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Russell Smith

‘We wished Ariana would stroll within the pub’

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A lady who accused Conor McGregor of raping her has mentioned “justice has been served” after she received her civil case in opposition to the Irish blended martial arts fighter.

Nikita Hand has been awarded €248,603 (£206,000) in damages after a jury at Dublin’s Excessive Court docket discovered McGregor assaulted her in a Dublin resort in 2018.

McGregor, 36, made no remark as he swiftly left court docket following the choice on Friday night.

He later mentioned in an announcement that he had instructed his authorized staff to attraction the civil court docket’s choice, including he was “disenchanted that the jury didn’t hear all of the proof that the director of public prosecutions reviewed”.

He ended the assertion saying: “I’m with my household, targeted on my future.”

McGregor had beforehand informed the court docket he had consensual intercourse with Ms Hand in a penthouse on the Beacon Lodge in December 2018.

‘Irrespective of who the individual is, justice shall be served’

Talking outdoors court docket after the choice, an emotional Ms Hand mentioned the final two weeks of her civil case in opposition to the fighter have been a “nightmare” and has impacted not solely her life however her daughter’s, pals and family members.

“I wish to begin off by saying I am overwhelmed and touched by the help I’ve obtained from everyone,” the mother-of-one mentioned.

“It is one thing that I am going to always remember for the remainder of my life.

“Now that justice has been served, I can now attempt to transfer on and look ahead to the longer term with my household and pals and daughter.”

Ms Hand continued: “I hope my story is a reminder that irrespective of how afraid you may be: Converse up, you will have a voice and carry on combating for justice.

“You’ll be able to get up for your self if one thing occurs to you – irrespective of who the individual is – and justice shall be served.”

Ms Hand informed the civil court docket McGregor pinned her to a mattress, choked her 3 times and “brutally raped and battered” her.

The jury was informed she was left with in depth accidents, together with purple and blue bruising alongside her fingers and wrists, a bloodied scratch to her breast and tenderness to her neck.

However attorneys for the fighter contested the lawsuit and accused her of tried “extortion”.

They pointed to CCTV footage of Ms Hand arriving at and leaving the resort with McGregor and a second man, James Lawrence, whom she additionally accused of assault.

Each McGregor and Lawrence denied any wrongdoing. Whereas Ms Hand received her case in opposition to McGregor, she misplaced her declare in opposition to Lawrence.

Break-in at house

Initially of the trial – when no jury was current – the court docket heard a bunch of masked males broke into Ms Hand’s house, smashed home windows and stabbed her boyfriend on 14 June.

Ms Hand’s counsel John Gordon mentioned they weren’t “laying that on the toes of the defendants or saying they’ve something to do with that”.

“We do make the declare that it was not an untargeted assault, (it) rose from supporters of the primary named defendant (McGregor),” he added.

“It’s associated to the declare that she needed to transfer out of the Drimnagh space.”

The choose dominated it to be “utterly irrelevant and should not be referred to” in the course of the trial.

On Monday, McGregor’s authorized staff informed jurors it didn’t matter if they didn’t like and even loathed the well-known fighter, urging them to take a look at the proof and never his character.

McGregor and Ms Hand knew one another and had sometimes been involved on social media, the civil trial heard.

Earlier than the assault, Ms Hand had contacted the fighter, who picked up her and a pal in his automobile.

McGregor “got here on to her”, however she didn’t need to have sexual activity with him as she was on her interval, the court docket heard.

Cher has opened up about her experiences in Hollywood, revealing that there have been simply two administrators she didn’t like in an performing profession spanning six a long time.

The US artist, 78, is understood for releasing hit singles reminiscent of “Consider” and “If I Might Flip Again Time” in addition to for starring in motion pictures reminiscent of The Witches of Eastwick, Masks, and Tea with Mussolini.

She has now launched the primary a part of her new memoir, through which she remembers her storied profession in leisure in addition to her chaotic childhood and romantic relationships.

