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New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Harvey Weinstein's lawyers argue the alleged perv is the real victim during erratic closing arguments: ‘He's the one who's being abused'
Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein is the 'poster boy' of cancel culture, his defense attorney ranted during erratic closing arguments, insisting the convicted sex pest is the real victim of the women accusing him of rape. 'They're using their youth, their beauty, their charm, their charisma to get stuff from him,' defense attorney Arthur Aidala said Tuesday of the three women who testified against the once-powerful Hollywood kingpin during his ongoing sex-crimes retrial in Manhattan Superior Court. 'I know it's going to sound crazy, but he's the one who's being abused. He's the one who's getting used.' 5 Harvey Weinstein at his retrial in Manhattan Superior Court. Steven Hirsch During the three-hour speech to jurors, Aidala portrayed the relationships between Weinstein and his three accusers — fromer TV production assistant Miriam 'Mimi' Haley, Polish model Kaja Sokola and former actress Jessica Mann — as 'transactional' sexual relationships that were consensual. He claimed the victims are women with broken dreams 'who wanted to cut the line' to stardom. The attorney's animated theatrics balanced a tightrope of absurdity — from mockingly impersonating one of the women to entering the witness stand to discus his own sex life, with his wife in attendance — in an effort to dissuade jurors from reconvicting the one-time movie mogul. 5 Harvey Weinstein's retrial in a New York courtroom. Steven Hirsch 'They needed to get the poster boy, the original sinner for the MeToo movement,' Aidala said, referring to prosecutor's decision for a retrial. 'They tried to do it five years ago, and there was a redo, and they're trying to do it again.' At one point, Aidala took shots at Weinstein's physical appearance, calling the hulking wheelchair-bound ex-Miramax boss a 'fat dude' incapable of 'playing naked Twister' – a hyperbole to how witnesses have described the 'Pulp Fiction' producer's sinister demeanor during the alleged attacks. 'Some of these descriptions from these women sound like 'Cirque du Soleil'!' Aidala charged The former studio chief's attorney even posed a hypothetical scenario to jurors about a broken shard of glass falling into his own Grandma's 'Sunday Sauce' — likening it to the prosecution's case and the accusers and whether his grandma would still serve the pasta knowing the risk. 5 Kaja Sokola testified against the disgraced movie producer during his high-profile Manhattan trial. Steven Hirsch 'If there's a doubt about his life, their case — you've got to throw it out, you've got to throw it out,' he said. Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Nicole Blumberg fiercely challenged Aidala's spirited remarks, telling the jury that Weinstein — accused of sexual conduct by more than 80 women — wielded his 'power and influence' to trap his victims. 5 Miriam 'Mimi' Haley, former production assistant on 'Project Runway,' also testified in court. Steven Hirsch 'This was not a courting game as Mr. Aidala wants you to believe,' Blumberg charged at the jury. 'This is not a transaction. This is not people the defendant was fooling around with unless fooling around with is a euphemism for rape… it wasn't about fooling around — it was rape.' Blumberg later argued: 'He never had an interest in their careers. He had an interest in their bodies,' where no meant 'try a little bit harder' until he eventually 'took it anyway.' 5 Witness Jessica Mann leaving court, accompanied by others. Steven Hirsch Weinstein, 73, who has maintained his innocence, faces up to 25 years in prison on two counts of first-degree criminal sexual act, and four years in prison on a charge of third-degree rape. He was originally convicted at trial in 2022, but New York's highest court reversed the conviction last year. Weinstein was separately convicted of rape in California after an Italian model testified that he threw himself on her after appearing uninvited outside her hotel room during an Italian film festival in 2013. The convicted sex fiend was sentenced to 16 years in prison in that case but is appealing. The prosecution will continue with closing arguments Wednesday morning.
