Latest news with #rights
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marc Maron says he couldn't afford a full Taylor Swift song for his stand-up special
Marc Maron knew he really had to have Taylor Swift's "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" for his upcoming comedy special, there was just one problem: He couldn't afford the full song. The comedian and podcaster revealed the hefty price tag — and a famous mutual friend he went through — in order to use just "a minute" of the singer's Midnights bonus track for his upcoming stand-up special on a recent episode of Vulture's Good One podcast. 'I think it came out to $50K [or] around that,' Maron said when asked how much it cost for him to use the song. 'I did everything I could to get the joke in front of her.' He even went through music producer Jack Antonoff, a frequent Swift collaborator and longtime friend of the pop star's who produced the 2022 track with her. "I know Jack Antonoff enough to text him — and he's the co-[producer] on that song," Maron explained. "I said, 'I don't know what's proper or how to do this, but we're running out of money on this thing. It's probably going to come out of my pocket. Is there anything you can do about this song or talk to Taylor or whatever?'" Maron said that Antonoff advised him to go through the proper channels first. "It was doable. We made enough money," Maron said of getting the rights eventually. "It was tight, but because of the ticket sales for the special, we are able to get that song." However, he was quick to note he wasn't able to get the full track — and the usage fee ultimately applies to just "a minute" of it. "If I would have gone over the minute, it would have been more money," he said. "We couldn't even let it, like, play out the special or anything. So, I got together with a band and wrote that music as the opening and closing. Yeah, so it was under a minute." According to Maron, not getting to use the song was not an option for him. "It had to happen,' Maron said. "The real fear is, like, [if] she doesn't let you use it? You can't do the bit on the special. That's why I was, like, 'I think she'll like the bit.'" So, has Swift seen the bit in question? "[Her team] signed off on [the song]. No idea if Taylor saw the bit or not," he said. Check it out for yourself when Maron's second HBO Original comedy special, Marc Maron: Panicked, premieres on HBO on Friday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. ET/PT. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong lawmakers finish scrutinising same-sex couples bill clauses in 2 days
Hong Kong lawmakers have taken two days to complete a clause-by-clause examination of a bill to recognise certain rights for same-sex couples, despite strong opposition in the city's legislature. Legislators raised 33 questions during two bills committee meetings on Monday, with their concerns including criminal offences associated with the proposed registration regime for same-sex couples. Twenty-eight questions were raised when the bill was first discussed on Friday. The Registration of Same-sex Partnerships Bill is the government's answer to a 2023 ruling from the Court of Final Appeal that gave authorities two years to draw up laws setting out 'core rights' for same-sex couples, but did not outline what they might be. A source earlier told the Post that the government would apply to the court for an extension in fulfilling the ruling, as its deadline of October 27 was drawing near. Lawmaker Chan Yung said the bills committee that he chaired would report to the Legislative Council's House Committee to propose a date for resuming the second reading.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada holds launch party in Regina
The first Saskatchewan iteration of the Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada launched in Regina on Saturday. (Jacob Carr / CTV News) Inside The Studio at the Cornwall Centre on Saturday, the first Saskatchewan iteration of the Movement Against Black Injustice in Canada (MABIC) launched. The non-profit organization, which has been in operation since 2020, aims to raise awareness about injustice against Black people across the country, and enlightening Black Canadians about their rights. 'This launch was important because we have seen many rising cases of injustice against the Blacks, many important cases,' said Movement Against Black Injustice Executive Director Paul Omoyefa. 'Some of them are because they are not aware of their rights. And there are some situations where you can curb some things at the beginning, before it gets over bloated. So, what we are trying to do is create awareness for people, that this type of organization exists here,' he added. MABIC also say they work with mental health organizations across Canada to provide resources for Black Canadians who may be dealing with stress or depression.
