Month: August 2019

By Ariel Shapiro,

No Oscars? No problem. 

Although Kevin Hart stepped down as host of this past winter’s Academy Awards, he emerged commercially unscathed after an apology tour for past homophobic tweets. The comedian maintained sponsorships with brands like Mountain Dew and Chase while also releasing a Netflix special. Throw in revenue from a global stadium tour, and Hart raked in $59 million between June 1, 2018, and June 1, 2019, earning him the No. 1 spot on Forbes‘ list of the highest-earning stand-up comedians for the second time.

As a group, the top-earning comics brought in $272 million, down $20 million from 2018. One factor behind that drop is that some of stand-up’s heaviest hitters have laid relatively low this year, including Chris Rock and Dave Chappelle, who came in at $30 million and $35 million last year, respectively. While Netflix is still a key factor—six of the top ten comics had specials air on the platform during our timeframe—the road is the best place to cash in on comedy.

“Nothing is ever going to beat touring,” Hart told Forbes last year. “It’s an entity that I own and control,” he added, referring to his revenue streams.

Coming in at No. 2 on the list is another wildly successful live act: Jerry Seinfeld, whom Forbes has consistently ranked as the highest-paid comedian in the industry and who was out-earned by Hart only once before, in 2016. His $41 million haul is down a touch from last year’s $57.5 million as he did not deliver a special for Netflix this year. But he’ll continue to earn big paydays in the future thanks to a residency at The Beacon in Manhattan and payments from Hulu for Seinfeld streaming rights. 

Jim Gaffigan rounds out the top three, having earned $30 million in the past year. While touring is still the biggest chunk of his business, he took his chances on the open streaming market with his 2018 special, Noble Ape. His newest special, Quality Time, is Amazon’s first push into original stand-up specials. Gaffigan sat down with Forbes to discuss how he plans to navigate an increasingly complex media landscape. 

“In the entertainment industry, every house is made of ice, and it’s melting,” he said. “So you better be building a new house.” 

New to the list is Daily Show host Trevor Noah, who comes in at No. 4 with $28 million. Television hosts usually appear on a separate Forbes list (see: Ellen DeGeneres, who trounced Hart and Seinfeld this year with an $80.5 million haul). Unlike Ellen, though, Noah earned the bulk of his income this year through stand-up, making him eligible for our list. Despite the demands of hosting a late-night show, Noah made more than 70 stops across the world and had his second Netflix special last fall. In addition, his 2016 book, Born a Crime, is still ranked No. 1 on the New York Times’ bestseller list for paperback nonfiction.

Amy Schumer, who last appeared in the top ten in 2017, is the only woman to make the list (again). Despite having to cut her tour short because of a pregnancy-related health issue, her tour made bank: According to data from Pollstar, her shows grossed an average of nearly half a million dollars per city. Throw in her Netflix special Growing, and Schumer brought in an estimated $21 million in the past year.

Although some things don’t change—Seinfeld’s not going anywhere—expect next year’s list to look very different. Chappelle has a Netflix special coming out next month, likely putting him back toward the top of the pack. Ali Wong, who traded stand-up for rom-com this year with her Netflix film Always Be My Maybe, is back on the road, and her tour has already raked in more than $8 million. And Hannah Gadsby is not quitting comedy after all. She’ll return to Netflix next year, and her U.S. tour this summer has brought in an average of more than $200,000 per stop. 

Methodology

All earnings estimates are from June 1, 2018, through June 1, 2019. Figures are pretax; fees for agents, managers and lawyers are not deducted. Earnings estimates are based on data from Pollstar Pro as well as interviews with industry insiders.

The World’s Highest-Paid Comedians Of 2018

10. Aziz Ansari

Earnings: $13 million

9. Jeff Dunham

Earnings: $15 million

8. Terry Fator

Earnings: $17 million

7. Amy Schumer

Earnings: $21 million

6. Gabriel Iglesias

Earnings: $22 million

5. Sebastian Maniscalco

Earnings: $26 million

4. Trevor Noah

Earnings: $28 million

3. Jim Gaffigan

Earnings: $30 million

2. Jerry Seinfeld

Earnings: $41 million

1. Kevin Hart

Earnings: $59 million

Original article was published here.

