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A$AP Rocky trial begins on charges he fired a gun at a former friend

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A$AP Rocky trial begins on charges he fired a gun at a former friend

Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday in a trial against A$AP Rocky, who is charged with firing a gun at a former friend and could get a decades-long prison sentence if convicted.

A$AP Rocky-Shooting Trial

The 36-year-old has pleaded not guilty to two felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, and his attorney has said he committed no crime.

The Grammy-nominated hip-hop star, fashion mogul and actor is the longtime partner of Rihanna, and the two have two toddler sons together. It's not entirely clear whether Rihanna will appear to support him in court, but his attorney has suggested it's unlikely.

A$AP Rocky-Shooting Trial© 2022 Los Angeles Times

Rocky has been named one of the celebrity chairs of the Met Gala in May, and has a major role in a Spike Lee-directed film with Denzel Washington to be released soon after.

But his life could be upended with a conviction that could lead to a sentence of up to 24 years if jurors find him guilty of shooting at his former firend in Hollywood in 2021. 

 

Superior Court Judge Mark Arnold said he intends to seat a jury quickly, and is keeping strict limits on how long attorneys can question prospective jurors.

“I will let the jurors know that regardless of who a defendant is, whether they’re the richest person in the world or the poorest person, everybody is to be treated the same,” he said at a pretrial hearing.

Opening statements could come Wednesday. Arnold is allowing media cameras in court for the entire trial after a jury is selected.

In 2023, another judge ruled after a preliminary hearing that Rocky should stand trial for allegedly firing a gun at Terell Ephron, a childhood friend who testified that their relationship had soured and a feud came to a head on the night of Nov. 6, 2021. Ephron testified that bullets grazed his knuckles. 

Story by Andrew Dalton: The Independent: 

Sequel to Prince Harry's feud with British tabloids begins in high-stakes trial

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Sequel to Prince Harry's feud with British tabloids begins in high-stakes trial

Britain Prince Harry

Britain Prince Harry© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved

The sequel to Prince Harry vs. the British tabloids begins Tuesday in a high-stakes pitting him against Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers that could cost him millions even if he wins.

Harry, 40, the younger son of King Charles III, and one other claimant remain alone among hundreds who have settled lawsuits against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, over allegations their phones were hacked and investigators unlawfully snooped on their lives.

It will be the first case of its kind to go to trial against the publisher since a widespread phone hacking scandal forced Murdoch to close News of the World in 2011. News Group has settled more than 1,300 other claims.

For the Duke of Sussex, it will be the second trial in London's High Court in his long-running feud with the press that he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash while being chased by paparazzi. He also blames them for persistent attacks on his wife, actor Meghan Markle, that led them to leave the royal life and flee to the U.S. in 2020.

Harry has said his mission to hold the media accountable has led to a rift with his family but it's one he feels compelled to carry out to expose wrongdoing.

He won a similar case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror in 2023 and he has another case pending against the Daily Mail's publisher.

Here's a look at the case:

Allegations aimed at editors and executives

Harry claims News Group journalists and private investigators they hired violated his privacy by using unlawful tactics to dig up dirt on him and his family between 1996 and 2011.

His fellow claimant, Tom Watson, a former deputy leader of the Labour Party, said his voicemails were intercepted during a period when he was investigating the hacking scandal.

Their lawyer said the newspapers had a widespread practice of using deception to obtain medical, phone and flight records, bugged homes and placed listening devices in cars.

They allege that executives concealed the skullduggery through means that included destroying documents.

“This allegation is wrong, unsustainable, and is strongly denied,” News Group said in a statement.

Former executives accused of playing a role include Will Lewis, now CEO of the Washington Post, and Rebekah Brooks, CEO of News UK, a division of News Corp. They have denied wrongdoing.

Story by Brian Melley: The Independent
 

Jodie Turner-Smith reveals why she filed for divorce from Joshua Jackson

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Jodie Turner-Smith reveals why she filed for divorce from Joshua Jackson

Jodie Turner-Smith has revealed what led to her filing for divorce from her husband of three years, Joshua Jackson.

The actress, 37, filed for divorce from the Dawson’s Creek alum, 45, in Los Angeles Superior Court in 2023, according to TMZ. The British actor cited “irreconcilable differences” as the reason for the split, listing their date of separation as 13 September 2023. Now, she’s admitted to seeing the separation in a positive manner.

“Sometimes things we really want to work just don’t end up working. And that’s okay,” the Queen and Slim star said to The Times.

“The most important thing is that you choose what’s healthiest for you and your family and definitely your children.”

Despite the marriage not lasting, Turner-Smith said she didn’t view the relationship as a failure. “I don’t think it’s a failure,” she said. “We obviously had such a beautiful moment together. And now it’s time for a new moment for both of us. And how exciting.”

As for her future relationships, the model revealed she wanted to take the time to step back and question whether or not she’s being true to herself.

“If the answer is no, then you have to make a move because I believe that there are visible scars from staying in places that are not good for us. And they don’t just affect us, they affect everybody around us,” she added.

The former couple, who tied the knot in late 2019, are parents to three-year-old daughter, Janie. According to Page Six, Turner-Smith has asked for joint custody of their child and doesn’t want spousal support to be part of divorce proceedings. The former couple reportedly signed a prenuptial agreement.

Turner-Smith and Jackson first began dating after they attended Usher’s 40th birthday party in 2018. “When I first met my husband, we had a one-night stand,” the White Noise star revealed on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021. “We’re in a two, three-year one-night stand now.”

 

The two secretly tied the knot in December 2019 and welcomed their daughter in April 2020.