Selling the memoir in an interview with The Occasions, Cher mentioned there have been simply two administrators she didn’t get pleasure from working with: Peter Bogdanovich and “the man from The Muppets”, apparently referring to Frank OZ, recognized for his work directing The Muppets motion pictures who was employed to direct the 1990 movie Mermaids, through which Cher starred.

“I really bought the man from The Muppets fired. I mentioned, both you’re going or I’m going, which is a disgrace as a result of he’s a extremely good director, however he had a factor about me. He would go, ‘Not less than my spouse loves me!’” she mentioned.

The Unbiased has contacted Oz’s consultant for remark.

In the meantime the late Bogdanovich, who as soon as claimed Cher was essentially the most tough individual he’d ever labored with, was branded an “asshole” by the star: “He was not good to the ladies within the movie and he was so f***ing smug. I actually, actually disliked him.”

She recalled one specific encounter with the director whereas taking pictures the 1985 movie Masks: “He is available in and says, ‘Cher, the place do you assume we should always movie this scene?’ And I say, effectively, the kitchen is working fairly effectively, why don’t we do this once more?

“The following morning he arrives on set, consuming an egg sandwich,and begins screaming that he’s not going to let me direct this movie; I’m a no one; he can lower me out at any second. Oh yeah, he was a pig.”

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Within the first a part of her memoir, Cher additionally recounts how she was pressured to handle the actions of her personal husband, the late Sonny Bono, after making a horrifying discovery in regards to the artist’s contract she was below.

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On the time, Cher was within the strategy of divorcing Bono and nearing the tip of their star-making selection present, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which was cancelled on account of their break up in 1974.

Report govt David Geffen, whom Cher was relationship on the time, managed to pay money for her contract: “He referred to as me up after studying it and mentioned, “Sweetheart, this contract is involuntary servitude. You’re employed for Sonny. You don’t have any rights, no vote, no cash, nothing,” Cher recounted. “You’re an worker of one thing referred to as ‘Cher Enterprises’ with a wage you had been possible by no means paid and three weeks’ trip per 12 months.”

Cher mentioned that she was surprised and initially refused to consider this was the case: “Then David began studying the contract to me, and positive sufficient, I couldn’t even signal a [cheque] or withdraw any cash with out Sonny or Irwin’s signature.

“I used to be an worker of Cher Enterprises with no possession, so I couldn’t entry any of the cash I earned for the corporate,” she mentioned.

“Past that, I used to be signed to the corporate and will solely work with Sonny’s permission. That meant not solely did I’ve no cash, I had no approach to make any cash until Sonny signed off on it.”

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‘Justice might be served’

PA Media

‘Positioned in a chokehold’

Singer-songwriter Khalid got here out as homosexual in a sequence of tweets about his sexuality on Friday. “🏳️‍🌈!!! there yall go. subsequent subject please lol,” he stated in an preliminary submit. “Wait hope Mr Khalid isn’t GEHHH!” somebody replied, to which Khalid clarified, “I’m! And that’s okay.” He then advised that he wasn’t the primary individual to share this private information. “I obtained outted [sic] and the world nonetheless continues to show,” he tweeted. “Let’s get this straight (lmao) I’m not ashamed of my sexuality! In actuality it ain’t nobodies enterprise! However I’m okay with me 🖤 love yall.” In different tweets, he emphasised that he has not been “hiding” his identification. Khalid’s posts got here after fellow singer Hugo D Almonte took to X with claims about an ex that he didn’t initially establish by title. In a since-deleted tweet, Almonte stated he dated and broke up with a “dumb ass singer” who allegedly then falsely accused him of breaking into their dwelling. Almonte then appeared to verify who he was speaking about by posting a since-deleted selfie with Khalid alongside the caption, “Bitch ass 🥷🏾 lied and stated that I broke into his home trigger I didn’t need him.” Whereas Khalid didn’t specify who outed him, the web appeared fairly certain that it was Almonte. (Singer and producer MNEK tweeted instantly at Almonte to name him out for “loser Loser LOSER LOSER behaviour.”)