By Emily Caron,

Panthers safety Eric Reid ripped the NFL’s new agreement with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, calling the partnership “disingenuous” given the “collective blackballing” of former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

After sharing a series of tweets Tuesday, Reid continued his take down Wednesday, taking issue with Jay-Z’s defense of partnering with the NFL.

Reid, who played with Kaepernick in San Francisco, said the agreement was a way for the league to “act like they care about people of color.”

The NFL announced the formation of the “entertainment and social justice partnership” with Jay-Z’s group on Tuesday. The deal makes Roc Nation co-producers of the Super Bowl halftime show and gives the group the power to choose entertainers to perform in NFL content throughout the season, as well as the opportunity to work with the league’s current social justice campaigns, among other things.

Reid orginally responded to a statement posted on Twitter by former ESPN personality Jemele Hill, confirming that Kaepernick—who last played in 2016—did not play a role in the league’s new partnership.

A fan then commented that given Reid’s status as an active NFL player, it seemed “kinda weird” to him for him to start playing again despite his ongoing grievances against the league which sparked a passionate response from the current Carolina safety.

“You & some others seem to misunderstand that we had no beef with the NFL until they started perpetuating the systemic oppression that we are fighting by blackballing Colin and then me,” Reid wrote. “Nah I won’t quit playing but I will be a royal pain in the NFL’s a** for acting like they care about people of color by forming numerous disingenuous partnerships to address social injustice while collectively blackballing Colin, the person who brought oppression and social injustice to the forefront of the NFL platform.”

Reid announced earlier this summer that he plans to continue to kneel during the playing of the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality, as he has done over the past few seasons. Kaepernick started demonstrating during the anthem during the 2016 preseason, and Reid—then his teammate—soon joined him.

The two later sued the NFL, alleging that teams colluded in not signing them because of their protest. The case was settled earlier this year. While Reid has continued his NFL career with the Panthers, Kaepernick remains unsigned.

Jay-Z reportedly turned down the opportunity to perform at Super Bowl LI in 2018. At a concert around the same time, Jay-Z dedicated a song to Kaepernick and has been seen wearing Kaepernick jerseys. The rapper has been a vocal supporter of the free-agent quarterback since he began kneeling and has been the subject of considerable backlash on social media following the announcement of Roc Nation’s partnership with the same league he criticized just one year ago.

Original article was published here.

By Jeff Sneider,

Fresh off the success of STXfilms’ The Upside, which grossed more than $100 million at the domestic box office, Kevin Hart has signed on to produce and star in the studio’s high-concept superhero comedy Night Wolf, Collider has learned.

STX acquired Night Wolf as a pitch from Detective Pikachu screenwriters Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit. The premise, which has drawn comparisons to Meet the Parents, finds Hart meeting his future father-in-law for the first time, only to discover he is secretly the superhero known as the Night Wolf.

That’s a pretty clever pitch, as it’s easy to see that movie in your head. Hart is perfect for the Ben Stiller role, and I can’t wait to see who’s cast opposite him as the Night Wolf, though I’m personally hoping for Samuel L. Jackson, as he and Hart seem like they’d make a great comic pairing.

Earlier this year, STX Entertainment announced it would partner with HartBeat Productions to produce two new comedy projects, with an eye for Hart to star in both. Night Wolf marks the third project Hart is developing with the studio, as STX previously announced Black Friday and an untitled romantic comedy. Hart is producing Night Wolf, and STX executive Drew Simon will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.

“After we acquired Night Wolf, we submitted it to Kevin Hart and the Team at HartBeat hoping they would love it as much as we did. It is a big, broad comedy and the idea is great fun and perfectly matched with Kevin’s comedic talent. We are thrilled to be working on what will now be our fourth film together,” said STXfilms chairman Adam Fogelson.

“I am excited to be working with our friends at STX again. They brought us a great project with Night Wolf. I instantly fell in love with this pitch about an everyday guy who is meeting his in-laws for the first time and unwittingly discovers his dad to be is secretly a superhero,” said Hart.

