‘The Friend' is a wonderful dog movie. Humans are allowed in.
'The Friend' is a better dog movie than it is a people movie, but it's such a wonderful dog movie that you may not mind that the people are merely fine.
The latest from the quixotic writer-directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel ('What Maisie Knew,' 'The Deep End') adapts Sigrid Nunez's 2018 National Book Award-winning novel about a Manhattan writer and book editor named Iris (Naomi Watts), a solitary soul who inherits a Great Dane named Apollo from her late mentor. The mentor, Walter, is played in an early scene, a number of flashbacks and one imaginary conversation by Bill Murray, and if that's a bait-and-switch given that the actor is prominently featured in the posters and previews, we'll allow it.
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Judge Upholds Doxxing Claims Against TDE
The two women suing Top Dawg Entertainment for sexual harassment, assault, and negligence won an early round in court Wednesday when a judge ruled they can proceed with their doxxing claims against the prominent hip-hop label. The women first sued TDE in on Dec. 6, 2024, claiming the company and employees including high-ranking executives Anthony 'Moosa' Tiffith Jr. and Brandon Tiffith – the sons of TDE founder Anthony 'Top' Tiffith, Sr. – allowed a 'pervasive' culture of sexual harassment to run unchecked at the label for years, leading to the women's alleged abuse. More from Rolling Stone Rapper Silentó Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Cousin's Shooting Death Former Olympic Gymnast Mary Lou Retton Addresses DUI Arrest: 'I Make No Excuses' Macklemore's Seattle Home Robbed, Nanny Sprayed With Bear Mace The lawsuit, which referred to the women by the pseudonyms Jane Doe and Jane Roe, flew under the radar for nearly two months. The women's lawyers then issued a press release on Jan. 31, summarizing the claims. A day later, the law firm representing TDE responded with a statement identifying the women by name and calling the lawsuit a 'shakedown' for $48 million. Four days after that, the women filed an amended complaint that was triple the size of their original, filled with alleged text messages and other evidence to support their claims. They also added the doxxing claims. 'Plaintiffs cannot imagine a legitimate, non-harassing purpose behind TDE's release of their personally identifying information,' the amended lawsuit said. TDE, the label best known for guiding the careers of Grammy-winning artists Kendrick Lamar and SZA, quickly sought to block the doxxing claims. It said the women's Jan. 31 press release was so inflammatory, the company had a right to name them to 'correct false statements.' Before the judge ruled in the women's favor Wednesday, a lawyer for TDE repeatedly argued that the label's 'shakedown' statement naming the women was protected by the First Amendment. She said the women had not pursued, much less received, a court order sealing their identities when TDE named them on Feb. 1. 'There's no statute, no law, no order that was violated by the any of the contents of the defendants' statement,' TDE lawyer Allison Hart told Los Angeles County Judge Michael E. Whitaker in a courtroom in Beverly Hills. Hart said the music industry is a 'relatively small world,' and TDE identified the women by name to counter the credibility of their 'very salacious and false press release.' '[The lawsuit] implies that they had some inside, direct knowledge that there is a pervasive atmosphere of sexual harassment present within our client's organization. It was necessary to identify the plaintiffs in order to refute that statement,' Hart argued. She said the women were aware of the process for obtaining a court order sealing their names. She suggested they didn't pursue it in a timely fashion. Judge Whitaker said it didn't matter that the women hadn't yet received the court's blessing. They still had time. 'Your clients took the next step of identifying them by their names, their true identities,' the judge scolded Hart. 