When requested for remark, Almonte defended himself in an e mail assertion to Vulture. “[It’s] actually humorous the way it works as a result of my intentions was by no means to out somebody who’s clearly been out already locally in Los Angeles,” he wrote partially. “my intentions was to share my story and share how he tried to make use of his energy to silence me as a result of I merely ended our relationship, he was afraid of what I’d say.” Almonte added that folks have began to “belittle” his character and ship him dying threats. “all I’ve realized from that is by no means enable anybody to silence me, it’s loopy that these individuals stated I used to be chasing clout, once I was holding onto this for 5 years, and I lastly had sufficient,” he concluded. Almonte additionally tweeted and deleted an analogous however longer Notes-app assertion that doubled down and declared, “So if I had an opportunity to do it throughout, I’d do it time and again and once more the identical approach.”

Cher is trying again on the 2 administrators she didn’t like working with.

In an interview with the U.Okay.’s Instances printed Friday timed to the discharge of the primary of her two-part memoir, the singer mentioned her performing profession and the issue of working with two filmmakers specifically.

“There are solely two administrators I didn’t like: Peter Bogdanovich and the man from The Muppets,” she mentioned as she mirrored on clashing with Bogdanovich on 1985’s Masks and with Frank Oz on 1990’s Mermaids. “I really received the man from The Muppets fired. I mentioned, ‘both you’re going or I’m going,’ which is a disgrace as a result of he’s a extremely good director, however he had a factor about me. He would go, ‘At the very least my spouse loves me!’”

On the late Bogdanovich, who died in 2022, Cher continued, “He was an asshole. He was not good to the women within the movie and he was so fucking smug. I actually, actually disliked him.”

It appeared the sensation was mutual as hinted in Bogdanovich’s interview with Vulture in 2019. On the time the director mentioned of Cher, “She didn’t belief anyone, particularly males. That’s why she dropped her father’s identify, Sarkisian.”

Whereas filming Masks, Cher recounted, “He is available in and says, ‘Cher, the place do you suppose we must always movie this scene?’ And I say, properly, the kitchen is working fairly properly, why don’t we do this once more? The subsequent morning he arrives on set, consuming an egg sandwich, and begins screaming that he’s not going to let me direct this movie; I’m a no one; he can reduce me out at any second. Oh yeah, he was a pig.”

She continued, “Ask all people: I’m very easy to work with. I’m not arbitrary within the issues I say, as a result of it’s proper to do what the director desires till you’ll want to converse up. Meryl [Streep] says that if the director desires you to do one thing you don’t like, you say: sure, sure, sure, I’ll do it that means. You then do it your means and so they don’t even discover. I’ve labored with Bob Altman, Mike Nichols, Norman Jewison … Actually nice administrators whom I respect. I do know when to hear.”

Earlier this 12 months it was introduced that Dey Avenue Books, an imprint of the William Morrow Group at HarperCollins Publishers, would publish the primary of a two-part memoir this November.

“After greater than 70 years of combating to stay her life on her personal phrases, Cher lastly reveals her true story in intimate element, in a two-part memoir,” the writer teased. “Together with her trademark honesty and humor, Cher: The Memoir traces how this diamond within the tough succeeded with no plan and little confidence to turn into the trailblazing celebrity the world has been unable to disregard for greater than half a century.”

The upcoming memoir is about to chronicle the singer’s childhood as much as assembly and marrying Sonny Bono, whereas detailing “the extremely difficult relationship that made them world-famous, however ultimately drove them aside.”

The memoir has been extremely anticipated after she first teased she was writing it in 2017. When giving a standing replace to The Hollywood Reporter final 12 months, Cher quipped, “Nicely, we’re nearly completed as a result of [HarperCollins] goes, ‘Cher, how lengthy are you going to work on this?’ That’s tough too, however we’re so shut.”

Cher: The Memoir Half 1 is accessible now. Cher: The Memoir, Half Two will comply with in 2025.

Singer Khalid has stated he was “outed” as he confirmed to followers that he’s a part of the LGBT+ neighborhood.

The 26-year-old artist, who launched his third album Honest in August, responded to followers apparently questioning his sexuality on social media.

He shared a rainbow flag then added: “There y’all go, subsequent subject please lol.”

