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Global News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Diddy trial: Ex-employee testifies about rapper's violent ‘attacks' on Cassie Ventura
NOTE: The following article contains disturbing details and video footage. Please read at your own discretion. A woman identified only as the pseudonym 'Mia,' a former assistant of Sean 'Diddy' Combs, testified Thursday at his sex trafficking and racketeering trial. She claimed that Combs physically, emotionally and sexually abused her while she worked for him. 'He's thrown things at me. He's thrown me against the wall. He's thrown me into a pool. He's thrown an ice bucket on my head,' she said, before adding that Combs also sexually assaulted her on more than one occasion. She also spoke about the relationship between Combs and his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. 'It was a cycle of highs and lows. Unequal and equal. Toxic. I'd say abusive. Like, it was abusive towards her,' she told the court. Story continues below advertisement 0:59 Diddy's ex-assistant Capricorn Clark says rapper kidnapped her during plot to kill Kid Cudi Combs has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of an indictment accusing him of a pattern of abuse toward Ventura and others. Day 12 Mia is a former assistant and director of development and acquisitions for Revolt Films, a film production company launched under Combs' Revolt network. She said her first job in the entertainment industry was for Georgina Chapman at Marchesa. She later worked as a personal assistant for Canadian actor and comedian Mike Myers before she was hired by Combs, working for him from 2009 until 2017. Mia described the work environment with Combs as 'chaotic and toxic.' 'The highs were really high and the lows were really, really low,' she said. Story continues below advertisement She said that 'Puff's mood' determined what type of day they would have and that his mood shifted 'all the time.' Mia said that when she went to Combs' apartment to meet with him for her job interview, he answered the door in his underwear before he went to put more clothes on. She said that she was originally told she would work 40 hours a week, but said she always worked more than that. She also testified that he said her starting salary would be US$55,000 but it was actually $50,000. Mia also said that during the first 24 hours on the job, she didn't sleep and that there would be times when she didn't sleep for days while working for Combs. The jury was given a list of some of Mia's job responsibilities which included, 'All of PD's [P. Diddy] social media presence, Main Liasion b/w PD+ 'Hollywood,' PDs daily routine-keeping him on schedule, PROTECT HIM AT ALL TIMES and Anticipating his needs, whims and moods.' Story continues below advertisement She also alleged that Combs asked her to do many things at once including 'cracking his knuckles to writing his next movie to doing his taxes.' Mia said she wasn't allowed to leave Combs' home without his permission and was not allowed to lock her door when she stayed at his home. 'This is my house, no one locks my doors,' Mia recalled Combs saying. During her time working for Combs, Mia said he would punish her by threatening her job or insulting her intelligence, adding that there was 'a lot of getting cursed out and humiliated and berated.' She mentioned that Combs would throw things at her, including a bowl of spaghetti, turkey meat, a phone and a computer. She recalled working on a music video set in Los Angeles when Combs threw a computer at her head because the wifi didn't work. 'He cut me off and started screaming at me that like I shouldn't come back here until I figured out the wifi myself — something like, 'I don't care if you have to call Bill Gates,' and then chucked the computer at my head,' she said. Combs' former assistant said she started the Revolt Film Production Company with him and that she'd been running the film production company for years. Story continues below advertisement She said working at Revolt Films was 'overwhelmingly awesome' and her starting salary was $70,000, which increased to $100,000 a few years later. When asked about her relationship with Ventura, Mia said, 'We became like sisters, best friends.' She said they are still friends today. Mia said that Combs was 'in charge' of Ventura's appearance and he would visit sets when she was shooting a movie or a music video. 'Everyone would be really nervous,' Mia said. 'He would ask a lot of questions and sort of insert himself.' Mia describes Combs 'attacking' Ventura Mia said that she spent a lot of time with Ventura and that Combs asked her to keep tabs on her. When they would do something without Combs' permission, Mia said 'something bad, very scary' would happen afterwards. 