Entertainment

Nashville’s ABC News affiliate reports: Naomi Judd, Grammy-winning member of The Judds, has died after taking her own life. She was 76. The daughters announced her death on Saturday in a statement provided to The Associated Press. “Today we sisters experienced a tragedy. We lost our beautiful mother to the disease of mental illness,” the statement said. “We are shattered. …

NBC News reports: Comedian Gilbert Gottfried has died at age 67, according to his family. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” his family wrote in a statement shared to his Twitter account. The family described him as “the most iconic voice in comedy” as well as a “wonderful husband, brother, …

Deadline Hollywood reports: With their options rather limited, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Board of Governors have just decided that Will Smith will not be able to attend the Oscars for 10 years for slapping Chris Rock on-stage at the 94th Academy Awards on March 27. Aside from not giving the Best Actress award at the 95th …

 Will Smith’s statement in full: I have directly responded to the Academy’s disciplinary hearing notice, and I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable. The list of those I have hurt is long and includes Chris, his family, many of my dear friends and …

The Washington Post reports: At the 42nd annual Razzies awards this year, Bruce Willis received his own special category: “worst performance by Bruce Willis in a 2021 movie.” Willis — and only Willis — was nominated eight times, for movies including “American Siege” and “Midnight in the Switchgrass.” The actor ultimately won for his performance in “Cosmic Sin,” a sci-fi …

Variety reports: Oscars producer Will Packer has addressed Will Smith slapping Chris Rock at the Oscars on Sunday night. In a preview clip of Packer’s upcoming interview on “Good Morning America” with T.J. Holmes, he revealed that the Los Angeles Police Department was on the scene Sunday night and ready to arrest Smith if Rock wanted to press charges. “They …

The Associated Press reports: The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences said that Will Smith was asked to leave to Sunday’s Oscars after hitting Chris Rock but refused. Many have questioned why Smith was allowed to remain seated front row at the Academy Awards after the incident. On Wednesday, the academy suggested that it attempted to remove the actor …

NBC News reports: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will determine “appropriate action” against Will Smith after he slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, the group told its members in a letter obtained by NBC News. In the letter, film academy president David Rubin and CEO Dawn Hudson said the leaders of the nonprofit organization were “upset and …

Variety reports: Bruce Willis’ family has announced the actor is retiring from the profession after being diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder caused by brain damage that affects a person’s ability to communicate. Willis’ family members posted a joint statement to social media announcing the actor’s retirement. “To Bruce’s amazing supporters, as a family we wanted to share that our …

The Washington Post reports: The day after slapping Chris Rock on the stage of the 94th Academy Awards, Will Smith issued an apology to the comedian, the academy and viewers at home, saying he was “out of line” and that his actions are “not indicative of the man I want to be.” “Violence in all of its forms is poisonous …

CNN reports: Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences leadership “strongly considered” removing Will Smith from the Oscars telecast Sunday night after the actor stormed the stage and slapped Chris Rock in the face, a source close to the situation tells CNN. “There were immediate discussions but the Academy decision makers were seated in various spots in the Dolby Theater …

Deadline Hollywood reports: While presenting the award for Best Documentary Feature, which ultimately went to Questlove’s Summer of Soul, Chris Rock made a joke at the expense of Will Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, leading to an on-stage altercation that was not scripted and drew gasps from the room, according to sources. “Jada, I love ya. G.I. Jane 2, can’t …

The New York Observer reports: The New York Metropolitan Opera’s March 17 performance of the German opera Ariadne auf Naxos was cruising through its second act when it happened: an attendee sitting in the upper balconies screamed “You have no technique” as soprano Brenda Rae [photo] concluded an aria, temporarily setting the theater abuzz with horrified whispers. It was a …

CNN Business reports: Pete Davidson will become the latest celebrity to fly to space with Jeff Bezos’ rocket company, Blue Origin, in a brief, suborbital flight slated for later this month. The company announced Monday morning that Davidson, the Saturday Night Live star who’s become a pillar of entertainment intrigue amid his relationship with Kim Kardashian, will fly alongside five …

The New York Post reports: Broadway will maintain its mask and vaccine policies through April despite Mayor Eric Adams rolling back many COVID-19 mandates starting Monday. “Our current guidance is through April 30, and we are scheduled to update that guidance on April 1,” Broadway League president Charlotte St. Martin said in a statement. “Discussions are held weekly on our …

The New York Times reports: The Metropolitan Opera said on Sunday that it would no longer engage with performers or other institutions that have voiced support for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, becoming the latest cultural organization to seek to distance itself from some Russian artists amid Mr. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The company’s decision will also likely mean …

CBS News reports: Actor and comedian Bob Saget died from head trauma, his family said Wednesday. Saget was 65 when he died last month. In a statement to Entertainment Tonight, the “Full House” star’s family said he “accidentally hit the back of his head on something, thought nothing of it and went to sleep.” Neither drugs nor alcohol were involved. …

The New York Times reports: The Netflix western “The Power of the Dog” was showered with 12 Oscar nominations on Tuesday, the most of any movie, with “Dune” close behind with 10 and “West Side Story” and “Belfast” each receiving seven. They were all nominated for best picture, a field that will have 10 slots at the 94th Academy Awards. …

Deadline Hollywood reports: James Snyder, who has played the title character of Broadway’s recently retooled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child since the show returned from the pandemic shutdown, has been fired by producers following a complaint by co-star Diane Davis about Snyder’s conduct. The exact nature of the conduct has not been specified. But producers Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin …

The New York Times reports: Meat Loaf, the larger-than-life rocker whose 1977 album “Bat Out of Hell” was one of the best-selling albums of all time, died on Thursday. He was 74. His death was confirmed by his manager, Michael Greene. A statement on the musician’s Facebook page said his wife was by his side and his friends had been …