2007-2019 Daily excerpts of new fashion, culture, lifestyle, activism and women's news posts. Continues on current AOC Daily.
Megyn Kelly 'Today' Show Ratings Are Down 32% Against Last Year's Timeslot
“Not only are ratings plummeting since Megyn Kelly joined the ‘Today’ franchise, but the numbers show Kelly’s lead-in has also affected Kathie Lee [Gifford] and Hoda Kotb’s show, which follows straight afterwards,” a source told Page Six.
Kelly's hour of 'Today' is down 32% compared to a year ago. And 'Kathie Lee & Hoda' is down 26%.
As deadly new revelations about Harvey Weinstein emerged Tuesday, narrated by Ronan Farrow in The New Yorker, Tina Brown added her voice to the public discussion about Weinstein's personality and sexual escapades -- not reaching the level of accusations of rape.
Tina Brown knows Weinstein well, writes The Hollywood Reporter. Brown engaged in what she described as a "strained collaboration" in 2002 with the short-lived 'Talk' magazine.
In a new article for The New York Times, Brown names the topic many women following his story have considered: 'What Harvey and Trump have in common'. Like Trump, writes Brown, nothing about his outward persona . . . was the truth. "He is very Trumpian in that regard.
Harvey projects himself as a "big, blustery, rough diamond kind of guy" . . . "The real Harvey is fearful, paranoid, and hates being touched (at any rate, when fully dressed).
Like Trump, winning is a "blood sport. Deals never close." Comparing Weinstein to mafia boss John Gotti, Brown can hear the Hollywood kingmaker saying "So just close it fast, then fuck him later with the subsidiary rights."
DAN MACMEDAN VIA GETTY IMAGES
Hollywood heavyweight Meryl Streep has issued a statement condemning the conduct of producer Harvey Weinstein. Streep, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of of Margaret Thatcher in the Weinstein-produced 'Iron Lady', praised the women who spoke out against Weinstein as "heroes".
Streep's statement was issued by her longtime publicist Leslee Dart to Huff Po's Yashar Ali, who has emerged as a major figure in revealing and amplifying stories around sexual harassment of women in media and Hollywood.
The feminist icon, who once jokingly called Harvey Weinstein 'God' in her acceptance speech, issued this statement, published in full by Yashar Ali:
“The disgraceful news about Harvey Weinstein has appalled those of us whose work he championed, and those whose good and worthy causes he supported. The intrepid women who raised their voices to expose this abuse are our heroes.
One thing can be clarified. Not everybody knew. Harvey supported the work fiercely, was exasperating but respectful with me in our working relationship, and with many others with whom he worked professionally. I didn’t know about these other offenses: I did not know about his financial settlements with actresses and colleagues; I did not know about his having meetings in his hotel room, his bathroom, or other inappropriate, coercive acts. And If everybody knew, I don’t believe that all the investigative reporters in the entertainment and the hard news media would have neglected for decades to write about it.
The behavior is inexcusable, but the abuse of power familiar. Each brave voice that is raised, heard and credited by our watchdog media will ultimately change the game.”
Over & Out: Weinstein Company Board Terminates Harvey Weinstein Immediately
Following the explosive Oct. 5 New York Times story detailing decades of sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein toward women executives, film stars, company underlings and just about any female wearing a skirt, Harvey Weinstein has been terminated from the company he founded.
"In light of new information about misconduct by Harvey Weinstein that has emerged in the past few days," begins the Sunday statement from TWC's board of directors, "the directors of The Weinstein Company [...] have determined, and have informed Harvey Weinstein, that his employment with The Weinstein Company is terminated, effective immediately."
The board made a decision to oust Weinstein at a meeting held Sunday afternoon. It comes as Weinstein was insisting that he maintain a path to return to the company after an "indefinite leave of absence" ordered by the board on Friday.
The stories of Weinstein's unwanted sexual advances have been raining cats and dogs all weekend. Just today, writer and artist Liza Campbel recounted in London's Sunday Times that Weinstein asked her "to jump in the bath" with him. Weinstein was heard disrobing after scheduling a meeting with Campbel in his hotel room.
