The lawsuit, filed on behalf of 31-year-old Spencer Elden, argued that the album cover was similar to a “sex worker grabbing for a dollar bill” and that its legacy had dealt trauma to Elden as an adult. The lawsuit was dismissed in September 2022 by a Los Angeles federal district judge, who ruled that the suit against several record labels, the band’s surviving members and the estate of late guitarist Kurt Cobain was barred by a 10-year statute of limitations.

But a new ruling from a three-judge appellate court filed Thursday and obtained by TheWrap, ruled that since each new publication of the “Nevermind” cover may constitute personal trauma, the lawsuit was not bound to the statute of limitations.

“Elden’s complaint does allege new injuries, stemming from the Defendants’ redistribution of the album cover during the ten years prior to the action, within the limitations period,” read the ruling from George W. Bush appointee Judge Sandra S. Ikuta.

Since its release more than 30 years ago, “Nevermind” has become one of the bestselling and most influential rock albums ever released with more than 30 million copies sold. Elden’s family was friends with the photographer who shot the album cover and received $200 for allowing him to use the newborn Spencer Elden for the picture.

While Elden recreated the album cover in 2016 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Nevermind,” he filed a lawsuit against the band in 2021, arguing that by not covering his genitals on the cover with a sticker — something that Kurt Cobain staunchly refused — Nirvana had failed to protect him from sexual exploitation. The lawsuit was dismissed but with the opportunity to refile left open. Elden did so with the current lawsuit in January 2022.

Pamela Chelin contributed to this report.

The post Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ Cover Art Lawsuit Revived by Federal Judges appeared first on TheWrap.

It also comes just 5 days after the company agreed to pay $54 million to settle a massive employment discrimination and equal pay lawsuit filed by the state of California.

In a memo to employees, Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft’s video game division that oversees Activision Blizzard, said, “I’d like to thank Bobby—for his invaluable contributions to this industry, his partnership in closing the Activision Blizzard acquisition and his collaboration following the close—and I wish him and his family the very best in his next chapter.”

Spencer also said the company’s leadership will largerly remain in place. In a seperate letter to employees, Kotick praised Spencer and wrote nostalgically about his history with the company.

Kotick first joined Activision as CEO in 1991, and remained in the role after the company merged with Vivendi, parent company of, among other things, “World of Warcraft” maker Blizzard, to form Activision Blizzard in 2008.

At the time of the merger, Activision was already the leader in first person shooter games thanks to the “Call of Duty” series, and also counted the “Guitar Hero” franchise among its other huge hits. Blizzard meanwhile dominated online gaming with “Warcraft” and also launched the popular “Diablo” and “Starcraft” franchises, and that’s in addition to Vivendi’s roster of other successful video game publishers.

The combined company was by 2018 the most successful video game conglomerate in the U.S. and Europe.

But in the California lawsuit, filed in July 2021, Activision Blizzard was likened to a “Frat House.” Among other things, the lawsuit revealed a corporate environment rife with sexual harassment, gender discrimination and accusations of sexual assault going back years.

Activision Blizzard initially deflected, calling the claims “distorted, and in many cases false,” and it insisted that all such incidents happened in “Blizzard’s past.” Following internal uproar and heavy public criticism, Kotick later apologized for what he said was the company’s “tone Deaf” response and vowed to review how the company handled such complaints.

But in November of that year, the Wall Street Journal reported that Kotick had known about these problems for years but had hidden much of it from the company’s board of directors — including multiple women who reported being raped.

Despite this, the company’s board stood by him. This resulted in a shareholder revolt in early 2022, as investors defied the board and ordered the company to issue an annual report on sexual misconduct and make that report public. Nevertheless, Kotick remained in his position, leading the company through its acquisition by Microsoft.

Activision Blizzard finally reached a $54 million settlement with the state of California just 5 days ago, on Dec. 15.

The post Embattled Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick to Resign Dec. 29 appeared first on TheWrap.

In a recent interview with Men’s Health, the actor explained that prior to Season 1 he developed his imposing muscular physique the old fashioned way — a heavy workout regimine, despite rumors to the contrary.

