Latest news with #LosAngeles-area
Metro
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Music icon, 85, sues sexual assault accusers for $500,000,000
Legendary Motown singer Smokey Robinson has filed legal documents in Los Angeles seeking $500million (£392m) in damages from four former employees who have accused him of sexual assault. The lawsuit, which follows civil allegations brought by the women, was reported by which claims to have reviewed the legal filings submitted by Robinson's legal team. According to the publication Robinson, 85, and his wife Frances assert in the court documents that they consistently treated their household staff with respect and generosity. In the filings, Robinson strongly denies all allegations of sexual misconduct and claims that the plaintiffs were treated as 'extended family.' The documents reportedly outline various acts of kindness and support the couple extended to the women during their employment, including gifts such as concert tickets, vehicles, financial help for dental emergencies, and more. As part of the defense, Robinson submitted evidence intended to demonstrate the friendly nature of his relationship with the plaintiffs. One example cited in the documents is his attendance at the graduation dinner of a plaintiff's child and the gifting of a vacation. The Daily Mail also reports that Robinson's legal team submitted text messages sent by the plaintiffs, including messages such as 'Love you,' 'Happy birthday… God bless you,' and invitations to personal events. The countersuit reportedly includes claims of defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, financial elder abuse, invasion of privacy, and civil conspiracy. Robinson is also asking the court to publicly identify the plaintiffs, arguing that media outlets have already begun reporting on the case, making anonymity impractical and unfair. As of now, no criminal charges have been reported, and the case remains a civil matter. The four former employees alleged repeated sexual assault and harassment at his Los Angeles-area home and other locations, including Las Vegas. The women, identified in the complaint as Jane Doe 1 through 4, also name Robinson's wife, Frances, as a defendant, accusing her of creating a hostile work environment and failing to intervene despite alleged prior knowledge of her husband's behavior. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and at least $50 million in damages (approximately £40 million). In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the couple's attorney, Christopher Frost, called the claims 'vile' and 'false,' describing the suit as 'an ugly method of trying to extract money.' He added that the defense plans to file a motion to dismiss based on inconsistencies and timeline issues in the complaint. According to the suit, the alleged assaults span from 2007 to 2024 and include claims of rape, sexual battery, false imprisonment, and failure to pay minimum wage. The women allege a pattern of predatory behavior and emotional abuse, claiming Robinson used his position to isolate and exploit them. More Trending The lawsuit also accuses Frances Robinson of verbal abuse and the use of 'ethnically pejorative language,' contributing to what the plaintiffs describe as a toxic work environment. A news conference addressing the lawsuit was scheduled for Tuesday in Los Angeles, according to Variety. Smokey Robinson, a central figure in the rise of Motown, is known for hits like Cruisin' and Tracks of My Tears, and has received numerous honors including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Medal of Arts. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Sydney Sweeney is literally selling her dirty bathwater MORE: Sean 'Diddy' Combs made PA 'clean up period blood' after wild freak offs MORE: 'I saw Beyoncé in a downpour and I'd pay more to see it again in the rain'
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
14-year-old boy among injured in triple shooting at Long Beach shopping center
Three people were injured in a shooting at the Shoreline Village in Long Beach on Sunday night, police say, including a teenage boy. The Long Beach Police Department says that officers responded to Shoreline and Shoreline Village drives regarding a shooting at approximately 10:50 p.m. Purported shooting near Los Angeles-area church sends person to hospital According to LBPD, three people were hospitalized, including a 14-year-old boy who transported himself. The other victims are an adult man who self-transported and a woman who was rushed to a hospital by ambulance; it is not known if they are connected to the boy in any way. The woman sustained a gunshot wound to her upper body while the man and boy suffered from injuries to their 'lower extremit[ies],' LBPD added. All of their injuries are considered to be non-life-threatening. Chaos unfolds in downtown L.A. as large mob vandalizes police car, train, businesses Video footage from the scene shows officers blocking off a portion of the sidewalk next to boats in the nearby marina. Shoreline Village is a shopping center in the Waterfront area of Long Beach containing retail stores, dining and activities for children. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Aubrey Plaza attends first movie premiere since husband Jeff Baena's tragic death
