Saturday, December 20, 2025
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Global Citizen Cutting Ticket Prices Fast as The Weeknd Drops Out of Central Park Show, Cardi B Subs In

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Global Citizen is a wreck.

Their annual Central Park show is turning into a nightmare.

Lead performer The Weeknd has dropped out at the last minute. He’ll be replaced by Cardi B.

Security must be thrilled. (Kidding.) This is now a very different night in the park.

Tickets weren’t selling in the first place. Now, on StubHub, prices are being slashed. “Citi Premium VIP” has dropped from $477 to $245.

Don’t forget, all levels of VIP tickets are for standing, just close to the stage.

I’ve written about Global Citizen for years. They spend millions on salaries for their executives, and producing rock concerts. They send very little money to poor or hungry people around the world. They’ve also ignored Ukraine and Gaza as if they don’t exist.

Now Cardi B, Shakira, and lesser lights like Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist. Hugh Jackman, who still doesn’t get it, is heavily advertised as a host. Maybe he and Cardi B will do a number together.

The 501c3 no longer has a TV deal. They will stream the endless show to anyone who’s interested. It will be enlightening to see how many “world leaders” they fly in or kidnap from the UN General Assembly to promote their mostly useless ideas.

But I think maybe most people — not Hugh Jackman — have gotten the message about Global Citizen. There are no big mainstream stars, no Stevie Wonder or Coldplay, nothing really outside of hip hop.

The Weeknd? He’s out for “personal reasons.” Let’s hope it’s not something to do with his contract or the conditions, or if he asked exactly where all the money goes. He’s a smart guy, so anything is possible.

Global Citizen Concert Reduced to The Weeknd, Shakira Headliners, Charging At Least $2,500 for “Ultimate VIP Experience”

Jimmy Kimmel Returns to ABC Stronger than Ever: Disney Stares Down Donald Trump After Hollywood Protests Suspension

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ABC says:

“Last Wednesday, we made the decision to suspend production on the show to avoid further inflaming a tense situation at an emotional moment for our country. It is a decision we made because we felt some of the comments were ill-timed and thus insensitive. We have spent the last days having thoughtful conversations with Jimmy, and after those conversations, we reached the decision to return the show on Tuesday.”

Jimmy Kimmel is coming back. Tomorrow.

Jimmy Kimmel is coming back. Disney is staring down Donald Trump. Protests over ABC and Disney’s suspension, and lots of bad will that could have mushroomed into real corporate disaster, have helped make Kimmel stronger than ever.

Certainly the threat of FCC licenses being removed is over. Trump was wielding that like a baseball bat. But Trump has struck out. Bob Iger, head of Disney, comes out a hero.

Kimmel’s ratings tomorrow night should be through the roof.

Earlier I wrote that 400 Hollywood stars signed a letter protesting the suspension. Many content creators said they’d never work with Disney again if Kimmel didn’t return. Disney faced a bleak future in the creative community. That has now been avoided.

UPDATE: Dua Lipa Didn’t “Fire Her Manager,” Sources Say A Daily Mail Story Spun Out of Control

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I’ve confirmed that pop star Dua Lipa didn’t “fire her manager.”

For one thing, her manager is her father, Dugi Lipa. So that part can be put aside.

Lipa has agents at both CAA (domestic) and WME (International).

Years ago, David Levy — an agent — signed Dua Lipa to WME in London. He books her concerts. If she’s not on tour, he has nothing to do with her.

Lipa’s regular agents at WME London include a man named David Bradley.

Back to Levy: he did write a letter to the promoters at Glastonbury requesting they remove pro-Hamas group Kneecap from their line up. (I agree with him.)

“This is a Daily Mail story that’s become like a game of telephone,” says my source, “It’s grown out of control.”

Indeed, no one at WME has heard a word from Dua Lipa, who may very well approve of Kneecap performing at the festival but hasn’t told them or said so herself.

My source says, “Dua has a great relationship with WME, there’s nothing wrong.”

And again, her manager is her father.

Another urban myth put to rest.

Disney Disaster: 400 Hollywood Stars Sign a Letter Supporting Jimmy Kimmel Including Jennifer Aniston, Billy Crystal, Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda

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Four hundred Hollywood celebrities have a signed a letter to Disney supporting Jimmy Kimmel.

These are big names, too, including Jennifer Aniston, Tom Hanks, Billy Crystal and Jane Fonda.