'Punishment was typically unpredictable but typically pretty terrifying,' she said. Mia also testified that she witnessed Combs 'attack' Ventura, throw her on the ground, chase her and 'crack her head open.' She said that she never saw Ventura fight back and only saw her 'with her arms up, for him to stop.' She also recalled the first time she saw signs of violence between the former couple at his home in Los Angeles; she said she heard thuds against the wall coming from his second-floor bedroom and saw suitcases fly over the railing into the foyer on the floor below. Story continues below advertisement Mia said she saw Ventura hiding behind a bush outside of the home, shaking and crying. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy 'She had the most terrified look in her eyes,' Mia said. She also recalled an incident at Ventura's apartment when she was helping her pack for an upcoming trip to a music festival. (Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash had testified about it on May 28 while on the witness stand.) She said that Combs arrived at Ventura's apartment and began banging on the door and screaming at Ventura, asking her if she'd been drinking. Mia said Combs was 'crazy aggressive' and began attacking Ventura. 'Me and Deonte immediately jumped in and tried to stop it,' Mia said. 'We were both just trying to get him off of her.' Story continues below advertisement 'At some point, he had Deonte in like a position where I was like scared he was going to kill him and I jumped on his back,' she said. 'He threw me against the wall so quick and so easily, and I realized we were in real, real danger,' she said. Mia said that Combs followed Ventura into the bedroom and she saw him pick her up. 'I thought, 'Is he going to kill her?'' she said. 'He slammed her head into the corner of the bed,' Mia said, adding that Ventura's head 'started gushing blood.' After the altercation, Combs told Mia to get in touch with an assistant to schedule an appointment with a plastic surgeon to fix the gash on Ventura's head and told her to say that Ventura fell when she was drunk. When asked about how Combs looked during the incident, Mia said, 'His eyes turned, like, black and there was like no getting through. Like, I was trying to get him to stop, and it was like he was looking through me.'' Mia also recounted an incident at a 2010 party hosted by musician Prince, in which his security had to separate Combs from Ventura. She said the night was after an awards show and Combs told her to stay with Ventura at a hotel to keep her company. Story continues below advertisement A friend called and told Mia and Ventura about the party at Prince's house. 'Cass and I debated like little kids if we should sneak out of the house for probably what felt like forever,' Mia told the court. They ended up going to the party and having fun while dancing and watching Prince perform, she said. Combs arrived at the party and Mia said that she and Ventura took off running out of the house but 'Puff caught Cass.' 'He caught up to her and had her on the ground,' Mia said. 'He started attacking her, but Prince's security swiftly intervened.' Mia said she left and spent the night at a different hotel. The next day, the head of human resources told her Combs was suspending her without pay for being 'insubordinate.' Story continues below advertisement Still on the stand, Mia went on to discuss a 2012 trip she took with Combs and Ventura to Turks and Caicos where she witnessed violence more than once. 'I was woken up to Cass running and screaming into the room. She was screaming for help and saying, 'You gotta help me, he's gonna kill me,'' Mia recalled. 'Cass is normally very chill, calm, and it was like the most terrified someone screaming for their life,' she added. Mia said that Ventura pushed furniture toward the door but Combs caught up and began 'banging and screaming' at the door. She said that she and Ventura ran out of the back of the room, through the patio, and hid on the beach. Mia described the injuries she saw on Ventura's body. 'I would see bruises on her body and fat lips and busted eyebrow, like a gash on her forehead, black eyes, things like that,' she said. Mia said on another occasion, she saw Ventura had visible injuries during the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. She said Ventura had a busted lip and other injuries. She said Ventura played a recording for her in which she could hear Combs yelling at her while he 'attacked' her. She said she heard 'the sound of someone getting hit and being attacked, essentially.' Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Cassie, Sean Combs and Rita Ora attend the Chopard Mystere Party during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 21, 2012, in Cannes, France. Michel Dufour/WireImage During a movie premiere at Cannes, Mia said she saw Combs aggressively talking to Ventura through gritted teeth and 'digging his nails into her arm.' Mia said that she didn't report the abuse she witnessed to the police for numerous reasons. 'I believed that Puff's authority was above the police,' Mia said. 