Entertainment
Kanye West pulled off Grammys performance slate

Kanye West has been pulled off the efficiency lineup for the upcoming Grammy Awards as a consequence of his latest erratic on-line conduct.
In an e mail to the Related Press, a consultant for the rapper confirmed a report from the Blast saying that West “has been barred from performing on the Grammy Awards subsequent month as a consequence of his ‘regarding on-line conduct.’” West’s album “Donda” is nominated for album of the 12 months.
There was no official affirmation from the Grammys or CBS, which is broadcasting the awards, that West was scheduled to carry out. The awards final week introduced the primary wave of artists who’re planning to carry out.
Among the many acts slated to take the Grammys stage this 12 months are Billie Eilish, BTS, Lil Nas X and Olivia Rodrigo. West — who legally modified his title to Ye — additionally obtained nods for melodic rap efficiency, rap music and rap album.
Final week Ye was suspended from Instagram for twenty-four hours after directing a racist slur at “The Every day Present” host Trevor Noah for criticizing the hip-hop star’s social media posts lashing out at his ex Kim Kardashian and her new boyfriend Pete Davidson. Noah is internet hosting the Grammys.
“What [Kardashian is] going by means of is terrifying to observe, and it shines a highlight on what so many ladies undergo once they select to go away,” Noah stated final week on “The Every day Present.”
“What we’re seeing … is likely one of the strongest, one of many richest ladies on the planet, unable to get her ex to cease texting her, to cease chasing after her, to cease harassing her. Simply take into consideration that for a second.”
On Sunday, nonetheless, the comic appeared to say in a tweet that the Grammys had gone too far: “I stated counsel Kanye not cancel Kanye.”
Instances employees author Christi Carras contributed to this report.

Movie Reviews
Movie Review: ‘Love Hurts’ Makes for a Painful Viewing Experience

Entertainment
Zoe Saldaña responds to Karla Sofía Gascón controversy: ‘We are responsible for everything we say’
Zoe Saldaña is “still processing” the controversy that has embroiled her Oscar-nominated film “Emilia Pérez.”
Saldaña’s costar Karla Sofía Gascón recently came under fire for resurfaced, offensive tweets with anti-Muslim, anti-diversity and racist language. Before the posts were unearthed, the film won four Golden Globes — including one for Saldaña — and appeared to be headed for repeat success at the Oscars in March.
In an interview with Variety‘s “Awards Circuit” podcast, which dropped Thursday, Saldaña expressed her sadness that the controversy is overshadowing the film’s historic achievements.
“I’m sad. Time and time again, that’s the word because that is the sentiment that has been living in my chest since everything happened,” she said. “I’m also disappointed. I can’t speak for other people’s actions. All I can attest to is my experience, and never in a million years did I ever believe that we would be here.”
Saldaña said she’s trying to strike the complicated balance between acknowledging bad behavior while also celebrating a film and a performance that made her proud.
“I’m allowing myself to still experience that joy because we did come together as a team,” she said. “But we are also individuals who are responsible for everything that we say and everything that we do.”
“I can still stand by a body of work that I can be proud of,” she later reiterated, adding that she “will always be a hopeful person.”
Saldaña, who has frequently spoken out against racism, gender inequality and stereotypical representation of Latinx people, also made it clear that she denounces Gascón’s language and ideas.
“I do not support any negative rhetoric of racism and bigotry towards any group of people,” she said. “That is what I want to stand for.”
Saldaña said she will use this experience as an opportunity to grow.
“You may believe that it’s just a statement I came up with alongside my team, but at the end of the day, when I can’t speak on behalf of anyone else, I can only speak on behalf of myself and what I witnessed,” she said. “And that needs to be enough for now. I’m still processing. I certainly think that this is a learning experience. Everything in life is a learning experience for all of us. And the point of uncomfortable events is for the sake of evolution. So I hope that we continue moving in the right direction.”
Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez and Karla Sofía Gascón star in the divisive Netflix musical “Emilia Pérez.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)
The French-produced, Spanish-language musical directed by Jacques Audiard follows Gascón‘s titular character, a Mexican cartel boss who secretly undergoes gender-affirming surgery with the help of a lawyer, played by Saldaña. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, where it won the jury prize and the best actress award for its female ensemble, which includes Selena Gomez.
Before Gascón’s posts became the center of discussion about the film, audiences had already levied criticism against the movie’s portrayals of Mexico and transgender identity.
After the tweet controversy erupted, Gascón deactivated her X account, but has not remained silent.
In an interview that Netflix had not authorized, Gascón appeared on CNN en Español and said, “I have been convicted and sacrificed and crucified and stoned without a trial and without the option to defend myself.”
Gascón also told CNN that Saldaña supports her. Saldaña addressed that claim in the Variety interview by taking “a long blink” and not confirming. She instead reiterated that she did not support Gascón’s views.
The streamer has subsequently halted Gascón’s awards campaign. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Gascón will no longer attend the AFI Awards, Critics Choice Awards, Producers Guild Awards (where she was set to present) or Santa Barbara International Film Festival. She has already been removed from some of Netflix’s digital awards campaigns.
Spanish-language book publisher Dos Bigotes also announced Thursday that it would suspend its plans to republish a revised version of Gascón’s 2018 biographical novel. The publishing house specializes in uplifting diverse authors and books with LGBTQ+ and feminist themes. In its statement, the organization said, while its leaders did not want to “feed controversy,” they felt Gascón’s values and ideals are inconsistent with their own.
“Emilia Pérez” is nominated for a leading 11 Oscars and Gascón is the first out transgender actor to be nominated in an acting category.
Movie Reviews
Vidaamuyarchi Movie Review: A film about the power of faith, not of fists

It’s a joy when films break out of what they are supposed to be as star vehicles. Vidaamuyarchi begins with an extremely sensitive topic, and treats it with such gentleness and without judgment. Arjun (Ajith) is, at heart, a vulnerable softie, incapable of prejudice and hatred. He can’t trust the cops, and yet, he cannot stand by to see them die. His enemies subject him to such humiliation and cruelty, and yet, he gets no pleasure out of hurting them. His wife, well—she wants to move on from him, and yet, he seeks no retribution. Arjun isn’t a hero; he’s a vulnerable man forced into a fight he does not enjoy.
We see this quality many times in the film. In the petrol bunk scene, we see clear evidence that Arjun is an emotionally mature man who isn’t looking to escalate things. “They’re young and are looking for trouble,” he says. Ordinarily, in our cinema, we are trained to expect him to turn into a vengeful demon figure, who makes enemies run for life. Vidaamuyarchi, despite having the structure for it, refuses to turn Arjun into a Vedalam-like fearsome presence. It’s such a brave choice. Towards the end, when someone asks, “Nee enna hero-va?“, Ajith responds with an outraged no, almost begging them to understand. It feels almost like a plea to the world.
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