Categories
Entertainment Daypop

WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon served with subpoena by federal agents

The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) disclosed on Wednesday that federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant on executive chairman Vince McMahon  last month, serving him with a federal grand jury subpoena.

The WWE also revealed Wednesday that McMahon “went on medical leave after undergoing major spinal surgery.”   The WWE said in its quarterly report to the Securities and Exchange Commission that McMahon’s leave began July 21, and he will “remain on medical leave until further notice but will remain Executive Chairman” of WWE. WWE CEO Nick Khan revealed news of McMahon’s surgery during the company’s second-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. Khan said McMahon had major spinal surgery nearly two weeks ago and is taking the leave in order to focus on his recovery, but did not specify the duration of the leave.

The new subpoena is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations that McMahon paid millions of dollars over the years to women after being accused of sexual misconduct. WWE said in the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that while government investigations into McMahon remain ongoing, no charges have been brought in them. The company said it has received voluntary and compulsory legal demands for documents concerning the investigation and related subject matters, sharing in a statement: “WWE has cooperated throughout and fully understands and respects the government’s need for a complete process.”

It was revealed last year that the WWE was investigating an alleged $3 million payment from McMahon to a departing female employee following a consensual affair. WWE’s investigation into the misconduct allegations was completed last year. McMahon said in a statement: “In 2022, WWE formed a special committee to review allegations of misconduct against me. That review was concluded in November 2022 following an extensive investigation. Throughout this experience, I have always denied any intentional wrongdoing and continue to do so. I am confident that the government’s investigation will be resolved without any findings of wrongdoing.”

Editorial credit: John Hanson Pye / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces separation from wife Sophie Grégoire

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Grégoire are separating after 18 years of marriage.

Trudeau, 52, shared the news on Wednesday in a post published in both English and French on Instagram, writing: “Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversation, we have made the decision to separate. As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.”. Sophie shared the same statement on her social media accounts.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s office confirmed the news in a statement, sharing that the couple have “signed a legal separation agreement. They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward. They remain a close family and Sophie and the Prime Minister are focused on raising their kids in a safe, loving and collaborative environment. Both parents will be a constant presence in their children’s lives and Canadians can expect to often see the family together. The family will be together on vacation, beginning next week.” The couple share three children — 15-year-old Xavier, 14-year-old Ella-Grace and 9-year-old Hadrien.

Trudeau and Grégoire met as children in Montreal, where Grégoire was a classmate and friend of the Trudeau’s brother, Michel.  They reconnected in 2003, when Grégoire, a television personality in Quebec, was given the job as Trudeau’s co-host for a charity ball.  They began dating, and in October 2004 they became engaged. The couple tied the knot on May 28, 2005 at Montreal’s Sainte-Madeleine d’Outremont Church.

Trudeau was elected as a Liberal member of Parliament in 2008, going on to become party leader and assuming the office of Prime Minister on November 4, 2015.

Editorial credit: Art Babych / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Chemical Brothers to release 10th Studio album this fall

The Chemical Brothers have announced the release of their forthcoming album, For That Beautiful Feeling, due out on September 8, 2023.

The new album will be Chemical Brothers 10th full-length project, and the follow-up to 2019’s ‘No Geography’. Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons shared in a statement: “This is a record that hunts for and captures that wild moment when sound overwhelms you and almost pulls you under yet ultimately lets you ride its wave, to destinations unknown. It’s a record that pinpoints the exact moment you lose all control, where you surrender and let the music move you as if pulled by an invisible thread. Each track on For That Beautiful Feeling was born out of a desire to find that point of vision in the studio, a point that could then be refracted back onto the dancefloor through the music. As a result, it’s a collection of music that’s vividly colorful and confident and deeply psychedelic; impossible beauty carved from noise and chaos and endless fluid rhythm.”

The new album, set to be released on September 8, will contains a total of 11 songs, and features newly released singles “The Darkness That You Fear,” “Live Again,” and “No Reason.” The band just released the accompanying video for “Live Again;” you take a look at the visual – here.

To pre-order For That Beautiful Feeling, head here.