But Ritchson emphasized that doing so came at a huge price, telling Men’s Health, “I ravaged my body.” Among his injuries, he broke one of his acromioclavicular joints (which connects the shoulder to the collar bone). He also developed “a huge imbalance in hormones,” which he attribued to bulking up too quickly.

“I was falling apart. So while I made it happen, it’s probably true that it shouldn’t happen that fast, that way,” he said. So before the second season, Ritchson, now 41 embraced testosterone therapy.

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“Getting on testosterone was huge for me,” Ritchson said. “I had none by the time I was done with season one, due to the stress and the fatigue and what I had done to my body. For me, it’s a long game. I want to do Reacher for 15 years… I don’t want to have to have surgery after every season, and testosterone helps.”

Ritchson also strongly advocates it for men in their forties and beyond, adding that most men don’t realize it’s an option. He explains that it can “be really life changing” by stabilizing moods and more, not just building muscle, though it aided his Reacher transformation.

“I’m a big advocate of it, especially for people in their forties or above,” Ritchson added. “[Men aren’t] aware that it’s out there, but it could be really life changing. It could be a mood stabilizer for people… It can do a lot more than just help you be buff, but it certainly helped in my journey.”

But Ritchson makes it clear that testosterone therapy isn’t a magic pill. He still puts in the work with intense gym workouts to gain and keep the muscular physique required for playing Reacher.

Ritchson said: “It definitely helps with muscle growth. If you take a little bit and then you work your ass off in the gym like you normally would, you’re going to see huge results.”

In being open about his use of testosterone therapy Ritchson is helping to destigmatize treatments like that, while also setting himself apart from the great majority of muscular actors who tend to deny ever doing so.

Amazon has released the first three episodes of “Reacher’s” second season, starring Alan Ritchson, on Prime.

The post ‘Reacher’ Star Alan Ritchson Took Testosterone to Bulk Up for Season 2: ‘I’m a Big Advocate of It’ appeared first on TheWrap.

Since 2012, Ladd hosted a live, daily free-form show on Sirius XMU’s “Deep Tracks” channel; his friend, fellow Sirius DJ Meg Griffin, announced his death on Monday while guest-hosting Ladd’s show.

Prior to his tenure at Sirius XMU, Ladd spent decades as one of the most familiar voices of rock radio in Los Angeles. Born Jan. 17, 1948, in Lynnwood, Ca., Ladd got his start in radio in 1969 on Long Beach radio station KNAC, moving to KLOS in Los Angeles two years later. In 1974, he moved again to LA’s KMET, where he remained until 1987.

During those years he also launched his acclaimed syndicated radio show “Innerview.” He was laid off along with all other staff when KMET changed formats in 1987.

But by then he’d achieved high reknown, and over the next decade would have an unusual career run building off that success. He appeared on “Radio K.A.O.S.,” the second solo album by Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, and accompanied the tour. He made cameos in films such as “Tequila Sunrise” (1988) and “Say Anything” (1989).” He published an industry tell-all in 1991 titled “Radio Waves: Life And Revolution On The FM Dial.”

Ladd once again worked for KLOS starting in 1997, remaining there until he was laid off in 2011.

Ladd, who received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2005, was also widely believed to be the inspiration for Tom Petty’s “The Last DJ,” a song about a rock DJ increasingly frustrated by the constraints of corporate-dominated radio, and no longer being allowed to play what he wants.

For his part, Petty always denied that the song was about any living person — perhaps in part because of a 2004 lawsuit filed against Petty and Ladd by a songwriter who claimed “The Last DJ” was based on song the songwriter gave to Ladd in 2000.

Ladd is survived by his wife, poet and writer Helene Hodge-Ladd.

“SiriusXM remembers Jim Ladd, legendary freeform rock DJ. For over 50 years, he championed classic rock and interviewed many of the greatest artists,” the company said Monday.

The KLOS family and the radio universe lost a legend today,” the station said. “We are so heartbroken to hear that groundbreaking DJ Jim Ladd passed away yesterday. KLOS sends our love to Jim’s family and friends.”