DeVos Champions Online Charter Schools & Parental Rights, But The Results Are Poor
US education secretary Betsy DeVos is a big proponent of charter schools, so much so that she and her husband have put their money behind their values and beliefs. Over a decade ago, DeVos invested in junk-bond king Michael Milken-backed online charter-school operator K12, which targeted the growing homeschool market. But K12’s overly expansive business model made it both significantly less profitable and more prone to regulatory and operating deficiencies than smaller, less ideologically driven competitors, wrote The Atlantic prior to Besty Devos' senate confirmation. K12 still trades below its IPO price from 2007 and documents discovered by The Atlantic suggest that DeVos was a backer of Milken's parent company Knowledge Universe, now defunct.
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY THE DAILY BEAST
Rebecca Traister Shares Harvey Weinstein Rage & C#nt Calling, Battery Story
On a related topic, the women of Hollywood need to open their beautiful mouths, even if it's to say that they never had a problem with Harvey Weinstein. Apparently, many didn't. To say nothing, however -- Meryl Streep, for starters -- is not acceptable for two reasons: 1) it's wrong and they need to stop calling themselves feminists if they say nothing at all; and 2) the Republicans are having a field day with their hypocrisy charges already. Liberal women say nothing when the boy is one of our own. Meanwhile, we crucify the Catholic bishops. Republicans are correct if this silence continues.
HARVEY WEINSTEIN (L), LISA BLOOM (M), BLOOM'S MOTHER, LAWYER AND PROMINENT ACTIVIST REPRESENTING ACCUSERS IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASES GLORIA ALLRED.
The lawyer Lisa Bloom said on Saturday that she is no longer representing disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is facing allegations of rampant sexual harassment detailed in a dramatic expose written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey andpublished by the New York Times.
Bloom's announcement came one day after a third of the all-male board of directors resigned, leaving the remaining board members to announce that they had hired an outside law firm to investigate the allegations and that Mr. Harvey Weinstein had taken an indefinite leave of absence.
The twists and turns of 'Fearless Girl' could fill War and Peace, and this new chapter is nothing less than enlightening, a Zen moment if you will. The launch of this dear girl statuein the range of Raging Bull pushed for more women on corporate boards, supported by proof from State Street Global Advisors that companies with women on their boards made more money for shareholders. Therefore, proposed State Street, we want to invest in companies that promote women into leadership positions -- and they did. Enter 'Fearless Girl' to narrate the corporate story.
The PR was beyond great, and 'Fearless Girl' took on her on persona -- like a little muse come to life in the weeks after the Women's March, just in time for March 8 International Women's Day. As the story of 'Fearless Girl' spread far and wide, she grabbed the hearts and minds of females in despair after Hillary's defeat. As women questioned the futures of our daughters in Trumplandia, 'Fearless Girl' rode high in the clouds as a symbol of hope.
McCann New York, the creators of the 'Fearless Girl' campaign for State Street Global Advisors won four Grand Prix at Cannes Lions this summer. Last week at the Clio Awards in New York, Fearless Girl climbed Mt. Olympus and showered Bowling Green Park with a remarkable five Grand Clios.
Not only did 'Fearless Girl' take the top prize in the Branded Content, Events/Experiential, Innovation, Out of Home and Public Relations competitions, writes Adweek. McCann New York won Agency of the Year and State Street won Advertiser of the Year, flying on Fearless Girl's coattails.
Never underestimate the power of a true goddess, the younger the more formidable, even when the champagne is flowing. In a beautiful twist of her boundless integrity, 'Fearless Girl' worked her own goddess magic on behalf of executive women at State Street. Hush now. I'll whisper to you: In a sneak attack around the Trump Administration, her home birthers -- State Street Global Advisers-- are settling allegations about their own gender pay discrimination with cash on the table. Indeed, don't tell Trump or any Republican, for that matter. The Labor Dept is still functioning.
Amid Trump's demeaning comments to Mayor Cruz -- surely fueled by her being a woman -- we assume that he has little knowledge of her background. The Independent UK writes:
Cruz has, in some ways, been a lifelong politician: Class president in eighth grade; student council president in high school.
Like many Puerto Ricans, she left the island to pursue opportunities on the US mainland, earning a bachelor's in political science at Boston University and a master's in public management and policy at Carnegie Mellon.
Apparently Mayor Cruz held key positions not only at Scotiabank but also the US Treasury Department. After returning to Puerto Rico, Cruz became an adviser to Sila Maria Calderon, then the mayor of San Juan who later became Puerto Rico's first and only female governor.
The Carnegie Mellon grad strung together a people-centric coalition including including the LGBT community, students, Dominican immigrants and taxi drivers. Fueled by people power, Cruz defeated a three-time incumbent Jorge Santini.
