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☆ Mike Batayeh, ‘Breaking Bad’ actor and comedian, dead at 52
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-09 | by ( Megan Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

CNN —Mike Batayeh, a comedian and actor who played laundromat manager Dennis Markowski in “Breaking Bad,” has died, his manager confirmed to CNN. The news was first reported by TMZ, citing Batayeh’s sister, who told the outlet her brother suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Michigan on June 1. “He will be greatly missed by those who loved him and his great ability to bring laughter and joy to so many,” Batayeh’s family said in a statement. His TV credits over the years include appearances in “CSI: Miami,” “The Bernie Mac Show,” and “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.” He appeared in multiple episodes of “Breaking Bad” in 2011 and 2012. A memorial service is planned for Batayeh in Plymouth, Michigan next week, according to his manager.

Persons: Mike Batayeh, Dennis Markowski, ”, Batayeh’s, Bernie Mac Organizations: CNN, TMZ, “ CSI Locations: Michigan, “, Miami, Philadelphia, Plymouth , Michigan

☆ Taylor Swift seems to reference Matty Healy throughout her new album. Here's a complete timeline of their relationship.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Callie Ahlgrim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +22 min

At the concert, Swift was photographed dancing with her friends on the balcony, getting especially cozy with Kloss. February 25, 2015: Swift and Healy hang out at the Universal Music Brits party in LondonNick Grimshaw, Taylor Swift, and Matt Healy at the Universal Music Brits party. "It's not really anything to talk about, because if she wasn't Taylor Swift we wouldn't be talking about her. AdvertisementHe continued: "If I had gone out with Taylor Swift I would've been, 'Fucking hell! Taylor Swift performs at the 2016 Grammys; Matty Healy performs at the 2016 Apple Music Festival.

Persons: —, Taylor Swift, Matty Healy, Swift's, Healy, Milwaukee Healy, Swift, Los Angeles Swift, Selena Gomez, Gomez, Ellie Goulding, — Taylor, Harry Styles, merch, Angus O'Loughlin, hasn't, Stone, I've, she's, Martha Hunt, Lily Aldridge, Karlie, Haim, Hunt, Aldridge, Instagram, concertgoers, it's, Taylor, Jared, Swift Healy, Australia's, London Nick Grimshaw, Matt Healy, David M, Bacardi Swift, Kloss, Goulding, Nick Grimshaw, Mick Jagger, Halsey, It's, wasn't Taylor Swift, Robyn Beck, Dave J Hogan, Elle, Lana Del Rey, Jack Antonoff, Jack, Ally, Phoebe Bridgers, Paul Mescal, Bo Burnham, Bridgers, Burnham Organizations: Service, Poets Department, Business, Swift, Eagles, Us, MTV, Universal Music Brits, Soho House, Bacardi, Q, NME, KROQ, Klein, Poets Society Locations: Milwaukee, Los Angeles, New York City, Australia, London, Soho

☆ Fact Check-No evidence online image shows Jeffrey Epstein with musical duo Island Boys
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Reuters found no evidence that an image circulating on social media shows disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein with the members of the hip-hop duo Island Boys as children, contrary to social media posts. The financier took his life in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges ( bit.ly/3iXOMyL ). The Island Boys did not reply to a Reuters request for comment. There is no evidence this image depicting Jeffrey Epstein with the duo Island Boys as kids is real. Read more about our work to fact-check social media posts ( here ).

Persons: Jeffrey Epstein, It’s, Flyysoulja, ” Epstein, Read Organizations: Reuters, Boys, Facebook, TMZ Locations: Caribbean

☆ Beyoncé and Jay-Z Join the $100 Million Home Club
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Debra Kamin | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beyoncé and Jay-Z, no strangers to flashy real estate deals, reportedly upgraded from their $88 million mansion in Bel Air, Calif., to a $200 million Malibu property last month, officially erasing the line between going big and going home. The sale marks the most expensive residential real estate deal in California history — but not the most expensive in American history. That would be the $238 million sale in January 2019 of an unfinished penthouse on Central Park South, in Manhattan, to the billionaire hedge fund tycoon Kenneth C. Griffin. Still, California can claim 10 of the 20 most expensive property sales ever in the United States, according to data compiled by Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel appraisals. Beyoncé and Jay-Z, who have bought and sold multimillion-dollar homes in Miami, New Orleans and the Hamptons, are now in a rarefied club of celebrities who own properties worth $100 million or more.