Last year, Turner-Smith revealed that she wanted to marry Jackson because of “how loved and supported I felt by him” in their early relationship. “I had never been with anyone who I thought was wanting to lift me up the way that I felt that he was lifting me up,” she told Forbes at the time. “That is one of my favourite things about him.”

 

According to TMZ, the pair sparked breakup rumours in September 2022 after they unfollowed each other on Instagram. However, they later attended the 2023 Oscars together in March the following year.

Turner-Smith and Jackson were spotted celebrating her 37th birthday in New York City just last month. On 5 September, they also attended J Crew’s New York Fashion Week event arm-in-arm.

Shortly after the couple’s divorce was announced, a source told People that Turner-Jackson divorced Jackson because their life plans were not matching up. “She decided that she is done,” they told the outlet at the time.

“They are on very different paths in life,” the source continued. “Jodie loves being a mom. She also loves working.”

The insider also noted: “It turned into an unhealthy marriage that made her unhappy. They will co-parent their daughter. They want her to continue to thrive.” 

Couple announced divorce in October 2023

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis break silence on split rumors amid P Diddy scandal

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Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis break silence on split rumors amid P Diddy scandal

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have broken their silence on rumors that they are splitting up, amid the scandal surrounding their friend P Diddy 

diddy

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis break silence on split claims after speculation from Diddy scandal 

Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis have finally addressed the whispers.

The star-studded duo has been at the center of controversy due to their association with P Diddy, sparking widespread online chatter that they might be heading for a split.

Ashton and Mila are no strangers to controversy after defending Danny Masteron amid of his rape trial. After Ashton's close connection to Diddy was revealed, many are concerned that Mila may be looking to leave. That, however, is reportedly not the case.

An insider assured People that such talk is "ridiculous and false" The couple tied the knot in 2015 and are parents to two kids, though their romance sparked on the set of That 70s Show back in 1998.

The backlash comes after a clip of Ashton's 2019 Hot Ones interview resurfaced. When asked to share a memory from one of Diddy's parties, Ashton responded, "Wow. Okay, I’ve got a lot I can’t tell." Then he paused, stumbling with his words as he considered what he was going to say next. He finally said while laughing, "I can’t tell that one either."

Ashton's role as Michael Kelso and Kunis' portrayal of Jackie Burhart lasted until the series concluded in 2006. Ashton's previous marriage to Demi Moore ended after six years, with their divorce finalized in November 2013.

He wed Mila three years post-divorce, following the birth of their daughter in 2014. Their son was born in 2016, a year into their marriage.

 

Speculation about their relationship status gained momentum after P Diddy's recent arrest on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

Amidst the scandal, the rapper's attorney commented on the "1000 bottles of baby oil" found during a police raid at Diddy's home.

Marc Agnifilo remarked: "I don't know where the number 1000 came. I'm not really sure what the baby oil has to do with anything."

On whether the oil was intended for sex parties, he added: "I guess. I don't know what you need 1000 - one bottle of baby oil goes a long way, I don't know why you'd even need 1000 for."

"He has a big house, he buys in bulk. I think they have Costcos in every place where he has a home. Have you sat in the parking lot of a Costco and see what people walk out of there with? I don't think it was a thousand. I think it was - let's just say it was a lot."

 

Rumors are swirling that Diddy has been involved in hosting what some call "freak offs," supposedly "elaborate sex performances" characterized by compelling women through "force, threats of force and coercion". In response to these accusations, Agnifilo clarified, referencing the past, "back when he was a kid in the late 70s," what might now be scandalized as such acts were once simply "called them threesomes". 

 By Natalie HunterDeputy TV & Showbiz Editor:ekka Barnard 

Megan Thee Stallion granted restraining order against imprisoned Tory Lanez

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Megan Thee Stallion granted restraining order against imprisoned Tory Lanez

Rapper Megan Thee Stallion has been granted a restraining order from imprisoned rapper Tory Lanez until early 2030.

Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez. Pic: AP

Megan Thee Stallion and Tory Lanez. Pic: AP© Associated Press

A Los Angeles judge granted the request of Megan Thee Stallion, whose legal name is Megan Pete, for a protective order after she alleged Lanez had been harassing her from prison through surrogates.

He is serving a 10-year sentence for shooting the hip-hop star in the foot and shouting at her to dance as she walked away from an SUV they drove in after leaving a party at Kylie Jenner's Hollywood Hills home in July 2020.

 

Megan Thee Stallion, 29, obtained a temporary order in November after alleging Lanez, a Canadian rapper whose legal name is Daystar Peterson, is using third parties to continue to harass her online.

 

Her petition says that call logs at the California jail Lanez is in show he is co-ordinating attacks on her credibility, including making false claims that the gun and bullet fragments in the case are missing.

A summary of Thursday's hearing said the judge found that Megan Thee Stallion's lawyers had met the burden of proof to extend the temporary restraining order until 9 January 2030.

 

Lanez's lawyer wrote in an objection to the restraining order request that his client's incarceration means there "is no longer any form of current or future threat" to Megan Thee Stallion. The lawyer added that there has been no direct contact between the two recently.

In December 2022, Lanez was convicted of three charges: assault with a semiautomatic firearm; having a loaded, unregistered firearm in a vehicle and discharging a firearm with gross negligence.

Megan The Stallion was already a major rising star at the time of the shooting, and her music's popularity has soared since. She won a Grammy for best new artist in 2021, and she had number one singles with Savage, and as a guest on Cardi B's WAP.

Lanez, 32, began releasing mixtapes in 2009 and saw a steady rise in popularity, moving on to major label albums - his last two reached the top 10 on Billboard's charts.

Reference: Sky News: 

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