The post Jim Ladd, LA Radio Legend Linked to Tom Petty’s ‘The Last DJ,’ Dies at 75 appeared first on TheWrap.

The “Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” costume designer watched the debut of 15 wedding dress designs she dreamed up in collaboration with Allure Bridals, Netflix and Shondaland Monday night at the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in the Los Angeles hamlet of San Marino. “Bridgerton” television series creator Shonda Rhimes attended the fashion show in the Shakespeare Garden, where the gowns made their way into society one by one. Nikki Deeds, global brand director at Allure Bridals, welcomed the crowd and introduced Paolo who thanked her friend and Shondaland CEO, Shonda Rhimes, in an emotional speech before the 10 models hit the runway.

Paolo’s daughter had already selected her wedding dress, but she wanted another one following the runway session, which was set to some of the both “Queen Charlotte” and “Bridgerton” licensed string covers of “In My Blood” by Shawn Mendes, “Halo” by Beyoncé, “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles and “Girls Like You” by Maroon 5. Before the official debutante-like event began, covers of Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” and “You Belong with Me,” Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” and Rihanna’s “We Found Love” and “This Is What You Came For” set the mood for the guests in attendance lining the garden paths in anticipation.

“As the gowns were going past, she was like ‘Mom, what about that one? What about that one?’” Paolo told TheWrap in an interview after the fashion show.

“Bridgerton” and “Queen Charlotte” characters and a pivotal scene from the spin-off were put front of mind for the dress designs.

“The first gown that came out was certainly based on that early Daphne dress from Season 1. The last gown that comes out is based on young Charlotte when she walked down the aisle,” Paolo said. “We did think about adding the cape like she had, but we just thought that wouldn’t resonate with the modern bride as much. Maybe it might in another collection after this one, but those two were based on those two characters.”

Paolo described the style inspiration as “the aesthetic of the basic Regency bride and the Georgian bride” modified so that the “feeling of history” still “translates to the modern bride.” Lace, silk, taffeta and more materials made up the dresses, 17 of which were white. Over half of the gowns glittered, sparkled or glinted in some way. Some boasted bows on the back in the center of the dress.

“I don’t think people realize this, but we have so much sparkle on the show. We always underlay everything with some sparkle because when we do those dance sequences and the light hits them, there’s always a shimmer,” Paolo said. “I don’t know if you remember at the end of ‘Queen Charlotte,’ the Stars and Moon Ball, but every single gown, every man’s suit had a little sparkle to it. I think it’s part of the magic of ‘Bridgerton’ and ‘Queen Charlotte,’ isn’t it? I just think that little bit of sparkle means it just elevates everything.”

There was a black option six dresses into the fashion show, a light mauve dress in the eighth slot and a white dress overlayed with multicolored flowers in the 10th, halfway through the runway lineup. Paolo pointed out ivory as well.

“We wanted to embrace those other colors out there because I think not every bride wants to wear white,” she said. “Sometimes white is quite difficult to wear. There’s a lot of ivory in there, and there’s also underlays that you can add. You can ask when you go to the store and have your gown made, you can do a little extra shimmer underneath. I think it’s important to always give those other options for young brides. Not everyone has to wear white.”

The gowns feel too modern to Paolo to appear within’ the Netflix series — which announced its Season 3 two-part premiere rollout in 2024 on Tuesday — but the silhouettes could make it somehow.

“I’m just really happy that it went down well, and that I do hope that the fans out there love the line,” Paolo said. “I really want all those young ladies out there in the world who want to dress one of our characters on the shows — I just think it’s so emotional for young ladies in that fitting room. It would be lovely and I really want them all to send me their pictures.”

The 2024 Bridgerton Wedding Collection is available now in bridal salons worldwide with prices ranging from $1,600 to $3,000. To view and shop the Bridgerverse-inspired bridal gown collection from Allure Bridal, click here.