Persons: Beyoncé, Tadao Ando, William Bell Jr, Kurt Rappaport, Rappaport, Kenneth C, Griffin, Jonathan Miller, Miller Samuel Organizations: Calif, Malibu, TMZ, Westside Estate Agency, Park, Hamptons Locations: Bel Air, California, Manhattan, , California, United States, New York, Florida, Connecticut, Miami , New Orleans

☆ Actor Al Pacino, 83, expecting his fourth child
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] 2019 Hollywood Film Awards - Photo room - Beverly Hills, California, U.S., November 3, 2019 - Al Pacino poses backstage with his Hollywood Supporting Actor Award for "The Irishman." REUTERS/Danny Moloshok/File PhotoLONDON, May 31 (Reuters) - Oscar winner Al Pacino is expecting his fourth child at the age of 83, a representative for the actor confirmed on Wednesday. It added that Pacino had been linked to Alfallah, 29, since April last year. A representative for Pacino confirmed the actor and Alfallah were expecting a baby, without giving further details. Earlier this month, fellow Oscar winning actor Robert De Niro, Pacino's co-star in several films including most recently "The Irishman," confirmed he had welcomed his seventh child at the age of 79.

Persons: Al Pacino, Danny Moloshok, TMZ, Noor Alfallah, Pacino, Alfallah, Oscar, Julie Marie, Jan Tarrant, Anton James, Olivia, Beverly D'Angelo, Robert De Niro, Pacino's, Marie, Louise Gumuchian, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Hollywood, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S

☆ Beyoncé and Jay-Z smash California real estate records with their purchase of a $200 million concrete compound overlooking the ocean
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The $200 million mansion was created by architect Tadao Ando, who also designed a home for Kanye West. The concrete compound comes with a 40,000 square foot residence and pool just steps from the beach. The concrete compound features an infinity pool just steps from the Pacific ocean. A sky view of 27712 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, purchased by Beyonce and Jay-Z in May of 2023 for $200 million. The 40,000 square foot residence was designed by iconic Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

☆ Britney Spears’ husband Sam Asghari appears to slam new documentary
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Lisa Respers France | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Sam Asghari stuck up for his wife prior to the Monday debut of a documentary about her life after her conservatorship. “TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom,” which aired on Fox, cites primarily unnamed sources. It was absolutely disgusting,” Asghari said in a video on his Instagram Stories. Spears and Asghari did not participate in the documentary. CNN has reached out to representatives for TMZ, Asghari and Spears for comment.

☆ The Village People really want Trump to stop playing 'Macho Man' and say a recent cover of it at Mar-a-Lago caused 'public confusion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Village People have asked Trump to stop using their music and likeness at his events. The letter said a cover band's recent performance of "Macho Man" at Mar-a-Lago caused "public confusion." The letter requested that Trump stop using the band's music and likeness at his events. "The performance has, and continues to cause, public confusion as to why Village People would even engage in such a performance," Willis wrote. The Village People are not the first, and likely won't be the last, musicians to demand Trump stop using their music — artists like Rihanna, Adele, and Elton John have also voiced their disapproval.

☆ Kanye West filed a trademark application for 'sock shoes' just days before Adidas said it would sell off unsold Yeezys for charity
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-14 | by ( Jyoti Mann | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ye filed a trademark application for "Yzy sock shoes," which may signal a future product release. It was filed only days before Adidas said it will sell its Yeezy stock and donate profits to charity. His holding company, Mascotte Holdings, filed the application to the US Patent and Trademark Office on May 4. A drawing with the caption "Yzy sock shoes" was submitted alongside the filing. In 2020, Ye's holding company also filed a trademark for Yeezy-branded cosmetics, makeup, and beauty products.

☆ Adidas sued by shareholders over its failed Ye partnership
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

In the lawsuit, filed Friday in a federal court, shareholders allege that Adidas “routinely ignored” his behavior as early as 2018. They claim that senior executives “ignored serious issues” affecting the Yeezy partnership, namely his antisemitic remarks and troubling public comments about slavery. The lawsuit said that Adidas was aware of his behavior and that the company “failed to take meaningful precautionary measures to limit negative financial exposure” if the partnership ended. Adidas (ADDDF) ended its almost decade-long partnership in October 2022 after Ye wore a “White Lives Matter” T-shirt in public. Days later, Ye said “I can say antisemitic s*** and Adidas (ADDDF) cannot drop me” during a podcast taping.

☆ Jeff Bezos, accidental style icon, was spotted at Coachella in a butterfly-print button-down shirt
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos showed up at Coachella in a butterfly-print button-down shirt. "Looks like a low budget Fast and Furious scene," wrote Redditor RuckOver3 in a post that was upvoted more than 34,000 times as of press time. Bezos was spotted at the festival with his partner Lauren Sanchez, Kardashian matriarch Kris Jenner, and Jenner's partner, Corey Gamble, per TMZ. wrote Redditor BarfJello, in a comment that had been upvoted more than 13,000 times as of press time. "Looks like the average Coachella attendee," wrote Reddit user electricman420.