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
See the world from a bug's perspective in Cirque du Soleil: OVO
Apr. 3—WILKES-BARRE — Cirque du Soleil's OVO show comes to Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza with five performances between Thursday, April 3, through Sunday, April 6. An exciting Cirque du Soleil experience, OVO is a colorful intrusion into a new day in the life of insects. This is a non-stop riot of energy and movement through show-stopping acrobatics, as the introduction of a mysterious "ovo" (meaning "egg" in Portuguese) challenges all creatures to reconsider their role within their tiny world. Cirque du Soleil: OVO uses the whole stage to enhance their storytelling, and every piece of the set is stunning. Everything is colorful, big, and vibrant with Brazilian-inspired music throughout, not to mention all the incredible high-level acrobatics. "In the beginning is a huge egg and everything else is so small, you really get into the perspective of the show," said acrobat and dancer Dani Maloney in an interview with The Weekender. "It is such a world of happiness, and you can see it in the audience reactions too" Dani Maloney is an acrobat and character in the upcoming OVO shows in Wilkes-Barre, she also helps the artistic director with the show's choreography. Cirque du Soleil also includes a love story and there is something delightful for all ages to take away. The ladybug is in love with the blue fly character — and the feeling is mutual. "Every time he sees the ladybug, he freezes. It's a really fun, lighthearted storyline," explained Dani Maloney. Hailing from Northwestern Pennsylvania, Dani Maloney joined Cirque du Soleil: OVO in October 2024 as the Red Spider! This multi-talented superstar has been dancing since she was three years old and runs her own contemporary dance collective in Las Vegas called Dani Maloney Dance Company. Now, see the Pennsylvania-native star in this larger-than-life touring dance/acrobatic show. "Timing is everything and here we are," said Maloney. OVO has been on the road since 2009, visiting 40 countries over the last 15 years and changing arenas every single week. The show began as a big-top show under the tent and became an arena show in 2016. They briefly paused only for the pandemic and relaunched in 2022 back on tour! The talented OVO cast is constantly rehearsing and adding new tricks to keep the show fresh for everyone, whether it's your first Cirque experience or your 15th! OVO was also recently restaged in 2024, so they've added some new magic to the show as well, introducing new set designs, updating the sound system, and changing the space itself over three months of restaging work in Montreal, Canada. They also added three new acts, along with fresh costumes and items for the bugs, I mean, cast to discover! Dani Maloney was so excited to join the cast of Cirque du Soleil: OVO and, with her vast expertise, has become an artist coach in Cirque's choreography. She helped facilitate in restaging the show and maintain that vision as they go on tour, bringing her own style of dancing into the tale "My job is to make sure everyone keeps the choreography where it should be and everyone remains safe," said Maloney. "I like it to be a safe space for people to come and be able to take care of them." Maloney has been teaching dance almost all her life, but this experience with Cirque Du Soleil has been very special to her. "I think whenever you're able to lead people in that way, it's such a special privilege," she said. OVO has been touring since February for this leg of the tour and after making their way around the country, Wilkes-Barre will be the final arena stop for this latest leg of the ongoing OVO tour. Maloney is from Corry, her sister attended Penn State in State College, and her aunt even lives in Wilkes-Barre — so the whole family is coming out for Cirque's stay in Pennsylvania. "It feels serendipitous that I got the job at the time we were doing this tour," said Maloney. Dani Maloney has mastered a number of different styles of dance and acrobatics. She's mainly been a contemporary dancer, but also has learned tap, jazz, ballet, and more while continuing to add to her artistic and athletic skill. She loves to challenge herself. "In Cirque, I identify as a generalist, but I haven't homed in on one operandus my whole life," said Maloney. "For me, I'm training on as many operandi as I can, so when there's a rock wall — it definitely keeps it interesting." Dani Maloney brings life to the Red Spider in the OVO show as an acrobatic character doing wild stunts to wow the crowd. One of her favorite parts of being on the Cirque du Soleil: OVO circuit is getting to perform on the giant rock wall at the same time as the cricket family performs with a trampoline below. "You see me a lot throughout the show, in different scenes," said Maloney. "My character interacts with almost every insect in the show." She said the Red Spider is very fun and exhibits a bit of both the light and dark energy within her. Although she may rip off butterfly wings, she also plays with other characters too. Very spider-like behavior if you ask me. Perhaps we are all complicated creatures, and maybe that's one of the many takeaways from the OVO show. "I love watching how invested every single performer is in their character. I love seeing everyone go for it and embrace their inner child." said Maloney. "It's a huge for us, and it's so fun to watch everyone flipping, climbing all around you." said Maloney. See the Red Spider and the rest of the mesmerizing Cirque Du Soleil: OVO cast wow audiences at Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza with five shows in NEPA between Thursday, April 3, and Sunday, April 6. The show is open to all ages.