France 24
4 days ago
- Politics
- France 24
'Make America Gay Again': Amsterdam pride gets political
Organised by the Pride Amsterdam foundation, the march kicked off a week of festivities in the Dutch capital, which culminates next weekend in a huge parade on the city's famous canals. "We have an amazing pride, because it's on the canals, it's very unique, so it's very famous," said Ben Thomas from Amsterdam, current holder of the title Mister Bear 2024, awarded to men with luxuriant facial hair. "People are not so aware about the march, because it has turned into too much of a party and does not so much focus on why we do it," added the 44-year-old, who teaches young refugees. "We're not just here to party, but we're here to be equal citizens. We're here for our rights!" Decked out in dashing and brightly coloured clothes, the demonstrators marched through the city centre in festive mood, brandishing rainbows or banners reading "Make America Gay Again" or "Protect the Dolls" -- a reference to the rights of transgender women. "It's important to be here, to show up. With all the stuff that's going on in the world, it's getting really scary, especially in America," said Dani van Duin, a 44-year-old IT specialist who identifies as a lesbian woman. Since his return to power, US President Donald Trump has rolled back many rights enjoyed by transgender people. But the situation is also becoming less comfortable even in the Netherlands, said Van Duin. "People are just repeating hate speech from the right wing, and they don't think anymore," she told AFP. Lina van Dinther, a 21-year-old student, came to march with two friends and celebrate her transgender identity. "And also to hopefully improve the transgender situation in the Netherlands," she added, draped in a blue, pink, and white flag that represents her community. The young woman said the waiting list for a clinic offering transition surgery can be as much as six years. "It's a pressing issue that needs to be addressed," she told AFP. At the end of the march, in Amsterdam's leafy Vondelpark, Frederique Emmerig, dressed in a summery dress, looks around her in wonder. "In my city, I feel like I'm the only one. It's very lonely." Pride marches are organised in many global cities around the world, linked to the Stonewall riots which erupted in New York in June 1969, the founding mobilisation of the LGBTQI+ movement. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Make America Gay Again': Amsterdam pride gets political
Thousands of people gathered for Amsterdam Pride march on Saturday in a festive and political mood, stressing the need to defend LGBTQI+ rights increasingly under threat around the world. Organised by the Pride Amsterdam foundation, the march kicked off a week of festivities in the Dutch capital, which culminates next weekend in a huge parade on the city's famous canals. "We have an amazing pride, because it's on the canals, it's very unique, so it's very famous," said Ben Thomas from Amsterdam, current holder of the title Mister Bear 2024, awarded to men with luxuriant facial hair. "People are not so aware about the march, because it has turned into too much of a party and does not so much focus on why we do it," added the 44-year-old, who teaches young refugees. "We're not just here to party, but we're here to be equal citizens. We're here for our rights!" Decked out in dashing and brightly coloured clothes, the demonstrators marched through the city centre in festive mood, brandishing rainbows or banners reading "Make America Gay Again" or "Protect the Dolls" -- a reference to the rights of transgender women. "It's important to be here, to show up. With all the stuff that's going on in the world, it's getting really scary, especially in America," said Dani van Duin, a 44-year-old IT specialist who identifies as a lesbian woman. Since his return to power, US President Donald Trump has rolled back many rights enjoyed by transgender people. But the situation is also becoming less comfortable even in the Netherlands, said Van Duin. "People are just repeating hate speech from the right wing, and they don't think anymore," she told AFP. Lina van Dinther, a 21-year-old student, came to march with two friends and celebrate her transgender identity. "And also to hopefully improve the transgender situation in the Netherlands," she added, draped in a blue, pink, and white flag that represents her community. The young woman said the waiting list for a clinic offering transition surgery can be as much as six years. "It's a pressing issue that needs to be addressed," she told AFP. At the end of the march, in Amsterdam's leafy Vondelpark, Frederique Emmerig, dressed in a summery dress, looks around her in wonder. "In my city, I feel like I'm the only one. It's very lonely." Pride marches are organised in many global cities around the world, linked to the Stonewall riots which erupted in New York in June 1969, the founding mobilisation of the LGBTQI+ movement. sh/ric/gv
