By Mark Gray
6:00pm PDT, Jun 20, 2023
Arrested again
Former President Donald Trump has been arrested for the second time. On June 13, the businessman and 2024 presidential candidate arrived at a courthouse in Miami to answer to 37 federal charges, including a charge under the Espionage Act on top of charges of obstruction of justice, destruction or falsification of records, conspiracy and false statements all related to a months-long investigation into his alleged improper retention and illegal handling of classified documents that he took to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. It's the first time a former president has faced federal charges.
The court appearance wasn't a surprise, as it came several days after Trump was indicted. Many in entertainment reacted to the historical legal case. Ron Perlman said, "Two things re: me olde pal little donnie: truly gorgeous how he's making his reaction to the lowlife things he has done even more lowlife than the things themselves. Also, is it me or is the reaction to this cataclysmic indictment just another news story? Is he finally approaching irrelevancy?" John Rich, a Trump supporter, wondered, "Does the indictment of Trump make you support him more? Or less?"
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Messy split
Kevin Costner is claiming that his estranged wife, Christine, is refusing to pack up and leave their marital home. Here's the problem: The prenuptial agreement says she has to go. TMZ obtained documents that reveal the "Yellowstone" star asked the court to essentially force Christine out, alleging that she's had plenty of time to vacate the home after filing for divorce in early May. Plus, the Oscar winner said he's already given his ex nearly $1.5 million for a new place per his obligations under the prenup. Kevin owns three homes and a prenup, which was signed back in 2004, states that Christine must leave any property in the event of a split. Court documents note that Kevin is willing to contribute $10,000 for her move and is open to paying $30,000 a month for a rental house as part of his child support obligations. There's no doubt that the divorce is getting messy. Elsewhere in his court docs, Kevin alleged that Christine spent $95,000 of his money after they split "without prior notice" on lawyers and a forensic accountant.
MORE: Celeb splits of 2023
Retirement annoucement
Pat Sajak, the longtime host of "Wheel of Fortune," is done spinning the wheel. "Well, the time has come. I've decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last," he said in a statement on June 12. "It's been a wonderful ride, and I'll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. If nothing else, it'll keep the clickbait sites busy!" Pat has hosted the game show since 1981. After his announcement, there was immediate speculation tied to who would replace him. TMZ reported that Ryan Seacrest was in talks with producers and "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg threw hat in the ring. Other obvious possibilities include Vanna White and Pat's daughter, Maggie Sajak.
MORE: Talk show host controversies and feuds
Airport incident
Keke Palmer asserts that she was a victim of "breast milk discrimination" at a Houston airport. On June 12, the Disney Channel alum said TSA workers "ruined her mood" after she was nearly forced to toss her newborn baby's food. "I should've popped my t** out right then because the discretion and comfort of pumping is thwarted with threats to throw out over 16oz [of] my babies [sic] food?!?!!!" she furiously tweeted. "Why is that not a crime??" The "True Jackson, VP" actress added, "I'M A MOTHER for crying out loud." According to the TSA, breast milk "in quantities greater than 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters are allowed in carry-on baggage." The rules indicate that anything "in excess" of that must be "screened separately." Keke welcomed a son in February 2023.
R.I.P.
"Hair" and "Everwood" actor Treat Williams was killed in a motorcycle accident on June 12 in Dorset, Vermont. He was 71. "He was making a left or a right [and] a car cut him off," his agent, Barry McPherson, told People magazine. "I'm just devastated. He was the nicest guy. He was so talented. He was an actor's actor. Filmmakers loved him. He's been the heart of Hollywood since the late 1970s…" TMZ reported that according to authorities, the driver of a Honda Element SUV turned left into a parking lot and collided with Treat, who was thrown from his bike. The actor, who police confirmed was wearing a helmet, was airlifted to New York's Albany Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. Hollywood friends and co-stars took to social media to mourn the widely beloved actor.
Authorization issue
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are trying to take the air out of a Donald Trump fundraising video. The duo made it clear that they did not consent to the former POTUS using a monologue from their film "Air" in a new campaign ad, which was posted to the politician's Truth Social social media platform over the weekend. "We had no foreknowledge of, did not consent to and do not endorse or approve any footage or audio from 'Air' being repurposed by the Trump campaign as a political advertisement or for any other use," a spokesperson for Artists Equity, a studio headed by Ben and Matt, told Variety. "Specifically in terms of any and all rights available to us under U.S. copyright and intellectual property law, we hereby, expressly give notice that in the case of any use of material from 'Air' by the Trump campaign where approval or consent is required, we do not grant such consent."
In the unauthorized clip, Trump posted images from his life while a narrator reads, "Money can buy you almost anything, but it can't buy you immortality, that you have to earn…" In the film, Matt's character, Sonny Vaccaro, tells this to basketball star Michael Jordan. Over the years, many musical acts, actors and artists have denounced the presidential candidate for using their intellectual property without consent.
Digital Paul
He's alive — OK, not really! In a BBC Radio 4 interview, Paul McCartney revealed plans to release a "final" Beatles song featuring an AI-enhanced, "pure" version of John Lennon's voice that was originally recorded on an old demo tape. "So when we came to make what will be the last Beatles record — it was a demo that John had — that we worked on and we just finished it up, it will be released this year," Paul said. "We were able to take John's voice and get it pure through this AI so then we could mix the record as you would normally do. It gives you some sort of leeway. So there is a good side to it and then a scary side, and we will just have to see where that leads." While AI has become a bit of a hot-button issue, Paul said of the technology, "[It's] kind of scary, but exciting because it's the future." Paul gave no further details on the demo or the new song, but experts have speculated it will be John's song "Now And Then," which appeared on a demo tape circa 1978, two years before his death.
