‘The Apprentice' director apologizes for giving actor a ‘slap on the rear'
'I fully understand that my action made someone uncomfortable, regardless of my intent, and for that I am truly sorry,' he said in a statement posted to X.
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Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Trump Says Sean Combs Pardon Is ‘More Difficult to Do' Since Combs Was ‘Hostile' to Him
Donald Trump weighed in again on rumors of a possible presidential pardon for Sean Combs, the hip-hop mogul convicted last month on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, calling him 'half-innocent' but agreeing with a host who asked if it was 'more likely a no.' Combs was found not guilty on July 2 of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges. Yet each of the two prostitution counts could technically land him in prison for up to 10 years when the mogul is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3. (Legal experts, however, tell Rolling Stone they expect him to get much less.) More from Rolling Stone Sean Combs' Allies Have Upped Pardon Talks. His Survivors Want to Shut Them Down Sean Combs Asks Judge to Ditch His Conviction or Retry Prostitution Counts Mary J. Blige Fighting Back After 'Meritless' Lawsuit From Sean Combs' Ex Misa Hylton 'Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,' Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty Friday night. '[He's] still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn't as good of a victory.' Trump and Combs have had an up-and-down relationship in the decades since they first met in the 1990s. Over the years, the real-estate magnate has been spotted at a number of Combs' VIP parties and events in New York City, including the Bad Boy founder's blowout birthday bashes. Trump called Combs 'a good friend' during a 2012 episode of The Apprentice, while Combs called Trump 'a friend of mine' in 2015, not long after Trump launched his first campaign. But when asked about Trump in 2017, Combs told the Daily Beast, 'I think that to be honest, we don't really give a fuck about Trump, because [black people are] in the same fucked-up position. So that's not what we're on.' Speaking to Charlamagne tha God in 2020, Combs said, 'White men like Trump need to be banished. That way of thinking is real dangerous. This man literally threatened the lives of us and our families about going to vote … The number one priority is to get Trump out of office.' When asked about a possible pardon in May, Trump said, 'I haven't seen him, I haven't spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics that relationship busted up … I read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden.' But he seemed at least somewhat sympathetic to Combs' plight, telling reporters that he 'would certainly look at the facts' of the case. 'I know people are thinking about it,' he added. 'People have been very close to asking.' During Friday's interview, Trump recalled that he was 'very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and [he] seemed like a nice guy. I didn't know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile. It's hard, you know? We're human beings. And we don't like to have things cloud our judgment, right? But when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So I don't know …. it makes it more difficult to do.' As Rolling Stone reported in May, the mogul's associates began contacting people close to Trump shortly after he won the presidential election last November. During the presidential transition and in the opening months of Trump's second administration, several longtime friends and allies of Combs, who've known the rapper for many years, began reaching out to some Trump transition and administration officials, as well as to others close to the president, two sources familiar with the matter and another person briefed on it told Rolling Stone. The small number of senior Trump officials who were aware of the talks expressed deep reservations about commuting a possible Combs sentence, given the severity of the charges. (A rep for Combs did not immediately reply to a request for comment on Friday's interview.) It's unclear if Combs' acquittal on the most severe charges has changed the calculus among the president or anyone in his administration. As Rolling Stone reported on Thursday, Combs' team has intensified their behind-the-scenes campaign in recent weeks, according to people in and out of the Trump administration. 'The pleading has gotten bigger [this month],' a Trump adviser says, referring to a conspicuous uptick in Combs allies' attempts to woo Team Trump. In the past few weeks, longtime Combs allies have offered to pay political operatives, lobbyists, and others with close ties to Trumpland and government officials large financial sums in exchange for help with a potential Trump pardon, three people familiar with the matter tell Rolling Stone. One of the sources says the offer they were privy to was in the mid-six figures. Multiple Trump advisers still feel it would be a deeply unforced error to pardon Combs while the administration is still embroiled in a scandal over their handling of the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. There are also ongoing talks among survivors to send a personal letter to Trump urging him against the idea. Rolling Stone has reviewed a draft copy of the letter, which admonishes Combs for attempting to 'reclaim control' and 'rewrite history' following his conviction on prostitution charges. A pardon, the draft adds, 'would not be justice' but a 'devastating message to survivors everywhere: that our lives, our pain, and our truth are still negotiable.' On Thursday morning, lawyers for Combs submitted a 62-page filing asking a judge to vacate his prostitution conviction and fully acquit him or grant him a new trial 'focused solely' on those two counts. Earlier this week, they filed a new motion asking that Combs be released on bail. Southern District of New York prosecutors filed their own motion Thursday night arguing that Combs remain in jail until his sentencing. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
Business Upturn
2 days ago
- Business Upturn
