Celebrities & Public Figures

Earl Cameron has died at the age of 102 on Friday. His death was confirmed by his agent who said that Cameron "passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife and family."

Cameron was one of the first Black actors who achieved a prominent role in British film. After working in theatre, he made his film debut in Pool of London, a 1951 crime drama. He later appeared in movies such as Safari and Thunderball. Cameron also played the first black astronaut on screen in an episode of Doctor Who.

"When I arrived in London, I had no qualifications for anything. It was a period when it was almost impossible for a black person to get any kind of job," so Cameron in a 2018 interview.

Ghislaine Maxwell, a close friend and confidante of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, has been arrested on six sex trafficking charges. Maxwell has been accused by multiple women of being involved in recruiting for Epstein but has so far denied having had knowledge of Epstein's sexual misconduct.

Maxwell is being charged with conspiracy to entice minors to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, enticing a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, conspiracy to transport minors with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, and transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and two counts of perjury.

On Tuesday, the New York Attorney General Letitia James announced that a $19 million settlement had been reached in a 2018 civil rights lawsuit on behalf of multiple women against former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.

"Harvey Weinstein and The Weinstein Company failed their female employees. After all the harassment, threats, and discrimination, their victims are finally receiving some justice," so James in a statement. The sum of $18,875,000 will be distributed among "women who experienced a hostile work environment, sexual harassment, and gender-based discrimination while working at The Weinstein Company, as well as sexual abuse by Harvey Weinstein."

Douglas H. Wigdor and Kevin Mintzer, two attorneys for several of Weinstein's victims called the settlement a "complete sellout" and said they were surprised "that the Attorney General could somehow boast about a proposal that fails on so many different levels."

During Sunday's Black Entertainment Television Awards, Beyoncé received the prestigious Humanitarian Award of the Year and dedicated it to "all those who have been marching in support of racial equality." The award was presented by Michelle Obama, who praised the singer for her passion, accomplishments and activism. "To my girl, I just want to say you inspire me," Obama continued. "You inspire all of us."

In a pre-recorded acceptance speech, Beyoncé urges people to vote "like your life depends on it, because it does," and encourages voters "to change and dismantle the racist and unequal system."

Milton Glaser has died at age 91 of a stroke and renal failure on Friday. He was one of the most celebrated and recognisable graphic designers in the United States.

His popular artworks include the iconic "I ❤ NY" logo, the 1967 illustration of Bob Dylan as well as several logos for DC Comics. In 1954, he co-founded the New York Magazine with Clay Felker and New York-based graphic design and illustration studio Push Pin Studios with several Cooper Union graduates. Glaser's work has been featured in many museums and exhibits across the world and received many awards, including the National Medal of the Arts from President Barack Obama in 2009.

American director and filmmaker Joel Schumacher has died at age 80. According to his publicist, Schumacher lost his year-long battle with cancer early Monday morning. Schumacher directed almost two dozen movies, including The Lost Boys, St. Elmo’s Fire and two Batman movies, Batman Forever and Batman & Robin.

On Friday, a Twitter user by the name "Danielle" claimed she was "sexually assaulted by Justin Bieber" in Houston, Texas on March 9, 2014. She describes meeting Bieber during an event at a bar in Houston where she and her friends "took some pictures and chatted for about 20 minutes" with the singer who later invited them to the Four Seasons Hotel. In the hotel, she was separated from her friends, who were taken into another room by one of Bieber's friends. Bieber then allegedly kissed her and later "forced himself inside" her after she told him "to get off".

Bieber responded to the allegations on Twitter, stating that "this story is factually impossible" and that he "will be working with twitter and authorities to take legal action". He added that, even though he was at the mentioned event location, he didn't stay at the Four Seasons Hotel on March 9, posting receipts from his stay at an AirBnB and the Westin Hotel on the nights of March 9 and 10, 2014, where he said he had stayed with his then-girlfriend Selena Gomez and their friends.

The Twitter user "Danielle" (handle @danielleglvn) has since deleted both the tweet and her account.

On Friday, a Twitter user by the name "Gabby" claimed she was "sexually assaulted a couple days after" turning 17 by actor Ansel Elgort (The Fault in Our Stars, The Goldfinch). She described getting in touch with Elgort online and eventually meeting up with him. "Instead of asking me if I wanted to stop having sex knowing it was my first time and I was sobbing in pain and I didn’t want to do it," she stated in her account of the events, and adding that "the only words that came out of his mouth were, 'We need to break you in.'"

Ansel Elgort has posted a response on his Instagram account on Sunday, stating he was distressed by the allegations and that he "cannot claim to understand Gabby’s feelings but her description of events is simply not what happened." He went on to say that he had a "brief, legal and entirely consensual relationship" with Gabby in 2014 and apologised for breaking up with her by stopping to respond to her.

Nobel Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in philosophy, politics and economics. In 2012, Yousafzai was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman due to her activism for female education.

In a Tweet, Yousafzai shared images of her graduation celebration and wrote: "Hard to express my joy and gratitude right now as I completed my Philosophy, Politics and Economics degree at Oxford. I don’t know what’s ahead. For now, it will be Netflix, reading and sleep."

Prince Philip, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, celebrates his 99th birthday on June 10.

Both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have been self-isolating in Windsor Castle where they will also be celebrating Prince Philip's birthday in private.

