By Wonderwall.com Editors
7:35pm PDT, May 2, 2023
Morgan Wallen fan sues over last-minute concert cancelation
Country star Morgan Wallen now faces a class action complaint over his cancelation of an Oxford, Mississippi, concert just minutes before he was scheduled to take the stage. On Sunday (April 23), close to 60,000 fans were already inside the Vaught Hemingway Stadium and two opening acts had performed when it was announced Morgan had lost his voice, the concert was canceled and fans should exit the venue, according to the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. Social media quickly blew up with posts from angry ticket-holders. Now, one of those fans, Mississippi resident Brandi Burcham, has filed a lawsuit against the star, claiming promoters are only offering to reiumburse the cost of tickets, even though she also spent money on expenses related to the show, including "transportation, lodging, food, merchandise sales, transaction fees," and more. (According to the Clarion Ledger, the venue has assured ticket-holders it will also refund "parking, fees, order charges, and VIP packages.")
On his Instagram Stories on Monday, Morgan apologized for postponing Sunday's show, as well as this week's planned tour stops in Michigan, Illinois and Nebraska. "Y'all know how important my fans are to me, so I feel horrible about this news," he posted, per People. "There's nothing more I want to do than be on stage playing for you guys. But as of today, I'm on doctor-ordered vocal rest … I appreciate and understand everything you do to get to my shows, so it would be unfair of me to put on a show that I know will not be 100%. I'm doing everything I can to speed up the process of getting to that 100% mark."
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Jennifer Aniston holds single rose while leaving dinner with ex, Justin Theroux
Jennifer Aniston reunited with her ex-husband Justin Theroux over the weekend — and she left holding a single red rose. According to Entertainment Tonight, the former couple met up for dinner with longtime pals Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka, at Il Cantinori in New York City on Saturday (April 22). After their meal, Jen and Justin were spotted hugging, then Jen headed out carrying the long-stemmed flower.
Since their split in 2018 after seven years together, both Jen and Justin have spoken publicly about their ongoing love for one another. "We didn't have that dramatic split, and we love each other," Justin told Esquire in 2021. "I'm sincere when I say that I cherish our friendship. We can not be together and still bring each other joy and friendship. Also, she makes me laugh very, very hard. She's a hilarious person. It would be a loss if we weren't in contact, for me personally. And I'd like to think the same for her."
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Don Lemon lawyers up after CNN ouster despite expected $25M payout
Former "CNN This Morning" host Don Lemon has reportedly lawyered up in the wake of his sudden ouster from the news network on Monday (April 24). According to a Page Six source who allegedly has "knowledge of" Don's purported $7 million-a-year contract, the journalist "was signed on a high seven-figure deal for the morning show last September, and is assured by CNN he will be paid the remainder of his contract, which runs until 2026." That means his payout should be in the ballpark of $25 million, the outlet reports. "He has retained lawyer Bryan Freedman to conclude this deal, and also to investigate if Don could be eligible to further damages surrounding the conditions of his exit," the source added.
The nature of those "conditions" is a point of dispute for Don and the network. While the anchor announced on Twitter that he was fired via his agent, rather than hearing it from network execs directly, CNN later called that claim "inaccurate," saying the star "was offered an opportunity to meet with management but instead released a statement on Twitter." Don was let go after a string of controversies. Most recently, he sparked backlash for declaring that Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, 51, is "not in her prime" because "a woman is considered to be in their prime in [their] 20s and 30s and maybe 40s," then proceeded to argue the point with his co-hosts, both of whom are women.
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Oprah Winfrey, Jamie Lee Curtis and more stars react to Harry Belafonte's death
Pioneering actor, singer and "Calypso King" Harry Belafonte has died at 96, his family announced in a statement on Tuesday (April 25). He was suffering from congestive heart failure when he passed away at his home in New York City, according to the New York Times. An EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Awards) winner and a recipient of both the Kennedy Center Honors and and the National Medal of Arts, Harry broke racial barriers in the entertainment world and served as a leading voice in the civil rights movement, efforts that were honored by other stars across social media following his death.
