Star Wars Wins $40M In Opening Night
The final installment of the Skywalker Saga Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker made $40M in the domestic box office on its opening night. This is the fifth-highest opening ever recorded. In addition, the movie brought another $60M in international markets. However, both of the last two installments in the Star Wars franchise made more on opening night.
Even though the movie divided critics, Disney said that fans loved it. Nearly 90% of ticket buyers surveyed by Rotten Tomatoes gave it a positive score. The movie, directed by J.J. Abrams, stars Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaacs. It serves as the final installment in a 42-year-long saga started by George Lucas in 1977.
CATS Derided By Critics, Jason Derulo Defends
Jason Derulo defended CATS after critics slammed the new film, saying that the adaptation was “an incredible, brave piece of art”. CATS, which released Thursday night, was the first attempt to bring Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit stage musical to screen. However, reviews for the film have not been kind.
For instance, puns like “cat-astrophic” and jokes like “the worst thing to happen to cats since dogs” have dominated the headlines. Most of the disapproval comes from the CGI of cat features onto the cast, the oversized sets, and the confusing plot. “Reviews don’t matter … It’s an incredible, brave piece of art … When (the musical) came out on Broadway, it was the same thing, people were like ‘What is this, this is something totally different’,” Derulo said in defense of the movie.
Whitney Cummings Says An Intern Reported Her
Comedian Whitney Cummings said that an intern reported her to HR for saying “Merry Christmas”. While as a guest on ‘Conan’, she told host Conan O’Brien that HR pulled her into its office last year. ” I was leaving… I was like, ‘bye, guys. Merry Christmas.’ Like just a formality, what you would say,” Cummings explained. “I come back, like, June 6th. H.R. calls me and they’re like, ‘hey, we need to talk to you. One of the interns is pissed off that you said ‘Merry Christmas.'”
The Human Resources official said that the intern was agnostic. “I was like, no, no, no, no, no. You do not get to do that,” Cummings said. “Because had I known that this person was agnostic, that would mean we were in a relationship, like, that would mean we were intimately connected. I should not know who believes in God and who doesn’t. I also can’t guess either, you know?”
J.K. Rowling Slammed On Twitter
Twitter slammed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling for defending a researcher who lost her job after saying that men can’t change their sex. “Dress however you please. Call yourself whatever you like. Sleep with any consenting adult who’ll have you. Live your best life in peace and security,” Rowling tweeted Thursday. “But force women out of their jobs for stating that sex is real? #IStandWithMaya #ThisIsNotADrill.”
Almost immediately, other Twitter users called the author out for transphobic views. In addition, the Human Rights Campaign tweeted a rebuke shortly after her tweet writing: “Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non-binary people are non-binary. CC: JK Rowling.”
Kenny Lynch Dies At 81
UK pop singer Kenny Lynch died at the age of 81 on Wednesday. As one of Britain’s best known black pop singers, he is known for hit songs like “Up on the Roof” and his cover of the Beatles’ “Misery”. “Sadly our dad passed away in the early hours this morning. He will be remembered & missed by many,” his daughters said.