View a sample of the collection from the runway event below (all photos by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Allure Bridals):

The post ‘Queen Charlotte’ Costume Designer Launches Wedding Dress Line Inspired by ‘Sparkle’ of Stars and Moon Ball | Photos appeared first on TheWrap.

Among them was “Homicide: Life on the Street” creator David Simon, who wrote Tuesday night, “Andre Braugher. God. I’ve worked with a lot of wonderful actors. I’ll never work with one better. Stunned and thinking of Ami and his sons and so many memories of this good man that are now a blessing. But too damn soon.”

“Andre Braugher was the actor that others in the profession would always aspire to be. He infused Det. Frank Pembleton on ‘Homicide: Life on the Street’ with both righteous ferocity and quiet dignity. In addition to his prowess as a dramatic actor, his comedy chops were also on full display as the determined and passionate Capt. Holt in ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine.’ His performances will continue to inspire future generations and we will miss him tremendously,” NBC and Universal Television representatives said.

“Everyone at FOX is devastated by the sudden loss of our friend and colleague, the incredibly talented Andre Braugher. He will most certainly be remembered for his iconic comedic and dramatic roles across both film and television, but he will be remembered mostly for his big heart, kindness and the lasting impact he made on his friends, family and fans everywhere. Andre was the heart and soul of the Nine-Nine and will forever be our Captain. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Andre’s family and loved ones at this time,” Fox Television representatives said.

Audra McDonald, who starred in “The Good Fight” with the actor, wrote on Instagram that “He was absolute joy, brilliance, and light.”

She added, “I cannot process the news of Andre’s passing. He was the most generous, brilliant, intelligent and hilarious soul. He kept us in stitches on set. He was such a joy to work with and had the most beautiful curiosity about all things and all people.”

“I loved every single minute of working with him,” she continued. “He will be so sorely missed. All my love and light to his lovely wife Ami and their sons. Rest in Peace Dear Dear Andre.”

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Dirk Blocker, who worked alongside the actor on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” wrote on the platform, “Fiercely intelligent, remarkably kind, supportive, generous and possessed a deep and extraordinary talent, and had even more to offer. I am devastated. I love him. The 9 years I was able to work with him and to just be in his presence was truly a blessing. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family.”

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On Instagram, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Terry Crews captioned a photo of Braugher, “Can’t believe you’re gone so soon. I’m honored to have known you, laughed with you, worked with you and shared 8 glorious years watching your irreplaceable talent. This hurts. You left us too soon. You taught me so much. I will be forever grateful for the experience of knowing you. Thank you for your wisdom, your advice, your kindness and your friendship. Deepest condolences to your wife and family in this difficult time. You showed me what a life well lived looks like.

Rest In Peace, Andre. I love you, man.”

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Cinematographer Rick Page also remembered the actor on Instagram. He wrote, “Rest easy friend. All love, all heart.” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” star Chelsea Peretti shared the post in her Instagram Story.

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Peretti later shared a statement of her own, writing “Love you Will miss your dulcet tones. Forever lucky to have gone on such a journey with you. Ringside seat. You were so funny to me and the epitome of still waters run deep. I will always cherish our conversations, often with me hanging in your doorway barring your exit, and the insane opportunity to be your sidekick. Is it weird that I am also grieving for what Captain Holt meant to Gina? I really hoped and knew I would see you again. Hate that I won’t.”

Prentice Penny, who worked closely with Braugher on “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” shared two memories of the star on Twitter. He tweeted, “RIP #andrebraugher One of my favorite memories of him was one day on set, he was like I follow you on Twitter – you’re funny. I said, “oh what’s your handle so I can follow you too.” He said, “No. I like it that you don’t know it’s me.” We both fell out. He was a good man.”

Penny then added, “One of my other favorite memories was me, him and Terry Crews talking on set. He was so warm with us and then when a white person would walk by, he’d look serious again. He then leaned in and said “Gotta keep ‘em on they toes.” Again, I fell out! RIP”

Viola Davis, who worked with Braugher on a live Norman Lear special, posted a tribute to the actor on Instagram.

