Latest news with #TheLosAngelesTimes
The Hill
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hill
Trump reignites feud with Newsom over California FireAid funds
President Trump has seemingly reignited his feud with California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) over proceeds from the California FireAid concert, arguing that $100 million in donations intended for Los Angeles residents who were affected by the January fires is 'missing.' ''FIREAID' IS A TOTAL DISASTER. LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT INSPIRED SCAM. 100 MILLION DOLLARS IS MISSING. WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO THE LOS ANGELES FIRE VICTIMS, FIRES THAT, WITH PROPER MANAGEMENT, WOULD NEVER HAVE EVEN HAPPENED. GOVERNOR NEWSCUM REFUSED TO RELEASE BILLIONS OF GALLONS OF WATER FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, AND THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST,' Trump wrote Friday evening on Truth Social. 'WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT WOULD HAVE MADE,' he added. FireAid was a one-night concert described as an event to raise money for residents that lost their homes during the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year. The fundraising concert featured stars such as Olivia Rodrigo, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, along with some victims of the Palisades and Altadena blazes. The distribution of the funds has come under scrutiny. FireAid raised around $100 million so far, according to the event's website. In a statement to the city's Fox affiliate, the charity said it does not 'have the capability to make direct payments to individuals and that was never the plan. We partnered directly with trusted local non-profits…to reach communities in need.' Actor Miles Teller said during the event that 'all the money raised will go directly to people who need it now and long-term efforts to build it back,' according to Fox News. Trump took a jab at Newsom, writing Friday evening that he has since 'OVERRULED HIM, AND IT IS NOW RELEASED.' 'All FEDERAL HOUSING PERMITS HAVE ALSO BEEN APPROVED, THE CITY IS YEARS LATE,' he said. 'GET THE FIRE VICTIMS THEIR APPROVALS TO REBUILD, AND DO IT NOW!' The president has repeatedly clashed with Newsom since beginning his second term, including hammering the governor over California's response to the Los Angeles County wildfires — while also threatening to hold back federal emergency funding. Before returning to the Oval Office, he specifically criticized Newsom for not signing a declaration to pump more water through the state to prevent the situation. More recently, the duo has sparred over Trump's robust immigration agenda as an uptick in raids and deportations has sparked protests throughout the Golden State and beyond. Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-Calif.) is now calling for an investigation into the distribution of funds to victims of the wildfires. 'We want people to understand that there's been a thoughtful process behind this, and our top priority was trying to do what people needed, and do what's best for fire survivors,' Lisa Cleri Reale, a member of FireAid's grant advisory committee, told The Los Angeles Times. The devastation from the wildfires was predicted to cost more than $50 billion.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
South Park co-creator 'terribly sorry' for Trump digs
South Park co-creator Trey Parker gave the briefest of responses to anger from the White House over the animation's latest episode, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas at San Diego's Comic-Con International during a panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the premiere of South Park's 27th season, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Parker said during the panel discussion, the creators did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'" Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount," Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?" CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe "The Late Show."
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
South Park co-creator 'terribly sorry' for Trump digs
South Park co-creator Trey Parker gave the briefest of responses to anger from the White House over the animation's latest episode, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas at San Diego's Comic-Con International during a panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the premiere of South Park's 27th season, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Parker said during the panel discussion, the creators did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'" Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount," Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?" CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe "The Late Show." South Park co-creator Trey Parker gave the briefest of responses to anger from the White House over the animation's latest episode, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas at San Diego's Comic-Con International during a panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the premiere of South Park's 27th season, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Parker said during the panel discussion, the creators did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'" Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount," Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?" CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe "The Late Show." South Park co-creator Trey Parker gave the briefest of responses to anger from the White House over the animation's latest episode, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas at San Diego's Comic-Con International during a panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the premiere of South Park's 27th season, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Parker said during the panel discussion, the creators did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'" Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount," Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?" CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe "The Late Show." South Park co-creator Trey Parker gave the briefest of responses to anger from the White House over the animation's latest episode, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry," Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas at San Diego's Comic-Con International during a panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis and Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the premiere of South Park's 27th season, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention," White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak." Parker said during the panel discussion, the creators did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'" Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount," Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?" CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe "The Late Show."
