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Djimon Hounsou mentioned in a current interview with CNN that he continues to battle as a working actor in Hollywood regardless of a number of roles in studio blockbusters underneath his belt and two Oscar nominations to his identify. The actor famous that his continued struggles in Hollywood factors to the “systemic racism” that prevails within the movie trade.

“I’m nonetheless struggling attempting to make a dwelling,” Hounsou mentioned. “After 30 years…perhaps the primary 10 years was attempting to acclimate myself to the trade, to determine myself. However I’ve been on this enterprise making movies now for over 20 years and with two Oscar nominations and been in lots of blockbuster movies, and but, I’m nonetheless struggling financially to make a dwelling. I’m undoubtedly underpaid.”

“That’s an indication for you that systemic racism will not be one thing you’ll be able to cope with frivolously,” he added. “It’s so deeply inserted in so many issues we do throughout the board. You don’t overcome it. You simply type of have to deal with it and survive one of the best ways you’ll be able to.”

Hounsou‘s profession in Hollywood has included studio tentpoles like “Livid 7,” two “Shazam!” movies, the Marvel motion pictures “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “Captain Marvel,” and the horror franchise entries “A Quiet Place: Half II” and “A Quiet Place: Day One,” plus Ridley Scott’s Oscar-winning blockbuster “Gladiator.” He was nominated for 2 finest supporting actor Oscars due to his work in “In America” and “Blood Diamond,” the latter of which co-starred Leonardo DiCaprio and grossed $170 million worldwide.

The actor informed The Guardian in 2023 that he feels “tremendously cheated” on the subject of Hollywood pay, explaining: “I’ve come up within the enterprise with some people who find themselves completely nicely off and have little or no of my accolades. So I really feel cheated when it comes to funds and when it comes to the workload as nicely.”

“I’ve gone to studios for conferences and so they’re like: ‘Wow, we felt such as you simply acquired off the boat after which went again [after ‘Amistad’]. We didn’t know you have been right here as a real actor,’” Hounsou mentioned on the time. “Whenever you hear issues like that, you’ll be able to see that some folks’s imaginative and prescient of you, or what you symbolize, may be very limiting. However it’s what it’s. It’s as much as me to redeem that.”

“I nonetheless should show why I have to receives a commission,” he added. “They all the time come at me with an entire low ball: ‘We solely have this a lot for the function, however we love you a lot and we actually assume you’ll be able to deliver a lot’… Movie after movie, it’s a battle. I’ve but to fulfill the movie that paid me pretty.”

Hounsou most just lately appeared in Zack Snyder’s two “Insurgent Moon” motion pictures for Netflix. His upcoming slate contains the survival film “Beneath the Storm” with Phoebe Dynevor, the thriller “The Zealot” with Kodi Smit-McPhee and the horror film “The Monster” from “Noticed” director Darren Lynn Bousman.

Roll up, roll up – enjoyable instances are right here once more, particularly for us women! Final week we had 2025’s first addition to the bulging information of true-crime tales, with the documentary sequence about rapist and serial killer Todd Kohlhepp (The Amazon Evaluate Killer). Now we’ve the primary documentary a couple of high-profile star claimed by a number of girls to be a violent sexual predator lengthy enabled by his fame, cash and energy to do precisely as he preferred, to as many younger girls as he preferred, with out concern of consequence.

Marilyn Manson: Unmasked is a meticulously assembled three-part account of the shock-rock musician’s profession and what was allegedly occurring behind the scenes. All of which, I ought to say, is denied by Manson (actual title Brian Warner) and on display screen by his quietly terrifying lawyer Howard King, whose favorite expression appears to be “full fabrication”.

It follows what has change into, depressingly, the standard trajectory of interviewing the accused’s buddies and associates, interwoven with testimony from his alleged victims, and permitting the viewer’s viewpoint to evolve. Former bandmate Stephen Bier is emblematic of the wrestle we see play out in so a lot of what we would name witnesses for the defence in such programmes: eager to not appear unsympathetic, however discovering it exhausting to not let an underlying incredulity present by way of. Being on a rock tour, he admits, “is a check of your advantage … And minors have totally different brains, they haven’t developed, et cetera, et cetera. However that’s a authorized downside!” Bier has an unlucky tendency to punctuate his ideas with laughter. He additionally notes that the tour supervisor would write the age of consent up within the bus “as a result of they’re totally different in each state”. He appears to assume that is proof of one thing good. However, gosh – I’d enterprise that it’s indicative of one thing fairly different.

