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Leah Remini Statement on Danny Masterson Sentence: “I am relieved that this dangerous rapist will be off the streets”

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Actress Leah Remini has been a hero in her fight against Scientology. Even though journalists had been writing about the cult for years, it was only when Remini left and exposed the inner workings that the truth was laid bare. She is currently suing Scientology for kidnapping her after Tom Cruise’s wedding to Katie Holmes. Leah speaks truth to power.

Here is her statement after today’s sentencing of Danny Masterson for 30 years.

AMC Theaters Stock Drops Like Rock Despite Taylor Swift Ticket Sales: Down $5 in 24 Hours

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It’s been a miserable 24 hours for AMC Entertainment.

Since yesterday at this time, the stock price has dropped 5 bucks to an all time low of $8.30.

On August 14th the price was $52.70. That day it dropped $18.

This is despite a booming summer with Barbenheimer– “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.”

This is all despite their unique deal for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour movie which is sold out and looks to make $100 million on its opening weekend.

The drop — to its lowest point ever — comes because AMC announced plans to sell up to 40 million common shares today. The company said it will use the proceeds in part to bolster liquidity and pay down debt.

Scientology Loses Big Time as “70s Show” Star Danny Masterson Gets 30 Year Sentence for Rape

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“That 70s Show” star was sentenced to 30 years in prison just now for rape in a Los Angeles courtroom/

Masterson was convicted in May on two of three forcible rape charges. The Scientology member was accused of raping three women at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003 — while he was appearing on “That 70’s Show.” The jury convicted him of raping two women in 2003, but didn’t reach a verdict on an allegation from November 2001 involving a former girlfriend.

The sentencing– two sentences of 15 years each — and the verdict are blows to Scientology, which did everything to support Masterson. But this trial pierced the veil of secrecy in the cult. Leah Remini, their chief critic now suing Scientology herself, was at the sentencing. So was Masterson’s beleaguered wife, Bijou Phillips, and her brother in law, Billy Baldwin who’s married to sister Chyna Phillips. Bijou Phillips’ life so far has consisted of unending challenges. Maybe this will propel her away from Masterson and the cult.

Jerry Seinfeld Says Rolling Stone Story Untrue That He Was Angry at Jimmy Fallon: “This is so stupid”

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There’s a new level of malevolence at Rolling Stone magazine. They spend a lot of time acting like faux Keith Morrisons at Dateline. The once vaunted music and politics periodical now spends a lot of time trying to find trivial dirt anyone to tarnish their image, or hopefully, destroy them.

Now it’s Jimmy Fallon’s turn for a backstage toxicity story. They say they’ve interviewed 16 former staffers who a variety of complaints against Fallon including that he’s mean to them, gives them dirty looks, and snatches their lollipops whenever possible.

One anecdote in the story is about Jerry Seinfeld disapproving of Fallon’s behavior. Seinfeld completely refuted it in a statement supplied to me by NBC.

“This is so stupid. I remember this moment quite well… I teased Jimmy about a flub, and we all had a fun laugh about how rarely Jimmy is thrown off. It was not uncomfortable at all. Jimmy and I still occasionally recall it and laugh. Idiotic twisting of events.” 

We’ve reached a level of crybaby complaints now six years after #MeToo in is which everyone who has a gripe against a celebrity, particularly an employer, becomes clickbait. Ironically, this is what Seinfeld’s Festivus is for — the airing of grievances. The complainers used to be called whiners. The so called journalists should be spending their time on more important matters.

But just to circle back a bit: If the writer of this piece had watched “The Larry Sanders Show” or “Mrs. Maisel” or the great Richard Benjamin movie, “My Favorite Year,” maybe they’d be more sophisticated about how a talk show runs. Or any daily or nightly show. Regis Philbin was treated like dirt by Joey Bishop; he became a bigger star. Is this whole business ‘woke’? I don’t know. But I’m tired of it. It’s time for everyone to grow up.

As for Rolling Stone, how about 10.000 words on Jann Wenner and the corrupt awful way he ran that magazine for decades? Nah. We won’t be seeing excerpts from the books by Robert Draper or Joe Hagan. Jimmy Fallon is a cupcake by comparison.

Diddy So-called Solo Album Has 25 Featured Guests Including Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, The Weeknd’s “Final” Collaboration

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Sean Combs is the Ed Sullivan of rap. And he’s about to have a really big ‘shoo.’

Next Thursday, Diddy aka Love aka Puff Daddy will release his Off the Grid album. It’s a solo record except there are 25 featured guests who sang or wrote the songs.

The guests include Justin Bieber, Mary J. Blige, Babyface and The Weeknd. With the latter, Diddy says it’s Abel Tesfaye’s last ever duet with anyone. Is it really? Probably not, but it sounds good.

The Weeknd needs a hit after his terrible TV series, “The Idol,” was cancelled by HBO. Tesfaye released a lot of music during the summer that no one wanted. It’s hoped his fans will come running back.

Bieber’s song is called “Moments.” It might be his first since possibly chucking manager Scooter Braun. Or it’s still on Braun’s contract. Maybe there will be some clarity there. Bieber hasn’t had a hit record on which he alone sings with no guests upstaging him. Maybe this is his Moment!