☆ 'Love Is Blind' is hell on earth: Contestants say producers deprived them of food and sleep, preyed on their anxieties, and refused to let them quit
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Katie Warren | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +29 min

After the 10 days, cast members must decide whether they want to get engaged to another contestant sight unseen — or go home. The season-two contestant Nick Thompson said "Love Is Blind" didn't adequately support its cast members — during or after filming. Many cast members believed "Love Is Blind" would be a cut above other reality shows. The first evening in Cancún, producers told Ruhl she couldn't attend a party for all the newly engaged couples because they thought she might have COVID-19. In a later episode he again became infuriated and threatened to leave when Reed came home late from clubbing with other cast members.

☆ Pornhub users searched 'Stormy Daniels' a record 650,000 times the day Trump was arraigned: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Searches for "Stormy Daniels" surged on Pornhub the day Donald Trump was arraigned. Pornhub says a record 650,000 people searched her name on the site on Tuesday, per TMZ. Data shared between the company and TMZ shows that as news of the Trump indictment broke, searches for "Stormy Daniels" rose steeply, peaking at 631,254 last Friday. But her popularity grew even more on the day of the arraignment, reaching beyond 650,000 searches, Pornhub told TMZ. Search traffic for "Stormy Daniels" also grew on March 21, the day that Trump — inaccurately — predicted he was to be arrested.

☆ Joe Exotic is running a long-shot 2024 campaign for president, all while serving 21 years in prison for his role in a murder-for-hire plot
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Joe Exotic of "Tiger King" fame is running a long-shot 2024 campaign as a libertarian. At press time, Exotic's 2024 campaign appeared to still need some staffers. Exotic listed several "celebrities and influencers" who he says have endorsed him, including a man named Seth Posey, whose occupation is listed only as "Joe's fiancé." Angela McArdle, chair of the Libertarian Party, slammed Exotic's campaign in an interview with TMZ on March 19. Exotic, McArdle, and Meester did not immediately respond to Insider's requests for comment outside regular business hours.

☆ Tiger Woods's NDA battle with Erica Herman is dragging his obsession with privacy into the spotlight
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Jack Newsham | Katherine Long | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Tiger Woods's ex-girlfriend Erica Herman claims he evicted and abused her, but she has an NDA. Davis wasn't the first person asked to keep Tiger Woods's name out of his mouth, and according to a $30 million lawsuit filed earlier this month by Woods's ex-girlfriend Erica Herman, he wasn't the last. The battle over Herman's NDA is a window into Woods's longtime obsession with privacy. In October 2021, exhibits and transcripts were sealed in an unsuccessful case brought by the family of an employee at Tiger Woods's restaurant who died in a drunk driving incident. When Woods's image imploded in 2009, he used nondisclosure agreements to stanch the gush of details about his personal life into the media.

☆ Rupert Murdoch testified that Fox News hosts lied about the 2020 election. Here's why it wasn't a misstep.
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-06 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Rupert Murdoch admitted Fox News hosts endorsed falsehoods about the 2020 election. Murdoch chairs Fox Corporation, which argues it isn't responsible for claims made on subsidiary Fox News. Here was the chair of Fox Corporation, a 91-year-old mogul atop a conservative media empire, admitting to lies that damaged democracy. When asked by Dominion's lawyers in a January deposition whether he thought Fox hosts were truthful about the election, Murdoch was candid. Fox Corporation also manages subsidiaries like Fox Sports, a large number of local TV stations, TMZ, Tubi, and a blockchain company.

☆ A style expert said Kyrsten Sinema's yellow dress at the State of the Union 'reflects her independent spirit,' but that it 'missed the mark'
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A style expert said Kyrsten Sinema's yellow State of the Union dress "missed the mark." She said the dress could have been "jarring" to members of Congress who are used to "sameness." "Her dress missed the mark and appeared ill-fitting," Lauren Rothberg, an image consultant, author of "Style Bible," and founder of fashion firm Styleauteur, said. Rothberg told Insider she thinks Sinema's dress made the Senator — who recently stepped away from the Democratic party and now identifies as an Independent — feel "unstoppable," adding that she was "definitely seen last night." Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images"The bright, saturated yellow reflects her independent spirit — and party," Rothberg said, adding that she admires Sinema for making a "bold statement."

☆ Kanye West named a suspect in a battery investigation after a video appeared to show him throwing a woman's phone, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-28 | by ( Gabi Stevenson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Kanye West is named a suspect in a battery investigation after throwing a woman's phone, TMZ reports. A video shared by the outlet Friday shows the rapper confronting several people filming him. If I say stop, stop with your cameras," he said in the clip. If I say stop, stop with your cameras," West said. In the video, West then appears to take the woman's phone from her hand and throws it in the street before approaching a man with a camera near the rapper's car.

