Latest news with #Jar
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Blood and plasma donor who saved more than 2 million babies dies at 88
(WJW) – James Harrison, a prolific blood and plasma donor for decades who helped save the lives of millions of babies in Australia, has died, according to the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. The organization made the announcement on Saturday, confirming that Harrison passed away in his sleep at the Peninsula Village Nursing Home last month. He was 88. Nicknamed the 'Man with the Golden Arm,' Harrison was internationally known for saving more than 2 million babies by donating plasma more than 1,100 times since 1954, the organization said. 'James' plasma contained the rare and precious antibody, Anti-D, which is used to make the life-saving medication given to mothers whose blood is at risk of attacking their unborn babies,' Lifeblood said in a press release. Cat food recalled due to 'bird flu' risk According to the organization, Harrison had to undergo blood transfusions after lung surgery when he was 14. With some encouragement from his father, Harrison started donating when he turned 18 and never missed an appointment until he retired at 81 years old, the organization said. 'James extended his arm to help others and babies he would never know a remarkable 1,173 times and expected nothing in return,' said Lifeblood CEO Stephen Cornelissen 'He continued to donate even in his darkest days, after the passing of his wife Barbara, who was also a blood donor, and helped inspire his career as a lifesaver.' 'He was also very proud to have saved so many lives, without any cost or pain. It made him happy to hear about the many families like ours, who existed because of his kindness,' his daughter, Tracey Mellowship, added on behalf of the family. Pope Francis suffers new breathing crises, is back on noninvasive ventilation: Vatican According to the organization, researchers are now working to grow the antibody in their lab, nicknaming the project 'James in a Jar.' 'Using the blood of James and other donors, the team has successfully recreated and grown his antibody in the lab – with the hope it will one day help prevent Haemolytic Disease of the Foetus and Newborn, not just for pregnant women in Australia, but also worldwide,' the press release said. Learn more about the research being done right here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Fan petition to get Gracie Abrams to change her opening act may have crossed a line experts say is blurring
Imagine you're an up-and-coming musician who's chosen to perform as the opening act for a popstar with millions of listeners, only to be met with disapproval and complaints from the star's fans. That's exactly what happened to Dora Jar. The 28-year-old American singer-songwriter picked to open for singer Gracie Abrams on her European tour that begins today was the subject of a petition in late January that demanded she be removed from the tour and replaced, mostly because the author claimed Jar wasn't well known enough to fans. The petition said that with just two weeks until the tour was set to begin, it would be "virtually impossible to familiarize ourselves with her slow-paced songs." "Just hearing about this absolute ridiculousness," Abrams wrote in a comment on Stereogum's Instagram post about the story. "So wildly uncool and bizarre does not remotely add up." The petition was quickly deleted, but not before it went viral, sparking conversations about fan entitlement and the changing dynamic between artists and the people who love them. A supportive system Being selected as an opener can serve as a career-defining opportunity. Young artists like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and even Gracie Abrams herself, who recently opened for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour, have enjoyed massive success after touring with a bigger artist. Melissa Vincent, a Canadian music journalist, says Abrams' fans have had a front row seat for her rise to fame as she went from opening for Swift to headlining her own major shows. "Her star has been tied to Taylor's star, is kind of like entering this whole other solar system, and I think fans feel really devoted to supporting an opener as they're on that journey." So it's no surprise to Vincent that Abrams has been so supportive of Jar. "Their kind of relationship and solidarity with one another was really clear." It's the same kind of nurturing and encouraging relationship that many openers and headliners share. Charlie Houston, a singer from the small Ontario town of Deseronto, Ont., says opening for The Beaches on their American tour last year helped elevate her live set, and the women in the band passed along valuable knowledge about their experiences in the industry. "Because they've been doing it for so long and, you know, have had ups and downs." She says she also had great experiences with the Toronto band's fans being open to discovering new music. But she says it helps to keep things in perspective. "You know, at the end of the day, they're not there for you," she said, adding that in her view, that's not necessarily a bad thing. "It's kind of like there's nothing you can lose in those situations. If they're not paying attention to you, it's like you're going to leave the exact