Gérard Depardieu in police custody over sexual assault claims

The French actor is being questioned over two allegations of sexual assault

The post Gérard Depardieu in police custody over sexual assault claims appeared first on NME.

NME

Gérard Depardieu has been taken into police custody regarding two allegations of sexual assault.

The French actor, known for starring in Jean de Florette and Cyrano de Bergerac, was summoned for questioning by French police today (April 29) regarding allegations from two separate women dating from 2014 and 2021.

Depardieu is yet to comment on the allegations, though has previously denied other accusations of sexual assault.

The 2021 complaint that the actor is being questioned about was filed earlier this year, with the woman – a set designer – claiming that Depardieu assaulted her while working on 2022’s Les Volets Verts (The Green Shutters).

French actor Gerard Depardieu gives a speech upon receiving a career achievement award at the El Gouna Film Festival in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of el Gouna on October 23, 2020. CREDIT: Getty/AMMAR ABD RABBO/El Gouna Film Festival/AFP

According to her lawyer, the actor was “passing through a corridor where Mr Depardieu was sitting” when he “grabbed her, trapped her between his legs and touched her body up to her breasts” (via BFMTV and BBC News).

“She felt completely powerless, incapable of escaping this trap,” they added.

The second woman, who filed a police complaint earlier this year, claimed that while she was working as an assistant on 2015’s Le Magician et le Siamois (The Magician and the Siamese), Depardieu grabbed her body all over and made “inappropriate” comments.

Depardieu was placed under formal investigation over the alleged rape and sexual assault of actor Charlotte Arnould in 2020, with the case remaining open. He has been accused of sexual assault by many other women.

A complaint brought forward last year by actor Hélène Darras, in which she claimed the actor groped and propositioned her in 2007, has been dropped due to passing the statute of limitations.

Depardieu strongly denied allegations last year, saying in an open letter to French newspaper Le Figaro: “Never, ever have I abused a woman,” while also claiming he was the victim of a “media court”.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

The post Gérard Depardieu in police custody over sexual assault claims appeared first on NME.

Kanye West accused of racial discrimination by former security guard 

He claims the artist subjected his Black employees to “less favourable treatment than their White counterparts”, and was fired for not shaving off his dreadlocks

The post Kanye West accused of racial discrimination by former security guard  appeared first on NME.

NME

Kanye West is being sued for racial discrimination by one of his former security guards.

The lawsuit has been brought forward by Benjamin Deshon Provo – who worked for the rapper (who now goes by Ye) at both his Donda Academy school and at a warehouse used as storage for the Yeezy brand of clothing.

In the filing, the former employee alleges that the artist subjected his Black employees to “less favourable treatment than their White counterparts”, and People reported that the lawsuit also claims that Ye “frequently screamed at and berated Black employees”, and ultimately fired Provo for refusing to cut his dreadlocks.

The former member of staff began working for the controversial rapper in August 2021, after six months at the Donda Academy. This, he alleges, is when the school relocated and “assigned additional job duties” to employees “as a result of a lack of staffing”.

In the lawsuit, he accuses Ye of demonstrating a “stark difference” in the way he treated his Black employees compared to other members of staff, and claims that the rapper was “always abrupt, abrasive, and demeaning of Plaintiff and his Black counterparts” (via Metro). Alongside this, he accuses West of making “anyone associated with Donda dispose of books related to Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, and other prominent figures in the Black community”, and paying him less than non-Black employees “for no discernible reason”.

Elsewhere, Provo alleges that he complained to his line manager about the pay disparity, and was told not to raise the topic with the rapper. Shortly thereafter, he reportedly saw a “decrease in his paychecks”, which his white colleagues didn’t experience. This was put down by the company to the rapper not being able to “afford security”.

