Latest news with #Frost
Yahoo
39 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
HBO's ‘Harry Potter' Star Nick Frost Says He Will ‘Never' Copy Robbie Coltrane's Performance as Hagrid, But Will Be ‘Respectful to the Subject Matter': ‘I'm Really Aware of What Went Before Me'
Nick Frost will remain faithful to the performance of the late Robbie Coltrane when playing Rubeus Hagrid in the highly anticipated HBO 'Harry Potter' series. But don't expect him to be an exact copy. In a recent interview with Collider, Frost discussed how Coltrane, who played Hagrid across all eight of the original 'Harry Potter' films, will influence his take on the Hogwarts groundskeeper in HBO's upcoming 'Harry Potter' TV adaptation. Frost said he is 'really aware of what went before' him in terms of Coltrane's 'amazing performance,' but made it clear he is 'never' going to copy his work. More from Variety Everything We Know About HBO's 'Harry Potter' Series 'Harry Potter' HBO Series Casts Harry, Ron and Hermione Warner Bros. Discovery Ready to Offer Batman, Harry Potter, 'Friends' as Figures for Ads 'I'm going to try and do something, not 'different,' I think you have to be respectful to the subject matter, but within that, there's scope for minutia,' Frost explained. 'I always read Hagrid as he's like a lovely, lost, violent, funny, warm child. I think the beauty of being able to do a book a season means I get to explore that a lot more, and I can't wait.' Other cast members for HBO's 'Harry Potter' include Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch. Francesca Gardiner serves as showrunner while Mark Mylod of 'Succession' serves as director. The series is executive produced by 'Harry Potter' author J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV and David Heyman of Heyday Films. Each of the series' seven books will make up an entire season of the show, giving Mylod and Gardiner a chance to expand on the established stories without unraveling the source material. Best of Variety What's Coming to Netflix in June 2025 New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week 'Harry Potter' TV Show Cast Guide: Who's Who in Hogwarts?
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Smokey Robinson was investigated for 2015 sex assault
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth." Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth." Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth." Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
West Australian
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Smokey Robinson was investigated for 2015 sex assault
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Smokey Robinson was investigated for 2015 sex assault
Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Smokey Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed because of insufficient evidence, prosecutors say. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement on Friday. The office said no details could be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Four former housekeepers of the singer-songwriter and Motown music luminary have alleged that he raped and sexually assaulted them between 2007 and 2024. The women filed a lawsuit on May 6, then the following week the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department revealed that its Special Victims Bureau was "actively investigating criminal allegations" against Robinson. Robinson's lawyer Christopher Frost said in a statement Friday that they are "pleased" that the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation, and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here." Frost previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false". The 2015 case was first reported by TMZ. On Wednesday, Robinson and his wife, Frances, who was also named as a defendant in the lawsuit, sued the women for defamation, saying their allegations were "fabricated in an extortionate scheme". A statement on Friday from the housekeepers' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, emphasised that there were no charges in the 2015 case "due to insufficient evidence — not because the claims lacked merit.". They said "this latest development further affirms that at least five women have now come forward with allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Robinson. Together, they are united in their pursuit of justice". Robinson, a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer, and was one of the biggest hitmakers of the era with songs including Tears of a Clown and The Tracks of My Tears. The housekeepers are seeking at least $US50 million ($A78 million) in the lawsuit. They have not publicly revealed their names. They allege Robinson raped and sexually assaulted them after isolating them, usually in his home. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. They said Frances Robinson enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The Robinsons' defamation lawsuit says the women "stayed with the Robinsons year after year," vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and "even a car". The court filing says that despite the couple's generosity, the women "secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Maxwell Frost says Elon Musk leaves a ‘dark legacy' as his time in the WH ends
