enjoyed solo hits with “Only You Know and I Know” and “We Just Disagree,” and over the years he also performed or recorded with David Crosby, Graham Nash, Michael Jackson, Cass Elliot, Leon Russell and others.

    A fiery guitarist and strong songwriter and singer, Mason first rose to prominence as a member of Traffic, the psychedelic-era band fronted by Steve Winwood. While he wrote some of the band’s biggest hits — notably “Hole in My Shoe” (which reached No. 2 on the British singles charts and was later covered in a novelty version by the comedy troupe the Young Ones) and the song “Feelin’ Alright,” later definitively covered by Joe Cocker — he had an on-off relationship with the band, although he contributed heavily to their first two albums, 1967’s psychedelic classic “Mr. Fantasy,” and the self-titled sophomore effort.

    Born in 1946 in Worcester, England, Mason was a professional musician by his teens and released his first music as a member of the instrumental combo the Jaguars with the 1963 single “Opus to Spring.” In that band he first met future Traffic drummer Jim Capaldi, and the two later joined the Hellions, which released several singles. In early 1966, he became road manager for the Spencer Davis Group, which featured a teenaged and precociously talented Winwood and enjoyed hits with “Gimme Some Lovin’,” and “I’m a Man.”

    In March of 1967, Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group and formed Traffic with Mason, Capaldi, and flautist Chris Wood. While Mason’s relationship with the group was tenuous (he left and returned at least twice), Traffic was a major influence on multiple artists during the psychedelic era, and Mason contributed not only sparkling guitar playing and several of the group’s best known songs but also sitar. The flagship artist of late-1960s Island Records, Traffic were the first group among many to “get it together in the country,” workshopping their first album in a cottage in the hills of Berkshire in 1967. Traffic’s version of “Feelin’ Alright” was not a hit, but it was the rousing opening song of Joe Cocker’s landmark 1969 debut, “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

    Mason left Traffic in 1968 and worked as a sort of hired gun to the stars, playing on the Rolling Stones’ “Beggars Banquet” album (as that band coped with the dissolution of founding guitarist Brian Jones) and Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland” (that’s him playing 12-string acoustic on “All Along the Watchtower” and singing background on “Crosstown Traffic”). In late 1969 he joined the touring party of Delaney & Bonnie’s European tour, which saw Eric Clapton and George Harrison guesting with the band on various European dates. This led to him contributing to several tracks on Harrison’s classic “All Things Must Pass” album, and in mid-1970 he was briefly a member of Eric Clapton’s group Derek & the Dominos, but had left by the time the band recorded its epochal debut “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs.”

    Mason instead followed his own muse, and released multiple solo albums, and one with former Mamas & the Papas singer Cass Elliot, into the 1970s. His 1974 self-titled album (although it was actually his fifth studio effort) went gold in the U.S.; he enjoyed his biggest solo hit, a cover of Jim Krueger’s composition “We Just Disagree” and the album “Let It Flow” in 1977, although further chart success did not follow.

    The most curious turn in his career came in the 1990s when he briefly became a member of Fleetwood Mac, appearing on the 1995 album “Time” and on tour along with Bekka Bramlett — the daughter of his earlier collaborators Delaney & Bonnie — during a period when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had left the group. The revised lineup found disfavor among many Fleetwood Mac fans, and Buckingham and Nicks rejoined for a reunion of the “classic” lineup two years later.

    Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle. He was preceded in death by his son, True, and his sister, Valerie Leonard.

    Mason’s health issues became known in 2024 when he canceled his tour for the following year, citing unspecified challenges.

    Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle. He was preceded in death by his son, True, and his sister, Valerie Leonard.

  • Bitcoin Price Rebound Accelerates, Traders Eye Strong Upside Continuation

    Bitcoin Price Rebound Accelerates, Traders Eye Strong Upside Continuation

  • Dave Mason, Traffic Co-Founder and “We Just Disagree” Singer, Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, the singer, songwriter and guitarist who first found fame with Traffic and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the band, died Sunday. He was 79.

    “On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” said a statement from the family shared with Rolling Stone. “Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and people he loved.”

    No cause of death was given.

    Mason, who co-founded Traffic and wrote one of their best-known songs, “Feelin’ Alright,” later a hit for Joe Cocker, scored his own solo U.S. hit in 1977 with “We Just Disagree,” co-written with Jim Krueger.

    He recorded and performed with the likes of Paul McCartney, George Harrison, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney Bramlett and Cass Eilliot.