Rapper Kanye West performs onstage during the “Vultures 1” playback concert during Rolling Loud 2024 the at Hollywood Park Grounds on March 14, 2024 in Inglewood. (Wally Skalij/Getty Images)

In the run-up to him being fired, the filing claims that it was around April last year that the ‘Vultures’ rapper “unjustifiably and unreasonably began demanding that Plaintiff and others shave their heads”, despite Benjamin having dreadlocks “as an exercise of his Muslim faith.”

He alleges he faced pressure to comply with Ye’s “ increasingly more aggressive, demanding” demands, and was fired directly because he refused to shave his head.

Provo is seeking damages for the alleged discrimination, retaliation, hostile work environment, labour code violations and for attorney fees. He is also aiming for a “preliminary and permanent injunction, and a public injunction, against all Defendants, prohibiting them from owning and operating any type of educational school for minor children under the age of 18 years in the state of California.”

NME has reached out to Ye’s representatives for comment.

This isn’t the first lawsuit that Ye has been faced with by a former Yeezy employee and Donda Academy student. Earlier this month, he was sued by another member of staff for allegedly threatening to “cage” his students. Trevor Phillips has accused the musician of a number of allegations including verbal abuse, threatening physical violence and comparing himself to Hitler.

While representatives have not yet responded to the allegations brought to light by Phillips, they have previously dismissed claims about the Donda Academy. In a past response from Ye’s lawyer, the former employees’ descriptions of the school were described as a “dystopian institution designed to satisfy Ye’s idiosyncrasies”.

“None of it is true and the allegations do a disservice to the Donda Academy’s current staff and students and their parents who will attest to their positive experience,” they said in a 2023 filing.

Kanye West is seen on January 19, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bellocqimages/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images)

Elsewhere, he was accused of punching a man in the face who had allegedly “sexually assaulted” his wife Bianca Censori, accused by Underground producer TSVI for allegedly “stealing” a sample from his song ‘12345678’, and branded as an “anti-Semite” by Ozzy Osbourne for using Black Sabbath’s ‘Iron Man’ without permission last February.

Wife Sharon subsequently called West out, saying he “fucked with the wrong Jew this time”.

The rapper’s last album was ‘Vultures 1’, which he released with Ty Dolla $ign. The LP was given a two-star review by NME, and criticised for its “degrading lyrics and messy mixes”. Shortly after its release, Ye said that its follow-up ‘Vultures 2’ was delayed and hinted that he would not be releasing the two remaining LPs from the trilogy on streaming platforms.

In more recent West news, the rapper last week got involved in the ongoing rap beef between Drake, J. Cole, Future and Kendrick Lamar, and seemingly confirmed that he was about to launch a ‘Yeezy Porn Studio’ with the help of Stormy Daniels’ ex-husband, Mike Moz.

The post Kanye West accused of racial discrimination by former security guard  appeared first on NME.

Russell Brand is getting baptised to “leave the past behind”

The comedian was accused of rape, assault and emotional abuse last year

The post Russell Brand is getting baptised to “leave the past behind” appeared first on NME.

NME

Russell Brand has revealed he is getting baptised to “leave the past behind”.

The comedian was accused of multiple counts of rape, assault and emotional abuse between 2006 and 2013 in a joint investigation between Channel 4, The Times and Sunday Times last year. The star has strongly denied all the accusations.

In a post shared on Instagram last week, Brand confirmed that he was “taking the plunge” and “getting baptised”.

“What’s been explained to me is, it’s an opportunity to die and be reborn,” he said. “An opportunity to leave the past behind and be reborn in Christ’s name. Like it says in Galatians: that you can live as an enlightened and awakened person.”

“People are so cynical about the increasing interest in Christianity and the return to God, but to me, it’s obvious,” Brand continued.

“As meaning deteriorates in the modern world, as our value systems and institutions crumble, all of us become increasingly aware that there is this eerily familiar awakening and beckoning figure that we’ve all known all of our lives, within us and around us. And for me it’s very exciting.

“One of my concerns is that I’m thinking about doing it in the River Thames, so I could be getting baptised in toxoplasmosis and E. coli based on what I’ve learned. I may be leaving behind the sins, but I might be picking up some pretty serious viruses.”

