By Wonderwall.com Editors
3:30pm PST, Nov 9, 2020
Warner Bros. still contracted to pay Johnny Depp's whole salary despite forced exit
Johnny Depp may be out of a job after exiting "Fantastic Beasts 3" in the wake of his libel suit loss, but he's not out of a paycheck. Thanks to his "pay-or-play contract," Warner Bros. will have to pay the star his full salary, even though he's only shot one scene, THR reported Monday. Johnny, who sued The Sun over an article in which he was branded a "wife beater," failed to convince a judge in London that he never assaulted his ex-wife Amber Heard. On Nov. 2, Judge Andrew Nichol released his decision in the case, saying he believed the claims of abuse Amber made in her testimony. According to THR, that was enough for the studio to recast Johnny's role in the franchise and he was reportedly asked to resign. Johnny's also suing Amber in Virgina for defamation related to an op-ed she wrote about surviving domestic violence. He's due in court later this month for a deposition in that case.
Keep reading for the latest on Blue Ivy Carter's next big project and more …
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Blue Ivy Carter, 8, narrates a new audiobook version of 'Hair Love'
Beyonce and Jay-Z's daughter, Blue Ivy Carter, is making more strides in her blossoming entertainment career. After singing on her mom's track, "Brown Skin Girl" and appearing in the music video for the song, the 8-year-old has graced a new audiobook version of Matthew A. Cherry's popular children's story, "Hair Love," with her narration. In a post announcing the new audiobook on Twitter Monday, the author shared the cover art for the project, which includes Blue's name at the bottom. "Dreamscape presents 'Hair Love,' by Matthew A. Cherry," Blue's voice says in a clip on the post. "Narrated by Blue Ivy Carter," she adds. "Hair Love" features the story of a Black dad who learns how to do his daughter's hair after his wife is hospitalized. The author also co-directed the animated film based on "Hair Love" that won this year's Oscar for Best Animated Short Film.
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Kim Kardashian West organized a private Zoom call for 36 celebs with Dr. Anthony Fauci
Turns out Kim Kardashian West had a lot to do with Hollywood's strong social media push for wearing masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19. In March, the Surgeon General shouted-out Kylie Jenner on "Good Morning America," saying Kylie and other "social media influencers" should be using their platforms to let people know how "serious" the coronavirus pandemic could become. Kylie promptly posted a plea for fans to follow CDC recommendations like self-quarantining and social distancing. That sparked Kim to put together a list of stars for a private Zoom call with Dr. Anthony Fauci, according to CNN. "She wanted to speak with someone, to ask questions, so she could spread accurate information because there were so many inaccuracies those first few months," a source told the outlet. The call took place in April with 36 celebs from the worlds of entertainment and sports dialing in, including Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Katy Perry, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Falchuk, 2Chainz and Kim, among others. Fauci told CNN he thought it was a good idea because "each of them has enormous numbers on their social media accounts," so he could get messages about safety out to a much larger audience with their help. As for what they discussed, he said the stars "wanted to know about what they could do to stay safe, about wearing masks and avoiding crowds." Mila Kunis apparently wanted to know if Fauci himself was ordering takeout at that point, and whether he ate out of the container or transferred the food to his own plate. He said he told her he does order from restaurants "purely to support" them given the economic strain of quarantine. He added that he eats from his own plate sometimes and from the container other times, an answer that reportedly inspired Ashton to joke, "That's it — I'm ordering a pizza — finally!"
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Eva Longoria apologizes for and clarifies comments on Latina and Black women voters
Eva Longoria apologized Sunday for comments she made about the impact women of color had on Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. During a conversation earlier in the day on MSNBC, Eva told Ari Melber (via THR): "The women of color showed up in big ways. Of course, you saw in Georgia what Black women have done but Latina women were the real heroines here, beating men in turnout in every state and voting Biden-Harris at an average rate of close to 3 to 1." On social media, Eva was swiftly criticized for her "real heroines" remark, which seemed to downplay the key role Black women played the election's results. (According to NBC exit polls, 91 percent of Black women voted for Biden and Kamala Harris, while the work of organizers like Stacey Abrams and Black Votes Matter co-founder LaTosha Brown has been widely credited with increasing Black voter turnout and tamping down voter suppression.) On Sunday night, Eva clarified her previous comments. "When I said that Latinas were heroines in this election, I simply meant that they turned out in greater numbers and voted more progressively than LATINO MEN," she tweeted. "My wording was not clear and I deeply regret that, There is such a history in our community of anti-Blackness in our community and I would never want to contribute to that, so let me be very clear: Black women have long been the backbone of the Democratic Party, something we have seen played out in this election as well as previous ones."
Alex Trebek spent his final day just the way he wanted to
Alex Trebek spent his last day Sunday exactly the way he hoped he might — and that's been a comfort to his friends and colleagues. According to the "Jeopardy!" host's executive producer on his show, Mike Richards, who appeared on "Today" this week, Alex always knew how he envisioned those last 24 hours. "Even in his book, he described that he wanted his final day to be sitting on his swing next to his wife, Jean, and kind of watching the horizon and he got to do that," Mike said. "He was coherent, he wasn't in pain and the fact that he had a nice, final day makes all of us in the 'Jeopardy!' family feel much better," added the producer. A longtime television institution, Alex died on Nov. 8 after a 20-month long battle with pancreatic cancer.