Clarifying, he quote-tweeted a fan who wrote: “Wait hope Mr Khalid isn’t GEHHH!”

“I’m! And that’s OK,” Khalid stated.

He added: “I obtained outed and the world nonetheless continues to show. Let’s get this straight (lmao) I’m not ashamed of my sexuality! In actuality it ain’t nobodies enterprise! However I’m okay with me. Love y’all.”

The “Younger Dumb and Broke” singer additionally responded to a follower who implied his followers already knew about his sexuality, claiming “the closet was glass child”.

“I wasn’t hiding something,” Khalid retorted. “It’s simply not any of your online business.”

Different followers defended the singer as they identified he launched “an LGBTQ anthem” in 2022, “Satellite tv for pc”, prompting him to reply: “Thanks!!! I used to be by no means hiding.”

Showing to attract a line underneath the topic, he concluded: “Aight love y’all thank y’all I’m off this.”

Khalid has beforehand spoken concerning the stress he feels being within the public eye, explaining that his social nervousness has affected his potential to forge new relationships.

“It’s one thing I’ve gained I really feel like,” he wrote in a 2018 submit to X/Twitter. “Making pals was once really easy and s*** now I’m like… let me simply go house.”

Responding to a fan who requested him what it was like being a celeb with nervousness, he stated: “Going out in public is somewhat laborious, being recorded non cease, everybody gazing you and s***.”

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Raised in Texas, he shot to fame along with his 2016 debut single “Location”, which charted within the high 20 on the Billboard Sizzling 100.

He has achieved additional hits together with “Love Lies” with former Fifth Concord star turned solo artist Normani, and “Eastside” with Benny Blanco and Halsey.

“Discuss”, the lead single from his second album, Free Spirit, earnt him a Grammy nomination for File of the 12 months.

Honest, his third studio album, was launched in August this 12 months to a blended reception from critics. It options British Mercury Prize-winning artist Arlo Parks, with whom Khalid sings on the observe “Breathe”.

Through the years, he has collaborated with a lot of fellow stars together with Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Kane Brown and Ed Sheeran.

Shortly after 5pm, police stated they acquired experiences of suspicious exercise on two buses in Chester – one close to the prepare station and one close to the bus interchange.

A cordon was put in place with a number of roads closed, and trains from the station have been quickly shut down as emergency providers handled the incident.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) groups have been additionally in attendance.

AS IT HAPPENED: Strains open after safety alert at Chester Railway Station

Police stated “all was so as”, with the cordon eliminated and roads reopened later that night time.

A Chester Police spokesperson stated: “At 5.09pm at this time (Friday 22 November) police acquired a report of suspicious exercise on two busses in Chester Metropolis Centre. One close to the prepare station and one close to the bus interchange.

“As a precaution a cordon was put in place and quite a lot of roads have been closed whereas we investigated the report. EOD attended with different emergency providers to help.

“All was so as, the cordon was launched and roads reopened.

“We perceive that this brought about some disruption and concern however we are actually comfortable there’s nothing untoward.

“Thanks in your endurance whereas we handled this incident.”

22 November 2024, 20:02

British actor and vocal powerhouse Cynthia Erivo has revealed the acute preparation that went into her position as Elphaba within the new ‘Depraved’ blockbuster.

Cynthia Erivo has secured quadruple-threat standing along with her newest look as Elphaba within the new blockbuster Depraved: Half One.

Delivering an inimitable efficiency because the green-hued sorceress in a virtuosic performing, singing, and dancing capability, the London-born actor added stuntwoman to her increasing checklist of credentials.

“I cherished the sensation of with the ability to be flown round,” Erivo advised Traditional FM’s Zeb Soanes. “There’s a harmoniousness that goes with that type of flight work. It’s wonderful, I adore it.”

Zeb had requested her a few promotional behind-the-scenes clip for the film, which noticed Erivo suspended from the ceiling by wires and being flung round in a loop-the-loop.

And as if that wasn’t spectacular sufficient, she belted out the ultimate verse of ‘Defying Gravity’ whereas she did it.

