Jami Ganz – New York Daily News https://www.nydailynews.com Breaking US news, local New York news coverage, sports, entertainment news, celebrity gossip, autos, videos and photos at nydailynews.com Wed, 15 May 2024 20:47:33 +0000 en-US hourly 30 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/cropped-DailyNewsCamera-7.webp?w=32 Jami Ganz – New York Daily News https://www.nydailynews.com 32 32 208786248 Victoria Justice breaks silence on ‘Quiet on Set’ allegations against Dan Schneider https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/15/victoria-justice-dan-schneider-allegations-quiet-on-set/ Wed, 15 May 2024 20:46:40 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7700112 Former Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice has broken her silence on the disturbing allegations against former hotshot producer Dan Schneider, a central fixture of the recent docuseries “Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV.”

The 31-year-old “Zoey 101” alum, who went on to star in the network’s “Victorious,” told Marie Claire that she’s “definitely one of the people that list” of those to whom Schneider said he owes “a pretty strong apology.”

Allegations against the “All That” creator include racism, sexism, sexual harassment and verbal abuse.

While Justice emphasized that Schneider’s offenses toward her were never sexual — as alleged by other Nickelodeon alumni — she conceded that, in hindsight, she can see elements from behind-the-scenes that “were in poor taste.”

“Something that was very evident in the documentary is that Dan had a very large ego, and sometimes that ego clouded his better judgement and affected the way he treated people, and there were times I felt like I was being treated unfairly,” the “Trust” actress said in the interview published Wednesday.

Adding that her relationship to Schneider is “a very complex one,” Justice said she’s “not condoning any of his behavior” but did credit him for kickstarting her career.

“Most likely I wouldn’t be here where I am today if it weren’t for him, and for him seeing something in me. For that I will always be grateful,” she said.

Schneider dropped a 20-minute apology on YouTube following the release of the Investigation Discovery doc in mid-March, noting that he’d had to face “my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and I regret.”

Such allegations include making inappropriate jokes, asking employees for massages and sneaking sexually coded content into his series designed for underage viewers.

“After watching his apology, I think he recognizes that he did a lot of things wrong,” Justice said. “I think if he could step back into a time machine, he would do a lot of things differently.”

Justice’s interview was published one day after “All That” alum Lori Beth Denberg accused Schneider of sexual misconduct — claims that Schneider dismissed as “wildly exaggerated and, in most cases, false.”

Earlier this month, Schneider — with whom Nickelodeon severed ties in 2018 — sued the “Quiet on Set” creators for unspecified damages, alleging he’s suffered both mentally and financially in its aftermath.

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7700112 2024-05-15T16:46:40+00:00 2024-05-15T16:47:33+00:00
Christine Baumgartner flaunts PDA with ex Kevin Costner’s former friend https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/15/christine-baumgartner-dating-josh-connor-kevin-costner-divorce/ Wed, 15 May 2024 19:25:53 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7699678 Kevin Costner’s ex-wife Christine Baumgartner is flaunting her new relationship with a friend of the former couple, nearly a year after they first sparked romance rumors.

The 50-year-old handbag designer was spotted getting cozy Tuesday with financier Josh Connor as they walked around Montecito, Calif., according to photos published by TMZ.

Though the two reportedly weren’t caught kissing, they were photographed holding hands and wrapping their arms around each other’s waists.

The pictures come roughly a year after Baumgartner filed for divorce from the “Yellowstone” star, nearly 19 years after their late 2004 nuptials.

“It is with great sadness that circumstances beyond his control have transpired which have resulted in Mr. Costner having to participate in a dissolution of marriage action,” a publicist for Costner said in a statement at the time.

By July, Baumgartner and Connor — a former neighbor of the couple — were seen enjoying a Hawaiian vacation, with insiders at the time telling TMZ the two were just friends.

Her pal told People back in January that though “Josh was initially just a friend,” the pair have been dating “since she split from Kevin.”

“He is a divorced dad and understands what she’s been going through,” said the friend. “They both love the ocean and beach life. It’s something that makes Christine happy.”

