Comedian Bill Cosby sexually assaulted a teenager at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles in 1975, a jury has found. Judy Huth testified to the civil trial that Cosby, 84, had forced her to perform a sex act on him at the venue when she was 16 years old. The jury also ruled that Cosby must pay Ms Huth, who is now 64, $500,000 (£407,000) in damages. Less than a year ago, Cosby walked free from prison after his sexual assault conviction was thrown out. More than 50 women have come forward with abuse allegations against the man once known … Continue reading Bill Cosby found guilty of assaulting teenager in 1975

Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis has been arrested in southern Italy on suspicion of aggravated sexual assault, Italian news agencies have reported. Brindisi prosecutors said he was also accused of “aggravated personal injury and crimes committed to the prejudice of a young foreign woman”. The ANSA and AGI agencies also report Mr Haggis has denied the allegations via his lawyer, Michele Laforgia. “Make enquiries as soon as possible, I am totally innocent,” the Canadian filmmaker said, according to the agencies, who quoted Laforgia. Another lawyer representing Mr Haggis, Priya Chaudhry, issued a statement to various outlets including Variety, saying the director … Continue reading Oscar-winning director Paul Haggis arrested over alleged sexual assault

Critics have hailed the release of Ms Marvel, Disney’s first on-screen Muslim superhero story, as a “joyful” slice of “pop culture history”. The show centres around geeky teenager and Avengers comic book fangirl Kamala Khan, played by Pakistani-Canadian newcomer Iman Vellani. She struggles to fit in until she gains superpowers, becoming Ms Marvel. In a five-star review, The Guardian said: “She’s funny, charming and effortlessly bats off preconceptions.” The paper’s TV critic Lucy Mangan wrote: “Normally, you would fear for a young actor, but Vellani seems so born to the purple [the colour of her powers] that you almost have to shrug … Continue reading Disney’s first Muslim superhero movie draws critical acclaim

Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein will be charged with two counts of indecent assault against a woman in London in the summer of 1996. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) authorised the Metropolitan Police to charge the 70-year-old after a review of evidence gathered by the force. The Metropolitan Police said it is alleged two offences took place between 31 July and 31 August 1996. The alleged victim is a woman who is now aged in her 50s, the force said. Rosemary Ainslie, head of the CPS special crime division, said: “The Crown Prosecution Service reminds all concerned that criminal proceedings … Continue reading Harvey Weinstein to be charged with indecent assault in UK

Goodfellas actor Ray Liotta has died in his sleep in the Dominican Republic at the age of 67. The US star had been on location filming the movie Dangerous Waters, his publicist Jennifer Allen said. He was best known for playing mobster Henry Hill in Martin Scorsese’s 1990 gangster film Goodfellas and also appeared in Field of Dreams. Liotta got his big break playing ex-convict Ray Sinclair in 1986 black comedy Something Wild. He got a Golden Globe nomination for that role and went on to star in the 1988 film Dominick and Eugene, about the strained relationship between twins … Continue reading Goodfellas star Ray Liotta dies aged 67

Actor and director Olivia Wilde was seemingly unruffled after being handed child custody documents while appearing on stage at an event in Las Vegas. She was delivering a presentation on Tuesday when a brown envelope was handed to her. Opening it, she discovered it contained custody papers from her former partner Jason Sudeikis. Sudeikis had no prior knowledge of the circumstances of the letter’s delivery, sources close to him said. Wilde is best known for directing the US high school teen film Booksmart and for her role as Remy ‘Thirteen’ Hadley in the medical-drama House. She met Sudeikis, best known … Continue reading Distasteful: Actress Olivia Wilde served custody papers on stage

Police were ready to arrest Will Smith at the Oscars after the actor slapped comedian Chris Rock on stage, the ceremony’s producer has said. In his first interview since Sunday’s event, Will Packer said officers asked Rock if he wanted them to take action. But the star was “very dismissive” of that offer, Packer told ABC TV. Smith has apologised for striking Rock over a joke about his wife Jada, while Oscars organisers and Packer have come under scrutiny for their responses. In an interview clip published by ABC’s Good Morning America, the producer described the conversation between Rock and Los … Continue reading Police were ready to arrest Will Smith during Oscars

Chris Rock has made his first public appearance since Will Smith slapped him during Sunday night’s Oscars ceremony. Hosting the latest leg of his US tour in Boston, the comic told fans that he is “still processing what happened”. Rock, who was greeted with a standing ovation by fans, also denied some reports in US media that he had spoken to Smith since the incident. “How was your weekend?” Rock jokingly greeted the crowd at his show at Boston’s Wilbur Theatre, before saying he did not plan to address the incident at length. It comes as the Oscars organisers revealed … Continue reading Update: Chris Rock’s first comments since Oscars slap

Bruce Willis will step away from his acting career after being diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that impedes a person’s ability to speak and write. The actor’s family, including his wife Emma Heming-Willis and ex-wife Demi Moore, announced his condition on Instagram on Wednesday. Aphasia is “impacting his cognitive abilities”, the statement said. Willis, 67, is best known for playing John McClane in the Die Hard films, which made him a star. “With much consideration Bruce is stepping away from the career that has meant so much to him,” his family wrote in a joint statement. “This is a really challenging … Continue reading Legend: Bruce Willis gives up acting due to brain disorder aphasia

Jada Pinkett Smith has broken her silence after the outcry over her husband slapping Chris Rock for making a joke at her expense. In a brief post to Instagram, the actress wrote of a “season for healing” in apparent reference to the Oscars incident. Her husband, Will Smith, was condemned by the awards organisers for hitting Rock. He apologised on Monday, calling violence “poisonous and destructive”. The incident Sunday night happened just before Smith won the Oscar for Best Actor, when the comedian Rock was on stage to present the award for Best Documentary. He made a quip about Pinkett … Continue reading Update: Jada Pinkett Smith breaks silence on Oscars slap

Will Smith has apologised to Chris Rock after he slapped him at the Oscars, saying his behaviour was “unacceptable and inexcusable”. “I would like to publicly apologise to you, Chris,” he said in a statement. “I was out of line and I was wrong.” It comes after the Oscars film academy condemned Smith over the incident and announced a formal review. The star slapped Rock in the face on stage after the comic made a joke about the actor’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith. Rock had taken aim at Pinkett Smith’s shaved head, a result of the hair-loss condition alopecia. Moments … Continue reading Update: Will Smith apologises to Chris Rock after Oscars slap

Will Smith Will Smith won his first Academy Award on Sunday, moments after a stunning incident in which he smacked presenter Chris Rock on stage for making a joke about his wife and twice shouted a vulgarity. Smith captured the best actor honor for his portrayal of Richard Williams, the determined father who raised tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, in “King Richard.” Smith, 53, one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars, had been nominated twice before, for 2001’s “Ali” and 2006 movie “The Pursuit of Happiness.” “I want to apologize to the Academy. I want to apologize to all my … Continue reading At Last: Will Smith wins first Oscar for tenacious father in ‘King Richard’