same way that you came in, then like you can only gain fans." Ryland James, a singer-songwriter who's also from Deseronto, opened for Canadian singer Alessia Cara in 2019 and says the experience was invaluable because he gained many fans on that tour. He says there's a strong dynamic at play between fans and their favourite artists. "Fans, especially in this day and age, they're so part of the story of the artist that I can understand why they would feel like they want to sort of create the story." The mob mentality Jem Aswad, the executive music editor at Variety magazine, describes being an opening act as a "mixed blessing." It brings exposure, but it can also mean playing to empty stadiums as the crowd trickles in, and there's always the chance that the opener just doesn't mesh well with the headliner's fans. He recalls an infamous incident when Jimi Hendrix, known for his raw sounds and fiery guitar antics, was invited by the Monkees to open for them on their 1967 U.S. tour. "They were basically a Beatles knockoff, and that made no sense. [Hendrix] terrified the screaming teenagers at the show," he said. "The Monkees loved him — they had chosen him themselves — but it didn't really land well with the audience." So much so that Hendrix ended up leaving the tour after just a few shows. But even for artists who do gel with the fans of their headliners, not every show is a roaring success. Though James says he generally had a great experience touring with Cara, there were some nights when the audience wasn't immediately receptive to him. "There was one particular city where they were … a little cold," he recalled. "What you have to remember as an artist is, at the end of the day, you're there for a reason. You have to believe in yourself and your performance and your art and know that regardless of what the majority of the audience might say, there are going to be people in that audience who are going to be affected by you." When online fans aren't receptive, Aswad says it can come across as a mob mentality. "A lot of these younger artists grew up with social media and they're probably just sitting there like, 'Oh my God, are the mean girls from junior high coming after me again?' " He says fans need to trust that their favourite artist is going to give them a good show and pick a good opener. "It's a pretty safe bet the Dora Jar is opening for Gracie Abrams because Gracie Abrams wanted her to." High cost of tickets leads to high stakes Vincent, the journalist, says because today's live music experience is so expensive, a single show holds more weight. "For fans paying that amount, equivalent to a down payment on a car or house, the stakes are higher, and they expect an experience that matches the value of their investment." She notes that fans today often see concerts as an opportunity for content creation that could help them monetize their experience and execute each of these moments exactly as they've imagined. "It's from the moment you decide to buy a ticket to the moment you're having greasy food hours after the performance. All of those individual moments are content opportunities." WATCH | How The Eras tour ushered in a new era of concertgoing: What does the Eras Tour mean for concert culture? 2 months ago Duration 4:07 Taylor Swift has sold out concert arenas in various countries around the world and taken concert culture to a different level. From iconic outfits to meticulous choreographies to grandiose decor, she is bringing a special energy to each experience. CBC's Lisa Christiansen joins us to discuss the impact of the tour on today's concert culture. Vincent also pointed out that for her, one of the best aspects of live music is the fact that it's not predictable. What makes it so "transcendental and life changing" is not knowing what's going to happen. "You can walk into a venue and surrender to the possibility that you might be surprised by something you might not have anticipated, and that will completely change the way you receive the headlining artist."
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Gracie Abrams defends opening act, Dora Jar amid "wildly uncool and bizarre" criticism
Gracie Abrams clapped back after a fan started a petition to change the opening act, Dora Jar for her upcoming tour dates, calling the criticism "so wildly uncool and bizarre." After Jar's announcement that she would be opening for the European leg of Abram's tour in February and March, a petition was started on demanding that Jar be replaced, according to Billboard. Created by Dexter Morgan, the now-deleted petition stated that 'Many fans, including myself, are baffled by the recent announcement … We are perplexed as we do not recognize her, and with less than two weeks till the tour, it's virtually impossible to familiarize ourselves with her slow-paced songs.' Morgan added that, 'For a memorable concert experience, an opening act should set the mood and get the crowd excited, but Dora's slow tempo songs may not achieve this goal.", and that "a more well-known, energetic artist or band" be chosen as Abrams' opening act instead". Photo: X Abrams responded to the petition via a comment on an Instagram stating firmly that "Just hearing about this absolute ridiculousness… so wildly uncool and bizarre and also just does not remotely add up,". "I've only seen everyone's