'The argument about whether or not they could have proceeded [with pseudonyms] was for another day. If [TDE's] press release simply said, 'We've been sued by Jane Doe and Jane Roe, and we deny all the allegations,' that would have been fine. But at that time, according to the public record, they were Jane Doe and Jane Roe.' In his written ruling, the judge said, 'publicly revealing [plaintiffs'] true identities was not a necessary part of correcting the narrative.' Parties in California civil actions are allowed to proceed to trial with pseudonyms if they can demonstrate that disclosing their real names could result in a specific harm, such as retaliatory physical or mental harm. The potential harm must be such that it creates an 'overriding interest' that outweighs possible prejudice to the opposing party or the public's interest in knowing a party's identity. After the women were named in the statement issued by TDE's law firm, they filed their amended complaint with their real names, Linda Luna and Ayah Altayri. Luna said the alleged doxxing led to a deluge of harassing messages. She said two of her clients terminated their professional relationships with her amid the firestorm. In the lawsuit, Luna alleges that while working for TDE starting in 2019, Brandon Tiffith, the company's chief marketing officer, subjected her to unwanted sexual advances. She alleges that on one occasion, he attempted to force her into oral sex, stating, 'You know this was bound to happen.' Luna further claims TDE President Anthony Tiffith, Jr. sexually harassed her repeatedly, including over text, and that TDE failed to pay her. Altayri alleges she endured multiple instances of sexual harassment and assault by other men purportedly associated with TDE while on TDE property. During one alleged incident, she was coerced into consuming alcohol while underage for the purpose of sexual exploitation, the lawsuit claims. 'We have the utmost respect for the court, but believe that today's decision that our clients were not allowed to disclose the plaintiffs' names was in error, and we intend to immediately appeal and continue vigorously defending against plaintiffs' bogus claims,' Hart says in a statement sent to Rolling Stone. Shounak Dharap, the lawyer who appeared in court on behalf of the women, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A trial in the case has been set for May 17, 2027. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Bottega bags, Van Cleef jewelry, $10K rent: Diddy's ex Jane reveals gifts amid alleged abuse
Bottega bags, Van Cleef jewelry, $10K rent: Diddy's ex Jane reveals gifts amid alleged abuse Show Caption Hide Caption Former Diddy partner says he controlled her with his wealth A former partner of Sean 'Diddy' Combs testified he used his wealth to control her, including forcing her to have sex with escorts against her will. Designer handbags, high-end jewelry and a 5,300 square-foot home. Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girlfriend "Jane" was whisked off into a romance of luxury — but what was the true cost? The woman, who is testifying under a pseudonym amid Combs' federal sex-crimes trial, has gotten candid on the rapper's financial support and the role it played in their allegedly fraught dynamic. Although Jane is speaking in court as a witness for the prosecution, following a subpoena to testify in September 2024, Combs is paying for her legal representation in the high-profile proceeding. She previously said she doesn't plan to sue him. Jane estimates her multimillionaire ex-boyfriend wired her more than $150,000 throughout their relationship, setting up a web of financial codependency. The woman, who worked as an online influencer, claims she was forced to scale back her professional pursuits while dating Combs. As further revealed in Jane's testimony, Combs' lavish gifts underlaid a complex relationship pattern for the on-and-off couple, who dated from 2021-2024. Despite his material affections, Jane has described several instances of alleged physical abuse and sexual exploitation by the Grammy-winning rapper, including being punched, choked, kicked and dragged by the hair. Bottega bags During cross-examination on June 10, Jane's testimony turned sharp when she shared that she felt Combs gave other women more gifts and quality time during their relationships. "You didn't get the Chanel bag this other girl got?," Combs' defense attorney Teny Geragos asked, to which Jane responded, "No, I only got trauma." Jane has alleged Combs coerced her on multiple occasions to take part in "hotel nights," a demanding series of sexual performances in which Combs pushed her to have sex with several men consecutively, lasting as long as three and a half days. Geragos asked Jane how much a bag from the brand Bottega Veneta costs, an apparent reference to the thousands of dollars Combs reportedly gave Jane during their relationship (handbags from the Italian luxury fashion house range from $1,100 to $61,000). Jane shot back: "How much does my body cost?" Diddy's ex Jane testifies: OnlyFans, Bottega bags and a 'cuckolder' Jane gifted Van Cleef jewelry before birthday 'freak off' On June 11, Jane recalled an unsatisfactory birthday in February 2023, during which she alleged Combs arranged a "freak