I have a good feeling about “Off the Grid.” Combs is a savvy marketer. My guess is he’s got a bunch of hits on there, and he’ll be demanding Grammy nominations, that’s for sure!

Pop Star Charlie Puth Engaged to “Best Friend” Brooke Sansone as Joe Jonas Files for Divorce

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Pop stars getting married and unmarried.

Charlie Puth has announced his engagement to “best friend” Brooke Sansone. She’s sporting a huge diamond in the Instagram pictures. Congrats to them!

Meanwhile, Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from Game of Thrones star Sophie Turner. Married too young for four years and they have two kids. Very sad. When they were courting I sat next to them in Craig’s restaurant and they were so happy. I saw them again a year or so later at a party at Chateau Marmont and they were lovely. But this is an unfortunate mess.

Rolling Stones Pre-Orders Send “Hackney Diamonds” to Numbers 1, 2, 4 on Amazon Top 100 CDs and Vinyl

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Start them up: The Rolling Stones launched their “Hackney Diamonds” campaign yesterday and the charts are already buzzing with excitement.

“Hackney” in pre-orders has shot to number 1 on Amazon Top 100 CDs and Vinyl in CD form. Number 1 is a green vinyl LP and number 4 is the black vinyl.

Over on the iTunes singles chart — which is currently bursting with Jimmy Buffett records — the single “Angry” is number 6.

All signs point to a number 1 release on October 20th for “Hackney,” at least for one week if not two. I don’t think any records will be broken (unless one is physically smashed) but “Hackney” is set up to be enough of a comeback hit that it will play well on a live tour next spring.

Meantime, “Angry” should easily be nominated at this year’s Grammys for Best Rock Song or Record.

All that’s left for Mick, Keith, and Ronnie is becoming MusiCares Persons of the Year and appearing on the Grammys. The Stones have always turned down accepting this honor — as well as the Kennedy Center — but maybe 2024 is the year for tributes.

Strike News: Warner Bros. Punishes A List Writers By Suspending Their Overall Deals, Studio Indicates No End in Sight

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Warner Bros.’ David Zaslav is facing huge losses because of the two studio strikes.

So instead of settling the strikes and moving forward, Warner Bros. has decided to punish its famous writers.

The studio has suspended overall deals with JJ Abrams’ Bad Robot, which is stunning on its own. Also in the mix is Chuck Lorre, who’s been a money machine for them. The other A-listers are Mindy Kaling, Greg Berlanti, John Wells, and Bill Lawrence.

Overall deals mean the studio has a first look deal with these producers. They also house their companies either on or off campus (Bad Robot is in Santa Monica).

This is definitely a message to the WGA that Warner Bros. is not giving in or compromising in the WGA strike. Kicking out all these superstars is not offering an olive branch. It’s just going to set off more discord.

Hollywood is at a stand still because of the studios’ intransigence. Zaslav, on the other hand, is facing a $300-$500 million loss this quarter — far more than the entire cost of the WGA proposal to the studios to wrap this thing up. For WBD the losses are 10 times the cost of their share!

And it’s not just a matter of money. Warner Bros. Discovery will desperately need content soon, but now they’ve insulted the creators– that is unless Zaslav just sells the whole thing and destroys a 100 year old company!

Bruce Springsteen Cancels the Rest of September Shows Due to Peptic Ulcer Disease: “We’re heartbroken”

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Bruce Springsteen is not indestructible.

He just announced the cancellation of all his September shows due to peptic ulcer disease. Ouch! How the heck did he get through those MetLife Stadium shows? That really hurts!

Springsteen just recently cancelled shows in Philly thanks what we think was COVID. He also had COVID a few months ago. He turns 74 in two weeks and looks like a fit 54. Now he needs some Tagamet pronto!

Get better fast, Bruce!

Pop Legacy: Michael Jackson Sales Around 1 Million Year to Date, Ahead of the Eagles, Behind the Beatles (Exclusive)

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I probably should have written this last week for Michael Jackson’s 65th birthday.

Remember how everyone wrote him off when HBO aired their negative documentary? His critics claimed his legacy was ruined.

According to Luminate, thirteen years after his death Jackson has sold the equivalent of 977,000 albums so far in 2023. He will surpass 1 million and could get as high as 1.5 million before the year is out.

That’s with no active marketing this year other than his sold out Broadway musical, “MJ.” And, of course. he’s not here to do any promotion. Among deceased pop stars, he’s number 1.

To put Jackson’s popularity in context. he’s running behind The Beatles (1.2 million) but ahead of The Eagles (722K). Each of those groups is promoted all year long. The Eagles are about to go on a final tour. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr keep the Fab Four’s flag waving all the time.

Adding in two big legacy groups: Queen is just behind Michael. Elvis Presley is behind both of them. Fleetwood Mac is just behind the Beatles.

Probably the two biggest female acts are far behind. Madonna is nowhere near this range — only around 350K. Mariah Carey is around the 550K mark mostly thanks to “All I Want is Christmas.”

But Michael Jackson’s music just keeps going. So far this year he’s been streaming 1.2 billion times. Think of all the times you’ve been somewhere in public and heard “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” or “Billie Jean.” It’s endless.

Happy birthday, Michael.