Calling him "a trailblazer and hero to us all," Oprah Winfrey wrote, "Thank you for your music, your artistry, your activism, your fight for civil rights and justice – especially risking your life back in the day to get money to the movement. Your being here on earth has Blessed us." Jamie Lee Curtis shared a 1953 Ebony Magazine cover featuring Harry with her parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. "Artists uniting to use their art form to make transformational change in the world through music and movies and books, and poetry and paintings and photography and and and is one of the great benefits to living a public life," she wrote. "Harry Belafonte exemplified this and utilized every aspect of his immeasurable talent, applying it specifically to the plight of other human beings and their civil rights."
"Through his work in television, music, film, and stage, he broke down barriers across the entire industry, and so many of us today are forever indebted to him!" Jennifer Hudson shared. "So thank you, Mr. Belafonte, for your lasting impact and legacy!"
RELATED: More stars we've lost in 2023
Weapon-free Western
On Monday (April 24), Alec Baldwin took to Instagram to praise the people of Montana, where he was filming "Rust" last week when involuntary manslaughter charges against him in connection with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' death were dismissed. "We filmed SUPERCELL in Billings. Now outside of Bozeman to complete RUST," he posted, sharing a photo from the set. "Montana is stunning. I'm grateful for all of the support I have received here."
Halyna was fatally shot in 2021 on the original, New Mexico "Rust" set when a gun Alec was holding while setting up a scene accidentally went off, killing her and injuring director Joel Souza. New Mexico prosecutors are still investigating the shooting and the film's original armorer, Hannah Guttierez-Reed, still faces involuntary manslaughter charges. Alec was cleared, for now, thanks to new evidence suggesting "the gun he had been using, which was not supposed to contain live ammunition, had been modified," according to the New York Times. In addition to a new filming location, "Rust" now has a new armorer with significantly more experience managing guns on sets, former U.S. Army Infantryman Andrew Wert, and a new first assistant director, Gerard DiNardi, the Times reported on Monday. "I've said it, and I'm going to say it every single time: There are no weapons on set," Gerard said at a safety meeting on Friday. "There is nothing that fires." According to the Times, Andrew "built the rifles from individual parts so that they would look as real as possible but would not be able to fire under any circumstances."
Hoda Kotb says she felt 'helpless' during daughter's health scare
Following her youngest daughter's recent ICU stay, Hoda Kotb says Hope, who just turned 4, is continuing to recover, but seeing her little girl suffer left Hoda feeling "helpless." The "Today" anchor — who was off the air for two weeks beginning in February amid Hope's health scare — opened up about the experience on the latest edition of Southern Living's "Biscuits and Jam" podcast. Asked how she passes her strength on to Hope and Haley, 6, Hoda said the girls "are strong women already."
"You know, my daughter, Hope had a health scare, but she's getting better," Hoda began. "But I think I didn't realize how much is already in you when it comes to your strength. To watch her go through a difficult time at just 3 years old is really tough for any parent, 'cause you're helpless, but I think you realize just how incredibly resilient and strong [your child] is."
Rumer Willis welcomes first child with Derek Richard Thomas
Bruce Willis and Demi Moore are first-time grandparents. On Tuesday (April 25), their daughter, Rumer Willis, and her boyfriend, Derek Richard Thomas, announced the birth of their first child together — a little girl. "✨ Louetta Isley Thomas Willis ✨ You are pure magic 🌱 Born at home on Tuesday April 18th," the couple wrote in a joint statement on Instagram. "You are more than we ever dreamed of ✨," they added. Rumer celebrated her little one's impending arrival at a baby shower that her mom and sisters, Tallulah Willis and Scout Willis, hosted in March.
The baby news comes at a challenging time for the family. Bruce, 68, was recently diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia after his family revealed he was retiring due to an aphasia diagnosis. That said, the birth of yet another girl in the family — Bruce also shares daughters Mabel and Evelyn with wife Emma Heming — is happy news for the "Die Hard" star. As Emma told People in 2021, when Bruce was asked if he'd like to welcome a son at some point, he said, "I'd have 5 more girls right now."