Last month, Channel 4’s chief executive Alex Mahon apologised to a former employee after not properly investigating a “serious” allegation made against Brand in 2009, which comes after a report found “no evidence” of Brand’s alleged behaviour on shows Big Brother’s Big Mouth and Kings of Comedy was known by staff.

Russell Brand. CREDIT: Getty/James Manning/PA Images

“While the investigation did not find any evidence to suggest that any Channel 4 employees were aware of Russell Brand’s alleged behaviour contained in the programme, it did find that one former Channel 4 employee made a serious and concerning allegation about Russell Brand in 2009,” Mahon said.

“This was not escalated to Channel 4’s then senior management team, nor investigated as it should have been. I have apologised on behalf of the organisation to the individual for this breakdown and for the distress this matter has caused.”

In January, Brand addressed the allegations against him in an interview with Fox News‘ Tucker Carlson, calling them “appalling” and “very, very hurtful”.

The comedian was reportedly questioned by police in November over the allegations, though he has not been arrested or charged.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

The post Russell Brand is getting baptised to “leave the past behind” appeared first on NME.

Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star

Scarlett Oliver received the ’22’ hat and a hug from Swift during a show in Sydney in February

The post Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star appeared first on NME.

NME

A nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan, who went viral after spending a special moment on stage with the star, has died following her cancer diagnosis. 

Scarlett Oliver from Perth, Australia, shared a hug with Swift that was spread widely online during a Sydney date on the Eras Tour earlier this year. 

Taylor routinely hands out a signed hat during her song ‘22’, and after Scarlett’s family made a social media plea, the young girl was successful in receiving the honour, with Swift taking the time to embrace her. 

Scarlett’s father Paul announced that his daughter had passed away just days before her 10th birthday, having been diagnosed with a rare brain cancer known as high-grade glioma, which has no cure. 

Scarlett’s stepmother Natalie posted on Instagram to confirm the tragic news, with a message from her father that reads: “My angel, so strong, so brave, so beautiful.” 

“Nothing will ever be the same again. Don’t forget me and please find a way to let me know you are ok. Goodnight baby, I love you – Dad.” 

Scarlett attended Swift’s show at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on February 23. The day before, Natalie had posted a message on Facebook, with a photo of Scarlett holding a sign reading, “Taylor, can I have the 22 hat? Please”. 

Natalie’s caption read: “I’m hoping to make this happen for my beautiful step-daughter but I need some help!! Scarlett is a nine-year-old from Perth and she was diagnosed in October last year with a high grade glioma — this is a very aggressive brain cancer with no cure. The prognosis given to use was 12-18 months from diagnosis. She has been an absolute warrior through surgeries, radiation and other treatments.” 

That message was spread online, apparently reaching Swift and her team, who organised for Scarlett to be taken to the front of stage. The video of their hug was later shared online, too, being viewed over 30 million times. 

Scarlett Oliver receives a hat from Taylor Swift during her performance at Accor Stadium on February 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The following day, Natalie reacted to the special moment: “@taylorswift you are AMAZING!! Thank you so much for making Scarlett’s dream come true!! To everyone who shared her story to help us make this happen we are beyond greatful!!! Scarlett is on top of the world right now!! I’m so emotional and happy this morning” 

The post Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star appeared first on NME.

Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star

Scarlett Oliver received the ’22’ hat and a hug from Swift during a show in Sydney in February

The post Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star appeared first on NME.

NME

A nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan, who went viral after spending a special moment on stage with the star, has died following her cancer diagnosis. 

Scarlett Oliver from Perth, Australia, shared a hug with Swift that was spread widely online during a Sydney date on the Eras Tour earlier this year. 

Taylor routinely hands out a signed hat during her song ‘22’, and after Scarlett’s family made a social media plea, the young girl was successful in receiving the honour, with Swift taking the time to embrace her. 