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
‘South Park' co-creator jokes he's ‘terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger
Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the 27th season premiere, which aired Wednesday night. 'This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,' White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. 'President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history – and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak.' Later in the panel, Parker said they did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. Advertisement 'They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'' Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its $16 million recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth $1.5 billion. Advertisement In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ – the actual person – in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. 'You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount,' Jesus says. 'Do you really want to end up like Colbert?' CBS and parent Paramount Global canceled Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' last week, days after Colbert sharply criticized Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a '60 Minutes' interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe 'The Late Show.' The efficiency of 'South Park' production, and the brinksmanship of its creators, allow it to stay incredibly current for an animated series. 'I don't know what next week's episode is going to be,' Parker said at Comic-Con. 'Even just three days ago, we were like, 'I don't know if people are going to like this.''
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
This LA company builds venues for the world's biggest pop stars, sports teams and sumo wrestlers
Sports and music fans, flocking to a once-questionable corner of downtown, were the springboard for an L.A.-born multibillion-dollar empire of venues and events for screaming enthusiasts around the globe. AEG, the company behind Arena and the L.A. Live district, has turned its know-how about hosting and promoting big shows into a formula it has rolled out on five continents. It is literally setting the stages for the world's biggest pop stars, sports teams and even - most recently - sumo wrestlers. It is one of the city's lesser-known global success stories. With more than 20,000 employees and billions of dollars of projects running at any one time, AEG is one of the planet's biggest venue and event companies. L.A.'s high concentration of sports teams and musical talent forced it to develop a system that uses its spaces for up to five different events in a day. "We learned how to be nimble in moving from one to the other to really maximize," AEG Chief Executive Dan Beckerman told The Los Angeles Times. AEG is prospering by executing a fairly simple business plan, said Andrew Zimbalist, professor emeritus of economics at Smith College. Its industry is fairly straightforward - and more use of each seat means gives the company more capital to build more venues. "You have to pick your niche, have capital, have tenacity," he said. "And stick with it." Sumo wrestlers bashed bellies this month in AEG's newest venue on the grounds of a legendary castle. The recently opened IG Arena stands in the outer citadel of Nagoya Castle in Nagoya, Japan, which was built in the early 1600s, when samurai battles raged in the region. While the summer sumo tournament required a traditional ring of sand, clay and rice straw bales, the arena will be soon be transformed to host such diverse events as a basketball clinic hosted by the L.A. Lakers' Rui Hachimura, a professional boxing match and a concert by English musician Sting. In Nagoya and increasingly across East and Southeast Asia, AEG is doing what it does better than most - build arenas that can host pro sports and shows by big-name artists, with the venues often built within an ecosystem of bars, restaurants and hotels also built by the company and its partners. The company was founded in 1995 when Denver billionaire investor Philip Anschutz bought the Los Angeles Kings and in 1999 opened the downtown arena then known as the Staples Center, which was built by Anschutz and Kings co-owner Ed Roski. It was considered a risky project at the time, when the gritty blocks near the Los Angeles Convention Center were deemed undesirable by most real estate developers. AEG added the $3 billion L.A. Live complex in 2007, and other developers also moved into the South Park district, building hotels, restaurants and thousands of residential units. The popular venues have now hosted 22 Grammy Awards shows, a Democratic National Convention, two Stanley Cup championships, six NBA championships and All-Star hockey and basketball weekends. That high-profile success gave it an edge when competing to build or buy around the world. AEG has expanded to own and operate more than 100 venues serving 100 million guests annually. Among its holdings are the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team and German pro ice hockey team Eisbären Berlin. As the second biggest event promoter in the world, it puts on large festivals including the annual Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival and American Express Presents BST Hyde Park music festival in London. It has faced