'This was a period where — years and years before social media or 'Me Too' or any sort of example where someone had stood up successfully to someone in power such as him.' Former assistant says she had to clean up 'nightmare' scenes in hotel rooms Mia said that she was often tasked with cleaning up hotel rooms that Combs and Ventura stayed in, doing a 'sweep' for anything potentially damaging to their reputation. Story continues below advertisement She said it was 'standard procedure' to clean the rooms to make sure there wasn't anything 'a housekeeper could take to TMZ.' Mia said the rooms would be a 'nightmare,' with things like baby oil, candle wax and sometimes even blood, which she said Combs told her was 'period blood.' She also recalled one day when she was in Ventura's car and the singer had received a message from Combs. 'She got a message and was like upset,' she said, adding that Ventura said, 'Puff wants to have a hotel night.' Mia said that Ventura seemed 'really nervous' and 'started getting stomach issues because of it.' Mia says that Combs sexually assaulted her multiple times Mia also testified that Combs sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions while she worked for him. She said that Ventura was not present when the assaults occurred and she did not tell her about them. She said Combs had asked her to speak with him in the kitchen at his home a few months after she started working for him. Mia said he told her she was doing a 'good job' and she didn't need to be nervous and offered her two shots of alcohol. Story continues below advertisement She said that the shots 'hit me kind of hard' and was shocked when Combs leaned in to kiss her against the wall. 'I was shocked and I froze. I couldn't even process what was happening,' she told the court. She said the next thing she remembered clearly was sitting in a chair in the main room of a penthouse as the sun came up. Mia said she thought it would never happen again and believed that Combs had just been drunk and that it was all 'probably a huge accident.' She said the next time Combs made her feel uncomfortable was at his 40th birthday party in his New York apartment. Mia said she was bringing Combs' bags to his apartment and his security said, 'I've seen this before.' When she got inside, Mia said that Combs asked her to look something up for him on the computer and sat beside her. She said that he leaned over her and got very close and that's when her internal 'alarm bells' went off. 'I felt really uncomfortable, but I didn't know how to behave,' she said. Story continues below advertisement She asked to go to the bathroom and once she came out, she left the apartment quickly. In another instance, Mia said that Combs raped her in 2009 or 2010 when she was asleep in his Los Angeles home. She said he climbed on top of her and she woke up due to 'the weight of a person on top of me.' Mia said Combs told her to be quiet and used one hand to get his pants off. 'He put himself inside of me,' Mia said. 'I just froze, I didn't react.' Mia said she was 'terrified and confused and ashamed and scared,' adding that it was 'very quick, but it felt like forever.' She also spoke about another time when she said Combs sexually assaulted her at his home in Los Angeles while she was on the floor in his closet packing a bag. 'I felt like trash,' she said, before adding that she felt 'scared and ashamed and like an idiot.' Stylist says he introduced Ventura to Michael B. Jordan Celebrity stylist Deonte Nash was back on the witness stand earlier on May 29 and testified that people who worked for Combs told him that Ventura and the rapper had broken up when she started dating Kid Cudi, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, in 2011. Story continues below advertisement Nash also said that he had set Ventura up with actor Michael B. Jordan while she was on set of a movie in South Africa in 2015. 'Yes, I did hook her up with Michael B. Jordan. I know where we're going with his,' Nash told the court. 'He fine, she fine. I mean, 'Why not?'' View image in full screen Michael B. Jordan attends the Global Premiere of 'Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning' in Leicester Square Gardens in London, United Kingdom on May 15, 2025. Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu via Getty Images Judge Arun Subramanian warned Nash to wait for a question and only answer the questions asked. Nash went on to say that Ventura and Combs broke up while she was in South Africa to film the movie. He claimed that Ventura found out Combs was seen in public with 'Gina' at an event. Gina has been described as an ex-girlfriend of Combs. Combs' lawyer Xavier Donaldson showed Nash a series of text messages he sent to Ventura in 2015 around the time she learned that Combs was with Gina in public. In one text, Nash told Ventura to 'ignore' it. Story continues below advertisement 'I don't remember the context but I'm sure we were being antagonized by your client,' Nash said. Nash said that Combs was contacting him and Ventura once he heard that she was talking