is slowly getting back on her feet after the tragic death of her husband, . She stepped out for the 'Honey Don't!' movie premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Aubrey walked the carpet and posed with her co-stars Margaret Qualley and Charlie Day. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now She opted for a full-length, sheer, sleeveless dress that was bedazzled with gems and a matching corset underneath, while her makeup was classic and simple, she completed her look with dangling diamond earrings. This marks her first appearance since the death of her husband, writer and director Jeff Baena, in January. Baena's Tragic demise Jeff was found by an assistant at a Los Angeles-area home around 10:30, as reported by TMZ. He was pronounced dead on the scene and according to the medical examiner, the manner of death was ruled a suicide. Aubrey's grief filled statement T he White Lotus star broke her silence on the loss with a grief-stricken statement, 'This is an unimaginable tragedy. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support," she said in a statement to PEOPLE at the time. "Please respect our privacy during this time.' A quiet separation According to the reports from TMZ, Audrey and Jeff had separated several months prior to his death. Cops also reported that Jeff made a call to Aubrey the night before he was found dead. Low-key Romance The pair began dating in 2011 and remained very close-mouthed about their relationship. Fans later learned that they tied the knot in May 2021, when Aubrey called Jeff, her 'darling husband' in an Instagram post. A rep later confirmed to PEOPLE that the couple had indeed tied the knot, in a small, private ceremony. About the film 'Honey Don't!' tells the story of a small-town investigator who seeks answers on a series of mysterious deaths linked to a church. It's set to be released in theatres on Aug. 22.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Pacific Coast Highway reopens months after devastating California wildfires in time for Memorial Day
MALIBU, Calif. – Nearly six months after wildfires erupted in Southern California, closing the Pacific Coast Highway in Los Angeles and burning thousands of acres, the iconic West Coast highway has reopened to the public. The highway closed in early January after the Palisades fire spread, engulfing both sides of it in massive flames. Homes and businesses along the highway were destroyed, and the road itself was in ruins. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the reopening on Thursday, saying: "In California, we get stuff done, period. We're opening the PCH back up early, with more lanes before Angelenos hit the road this Memorial Day." The highway is now open between Santa Monica and Malibu. Newsom thanked the work of construction and road crews, as well as the Army Corps of Engineers, for getting the road back into drivable shape. Watch: Malibu Beach Footage Shows Rows Of Homes Destroyed By Palisades Fire Video from Jan. 8 showed flames burning through buildings as cars raced along the highway to evade the fires. "All of PCH is on fire right now," Alexandra Datig said in the video as she drove down the highway. "It is like driving through hell." The Palisades fire burned for over three weeks before firefighters reached complete containment on Jan. 31, according to CAL Fire data. How Did The Los Angeles-area Wildfires Rapidly Spread? After the fire had been extinguished, back-to-back atmospheric rivers brought flooding rain and mudslides to the burn scars of the Palisades and Eaton fires, including along the PCH. Rainfall rates in the area were estimated to be at least an inch per hour, far more than what areas burned by the wildfires could absorb. The result was floods and debris flows. Mapped: What A Barrage Of 56 West Coast Atmospheric River Events Looks Like Datig again was there, showing the aftermath of a Feb. 13 storm on the highway near the Malibu city limits as mud and debris from burn scars swept across the road. How To Watch Fox Weather After the storms subsided, clean-up began. The famous highway was only open to residents, construction workers and emergency personnel as mud and debris were removed and the highway was repaired. In April, Newsom set a goal to have the highway reopened by the end of May, ahead of summer. "The reopening of Pacific Coast Highway marks an important step forward in our recovery effort in the Palisades, which is on track to be the fastest in state history," said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Security will remain in place at the neighborhood level of the highway to protect the safety and security of the Palisades neighborhoods, Bass and Newsom said. More than 100 crews continue working to remove debris from the Palisades neighborhood each article source: Pacific Coast Highway reopens months after devastating California wildfires in time for Memorial Day
Miami Herald
20-05-2025
- Miami Herald
18-year-old vanishes as friends try to pull him from lake, CA fraternity says
An 18-year-old's body has been found after he vanished while swimming at Lake Havasu on the California-Arizona border, sheriff's officials reported. A 911 caller reported that Simon Daniel, 18, of Pinole, California, went underwater and did not resurface near Copper Canyon on the lake at about 3 p.m. Saturday, May 17, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said in a news release. Daniel, a first-year student at California State University, Fullerton, visited the lake with fellow fraternity and sorority members, the Sigma Pi fraternity at the college said on Facebook. The swimmers did not realize that recent heavy rains had created dangerous conditions in the water, the fraternity said. Other fraternity members entered the water to assist the swimmers, but a wave separated Daniel from the others and he vanished underwater, the fraternity said. A dive team using sonar and a remote-operated vehicle found his body just before 9 a.m. Sunday, May 18, the sheriff's office said. He was known for his 'love of music, boundless energy and kind spirit,' the fraternity said. The fraternity described Daniel as a computer science major and 'a respected leader on campus' at the Los Angeles-area university. 'He was the heart of the fraternity - genuine, joyful and someone who brightened every room with his brilliant smile,' the fraternity said. Deputies ask anyone with information to call Cpl. Brandon Abell at 760-326-9200. Lake Havasu is about a 300-mile drive east from Los Angeles.