“Heartbreaking. You went way too soon. I loved every minute of working with you….your talent, your bottomless heart, your love of your family….your wife. You were a great man,” Davis wrote. “God bless your children, your beautiful wife…..You will be missed Andre”.

Producer and screenwriter Shonda Rhimes (“Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal,” “Bridgerton”) also wrote a post on Instagram for the actor.

“Deeply saddened by the news of Andre Braugher’s passing. I mourn not only the loss of an extraordinary actor but, more profoundly, the departure of a warm and kind soul. His talent was undeniable, but it was his genuine kindness that truly set him apart. Rest well,” she wrote.

More “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” and “Homicide” coworkers weighed in to pay respects to Barugher.

“So many wonderful stories will be told about Andre but for now, all my love goes to his wife Ami and his three boys, who he loved very much and flew back every weekend from the show to be with. We all know how powerful an actor he was, but even more, Andre knew exactly well his most important role and was deeply proud of it. He spoke often about his sons, and knew how lucky he was to have Ami,” Joe Lo Truglio wrote. “I’m grateful to them for allowing us to share eight years with him. He was committed and passionate about the things he loved. And that voice. It laid anchor to the roughest of dialogue. What you probably don’t know is that Andre could sing too, and did often at lunch, belting bassy vocals from his dressing room to whatever new music he found. At first, it was odd because well…*it was Andre Braugher crooning at full volume from behind closed doors*…but then very quickly it made all the sense in the world because the man was so full of song and that’s why the world took notice. I miss him so much already. What an honor to work with a man who knew what it was really all about. I feel blessed and thankful. Miss you Capt Holt. Love, Porkchop.”

Kyle Secor, actor and Braugher’s scene partner on “Homicide” called his costar “a true titan.”

“An amazing man. A great friend and acting partner. Wonderful father and husband. Ferocious, committed, humble and kind to those around him,” Secor wrote on Instagram. “He elevated everyone’s game on the set and I count myself fortunate to have shared hours with him in the interrogation room, in our detective-mobile, sniffing out perps on the streets of Baltimore, on the wharf and sharing far too many meals to count. A true titan – ‘I shall not look on his like again.'”

Read on for more reactions to the loss of Braugher:

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The post Andre Braugher Remembered as ‘Absolute Joy, Brilliance and Light’ and ‘Fiercely Intelligent’ appeared first on TheWrap.

This latest round of layoffs comes on top of 800 workforce reductions made earlier this year, marking a significant restructuring effort for the company.

CEO Chris Cocks attributed the layoffs to “market headwinds” that are stronger and more persistent than anticipated. He described the company’s current environment as challenging, particularly in the toy market, which is experiencing a post-pandemic correction following its recent boom.

Hasbro’s leadership team emphasized that the decision was not taken lightly. They recognize the impact on employees and are offering comprehensive support packages, including job placement assistance, to help them through this transition, the memo said.

The layoffs are expected to be implemented over the next six months to a year, with some functional areas being affected more than others. While details remain unclear, the company intends to minimize the impact on employees by offering voluntary early retirement programs.

“I know this news is especially difficult during the holiday season,” Cocks said. “We value each of our team members – they aren’t just employees, they’re friends and colleagues.”

Over the summer, Hasbro has sold eOne’s film and TV assets to Lionsgate for $500 million, in a move to streamline its operations and focus on its core toy and game business.

The company also owns a number of popular brands, including G.I. Joe, Peppa Pig, Transformers, and Dungeons & Dragons.

Read the memo in full below:

Team,   

A year ago, we laid out our strategy to focus on building fewer, bigger, better brands and began the process of transforming Hasbro. Since then, we’ve had some important wins, like retooling our supply chain, improving our inventory position, lowering costs, and reinvesting over $200M back into the business while growing share across many of our categories. But the market headwinds we anticipated have proven to be stronger and more persistent than planned. While we’re confident in the future of Hasbro, the current environment demands that we do more, even if these choices are some of the hardest we have to make.   

Today we’re announcing additional headcount reductions as part of our previously communicated strategic transformation, affecting approximately 1,100 colleagues globally in addition to the roughly 800 reductions already taken.  