to Jordan. He said that Ventura 'wasn't pressed' about Combs' relationship with Gina but was more upset that he was 'running around with other women' and how it could affect her career. The stylist said that he stopped working with Combs in 2018, but they still kept in touch. The same year, Combs texted Nash, writing, 'Please call me. No drama, it's important. I'm concerned. How is she?' Nash confirmed that Combs was talking about Ventura in the text message. In January 2019, Combs texted Nash again, writing, 'How is she? Make sure she's alright. If she ever needs me, call me.' What Combs is on trial for U.S. prosecutors allege that for 20 years, behind the scenes, Combs was coercing and abusing women with help from a network of associates who helped silence victims through blackmail and violence. Combs faces an indictment that includes descriptions of freak-offs, which are defined in the court doc as 'elaborate and produced sex performances that Combs arranged, directed, masturbated during, and often electronically recorded.' Story continues below advertisement Numerous witnesses have come forward to accuse Combs of terrorizing people into silence by choking, hitting, kicking and dragging them, according to prosecutors. One indictment alleges that Combs dangled someone from a balcony. 1:37 Sean 'Diddy' Combs to fight charges with 'all of his energy' Although dozens of men and women have alleged in lawsuits that Combs abused them, this trial will highlight the claims of four women. Combs is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has denied all the charges against him and has rejected a plea deal, choosing to go to trial instead. If found guilty in the New York court, he could face life in prison. — Day 11 testimony Day 10 testimony — Story continues below advertisement Global News will be covering the Diddy trial in its entirety. Please check back for updates. — With files from The Associated Press
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Adrien Brody shares a passionate kiss with glamorous girlfriend Georgina Chapman as they attend Cannes Film Festival's 2025 amfAR Gala
Adrien Brody put on a loved-up display with his girlfriend Georgina Chapman as they attended the amfAR Gala at the Cannes Film Festival on Thursday evening. The American actor, 52, shared a passionate kiss with his partner, 49, as they posed for snaps on the carpet ahead of the exclusive fundraising spectacular held at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc. Adrien cut a dapper figure for the VIP gala, wearing a black sparkly tuxedo, a crisp white shirt and a matching bow tie. He paired his smart ensemble with shiny black leather shoes and appeared in great spirits, beaming for the cameras. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Georgina cut a glamorous figure in a semi-sheer dark grey embellished floor-length gown from her label Marchesa. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. The American actor, 52, and his partner, 49, looked every inch the perfect couple as they posed for snaps ahead of the exclusive fundraising spectacular held at Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc Her chic ensemble boasted a plunging neckline, cape sleeves with fringe detailing, and a sparkly floral embellishment all over. The fashion designer further elevated her look with statement drop earrings, a silver bangle, and a statement ring. To complete her look, she styled her dark blonde locks in a sleek half-up-half-down hairstyle and wore a glamorous makeup palette. Georgina was previously married to disgraced Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein, who is serving a lengthy prison sentence after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in 2020. As Georgine and Adrien joined a host of A-list stars, Ciara took to the stage and brought the house down with an energetic performance. The American singer, 39, put on a leggy display in a plunging black gown and over-the-knee heeled boots as she sang her heart out on stage. Teri Hatcher, 60, also took to the stage to present as the celebrity guests certainly seemed impressed by the line-up of talent at the fundraiser. The annual AmfAR Gala helps support the Foundation for AIDS Research by raising money and awareness for the important organisation. Over the past 30 years, the highly-exclusive event has raised a total of over $265million for AIDS Research, with a huge $2.5million raked in last year alone. This year's Cannes Film Festival is taking place in the wake of Trump's vow to enact tariffs on international films. Cannes, where filmmakers, sales agents and journalists gather from around the world, is the Olympics of the big screen, with its own golden prize, the Palme d´Or, to give out at the end. Filmmakers come from nearly every corner of the globe to showcase their films while dealmakers work through the night to sell finished films or packaged productions to various territories. 