Latest news with #AmericanHorrorStory
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kevin Costner's Lawyer Releases Text to Counter Harassment Claim
Kevin Costner's team is responding to a major accusation. The actor's lawyer has released a text message to counter a lawsuit lodged by a stunt performer. Devyn LaBella, who worked on Costner's film Horizon: An American Saga — Chapter Two, has filed a lawsuit accusing him of "sexual discrimination, harassment, and the creation of a hostile work environment," according to the New York Post. The claims center around an accusation that LaBella was subjected to a "violent unscripted, unscheduled rape scene,' while Costner was directing the movie in 2023, the Post reported. However, his team has released text messages in response, arguing they have 'absolutely no merit," The Post reported. Costner's lawyer Marty Singer told the Hollywood Reporter that Costner 'always wants to make sure that everyone is comfortable working on his films and takes safety on set very seriously.' Singer told THR that LaBella "was in good spirits and made no complaints' at dinner the next night and sent stunt coordinator Wade Allen a text stating, 'Thank you for these wonderful weeks!' That text "was a cordial thank you text illustrated with happy heart emojis," the lawyer said, according to The Post. According to TMZ, LaBella has also worked on the productions Barbie and American Horror Story. LaBella is claiming "there was no contractually mandated intimacy coordinator present" on set when the scene was filmed and accused Costner of being very "hands on" and "either involved in or fully aware of every single thing going on," according to TMZ. According to TMZ, LaBella's suit claims she "began therapy to address symptoms stemming from her traumatic experience on the set of Horizon 2, including intrusive distressing memories of the traumatic event, sleep disturbance, fears of intimacy, and anxiety, among others." Kevin Costner's Lawyer Releases Text to Counter Harassment Claim first appeared on Men's Journal on May 28, 2025
Black America Web
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Angela Bassett Unveils Stunning New Wax Figure At Madame Tussauds Orlando
Source: Courtesy / Madame Tussauds Orlando Award-winning actress and cultural icon Angela Bassett has officially joined the lineup of Hollywood legends at Madame Tussauds Orlando with the unveiling of her second wax figure. The new likeness is a breathtaking tribute to Bassett's enduring impact on film, television, and culture, capturing her poise, style, and undeniable presence. Check out a gallery of photos inside. Standing side by side with her wax twin during the reveal, Bassett was all smiles as she admired the lifelike sculpture. 'They got it right, it's just beautiful,' she said, beaming with pride. Born and raised in nearby St. Petersburg, Florida, Bassett shared how meaningful it felt to have a wax figure so close to home. Styled in a dazzling black and gold FARM Rio 'Sunny Mood' jumpsuit, the figure replicates one of Bassett's favorite red carpet looks, originally worn at the Los Angeles premiere of The Book of Clarence . The ensemble is paired with stilettos and gold accessories, showcasing Bassett's signature glamour. Every detail—from the outfit to the makeup—was carefully curated by the star herself, reflecting her hands-on involvement throughout the creative process. 'To have a career that has brought me two wax figures at Madame Tussauds is kind of humbling,' Bassett reflected. 'It's a celebration of longevity and love for the craft.' The figure's realism is thanks to the meticulous efforts of Madame Tussauds' expert team, who took over 200 measurements and reference photos to capture Bassett's exact features. 'Angela was hands-on throughout the process,' said Paul Gould, General Manager at Madame Tussauds Orlando. 'That level of involvement always makes the figure even more lifelike and personal.' After the reveal, Bassett toured the museum, stopping to pose with wax figures of fellow icons like Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, and Lady Gaga—who once played her love interest on American Horror Story . Bassett is best known for her commanding roles in What's Love Got to Do with It , Black Panther , Malcolm X , Waiting to Exhale , 9-1-1 , and more. As a Golden Globe winner and Academy Award nominee, she continues to inspire generations through powerful performances and timeless elegance. Angela Bassett's wax figure is now on display at Madame Tussauds Orlando at ICON Park. For more information, visit their website here. Angela Bassett Unveils Stunning New Wax Figure At Madame Tussauds Orlando was originally published on Source:Madame Tussauds Orlando Source:Madame Tussauds Orlando Source:Madame Tussauds Orlando Source:Madame Tussauds Orlando Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Los Angeles Times
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
After 103 years, this L.A. prop maker finds new success freeze-drying dead pets
