Latest news with #SteveHarvey
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar
Shop El Septimo Cigars Internationally at Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Los Angeles, CA, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Septimo Cigars, a global luxury cigar brand known for its unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation, proudly announces the latest spotlight moment for the brand: legendary Family Feud Entertainer Steve Harvey was recently featured alongside El Septimo Chairman & CEO Zaya Younan on the popular George Janko Show, enjoying the distinguished El Septimo Bordeaux France cigar. The special episode, which aired this week, captures an intimate and lively conversation between Harvey and Younan—two longtime best friends—who shared stories, laughs, and their mutual passion for premium cigars. As Steve Harvey lit up the Bordeaux France cigar, he praised El Septimo's exceptional quality and revealed that he's exclusively smoked El Septimo cigars ever since he was first introduced to the brand by Zaya Younan. 'Zaya changed the game for me,' said Harvey. 'El Septimo cigars are in a league of their own. I don't smoke anything else anymore—this Bordeaux France is absolute amazing.' Known for his discerning taste and dedication to excellence in everything he does, Harvey's endorsement speaks volumes about the luxury and prestige of El Septimo's cigar line. The Bordeaux France cigar, one of El Septimo's most celebrated blends, is renowned for its smooth, full-bodied flavor and elegant construction—perfectly embodying the sophistication and richness that define the El Septimo brand. You can purchase the cigar online directly through El Septimo's website, as well as its other many different cigar blends and sizes: Zaya Younan, who has transformed El Septimo into one of the fastest-growing luxury cigar brands in the world, commented: 'Having my dear friend Steve Harvey enjoy our cigars on such a public platform is an honor. His loyalty to El Septimo reflects the passion and commitment we bring to every blend we create. The Bordeaux France cigar is a masterpiece—and to see it enjoyed by someone of Steve's caliber is a proud moment for all of us.' This appearance marks another significant milestone in El Septimo's journey as it continues to redefine the cigar industry with luxury, innovation, and exclusivity. About El Septimo Geneva is a premium cigar brand founded on the philosophy that luxury is a lifestyle. Handcrafted in Costa Rica with the world's rarest aged tobaccos, El Septimo cigars deliver unmatched taste, complexity, and elegance. With a rapidly expanding global footprint and a portfolio of luxury lounges, El Septimo has become the choice for those who demand only the best. Attachments Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar CONTACT: Alexandra Younan El Septimo Geneva 8187039600 AYounan@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar
Shop El Septimo Cigars Internationally at Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Los Angeles, CA, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Septimo Cigars, a global luxury cigar brand known for its unparalleled craftsmanship and innovation, proudly announces the latest spotlight moment for the brand: legendary Family Feud Entertainer Steve Harvey was recently featured alongside El Septimo Chairman & CEO Zaya Younan on the popular George Janko Show, enjoying the distinguished El Septimo Bordeaux France cigar. The special episode, which aired this week, captures an intimate and lively conversation between Harvey and Younan—two longtime best friends—who shared stories, laughs, and their mutual passion for premium cigars. As Steve Harvey lit up the Bordeaux France cigar, he praised El Septimo's exceptional quality and revealed that he's exclusively smoked El Septimo cigars ever since he was first introduced to the brand by Zaya Younan. 'Zaya changed the game for me,' said Harvey. 'El Septimo cigars are in a league of their own. I don't smoke anything else anymore—this Bordeaux France is absolute amazing.' Known for his discerning taste and dedication to excellence in everything he does, Harvey's endorsement speaks volumes about the luxury and prestige of El Septimo's cigar line. The Bordeaux France cigar, one of El Septimo's most celebrated blends, is renowned for its smooth, full-bodied flavor and elegant construction—perfectly embodying the sophistication and richness that define the El Septimo brand. You can purchase the cigar online directly through El Septimo's website, as well as its other many different cigar blends and sizes: Zaya Younan, who has transformed El Septimo into one of the fastest-growing luxury cigar brands in the world, commented: 'Having my dear friend Steve Harvey enjoy our cigars on such a public platform is an honor. His loyalty to El Septimo reflects the passion and commitment we bring to every blend we create. The Bordeaux France cigar is a masterpiece—and to see it enjoyed by someone of Steve's caliber is a proud moment for all of us.' This appearance marks another significant milestone in El Septimo's journey as it continues to redefine the cigar industry with luxury, innovation, and exclusivity. About El Septimo Geneva is a premium cigar brand founded on the philosophy that luxury is a lifestyle. Handcrafted in Costa Rica with the world's rarest aged tobaccos, El Septimo cigars deliver unmatched taste, complexity, and elegance. With a rapidly expanding global footprint and a portfolio of luxury lounges, El Septimo has become the choice for those who demand only the best. Attachments Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar Steve Harvey Joins Zaya Younan on The George Janko Show, Enjoying El Septimo's Bordeaux France Cigar CONTACT: Alexandra Younan El Septimo Geneva 8187039600 AYounan@
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Dr. Phil launching new media network of ‘citizen journalists' after his first one goes bankrupt