    Born May 10, 1946, in Worcester, England, David Thomas Mason fell 20 feet from a ceiling loft at the age of 5, bending a hipbone and contacting a rare disease that landed him in a hospital for 18 months and forced him to learn how to walk again.

    His initial dream was to become a member of the Royal Air Force, but at 16, he began to play guitar and sing, and by the following year, was a working musician in his first band, The Jaguars, before forming The Hellions, striking up a lifelong friendship with Jim Capaldi.

    The two wrote their first song together, “Shades of Blue,” and recorded it as a B-side for their Pye Records single, a cover of Jackie Deshannon’s “Daydreaming of You,” produced by rock gadfly Kim Fowley. The two continued to work as a team, forming yet another group, The Deep Feeling, before hooking up with two Capaldi acquaintances, Winwood and Chris Wood, to form Traffic.

    Traffic’s mythology began when they retreated to a secluded stone cottage in the countryside to write and rehearse material for their classic 1967 debut, Mr. Fantasy. The group’s first single was the Winwood/Capaldi-penned “Paper Moon,” followed by Mason’s “Hole in My Shoe,” which went to No. 2 on the U.K. chart.

    Mason’s whimsical melodies, light feel and mellow vocals provided a contrast to Winwood on his three tracks, “Utterly Simple,” “House for Everyone” and “Hope I Never Fine Me There,” demonstrating his virtuosity on sitar, vocals and guitar.

    Mason suddenly quit the band after their debut album over artistic differences with Winwood, recording a solo single, “Little Woman,” for Island Records in 1969, the B-side of which, “Just for You,” appeared on Traffic’s third album, Last Exit. Mason had rejoined the band briefly during sessions for their second, self-titled album (which included his “Feelin’ Alright”) before leaving again for a solo career and moving to the U.S. in 1968. When Traffic came over for their first stateside tour in March, he rejoined the band for a handful of songs.

    When Traffic broke up again in late ’68, Mason, Capaldi and Wood teamed with Mick Weaver in the short-lived Wooden Frog, while Winwood joined the super group Blind Faith with Eric Clapton and Ginger Baker.

    During this period, Mason was active as a session player, turning his friend Jimi Hendrix on to Bob Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” and playing 12-string acoustic guitar on the recorded version. He also appeared, though was uncredited, on the Rolling Stones’ Beggars Banquet through his relationship with Traffic producer Jimmy Miller, and he also played on George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass with Clapton.

    He sang on both Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic” and The Beatles’ “Across the Universe.” Other cameos included work with Graham Nash (“Songs for Beginners,” “Wild Tales”), McCartney (“Venus and Mars”), Joe Walsh (“You Can’t Argue With a Sick Mind”), Ron Wood (“Gimmee Some Nick”), Clapton (“Crossroads”) and Stephen Stills (“Thoroughfare Gap”).

    Having relocated to Los Angeles in ‘69, Mason joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends, playing lead guitar for the band when they opened for Blind Faith, where Clapton took an immediate liking to the group and eventually joined them. Mason’s “Only You Know and I Know” became a No. 2 hit for them and in 1970, he signed with Blue Thumb Records as a solo act, co-producing his debut album with Tommy LiPuma.

    The first result of the sessions was “World in Changes,” a single released in April 1970, followed by the classic Alone Together album in June. The LP peaked in the Top 25, and a second single, Mason’s take on his own “Only You Know and I Know,” became a Top 40 hit.

    While in L.A., Mason struck up a friendship with Cass Elliot, forming a duo that debuted at the Hollywood Bowl and then played the Fillmore East in New York, releasing the 1971 album, Dave Mason & Cass Elliot, before Mason briefly hooked up with a new configuration of Traffic for the live album, Welcome to the Canteen, featuring a version of “Feelin’ Alright” and “Sad and Deep as You,” recorded in the U.K.

    Mason decided to remain in England after the shows and was an original member of Derek And The Dominos prior to the release of the song “Layla,” when he was replaced by Duane Allman after recording several tracks as their second guitarist. “That’s when Eric was pretty fucked up,” said Mason. “And there was just never any rehearsing. I just got bored and returned to the States.”

    Legal issues with Blue Note Records had Mason withholding the follow-up to the successful album Alone Together, resulting in a lawsuit and the label releasing unauthorized “bootlegs” of the material such as “Headkeeper” in 1972 and “Dave Mason Is Alive” in 1973. Leaving Blue Note by declaring personal bankruptcy, he was snapped up by Columbia Records and legendary label exec Clive Davis just prior to his own ignominious departure from the label.