The Penguin Season 2: Release date speculation, cast and plot details – Everything we know so far
By Aman Shukla Published on August 1, 2025, 18:30 IST Last updated August 1, 2025, 11:28 IST HBO's The Penguin made a bold entrance into the DC Universe, dragging viewers deep into Gotham's criminal underworld—and Colin Farrell's dark, unrecognizable turn as Oswald 'Oz' Cobblepot had a lot to do with that. The first season, gritty and slow-burning, ended with a bang and left fans hungry for more. Now, as the dust settles, everyone's asking the same thing: is The Penguin coming back for a second season? Is The Penguin Season 2 Happening? As of August 2025, HBO hasn't officially announced a second season. The show was initially pitched as a one-and-done limited series, meant to fill the gap between Matt Reeves' The Batman (2022) and its sequel, The Batman Part II , which hits theaters in October 2027. But with over 5 million viewers tuning in during the first four days, The Penguin proved it's more than just filler—it's a hit. Showrunner Lauren LeFranc and director Matt Reeves aren't ruling anything out. Speaking at the Golden Globes earlier this year, LeFranc said there's still plenty of story left to explore 'if the right idea comes along.' Reeves also confirmed there have been 'quiet conversations' with HBO about keeping the story going, though nothing's set in stone yet. Warner Bros. execs have echoed that a second season is 'definitely a possibility'—but it all comes down to timing, availability, and a killer story. The main hurdle? Reeves is focused on The Batman Part II , and any new season of The Penguin would need to fit into that larger universe without stepping on it. So, while the buzz is real, don't expect anything concrete just yet. Potential Release Date for The Penguin Season 2 Let's say HBO gives the greenlight tomorrow. Even then, we're probably looking at a release no earlier than late 2026 or early 2027. Season 1 took about three years to go from development to premiere, thanks to delays (including the 2023 Hollywood strikes). And with Farrell's extensive prosthetic work and the show's heavy production demands, nothing's going to move fast. Another possibility is that HBO might hold off until after The Batman Part II drops, which would push Season 2 even further—maybe to 2028. So, if you're a fan, patience will be key. Expected Cast for The Penguin Season 2 If The Penguin does return, you can bet Colin Farrell will be front and center—assuming he's up for it. He's hinted that he'd love to come back if the story's strong enough, though he's also admitted the role takes a toll, both emotionally and physically (three hours in a makeup chair every day isn't nothing). Cristin Milioti is also a likely return as Sofia Falcone. Her performance in Season 1 was chilling, and her storyline definitely left doors open for a comeback. She's even joked about wanting to try on prosthetics herself next time. Other potential returns: Deirdre O'Connell as Oz's mother, Francis Cobb – not exactly active in the story, but could appear in flashbacks or symbolic scenes. Theo Rossi as Dr. Julian Rush – closely tied to Sofia's plotline and not entirely written off yet. Don't expect to see Rhenzy Feliz's character Victor again (if you know, you know), and many other Season 1 faces are up in the air due to the show's high body count. That said, Gotham's underworld is huge. There's plenty of room for new characters—maybe even Catwoman or someone unexpected from Batman's rogues' gallery. Potential Plot for The Penguin Season 2 Season 1 left Oz at the top of Gotham's crime food chain—but staying there is never easy. If Season 2 happens, we could see: Oz fending off rivals, old and new. Law enforcement or even Batman himself turning up the heat (the Bat-Signal did show up, after all). Sofia plotting her revenge—or maybe teaming up with someone just as dangerous. A deeper dive into Gotham's twisted web of corruption, with new villains, new alliances, and maybe even a new kingpin to challenge Oz. LeFranc has already teased that Gotham has 'so many stories left to tell,' and there's room to expand while keeping that grounded, noir vibe that made Season 1 stand out. Plus, with Farrell confirmed to appear in The Batman Part II , any future season of The Penguin will likely need to tie into whatever Reeves is building in that film. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
UPI
3 days ago
- UPI
Reports: Jeremy Strong to play Zuckerberg in 'Social Network Part II'
1 of 5 | Jeremy Strong is reportedly the top pick to play Mark Zuckerberg in a follow-up to "Social Network." File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo July 31 (UPI) -- Succession actor Jeremy Strong is reportedly in talks to portray Facebook co-founder and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a sequel to the 2010 film The Social Network. The Hollywood Reporter said Thursday that Social Network writer Aaron Sorkin will return to write and helm the new movie, which is inspired by "The Facebook Files," a 2021 series of Wall Street Journal articles penned by Jeff Horwitz. Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Zuckerberg, now 41, in the first film, directed by David Fincher. Eisenberg's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination. The first movie chronicled the founding of Facebook, which officially launched in 2004 ahead of Zuckerberg's 30th birthday. Deadline confirmed Strong, 46, is the top choice to play Zuckerberg in the sequel. The actor would join rumored cast members Jeremy Allen White (The Bear) and Mikey Madison (Anora), with White possibly portraying Horwitz and Madison as a whistleblower. No formal offers have been made to cast members, according to Variety. Strong is also known for his role as Roy Cohn in The Apprentice. The Roy family: 'Succession' stars through the years Left to right, Jeremy Strong, creator Jesse Armstrong, Nicholas Braun, Sarah Snook, Brian Cox and Alan Ruck of "Succession" appear backstage during the Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on January 5, 2020. The award-winning cast has appeared in several other shows and films through the years. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