“Politics is a rough game, and sometimes as females we are taught that you have to play nice,” she said in a 2014 in an interview. “Sometimes you can't play nice.”
Women of Hollywood Speak Against Harvey Weinstein In Explosive Investigation By New York Times
Life won't be the same for powerful men in Hollywood, after The New York Times dropped details of an explosive investigation into the decades-long sexual proclivities of indy producer Harvey Weinstein.
Similar to a Fox News investigation, the Times reported that Mr. Weinsten has made at least eight settlements with women including actresses and assistants. Ashley Judd was among the women accusing Mr. Weinstein in the Times investigation.
Four national activist groups said they would file immediate lawsuits over the Trump administration's new rules allowing employers to drop contraception coverage over religious beliefs and or/moral objections to women using birth control.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the National Women's Law Center, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, announced the lawsuits against the government on a call with Planned Parenthood and Attorney General of California Xavier Becerra, writes Buzzfeed.
They all plan to challenge the administrations' rules allowing employers with "religious" or "moral" objections to drop birth control coverage in insurance plans, arguing that the decision is a form of gender discrimination and also violates the separation of church and state.
"With these actions, [the Trump administration] is saying to employers, 'If you want to discriminate the administration has your back,'" Fatima Goss Graves, President & CEO, National Women’s Law Center said. "We will see them in court."
Margot Robbie Talks Being Redneck Skater Tonya Harding In W Magazine November 2017
Actor Margot Robbie covers the November 2017 issue of W Magazine. Melanie Ward styles Robbie in Calvin Klein 205W39NYC, Gucci, Celine, Isabel Marant, Nili Lotan, Louis Vuitton and more for images by Craig McDean.
Robbie is interviewed by Lynn Hirschberg, admitting that she was only four-years-old and living in Australia when "self-described redneck from Oregon", figure skater Tonya Harding was implicated in a plot to take down fellow skater Nancy Kerrigan. Harding’s ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, and her bodyguard, Shawn Eckardt, were eventually charged with criminal conspiracy to commit assault.
Sen. Susan Collins: Will She Stay Or Will She Go? The Torn Moderate Republican Plans Her Future
Will she stay or will she go? Maine Senator Susan Collins admits to being very torn over her pending decision to remain as the moderate Republican Senator or run for governor. North Dakota Democrat Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is begging her not to do it. Leave the Senate that is.
Collins admitted to Politico that the buzz about her prolonged indecision is "accurate". After hoping to finalize her decision by the end of September, Collins is not shooting for a mid-October deadline.
After the success of 'Wonder Woman', can Charlie's Angels be far behind? And if 'Charlie's Angels' do arrive on the scene to kick some proverbial butt, will Lupita Nyong'o be in the posse? Will 'Charlie's Angels' be an action comedy in the mold of the 2000 film based on the TV series starring Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith, airing from 1976-1981? Or do the days of Trump require a more steely-eyed approach, now that Emmy-award winning The Handmaid's Tale is a runaway hit on Hulu?
Lupita's role in the 'Charlie's Angels' reboot isn't confirmed. For now, Netflix has listened to Twitter users, sealing a deal at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival involving Rihanna and Lupita as a pair of genius scammers, screenwriter Issa Rae and director Ava Duvernay will have to hold us over. Rae’s team confirmed to Vanity Fair in May that "the project is in the works, adding that the original Twitter users who imagined the concept for this film will be credited and included in some form." The plot line works something like this: Rihanna scams rich white men and Lupita is her tech-savvy best friend who maps out the details of the digital heists.
In these images, actor Lupita Nyong'o is styled by Verity Parker in photographer Matthew Kristall's 'The Game Changer' for The Sunday Times Style Magazine October 2017./ Hair by Vernon Francois; makeup by Nick Barose
The always fabulous Tina Turner just lost her coveted spot as the oldest model to cover an issue of Vogue. Tina held the honor for her Vogue Germany at age 73 years and four months. Turner took the crown from Meryl Streep, who covered Vogue US in January 2012 at age 62. Not only does Lauren Hutton, at age 73 years and 11 months, now take over the honor but she does so on three Vogue Italia covers, lensed by Steven Klein, in an entire issue honoring women over 60.