The Oscar winner and Baumgartner settled their acrimonious divorce in September, with a Santa Barbara judge upholding their prenup agreement and deciding Costner would only have to pay a monthly sum of $63,000 in child support, though she initially sought $248,000 a month.

Together, the “Field of Dreams” star and Baumgartner share sons Cayden, 17, and Hayes, 15, as well as daughter Grace, 13. Costner also has four adult children — three with ex-wife Cindy Silva and one with ex-girlfriend Bridget Rooney.

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7699678 2024-05-15T15:25:53+00:00 2024-05-15T15:25:53+00:00
Joanna Vassos cast as first ‘Golden Bachelorette,’ weeks after ‘Golden Bachelor’ divorce announcement https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/15/joanna-vassos-cast-as-first-golden-bachelorette-weeks-after-golden-bachelor-divorce-announcement/ Wed, 15 May 2024 16:23:15 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7699064 Joan Vassos has been cast as the first-ever “Golden Bachelorette” — roughly a month since the inaugural “Golden Bachelor” Gerry Turner and wife Theresa Nist closed the book on their fairytale love story.

ABC, the home of Bachelor Nation, announced Vassos’ casting Tuesday at the Disney Upfront 2024 presentation.

The widowed school administrator, 61, and mother of four competed for 72-year-old Turner’s love on last year’s freshman season of “Golden Bachelor” until a family emergency necessitated her departure.

Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. (JOHN FLEENOR / DISNEY)
Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist. (JOHN FLEENOR / DISNEY)

“Vassos is a remarkable woman whose life has been defined by her resilience, zest for adventure and strong family values. It was those family values that led to her heartbreaking decision to leave ‘The Golden Bachelor,’ self-eliminating after a medical concern with her daughter arose,” read the casting release, which noted Vassos is starting “her journey to seek love once more.”

Gerry Turner and Joan Vassos on 'The Golden Bachelor.' (ABC / JOHN FLEENOR)
Gerry Turner and Joan Vassos on ‘The Golden Bachelor.’ (ABC / JOHN FLEENOR)

Both Turner and Nist, 70, congratulated Vassos on her casting.

“You will be phenomenal as the new representative of a generation. From one Golden to another…relax, breathe and enjoy,” Turner said in a note posted Tuesday on his Instagram.

“My dear friend, Joan, I am so excited for you!!” Nist wrote on an Instagram Story, sharing a snap of herself and Vassos.

The Disney-owned network announced back in February that the “Golden Bachelor” spinoff would be heading to ABC and Hulu this fall and that casting for the hopeful female was “well underway.”

Last month, Turner and Nist revealed on “Good Morning America” — which also airs on ABC — that they were splitting up, just three months after marrying in a live two-hour TV special.

Noting they remained “best friends” and still love each other, the reality personalities said their romance couldn’t overcome their long-distance living arrangements.

Nist noted at the time that they’d been worried about sharing the news, as they’d given “so much hope” to others searching for love in their golden years and urged them to “stay in it. Stay hopeful. ‘Cause we are.”

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7699064 2024-05-15T12:23:15+00:00 2024-05-15T12:23:15+00:00
Kanye West parts ways with Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/15/kanye-west-yeezy-milo-yiannopoulos-part-ways/ Wed, 15 May 2024 15:10:27 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7698630 Yeezy chief of staff Milo Yiannopoulos is no longer employed by Kanye West amid a new direction and apparent mass exodus at the embattled rapper’s company.

The 46-year-old Grammy winner, who now goes by “Ye,” and the former Breitbart editor, 39, have parted ways, the latter confirmed in a statement to TMZ.

“I wish Ye every success in the future. I have some concerns about his new team, and hope he proceeds with caution,” the British far-right commentator told the outlet.

Multiple insiders with direct knowledge told the outlet that several Yeezy leaders have jumped ship in recent weeks. It’s unknown whether all the recent departures are linked to the development of Yeezy Porn, but Yiannopoulos’ is.

He noted in his resignation letter, a copy of which he provided to TMZ, that for both moral and religious reasons, he had zero interest in being associated with adult entertainment.

Such a move risked being “an imminent danger to my life as a recovering addict and an unacceptable risk to my spiritual and physical health as a former homosexual,” he reportedly wrote in the letter.