total excitement and I couldn't be luckier or prouder to share a stage with this talented wonder," Abrams added. "Stream everything she's ever made whether or not you're coming to the show. Dora forever and ever." The following day, the "Us" singer emphasized her support by sharing a screenshot of the comment she left on Stereogum's post on her Instagram Stories. "Hi reiterating this and then dropping it. I am so excited to share a stage with this gem of an artist. Love you Dora ❤️," she captioned the post. Photo: Instagram/@gracieabrams Jar responded to the petition in a post on X stating, "Don't worry this doesn't bum me out! I'm hear to perform for all the music loving open hearted fans. Don't worry this doesn't bum me out! I'm hear to perform for all the music loving open hearted fans. those who aren't interested can go buy merch while I'm playing (but they might as well let me entertain them tho..;)) an overwhelming amount of fans have been so kind & excited ❤️ — Dora Jar (@dorajar_) She even joked on that she had "signed the petition," herself. signed the petition but rehearsing these songs just in case I remain the opener! Love u Dexter — Dora Jar (@dorajar_) Jar will join Abrams on the road starting next month in Spain, and wrap up in Scotland by March after performing across Europe and the U.K.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Gracie Abrams Blasts Fan Petition to Replace Dora Jar as Her Tour Opener: 'So Wildly Uncool'
Gracie Abrams is speaking out after a fan started a petition to replace the opening act for her upcoming tour dates, calling the move "so wildly uncool and bizarre." Following Jar's announcement on Friday, Jan. 24, that she would be opening for Abrams, 25, for her European and U.K. tour stops in February and March, a petition popped up on calling for Jar (real name Dora Jarkowski) to be replaced, according to Billboard. The since-deleted petition, created under the name Dexter Morgan, read in part, per the outlet: 'Many fans, including myself, are baffled by the recent announcement … We are perplexed as we do not recognize her, and with less than two weeks till the tour, it's virtually impossible to familiarize ourselves with her slow-paced songs.' Morgan continued, 'For a memorable concert experience, an opening act should set the mood and get the crowd excited, but Dora's slow tempo songs may not achieve this goal." The petition creator then shared their suggestion that "a more well-known, energetic artist or band" be chosen as Abrams' opening act instead. Related: Gracie Abrams Reveals What It Was Really Like to 'Be in the Same Orbit' as Taylor Swift on the Eras Tour Abrams clapped back at the news of the petition on Saturday in a comment on an Instagram post from Stereogum. "Just hearing about this absolute ridiculousness… so wildly uncool and bizarre and also just does not remotely add up," she wrote. "I've only seen everyone's total excitement and I couldn't be luckier or prouder to share a stage with this talented wonder," Abrams continued. "Stream everything she's ever made whether or not you're coming to the show. Dora forever and ever." 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. On Sunday, Jan. 26, the Grammy nominee doubled down on her support of Jar, 28, as she reshared a screenshot of the comment she left on Stereogum's post on her Instagram Stories. "Hi reiterating this and then dropping it. I am so excited to share a stage with this gem of an artist. Love you Dora ❤️," she wrote over the image. Jar first responded to the petition on Friday, writing in a post on X: "Don't worry this doesn't bum me out! I'm hear [sic] to perform for all the music loving open hearted fans. Those who aren't interested can go buy merch while I'm playing (but they might as well let me entertain them tho..;)) an overwhelming amount of fans have been so kind & excited." The "She Loves Me" singer later joked on X that she had "signed the petition," while noting she was still "rehearsing these songs just in case I remain the opener!" and cheekily adding, "Love u Dexter." In yet another X post, Jar — whose debut full-length album No Way to Relax When You Are on Fire was released in September 2024 — acknowledged that "hate comes with the job." Related: Gracie Abrams Reveals How Her Famous Dad J.J. Abrams Reacted to Her Rise to Stardom: 'What in the World?' But, she noted, "the truth is this is the biggest outpouring of love I've ever received from a fanbase who is still unfamiliar with me. Gracie has beautiful open hearted fans and I am so excited for this." She also nodded to the petition controversy — and all the new fans and attention it has brought her way — in a post on Instagram on Sunday, writing, "as if I didn't survive middle school, welcome new lovers and haters." When Jar announced that she would be opening for Abrams, she described it as a "pinch me" moment and said it would be "a privilege to soon share the stage" with the "That's So True" singer. "Can't wait to see you all," she added. Jar will join Abrams on the road beginning on Feb. 8 in Madrid, Spain, and perform dates across Europe before the tour heads to the U.K. for a March 3 gig in Nottingham, England. Following shows in Leeds, London, Manchester, Cardiff and Dublin, the tour leg will wrap up in Glasgow on March 12. Read the original article on People
