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AMBER HEARD TELLS COURT SHE FEARED DEPP WOULD KILL HER
LONDON (AP) — Amber Heard has begun giving testimony at Britain’s High Court against ex-husband Johnny Depp, whom she has accused of abusing her both physically and verbally during their marriage. She claimed that at times she feared for her life. Depp, 57, is suing News Group Newspapers, publisher of the Sun, and the paper’s executive editor, Dan Wootton, at the court in London over an April 2018 article that called him a “wife-beater.” The Hollywood star strongly denies abusing Heard. In the first session of her testimony Heard denied accusations that she was a heavy drug-taker and drinker as well as being controlling and abusive herself.
NICKI MINAJ ANNOUNCES SHE’S PREGNANT WITH 1ST CHILD
NEW YORK (AP) - Nicki Minaj has a new release coming soon: her first child. The rapper took to Instagram on Monday to announce she is pregnant, posting photos of herself with a baby bump. One caption simply read: “#Preggers.” She also wrote on another post, “Love. Marriage. Baby carriage. Overflowing with excitement & gratitude. Thank you all for the well wishes.” Minaj married Kenneth Petty last year. They first dated as teenagers and reunited in 2018. Musically, Minaj has also had a winning year. Her remix of Doja Cat’s “Say So” helped Minaj achieve her first-ever No. 1 on the Hot 100, even though she’s released numerous hits throughout her career.
KANYE WEST CRITICIZES HARRIET TUBMAN AT HIS POLITICAL RALLY
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West used part of his first event since declaring himself a presidential candidate to rant against historical figure Harriet Tubman. West said the Underground Railroad conductor “never actually freed the slaves, she just had them work for other white people.” West’s comments drew shouts of opposition from some in the crowd gathered Sunday in North Charleston, South Carolina. His appearance was marked by a lengthy monologue touching on topics from abortion and religion to international trade and licensing deals. Whether West is actually seeking the nation’s highest office remains a question.
CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S ‘TENET’ DELAYED INDEFINITELY BY VIRUS
NEW YORK (AP) - The release of Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” has again been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It had been hoped that the release would herald Hollywood’s return to big theatrical releases. Warner Bros. said Monday that “Tenet” will not make its August 12 release date. And unlike previous delays, the studio this time didn’t announce a new target for the release of Nolan’s much-anticipated $200 million thriller. “Tenet” had already shifted from July 17, then July 31 and then Aug. 12. Nolan, a staunch advocate for the big-screen experience, has strenuously hoped that “Tenet” could lead the resumption of nationwide and global moviegoing.
ISRAELI TOP MODEL BAR REFAELI CONVICTED OF TAX EVASION
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — An Israeli court has convicted top model Bar Refaeli (reh-FEHL’-ee) on four counts of tax offenses. The verdict caps a prolonged tax evasion case against her and her family that sullied the image of a once beloved national icon. Refaeli entered the Tel Aviv courthouse with a white face mask to match her white blouse. She was accompanied by her father, her mother and a phalanx of lawyers. The 35-year-old Refaeli and her mother confessed to offenses of evading paying taxes on income nearing $10 million. According to a plea bargain agreement, Refaeli is to serve nine months of community service while her mother will be sent to prison for 16 months.
MAN WHO INSPIRED ‘WHITE BOY RICK’ RELEASED FROM CUSTODY
DETROIT (AP) - A Detroit-area man whose decades in prison for drug dealing and work as as FBI informant inspired the movie “White Boy Rick” has been released from custody in Florida. It’s Richard Wershe Jr.’s first steps of freedom since he was a teenager. Officials say Wershe was discharged from a residential work-release program in Kissimmee, Florida. In 2017, he was released in Michigan after roughly 30 years in prison for a cocaine conviction, but Wershe was immediately sent to Florida to serve a sentence for a car theft scheme there. Wershe’s story was the basis of the 2018 film “White Boy Rick,” starring Matthew McConaughey.
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