What a mess!

Just waiting for Matt Damon to add his name to the list!

All these stars going on the record against Disney is one more reason they must settle with Kimmel and get him back on the air immediately.

Here’s the letter and the full list of names:

“We the people must never accept government threats to our freedom of speech. Efforts by leaders to pressure artists, journalists, and companies with retaliation for their speech strike at the heart of what it means to live in a free country.

Last week, Jimmy Kimmel was taken off the air after the government threatened a private company with retaliation, marking a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation. In an attempt to silence its critics, our government has resorted to threatening the livelihoods of journalists, talk show hosts, artists, creatives, and entertainers across the board. This runs counter to the values our nation was built upon, and our Constitution guarantees.

We know this moment is bigger than us and our industry. Teachers, government employees, law firms, researchers, universities, students and so many more are also facing direct attacks on their freedom of expression.

Regardless of our political affiliation, or whether we engage in politics or not, we all love our country. We also share the belief that our voices should never be silenced by those in power – because if it happens to one of us, it happens to all of us.

This is the moment to defend free speech across our nation. We encourage all Americans to join us, along with the ACLU, in the fight to defend and preserve our constitutionally protected rights.”

Aasif Mandvi
Abbi Jacobson
Abby McEnany 
Adam Chanler-Berat
Adam Goldberg
Adam Horovitz
Adam Scott
Adina Porter
Adrienne Warren
A.J. Shively
Alan Cumming
Aldis Hodge
Alex Serino
Alfred Molina
Alia Shawkat
Alison Brie
Allana Harkin
Allie Re
Allison Tolman
Ally Sheedy
Al Yankovic
Alysia Reiner
Alyssa Milano
Amber Ruffin
Amber Sealey
Amber Tamblyn
America Ferrera
Amy Landecker
Ana Gasteyer
Andrea Savage
Angie Pontani
Anjali Bhimani
Ann Harada
Anna Baryshnikov
Anna Camp
Annabel Oakes
Annette Bening
Annette O’Toole
Annie Murphy
Anthony Anderson
Anthony Jeselnik
Aria Mia Loberti
Arian Moayed
Ariana DeBose
Arlen Escarpeta 
Art Linson
Ashlie Atkinson
Ashly Burch
Atsuko Okatsuka
Auli’i Cravalho
Barry Levinson
Ben Platt
Ben Stiller 
Benito Skinner
Betty Gilpin
Billy Crystal
Billy Eichner
Bitsie Tulloch
Bob Martin
Bonnie Milligan
Brad Hall
Bradley Bredeweg
Brandon Uranowitz
Bradley Whitford
Brian Newman
Brian Usifer 
Briana Evigan
Bridget Everett
Bryan Cranston
Busy Philipps
Camryn Manheim
Carrie Coon
Carrie Preston
Cecily Strong
Celia Keenan-Bolger
Chazz Palminteri
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Peretti
Cherry Jones
Chris Chalk
Chris Henry Coffey
Christian Borle
Christina Applegate
Christine Baranski
Christine Jones
Christine Lahti
Christine Taylor
Claire Danes
Corey Hawkins
Craig Johnson
Cyndi Lauper
Cynthia Nixon
Dallas Roberts
Dan Gilroy
Danny Burstein
Daphne Rubin-Vega
D’Arcy Carden
Dave Quay
Daveed Diggs
David Alan Basche
David Arquette
David Cross
David Giuntoli 
David Harewood
David Rysdahl
Debbie Gibson
Debra Messing
Demián Bichir
Denis O’Hare
Derrick Eason
Desi Lydic
Diego Luna
Donna Murphy
Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Eden Espinosa
Edie Falco
Edwin Hodge
Eliot Glazer
Elizabeth Banks
Ellen Adair 
Ellen Fairey
Emily Hampshire
Emily Spivey
Emily V. Gordon
Emma Geer
Eric Bogosian
Eric Christian Olsen
Eric Newman
Erik Christopher Peterson
Eunice Bae
Ever Carradine
Florence Pugh
Frances Fisher
Frances McDormand
Gabe Liedman
Gabriel Luna
George Takei
Gianmarco Soresi
Gideon Glick
Gina Gershon
Gloria Steinem
Griffin Dunne
Gus Halper
Hank Azaria 
Hannah Bos
Harvey Keitel
Holly Robinson Peete
Ike Barinholtz
Ilana Glazer
Irwin Winkler
Isis King
J. Smith Cameron
Jack Gilpin
Jack Schlossberg
Jacqueline Toboni
Jaime King
James Monroe Iglehart
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jane Fonda
Jane Krakowski
Jane Rosenthal
Janet Hubert
Jason Alexander 