    The first album under the arrangement, 1973’s It’s Like You Never Left, included one of his all-time best ballads, with a harmonica solo from Stevie Wonder on the song “The Lonely One,” but it wasn’t until Let It Flow, released in 1977, that Mason struck paydirt, going platinum on the strength of the hit single, “We Just Disagree,” which peaked at No.12 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was later successfully covered by country singer Billy Dean.

    In 1979, Mason played himself in the roller disco movie Skatetown, U.S.A. opposite Scott Baio, Flip Wilson, Ruth Buzzi and, in his first big screen role, Patrick Swayze, writing and performing two songs, including the film’s theme. His single, “Save Me,” from the 1980 album, Old Crest on a New Wave, featured a duet with Michael Jackson.

    During this time, Mason was a major concert attraction, headlining Madison Square Garden and the L.A. Forum before growing taking a break, thanks to problems with drug and alcohol addiction. He returned to recording with 1987’s “Some Assembly Required,” on the Canadian Maze label (A&M in the U.S.), then hooked up with Voyager/Mca for Two Hearts later that same year. He briefly joined a new Fleetwood Mac lineup in 1994 and 1996 for tours and the 1995 album, Time, which included two songs he co-wrote.

    In 1997, Mason was scheduled to join Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band to perform “Only You Know and I Know,” “We Just Disagree” and “Feelin’ Alright,” but he was dropped from the lineup just before the tour started.

    In 2002, a Dave Mason Live at Sunrise DVD was released, as he continued to tour, performing 100 shows a year with his Dave Mason Band and, more recently, Traffic Jam. In 2004, Traffic and Mason were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Dave Matthews.

    Mason released 26 Letters, 12 Notes, his first solo album in more than 20 years in 2008 and began to release some of his archival recordings since then, including 2014’s “Future’s Past,” and 2016’s “Traffic Jam,” both featuring new material and rerecorded versions of his most iconic songs.  

    Mason was active in a number of philanthropic pursuits, including an official supporter of Little Kids Rock, a nonprofit organization providing free musical instruments and lessons to public school children throughout the U.S.

    He was also a founding board member of Yoga Blue, which is devoted to teaching yoga and other holistic practices to those recovering from substance abuse. He also was a founder of Rock Our Vets, a charity helping supply food and clothing to homeless veterans and laptop computers for those aspiring to continue their education, as well as a suicide prevention program.

  • Tether Asserts Stablecoin Dominance Over Circle’s USDC Amid Major Crypto Hacks

    Tether Asserts Stablecoin Dominance Over Circle’s USDC Amid Major Crypto Hacks

    In brief

    • Growth in USDT’s market cap has outpaced USDC’s since Drift Protocol was exploited for $285 million this month.
    • If USDC holders begin off-ramping the stablecoin or move it to exchanges, Compass Point analysts foresee lower profits for both Circle and Coinbase.
    • Nansen analyst Jake Kennis posited to Decrypt that Tether’s stablecoin likely offers superior liquidity during DeFi crises.

    Tether’s dominance over Circle has been rising since Solana-based Drift Protocol was exploited for $285 million this month, with decentralized finance users appearing to propel USDT’s market cap to an all-time high on Tuesday following another major hack.

    Since attackers linked to North Korea pulled off one of DeFi’s largest hacks this year, USDT’s market cap has grown 2.1% to nearly $188 billion, according to CoinGecko. Meanwhile, USDC’s total value has increased at a slower pace, rising 1.4% to $78.25 billion.

    In a Tuesday note, analysts at investment bank Compass Point wagered that DeFi outflows have the potential to pressure USDC’s on-chain circulation, a dynamic that would reduce gains derived from the stablecoin’s backing, namely U.S. Treasuries, for Coinbase and Circle.

    “DeFi outflows may result in users offramping USDC or holding USDC on exchanges with yield sharing arrangements,” they wrote. “Either outcome will put pressure on CRCL and COIN’s gross profit, via lower interest revenue or lower margins.”

    The analysts’ assessment is partly based on the fact that investors “quickly withdrew” $1.5 billion in stablecoins from lending protocol Aave after attackers swiped funds related to restaking protocol Kelp DAO, and used them to borrow funds from Aave’s platform.

    Although users have snapped up both stablecoins since Drift’s protocol was plundered, Tether’s product has likely benefited from superior crisis liquidity as fears have intensified, Jake Kennis, a senior research analyst at blockchain analytics firm Nansen, told Decrypt.