In a room inside a North Hollywood warehouse, dozens of pets are ready for their owners to take them home. Boots, a young black-and-white domestic shorthair cat, lies on his back, pawing playfully at the air. A trio of red, yellow and green parrots and cockatiels sit on wooden perches, oblivious to the piercing stare of a blue-eyed feline a few feet away. Princess, a senior Chihuahua, rests with her eyes closed and body curled into a tight cocoon, as a frenetic hamster named Ponby stands upright, his eyes bulging. There's a naked guinea pig, a giant red macaw and an adorably chunky pit bull named Messy. All of these animals are loose, liberated from the confines of cages and leashes, and yet no havoc has ensued. These animals are also all dead. It's an everyday scene at Bischoff's the Animal Kingdom, a Los Angeles taxidermy business that has been preserving animals for 103 years. The business is multifold — Bischoff's creates and rents out prop animals to film studios, museums and nature centers. Posters on the lobby walls boast the company's work on shows like 'American Horror Story' and 'Westworld.' But in recent years, a bulk of its taxidermy requests now come from bereaved pet owners, those willing to shell out thousands of dollars for a tangible commemoration of their late 'fur babies.' From full-body taxidermy to partial mementos — skulls, bronzed hearts or freeze-dried paws, for example — such services provide closure in ways that, clients say, traditional burials or urns cannot. 'It was honestly really comforting to have her back, and just be able to touch her and, in a sense, talk to her too,' said Bischoff's customer Zoe Hays of the preservation of her Chihuahua-Yorkie mix Pixie. 'She was a great little dog — also a menace to society, for sure — but she's still with me, and she always will be.' Bodily preservation, beyond the ashes or cemented paw prints offered by veterinarians and animal hospitals, has become a growing facet in the world of pet aftercare, with traditional taxidermists fulfilling many of the niche requests. Redlands business Precious Creature initially only offered full-body taxidermy of pets until customers started suggesting other ideas, such as lockets containing patches of fur and cat-tail necklaces. (Most recently, owner Lauren Kane sewed a zippered pillowcase using the black-and-white fur of a rescue named G-Dog, or, as his owner fondly called him, 'Fluffy Butt.') In her documentary 'Furever,' filmmaker Amy Finkel explores the lengths to which pet preservationists will go, asking, 'Who decides what kind of grief is acceptable, or appropriate?' Ace Alexander, 40, and Rey Macias, 55, the fourth owners in Bischoff's long history, have steered the company to meet the new demand. Describing each other as 'good friends,' the two men dress similarly in unofficial uniforms of black T-shirts and black pants, and they're so in sync they sometimes finish each other's thoughts. Since taking over the business, both have transitioned to primarily vegan diets. 'Bischoff's used to be taxidermists to the stars in the trophy era, but now we're taxidermists in the pet preservation era,' Alexander said. 'People no longer hunt. Now they just love their pets.' In 1922, when Al Bischoff first opened the business on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, he'd stuff and plaster any animal brought to him. Most of the time, that meant trophies from hunting and safari trips, but it also included beloved pets owned by Hollywood elite. Roy Rogers used Bischoff's to preserve his co-stars Trigger the horse and Bullet the dog. Buck — the dog from 'Married with Children' — also got the Bischoff's treatment. Under Alexander and Macias' tutelage, that's still the case. They'll preserve any animal you bring them — so long as it is not a protected species or an illegal pet. They'll even make you a unicorn or a sasquatch or a wearable Velociraptor costume that roars and can open and close its jaws. The largest animal Alexander and Macias have preserved was an 11-foot-long buffalo, while the smallest, not including insects, was a hummingbird. Off the top of their heads, the only animal they haven't preserved — yet — is the genetically rare white tiger. The majority of Bischoff's clientele still comes from Hollywood. Due to federal and state laws, as well as industry regulators like the American Humane Association, it often makes more sense to use body doubles for animals when filming and is occasionally mandatory (such as scenes that involve roadkill or drowning incidents). On a recent Wednesday, Alexander fielded calls from studios about the types of snake skins in stock, how to clean dirt off a rented coyote and the particular body poses of their turkeys. 'So what are you thinking?' Alexander said, talking on the phone. 'Turkeys in flight? Perched? Or did you need a floppy version?' As for the pet sector, which accounts for around 40% of their business, dogs and cats, unsurprisingly, make up the majority of the preservations, but the team has also worked on rabbits, rodents, chameleons and roosters. And although they will preserve your pet goldfish, they will strongly encourage you to consider having a synthetic version made of it due to the oils in the scales, which inevitably lead to deterioration. Bischoff's works on pets shipped from around the country as well as overseas. Dr. Xanya Sofra, who is based in Hong Kong, has had at least half a dozen of her papillons preserved by Bischoff's. Another client, who was an avid hiker, had Bischoff's preserve his golden retriever in an upright position so that he could carry it in his backpack on his treks. Neither Alexander nor Macias had a background in taxidermy when they started working at Bischoff's. They were both musicians, which is how they initially met. Macias also owned an auto shop and has been taking apart and fixing appliances from a young age. Alexander picked up jobs at Bischoff's when it was owned by the previous owner, Gary Robbins. The pay was good, the work interesting and he realized he had a knack for airbrushing and sculpting. In 2017, when Robbins was ready to retire, Alexander and Macias, who by then had also started working there, decided to buy the business. Bischoff's specializes in a form of hybrid taxidermy, incorporating traditional techniques with the more new-fangled freeze-drying process. The results are not only more lifelike and long-lasting than the standard gut-and-stuff method, but it also allows for the bulk of the original animal to remain, including the skeletal structure, toenails, whiskers, eyelids, nose and teeth. The eyes, however, are made of glass. The method leaves room for error. Water can be used to dampen and repose the body and paint can be removed or retouched. 