Scarlett’s father Paul announced that his daughter had passed away just days before her 10th birthday, having been diagnosed with a rare brain cancer known as high-grade glioma, which has no cure. 

Scarlett’s stepmother Natalie posted on Instagram to confirm the tragic news, with a message from her father that reads: “My angel, so strong, so brave, so beautiful.” 

“Nothing will ever be the same again. Don’t forget me and please find a way to let me know you are ok. Goodnight baby, I love you – Dad.” 

Scarlett attended Swift’s show at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on February 23. The day before, Natalie had posted a message on Facebook, with a photo of Scarlett holding a sign reading, “Taylor, can I have the 22 hat? Please”. 

Natalie’s caption read: “I’m hoping to make this happen for my beautiful step-daughter but I need some help!! Scarlett is a nine-year-old from Perth and she was diagnosed in October last year with a high grade glioma — this is a very aggressive brain cancer with no cure. The prognosis given to use was 12-18 months from diagnosis. She has been an absolute warrior through surgeries, radiation and other treatments.” 

That message was spread online, apparently reaching Swift and her team, who organised for Scarlett to be taken to the front of stage. The video of their hug was later shared online, too, being viewed over 30 million times. 

Scarlett Oliver receives a hat from Taylor Swift during her performance at Accor Stadium on February 23, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Don Arnold/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management)

The following day, Natalie reacted to the special moment: “@taylorswift you are AMAZING!! Thank you so much for making Scarlett’s dream come true!! To everyone who shared her story to help us make this happen we are beyond greatful!!! Scarlett is on top of the world right now!! I’m so emotional and happy this morning” 

The post Nine-year-old Taylor Swift fan dies after cancer diagnosis, following viral moment with star appeared first on NME.

Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for protesting against government

Salehi’s music has been critical of the Iranian regime, while he has also been particularly outspoken about the government on social media

The post Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for protesting against government appeared first on NME.

NME

The Iranian dissident rapper Toomaj Salehi has been condemned to death for participating in anti-government protests in 2022, says his lawyer, sparking outcry from human rights organisations.

Salehi’s music has been critical of the Iranian regime, while he has also been particularly outspoken about the government on social media. He was involved in weeks-long protests that swept the country after the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, which occurred under suspicious circumstances while in police custody, and resulted in a brutal crackdown on protests by the Iranian authorities.

His lawyer confirmed via X/Twitter that an order for his execution had been issued on Wednesday (April 24) after he had been detained, held in solitary confinement and allegedly tortured following his arrest.

In an unprecedented decision, a court in Isfahan overturned the higher Supreme Court’s decision on Saleh’s case on Tuesday (April 23), upholding the original verdict of “corruption on earth”. As such, he was issued the maximum punishment of death, according to Iranian pro-reform outlets Shargh and Entekhab.

State media reported that his sentence could be reduced by a pardoning committee if he appeals again.

Salehi had spent time in prison last year and was briefly released, but according to witness testimonies, he was violently rearrested and sent him to prison in Isfahan. This happened after he revealed that he was tortured and placed in solitary confinement for 252 days following his arrest in October 2022, UN experts said in a statement published by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Salehi isn’t the only artist to have been targeted for showing opposition to the government. The Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin, who was also arrested at the height of 2022’s protests in Iran, was taken to a psychiatric hospital twice in less than a year, per pro-reform news outlet IranWire. A court in Tehran sentenced Yasin to five years in prison, according to Kurdish human rights group Hengaw.

“We strongly condemn Toomaj Salehi’s death sentence and the five-year sentence for Kurdish-Iranian rapper Saman Yasin. We call for their immediate release,” the United States’ Office of the Special Envoy for Iran tweeted. “These are the latest examples of the regime’s brutal abuse of its own citizens, disregard for human rights, and fear of the democratic change the Iranian people seek.”

UN experts also called for Salehi’s release, urging Iranian authorities to reverse the death sentence.

“We are alarmed by the imposition of the death sentence and the alleged ill-treatment of Mr. Salehi which appears to be related solely to the exercise of his right to freedom of artistic expression and creativity,” the experts said.