☆ Britney Spears said fans 'went too far' when they called the police to visit her home after she deactivated her Instagram
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Kieran Press-Reynolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Britney Spears called out fans for urging police to visit her after she took down her Instagram. Spears has deactivated her popular Instagram account multiple times before. Spears said she believed the police went to her house because of "prank phone calls" that went "a little too far." As of writing this story on Thursday, Spears' account still remains deactivated. The singer has deactivated her account multiple times before, which has not previously incited widespread panic among her fans.

☆ A 35-year-old former NFL defensive lineman, Chris Baker, says he almost died from a stroke
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Tyler Lauletta | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Former NFL defensive tackle shared that he suffered a stroke earlier this week in an Instagram post. "I can't believe I had a stroke," Chris Baker wrote on Instagram. "Tell your loved ones you love 'em, my life almost ended 2 days ago," Baker wrote on his Instagram story on Tuesday. "I can't believe I had a stroke," Baker said. Baker went undrafted in 2009 and spent his first two NFL seasons on the periphery of active rosters with both the Broncos and Dolphins.

☆ Rep. George Santos responds to drag queen photos: 'I was young and I had fun at a festival'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-22 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

I was young, and I had fun at a festival," Santos told reporters. Santos previously said claims that he was ever a drag queen were "categorically false." Santos initially denied the reports, writing on Twitter: "The most recent obsession from the media claiming that I am a drag Queen or "performed" as a drag Queen is categorically false." A report from Politico further suggested evidence of his drag queen past, as the outlet uncovered an old Wikipedia entry in which someone using a known Santos alias wrote about having performed as a drag queen in Brazil. The revelations about his drag queen past also come amid a right-wing anti-gay disinformation campaign attempting to link drag shows to "grooming."

☆ Fact Check-Facebook post falsely linked to Lisa Marie Presley after star’s death
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A screenshot of a social media post discussing COVID-19 vaccination is circulating alongside false suggestions it was authored by Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of the late Elvis, who died on Thursday. Lisa Marie Presley’s death prompted baseless assertions on social media that the event was linked to COVID-19 vaccination (here). The COVID-19 vaccines are free, even if you don’t have health insurance or aren’t a U.S. citizen,” the post says. These words were not published by Lisa Marie Presley, however, but by a blogger’s page named “Lisa Marie” (ibb.co/TkQBzF2). The screenshot circulating does not show a post from Lisa Marie Presley.

☆ Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis, rushed to hospital
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Lisa Richwine | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/6] Lisa Marie Presley attends the handprints ceremony for Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, Riley Keough, Finley and Harper Lockwood at TCL Chinese theatre in Los Angeles, California, U.S. June 21, 2022. REUTERS/Ringo Chiu/File PhotoLOS ANGELES, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Lisa Marie Presley, a musician and the only daughter of rock 'n' roll legend Elvis Presley, was undergoing treatment after being rushed to a Los Angeles-area hospital on Thursday, her mother said. Presley, 54, suffered cardiac arrest in her home in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas, according to website TMZ. TMZ showed a photo of Priscilla Presley arriving at the hospital to be with her daughter. Lisa Marie Presley was born in 1968 and is the owner of her father's Graceland mansion in Memphis, a popular tourist attraction.

☆ Animal sanctuary rescues 'abandoned' pet pig that once belonged to Logan Paul
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Morgan Sung | Morgan Sung Is A Trends Reporter For Nbc News Digital. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A California animal sanctuary is going viral after sharing how it saved an abandoned pig that it said once belonged to YouTuber Logan Paul. “From what we’ve been told, it’s believed she was purchased originally from a breeder by an influencer,” Gentle Barn said in the video’s caption. On Feb. 26, 2020, Paul tweeted an image of him and a pig. He wrote that he “was told she was a mini pig,” and included a photo with the fully grown pig. Teacup pigs, mini pigs, nano pigs and other “breeds” marketed as pet pigs “are a myth,” according to the Best Friends Animal Society.

☆ Marjorie Taylor Greene and Dr. Dre are feuding
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a video on Twitter using the instrumental of Dr. Dre's "Still D.R.E." She later lashed out at Dr. Dre in a statement to TMZ. Howard E. King, Dr. Dre's attorney, sent Greene a cease-and-desist letter for her use of "Still D.R.E.," alleging copyright infringement. Prior to receiving the letter from his attorney, Greene addressed Dr. Dre in a statement to TMZ. Marjorie Taylor Greene🇺🇸 (@RepMTG) January 9, 2023

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