Our leadership team came to this difficult decision after much deliberation. We recognize this is heavy news that affects the livelihoods of our friends and colleagues. Our focus is communicating with each of you transparently and supporting you through this period of change. I want to start by addressing why we are doing this now, and what’s next. 

Why now?   

We entered 2023 expecting a year of change including significant updates to our leadership team, structure, and scope of operations. We anticipated the first three quarters to be challenging, particularly in Toys, where the market is coming off historic, pandemic-driven highs. While we have made some important progress across our organization, the headwinds we saw through the first nine months of the year have continued into Holiday and are likely to persist into 2024.  

To position Hasbro for growth, we must first make sure our foundation is solid and profitable. To do that, we need to modernize our organization and get even leaner. While we see workforce reductions as a last resort, given the state of our business, it’s a lever we must pull to keep Hasbro healthy. 

What happens next?  

While we’re making changes across the entire organization, some functional areas will be affected more than others. Many of those whose roles are affected have been or will be informed in the next 24 hours, although the timings will vary by country, in line with local rules and subject to employee consultations where required. This includes team members who have raised their hands to step down from their roles at the end of the year as part of our Voluntary Early Retirement Program (VRP) in the U.S. We’re immensely grateful to these colleagues for their many years of dedication, and we wish them all the best.   

The majority of the notifications will happen over the next six months, with the balance occurring over the next year as we tackle the remaining work on our organizational model. This includes standardizing processes within Finance, HR, IT and Consumer Care as part of our Global Business Enablement project, but it also means doing more work across the entire business to minimize management layers and create a nimbler organization. 

What else are we doing? 

I know this news is especially difficult during the holiday season. We value each of our team members – they aren’t just employees, they’re friends and colleagues. We decided to communicate now so people have time to plan and process the changes. For those employees affected we are offering comprehensive packages including job placement support to assist in their transition.  

We’ve also done what we can to minimize the scale of impact, like launching the VRP and exploring options to reduce our global real estate footprint. On that note, our Providence, Rhode Island office is currently not being used to its full capacity and we’ve decided to exit the space at the end of the lease term in January 2025. Over the next year, we’ll welcome teams from our Providence office to our headquarters down the road in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. It’s an opportunity to reshape how we work and ensure our workspace is vibrant and productive, while reflecting our more flexible in-person cadence since the pandemic.   

Looking ahead  

As Gina often says, cost-cutting is not a strategy. We know this, and that’s why we’ll continue to grow and invest in several areas in 2024.  

As we uncover more cost savings, we’ll invest in new systems, insights and analytics, product development and digital – all while strengthening our leading franchises and ensuring our brands have the essential marketing they need to thrive well into the future.  

We’ll also tap into unlocked potential across our business, like our new supply chain efficiency, our direct-to-consumer capabilities, and key partnerships to maximize licensing opportunities, scale entertainment, and free up our own content dollars to drive new brand development. 

I know there is no sugar-coating how hard this is, particularly for the employees directly affected. We’re grateful to them for their contributions, and we wish them all the best. In the coming weeks, let’s support each other, and lean in to drive through these necessary changes, so we can return our business to growth and carry out Hasbro’s mission.  

Thanks,    

Chris  

The post Hasbro Lays Off 1,100 Amidst Market Pressures appeared first on TheWrap.

Concert-tracking website Pollstar estimated the data based on box office reports and research into market ticket prices, record capacities at the stadium venues and other tour numbers.

Swift not only broke Elton John’s “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” gross record, but she also set the money mark in a shorter amount of time — eight months, during which she played 60 shows starting March 17 with the tour’s debut in Glendale, Arizona, and ending on Nov. 11 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Elton John’s farewell tour hauled in $939 million after 328 (more than five times the amount Swift played) shows in five years. The “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour began Sept. 8, 2018, and ended July 8, 2023. Another distinction to mark lies in John’s performance at arenas versus Swift’s performance at stadiums with an average capacity of 72,000.