    “This gap may reflect that USDT’s deeper liquidity across centralized venues provides a more immediate ‘flight to safety’ path during DeFi stress events, particularly for users seeking rapid exits from on-chain positions,” he said.

    “While both stablecoins remain well-collateralized, USDT’s broader exchange integration and larger existing market share create network effects that tend to compound during periods of elevated protocol risk,” he added.

    Drift’s exploit has also intensified scrutiny on Circle’s procedures. After attackers used Circle’s infrastructure to move millions of dollars in crypto from one network to another, the company was hit with a class action lawsuit last week for its alleged failure to freeze the funds.

    Circle has defended its conduct, with CEO Jeremy Allaire arguing that unilaterally deciding to freeze users’ funds opens a “significant moral quandary.” At the same time, Drift has signaled that it will stop supporting the stablecoin after receiving recovery commitments from Tether.

    Compass Point analysts have assigned Circle shares a price target of $77 alongside a “Sell” rating. The stablecoin issuer’s shares changed hands under $98 on Tuesday, an 8% decrease over the past day, according to Yahoo Finance.

    Decrypt has reached out to Circle and Tether for comment.

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  • Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Who Co-Founded Traffic and Sang ‘Feelin’ Alright’ and ‘We Just Disagree,’ Dies at 79

    Dave Mason, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame member who found fame as the co-founder of Traffic in the 1960s and went on to a successful solo career in the ’70s and beyond, died Sunday at age 79 at his home in Gardnerville, Nev. No cause of death was given.

    Mason’s most famous songs include “Feelin’ Alright?,” which he wrote and sang for Traffic, and his solo hits “Only You Know and I Know” and “We Just Disagree.”

    “On behalf of his family, it is with deep and profound sadness that we share the news of the passing of Dave Mason,” said a statement from his press representative. “On Sunday, April 19, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, celebrated songwriter, musician, singer, and author passed away peacefully at his home in Gardnerville, NV. … Dave Mason lived a remarkable life devoted to the music and the people he loved.”

    Mason was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with the other original members of Traffic in 2004.

    He also put in ample time working with other musicians on recording projects, including playing on Jimi Hendrix’s “Electric Ladyland,” George Harrison’s “All Things Must Pass” and fellow Traffic member Jim Capaldi’s “Oh How We Danced,” along with a cameo on the Rolling Stones’ “Street Fighting Man.”

    The most curious turn in his career came in the 1990s when he briefly became a member of Fleetwood Mac, appearing on the 1995 album “Time” and on tour along with Bekka Bramlett — the daughter of his earlier collaborators Delaney & Bonnie — during a period when Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks had left the group. The revised lineup found disfavor among many Fleetwood Mac fans, and Buckingham and Nicks rejoined for a reunion of the “classic” lineup two years later.

    Mason’s health issues became known in 2024 when he canceled his tour for the following year, citing unspecified challenges.

    Mason is survived by his wife, Winifred Wilson, and his daughter, Danielle. He was preceded in death by his son, True, and his sister, Valerie Leonard.

    More to come…

  • ‘Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ Will Resume Production Following Filming Pause Amid Taylor Frankie Paul Investigation

    The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives will resume production following a pause initiated by an internal investigation surrounding Taylor Frankie Paul and Dakota Mortensen, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

    Casting details were not made available, leaving Paul’s fate with the show still unclear. Details on when cameras will pick up were also not outlined.

    News that the Emmy-nominated Hulu series halted filming on its forthcoming fifth season broke in mid-March, amid an alleged domestic incident involving The Bachelorette star and her ex.

    At the time, a spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department told People that there is an open “domestic assault investigation” between Paul and Mortensen. They added that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24th and 25th.”

    After the alleged incident was made public, a video of the events leading up to Paul’s prior 2023 arrest was leaked, showing the reality star throwing barstools at Mortensen while her daughter was present. Hours later, ABC decided to pull season 22 of The Bachelorette, three days before its scheduled March 22 premiere.

    The next day after the video was published on TMZ, NBC News obtained audio of a Zoom call held on March 7 with the Mormon Wives cast and three Disney executives, where they voiced concerns of continuing the series with Paul amid the investigation. THR confirmed that Mormon Wives production launched their own investigation into the conflicting claims; Mormon Wives filming was to remained paused until concluded.

    Cameras were not up when Paul’s season of The Bachelorette was pulled by ABC, but that is not the only news from the Mormon Wives cast that has not been filmed amid the production pause. Notably, Jessi Draper’s husband filed for divorce (on the same day Paul’s season was yanked from air).