Last month, a rep for the “Heartless” rapper told TMZ he was consulting with Stormy Daniels’ ex-husband, Michael “Mike Moz” Mosny, to launch a pornography division.

If Ye shelves the pornographic plans, Yiannopoulos noted “it would be an honor to serve you again.”

Ye opened up back in 2019 about his struggles with a “full-on pornography addiction” as well as sex addiction.

At the time, he told Apple Music’s Zane Lowe that the affliction had “affected almost every choice I made for the rest of my life.”

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7698630 2024-05-15T11:10:27+00:00 2024-05-15T11:10:27+00:00
Golf star Rory McIlroy files for divorce from Erica Stoll days before PGA Championship https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/14/rory-mcilroy-divorce-erica-stoll/ Tue, 14 May 2024 21:02:05 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7686505 Pro golfer Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from wife Erica Stoll on Monday, roughly seven years after they tied the knot and more than a decade after they first met.

The Northern Irish athlete, 35, submitted his filing in Florida, just days before he’s set to compete at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Ky., according to court records obtained by TMZ.

In a statement to the outlet Tuesday, McIlroy’s manager noted that the majors champ has no comment on the filing and wants to make “this difficult time … as respectful and amicable as possible.”

McIlroy and Stoll met in 2012, when he was in a relationship with Danish tennis pro Caroline Wozniacki and Stoll worked the PGA’s Ryder Cup event.

McIlroy and Wozniacki got engaged on New Year’s Eve 2013 but he called off the wedding the following spring — the same year he reportedly started dating Stoll.

McIlroy at the time issued a statement in which he realized that, after sending out wedding invites, he “wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails.” He noted the decision to split had been a “mutual” one.

A year later, McIlroy told The Times of London he had “met someone new.”

“She doesn’t play golf, but she is involved with golf. I have known her for three years and we are good friends,” he said in May 2015. “If everything off the golf course is good, it allows you to be better on it as well.”

McIlroy and Stoll were engaged by the end of the year and said “I do” in spring 2017, in the presence of stars like Stevie Wonder, Chris Martin, Niall Horan, Ed Sheeran and Jamie Dornan.

Together, McIlroy and Stoll welcomed daughter Poppy in August 2020, with the former noting on Instagram that the newborn was “the absolute love of our lives.”

Though he has not yet posted about the divorce filing, McIlroy on Monday shared a joint post with PGA Championship that shows him on the golf course, captioned: “Sweet Dreams.”

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Noah Cyrus waves white flag amid rumored feud with mom Tish https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/14/noah-cyrus-tish-birthday-post-dominic-purcell-feud/ Tue, 14 May 2024 19:13:54 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7686248 Noah Cyrus put aside her rumored feud with mom Tish — over her new husband, who Noah claims to have dated — to wish the matriarch a happy birthday over Mother’s Day weekend.

On Sunday, the “Dear August” singer, 24, shared two throwback snaps of herself and the music manager, 57, in since-expired Instagram Stories, per Entertainment Tonight.

The first showed Tish holding baby Noah in a field. The second image showed little Noah beaming as Tish propped up a lit cake, with the post captioned, “Happy birthday mom.”

Dominic Purcell walks onstage at the"DC's Legends Of Tomorrow" Special Video Presentation and Q&A during Comic-Con International 2018 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Dominic Purcell walks onstage at the”DC’s Legends Of Tomorrow” Special Video Presentation and Q&A during Comic-Con International 2018 at San Diego Convention Center on July 21, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The post comes weeks after Tish admitted on daughter Brandi’s “Sorry We’re Stoned” podcast that there are “definitely issues” in her marriage to Dominic Purcell. However, she did not elaborate on Noah’s rumored former relationship with the 54-year-old “Prison Break” actor.

The elder Cyrus married Purcell last summer in a ceremony that was neither attended by Noah nor son Braison, 29.

Tish attributed several of said issues to the differences in her and Purcell’s upbringings as well as the lack of compatibility in their astrological signs, though she noted they’re working on better understanding each other.