Editorial credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Fleetwood Mac to release 1977 ‘Rumours Live’ concert album

Fleetwood Mac is set to release the 1977 Los Angeles concert album “Rumours Live,” dropping on September 8. The band returned to its adopted home in Southern California in August 1977 to play three shows at The Forum in Los Angeles, and returned six months later to play three shows at The Forum for nearly 50,000 fans. As the first preview to the forthcoming package, Fleetwood Mac has dropped the band’s performance of “Dreams”; you can listen to it – here.

“Rumours” was the No. 1 album in America at the time, on its way to becoming one of the most successful ever released. The album sold more than 40 million copies worldwide, including 21 million in the US alone.

“Rumours Live” contains the band’s opening night show at The Forum on August 29, 1977; the nearly 90-minute performance includes live versions of most of the songs from “Rumours” and 1975’s self-titled record, which was the group’s first multi-platinum No. 1 album.

Rumours Live will be available in 2xCD and 2xLP formats; pre-orders are available here. In addition, a crystal clear-vinyl version will be exclusively available at Walmart.

Fleetwood Mac announce ‘Rumours’ live album

Editorial credit: Ralf Liebhold / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Netflix shares teaser of new Korean dark thriller series ‘Mask Girl’ 

Netflix shared a teaser trailer for the South Korean dark thriller Mask Girl.

According to an official synopsis, Mask Girl follows an office worker (Go Hyun-jung) who is insecure about her looks and “becomes a masked internet personality by night — until a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her life.” The teaser shows the character take a dark turn, as she appears to take three lives.  A tagline reads: “3 Names, 3 Lives, 3 Murders.”

Created by Kim Yong-hoon, Mask Girl also stars Nana, Ahn Jae-hong and Yeom Hye-ran. Netflix announced in January that it will release 34 Korean titles this year, and Mask Girl is part of Netflix’s Korean film and TV slate for 2023.

Mask Girl premieres Aug. 18 on Netflix.  Take a look at the teaser – here.

Editorial credit: Areef Mamud / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

‘Welcome to Wrexham’ Season 2 to premiere in September

Season 2 of the FX series Welcome to Wrexham will premiere Sept. 12. FX tweeted: “More than just a town. FX’s Welcome to Wrexham is back for Season 2. Premieres 9/12. Stream on Hulu.” And Hulu, which streams the show, tweeted: “Grab the lads. Let’s play some footy.”

Welcome to Wrexham follows actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney as they run Wrexham A.F.C., a U.K. soccer club hailing from a working-class town in Wales. The club is the third-oldest soccer team in the world. Season 2 will follow the Wrexham Red Dragons as they are promoted from the fifth tier in U.K. soccer.

Welcome to Wrexham originally premiered in August 2022 and is nominated for six Primetime Emmy Awards for its first season. The actors shared of the series: “The story of Wrexham has resonated with millions of people because you don’t have to be Welsh or a football fan to be moved by this town. We are so grateful for today’s 6 Emmy nominations and are continuously honored the people of Wrexham allow us to tell their tale. Diolch! Cymru am byth!”

‘Welcome To Wrexham’ Sets Season 2 Premiere Date

Editorial credit: Ron Adar / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

Foo Fighters share the video for “Under You”

Foo Fighters have released the video for “Under You”, taken from their new album, But Here We Are, out now. The video clip for ‘Under You’ was filmed during rehearsals for the band’s tour.

But Here We Are, produced by Greg Kurstin and Foo Fighters, is the band’s 11th studio album and the first without their late drummer Taylor Hawkins.  Foo Fighters recruited Josh Freese as their new drummer, who is best known for his work with The Vandals, A Perfect Circle, Guns N’ Roses, Nine Inch Nails and more.

Take a look at the video for “Under You” – here.

Editorial credit: Ben Houdijk / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Rock Daypop

All Within My Hands Foundation launches fifth year of ‘Metallica Scholars Initiative’

Metallica’s foundation All Within My Hands (AWMH) announced year five of the ‘Metallica Scholars Initiative’ with an additional $1.85 million to expand programs across colleges throughout the country.

Said drummer Lars Ulrich: “The Metallica Scholars Initiative is so important to us because we are seeing results. Five years in, with the help of community colleges across the country, we are helping people fill these essential jobs which require skills and training. We are so proud and grateful that we can facilitate this program.”

The Metallica Scholars Initiative marks its fifth year with the addition of 11 new colleges to its existing 31-college roster, and n ow directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states in the U.S. to enhance their career and technical education programs. Metallica and their foundation have invested over $6 million in the American workforce to date.