'You release a film into that Colosseum-like situation,' says Brazilian director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who's returning to Cannes with 'The Secret Agent, a thriller set during Brazil 's dictatorship. 'You've got to really prepare for the whole experience because it's quite intense - not very far from the feeling of approaching a roller coaster as you go up the steps at the Palais.' Trump sent shock waves through Hollywood and the international film community when he announced on May 4 that all movies 'produced in Foreign Lands' will face 100 percent tariffs. The White House has said no final decisions have been made. Options being explored include federal incentives for U.S.-based productions, rather than tariffs. But the announcement was a reminder of how international tensions can destabilise even the oldest cultural institutions. The Cannes Film Festival originally emerged in the World War II years, when the rise of fascism in Italy led to the founding of an alternative to the then-government-controlled Venice Film Festival. In the time since, Cannes' resolute commitment to cinema has made it a beacon to filmmakers. Countless directors have come to make their name. This year is no different, though some of the first-time filmmakers at Cannes are already particularly well-known. Kristen Stewart (The Chronology of Water), Scarlett Johansson (Eleanor the Great) and Harris Dickinson (Urchin) have all unveiled their feature directorial debuts in Cannes' Un Certain Regard sidebar section. Many Cannes veterans have returned, including Tom Cruise (Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning), Robert De Niro - who received an honorary Palme d´Or 49 years after Taxi Driver premiered in Cannes - and Quentin Tarantino, who paid tribute to low-budget Western director George Sherman. Meanwhile, Scarlett's directorial debut, Eleanor The Great, was unveiled on May 20. However, in the wake of his legal battle with former co-star Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni did not attend. Over recent years, the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. But new nudity rules, devised for 'the sake of decency,' have been implemented at this year's festival. According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for 'naked dresses' - namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal - on the red carpet. 'For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,' states a Cannes festival document. 'The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.' The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter - released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. Guests converged on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest-profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. It's understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets, and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline-grabbing ensembles. Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, 'with or without a heel', will also be permitted. While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions. Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red-carpet fashion statements. In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors). She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump's biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.
Refinery29
22-05-2025
- Business
- Refinery29
Lush Is An Ethical Beauty Brand You Can Trust. Just Ask Dylan Mulvaney
Finding a company that matches your values in this divisive social climate can be like trying to find an adequate pair of jeans when you're in between sizes. There may be a few brands that almost deliver on the promise of a perfect fit, but with every pair you pull on, something isn't quite right. Oh, and they're all made in sweat shops. Yes, it's usually naive at best and futile at worst to put your faith in a for-profit corporation to provide good products and be good. But for 30 years, Lush has done both. Led by co-founder Rowena Bird, Lush Cosmetics has been committed to protecting people, animals, and the planet and they've put their money where their morals are. Recently, they threw a Resist Ball (hosted by trans activist Dylan Mulvaney) to honor a big milestone: donating 100 million dollars to grassroots organizations. Long before the Resist Ball, Bird and the beauty company have been at the forefront of combining commerce with furthering good causes. They were vegan before it was trendy and sustainable before it was expected. 'It's always been in the whole ecosystem [of the company]. It's in the bones of us, as opposed to saying, 'hey we'll start a company, and what do people want to see? Let's do that',' Bird tells me over lunch at Cafe Cluny in New York City the day before the Resist Ball. She knows about the stat that 82% of Gen Z say they are more likely to purchase from brands that advocate for social equality, but that's not her motivation. 