Celebrity psychologist Dr Phil McGraw is launching a new media network that will provide opportunities for 'citizen journalists' to share their stories, less than two weeks after a similar venture went bankrupt. Envoy Media Co. will include 'live, balanced news, original entertainment programming, and immersive viewer experiences,' according to a press release shared by The Hollywood Reporter. It comes after McGraw's conservative-leaning cable network, Merit Street Media, filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, barely a year after its launch, while also suing its distribution partner, Trinity Broadcasting, for breach of contract. THC reported that Envoy Media will also include library programming and original shows from McGraw and his friend and fellow TV star Steve Harvey, who also collaborated on Merit Street. The release included that the network's app would also 'provide an opportunity for citizen journalists to share news and stories from their communities while seamlessly integrating curated user-generated content on a national scale.' In a statement following the announcement of the new network, McGraw said: 'As always, my commitment and that of the Envoy network team is to focus on real people, facing real challenges, seeking real solutions. 'By talking about things that matter to people who care, presenting facts, encouraging people to think critically, they can make up their own minds. Our disruptive technology will engage Envoy viewers at an unprecedented level in real time.' McGraw's previous attempt at a multi-platform media company came in late 2023, following his successful two-decade run as a popular daytime talk show host. Merit Street Media featured a Dr. Phil primetime program as its flagship show. 'Merit Street Media will be a resource of information and strategies to fight for America and its families, which are under a cultural 'woke' assault as never before," McGraw said in a statement at the time. 'I love this country and I believe family is the backbone of our society. Together we are going to stand strong and fight for the very soul and sanity of America and get things that matter back on track.' However, roughly four months after its official launch in April 2024, Merit Street laid off roughly 40 employees – around one-third of its total staff. In a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in the Northern District Court of Texas, Merit Street cited a 'severely strained liquidity position' and the inability to secure additional capital as reasons for the declaration. The subsequent lawsuit against Trinity alleged that the broadcaster 'reneged on its obligations and abused its position as the controlling shareholder of Merit Street,' leaving the channel with over $100 million in debt. 'These failures by TBN were neither unintended nor inadvertent,' the lawsuit read. 'They were a conscious, intentional pattern of choices made with full awareness that the consequence of which was to sabotage and seal the fate of a new but already nationally acclaimed network.'
Gizmodo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
Dr. Phil's Anti-Woke News Channel Went Bankrupt. His Next Platform Is Even More Doomed
Dr. Phil might not be a real medical doctor, but he sure seems to be good at reanimating his own corpse, because somehow he just keeps coming back from the dead. Just a couple of weeks after his streaming venture, Merit Street Media, filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy, the second-most-embarassing person that Oprah rocketed into fame is launching another venture called Envoy Media Co., according to The Hollywood Reporter. Envoy, much like Merit Street, will be anchored by original programming starring Dr. Phil and Steve Harvey. It'll also include a library of content (Merit Street had a whole back catalogue of Harvey's talk show and Nancy Grace's 'Crime Stories,' so keep an eye out for those). An Envoy television channel is expected to launch later this month, per Bloomberg. But the real hook is a feature that will let 'citizen journalists' upload their own content to the platform. According to the company, it'll give people the chance to 'share news and stories from their communities while seamlessly integrating curated user-generated content on a national scale.' The details on how that'll work are sparse at this stage, but it surely won't lead to terrible outcomes. The citizen journalist schtick has been tried ad infinitum in the social media era. There is a graveyard full of efforts to create a platform built around such content. Arguably, platforms like Substack and Medium have come the closest to creating something sustainable around such a thing, but even those are dominated more by professional, independent journalists rather than your average Joe. If anything, the YouTubes and Twitters of the world have proven the most effective way to turn a local story into a national one. But who knows, maybe Envoy will crack the code on curating citizen reporting. It's not like Dr. Phil has a history of running with dubious claims for the sake of content or anything. If there is any reason to believe that Envoy Media will be a success, you won't find it by looking at Dr. Phil's last venture. The streaming option launched in 2024 with a linear cable app and streaming options. Per The Hollywood Reporter, the channel averaged 27,000 viewers during its first year of operation, which is…bad. Its short run through 2025 saw those figures drop to 17,000 viewers, which, if you're keeping score, is worse. Even the channel's YouTube channel languished, despite Dr. Phil having a pretty robust presence on the platform. Merit Media has under 90,000 subscribers, and its most recent videos have barely cracked 1,000 views. Not exactly the kind of audience that warrants its own standalone service, but hey, it ain't my money.