All Within My Hands Executive Director Peter Delgrosso said: “Reaffirming a commitment to career and technical education at the local level, each new school brings incredible opportunities to a thriving and growing community. With the launch of the fifth year of the program, we will now have supported well over 5,000 Metallica Scholars across workforce education. The Metallica Scholars Initiative is a strong and cooperative community of the nation’s best community colleges creating a supportive climate for participants to communicate directly and share best practices. As a result, our Metallica Scholars leave the program well-trained and confident. Ultimately the impact is felt in their local communities, and on the national scale, as Metallica Scholars enter the workforce and fill, or create, much needed workforce and technical positions.”

To learn more, head here: metallica.lnk.to/MSI-Year5.

Editorial credit: Cristina Massei / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Angus Cloud, best known for his role on ‘Euphoria’, dies at age 25

Actor Angus Cloud, best known for his role as Fezco on the HBO drama series “Euphoria,” has died at age 25.

Cloud’s representative Cait Bailey confirmed Cloud’s death in a statement from his family: “It is with the heaviest heart that we had to say goodbye to an incredible human today. As an artist, a friend, a brother and a son, Angus was special to all of us in so many ways. Last week he buried his father and intensely struggled with this loss. The only comfort we have is knowing Angus is now reunited with his dad, who was his best friend. Angus was open about his battle with mental health and we hope that his passing can be a reminder to others that they are not alone and should not fight this on their own in silence. We hope the world remembers him for his humor, laughter and love for everyone.” No cause of death has been shared.

Cloud will be remembered for his breakout role as Fezco in “Euphoria,” which he starred in for two seasons. “Euphoria” was Cloud’s first-ever acting gig, but he was classmates with the series’ star, Zendaya, at the School of Production Design at Oakland School for the Arts. Cloud’s other credits include roles in the films “North Hollywood” and “The Line” and cameos in music videos for Noah Cyrus, Juice WRLD and Becky G and Karol G. At the time of his death, Cloud had several projects in the pipeline, including an untitled Universal Monsters film.

An HBO spokesperson said in a statement: “We are incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of Angus Cloud. He was immensely talented and a beloved part of the HBO and Euphoria family. We extend our deepest condolences to his friends and family during this difficult time.”

Editorial credit: DFree / Shutterstock.com

Categories
Entertainment Daypop

Paul Reubens, beloved Pee-wee Herman actor and creator, dies at age 70

Paul Reubens, the beloved actor and comedian best known for his role as Pee-wee Herman, died Sunday following a private battle with cancer at the age of 70. The news of Reubens death was posted inon his social media accounts: Last night we said farewell to Paul Reubens, an iconic American actor, comedian, writer and producer whose beloved character Pee-wee Herman delighted generations of children and adults with his positivity, whimsy and belief in the importance of kindness. Paul bravely and privately fought cancer for years with his trademark tenacity and wit. A gifted and prolific talent, he will forever live in the comedy pantheon and in our hearts as a treasured friend and man of remarkable character and generosity of spirit.

Alongside the official statement, a quote from the comedian read: “Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing the last six years. I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for you.” Reubens’s social media added that any expressions of sympathy could be made in honor of his late parents Judy and Milton Rubenfeld, Stand Up to Cancer, or organizations involved in dementia and Alzheimer’s care, support, and research.

Reubens created the character of Pee-wee while a member of the Groundlings comedy troupe. The character was popularized in a stage show Reubens performed that introduced many characters who would later appear in his Saturday morning show Pee-wee’s Playhouse. HBO aired The Pee-wee Herman Show to mass audiences. Reubens brought the character to the movies in the original film Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, the first feature film directed by Tim Burton. A sequel, Big Top Pee-wee saw Herman as a farmer when a traveling circus came to town, and a third Pee-wee film, Pee-wee’s Big Holiday premiered on Netflix in 2016.

Outside of his Pee-wee Herman character, Reubens appeared in the film Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Batman Returns, Matilda, Blow and recently on What We Do in the Shadows and The Conners. Prior to his death, Reubens had been developing a Pee-wee black comedy movie titled The Pee-wee Herman Story. 

Paul Reubens Dies At Age 70: Justin Theroux, Cher, Jimmy Kimmel & More Pay Tribute

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com