Billionaire Elon Musk arrives for a meeting with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol on March 5, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by) Elon Musk's tenure as a special government employee in the White House came to an end Friday, prompting Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost to say that his efforts reveal that a 'corporate slash and burn mentality is not how you run a country.' Musk had been leading the so-called 'Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which, according to its website, last updated on May 26, saved taxpayers an estimated $175 billion. However, one watchdog website tracking the cuts says it was more like $16 billion. But there were significant cuts that have been damaging, including to international medical and food assistance programs. 'The legacy will be a dark legacy,' Frost told a Phoenix reporter on Friday during an interview on WMNF-88.5 FM in Tampa. Among the first and most prominent budget cancellations that came from DOGE was to dissolve the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which has funded the majority of U.S. humanitarian and development assistance worldwide to people. That included stopping funding to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), an HIV prevention program that has operated through USAID since 2003. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this week that it was 'a lie' to say that anybody around the world has died because of the USAID cuts. However, through a modelling program, a research team at Boston University that studies infectious diseases has estimated that the loss of lives from USAID cuts stands at more than 300,000 worldwide, with more than 200,000 of those being children. 'These USAID cuts are devastating,' Frost said. 'Global health is important to health here. The projections on HIV on how that is going to explode globally … and we could see an epidemic of HIV again in the United States over the coming years because of the way that people travel.' A study published this week by the liberal-leaning Center on Budget and Policy Priorities reported that the Trump administration and DOGE have implemented new phone service restrictions that the Social Security Administration estimates will require people to make nearly 2 million additional trips to understaffed Social Security field offices every year. 'I've been speaking with folks who receive disability from SSI [Supplemental Security Income] who literally [say] the wait times are longer than they've ever been,' Frost said. 'People are dying, waiting for the benefits that they deserve. And so these cuts were not made in good faith.' Musk and other conservatives like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have bemoaned that President Trump's major tax and spending bill that narrowly passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week doesn't codify the spending cuts made by DOGE over the past four months. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson says that Congress will vote to codify those cuts of up to $9 billion in a bill that will soon be introduced in the House. 'People are seeing impacts now, but they'll see impacts years into the future as well,' says Frost. 'I think this bill that Johnson is bringing to codify some of the DOGE cuts in part is meant to placate Elon. It's why the bill is coming up at the exact moment that he is leaving.' While progressives like Frost hailed Musk's departure from Washington, Florida Republicans were celebrating his accomplishments Friday afternoon. 'Under @elonmusk, @DOGE has done a phenomenal job identifying and helping cancel waste, fraud, and abuse from government,' said Southwest Florida Congressman and 2026 gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds on X. 'As we carry out the annual appropriations process this summer, Congress must follow the lead of DOGE and eliminate this egregious spending once and for all.' 'Just like he launched @SpaceX beyond the stars, @elonmusk propelled @DOGE into orbit — leading the charge to cut waste, fraud, and abuse at hypersonic speed,' said Jacksonville U.S. Rep. Aaron Bean on X. 'His vision for transparency and accountability will continue to reshape government spending and push for real fiscal responsibility. The mission isn't slowing down — it's only gaining altitude!' In his announcement reintroducing legislation this week that would require federal agencies and departments to verify the eligibility of individuals 105 years of age or older for federal benefits. Sarasota area U.S. Rep. Greg Steube credited DOGE for bringing attention to the issue. 'No American who has paid into Social Security and Medicare should see their benefits compromised by scam artists or incompetent bureaucrats,' Rep. Steube said in a statement. 'It shouldn't have required DOGE examining the rolls to ensure 12 million Americans listed as 120 years old or more were finally properly recorded as deceased.' (The Associated Press reported earlier this year that Musk's claims that 'tens of millions' of dead people receiving Social Security checks was 'overstated.') As a 'special government employee,' Musk was forced to end his tenure at the White House on Friday because federal law says such employees are appointed to perform temporary duties 'for a period not to exceed 130 days during any period of 365 days.' Frost said that Musk's temporary status as a federal employee was 'misused' and predicted that 'when Democrats take back the House we're going to have to put some guardrails on that designation because it was misused for Elon Musk.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