Manson’s most well-known accuser is his former girlfriend and now movie and tv star Evan Rachel Wooden. She testified at a 2018 congressional listening to concerning a domestic-violence prevention invoice to years of horrific abuse at a accomplice’s arms, and later named him as Manson. It inspired different girls to come back ahead with comparable tales, and lawsuits in opposition to the musician started to build up. Some he has settled, others are ongoing. In response to his followers, Wooden is orchestrating a marketing campaign of lies in opposition to him and persuading different girls to hitch in. Wooden asks if that’s extra possible than the notion that “a nasty particular person has been doing dangerous issues for a very very long time”.

Past setting out the timelines and testimonies that should kind the backbone of this type of documentary, Marilyn Manson: Unmasked teases out the query of how ready folks ought to have been to tell apart between performative transgressions designed to shock (and construct the notoriety upon which his profession depended) and a person hiding horrible proclivities in plain sight. There may be plentiful footage of Manson on stage saying to his screaming followers issues like “Which one in every of you sixth graders desires me to make you’re feeling like a goddamn eighth grader?” and “Ship a few of these little eighth-grader women up right here so I can put my entire arm inside them”, and referring to their “sticky pussies”. I feel most of us would have been on excessive alert by then. However maybe it will rely upon how a lot cash he was making for us. And the way a lot we thought we may blame anybody for getting concerned with a self-proclaimed Devil lover. “When you’re a vegetarian, don’t go to a hamburger store,” advises one in every of his former colleagues.

What are we to make of the crew who apparently didn’t realise a barely acutely aware Wooden was, she says now, being raped by Manson as they filmed the Coronary heart-Formed Glasses – a Lolita reference – music video? Their silence and professed ignorance is proof, in keeping with King, of one other of these “full fabrications” by a girl decided “to destroy Brian professionally and emotionally”. Once more, it’s doable to really feel fairly in any other case.

What will we make of the media who at his peak uncritically adored Manson’s controversial methods and limitless quotability? Not that every one of his feedback made it into print. The final episode comprises beforehand unheard excerpts of the audiotapes that had been a prelude to a Rolling Stone journal piece. For instance, “I’m not into rape in any respect … I desire to interrupt a girl right down to the purpose the place they don’t have any selection however to undergo me. Rape is for cowards, for lazy folks.” It chimes completely with the onscreen testimonies of his alleged victims, together with and particularly Wooden. Nevertheless it was most likely simply his persona talking. Only a efficiency. As a result of who may consider there are males on the market who’re actually like that?

Actual Sociedad can’t hold him endlessly. 5 months after Liverpool had all however prised Martín Zubimendi away from Anoeta, Arsenal—able to pay his €60 million ($62 million) exit clause—is reportedly on the verge of signing the midfielder, most likely shifting to North London in the summertime.

The Day by day Mail broke the event, with retailers comparable to ESPN suggesting Arsenal is main the race. In buying the Spaniard, Arsenal, trailing Liverpool within the Premier League title cost this season, would strengthen its squad, including a reputation who shot to prominence after serving to La Roja beat England within the European Championship ultimate final 12 months.

But there isn’t a clear winner, regardless of the pedigree of the participant concerned.

The Impact On Arsenal

In enjoying type, the shy quantity six—tenacious, clean in possession, and adept at constructing the play—suits the Arsenal mildew completely. And he’ll undoubtedly be satisfied by Mikel Arteta’s concepts. The Gunners’ tactician can also be a San Sebastián native, so each will probably be on an identical wavelength.

Then once more, Zubimendi is probably too typical of an Arsenal participant. Breaking groups down and ending probabilities has usually been the group’s Achilles heel, not midfielders able to controlling the tempo of a recreation—already a robust level, even when Zubimendi’s defensive contribution would make a distinction.

Whereas it may nonetheless get hold of a much-needed striker earlier than subsequent season, €60 million ($62 million) for Zubimendi is sort of an outlay for somebody it doesn’t want—until one or each of Thomas Partey and Jorginho don’t lengthen their contracts and head out the door. That’s extra the case when factoring in revenue and sustainability guidelines.

Liverpool’s Place

It’s bittersweet for Liverpool.