'It's always been, 'no, this is how we are, and whether it's fashionable or not, this is how we're going to be, and this is what we're going to do.'' That commitment is clear in their partnership with Mulvaney, a comedian, activist and bestselling author who used to work at Lush when she was 16 years old growing up in San Diego. 'I think if you had told me then that I would be hosting the Lush Resist Ball in New York City, I would have probably passed out on top of the gorgeously curated bath bomb display I had just made,' Mulvaney said to laughs as she emceed the Resist Ball. Before the big event, Refinery29 was there as Mulvaney was getting ready — glam and all — and she spoke more of what the partnership means to her. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Refinery29 (@refinery29) 'Lush was one of the only places I felt safe as a queer kid,' Mulvaney said in a pink Marchesa gown. 'All the women and queer people who worked there made me feel like I could be myself.' Her collaboration, the 'Late Bloomer' bath bomb, has already garnered over $30,000 for trans-led organizations. As an outsider looking in at Mulvaney's partnership with the brand, it's a beautiful testament to the longevity of Lush's progressive spirit. The brand created a safe space for Mulvaney when she was a vulnerable teen, and now she's blossomed into an essential voice in the trans community and a beacon of hope on our depressing timelines. ' Lush was one of the only places I felt safe as a queer kid. dylan mulvaney ' When I ask Bird what it means to her that Mulvaney found solace in her stores, she gives an answer, like so many times throughout our lunch, that is oozing with humility and empathy. 'It makes me sad because that's the only place [where she felt included] but I'm pleased that there is somewhere. One of our taglines is 'All are welcome always.' Everywhere should be. But if we can create a safe place for people to hopefully see or feel things in there, it makes me feel good,' Bird says. 'It's a really great, authentic story, given that she actually worked at Lush. She truly is a fan of the brand and uses many of our products.' Unlike Mulvaney, I hadn't used Lush products in years. I remember picking up bath bombs when I was in high school working at my local mall in Oakville, Ontario, and Lush was the store we gravitated to because of its distinct aroma and inviting displays. So when I showed up to my hotel room and it was packed with Lush products, I knew I had to try them all. From the 'dream cream' body lotion to the 'ultrabland' facial cleanser and the 'brazziliant' body butter, my skin hadn't smelled — or felt — better. And it helps knowing that all the packaging is recyclable and the products are made with cruelty-free and vegan or vegetarian ingredients. When Bird talks about how the brand chooses their ingredients (like sourcing Tagua nuts in Ecuador for their scrubs), she lights up. And when she details how Lush vets which grassroots organizations to give to, she's even more passionate. 'We have an in-house team that's dedicated to vetting those organizations and ensuring that the money is going to go to places where it's going to make the biggest impact.' The 100 million dollars that has been donated over the last 30 years has all been distributed amongst 19,000 different ones. Lush actually employs an ethics director (Hilary Jones, a former activist and campaigner), which is not something all beauty brands can say. And what does Bird say to the critics who think Lush should stay in its lane and be less outspoken? 'It's important,' she says plainly. 'I think it matters who says it, as long as it's genuine, as long as it's the truth, as long as it's not greenwashing information to tell you what is going on and what governments don't want you to know that you really should know. If there's something that you can do about it, do it. If a million people make that one small change, it's actually a big change. And we've got all our windows and billboards to the world to be able to pass those messages on, and then a customer or person walking past can think, 'Do I want to know more about that?'' ' We've got all our windows and billboards to the world to be able to pass messages on, and then a customer or person walking past can think, 'Do I want to know more about that?'' rowena bird, lush co-founder ' 'Everyone's job is to highlight things that are not right so that people can make their own decisions. We have the luxury of all these shop windows where we can do it, so we're gonna do it,' Bird says, referring to a recent campaign where they renamed three bath bombs to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Since Trump's inauguration, many brands have cowered to the U.S. president's demands to roll back DEI initiatives. Lush not only remains committed to their plan, they're also very publicly and unequivocally condemning the far right's war on progress. In a time when so many other beauty brands have abandoned their moral compasses, Lush's has never been more centered. Lush's continued commitment to DEI was on full display when I got to experience the