slowdowns and other tough periods as well. Its London arena was the site of Michael Jackson's planned comeback announced in 2009. During a period when he was rehearsing for the physically demanding shows, Jackson died. His mother and three children sued AEG Live in 2010. The lawsuit alleged that AEG was negligent in its hiring of the physician who administered the fatal dose of propofol that led to Jackson's death. A Los Angeles jury unanimously decided that the concert promoter wasn't liable in the singer's death. "People heard of AEG because of Michael Jackson and the and the subsequent lawsuit from the family," said Randy Phillips, former manager of music promotions at AEG. "They would never have even known what it is." The company was laid low during the pandemic, when live events were canceled starting in March 2020. Venues stayed dark until well into 2021, when AEG started putting on sports events with no audiences and later with limited seating. Times changed in 2022 when revenues reached new records as fans stormed back, Beckerman said. "We were all very pleasantly surprised," he said. "I think people learned during the pandemic that there really is no substitute for live events." AEG also lost a longtime arena tenant when the Los Angeles Clippers moved to a new arena in Inglewood after the team's lease at Arena expired in 2024. Owner Steve Ballmer said he wanted the Clippers to have their own home that they didn't share with other teams. AEG's touring business lifted off with a 2001 concert with Britney Spears at Staples Center. "The Britney Spears tour is what broke the company wide open," said Phillips, who became head of music promotions for AEG after landing Spears. "That's when we became players." Big acts followed including Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Tina Turner and Pink. AEG expanded its U.S. concert touring empire by building large multipurpose arenas in Las Vegas and Kansas City. It also is establishing a network of smaller venues such as the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles and the Showbox in Seattle. It recently opened the Pinnacle at Nashville Yards, a concert hall that is part of a mixed-use district including housing and offices that AEG and a local partner are developing in downtown Nashville. Its highest-profile property outside of Los Angeles is in London, where the company resurrected a large dome-shaped building built to house an exhibition celebrating the turn of the millennium in 2000. After AEG's redevelopment of the site, the O2 Arena became one of the world's busiest venues for entertainment and sports with 10 million visitors a year. In Berlin, the company built the Uber Arena, one of the highest-grossing arenas in the world and part of an entertainment district with restaurants and theaters. The Nagoya project is part of the company's pan-Asian strategy to grow its real estate empire and create more venues for artists like Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. The United States and Europe, where AEG has long been active, are largely built-out with modern arenas for sports and entertainment, but many Asian countries are ready to upgrade their old facilities. "Japan is at the top of the list" for AEG, said Ted Fikre, head of development at the company. The country's venues are typically decades old and pale in comparison to modern multi-use arenas typically found in the U.S. and Europe. The IG Arena in Nagoya, with a capacity of 17,000, is expected to annually host 150 events for 1.4 million attendees at concerts, basketball games and other live entertainment. AEG has an even larger development in the works in Osaka. Plans call for an 18,000-seat arena that will anchor an entertainment district with hotels, offices, shops and restaurants along with housing. Valued at more than $1 billion, Fikre compared the Osaka project to its largest mixed-use districts - L.A. Live in Los Angeles and the O2 in London. The project is set to break ground in 2027. In partnership with the NBA, the company built Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai in 2010. It is also involved in plans for South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. "The ambition for us is to establish a strong presence throughout the Asia region, and we've got a good head start," Fikre said. AEG opened a 4,500-capacity venue in Bangkok last year with a concert by Ed Sheeran. The company is also working with one of Thailand's largest mall operators to build an 18,000-seat arena in a sprawling regional mall just east of Bangkok, set to open in 2028. AEG's network of venues throughout Asia makes it easier to book big-name artists. "It's a bit tricky to tour in Asia because of the expense of traveling around the region," Fikre said. "It's not like you're in the U.S., where you just take a bunch of trucks" from city to city. Swift completed the international leg of her most recent tour last year that included six nights in Singapore and four nights in Tokyo to sold-out audiences booked by AEG Presents as her international promoter. Sheeran played in Bhutan, India and other Asian countries he hadn't previously visited in venues booked by AEG. The international trend now works in both directions for AEG, with K-pop acts such as BTS, Blackpink and other global stars packing AEG venues in the West. Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