An insider last month told ET that mother and daughter “haven’t been close since Tish started dating Dominic,” though they said the chatter regarding Noah and Purcell had been “exaggerated.”

“It’s also been an adjustment for Noah in general for her parents to be divorced,” said the source. “Tish didn’t invite Noah to her wedding because she thought it would cause a scene and drama.”

Tish and former husband Billy Ray Cyrus split several times during the nearly two decades they were married, ending once and for all in April 2022. Both entered the marriage with children from prior relationships, but biologically share Miley, Braison and Noah.

The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, 62, wed Australian singer Firerose last fall.

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7686248 2024-05-14T15:13:54+00:00 2024-05-14T15:13:54+00:00
Pop culture-centric ‘Jeopardy!’ spin-off lands at Prime Video https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/14/pop-culture-jeopardy-prime-video/ Tue, 14 May 2024 16:22:40 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7686084 Game show staple “Jeopardy!” is teaming up with Amazon Prime Video for a new spinoff centered around pop culture.

“Pop Culture Jeopardy!” was announced in New York Tuesday at the streamer’s first upfront presentation. It’s the first installment in the franchise to land on a major streaming service, Variety reports.

“‘Pop Culture Jeopardy’ is its own cultural moment, marking the first time the iconic franchise will premiere exclusively on a streaming service,” said Lauren Anderson, who heads up AVOD originals scripted and targeted programming Amazon MGM Studios, according to the outlet. However, “Sports Jeopardy,” which lasted from 2014 to 2016, streamed on Crackle, Sony’s former streaming platform.

The series will keep in line with the decades-old original’s “answer-and-question” format. Anderson noted the clues will center on entertainment “topics that define and transcend generations,” including film, TV, music, sports, and theater.

At the time of publication, a host has not yet been announced for the show, which promises to be “pop culture Olympics for the mind,” said Suzanne Prete, president of game shows at Sony Pictures Television, according to Variety.

“With [‘Jeopardy!’ executive producer] Michael Davies at the helm, ‘Pop Culture Jeopardy!’ is going to be a nail biter for game show enthusiasts who can expect to see teams competing at the highest level of ‘Jeopardy!’

“Jeopardy!” first launched on daytime TV in 1964 and 20 years later, premiered the syndicated incarnation known to viewers today.

The news comes months after “Big Bang Theory” alum Mayim Bialik was booted as “Jeopardy!” host in favor of Ken Jennings.

Other spin-offs include VH1’s early aughts “Rock & Roll Jeopardy,” as well as “Celebrity Jeopardy!” and “Jeopardy! Masters.”

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7686084 2024-05-14T12:22:40+00:00 2024-05-14T12:22:40+00:00
Kelly Clarkson credits recent weight loss to medication, but not Ozempic https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/14/kelly-clarkson-weight-loss-medication-not-ozempic/ Tue, 14 May 2024 14:16:06 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7685874 Kelly Clarkson confirmed speculation that her recent weight loss is due to a medication — but it’s not Ozempic, as most people have assumed.

The “American Idol” alum, 42, got candid on Monday’s episode of “The Kelly Clarkson Show” as she and Whoopi Goldberg discussed their respective experiences with trimming down.

“Mine is a different [medication] than people assume, but I ended up having to do that too, because my bloodwork got so bad,” said Clarkson — who, at just under 5-foot 4 inches, noted she weighed about 203 pounds at her heaviest. “My doctor chased me for like two years, and I was like, no, I’m afraid of it. I already have thyroid problems. I was afraid. Everybody thinks it’s Ozempic, it’s not. It’s something else. ”

Kelly Clarkson attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Kelly Clarkson attends the 66th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 04, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

“But it’s something that aids in helping break down the sugar … my body doesn’t do it right,” said Clarkson.

Clarkson admitted she “didn’t see” how heavy she was until she and her team watched one of her performances, after which she “was like, ‘Who the f–k was that?’

“I was never insecure about it. I was happy. … I just did not see that,” said Clarkson. “It’s funny because people assumed she must have been miserable. … I was like, no. I was not. … I had no idea. I maybe should’ve known, ’cause I watched that show and I was like, ‘She is, any second now, gonna die.'”