Iranians have now taken to the streets to demand the rapper’s freedom.

Meanwhile, Salehi’s political sponsor in Europe, German Member of Parliament Ye-One Rhie, described the death sentence as “absurd and inhumane.”

“It is still completely unclear how this verdict came about,” she said. “It is unbelievable how irresponsibly and arbitrarily the Iranian regime treats defendants. It is impossible to recognize the rule of law in the chaos of the courts in charge.”

The Recording Academy also released a statement on the case, saying they were “deeply troubled” by the sentencing.

“No artist should have to fear for their life or livelihood when expressing themselves through their art. Music is a powerful force for good in the world and is needed today more than ever. We stand with music creators across the globe who use their gifts to shed light on the human condition and will continue to work tirelessly to protect artistic freedom.”

Meek Mill was among the artists condemning the Iranian authorities, writing on X/Twitter, “Got sentenced to death over a song free that man wtf” on Thursday, followed by “Free toomaj!”

The post Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi sentenced to death for protesting against government appeared first on NME.

R. Kelly loses appeal over conviction for child sex crimes in Chicago

Kelly is currently serving a total of 31 years in prison, having been handed extra prison time on charges of possessing child pornography and child enticement

The post R. Kelly loses appeal over conviction for child sex crimes in Chicago appeared first on NME.

NME

A federal appellate court in Chicago has upheld R. Kelly‘s conviction and 20-year prison sentence for possessing child pornography and child enticement.

The disgraced singer was found guilty of six of 13 counts of owning and producing child pornography and enticing a minor back in September. On Thursday (February 23), he was sentenced to 20 years in prison but he will serve almost all of his sentence simultaneously alongside the jail term he received last year for racketeering and trafficking.

The additional sentence means that in total, Kelly will now serve 31 years in prison and he will not be eligible for release until he is 80 years old.

Kelly appealed the sentence, with his lawyers arguing that U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber exceeded federal sentencing guidelines by six years when he handed him his 20-year sentence.

However, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals concluded the sentencing was appropriate due to the “horrid, horrible” nature of Kelly’s crimes. The court also rejected Kelly’s argument that the charges were filed after the statute of limitations had passed.

“Kelly—interposing a statute-of-limitations defense—thinks he delayed the charges long enough to elude them entirely. The statute says otherwise, so we affirm his conviction,” a three-judge appeals panel unanimously concluded. “An even-handed jury found Kelly guilty, acquitting him on several charges even after viewing those abhorrent tapes. No statute of limitations saves him, and the resulting sentence was procedurally proper and — especially under these appalling circumstances — substantially fair.”

In response, Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean told TMZ“Our fight is not over. We will see review from the [United States Supreme Court] on the statute of limitations questions at a minimum. And he has habeas remedies at his disposal. And if we win in New York, he will be entitled to resentencing in Illinois. So this story is far from over.”

Kelly has also appealed the New York sentence, alleging that the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries influenced the trial and suggested he was guilty before the trial even began.

However, if he did win his appeal, he will still likely end up serving 18 years in prison for his conviction in Chicago.

At the beginning of the year, a final instalment of the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries aired on Lifetime, covering Kelly’s 2022 federal trial. The docuseries also examined the role played by those around Kelly who enabled him, either by turning a blind eye to his abuse over three decades or helping him see his victims, such as by booking flights for underage girls to travel across state lines.

It also examined Kelly’s marriage with the late singer Aaliyah, revealing that he silenced her and her family with a non-disclosure agreement after the annulment of their marriage, which took place when Aaliyah was 15 with her age falsified as 18 on the marriage certificate.

Meanwhile, Tinashe has revealed she feels “embarrassed” about being forced to work with R. Kelly and Chris Brown by her former label, RCA.

“You think I wanted to [do the collaborations?],” she said in a new interview. “I literally block out that R. Kelly song from my mind. I forget that that [song] exists. That’s so embarrassing. That is so unreal that I have a song with R. Kelly.”

