Latest news with #NatureBoy
Irish Independent
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Ireland's oldest literary festival adds another memorable chapter to its illustrious story
Listowel town was buzzing with the energy and excitement of another hugely successful festival as people from near and far enjoyed what is a unique celebration. This year's programme proved so popular that several events reached capacity well in advance – two of which had to be moved to larger venues due to unprecedented demand. These included the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, proudly sponsored by Kerry Group, and a powerful event called Memory and Forgetting with Fergal Keane and guests. Another standout moment came from nature writer Seán Ronayne, whose event Nature Boy captivated a full house, underscoring the appetite for stories rooted in our natural world. St John's Theatre also confirmed full houses for Sharon's Grave, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, and events featuring Jimmy Murphy and Eoghan Harris. A number of events had to be moved to larger venues due to soaring ticket demand. "Listowel was absolutely alive over the weekend. You could feel the sense of pride from the community as visitors filled the town for events, conversations, and connections,' said said Chairman Ned O'Sullivan. 'The support from Minister Patrick O'Donovan was a huge boost to the festival, and we're incredibly grateful for his recognition of the value Listowel Writers' Week brings, not just to Listowel but to the national cultural calendar. I would like to thank Kerry Writers' Museum and St John's Theatre for their collaboration for the Listowel Literary Festival this year,' Ned added. Listowel Writers' Week is nothing without the brilliant volunteers involved. Together, they imbue the energy, commitment, and generosity that makes the festival a success year after year. Festival Curator Márie Logue reflected on the remarkable public response saying she was 'absolutely thrilled' with the audiences this year. 'So many of our events were completely booked out, including the Frank Hayes Memorial Event, Brendan Begley's launch, and the Library's double launch on Friday which drew over 800 people,' she said, 'The crowd spilled out onto the street; library staff said they had never seen anything like it in their lives. Other sell-out events included Paul Durcan, Andy Irvine, and Francesca Simon,' Márie added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ric Flair's social media misstep draws fury from wrestling community
Image via WWE Wrestling icon Ric Flair is facing intense backlash after a series of controversial tweets, including a dig at fellow Hall of Famer Jim Ross, who recently underwent surgery for colon cancer, and a now-deleted post parodying sexual consent. Wrestling legend sparks fury with dig at Jim Ross Flair, 76, shocked fans over the weekend by suggesting that Jim Ross was "seeking attention" following his recent cancer surgery. The post was quickly deleted but not before screenshots went viral, sparking widespread condemnation from fans and wrestling personalities alike. — FadeAwayMedia (@FadeAwayMedia) Ross, who updated followers earlier in the week about his recovery, received overwhelming support from the wrestling community - except from Flair. The two have had a tense relationship in recent years, particularly after Ross appeared in the "Plane Ride from Hell" episode of Dark Side of the Ring, which revived past misconduct allegations involving Flair. Flair later said Ross had "lost all credibility" with him, despite their long-standing friendship in the industry. Controversial post drags up Ric Flair's troubled past Just hours after the Ross tweet, Flair posted what he called The Woooo Compromise - a mock consent form referencing 'Space Mountain,' a long-standing euphemism he uses in reference to his romantic escapades. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Paco: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) College Scholarship | Google Search Search Now Undo The post was also deleted shortly after going live. The joke, which touched on themes of consent and sexual relations, was widely criticized for being inappropriate and insensitive, especially in light of Flair's past controversies. Fans viewed the post as distasteful and out of touch. In response to the uproar, Flair shared a follow-up post that remains on his profile: 'If You Can't Take A Joke From A 76 Year Old Man, Then You Are Living Life Too Seriously. It Was All Harmless, Lighthearted Fun! Just Trying To Make People Laugh & Smile!' However, fans were not convinced. Replies poured in, with many accusing Flair of minimizing serious issues. 'Grow up and take some responsibility for something' one user wrote, while another questioned why a 'legend' would risk his reputation with such remarks. Flair, a 16-time world champion and one of the most recognizable names in wrestling, has not issued a formal apology. For many fans, the incident reopens uncomfortable conversations about accountability, generational divides, and whether some stars have overstayed their welcome in the digital age. Whether the Nature Boy clarifies further or remains silent, the fallout from this episode appears far from over.