Jason Bateman & Amanda Anka
Jason George
Jay Gonzalez
Jean Smart
Jeff Hiller
Jen Statsky
Jen Tullock
Jenn Lyon 
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Ehle
Jennifer Hale 
Jennifer Mudge 
Jenny Slate
Jeremy Pope
Jesse Peretz
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Jessy Hodges
Jill Eikenberry
Jill Kargman
Jim Parsons
Jim True-Frost
Jodi Balfour
Jodie Sweetin
Joe Keery
Joel Coen
Joel Kim Booster
John Cho
John Ellison Conlee
John Hamburg
Jon Cryer
Jon Huertas
Jonathan Groff
Jonathan Tropper
Jordan Gelber
Jordan Klepper
Jose Llana
Josh Hamilton
Josh Radnor
Josh Singer
Josh Zuckerman
Joshua Jackson
Judd Apatow
Judy Gold
Judy Kuhn
Julia Knitel 
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Julianne Nicholson
Julie Halston
June Squibb
Justin Theroux
Kate Hamill
Katherine LaNasa
Kathleen Chalfant
Kathleen Hanna
Kathryn Erbe
Kathryn Gallagher
Kathryn Grody
Kathryn Hahn
Katie Finneran
Katrina Bowden
Katy O’Brian
Keith Cotton
Keith Powell
Kelley Curran
Kelli O’Hara
Kellie Overbey 
Kelly Carlin-McCall
Kelly Jenrette
Kenneth Lonergan
Kerry Washington
Kevin Bacon
Kevin Cahoon
Kirsten Dunst
Kristen Johnston
Kristin Davis
Kristine Nielsen
Kumail Nanjiani
Kyra Sedgwick
Lake Bell
LaToya Tonodeo 
Laura Benanti
Laura Dave
Laura Linney 
Lee Rose
Lena Dunham
Lennon Parham
Lesli Linka Glatter
Lewis Black
Lilah Richcreek Estrada
Lilly Wachowski
Linda Emond
Linda Powell
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Lisa Guerrero
Lisa Kron
Lucy Freyer
Luis & Luz Miranda
Maddie Corman
Madeline Weinstein
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Maia Mitchell
Malachi Weir
Marc Kudisch
Marcia Cross
Maria Dizzia
Marin Ireland
Marjan Neshat 
Mark Duplass
Mark Ruffalo
Martha Plimpton
Martin Short
Mary Beth Barone
Mary Catherine Garrison
Mary Elizabeth Ellis
Mary-Louise Parker
Matt Walsh
Maude Apatow
Max Silvestri
Maya Rudolph 
Megan Byrne
Melissa Benoist
Melissa Fumero
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Villaseñor
Meredith Salenger
Merrin Dungey
Meryl Streep
Michael Cerveris
Michael Ian Black
Michael Keaton 
Michael Kosta
Michael McKean
Michael Nouri
Michae Shannon
Michael Sucsy
Michael Tucker
Michaela Watkins
Michelle Visage
Miriam Shor
Miriam Silverman
Misha Collins
Molly Bernard
Molly Gordon
Molly Ringwald
Murray Hill 
Naomi Watts & Billy Crudup
Natalie Portman 
Nathan Lane
Neal Brennan
Nia DaCosta
Nicole Brydon Bloom
Nicole Eggert
Nicole Maines
Nicolette Robinson
Nimesh Patel
Nnamdi Asomugha
Noah Galvin
Noah Wyle
Olivia Rodrigo
Olli Haaskivi
Orfeh
Padma Lakshmi
Paige Hurd
Pamela Adlon
Parker Posey
Patricia Clarkson
Patton Oswalt
Paul Feig
Paul McCrane
Paul Scheer
Paul Thureen
Paul W. Downs & Lucia Aniello
Pauline Chalamet
Pedro Pascal
Pete Holmes
Peter Friedman
Peter Gallagher
Piper Perabo
Punkie Johnson
Rachel Bloom
Rachel Dratch
Rachel Morrison
Rafael Casal
Rainn Wilson
Ramy Youssef
Raoul Peck
Regina Hall
Regina King
Retta
Richard Kind
Richard Schiff
Rick Barrio Dill
Rita Wilson
Rob Delaney
Rob Morrow
Robert DeNiro
Robert Horn
Roma Maffia
Ronny Chieng
Rooney Mara & Joaquin Phoenix
Rosario Dawson
Rosemary Harris 
Rosie O’Donnell
Roy Wood Jr.
Rufus Wainwright
Ruth Negga
Rutina Wesley
Sally Kohn
Sam Means
Sam Morril
Sam Pinkleton
Sam Richardson
Sandy Rustin
Sarah Adina Smith
Sarah Killough
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Ramos
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sarah Steele
Sasheer Zamata
Scott Ellis 
Scott Silver
Selena Gomez
Sharon Horgan
Sharon Stone
Shawn Hatosy
Sherri Saum
Sheryl Crow
Shoshana Bean
Skye P. Marshall
Sofia Black-D’Elia
Spencer Garrett
Stephen Kay
Stephen Spinella
T.R. Knight
Tala Ashe 
Taylor Schilling 
Taylor Tomlinson
Terry Kinney
Tessa Thompson
Tig Notaro 
Tim Bagley
Tim Matheson
Timothy Olyphant
Tom Bergeron
Tom Hanks
Tom Morello
Tony Gilroy
Tony Goldwyn
Tonya Pinkins
Trinidad James
Troian Bellisario
Tzi Ma
Uzo Aduba
Veanne Cox
Vince Nappo
W. Kamau Bell
Wallace Shawn
Warren Adams
Wil Wheaton
Will Harrison
Wilson Cruz
Yasmeen Fletcher
Yvette Nicole Brown
Zazie Beetz
Zoë Chao
Zoë Winters
Zooey Deschanel
Zosia Mamet