Lush Spa on Lexington Avenue. The staff looked as eclectic as the streets of New York City, and my spa treatment was led by a warm and welcoming Black woman named Solange. Rest is an essential part of any resistance so before the Resist Ball, I got the Wicked -themed book-a-bath experience (which I swore the team curated specifically for me, a noted Wicked stan, but the activation has been available for months) which was an unforgettable, 30-minute immersive bathing session that transports you into the magical world of Oz. While enveloped in a cozy, green-and-gold room adorned with taper candles and Oz-themed wallpaper (as you soak, instrumental versions of songs from the Wicked soundtrack play) and enjoying my ' Pink Fizzes Good With Green" bath bomb and limited edition " Emerald City Soap,' I thought about how rare and frankly radical it is to encounter a successful business that delivers such care and intention in the products and experiences they deliver and in the causes they support. In the past year, it would be easy to start to believe that these things can't coexist; that you have to choose between your morals and making money, between value and your values. Sure, I was on a curated brand trip, but Lush is who they say they are, and learning that truth was as refreshing as taking a bath in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday. On the night of the Resist Ball, Lush continued to prove that its charitable commitments aren't just lip service. Partygoers were treated to the sounds of the Resistance Revival Chorus (with one singer donning a keffiyah scarf), Mulvaney's energetic hosting style, and a conversation moderated by Carleen Pickard, the advocacy and activism manager for Lush North America. The panelists included Danielle Silber, the director of corporate engagement for the ACLU, Damario Solomon-Simmons, national civil rights attorney and founder of Justice for Greenwood (a foundation fighting for justice, restoration & reparations for the survivors and descendants of the victims of the Tulsa Massacre), and Manuel Oliver, gun violence activist, co-founder of Change the Ref (working to vote out politicians who take NRA money and vote in politicians with gun-safety agendas), and father of Parkland shooting victim, Jaoquin Oliver. This wasn't your average panel at a beauty event. Things like reparations, gun violence, and fighting against unlawful deportations are topics people tell you to avoid at dinner parties. For Lush, they are issues in desperate need of platforming. While the panel just scratched the surface of each issue, the conversation went deep and the room was left in awe of each activist and their imperative work. By the time Rowena Bird took the stage to thank the crowd, there had been big laughs, a few tears, and a space created that prioritized resistance and joy (the motto 'joy is an act of resistance' was projected on a giant screen throughout the night). When she was 16, Mulvaney found a safe space in Lush. A decade later, while she's no stranger to people attacking her joy and her very existence, she stood up in a space that met her with applause and excitement. Mulvaney is someone who lives authentically in the face of bigotry and stands in her truth, in spite of an onslaught of hate. Now, she's found a partnership that matches that energy. You could say it's the perfect fit. Courtesy of Robbie Nero The Resist Ball, and Lush's 30 years of service, was a reminder that companies can stand up for what's right, even when it's not popular and amid pressure to stay silent, you can thrive without compromising your values, and that giving back is always good for business. In this climate, it's the reminder we all needed.
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
'Give me your gum!' How Georgina Chapman got Adrien Brody out of a sticky situation at Oscars
's gum toss at the Oscars was all his girlfriend's idea, she has revealed. 'I asked him to do it,' Georgina Chapman confessed to Page Six. 'I saw him standing there, I could see that moment of panic on his face. He was really like, "Wow, I shouldn't be having gum."' Adrien shocked the Oscars audience when he tossed the chewed gum towards Georgina before delivering his best actor acceptance speech on March 2. Georgina yelled 'give it to me' but failed to catch the sticky wad from seven feet away inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. 'I forgot I was chewing gum, and I can't make a speech with gum in my mouth,' the 52-year-old Brutalist star explained on LIVE with Kelly and Mark backstage at the Oscars. Mark Consuelos agreed that Adrien couldn't swallow the gum because 'it's bad for you.' 'I could've!' Brody groaned. 