 

The post R. Kelly loses appeal over conviction for child sex crimes in Chicago appeared first on NME.

Ashley Judd calls overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction an “institutional betrayal”

The actress was one of the first women to accuse Weinstein of sexual misconduct in 2017

The post Ashley Judd calls overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction an “institutional betrayal” appeared first on NME.

NME

Content warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault.

Actress Ashley Judd, one of the first women to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct, has described the overturning of his 2020 rape conviction by the New York Court of Appeals as “institutional betrayal”.

On Thursday (April 25), the state’s highest court overruled the conviction in a 4-3 verdict, deeming that Weinstein had not received a fair trial. This was based on the grounds that the judge allowed women to testify about allegations that weren’t part of the 2020 case.

“This today is an act of institutional betrayal,” Judd said at an event at the United Nations for workplace safety (via CNN). “Our institutions betray survivors of male sexual violence.”

Judd was one of the first women to accuse the disgraced film producer of sexual misconduct in 2017, giving rise to the MeToo movement. The following year, Judd filed a lawsuit against Weinstein alleging that he defamed her in 1988 after she refused sexual advances.

“I stand shoulder to shoulder with women who have bloody knees,” she continued, “because male sexual violence may knock us down, but we get right back up.”

Harvey Weinstein on February 24, 2020 in New York City. CREDIT: Getty/Photo by JOHANNES EISELE/AFP via Getty Images

Tarana Burke, founder of the MeToo movement, told the UN press conference: “We are devastated for the survivors who are connected to this case, and the survivors who have found solace and catharsis in the original verdict around Harvey Weinstein.

“I am preparing myself for the onslaught of, ‘What does this mean for the MeToo movement?’. And so I want you to hear this: this is not a blow to the movement; it is a clarion call, and we are prepared to answer that call.”

Posting on X, Mira Sorvino, who alleged sexual harassment against Weinstein and said he “stifled” her career, wrote, “Horrified!” and said she was “disgusted” with a justice system that skews towards “predators not victims”.

In 2020, Weinstein was sentenced to serve 23 years in a New York state prison, having been convicted of first-degree and third-degree rape. The former film producer was found guilty on February 24, 2020, and charged on March 11.

Despite his conviction being overturned, Weinstein will remain imprisoned because he was recently convicted in Los Angeles of another rape and sentenced to 16 years.

In the 2020 case, Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting a former production assistant on Project Runway at his apartment in 2006. He was also convicted of raping a woman at a hotel in 2013.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

The post Ashley Judd calls overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction an “institutional betrayal” appeared first on NME.

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned by New York court

The disgraced movie mogul will remain in prison due to a separate 16-year sentence

The post Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned by New York court appeared first on NME.

NME

Content warning: this article discusses rape and sexual assault.

The New York Court of Appeals has overturned Harvey Weinstein‘s 2020 conviction for rape, ordering a new trial.

The state’s highest court overruled the decision in a 4-3 verdict, deeming that judge at the trial prejudiced the disgraced movie mogul with improper rulings. This included the decision to let women testify about allegations that weren’t part of the case.

In 2020, Weinstein was sentenced to serve 23 years in a New York state prison, having been convicted of first-degree and third-degree rape. The former film producer was found guilty on February 24, 2020, and charged on March 11.

Despite his conviction being overturned, Weinstein will remain imprisoned because he was convicted in Los Angeles of another rape and sentenced to 16 years. However, Weinstein was acquitted in the Los Angeles trial on charges involving a woman who testified in his New York case.

Harvey Weinstein. CREDIT: Getty/ETIENNE LAURENT / POOL / AFP

In the New York case, Weinstein was convicted of sexually assaulting a former production assistant on Project Runway at his apartment in 2006. He was also convicted of raping a woman at a hotel in 2013.