    The businesswoman and reality star went on Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast Wednesday to discuss their split, and she also spoke about the recent headlines surrounding Paul and Mormon Wives.

    Draper spoke about the filming pause, clarifying that there were two breaks in production on season five. She explained that the first pause came from production “when we found out he filed a police report. So this was before it broke,” referring to news that a second domestic assault investigation was initiated by the Draper City Police Department following a February incident involving Paul and Mortensen.

    The second pause in production came from the Mormon Wives cast, Draper said. “A little bit before news broke, but we knew it probably was going to, us girls decided, so we went to production and the network and they were all so supportive,” she said.

    “Me and the girls, we did decide to stop filming when we found this out, because we were starting to hear things a little bit before it leaked, and we just didn’t want to be filming and say the wrong thing on camera, not knowing the whole story yet,” she explained. “We didn’t want to have to process all this information for the first time and then also be speaking about it. So we just thought for everyone’s mental health, let’s take a beat and not film right now.”

    The Mormon Wives star admitted that she does not know what all of the news circling Paul means for the future of the Hulu show, but that they were waiting for the dust to settle before jumping back into filming. However, she noted then that she would potentially feel comfortable to pick up cameras since the information is now public.

    Draper explained, “I think now we’re at a point where we’re like, ‘OK, the world knows and the info’s out there, and so now we’re good and we can speak on the things we know and we can talk about it in a real way,’ rather than before, we were like, ‘We don’t even know if this is gonna get out,’ so we didn’t know if we could even talk about it when we were filming. Now, we can.”

    On March 25, NBC News reported that Paul is under investigation for an alleged third domestic violence incident, also involving her ex Mortensen, that allegedly occurred in 2024. (All three alleged incidents have involved Paul and Mortensen.)

    More to come.

  • ‘The Balusters’ Broadway Review: Anika Noni Rose, Richard Thomas Star in Brilliant and Brutally Funny Look at a Dysfunctional Neighborhood Association

    ‘The Balusters’ Broadway Review: Anika Noni Rose, Richard Thomas Star in Brilliant and Brutally Funny Look at a Dysfunctional Neighborhood Association

    It’s easy to get depressed about national politics. The people running things are nasty, brutish and eager to appeal to baser instincts rather than better angels.

    As “The Balusters,” the story of a neighborhood association riven by prejudice and petty skirmishes, demonstrates, politics aren’t much better at the local level. The debate here may be over whether to install a stop sign at a dangerous intersection, but it’s just as heated, just as likely to erupt into savage attacks, as the ones that turned D.C. into a cesspool.

    Written by David Lindsay-Abaire with a keen understanding of human nature and directed by Kenny Leon with a master’s skill for building onstage drama to a fever pitch, “The Balusters,” which debuts tonight at Manhattan Theatre Club, may be the most vital and timely show on Broadway this season. It’s definitely the funniest.

    Set in Vernon Point, a historic district with big yards, wide boulevards and lovingly restored brownstones, “The Balusters” unfolds in the elegant front parlor of Kyra Marshall’s home. She’s recently moved to the area from Baltimore, drawn by the tree-lined streets and a family-friendly atmosphere she likens to Mayberry. Kyra, played by Anika Noni Rose, is quickly invited not only to join the Neighborhood Association, but to host its weekly meetings. There, the wine flows freely, and the topics range from stolen Amazon packages to the evils of vinyl siding.

    Instead of hanging back, Kyra has something she’s desperate to get on the agenda. Her house sits on Palmer Road, a busy thoroughfare. She’s worried about her daughters’ safety and wants the board to ask the authorities to install a stop sign. That puts her in conflict with Elliott Emerson (Richard Thomas), a local realtor who rules the community organization with an aw-shucks demeanor that masks a cage fighter’s spirit. Elliott is worried that a stop sign or, heaven forbid, a traffic light, would hurt the esplanade’s aesthetics, and he’s not about to let Kyra have her way.

    “You can stand at one end of Palmer and see all the way to the other end, and it’s just a clean line of stately homes and trees and nothing else,” Elliott rhapsodizes, his throat catching with emotion. “It’s like standing in an old postcard.”

    His solution: Don’t let your kids play in the street. Well, that won’t do, and Kyra soon embarks on a mission to install the sign, one that draws in every member of the community board while exposing the tensions simmering just below Vernon Point’s dignified facade. Elliott reveres the neighborhood’s history — his family has deep roots in the community, and he grew up here — but he fails to appreciate who was left out of his overly idealized portrait of its past. He boasts to the other association members about the hard work it took to keep developers from leveling these brownstones and putting up “projects,” without thinking more deeply about who the neighborhood was being preserved for?