Learn extra: When Cynthia Erivo serenaded Julie Andrews with gorgeous rendition of ‘Edelweiss’

How did Cynthia Erivo put together to sing ‘Defying Gravity’?

The star shared that carrying the harness for flight work along with the corsetry of her Elphaba costume meant that she needed to retrain her vocal approach and endure a gruelling regime to satisfy the vocal calls for of her character’s climactic second, ‘Defying Gravity’.

“Your diaphragm is inhibited, and so are your lungs,” Erivo advised Zeb. “However my fantastic vocal coach Antea [Birchett] labored with me to seek out out the place to put the breath.“

Psychological tips additionally performed an element in her preparation for the scene. She advised Zeb: “Usually with huge sounds you want the bottom to push again on, and I don’t have the bottom beneath me. But when I can virtually think about the bottom beneath my ft when I’m making these sounds, it’s simpler to get the drive up and out to make the sound.”

Vocal re-training wasn’t the one manner she ready for the position. When Zeb requested her concerning the ‘cardiovascular conditioning’ she underwent throughout filming, Erivo responded: “I used to be up each morning at about 2am doing one to 2 hours of understanding earlier than getting within the [makeup] chair.

“Each morning I’d do a long term or a motorbike trip, and sing on the identical time. It wasn’t explicit songs, however something that gave me area to be open.”

The concept, she continued, was for her physique to grow to be used to shifting and making sound on the identical time: “It helps to situation the lungs, to breathe barely in a different way than if I used to be standing nonetheless and singing.”

‘Depraved’ composer Stephen Schwartz breaks down his iconic ‘Defying Gravity’ | Traditional FM

How did it really feel to sing ‘Defying Gravity’?

Anybody who has heard Depraved’s musical magnum opus earlier than will know the anthemic ‘Defying Gravity’, and particularly Elphaba’s awe-inspiring wordless outburst on the finish, likened by its composer Stephen Schwartz to a ‘struggle cry’.

“You produce that unimaginable remaining be aware,” Zeb requested Erivo, “which feels, whenever you’re watching the film, like an unimaginable emotional launch. Is that the way it felt for you?”

“Undoubtedly,” the actor agreed. “I used to be at all times trying ahead to that second, simply because every part builds to there. Your physique and your mind and your thoughts – and your coronary heart, actually – are ready to have the ability to launch that one remaining be aware, as a result of it’s the final word second the place she will be able to grow to be herself.”

What was it wish to sing with Ariana Grande?

Starring reverse Erivo in Depraved is Ariana Grande, fellow vocal phenomenon and a pop star and actor in her personal proper, who portrays Glinda the ‘Good Witch’.

The pair share a number of duets within the movie, together with ‘What is that this Feeling’ and ‘In style’. From the very first trailer, Depraved followers remarked on the way in which the 2 stars’ voices blended in good concord.

“You’re blessed in that your co-star [Grande] has finished a little bit of singing earlier than,” Zeb joked. “However you’ve very totally different voices – how do you handle to mix so spectacularly effectively?”

“The precise most essential factor is listening to what the opposite particular person is doing,” Erivo responded. “For me it was only a pleasure and a delight as a result of [Ariana], with the intention to do this, is being so beneficiant. We each have to offer to one another in order that we are able to meet one another within the center with the sounds of our voices.

“Aside, our voices sound so very, very totally different. However once we sing collectively you’ll be able to’t inform which is which, and that’s as a result of there’s a beautiful, beneficiant listening taking place on the identical time.”

Watch the complete interview between Zeb Soanes and Cynthia Erivo right here. Depraved: Half One is in cinemas now.

For greater than 20 years, the musical Depraved has been a Broadway favourite. Now, The Wizard of Oz prequel is making the shift from the stage to the display. Since 2000, actresses all around the nation — and the world — have performed Elphaba, and the most recent powerhouse singer to don inexperienced face paint and belt that signature gravity-defying excessive word is Cynthia Erivo.

Erivo is not a stranger to excessive notes. She made her Broadway debut in 2015, starring as Celie Harris within the revival of The Colour Purple – a task that gained her the 2016 Tony Award for Finest Actress in a Musical.