On one facet of the coin, some disappointment will linger over Zubimendi’s choice to reject the Reds in favor of La Actual and now Arsenal. Liverpool’s method available in the market has been each strategic and opportunist; it’s bid handsomely for stars deemed an in depth match (particularly Zubimendi and Moisés Caicedo) and brought lower-risk gambles when the prospect presents, as with Federico Chiesa. It wished Zubimendi and maybe nonetheless does.

Any frustration is softened by a wonderful few months on the sector. In Zubimendi’s place, Ryan Gravenberch, longer-limbed and stuffed with operating, has matured into the most effective deep-lying midfielders in Europe, saving Liverpool a couple of switch {dollars}. It’s not been all dangerous for Arne Slot’s frontrunners.

A Blow For La Actual?

As for Actual Sociedad, there was an emotional motive for Zubimendi staying put. La Actual misplaced property Robin Le Normand and Mikel Merino within the earlier window, and the 25-year-old doing the identical would have left La Actual—the membership of his life—in a weak state. Determined to maintain him and with Zubimendi completely satisfied to commit, he’s since helped the Txuri-Urdin climb the desk after a poor begin to La Liga.

Exiting has at all times remained a risk, nevertheless. Two months after Liverpool’s failed swoop, La Actual prolonged Zubimendi’s contract till 2027, adjusting the wage to his loftier standing within the first group however sustaining his €60 million ($62 million) price ticket. Now, it appears ready to money in, with no scarcity of admirers.

In Zubieta, Actual Sociedad has the most effective academies in Spain and should unearth a alternative for Zubimendi, with vivid sparks like Beñat Turrientes already coming by. €60 million ($62 million) can also be some huge cash to spend on recruits, with the membership not restricted to homegrown gamers, as rival Athletic Membership is. His exit would nonetheless sting, although. Zubimendi is one in every of its finest gamers—actually one in every of its personal.

It’s nearly pageant time within the metropolis; January 20 is San Sebastián Day, and folks will collect and beat drums. Will probably be extra somber when a cherished native expertise leaves, however at the least the blue and white-clad followers can get pleasure from him just a little longer.

Djimon Hounsou’s spectacular resumé of Oscar-nominated roles and appearances in blockbuster movies has not translated to monetary stability, the actor has revealed.

In a brand new interview with CNN, the “Shazam!” star, 60, shared that he’s struggling financially regardless of a long time of labor within the leisure business, together with performances in main Hollywood franchises such because the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

“I have been on this enterprise and making movies now over 20 years, and nonetheless, with two Oscar nominations, many massive blockbuster movies, and but I am nonetheless struggling financially to make a residing,” he stated. “I am undoubtedly underpaid.”

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After CNN correspondent Larry Madowo stated that is “mind-boggling” to listen to as a result of Hounsou was “one of many first massive Black actors I noticed in big-budget movies,” the star replied, “Properly, that is an indication for you that systemic racism shouldn’t be one thing you’ll be able to take care of calmly. You must address it and survive one of the simplest ways you’ll be able to.”

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Hounsou has appeared in Marvel movies as Korath, who pursued Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill in “Guardians of the Galaxy” and returned in “Captain Marvel.” He additionally had a key half as a strong wizard in DC’s “Shazam!” sequence.

Hounsou has starred within the “Quiet Place” franchise, showing in “A Quiet Place Half II” and final 12 months’s “A Quiet Place: Day One.”

Certainly one of Hounsou’s first movies was Steven Spielberg’s 1997 film “Amistad,” which earned him a Golden Globe nomination however not an Oscar nod. He informed CNN he felt the movie Academy did not assume on the time that he was an “actor for whom we should always pay any respect to.”

Hounsou later obtained two Oscar nominations for greatest supporting actor, first in 2004 for “In America” after which in 2007 for “Blood Diamond.” He was additionally a part of the forged of “Gladiator,” which gained the Oscar for greatest image in 2001.

Hounsou’s further credit embody “Stargate,” “Constantine,” “Eragon,” “How you can Practice Your Dragon 2,” “Livid 7,” “Aquaman,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The King’s Man” and each components of Zack Snyder’s “Insurgent Moon.”

Arsenal have moved forward of Liverpool within the race to signal Martín Zubimendi after getting into into superior talks with Actual Sociedad to land the midfielder, sources have instructed ESPN.

The north London facet are pursuing an settlement which might most probably see the 25-year-old be part of the membership on the finish of the season.

One supply has recommended Arsenal have been pushing for Zubimendi to affix the membership this month however he’s anticipated to stay in Spain till the summer season.