Bon Appétit editor in chief Adam Rapoport has resigned after a photograph of him dressed in "brownface" from the early 2000s surfaced on Instagram. Rapoport announced his resignation on Instagram, writing: "I am stepping down as editor in chief of Bon Appétit to reflect on the work that I need to do as a human being and to allow Bon Appétit to get to a better place".

After the photograph surfaced, BA Test Kitchen Sohla El-Waylly took to Instagram to speak out against publisher Bon Appétit and publisher Condé Nast, saying: "I've been pushed in front of video as a display of diversity. In reality, only white editors are paid for their video appearances. None of the people of color have been compensated". Many of BA's staff members, including Claire Saffitz, Brad Leone, Alex Delany and others, have announced on Instagram that they will not appear in any new BA video material until all their colleagues receive equal pay.

Author J.K. Rowling was accused of making transphobic on Twitter over the weekend. The author of the Harry Potter series enraged several people with the comment on an article that stated that 1.8 billion people — girls, women, and gender non-binary people — menstruate. "People who menstruate. I am sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?" wrote Rowling.

This is not the first time Rowling is involved in controversy as last year she was criticised for showing support for Maya Forstater, a researcher who stated that people cannot change their biological sex.

Rapper Snoop Dogg admitted in an interview with Big Boy's Neighborhood on Thursday that he has never voted before as he falsely believed he wasn't allowed to vote due to two felony convictions. Snoop Dogg said "For many years they had me brainwashed thinking that you couldn’t vote because you had a criminal record," and added: "I didn't know that. My record's been expunged so now I can vote."

He furthermore stated that he would vote in 2020 for the first time in his life as he didn't want Donald Trump in office for another term, saying: "I'm going to get out and vote because I can't stand to see this punk in office one more year."

The YouTuber Jake Paul, who has over 20 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, has been charged with criminal trespassing and unlawful assembly. He was previously spotted in the Scottsdale Fashion Square mall after it was closed and officials have said that Jake Paul "was present after the protest was declared an unlawful assembly and the rioters were ordered to leave the area by police". The YouTuber himself has nobody of his group has engaged in any looting or vandalism.

In a virtual commencement speech to the students at her former L.A. Catholic high school Immaculate Heart, the Duchess of Sussex asked the young students to use their voices to "lead with love, lead with compassion". Meghan called George Floyd's death "absolutely devastating" and shared her own experience of the 1992 race riots.

"George Floyd's life mattered, and Breonna Taylor's life mattered, and Philando Castile's life mattered, and Tamir Rice's life mattered and so did so many other people whose names we know and whose names we do not know", so Meghan.

Brian May, 72-year old lead guitarist of Queen, said in an Instagram post that he recently suffered a heart attack after he had ripped his buttock muscles. The attack caused him 40 minutes of chest pain and, after being driven to the hospital, his doctors found three blocked arteries, which May described as being "very near death". Instead of heart surgery, May decided to have three stents inserted into his blocked arteries.

39-year old Cameroon pastor and faith healer Frankline Ndifor has died of Covid-19. Ndifor previously alleged he had cured people of the novel coronavirus by laying his hands on them. His followers, who were praying for his resurrection, blocked entry to his home and authorities had to enter Ndifor's home by force. The pastor died within 10 minutes after medical personnel arrived.

Captain Tom Moore, the veteran who has raised millions for NHS charities, will be receiving knighthood, making him Captain Sir Tom Moore. Boris Johnson recommended the veteran for the honour which has been approved by the Queen and is set to be formally announced on Wednesday. Johnson added: "On behalf of everyone who has been moved by his incredible story, I want to say a huge thank you. He's a true national treasure."

Director and filmmaker Lynn Shelton has died of a previously undiagnosed blood disorder on Friday. Shelton, who recently directed the book adaption of Little Fires Everywhere, passed away on March 15 at age 54 in Los Angeles. According to her partner Marc Maron, her death was not Covid-19 related.

Reese Witherspoon shared her condolences on Twitter: "I’m so devastated to hear about Lynn Shelton’s passing yesterday. I’m in complete shock that this vibrant, talented, and soulful filmmaker is no longer with us. Lynn was so passionate about our show, Little Fires Everywhere."

Corey Taylor, vocalist of Slipknot and Stone Sour, raised over $150,000 for the Covid-19 response effort of humanitarian aid organization Direct Relief. Taylor auctioned off 13 of his guitars and basses, including a Gold Top Gibson Classic Les Paul and a gold metallic Gibson Memphis Dave Grohl DG-335, on eBay for a total of $75,000. eBay matched the raised sum, bringing the donation to $150,000.

Criminals have released a screenshot of an alleged Madonna contract together with a demand for payment. In addition, the website of the law firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, based in New York, is down. The firm has announced that clients have been notified and a cybersecurity company has been called in for help.

Betty Wright, legendary Soul and R&B singer, dies of cancer at age 66. She died at her home in Miami, according to Billboard. Wright is known for hits such as "Tonight Is The Night" and "Clean Up Woman".

Comedian and Seinfeld actor Jerry Stiller has died at age 92 from natural causes. His son Ben Stiller confirmed the passing of his father on Twitter: “I’m sad to say that my father, Jerry Stiller, passed away from natural causes. He was a great dad and grandfather, and the most dedicated husband to Anne for about 62 years. He will be greatly missed. Love you Dad."