off" — a type of drug-fueled sexual performance federal prosecutors have accused Combs of orchestrating — for the couple to take part in. Jane testified that Combs made a dinner reservation at Nobu that was "conveniently" located in the same hotel they were staying in. "I asked if he can please romance me outside of hotel rooms," Jane said. Geragos pointed out to Jane that Combs arranged a photoshoot for her birthday, as well as gifted her a Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet and necklace right before the alleged "freak-off.""I'm receiving my gift, I've taken a pill and I'm waiting for the entertainer," Jane said. "Any type of affection at this point in my life that I get from Sean, I welcome with open arms." Jane says Diddy's rent payments were a 'control tactic' Toward the end of her testimony on June 6, Jane was asked by prosecutors where she currently lived. In a revelation that drew gasps from the courtroom, Combs' ex said she lives in the same home from when Combs was sending her $10,000 each month as part of their "love contract" and that the music mogul still pays for her rent. Moreover, the woman confirmed on June 10 that when she moved into a rental home in April 2023, Combs paid approximately $40,000 to cover the security deposit and rent for her first and last month. When Geragos asked Jane if she believed Combs would stop paying her rent, she alleged he used the payments as a control tactic. "There were some times that I definitely felt that he would do that," Jane said. "And he used it kind of as a little tool. The rent was always just like a little reminder." Diddy trial recap: Ex-girlfriend 'Jane' reveals Diddy still pays her $10K rent Jane's romantic vacation becomes backdrop for 'night of debauchery' After the fallout from Jane and Combs' alleged birthday freak-off in February 2023, as well as Jane's jealousy over Combs' Turks and Caicos trip with then-girlfriend Yung Miami, Jane said in her June 6 testimony that the rapper offered a make-up trip for her birthday to the islands. However, the woman said when she met Combs in Miami, she was dismayed to see his text asking her to "plan a night of debauchery and fun, then straight to the airport." Though she was under the impression there would be no other men for the trip, Combs allegedly turned to her while they were watching porn and asked if she wanted to invite one of the sex workers they'd hired before. Jane said she agreed only because "I became accustomed to the rhythm of things and wanted to make him happy." Diddy invests $20K in Jane's fashion line but discourages influencer career While on the stand June 10, Jane testified that Combs invested about $20,000 in a fashion line she started, which centered on dresses and swimwear. But when it came to her online influencer career, Jane said the rapper was unsupportive. Although Jane at one point had a successful OnlyFans account, the woman said Combs didn't want her to share content on the subscription-based platform, popular in the sex work industry, because he didn't want her to be part of something some view as taboo (Jane said she still joined in 2024). Reflecting on the career impact from dating Combs, Jane estimated that she only met about 10% of her potential earnings through influencing as a result of her devotion to their relationship. Contributing: USA TODAY staff
3 hours ago
Sabrina Carpenter to release album 'Man's Best Friend' later this summer
A new Sabrina Carpenter album is on the way. The Grammy Award-winning singer announced on Wednesday that her new album, titled "Man's Best Friend," will arrive Aug. 29. Carpenter shared the news on Instagram along with an image of the cover art. "My new album, 'Man's Best Friend' 🐾 is out on August 29, 2025," she captioned the post. "i can't wait for it to be yours x. Pre-order now." Carpenter's new single, " Manchild" will be included on "Man's Best Friend." The song, which was released last week, quickly rose to No. 1 on the Spotify U.S. and Spotify Global charts. The accompanying music video already has more than 17 million views on YouTube. "Man's Best Friend" will be Carpenter's seventh studio album. It follows her album "Short n' Sweet," which was released in August 2024. Earlier this year, Carpenter won two Grammys for "Short n' Sweet": best pop vocal album and best pop solo performance for the album's lead single, "Espresso." Following the release of "Man's Best Friend," she'll embark on the second sold-out North American leg of her Short n' Sweet Tour, which kicks off Oct. 23. "Man's Best Friend" is available for preorder now. It will be available on vinyl, CD, cassette and as a limited-edition vinyl picture disc.
