Latest news with #BeautifulGirls
The Independent
17-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Natalie Portman opens up about being ‘really sexualised' as a child
Natalie Portman has opened up about being subjected to a 'long Lolita phase' when she was 'really sexualised' as a child actor. The Oscar-winning actor made her debut performance aged 13, starring in Luc Besson 's 1994 thriller Léon: The Professional as Mathilde, a young girl taken in by a hitman after the death of her family. Speaking to Wednesday star Jenna Ortega for Interview magazine, Portman said that she was sexualised as a child, an experience she thinks is endemic for young girls on screen. 'I've talked about it a little before – about how, as a kid, I was really sexualized, which I think happens to a lot of young girls who are onscreen. I felt very scared by it,' she said. She continued: 'Obviously sexuality is a huge part of being a kid, but I wanted it to be inside of me, not directed towards me. And I felt like my way of protecting myself was to be like, 'I'm so serious. I'm so studious. I'm smart, and that's not the kind of girl you attack.' In an attempt to get people to leave her alone, she created an image of herself as overly smart as a defence mechanism. 'It shouldn't be a thing, but it worked,' she said. 'But I think that's the disconnect between me being stupid and silly in real life, and people thinking that I'm some really serious bookish person. I'm not a particularly private person in real life – I'll tell you anything – but in public, it was so clear early on that if you tell people how private you are, your privacy gets respected a lot more.' She added: 'I set up a little bit of a barrier to be like, 'I'm not going to do photo shoots with my kids.'' As a teenager, Portman starred in such films as Beautiful Girls (1996), Mars Attacks! (1996), Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace (1999), Anywhere But Here (1999) and Where the Heart Is (2000). She took a step back from acting from 1999 to 2003 to study psychology at Harvard University, but returned to stage in 2001 to appear in a Broadway production of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull. She won a Best Actress Oscar for her performance in the 2010 film Black Swan, a psychological horror film about the world of professional ballet. Portman has previously spoken about her role in Leon, telling The Hollywood Reporter in 2023 that her relationship with the film was 'complicated'. 'It's a movie that's still beloved, and people come up to me about it more than almost anything I've ever made, and it gave me my career,' she said, adding: 'But it is definitely, when you watch it now, it definitely has some cringey, to say the least, aspects to it. So, yes, it's complicated for me.' In 2020, Portman said she built 'fortresses' to protect herself from the media after being painted as a 'Lolita figure'. 'Being sexualised as a child, I think, took away from my own sexuality because it made me afraid,' she said. 'It made me feel like the way I can be safe is to be like, 'I'm conservative, and I'm serious, and you should respect me, and I'm smart and don't look at me that way.''
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean Kingston Released From Custody After Paying $100,000 Bond
Sean Kingston is free, once again. The 35-year-old artist was released from custody after posting his $100,000 bond. This past Tuesday (April 15), the 'Beautiful Girls' singer was brought back into custody at the Federal Detention Center in Miami for not paying the fee, according to He was previously ordered to home detention while they waited for sentencing, provided he did not pay the $100,000. However, his lawyer confirmed that he has paid the amount in full. 'Mr. Kingston's bond has been posted, and he is in the process of being released,' Zeljka Bozanic told TMZ. Now that Kingston is home, home detention continues, and he is being monitored via GPS. He has also handed over his passport. Last month, the Jamaican rapper and his mother, Janice Turner, were convicted of all charges in their federal wire fraud case. They were found guilty of stealing over one million dollars in jewelry, cars, and more in what was called an elaborate ploy. Federal agents raided Sean Kingston's home in May 2024 and arrested both him and Turner. They received their official indictment in July 2024. During the trial, the Image Award nominee reportedly cried when hearing the guilty verdict and expressed concern for his mother; Turner was labeled a flight risk and the 'nerve center' of their fraud scheme. In his defense, his attorneys called him a 'child' who was not aware of how his finances were being operated. Sentencing for Kingston and his mother is set to occur on July 11, and they are facing up to 20 years in prison for all counts. Kingston burst onto the music scene in 2007 with 'Beautiful Girls,' which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. He followed that with 'Take You There,' the second single from his eponymous debut album, which went No. 6 on the Billboard 200. His career declined shortly after his 2009 hit 'Fire Burning.' More from Sean Kingston And Mother Found Guilty In Wire Fraud Trial Sean Kingston And His Mother Grasp Bibles During Their Fraud Trial Glen "Big Baby" Davis Issues Farewell Video En Route To Prison
CBS News
16-04-2025
- CBS News
Rapper Sean Kingston jailed after failing to post bail, awaiting sentencing for wire fraud
Failing to come up with bail, singer and rapper Sean Kingston is back behind bars, awaiting sentencing for last month's federal wire fraud conviction . The 35-year-old musician will remain in federal detention until his sentencing unless he can secure the money for the $100,000 bond. Kingston, whose real name is Kisean Anderson, and his mother, Janice Turner, were found guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Their sentencing hearings are set for July 11. Prosecutors accused Kingston and Turner of orchestrating a scheme to obtain high-end items — including a luxury SUV, jewelry, expensive watches and a wall-sized TV — without paying for them. After his conviction in March , Kingston was immediately placed on house arrest. The judge rejected his request to travel for a scheduled performance in Texas, stating, "He's not going to Texas." Turner was promptly taken into custody, with the judge citing her past criminal history and significant role in the scheme, describing her as the "operator, fixer, and accountant" behind the fraudulent activity. Prosecutors described Kingston and Turner as "masters of deception and fraud." Authorities presented evidence showing the pair used fake wire transfer receipts as proof of payment. A key piece of evidence was a text message from Kingston to his mother that read: "I told you to make [a] fake receipt," followed by, "so it [looks] like the transfer will be there in a couple [of] days." During closing arguments, Turner's attorney claimed the alleged victims were "fraudsters" themselves. Kingston's attorney attempted to separate his client's public image from his finances, describing him as "a soft guy who grew up poor when he rose to fame overnight," with "no idea how to run a business [and] no idea how much money is in his bank account." Kingston was first arrested on May 23, 2024, at Fort Irwin, an Army training base in California's Mojave Desert, where he was performing. He waived his right to fight extradition and was returned to Florida. In addition to the federal charges, the two also face similar state charges. Kingston rose to fame with his 2007 No. 1 hit "Beautiful Girls" and later collaborated with Justin Bieber on "Eenie Meenie."