Clarkson debuted her slimmer figure earlier this year, noting she’d started losing weight after being diagnosed as pre-diabetic. The singer told People that eating “a healthy mix” and “listening to my doctor” is part of how she’s improved her lifestyle since splitting from ex-husband and manager Brandon Blackstock in 2020.

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7685874 2024-05-14T10:16:06+00:00 2024-05-14T10:16:06+00:00
Rudy Moreno, ‘Godfather of Latino comedy,’ dead at 66 after recent hospitalization https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/11/comedian-rudy-moreno-dead-hospitalization/ Sat, 11 May 2024 21:37:32 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7682879 Los Angeles comedian Rudy Moreno, remembered by his peers as “the Godfather of Latino comedy,” has died following a recent hospitalization. He was 66.

Moreno’s death was confirmed to TMZ by his agent roughly three weeks after the “Lopez Tonight” veteran was treated in the ICU while battling a bout of pneumonia and receiving dialysis. A cause of death was not disclosed.

Moreno’s wife, Arlene — who had also just been hospitalized — told TMZ on April 29 that her husband had been in the ICU for about a week, but said both she and his agent were struggling to get in contact with Moreno, who was reportedly not listed in the hospital’s system.

Following the news of his death, a “truly [heart]broken” Ken Jeong tweeted that “countless comedians owe their start” to Moreno, who the actor thanked for “constantly supporting me and letting me get stage time on all of his shows.”

“I know you’re making heaven laugh,” continued the “Hangover” star.

Along with his standup, Moreno’s career also included appearances on shows like “Dave,” “Arrested Development,” “Criminal Minds,” “Monk,” “George Lopez,” “Judging Amy” and “Everybody Loves Raymond.”

The L.A. native also penned Gabriel Iglesias’ 2011 “Stand-Up Revolution.”

Moreno is survived by his wife and their children.

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7682879 2024-05-11T17:37:32+00:00 2024-05-11T17:37:32+00:00
Tom Holland’s first ‘Romeo & Juliet’ preview canceled amid reports of frenzy behind the scenes https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/05/11/tom-holland-romeo-and-juliet-preview-canceled/ Sat, 11 May 2024 20:09:21 +0000 https://www.nydailynews.com/?p=7682741 The show might go on, but it’s unclear when after Tom Holland’s first preview of “Romeo & Juliet” was canceled on Saturday.

Ticketholders were notified ahead of Saturday night’s performance that the limited revival of Shakespeare’s tragic romance “cannot go ahead as planned” in London’s West End, Deadline reports.

Though the decision to cancel — a move reportedly agreed upon Thursday — was attributed to “the technical aspects of the production needing further preparation,” insiders suggested something else might have been at play.

Deadline described “frantic scenes during rehearsals this week as [director Jamie] Lloyd and his creative team attempted to fix what it was that required ‘further preparation.'”

While the show is currently still slated to premiere May 23, it’s unknown if or when a preview will take place next week.

The production features the “Spider-Man” star, 27, and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers as the titular ill-fated lovers — marking Holland’s first significant stage role since his boyhood debut in “Billy Elliot: the Musical.”

The canceled preview isn’t the only hiccup that has plagued the production, which may be forced to extend its season in order to combat “limited availability.” Saturday’s ticketholders were provided with a link to exchange tickets for a later performance in the run, which is already sold out, per Deadline.

The cancellation comes a little over a month after the show’s producer, the Jamie Lloyd Company, issued a statement shutting down the “barrage of deplorable racial abuse online” that followed the news of Amewudah-Rivers’ casting as Juliet.

“This must stop,” the production company said. “Bullying and harassment have no place online, in our industry or in our wider communities. Our rehearsal room is full of joy, compassion and kindness. We celebrate the extraordinary talent of our incredible collaborators.”

The “Bad Education” actress was also supported by over 800 actors — many of whom are Black, female or nonbinary — who responded to the abuse in an open letter published by The Guardian.

“Too many times, Black performers — particularly Black actresses — are left to face the storm of online abuse after committing the crime of getting a job on their own,” the letter reads.

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7682741 2024-05-11T16:09:21+00:00 2024-05-13T14:47:46+00:00