WCGX The Cat 96.5 FM

A group of Netflix employees staged a walkout Wednesday in protest of Dave Chappelle’s controversial stand-up special ‘The Closer.’ The walkout was organized by a trans employee resource group which has reportedly demanded that Netflix adopt new measures to address transphobic content and invest in trans and non-binary creators.

Since Chappelle’s special aired, it has received major backlash and many have criticized the show as transphobic and harmful to transgender people; the comedian makes numerous mocking remarks about the LGBTQ community, and transgender people in particular. Anger over the special then intensified after Netflix’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos defended the special in two separate memos to staff. Sarandos wrote in part: “We don’t allow titles on Netflix that are designed to incite hate or violence, and we don’t believe ‘The Closer’ crosses that line,” adding that “content on screen doesn’t directly translate to real-world harm.” However this week, Sarandos told The Hollywood Reporter that he “screwed up” on the Chappelle memos, but added that his “stance hasn’t changed” on the issue.

A Netflix spokesperson said in a statement, “We value our trans colleagues and allies, and understand the deep hurt that’s been caused. We respect the decision of any employee who chooses to walk out, and recognize we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content.”

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

48-year-old actress Alyssa Milano revealed that she was arrested on Tuesday during a protest with People For the American Way — an organization which she serves as a board member. The actress shared on Twitter that she was protesting with the group in front of the White House, calling on the Biden Administration for change.

In one clip posted on Twitter by League of Women Voters of the U.S., Milano is seen standing in a crowd with a microphone shouting, “Show me what democracy looks like!” as other attendees respond, “This is what democracy looks like!”  Nearly two hours later, Milano shared an update on her social media platforms that she had been arrested during the event, writing: “I was just arrested for demanding the Biden Administration and the Senate to use their mandate to protect voting rights. Stand with me and @peoplefor and tell the Senate and White House that voting rights shouldn’t depend on where you live. #DontMuteOurVote”

According to People for the American Way, 24 other participants were also arrested. The protest took place ahead of the Senate vote on the Freedom to Vote Act. If passed, the bill would make voter registration easier, require states to enforce a 15-day minimum early voting window, and make Election Day a federal holiday.

Milano also announced on Twitter that she will be testifying in front of Congress on Thursday in support of the Equal Rights Amendment writing: “The lack of Constitutional protections for anyone who is not a cisgender man is a blemish on the very idea of Americanism.” 

Editorial credit: Kathy Hutchins / Shutterstock.com

The first trailer for the highly anticipated “Being the Ricardos” was released, with Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball and Javier Bardem as Ball’s husband, Desi Arnaz. The film, written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, is set to be released in theaters on Dec. 10, and will stream on Amazon Prime beginning Dec. 21.

The movie is set during a week of production of “I Love Lucy,” the popular 1950s sitcom that Ball and Arnaz starred in together for six seasons. The film delves into their personal and professional issues, and will feature four musical numbers.  In the trailer, Kidman’s face is mostly hidden, though there is a brief shot of her in a scene as Lucy from the classic “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy’s Italian Vacation.” The show’s iconic theme music and title cards are also recreated in the trailer.

Take a look at the teaser trailer for “Being the Ricardos” – here.

Editorial credit: Tinseltown / Shutterstock.com

Disney has delayed release plans for several upcoming films, including “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” from March 25 to May 6, “Thor: Love and Thunder” from May 6 to July 8 and “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” from July 8 to Nov. 11. With the “Black Panther” sequel jumping to November, “The Marvels” has been postponed to early 2023 and “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania” was bumped from Feb. 17 to July 28, 2023.

Disney has also moved the fifth “Indiana Jones” installment back nearly a year. The still-untitled film, starring Harrison Ford, will open on June 30, 2023 instead of July 29, 2022.

Unchanged for now is the remainder of the 2021 Marvel schedule, which currently includes ‘Eternals’ on November 5th, ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ on December 17th, and the Disney+ series ‘Hawkeye’ on November 24th. ‘Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3’ is still set for a May 5th, 2023 release date.

Marvel Delays All 2022 Release Dates, Including Doctor Strange, Black Panther, Thor

Editorial credit: Anton_Ivanov / Shutterstock.com

Adele confirmed on Twitter she will perform and give an exclusive interview to Oprah Winfrey in a new CBS special, titled “Adele One Night Only’. The special, which will be filmed in Los Angeles, will air Nov. 14 at 8:30 p.m. EDT on CBS and be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Adele will perform some of her chart-topping hits, along with new and never-before-heard songs. In addition, Adele will speak to Winfrey from her rose garden. The singer will discuss her new album, the stories behind the songs, life after divorce, weight loss and raising her son.

The show is produced by Fulwell 73 Productions and Onward Productions in association with Harpo Productions, with Adele, Ben Winston, Jonathan Dickins and Raj Kapoor as executive producers.  Adele One Night Only will air just days before the release of Adele’s fourth studio album, ‘30,’ her first album in six years. Adele just released the first song from the album, “Easy on Me;” the full album drops Nov. 19.

Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com