After years of playing Donald Trump on "Saturday Night Live," Alec Baldwin might have found Trump's loss to Joe Biden bittersweet, since it probably means an end to Alec's weekly "SNL" appearances. Instead, he couldn't have been happier. "I don't believe I've ever been this overjoyed to lose a job before!" Alec tweeted Saturday morning after the Associated Press announced Biden had closed off the remaining paths Trump would have needed to win. "… It will be comforting when we have a President who doesn't Tweet twice as much as I do …," Alec continued. "They're gonna need an enormous shipment of tissues sent to Mar-a-Lago … On to my next wish. That everyone who voted in this election maintains that commitment and votes in the 2022 midterm elections. Let's keep this going!!!" Alec's fans, by the way, pointed out in the comments that "SNL" will probably still need his take on Trump, at least for a few months. "Mate," wrote one user. "… there's still the 'getting dragged out of the WH' sketch, the 'being arrested in Trump Tower' sketch, the multiple 'court trial' sketches, and a final ;can't tweet from prison' sketch. You'll be in work for a while yet. ;-)"
Zach Braff applauds Florence Pugh's 'intelligent' response to critics of their relationship
After Zach Braff celebrated his 45th birthday with his 24-year-old girlfriend, Florence Pugh, this spring, his social media turned into a platform for "abuse" and "bullying" aimed largely at Florence, Zach recalls in a new interview with Mr Porter. Ultimately, though, the situation just gave him one more thing to love about his girlfriend, who promptly shared a four-minute video on Instagram in which she defended their relationship, age gap and all. "I would never in my life — ever, ever — tell anyone who they can or cannot love. It is not your place. And really, it has nothing to do with you. The abuse that you throw at him is abuse that you're throwing at me," she asserted in the post. Speaking with Mr Porter, Zach still sounds in awe of her response. "I thought, 'How could I possibly follow anything as intelligent and articulate as that?'" he says. "So, I chose not to." Florence, however, later admitted how bad the comments made her feel at the time. "The fact is I'm not a reality TV star, I don't let people into my life like that," she told Sue Perkins on her podcast a few months later. "Since when has it been OK for people to shout at someone for their relationship? It's crazy to me."
Prince Harry's wreath request denied for Remembrance Day event
Over the weekend, as Prince Harry's family honored fallen soldiers by laying wreaths at London's national memorial on Remembrance Sunday, the wreath that had been created to be laid down on Harry's behalf went unused. According to People, that's because "courtiers and palace officials" opted to turn down the Duke of Sussex's request to have a wreath involved in the ceremony, since he and Duchess Meghan are no longer working members of the royal family, having stepped back from their roles in March. Harry — an Army veteran who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan over the course of his decade-long service tenure — was "saddened and disappointed by the decision," a source close to Harry tells People. Since he and Meghan couldn't travel from their new home in California to London for Remembrance Sunday, they held a private service of their own at the National Cemetery in Los Angeles. There, the couple reportedly placed flowers from their home garden on the graves of two soldiers who fought for the Commonwealth and laid a wreath at a plaque dedicated to "the men who offered their lives in defense of their country." During the year-long trial period for Harry and Meghan's new arrangement with reduced royal roles, Harry gets to keep a number of honorary ranks in the military, though he cannot actually serve.
Eddie Van Halen hailed as a contemporary 'Mozart' at Rock Hall Induction
"Eddie Van Halen was the Mozart of our generation." That's how Rage Against the Machine alum Tom Morello remembered the late guitarist during a special tribute staged as part of The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction's In Memoriam segment, Pitchfork reported Sunday. "He had the kind of talent that maybe comes around once a century," Tom continued. "Eddie Van Halen inspired me to practice 20,000 hours to try to get within 100,000 miles of his inspired mastery of the electric guitar." Other artists who shared their memories of the Van Halen founder, who lost his battle with throat cancer on Oct. 6, included Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Slash of Guns 'N Roses, who hailed Eddie as "a tremendously gifted musician" and said, "I'm gonna miss his playing and I'm gonna miss him as a friend."
Sean Connery's ashes will be scattered in the Bahamas and in Scotland
Sean Connery, who died in his home on Oct. 31 at age 90, will have two final resting places, his widow, Micheline Roquebrune, told the Scottish Mail on Sunday over the weekend. "We are going to bring Sean back to Scotland – that was his final wish. He wanted his ashes to be scattered in the Bahamas and also in his homeland," she said. "Whenever it is possible and safe to travel again, then it is the family's intention to return to Scotland with him." Micheline, 91, added that the family hopes to "organize a memorial service for him in Scotland," but travel restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic make it hard to know when that will be possible. The legendary "James Bond" star will be cremated at a private service near his home at Lyford Cay, Bahamas. Although Sean's cause of death was not revealed, his son said he had "been unwell for some time."