A deal is but to be finalised however Arsenal are the clear frontrunners to signal the midfielder, who rejected a transfer to Liverpool a 12 months earlier.

Manchester Metropolis are additionally monitoring the Spain worldwide after Rodri was dominated out for probably the whole season with a knee damage whereas Actual Madrid have been credited with an curiosity.

Sources say that Zubimendi has a €60 million ($61.4m) launch clause which Arsenal are anticipated to set off.

Sources added that Mikel Arteta has performed a key function in talks with Zubimendi, who would be part of his former Sociedad teammate Mikel Merino at Emirates Stadium ought to an settlement be finalised.

A profitable pursuit would forged additional doubt over the futures of Jorginho and Thomas Partey, who each have contracts which expire on the finish of the season.

No determination has been taken on both participant as but.

Jorginho’s representatives held talks with Palmeiras because the Italy worldwide assesses his choices however sources have instructed ESPN the Brazilian membership aren’t keen on pursuing a deal presently.

Partey has beforehand attracted curiosity from Saudi Arabia however is probably going going through a have to take a big minimize to his wage of round £250,000-a-week.

It appears inevitable now: following allegations about how she had acquired London properties, and her hyperlinks to her aunt’s ousted authorities in Bangladesh, the minister answerable for tackling financial crime and corruption has resigned from the federal government. Although she had been discovered to not have breached the ministerial code, Tulip Siddiq, previously financial secretary to the Treasury, stepped down after concluding that persevering with in her position was “more likely to grow to be a distraction”.
¹⁰

Letter from Tulip Siddiq MP to the prime minister, 14 January 2025, https://belongings.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67868732f0528401055d23d5/Letter_from_Tulip_Siddiq_MP_to_the_Prime_Minister.pdf

 Ought to the prime minister and his workforce have seen this coming? 

Labour set itself a really excessive bar on ethics in authorities

Within the years operating as much as the 2024 basic election, Starmer and his get together targeted strongly on ethics in authorities, criticising many Conservative ministers for obvious moral failings and promising to ascertain a brand new ethics and integrity fee. Since taking workplace, Labour’s observe document has been combined. The prime minister did ultimately publish a brand new ministerial code that made necessary steps in direction of strengthening how ministers are held to account for his or her actions, however the ethics fee has but to emerge. 

In November the prime minister suffered his first ministerial resignation, when transport secretary Louise Haigh stepped down following revelations a couple of (spent) felony conviction, which Starmer knew of when he appointed her to the shadow cupboard. By holding Haigh to a excessive bar, Starmer set a precedent about his expectations – so the truth that the Siddiq case went on so lengthy has been puzzling to many.

Siddiq stated she has accomplished nothing unsuitable – however there was a transparent failure of judgement 

Sir Laurie Magnus, the prime minister’s adviser on ministerial requirements, is obvious in his evaluation that Siddiq didn’t break the ministerial code, however he does nod to the truth that she ought to have been “extra alert to the potential reputational dangers – each to herself and the federal government – arising from her shut household’s affiliation with Bangladesh”.
¹¹

Letter from the unbiased adviser on ministerial requirements to the prime minister, 14 January 2025. https://belongings.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6786877af0528401055d23d7/Letter_from_Independent_Adviser_on_Minsterial_Standards_to_the_Prime_Minister…

 Siddiq insists that she offered all related details about her household hyperlinks and her personal pursuits to officers when she was appointed a minister in July. 

It was proper for Starmer to attend for Magnus to conclude his investigation. However, if ultimately the issue was not a lot what Siddiq did or didn’t do, however moderately the way it appeared, the query must be why the looks of a battle of curiosity was not picked up earlier? The ministerial code is obvious, and has been because it was first printed, that ministers “should make sure that no battle arises, or might fairly be perceived to come up, between their public duties and their personal pursuits”.

Given what Siddiq apparently declared to officers when provided her ministerial position, it appears unusual that no person thought to flag her potential battle of curiosity – or, in the event that they did, that these issues had been dismissed. Experiences counsel that Siddiq and Starmer are comparatively shut,
¹²

“Why hasn’t Tulip Siddiq been sacked?”, Stephen Bush, Monetary Occasions, 13 January 2025, https://www.ft.com/content material/04df4b05-9c9a-4b5f-824f-298f0493b65b

 however private loyalty not often sits simply with political actuality. 