Erivo visited NPR’s New York studio earlier than the movie’s launch to speak with All Issues Thought-about host Scott Detrow about moving into the long-lasting function.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

Interview highlights

Scott Detrow: From the primary few seconds of the movie, I used to be simply so blown away by the visuals and the world of Oz, and the way in which that [the movie] portrays it. I am simply questioning, what did it really feel prefer to step onto that set in full costume and make-up and simply inhabit that world for the primary time?

Cynthia Erivo: I imply, it was actually, actually overwhelming. And I believe the beauty of doing it the way in which we have now, is that the whole lot is actually sensible. So [production designer] Nathan Crowley and his great set designing workforce created the world of Oz so after we have been on the set, we have been on the set. Little or no inexperienced display, little or no blue display. You’ll be able to contact it, you possibly can really feel it. It felt like you possibly can kind of disappear into the world. I liked the sensation. It was very overwhelming. That very first day was lots. (laughs)

Detrow: Going into this, I am curious, how a lot did Depraved the musical or The Wizard of Oz – how massive did these two loom in your thoughts rising up? You are a lifelong theater particular person, musical particular person…

Erivo: Clearly, The Wizard of Oz for me — was first. It was lots of my childhood. We used to look at it as a household. And in London, you used to have Saturday movies, weekend movies, and they might come on, I believe it was Channel 4. After which, once I was at drama college, I believe I used to be about 20 years previous, that is once I heard about Depraved as a result of I began studying the music. A good friend of mine would steal away with me to a piano room, and we’d sit on the piano and we’d be taught the libretto. By the point I left drama college at about 23, I knew the music just like the again of my hand – and I would by no means seen the present!

By the point I used to be 25, once I might afford a ticket to go to the West Finish, I purchased myself a solo ticket and took myself on a date – it was my birthday – to see Depraved. I believe there’s one thing a couple of story — about an individual who looks like they’re on the skin — who’s handled like they’re completely different. That kind of clung to me. I obtained it instantly.

Detrow: What do you suppose you’d have thought in that second if anyone stated, “And down the road, you may be starring within the film model of this, going all around the world speaking about it”?

Erivo: I might most likely have stated, “I am going to imagine it once I see it.” You realize, I barely believed that I used to be going to go to Broadway with The Colour Purple, so I do not know if I might have believed them, to be sincere.

Detrow: When you concentrate on the themes of Depraved, there’s a very highly effective “us vs. them” present working via the film. Have you ever given thought to how related that’s on this specific second in time?

Erivo: Yeah, and it retains developing about how related it’s proper now. However I do not suppose that ever adjustments. I believe that it stays related. I believe we maintain being reminded of it. We’re nonetheless shunning sure individuals. We’re nonetheless not making area for individuals. However there may be room to vary. There may be room for empathy, there may be room for development. So, I do suppose it is all the time going to be related. I believe it was related when The Wizard of Oz got here out, and I believe it is related proper now.

Depraved tells the origin story of Elphaba, the Depraved Witch of the West (Cynthia Erivo), and her friendship with Galinda, who turns into Glinda the Good (Ariana Grande).

Giles Keyte/Common Footage

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Giles Keyte/Common Footage

Detrow: This can be a film that, as a musical – as you effectively know – so many individuals have related with so deeply as a result of so many individuals have felt in a technique or one other like an outsider. What do you say to anyone who’s listened to that soundtrack 7,000 instances as a result of they really feel like an outsider?

Erivo: I might say that that factor that makes you are feeling like an outsider is that factor that additionally makes you particular. I am positively not like your cookie-cutter, regular, on a regular basis being. I am very completely different, ? And it takes time to be okay with that. However the second you’re, it’s totally releasing.

There’s one thing about you. You are completely different, and that is okay. And it is perhaps the factor that will get you precisely the place that you must be. I do not suppose that if I did not perceive what it’s prefer to really feel completely different, what it is prefer to really feel such as you’re on the skin, that this [role] would have come my approach. This can be a large second, and my desires are coming true, however I believe it positively has one thing to do with how completely different I really feel and have been, ?

Be courageous. You may be okay.