According to Pollstar, she sold a mind-boggling 4.3 million tickets at an average ticket price of $238.95, putting her average show gross at a massive $17,321,063 for this leg of the tour. Her average ticket price wasn’t the highest priced. In fact, of the top 20 tours on the 2023 Worldwide Tours chart alone, she was only the fifth highest.

The Eras Tour set individual stadium records as well, including the six shows Swift played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, the highest three-day attendance totals (217,635) ever at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as well as Dallas’ AT&T Stadium (210,607) and single-day attendance records of 71,000 people at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, 73,117 at Pittsburgh’s Acrisure Stadium and 72,171 in attendance at Seattle’s Lumen Field.

Swift still has many shows left to play when she picks up the international leg of the Eras Tour in Tokyo in February 2024. She has also set dates to play in certain cities in the United States she missed on the first round at the end of 2024 — including Miami, New Orleans and Indianapolis.

The post Taylor Swift Sets Billion-Dollar Record With the Eras Tour appeared first on TheWrap.

And the duo appeared on stage at the 2023 Video Game Awards to unveil the first trailer, which you can watch at the top of the page right now.

But first, before you start expecting “Nope,” the game, the press release is here to let the air out of your tires by making it clear that Jordan is just “one of several talented storytellers nvolved with the project.” So, manage your expectations accordingly.

That caveat out of the way, here’s what we know after watching the trailer: The game is called “OD,” it’s an Xbox exclusive title, and it stars Sophia Lillis (“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves”), Hunter Schafer (“Euphoria”) and the great Udo Kier (too many amazing things to list here).

For those who can’t watch yet, the trailer is just extreme close ups of the three lead actors as they recite the phonetic pangram, “the hungry purple dinosaur ate the kind, zingy fox, the jabbering crab, and the mad whale and started vending and quacking.” As the trailer goes on, the three appear to become more and more terrified.

Now, here’s what we don’t know: Anything else about it, like, at all. Fortunately, while announcing “OD” Kojima helpfully explained that it’s “a game, don’t get me wrong, but it’s at the same time a movie, but at the same time a new form of media.”

Given the apparent stable of writers involved, is this an anthology tale? A game of narrative round robin? And who are the other creators? The press release doesn’t say, but it does explain that the game “explores the concept of testing your fear threshold, and what it means to OD on fear – while blurring the boundaries of gaming and film.”

The game is very much in development and there’s still no release date. So let’s all regroup once Microsoft lets us know when it comes out.

The post Hideo Kojima Enlists Jordan Peele for His Xbox Exclusive Game ‘OD’ – Watch the Trailer | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Majors is accused of hitting Jabbari, causing a laceration behind her ear and of fracturing one of her fingers after she tried to grab his phone when she saw a text from another woman.

Immediately after the alleged assault, Jabbari went to Loosie’s Nightclub in the Grand Bowery Hotel with three people who had helped her try to get home.

Chaudhry presented security footage from the club that showed Jabbari holding a champagne glass with her injured hand. Chaudhry argued that Jabbari could not have been in “excruciating” pain as she has previously stated, The Associated Press reported.

Jabbari said she was running on “shock and adrenaline” that night and it was only the next morning that she realized how badly she’d been injured. She testified on Thursday that she “felt like I got hit by a bus.”

After being drilled about her level of pain while at the nightclub, Jabbari said, “I wasn’t focusing on pain. I was just trying to have a nice time. There were these lovely people there and I felt safe with them.” She also said that she went to the club because she “didn’t want to be alone.”

Chaudhry, who has previously stated that it was Jabbari who assaulted Majors, also suggested in court that Jabbari’s injuries could have come from her drinking too much at the club, rather than from the actor.

The defense attorney had shared the footage with media before the beginning of the trial, claiming it provided “irrefutable” evidence that the case against Majors was baseless.

According to the AP, Jabbari was in tears on “multiple occasions” during the cross-examination.

She is expected to return to the witness stand for her final day of testimony on Friday. Majors has pleaded not guilty to three misdemeanor counts of assault and harassment. If he is convicted, he would be looking at a prison sentence of less than one year.

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