Time Out
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole
Coming off two successive Oscar nominations for acting in film, Coleman Domingo returns to his stage roots as the co-author—with director Patricia McGregor—of a biodrama that examines a pivotal night in the life of the pioneering Black recording artist and TV star Nat "King" Cole. Dulé Hill (The West Wing) plays Cole and Daniel J. Watts (Tina) plays Sammy Davis Jr.; the ace supporting cast includes Krystal Joy Brown, Kenita Miller, Kathy Fitzgerald, Christopher Ryan Grant, Ruby Lewis, Elliott Mattox, Mekhi Richardson and Walter Russell III. Cole standards such as 'Nature Boy,' 'Smile' and 'Unforgettable" are newly arranged by musical supervisor John McDaniel, and Edgar Godineaux and Jared Grimes step in as the choreographers.
The Sun
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
WWE legend Ric Flair, 76, forced to issue statement on health after claims he is battling cancer
WWE icon Ric Flair has issued a statement after rumours of him having cancer emerged. Fears rose for the 76-year-old as claims began to circulate online that he had skin cancer. 1 But the two-time Hall of Famer shut down these reports on X. He tweeted: "I'm sorry people have been misled by social media, but I don't have cancer of any kind. "Thank you for your concerns and for everyone reaching out." Flair then brilliantly added: "I am absolutely fine, and unfortunately, you'll have to live and put up with me for another 25 years!" A third wrote: "Hell yea long live the Nature Boy wooooooo!" More reacted: "If Ric had cancer, I would feel sorry for the cancer because there's no cancer in this world that could take out the Nature Boy." The rumours reportedly originated from a comment made by his son-in-law Conrad Thompson. Flair has had health issues previously, having come through kidney failure in 2017 and a heart attack during his final match in 2022.
Forbes
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Ric Flair Sends Message To John Cena Following WrestleMania 41 Win
Ric Flair (Photo by) Ric Flair has been watching everything that happens with WrestleMania 41. On Saturday, he came to his daughter Charlotte Flair's aid after she lost her match against Tiffany Stratton. On Sunday, Flair had a special interest in the main event as John Cena broke his record for most world championships in pro wrestling history. Flair seemingly put any concepts of bad blood to bed with a congratulatory post on X spiced up with an image of him and Cena. As soon as Cena pinned Cody Rhodes to end WrestleMania 41, fans didn't just react to the moment—they started watching Flair's account. And sure enough, the Nature Boy delivered to the more than 550,000 people who saw the post within 45 minutes of it being posted. The post didn't come with shade, a backhanded compliment, or some cryptic message. It was a photo and a statement of respect. Cena hit 17. Flair acknowledged it. For hardcore wrestling fans, that moment bridged an entire era of wrestling history in one image. And to anyone who's been following this story for years, that's huge. All wrestling fans felt it. But for hardcore Cena loyalists and Flair lifers, this might have even been emotional. These are the fans who've been quoting 'The champ is here' and 'To be the man, you gotta beat the man' since childhood. They remember the interviews. They remember the shade–especially the brilliant ether Cena has spewed recently. And now, they've got the post on X to put a bow on things. Flair's response to Cena winning is refreshing considering the legend, who is seemingly mending fences with WWE after a fallout a few years back, because it proves he is putting the business before accomplishments, records and everything else. Cena's record-setting win has officially reframed the greatest-of-all-time conversation, and Flair's graceful response gives it closure. For WWE, it also puts a renewed spotlight on what comes next. Cena didn't just win. He won with help from Travis Scott. He turned heel. He promised to ruin wrestling. So… now what? Cena won a match that wasn't packed with fast-paced action, but it told a strong story and WWE made the right call putting the title on the G.O.A.T. WWE Raw will be must-see TV as we wait to see if Rhodes is still going to be booed. We will wait to see if Cena shows up and how he plans to ruin wrestling. On Sunday after the match, Cena would not give any clues. Thanos won and now we get to see what happens after the greatest heel turn ever completed gets championship validation. A friend of mine suggested Charlotte should inject herself into this feud as a way to begin a vendetta against Cena for breaking her dad's record. How interesting could a nasty and determined alliance of Cody and Charlotte be considering they are both second-generation superstars whose dads were iconic rivals. It's just a thought, but I must say, it's a good one. In case you missed it, here are all of the results from both days of WrestleMania 41.