Vogue Italia’s “Timeless Issue” hits newsstands Thursday, writes WWD. “The question to ask isn’t “Is old age having a fashion moment?” — the answer, in fact, is yes,” said editor in chief Emanuele Farneti. “Many runway shows and advertising campaigns already offer proof of this. Nor is it the nagging question about whether Millennials or the Baby Boomers who age gracefully, and who are flush with cash and eager to shop, will save fashion. Rather, we think that it is about inclusive diversity, the real challenge of today. This relates to gender, ethnicity and religion, and it is also true for age — no one feels excluded.”
Hutton, who has a record 27 covers of American Vogue and 13 other Vogue covers, believes “this is the most important.” It’s the cover that “has made me feel most useful. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, but it took Vogue Italia’s courage to make it true. This is a cover that can change society, because it shows a woman who is vibrant, attractive, who still laughs, and who for the first time is a woman my age.”
Married PA Rep. Tim Murphy (R), Anti-Abortion Zealot, Advised Mistress To Seek Abortion
There is no disputing the fact that Pennsylvania Republican Rep. Tim Murphy engaged in an extramarital affair with Pittsburgh forensic psychologist Shannon Edwards. The husband of Shannon Edwards sought to depose Murphy in his own divorce action.
Today the Pittsburgh Gazette dropped a new bombshell about Murphy, in regard to his response to a text from Edwards taking him to task for an anti-abortion statement posted on his public Facebook page.
"And you have zero issue posting your pro-life stance all over the place when you had no issue asking me to abort our unborn child just last week when we thought that was one of the options," Shannon Edwards, a forensic psychologist in Pittsburgh with whom the congressman admitted last month to having a relationship, wrote to Mr. Murphy on Jan. 25, in the midst of an unfounded pregnancy scare.
A text from Mr. Murphy’s cell phone number that same day in response says, "I get what you say about my March for life messages. I've never written them. Staff does them. I read them and winced. I told staff don't write any more. I will."
Lamenting Man's Love Of Younger Women, A Form Of Self-Flattery Not Only Born In Evolutionary Science
Mona Chalabi's 'I Want My 2.3 Bonus Years' op-ed for Sunday's New York Times is a bit tongue in cheek. Chalabi reflects on not being a fun first date, being a woman wanting a husband and family. The man who shrugs off commitment, even though he has a few gray hairs, strikes her as "wild arrogance."
This arrogance has, as I see it, two main causes — one, a belief that their spermatozoa are good for a very long time, indeed, and two, a belief that they could get a younger woman if they wanted to. Let me examine the evidence for each of those male beliefs; fertility first.
With that introduction, Chalabi delivers the message: Your sperm is not immortal. In fact, even though male sperm do decline in vitality with age, all the studies of age-driven female fertility do not control for the age of the male. NOW THAT IS RESEARCH BIAS!!!!
Agreeing that most research on OkCupid's dating site confirms that men are communicating with younger women, the question is how much younger. Men actually flatter themselves that even at age 50 -- and not being wealthy -- they can have a 25-year-old partner if they choose. This male preference for younger women definitely impacts the pool of men available to Chalabi herself.
There are no answers to Chalabi's lament. But these sometimes fatal flaws in the assumptions of evolutionary science -- one's that don't account for human vanity and ego needs -- have her stewing mightily in this Times essay.
Camilla Akrans Captures Captain Marvel's Brie Larson For Porter Magazine Winter 2017/18
2016 'Best Actress Oscar for Room Brie Larson covers the winter issue of Net-a-Porter's Porter magazine, focused on honoring incredible women and their activism. Brie is styled by Julia von Boehm in romantic hues of reds and rose -- and Gucci for her covers -- for sensual images by Camilla Akrans./ Hair by Ali Pirzadeh; makeup by Wendy Rowe
Larson is set to play Carol Danvers in 'Captain Marvel, a film set before the events of the first 'Iron Man' movie. Samuel L. Jackson will return as S.H.I.E.L.E. agent Nick Fury in a story involving "the strongwoman battling the aliens known as Skrulls," writes EW.
“I spent months thinking about whether or not I was going to do the film and I realized that it was a chance to tell a story on the largest scale possible,” Larson tells Porter. “I know it is going to make me lose some of the things I love most about my life, but I think it’s worth it.”
In the May issue of Vanity Fair, Larson spoke further about joining the Captain Marvel universe. “Ultimately, I couldn’t deny the fact that this movie is everything I care about, everything that’s progressive and important and meaningful, and a symbol I wished I would’ve had growing up,” she continued. “I really, really feel like it’s worth it if it can bring understanding and confidence to young women — I’ll do it.”
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