Weinstein’s attorneys, led by Arthur Aidala, appealed the conviction on numerous grounds, but were denied in 2022. The New York Court of Appeals, however, agreed to hear the case.

At oral argument in February this year, Aidala maintained the judge had prejudiced against Weinstein by allowing three women to testify against his character, despite them not being involved in the allegations for which he was actually charged.

“This is major prejudice,” Aidala argued. “It’s saying, ‘He’s a bad guy. He’s a bad guy. He’s a bad guy.’”

This is a developing story. More to follow.

For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.

The post Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction overturned by New York court appeared first on NME.

Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder dies, age 82

He had been the last surviving founding member of the band

The post Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder dies, age 82 appeared first on NME.

NME

Mike Pinder, the keyboard player and founding member of The Moody Blues, has died aged 82.

News of his death was shared by his family and by fellow Moody Blues colleague John Lodge.

Sharing an official statement with fans, his family wrote: “Michael Thomas Pinder died on Wednesday, April 24th, 2024 at his home in Northern California, surrounded by his devoted family.

“Michael’s family would like to share with his trusted friends and caring fans that he passed peacefully. His final days were filled with music, encircled by the love of his family. Michael lived his life with a childlike wonder, walking a deeply introspective path which fused the mind and the heart.”

The statement continued: “He created his music and the message he shared with the world from this spiritually grounded place; as he always said, ‘Keep your head above the clouds, but keep your feet on the ground.’ His authentic essence lifted up everyone who came into contact with him. His lyrics, philosophy, and vision of humanity and our place in the cosmos will touch generations to come.”

English rock band The Moody Blues pose for a photograph in a first class carriage on a train, 11th November 1964. Left to right : Ray Thomas, Clint Warwick, Mike Pinder, Graeme Edge, and Denny Laine (on shelf). (Photo by Robert Stiggins/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Pinder had been the last surviving founding member of the band. Clint Warwick, the original bassist, died in 2004, and vocalist and flautist Ray Thomas died in 2018. Graeme Edge, who was the original drummer fro the group passed in 2021, and original guitarist Denny Laine died last year.

“All the love possible goes out from the Lodge family to Mike’s family today… RIP,” wrote former Moody Blues colleague and close friend John Lodge.

Similarly, Justin Hayward, who contributed vocals and guitars to the Moody Blues from 1966 until their dissolution in 2018 added: “Mike was a natural born musician who could play any style of music with warmth and love. His re-imagining and rebuilding (literally) of the Mellotron gave us our identifiable early sound. He was a huge part of my own musical journey. My sincere condolences to his loving and devoted family.”

Find more tributes for Mike Pinder below.

Pinder helped form the Moody Blues back in 1964, and while the group had an initial hit with ‘Go Now’, but it wasn’t until three years later that the band began to gain momentum. By this point, Justin Hayward and John Lodge had replaced Laine and Warwick respectively, and their early R&B sound had evolved into more progressive territory.

Aside from his work with the band, Pinder also made a name for himself as an advocate of technology, particularly for his pioneering work with the Mellotron (via Louder).

He also had a solo career, which launched with his debut album ‘The Promise’ in 1976, followed by 1994’s ‘Among The Stars’ and 1995’s ‘A Planet With One Mind’. He moved to California in the mid-‘70s, while Moody Blues were on a hiatus, and was replaced by former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz when they reformed in 1977.

More recently, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Moody Blues in 2018, although was the only member of the band who did not give a speech while on stage.

Speaking about the event afterwards, he said (via Louder): “Many MB fans have asked why I did not speak at the induction but by the time the Moodies took the stage we were 5 hours into the ceremony. The oldest of the inductees were up the latest.

“The speeches were a bit anticlimactic at that point and it was only fitting that the current touring members (Edge, Hayward and Lodge) spoke first. I am happy that we finally got inducted for our fans’ sake. As I have said for the last 30 years ‘the fans are my hall of fame’.”

The post Moody Blues founder Mike Pinder dies, age 82 appeared first on NME.

Exit mobile version