    “It was lucky we got landmarked when we did,” Elliott says. “It put an invisible wall around us. At least
    in our little citadel, things would stay as they were.”

    But, of course, things didn’t stay as they were. Kyra, a Black woman, and other members of the association — such as Melissa (Jeena Yi), its Asian American vice president, and Brooks (a sublime Carl Clemons-Hopkins), a gay African American travel writer — are part of a new generation of homeowners who are changing the composition of Vernon Point. And though Elliott, who calls himself a proud Democrat, may not recognize it, he’s struggling to accept his newer neighbors.

    “The Balusters” has a compelling premise: The small stakes of local government make its politics more vicious and bitter. But what elevates the play into something truly great is that Lindsay-Abaire refuses to make Elliott a conventional villain. Elliott loves his community, and he has been dealing with major medical issues. At some level, Elliott wants to preserve Vernon Point because to see it change would be to acknowledge his own mortality.

    And while the audience’s sympathies are clearly with Kyra — only the most sociopathic preservationist believes keeping a view intact is more important than saving lives — she has her own blind spots. Kyra may be rich, but she had to climb up the socioeconomic ladder to get there. Yet that doesn’t prevent her from treating her housekeeper, Luz (Maria-Christina Oliveras), more as the help than as an equal. At one point, she betrays Luz’s confidence to bolster her side of an argument with Elliott. Nothing, it seems, is more important than getting the upper hand.

    Rose and Thomas are thrilling to watch as they try to outmaneuver each other, but Leon and Lindsay-Abaire make sure the other members of the show’s 10-person ensemble get their moment to shine. Oliveras is fascinating as a woman who may not live in Vernon Point, but knows the community better than the people who have called it home for generations. Margaret Colin is a ball-busting scream as Ruth Ackerman, the organization’s treasurer, who is never happier than when she’s terrorizing Willow (Kayli Carter), the group’s wokest member. But the show’s MVP is Marylouise Burke as Penny, a daffy 70-something widow, who is shrewder than she seems. Penny’s back may be giving out, her barometric migraines may be killing her, but she’s been around long enough to know the score. If Burke doesn’t get a Tony Award nomination, there’s no justice.

    “The Balusters” doesn’t offer a hopeful portrait of community government — it can be hard to see the virtue of having heated debates over dog poop disposal etiquette when the world is on fire. But you leave the play reminded of the importance of staying engaged. Today’s battle may be over erecting a stop sign. Tomorrow’s fight could have far greater stakes. Love your neighbors or loathe them, you still have to find a way to live with them.

  • ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ to Resume Season 5 Filming After Pausing Amid Taylor Frankie Paul’s Domestic Violence Investigation

    ‘The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives’ to Resume Season 5 Filming After Pausing Amid Taylor Frankie Paul’s Domestic Violence Investigation

    Production on Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” has resumed after going on pause weeks ago amid a domestic violence investigation involving Taylor Frankie Paul and her ex-boyfriend Dakota Mortensen. It has not yet been revealed whether Paul or Mortensen will be involved in Season 5 moving forward.

    The cast of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” includes Whitney Leavitt, Mayci Neeley, Mikayla Matthews, Jessi Draper, Miranda McWhorter and Jen Affleck as well as their husbands and exes.

    News broke on March 16 that production had paused on “Mormon Wives” as the police department of Draper City, Utah was investigating domestic violence allegations Paul and Mortensen made against each other relating to an incident that occurred in late February. Though Season 5 of “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” was in production at the time, the incident did not take place on camera.

    The February incident was not the first conflict of this nature between Paul and Mortensen; in 2023, Paul was arrested and later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against Mortensen. Though that altercation was widely known about and covered in depth during Season 1 of “Mormon Wives,” on March 19 of this year, TMZ published footage of it that had previously only been played in court. The video showed Paul throwing metal barstools at Mortensen while one of her children was nearby. (Though Paul and Mortensen share a son, he had not been born at the time of the incident; the child heard in the video is from Paul’s previous marriage.)

    Swiftly after the TMZ leak, Disney unscheduled the March 22 premiere of “The Bachelorette,” which had already been filmed with Paul as the lead. “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’ at this time, and our focus is on supporting the family,” the company said in a statement. A spokesperson for Paul released a statement shortly afterward, saying, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm. There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”

    After being reviewed by multiple attorneys, the court announced earlier this month Paul will not face any charges.