Connect with us

Published

on

Actor Kevin Bacon has returned to the US high school where his movie Footloose was filmed more than 40 years ago.

The 65-year-old visited Payson High School in the state of Utah to greet students following a years-long campaign which started on social media under the hashtag #BaconToPayson.

According to news reports last month, the school had gone Footloose-crazy – holding a Footloose movie night, staging a Footloose musical, renaming the annual Mr Payson pageant after the actor, and even holding a competition for essays persuading Bacon to visit.

The mission turned into a community-wide campaign to partner with the actor’s charity, with students helping to put together 5,000 care packages for SixDegrees.

Kevin Bacon visits Payson High School, where Footloose was filmed. Pic: NBC
Image:
Students welcome Kevin Bacon. Pic: NBC

Actor Kevin Bacon, centre, helps fill care packages for his charity in Payson, Utah, while visiting the Utah high school where Footloose was filmed. Pic: Jesse Sorenson via AP
Image:
Kevin Bacon helps fill care packages for his charity. Pic: Jesse Sorenson/AP

And on Saturday, the actor came to help about 700 students and 300 community members fill the care packages.

“You talked me into it,” he said to the students.

“It’s great to see that kind of commitment to anything.

More from Ents & Arts

“I also think that it’s amazing to see the power that this movie has had to bring people together.”

In March, when he accepted the invitation to visit, he said: “I have been so impressed with everything that has been going on there with this crazy idea to get me back, so thank you, thank you, and I’m gonna come. I gotta come.”

Kevin Bacon visits Payson High School, where Footloose was filmed. Pic: NBC
Image:
Pic: NBC

In Footloose, Bacon played a teenager from Chicago who moved to a small town and fought its ban on dancing.

The town of Payson, about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City, was the film’s setting.

Some of its 21,000 residents remember being extras and can point out parts of the town used in the film.

At the end of the day, Payson High School students held their prom.

It is likely to be the last prom at the school before its outdated buildings are torn down next year.

The theme of the prom? Footloose, of course.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

P Diddy: ‘Gut-wrenching’ video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

Published

on

By

P Diddy: 'Gut-wrenching' video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

“Gut-wrenching” CCTV footage which appears to show Sean Combs attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel “has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour” of the rapper, her lawyer has said.

The 54-year-old, whose homes in Los Angeles and Miami were raided by Homeland Security Investigations agents in March, has faced a series of public allegations of physical and sexual violence.

Footage obtained by CNN appears to show Combs also known as P Diddy and Puff Daddy – wearing only a white towel as he punches and kicks Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway on 5 March 2016.

The R&B singer, whose legal name is Cassandra Ventura, was his protege and girlfriend at the time.

Pic: CNN via AP
Pic: CNN via AP
Image:
Pics: CNN via AP

Read more: What is Sean Combs accused of and what has he said?

The footage also shows Combs shoving and dragging her across the floor, as well as throwing a vase in her direction.

It closely resembles the description of an incident at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles described in a lawsuit filed by Cassie in November that alleged years of sexual abuse and other violence from Combs.

The case was settled the day after it was filed.

Sean Combs and Cassie in 2017. Pic: PA
Image:
Sean Combs and Cassie in 2017. Pic: PA

Several more lawsuits were filed in the following months, along with a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation that led authorities to raid Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami.

Representatives for Combs did not immediately comment on the video. He has previously denied the allegations in the lawsuits and his lawyers have said he denies any wrongdoing.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

P Diddy’s homes raided

Cassie’s lawyer said: “The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behaviour of Mr Combs.

“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light.”

According to NBC News, Sky News’ US partner, if Cassie were to make a complaint the LAPD could investigate, but charges would likely be declined by the district attorney because California law has a one-year statute of limitations for assault and the alleged incident happened nearly eight years ago.

CNN did not say how it obtained the video, but noted it verified the location it was shot by comparing the footage to publicly available images of the InterContinental Hotel.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

Published

on

By

Steve Buscemi: Homeless man charged over random assault on Hollywood actor in New York City street

A homeless man has been charged over the random attack on Hollywood actor Steve Buscemi on a New York Street earlier this month.

The 66-year-old Broadwalk Empire and Fargo star was punched in the face by a stranger while he was walking in midtown Manhattan on 8 May, city police said.

He was taken to hospital with bruising, swelling and bleeding to his left eye but was otherwise fine, his publicist said at the time.

A man wanted in connection with the attack was arrested on Friday, police said.

The 50-year-old homeless man was charged with second-degree assault in the same precinct where Buscemi was attacked.

Authorities announced on Tuesday they had identified the man as the suspect and were searching for him.

Buscemi’s publicist previously said the actor was “another victim of a random act of violence in the city” but he was OK.

Read more from Sky News:
Video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

Chris Pratt pays tribute after ‘friend and former stunt double’ dies
Ed Sheeran surprises music students with impromptu gig

The attack came after Buscemi’s Boardwalk Empire co-star Michael Stuhlbarg was hit in the back of the neck with a rock while walking in Manhattan’s Central Park in March.

Stuhlbarg chased his attacker, who was arrested and charged over the incident.

Continue Reading

Entertainment

Anne Robinson confirms relationship with Queen’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles

Published

on

By

Anne Robinson confirms relationship with Queen's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles

Former Weakest Link host Anne Robinson has confirmed she is in a relationship with the Queen’s ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles.

At the end of last year it was reported the 79-year-old TV presenter and 84-year-old retired cavalry officer were dating.

Robinson has now confirmed they are, telling Saga magazine: “Yes. Full stop. Mind your own business.”

The interview comes as it was announced Robinson will take on the role of the publication’s agony aunt from their June issue.

Discussing returning to the dating pool in her 70s, after being single for more than a decade, she told Saga: “I’d been out of the game for so long. And also I don’t drink. If you don’t drink, you’re not as reckless are you?

“I’m a great believer in surprising yourself by taking risks. Personally and professionally. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. If the worst that can happen is you get some egg on your face, that’s not terrible is it?”

Explaining why dating can be easier in older age, she said: “You’re much more selective about what you’re going to get into a tizz about. Nothing matters that much. You’re not going to change.”

Robinson became known for the acerbic comments she made to contestants and her catchphrase “you are the weakest link, goodbye” when she presented the quiz show, which was first broadcast in 2000 before ending 12 years later.

She previously became the first woman to host Channel 4 quiz show Countdown before stepping down in 2022 after having recorded 265 episodes.

Read more from Sky News:
Video appears to show Sean Combs assaulting singer Cassie in 2016

Chris Pratt pays tribute after ‘friend and former stunt double’ dies
Ed Sheeran surprises music students with impromptu gig

She has one daughter, Emma, from her marriage to the late Charles Wilson, a former journalist and newspaper executive, which broke down in 1973. She got divorced from her second husband John Penrose in 2007.

Parker Bowles married Camilla in 1973 and they had two children together, Tom and Laura, before getting divorced in 1995.

The King, who was divorced from Diana, Princess of Wales in 1996, later wed Camilla at the Guildhall in Windsor in 2005.

They have remained friends, with the former army officer among the selected guest list for the King’s coronation.

The interview is in June’s issue of Saga magazine.

Continue Reading

Trending