“The View” Sidesteps Jimmy Kimmel, But Addresses Free Speech, FCC: “No one silences us…we’re still here…we’re still broadcasting”

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Whoopi Goldberg finally addressed the Jimmy Kimmel fiasco this morning on The View.

Whoopi opened the show saying this: “No one silences us…we’re still here…we’re still broadcasting.”

But in the end The View didn’t really tackle the Kimmel situation with ABC. They side stepped it very carefully with nary a mention of the talk show host’s suspension.

Whoopi said the lack of comment last Thursday was because they were waiting for Kimmel to say something. “Did y’all think we weren’t going to address this?”

Notably, Joy Behar is not on today’s show. No explanation.

Whoopi says to Donald Trump: “You don’t understand how the First Amendment works.”

It looks like the gloves are off. The View used clips of Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and other politicians decrying censorship.

This may be Disney clearing the path for Kimmel to return. It certainly shows a little backbone on the part of the network.

A full transcript and video will be available later.

In the second segment, the group discusses the FCC with almost no talk of Kimmel.

keep refreshing….

Cold Heart: Rumors That Dua Lipa Fired Manager over Politics, But Really She Hasn’t Had a Hit in a Long Time, May Have Maxed Out

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Dua Lipa. What a hit she was from around 2017-2021.

Not only did she have her own chart hits, she sang with Elton John on his “Cold Heart.”

But pop stars are like sports stars. They have an expiration date. Dua Lipa may have hit hers.

There’s a rumor that she fired her manager this week over politics. She’s pro-Palestinian. He’s Jewish. Frankly, he should have fired her.

But here’s some reality. Dua Lipa’s last album, sold only 110,000 physical albums and downloads, according to Luminate.

With streaming, it bulked up to over 700,000.

But her prior album, “Future Nostalgia,” sold over 320,000 downloads and CDs. With streaming the total was a whopping 5 million.

Get the picture? A downward trend has emerged.

Year to date, “Future Nostalgia” has sold 320,000– mostly from streaming. But “Radical Optimism” has sold about that number– mostly from streaming.

If Dua Lipa and her manager, David Levy, have split, my guess it’s more about trying to turn around a rudderless ship — bigger deal than who plays at a charity concert. (Lipa was apparently upset Levy didn’t want the dreadful pro-Hezbollah Kneecap to perform at Glastonbury this year.)

Lipa is already being called antisemitic in the British press.

Updates coming…

Mariah’s Media Onslaught Begins Wednesday — She’s Here for It All To Promote New Album and Wants to Everyone to Know Where and When

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Mariah Carey is here for it all.