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
Sean Kingston Held in Miami Federal Prison After He Was Unable to Pay $100K Bond
Sean Kingston, who was found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud last month along with his mother, Janice Turner, was held in federal prison for several days after he was initially unable to pay his $100,000 bond, per NBC News and court documents obtained by PEOPLE. On Thursday, April 10, Kingston — whose real name is Kisean Anderson — was ordered during a hearing to be remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals after being unable to satisfy bond, according to NBC News. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons website, the 35-year-old musician was being held at the Federal Detention Center in Miami. However, Zeljka Bozanic, the singer's attorney, confirmed to PEOPLE on Tuesday, April 15 that "his bond had been posted and he is in the process of getting released" after being held in federal prison. Related: Sean Kingston, Mother Found Guilty in Federal Fraud Trial, Will Be Sentenced in July Last month, Kingston and his mother were found guilty of fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal trial in Broward County, Fla. The "Beautiful Girls" hitmaker was placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring, while Turner was taken into custody. According to NBC6 South Florida, Kingston was also ordered to post a surety bond of a home valued at $500,000 and $200,000 in cash. The mother and son are scheduled to be sentenced on July 11. The trial — which began on Monday, March 24 — concluded with closing arguments on Friday, March 28. Per NBC6, the jury came to a decision after three and a half hours of deliberation, The pair were convicted of defrauding several businesses, including multiple jewelers, a television installment company and a high-end car dealership. Prosecutors said the total amount of items they acquired exceeded $1 million. While Kingston didn't testify, Turner did, and the judge decided his mother was a flight risk partly because she did so, according to Local10. Kingston can be heard telling U.S. Marshal agents to "protect my mother" as he was escorted from the courthouse, per footage published by the outlet. NBC6 reported on Thursday, March 27 that during the trial, Fort Lauderdale jeweler Moshe Edery testified that he lost his credibility after a failed $285,000 transfer from the "Take You There" artist. "I'm being scammed," Edery said on the stand. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Related: Sean Kingston and His Mother Plead Not Guilty to Fraud Charges of Over $1 Million as They Demand Jury Trial Kingston and his mother were arrested in May 2024 and initially appeared in court in July. Both were charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and five counts of wire fraud. For several years, Turner would often ensure deliveries and wire transfers, only to send fraudulent transfers instead, according to the indictment. During the trial, the defense claimed that the prosecution didn't have evidence that Kingston and his mother intended to commit fraud and said some of the alleged victims were given back their money and merchandise, according to NBC6. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Yahoo
Singer Sean Kingston and mother Janice Turner convicted in fraud scheme
Singer Sean Kingston and his mom are facing the music for a months-long scheme that federal prosecutors said targeted businesses selling high-end goods and defrauded them of more than $1 million. A Florida jury found the "Beautiful Girls" pop star and his 62-year-old mother, Janice Turner, each guilty of one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud, according to legal documents reviewed by The Times on Monday. They were convicted less than a year after SWAT officers raided Kingston's rented mansion in South Florida. Turner remains in custody in Miami and Kingston (born Kisean Paul Anderson) is under house arrest until sentencing, which is set for July 11. The maximum sentence for each charge is 20 years. Read more: Sean Kingston and his mom stole more than $1 million in theft and fraud scheme, police allege A legal representative for the 35-year-old singer and his mother did not immediately respond to The Times' request for comment. SWAT officers descended on Kingston's Florida home last May. The singer and his parent were accused of swindling more than $480,000 worth of jewelry from one person and, from others, a Cadillac Escalade worth nearly $160,000 and furniture costing upward of $86,500. Prosecutors said Kingston and his mother also stole more than $200,000 from Bank of America and more than $100,000 from First Republic Bank — allegations they initially denied. Turner was arrested during the raid, and Kingston was arrested soon afterward near Ft. Irwin in San Bernardino County. A federal grand jury indicted Kingston and Turner in July. Federal prosecutors said the mother-son duo "unjustly enriched themselves" by "falsely representing" they carried out bank wire and other forms of payment for the goods but kept the "vehicles, jewelry and other goods despite non-payment." They pleaded not guilty to the charges in August. Read more: Sean Kingston arrested in SoCal's Fort Irwin after SWAT raid on singer's South Florida rental The jury reportedly delivered its verdict after 3 1/2 hours of deliberation on Friday. Kingston and his mother dabbed away tears as the verdict came down, according to NBC News. Kingston also urged U.S. marshals to "protect my mother" as they took Turner back into federal custody, Miami news outlet WPLG-10 reported. Times editorial library director Cary Schneider contributed to this report. Get notified when the biggest stories in Hollywood, culture and entertainment go live. Sign up for L.A. Times entertainment alerts. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