Miami Herald
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
This entrepreneur spots deepfakes for celebrities. Can he help average Joes too?
Celebrities are all too familiar with the world of deepfakes, the colloquial term for artificial-intelligence-generated videos that depict actors and other Hollywood talent falsely doing or saying things that they never agreed to. To protect themselves, actors including Steve Harvey, Beverly Hills talent agency WME and studios have enlisted the help of Vermillio, a Chicago-based company that tracks famous people's digital likenesses and intellectual property online. Depending on what its clients want, Vermillio can have the material taken down. But as AI technology continues to improve and becomes more widely available to the general public, regular people are getting scammed too. Now, Vermillio says it is offering a version of its service for free to everyone. The move comes as more and more convincing deepfakes continue to proliferate online, making it difficult for social media sites to police such activity. In 2019, there were about 18,000 deepfakes globally, and this year, there have been roughly 2 trillion generative creations, said Vermillio Chief Executive and co-founder Dan Neely. That leaves average Joes at a growing risk of being impersonated online, with little recourse. "We can't wait for governments to solve this problem," Neely said. "We can't wait for legislators to solve this problem. We can't wait for other people to solve this problem. We just said it's the right thing to do, so we should just be doing it." With this move, Vermillo is adopting a classic "freemium" model - offering partial service for no charge and up-selling for additional features. Here's how it works. Using its TraceID technology, the company flags problematic content. For paying clients, Vermillio can send takedown requests to sites such as YouTube or Instagram. Additionally, Vermillio says clients can monetize their data by licensing it. People who sign up for the free version enter information about themselves such as their name, date of birth and social media handles. Vermillio will use that information to build a "likeness model" to scour the Internet for potential red flags involving the user's identity. Then, Vermillio alerts the user to what exists online. For example, if someone has created a fake Instagram account of that user, Vermillio would flag that. Users can decide for themselves what they would like to allow or take action to remove. If the user wants Vermillio to request takedowns of the inappropriate content, users would need to upgrade to a paid account, which starts at $10 a month and includes five monthly takedown requests. While many social media platforms give an option to users to flag problematic content, Vermillio said its service is faster and more effective than having users go directly to YouTube or Instagram to rectify the situation. It has built a network of partners and can escalate takedowns in as quickly as an hour, the company said. Vermillio executives said some real-life examples of deep fakes include celebrity voices used to raise money for fake charities or terrorist organizations, and high school students creating fake pornography of their classmates. "It's affecting regular people in the sense that they're getting scammed by deepfakes, but it's also affecting teenagers ... so people need to understand where they stand," said Kathleen Grace, Vermillio's chief strategy officer. "This is an easy way for them to do that." While fake social media profiles have existed for years, "generative AI just poured gasoline on it," Grace said. The company said hundreds of people use Vermillio's services, but didn't specify numbers. By the end of the year, the company expects to have thousands. Neely said the company isn't profitable and declined to share revenue figures. Time magazine reported that revenue from Vermillio's TraceID has increased tenfold from April 2023 to April 2024. The company makes money through the paid versions of its service and licensing. Vermillio has raised $24 million in funding. Hollywood companies and talent are navigating artificial intelligence in different ways. Groups such as performers guild SAG-AFTRA are pushing for more state and federal protections against deepfakes. Some celebrities such as Academy Award-winning supporting actor Jamie Lee Curtis struggled to get a fake ad of her on Instagram taken down showing her falsely endorsing a dental product. WME announced a partnership with Vermillio last year. "The scale of the issue is extraordinary, so if you're a rights holder, just trying to understand how much of these AI outputs are based on or utilized my data, my IP in some way, shape or form, is a massive need," said Chris Jacquemin, WME's head of digital strategy. "They've obviously proven that TraceID can protect the most important, most high-profile public figures in the world," Jacquemin added. "Opening it up in a much broader application, I think, is a huge step forward in really democratizing how anybody can start to police use of their likeness with respect to AI and AI platforms." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