'You can definitely backpedal,' Alexander said, making a note to check the texture of the preserved hearts on sticks in the next 24 hours. Alexander credits this attention to detail to his predecessors, former owner Robbins and then-main taxidermist Larry Greissinger, who taught him the trade. Strict in their teachings, Robbins and Greissinger emphasized getting every bodily facet correct: from recreating the natural anatomy to sewing the perfect hidden stitch to making sure the eyes looked right. 'That's where the emotion is,' Alexander said. 'You can get the perfect body pose, but if the eyes aren't sitting well or don't carry any emotion, then the animal will never look alive.' A few of Bischoff's early taxidermy pieces are still on display, including a dog, which looks more like a cross between a wolf and a baboon, dating to the 1920s. Its plaster interior, an old taxidermy technique, gives it a stiff visage and makes it exceedingly heavy. Bischoff's prices reflect its modernized techniques, as well as the amount of time and attention to even the smallest of details required to make a dead pet come back to life. The cost for a fully preserved cat or a small dog like a Chihuahua starts at $2,640, with small birds, like a budgie, starting at $850. Although most customers order full-body taxidermy, an 'a la carte' menu has expanded over the years with jars of whiskers or fur, bundles of bones tied in a bow and, the most recent addition, freeze-dried hearts, which come mounted inside of a glass cloche. Bischoff's also offers cloning services through its Texas-based affiliate Viagen Pets, to whom they send the pet's skin tissues. Costly though their work is, Alexander and Macias see it as an investment. Pets, they point out, are friends you look at every day. You're intimately aware of their nuances and quirks, like how their left ear might curl back more than the right one or the way their nose tilts ever-so-subtly upwards. Entrust their preservation to a novice or lower-cost taxidermist, and you risk losing some of the elements that made your pet who they were. Bischoff's has seen its share of people who've preserved their pets with budget taxidermists only to be disappointed. 'It's unfortunate because at that point, there's not much we can do,' Alexander said. Such pets are cremated 'because they just can't stand to look at them.' In the back of Bischoff's warehouse is where the equipment resides and the smells of the oils running the machines permeates the space. The company has one aquamation machine that uses alkali solution, heat and pressure to break down the organic material into ashes. With interior chambers lined with perforated metal walls, the contraption somewhat resembles a fast-food restaurant's deep fryer. Except, one taxidermist notes, when the process is done, instead of having golden fried potato strips in each basket, all that is left are bones. Oftentimes at the ends of these processes, Bischoff's workers will find inorganic remnants from the pets, such as microchips, metal plates or orthopedic screws. They give them to their owners as keepsakes. Macias' son, 29-year-old Chris Macias, works alongside his dad at Bischoff's. He started helping out to make extra money while attending nursing school, but when business picked up, he decided to transition fully into the taxidermy business. He does a little bit of everything — recently, it was prepping a seal pelt for the San Pedro Marine Mammal Care Center — but tends to do pet pickups the most. Less technical though it may be, it is more emotionally taxing as he's interfacing with grieving clients who might still be in shock or confused as to what exactly they want to do with their late pets. 'Everybody's different, but I just try to be there for them,' Chris said. 'Their pet was part of their family, so I totally understand. Because all of us here, we have our own pets as well. We get it.' Though Alexander never imagined building a career out of preserving dead pets, he said, 'We've found joy in this work and we just see preservation as another form of art.' It's that art that is helping keep the memories of beloved pets alive — for generations even. Hays, the owner of Chihuahua-Yorkie mix Pixie, already has a contingency plan in place for Pixie's taxidermy upon her own death. It will be 'adopted' by another family member. Her daughter has already called dibs. And many of Bischoff's pet preservation customers are repeat clients, which is something that Alexander and Macias take pride in. Two women picking up the taxidermy body of their late cat recently chatted with Alexander about their newest rescue, a diabetic stray cat burnt in the Altadena fires. They couldn't help but comment on the 'beautiful bone structure' of the feline, still very much alive. 'I was like, 'Hmm, you're definitely going on the altar some day,'' one of the women said.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Cara Delevingne unrecognisable as she debuts dramatic new look at Cannes