'I didn't think about that. [I just thought], "I've got to get rid of this somehow!"' The two-time Oscar winner and the Marchesa co-founder made their official red carpet debut as a couple in 2021 but, curiously, she has yet to make an appearance on his social media accounts. Things got even more awkward onstage for Adrien, whose droning five-minute and 40-second speech broke Academy Awards history. But he did gush that Georgina was 'amazing' and he's nicknamed 'Popsy' by her two children. Indeed, Georgina welcomed 14-year-old daughter India and 12-year-old son Dashiell during her decade-long marriage to disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, which ended in 2017 (divorce finalized in 2021). The 73-year-old Miramax co-founder not only requested that all his actors wear his wife's fashion label, he also produced Project Runway which hired her as a judge for 90 episodes. Weinstein is battling a rare type of bone marrow cancer known as chronic myeloid leukemia while behind bars at Rikers Island awaiting his rape re-trial in New York and appealing his 16-year sentence for rape in Los Angeles. 'It is a little daunting when you have an Oscar winner, a double Oscar winner as a partner,' Georgina told Us Weekly of her own acting aspirations last week. Backstage at the Oscars, the 52-year-old Brutalist star tried to explain on LIVE with Kelly and Mark: 'I forgot I was chewing gum, and I can't make a speech with gum in my mouth' Speech: Things got even more awkward onstage for Adrien, whose droning five-minute and 40-second speech broke Academy Awards history 'I could never quite live up to that standard.' Georgina added: 'I don't know if anyone else would want to see me act.' The graduate of the Wimbledon School of Art in London keeps busy running Marchesa, named after socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati, which she co-founded with Keren Craig in 2004. Meanwhile, Adrien was said to have previously romanced his Giallo co-star Elsa Pataky and his The Jacket co-star Keira Knightley. It's been over a decade since the native New Yorker wrapped the titular role of Charles V in Lee Tamahori's 16th century action epic Emperor, which was never released due to legal issues. Emperor was also set to feature Bill Skarsgard, Oliver Platt, and the late Rutger Hauer.
Daily Mail
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Adrien Brody's girlfriend Georgina Chapman reveals his disgusting Oscars gum toss was HER idea
Adrien Brody shocked the Oscars audience when he tossed a piece of gum he was chewing towards his girlfriend of five years, Georgina Chapman, before delivering his best actor acceptance speech on March 2. But apparently, the disgusting gesture was all the British 49-year-old's idea. 'I asked him to do it,' Georgina confessed to Page Six last week. 'I saw him standing there, I could see that moment of panic on his face. He was really like, "Wow, I shouldn't be having gum."' Chapman yelled 'give it to me' but failed to catch the sticky shrapnel from seven feet away inside the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. 'I forgot I was chewing gum, and I can't make a speech with gum in my mouth,' the 52-year-old Brutalist star tried to explain on LIVE with Kelly and Mark backstage at the Oscars. Mark Consuelos agreed that Adrien couldn't swallow the gum because 'it's bad for you.' 'I could've!' Brody groaned. 'I didn't think about that. [I just thought], "I've got to get rid of this somehow!"' The two-time Oscar winner and the Marchesa co-founder made their official red carpet debut as a couple in 2021 but, curiously, she has yet to make an appearance on his social media accounts. Things got even more awkward onstage for Adrien, whose droning five-minute and 40-second speech broke Academy Awards history, but he did gush that Georgina was 'amazing' and he's nicknamed 'Popsy' by her two children. Indeed, Chapman welcomed 14-year-old daughter India and 12-year-old son Dashiell during her decade-long marriage to disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, which ended in 2017 (divorce finalized in 2021). The 73-year-old Miramax co-founder not only requested that all his actors wear his wife's fashion label, he also produced Project Runway which hired her as a judge for 90 episodes. Harvey is battling a rare type of bone marrow cancer known as chronic myeloid leukemia while behind bars at Rikers Island awaiting his rape re-trial in New York and appealing his 16-year sentence for rape in Los Angeles. 'It is a little daunting when you have an Oscar winner, a double Oscar winner as a partner,' Georgina told Us Weekly of her own acting aspirations last week. 'I could never quite live up to that standard.' Chapman added: 'I don't know if anyone else would want to see me act.' The Wimbledon School of Art grad keeps busy running Marchesa, named after socialite Marchesa Luisa Casati, which she co-founded with Keren Craig in 2004. Meanwhile, Brody was said to have previously romanced his Giallo co-star Elsa Pataky and his The Jacket co-star Keira Knightley. It's been over a decade since the native New Yorker wrapped the titular role of Charles V in Lee Tamahori's 16th century action epic Emperor, which was never released due to legal issues. Emperor was also set to feature Bill Skarsgård, Oliver Platt, and the late Rutger Hauer.