Yahoo
23-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Sexton, former state poet laureate, is remembered for his 'unbelievable' influence teaching Alaska writers
Mar. 22—It's difficult to overstate the impact Tom Sexton had on generations of Alaska writers. As an English and creative writing professor at the University of Alaska Anchorage for nearly 25 years, Sexton spurred young writers to chase opportunity and inspiration. "You turn over a rock and somebody took a class from Tom Sexton," said Mike Burwell, a writer, editor and former student. "It's unbelievable, his overall influence on writers in Alaska." Sexton died this month at age 84, leaving a legacy as a prolific poet, an influential instructor and an initiator of literary platforms in the state. Sexton grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, and had his first exposure to the state in the U.S. Army. He later returned to the state in summer 1968, the day after he and his wife, Sharyn, were married. Sexton earned a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and when the university expanded with a four-year institution in Anchorage, he started teaching at the school. Alaska author Marybeth Holleman was an MFA student of Sexton's at UAA. For a decade, Holleman said, Sexton handled all of the university's writing courses, from film to fiction, and he even was the chair of the philosophy department for a time. "He was a wonderful, generous, kind, very calm teacher," Holleman said. "His calm presence was so important when you're a student and you get all those anxieties, but he was just a great teacher." Sexton was a founding editor of the Alaska Quarterly Review, launched by Ronald Spatz and James Liszka in 1980. Holleman said Sexton and Spatz, a colleague at UAA, brought a number of notable writers to the state, giving students an opportunity to rub elbows and learn from the likes of Jane Hirshfield, Tobias Wolff and Rosellen Brown. "They would give a public reading that anyone can go to," Holleman said. "Then they would give a craft talk to the students in the MFA program. And we just got to meet these incredible writers. So even though we only had two professors in the program, it was a much broader — just a lot of nourishment coming in from Outside." Sexton retired at UAA in 1994 and was named Alaska's Poet Laureate in 1995, a role he held until 2000. Even when he wasn't actively teaching at the university, Sexton still maintained an inspirational spirit. When circumpolar poetry journal Ice Floe was winding down its publication, he encouraged Burwell to launch Cirque. The Alaska-based literary journal Burwell publishes with Sandra Kleven has now been in existence for more than 15 years. "Basically he was the spark for Cirque," Burwell said. "You know, we just put out issue No. 28, so we've been around a while. It was that original encouragement that really got me going on Cirque." Holleman said it was notable that when Sexton was at UAA, he focused almost exclusively on teaching. "He did give his all as a teacher," Holleman said. "He published very little when he was a teacher. And it was only when he retired in 1994 that he started putting out a book every other year. He's written dozens of books of poetry, but they came after he retired." While Sexton was known for his Alaska poems of place, he also did a substantial amount of writing about his home and youth in Lowell. In total, he published more than 12 books of poetry in his time in Alaska. "He turned out two or three books kind of around Lowell and the Lowell experience," Burwell said. "They're pretty hard hitting." Both Burwell and Holleman later published Sexton's work — Burwell in Cirque, and Holleman in projects like "Crosscurrents North: Alaskans on the Environment," which she co-edited. "He was my mentor in the program, and then afterwards, a friend and I have also had the great honor of publishing some of his poems in a couple of anthologies that I've edited, too," Holleman said. Over the years, Sexton had a number of rural Alaska properties that functioned as writing retreats. That included a cabin along the Chulitna River where he would often spend weekends writing. Holleman said Sexton was a well-known rover, and on his walks he would carry scraps of paper and write notes or lines that would eventually find their way into his poems. "I don't know, there's just something about that that's so beautiful and so unusual for us now," Holleman said. "But he studied the Chinese poets, who just were wanderers. And so I feel like he kind of continued that lineage, this ancient lineage and brought it to us in contemporary culture."
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
All 20 acts confirmed for Watford Colosseum after reopening
Jools Holland and Simon Reeve are among the latest acts to be added as Watford Colosseum's early line-up takes shape. With the Rickmansworth Road venue, which has been vacant since 2020, set to reopen later this year, 02 Arena managers AEG Presents have been arranging more events to fill out its calendar. At the end of 2024, the list of acts signed on to perform once refurbishment is finished towards the end of this year stood at just nine, but it has since more than doubled to 20. Watford Colosseum. (Image: Watford Borough Council) Thursday, October 2 - Whitney Houston tribute: Saving All My Love for You Saturday, October 4 – Strictly Come Dancing favourites dance show: The Return of the Legends Thursday, October 16 – Live band disco night: Lost in Music Saturday, October 18 – Jazz-funk band: Level 42 Thursday, October 30 – Circus: Cirque, The Greatest Show Reimagined Saturday, November 1 – Tina Turner tribute: What's Love Got To Do With It? Monday, November 3 – Tenor performances: Russell Watson The Evolution Tour Thursday, November 6 – Orchestra: Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra MORE SEATS RELEASED for Jools Holland's Rhythm & Blues Orchestra (@JoolsBand) on 6 November with Imelda May Tickets are selling quick, so get yours now 🔗 🎺 — Watford Colosseum (@WfordColosseum) February 3, 2025 Tuesday, November 11 – New wave chart topper: Adam Ant Tuesday, November 18 – Tony Blackburn hosted show: Sounds of the 60s Live Friday, November 21 – Elvis Presley tribute: The King's Voice Thursday, December 4 – George Michael tribute: Rob Lamberti Presents Perfectly George Sunday, December 7 – Taylor Swift tribute: Taylormania Thursday, December 11 – ABBA night: ABBA-Merry Xmas Monday, December 22 – Christmas show: Step Into Christmas 🚨Tickets on-sale now🚨 Radio 2's legendary DJ Tony Blackburn OBE is bringing Sounds Of The 60s Live to Watford next November! An evening of 60s classics performed by an All Star Band & Singers. Get your tickets here 🔗 — Watford Colosseum (@WfordColosseum) December 12, 2024Friday, February 13 – Michael Jackson tribute: Man in the Mirror Friday, February 20 – Country classics night: Country Roads Thursday, March 5 – Beatles tribute: The Magic of the Beatles Thursday, March 19 – Motown night: The Magic of Motown Wednesday, May 13 – World travel stories: Simon Reeve, To The Ends of the Earth