STXfilms’ upcoming slate include the Jennifer Lopez-led revenge movie Hustlers on Sept. 13 and the Chadwick Boseman action-thriller 21 Bridges on Nov. 22, as well as Guy Ritchie‘s star-studded crime movie The Gentlemen on Jan. 24, among others.

Hart, who will next star in Jumanji: The Next Level, is represented by UTA and 3 Arts, the latter of which also represents Hernandez and Samit along with attorney Michael Auerbach.

Original article was published here.

By Roger Gonzalez,

The United States women’s national team’s battle for equal pay hit a road block on Wednesday. According to CBS News, mediation between the USWNT and US Soccer has broken down. Women’s national team representatives say the players feel “sorely disappointed in the federation’s determination to perpetuate fundamentally discriminatory workplace conditions and behavior.” Now, according to Sports Illustrated, the case may reach as high as federal court. 

All of this comes after the USWNT won a second straight World Cup in July with U.S. Soccer Federation President Carlos Cordeiro saying the federation was willing to work with the team when it comes to better compensation. Equal pay has been long been quite the battle between the team and USSF and even more so in recent years with players stepping up to voice their opinions and even filing a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2016. 28 players filed a lawsuit in March in which they alleged gender discrimination, and during the team’s victory parade in New York after the cup, fans chanted “equal pay” throughout the streets and while the team was given a key to the city.

Here’s everything to know about the current lawsuit, which says in 2014 the federation paid the men’s team $5.375 million in bonuses in the World Cup, despite being eliminated in the round of 16, while the women got $1.725 million after winning the championship in 2015.

This makes the situation feel even more contentious, and it does come after Cordeiro claimed that the women’s team has been paid millions more than the men in recent years, with the women firing back.

It’s not clear if there will be further talks on this matter or if the USWNT will only continue to pursue legal action in its fight for equal pay.

Original article was published here.

By Faith Karimi,

Cardi B met with presidential candidate Bernie Sanders to discuss wages, unions and jobs. The Bronx rapper shared a clip from her discussion with the Vermont senator on her Instagram Tuesday night.

“A couple of weeks ago I asked my followers if you all had the chance to ask a Democratic candidate a question, what would that question be?” she wrote in a video caption for her 49 million followers. “The topic that was mentioned the most by all of you was about raising MINIMUM WAGE.”

In the video, she tells him how difficult it is for some people to survive on their wages.”Like, for example me, as a New Yorker, not now, but you know, when I was not famous, I just felt like no matter how many jobs I get, I wasn’t able to make ends meet,” she said.

“Like, I wasn’t able to pay my rent, get transportation and eat.”Sanders said that’s an issue in America, adding tens of millions are living on what he described as starvation wages.

“Can you imagine somebody today earning $9 an hour?” he asked. “How do you pay your rent? How do you pay for food? How do you pay for transportation?”Sanders said unions are crucial in helping negotiate fair wages.

“What we also have to do is make it easier for workers to join unions so they can sit down and engage in collective bargaining and earn a decent living,” he added.

Cardi B also brought up the unemployment rate, saying while there may be more jobs available in America, many pay lower wages. The US economy added 164,000 jobs in July and the unemployment rate remained at 3.7%, the 17th straight month it’s been at or below 4.0%.

This is not the first time the vocal Trump critic has made a video with Sanders. Last month, the pair teamed up to film a 2020 presidential campaign video meant to appeal to young voters. Cardi B has said she’s “really sad” he did not win the presidential election in 2016.

Original article was published here.

By Kimberly Yam,

The father of Michael Brown, the unarmed black teen who was fatally shot by officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, is still pushing for justice in his son’s death.  

Michael Brown Sr. sat down with CBS News for the fifth anniversary of the teen’s death, which occurred on Friday. Wilson, who’s white, did not face charges following his deadly use of force. 

Brown Sr. told the outlet that he “would like for Wesley Bell to reopen the case,” referring to the first-term St. Louis County prosecutor. The father noted that he’s been in contact with the official. 

In January, Bell replaced seven-term incumbent Bob McCulloch, who was heavily criticized for failing to bring charges in Brown’s case.

While Bell has not publicly commented on the possibility of reopening the case, he released a statement this week on the killing of Michael Brown.