Cara Delevingne keeps fans on their toes with her ever changing styles - and they were treated to two very different looks during her Cannes Film Festival appearances Cara Delevingne wowed with her Cannes Film Festival looks, but fans were left double taking as she did a whole 180 with her red carpet hairstyles. The 32-year-old walked down numerous red carpets during the 78th edition of Cannes Film Festival, and fans were left in awe earlier in the week when she looked almost unrecognisable as she debuted a whole new hairstyle. The star ditched her signature blonde locks and instead opted for a dark wet-look fringed hairstyle. However, it wasn't just Cara Delevingne 's hair that turned heads - it was her outfit too. Matching the colour scheme of the carpet, the Paper Towns star wore a deep red gown with a princess-style skirt. However, the look lasted less than 24 hours as Cara reverted back to her blonde locks the very next day. The star also did a complete 180 with her gown, this time donning a floor-length black satin gown. Adding to the look, the model accessorised with long black gloves and statement silver jewellery. Cara pulled out the stunning look for the Colours of Time premiere. The 2025 period coming-of-age drama, directed by Cédric Klapisch follows the lives of the cousins who inherit an old house in rural Normandy and retrace their steps of their ancestors in 19th century Paris. The actress is no stranger to keeping fans on their toes. Earlier this year, she left fans stunned when she shared a photo of herself with a huge pregnant belly. Adding to the mystery, Cara gave no context to the picture which was included in a 2024 photo dump. In the caption, she wrote: "Too hard to choose so I went random." Confused fans flooded the comments, as one questioned: "Is she pregnant??" Another added: "Pregnant!?" as someone else asked: "The bump?!" However, dedicated fans were quick to put a stop to any rumours floating around s they flagged the baby bump wasn't real. She wore the incredibly realistic pregnancy stomach for her role in TV series American Horror Story. In a trailer for the show, Cara once again looked unrecognisable as she wore a black wig in American Horror Story: Delicate, alongside Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts. The supermodel has been in a relationship with musician Leah Mason, also known as Minke, since 2022. In 2024, the couple celebrated two years together with an adorable post on Instagram. 'I am so lucky to have found the perfect person to ride life's ups and downs with. I cannot imagine living life without you,' Delevingne wrote. 'I spent so long looking for my partner in crime, little did I know that it would be someone I went to school with (and had a baby gay crush on).'
Cosmopolitan
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
Kim Kardashian Graduates Law School — See the Photos
Congratulations are in order for Kim Kardashian. The reality star and business mogul can soon add 'attorney' to her resumé, as she has just attained her law degree. The Skims founder shared the news to her Instagram, where she posted clips from the intimate Wednesday afternoon ceremony. 'I finally graduated law school after 6 years!!!' Kardashian wrote over a video shared by her sister Khloé. For the event, the American Horror Story star wore a gray turtleneck sweater and a darker, slate-colored miniskirt with a belt that she tied in a bow in the front. To complete her look, Kardashian added some black tights and white pumps. All the neutrals paired well with the her blush graduation robe. At the ceremony, her legal mentor stated that Kardashian had studied '18 hours a week, 48 weeks a year for six straight years.' 'I wanna thank, I mean, all of you guys have been on this journey with me,' Kardashian said to the group of attendees, which included her sister Khloé, friend (and CNN political correspondent) Van Jones, and more. 'It did start with Van and I. Well, it started with a Twitter video that I saw, that popped up, and I just was dumbfounded.' The video in question was about Alice Marie Johnson, a grandmother who had been given a life sentence for a non-violent drug offense nearly two decades prior. When Kardashian learned of Johnson's story, she lobbied for her during a meeting with Donald Trump in 2018, and ultimately, the sentence was commuted. Then, Kardashian decided she wanted to do more to advocate for others, so she began a four-year apprenticeship with a law firm in San Francisco that same year. In 2019, the Kardashians star told Vogue, 'It's never one person who gets things done; it's always a collective of people, and I've always known my role, but I just felt like I wanted to be able to fight for people who have paid their dues to society. I just felt like the system could be so different, and I wanted to fight to fix it, and if I knew more, I could do more.' In California, there is an option to pass the bar through a process called 'reading the law,' which involves apprenticing with a practicing lawyer or judge. Kardashian took this option, so she never had to attend an actual law school. The mother of four took the 'baby bar' exam a total of three times over the past four years before passing it, and she reportedly took the Multistate Professional Responsibility Exam (MPRE) this past March. Now, she just needs to pass the bar exam. It's really perfect timing, as her new legal drama, All's Fair, comes out this fall. Coincidence?