Siddiq’s resignation additionally appears to be a part of a worrying sample. Following the summer season’s ‘freebie-gate’, it’s starting to look as if this authorities doesn’t totally perceive how ministers’ actions look to its exterior critics. Having been so fast to loudly criticise the final authorities for its perceived failings on ethics and integrity, Starmer and his workforce want to point out that they really perceive the significance of assembly the requirements that they promised to uphold as soon as in workplace.  

Former UFC light-weight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov confirmed Sunday he was faraway from a Frontier Airways flight Saturday.

Video surfaced Sunday that confirmed Nurmagomedov sitting in a seat subsequent to a window in a dialog with a crew member. The crew member seems to be telling Nurmagomedov his selection was to maneuver to a brand new seat or to be faraway from the plane.

Moments later, one other crew member arrives and Nurmagomedov is escorted off the flight.

Sunday, Nurmagomedov posted on Instagram to say the incident was associated as to if or not he speaks and understands English – a requirement in exit row seats on plane departing from the U.S. He mentioned he was “calm and respectful, as you may see on the video.” And it certainly was one of many calmest flight removals maybe ever caught on digicam (H/T Combat Casuals).

Nurmagomedov mentioned he boarded a special flight not lengthy after.

Nurmagomedov’s Instagram assertion:

x.com

This text initially appeared on MMA Junkie: Khabib Nurmagomedov faraway from Frontier Airways flight, says crew ‘might do higher’

Earlier than her resignation was introduced, Siddiq had been named in a second investigation in Bangladesh.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has stated the prime minister “dithered and delayed to guard” her.

Writing on X, exterior, she stated: “It was clear on the weekend that the anti-corruption minister’s place was fully untenable. But Keir Starmer dithered and delayed to guard his shut good friend.

“Even now, as Bangladesh information a felony case in opposition to Tulip Siddiq, he expresses ‘unhappiness’ at her inevitable resignation.

“Weak management from a weak prime minister.”

In a letter accepting Siddiq’s resignation, Sir Keir stated the “door stays open” for her.

Siddiq, whose function as Financial Secretary to the Treasury included tackling corruption in UK monetary markets, was named final month in an investigation into claims her household embezzled as much as £3.9bn from infrastructure spending in Bangladesh.

Her aunt is the previous Bangladeshi prime minister Sheikh Hasina, head of the Awami League, who fled into exile after being deposed final yr.

Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, additionally got here below intense scrutiny over her use of properties in London linked to her aunt’s allies.

The Monetary Occasions reported, exterior that one of many properties, a flat in King’s Cross, had been given to her by an individual related with the lately ousted Bangladeshi authorities.

In accordance with the Mail on Sunday, exterior, in 2022 Siddiq had denied the flat was a present and insisted her mother and father had purchased it for her and had threatened the paper with authorized motion stopping publication of a narrative.

Labour sources subsequently instructed the newspaper the flat had been gifted to Siddiq by a property developer with alleged hyperlinks to her aunt.

Sir Laurie spent eight days investigating the allegations after Siddiq referred herself to the requirements watchdog.

In his letter, Sir Laurie stated Siddiq “acknowledges that, over an prolonged interval, she was unaware of the origins of her possession of her flat in Kings Cross, regardless of having signed a Land Registry switch kind regarding the reward on the time”.

He stated the MP “remained below the impression that her mother and father had given the flat to her, having bought it from the earlier proprietor”.

This had led to the general public being “inadvertently misled” in regards to the identification of the donor of the flat, added Sir Laurie.

Sir Laurie stated this was an “unlucky misunderstanding” which had led to Siddiq issuing a public correction of “the origins of her possession after she grew to become a minister”.

Within the letter, Sir Laurie stated: “An absence of information and lapse of time has meant that, sadly, I’ve not been in a position to acquire complete consolation in relation to all of the UK property-related issues referred to within the media.

“Nonetheless, I’ve not recognized proof of improprieties related with the actions taken by Ms Siddiq and/or her husband in relation to their possession or occupation of the London properties which have been the topic of press consideration.

“Equally, I’ve discovered no suggestion of any uncommon monetary preparations regarding Ms Siddiq’s possession or occupation of the properties in query involving the Awami League (or its affiliated organisations) or the state of Bangladesh.

“As well as, I’ve discovered no proof to recommend that Ms Siddiq’s and/or her husband’s monetary belongings, as disclosed to me, derive from something apart from reliable means.”