On Tuesday she starts a publicity onslaught to promote her new album, called “Here For It All.”

She’s even Tweeted out her media dates so fans can follow along. The question is, will they buy the album?

“Here for It All” already has two dud singles to its credit. A possible third one, the title tracks, is a ballad that sounds like about ten different songs. That might help it on the radio.

Mariah will celebrate Rosh Hashanah (just kidding) on Wednesday morning with Gayle King. For the second day (again, kidding) she’s with Kelly and Mark Live.

On Friday Mariah will be with Drew Barrymore. Next Monday, the 29th, she lands at the Tonight show. On Tuesday the 30th there are pretaped appearances with Keke Palmer, and Jennifer Hudson. October 1st she finishes up with Andy Cohen on Bravo.

Will she sing on these shows? Who knows? Will she vamp and lip synch? Why not? Will she carry on dramatically and talk about Bugatti cars and diamonds? Let’s hope so.

Right now, “Here for It All” is at number 36 on amazon.com counting advance sales. Mariah has one week to launch the album before Taylor Swift arrives with the British army at Normandy.

Even if this doesn’t work out, Christmas is around the corner. That’s Mariah’s money making season anyway.

Sad Sunday Box Office as Sony’s “Journey” Comes to An End, Universal’s “Him” Is Ho Hum, But “Downton” Keeps On Chugging

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What a sad weekend at the box office.

The number 1 movie is Sony’s anime, “Demon Slayer,” a hit around the world.

“Demon Slayer” has made $104 million here, and $555 million total around the world. Not one person you know knows what it is, but Sony needs to it at this point.

All of Sony’s movies with humans have been a disaster. Their “Big Bold Beautiful Journey” has been a big, bold, bad dream.

Co-starring Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie, “BBJ” made just $3.5 million this weekend. It cost around $55 million. So another one goes in the dumpster. Does Sony still make the Walkman?

Otherwise, we have Jordan Peele’s “Him.” Peele’s “Get Out” was such a phenomenon, but he’s never been able to reproduce it. Just like M. Night Shayamalan with “The Sixth Sense.” Total $13.5 million this weekend. Dead on arrival. Peele is so talented, maybe it’s time to try a different genre.

“Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale” pushed to $31 million. Nice work. It can keep going for a while before hitting Peacock or wherever. Fans will always want it.

Bleecker Street finally reported on “Spinal Tap 2.” This week it lost 594 theaters. Total take so far is $2.5 million. This weekend: $373,000. Coming this Friday should be a pull from a thousand theaters if not more. It’s not really playing in the theaters where it’s booked. It does seem like “Spinal Tap” cast member Harry Shearer, also co-creator, may have something to say soon. It won’t be good.

Trump Mixes Up Direct Messaging for Social Media, Accidentally Sends Pam Bondi Public Note to Prosecute His Enemies

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Donald Trump obviously thought he was sending a private message to his stooge, Pam Bondi, Attorney General.

Instead he posted it by mistake to his Truth Social.

In the message, since deleted, Trump tells Pam to prosecute his enemies. They are former FBI Director James Comey, NY Attorney General Leticia James, and Senator Adam Schiff.

Then he pressed SEND. And millions saw it or will see it now.

The missive, seen below, is just further indication that Trump’s whole presidency revolves around vendettas.

At least we know now that Trump grasps his two impeachments and five indictments. He wants Bondi to go after these people. Great reference to Lindsay Graham, Trump’s puppet.

Mouse Trap: Dozens Of Disney Plus Subscribers — Maybe Hundreds or Thousands — Cancelling Subscription to Streaming Service

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The Kimmel Effect is mushrooming.

Dozens — maybe hundreds or thousands — of Disney Plus subscribers are cancelling their subscriptions.

The easiest way to tell is to follow this link.

A lot of people say they’ve tried to cancel but can’t get through the Disney system.

In a lot of cases, leaving Disney Plus also means Hulu, ESPN, etc. if you have it all bundled.

But people are angry about the censorship of Jimmy Kimmel. They don’t care about a company called Nexstar trying to buy one called Tegna. They’re only interested that Donald Trump is trying to wipe out the First Amendment, and Disney is going along with it.

If this situation persists into next week, watch Disney World, Disneyland, and other related products suffer, too. There are plenty of less expensive places to visit.

And here we thought Florida’s backward laws would drive Disney World out. Turns out, they could be their own worst enemy.