“Our office is doing everything we can to understand the underlying issues that contributed to the tragic death of Michael Brown,” Bell said. “We are working every day with the community and law enforcement to implement policies and reforms that meaningfully address those issues, and help this community and this region heal.”

Then-Attorney General Eric Holder launched an investigation into Wilson’s actions back in 2014. The Justice Department later concluded that Wilson would not face federal civil rights charges, as it found that the officer’s use of deadly force against the unarmed teen could not be proven to be considered “objectively unreasonable.” Federal charges in the case were not appropriate, the DOJ found.

“There is no evidence upon which prosecutors can rely to disprove Wilson’s stated subjective belief that he feared for his safety,” the DOJ’s report read.

Brown Sr. doubled down on his plea while speaking to reporters on Friday outside the Buzz Westfall Justice Center in Clayton, Missouri. He said he is “demanding evidence to be reanalyzed, and accountability to follow,” according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

“As a father, I vowed to protect my children, but on Aug. 9, 2014, that wasn’t the case,” he said. “I could not protect him that day and it breaks my heart. I will stand and fight until the day I die for justice.”

Racial justice organization Color of Change released a statement in support of Brown Sr.’s call. The group noted that this year’s anniversary serves as “a time to reflect on the progress we have made over the past five years, as well as a painful reminder of how far we have to go.”

“Michael’s death amplified a movement, from Black Lives Matter to progressive criminal justice reform returning to the national debate stage, to a growing prosecutor accountability movement, and even to deep reforms within Ferguson itself,” the statement read. “We hope he will stand with the Brown family and reopen this case.”

Original article was published here.

By Luis Andres Henao,

Two Americans used their medal-winning moments at the Pan American Games to draw attention to social issues back home that they feel are spiraling out of control.

During their medals ceremonies at the sports festival in Lima, fencer Race Imboden took a knee and hammer thrower Gwen Berry raised her fist. Both athletes could represent the U.S. less than a year from now at the Tokyo Olympics, where similar protests would be seen by a much wider audience.

“Racism, gun control, mistreatment of immigrants, and a president who spreads hate are at the top of a long list” of America’s problems, Imboden said in a tweet sent after his team’s foil medals ceremony. “I chose to sacrifice my moment today at the top of the podium to call attention to issues that I believe need to be addressed.

“I encourage others to please use your platforms for empowerment and change.”

Berry raised her fist as America’s national anthem was played to honor her win in the hammer throw. She called out injustice in America “and a president who’s making it worse.”

“It’s too important to not say something,” Berry told USA Today. “Something has to be said. If nothing is said, nothing will be done, and nothing will be fixed, and nothing will be changed.” 

The history of high-profile protests at the Olympics dates to the 1968 Games in Mexico City, when sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists during the medals ceremony for the 200-meter dash.

The issues haven’t changed all that much in the ensuing 50 years.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been out of a job since shortly after he started kneeling during the national anthem before 49ers games in 2016 to protest police brutality and social injustice in America.

Since then, athletes representing the U.S. have faced scrutiny about what, if any, signs of protest they might show if they land on the podium at an Olympics or other major event. Among the issues that have been fodder for possible protest have been race relations, the treatment of the LGBT community, social injustice and disagreements with President Donald Trump.

The actions by Berry and Imboden will test the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s resolve to enforce rules that restrict political protests.

The USOPC said in a statement on Sunday that its leadership is reviewing possible consequences. Berry is on the U.S. team that will head to the track and field world championships next month.

“Every athlete competing at the 2019 Pan American Games commits to terms of eligibility, including to refrain from demonstrations that are political in nature,” the statement said. “In these cases, the athletes didn’t adhere to the commitment they made to the organizing committee and the USOPC. We respect their rights to express their viewpoints, but we are disappointed that they chose not to honor their commitment.”

Original article was published here.

By Curtis M. Wong,

John Legend spoke out about gun violence in Dayton, Ohio, on Sunday one week after a mass shooting there left the town, and the nation at large, devastated. 

The 10-time Grammy Award winner has a personal connection to the Buckeye State, having been raised in Springfield, about 30 minutes northeast of Dayton.

His Sunday appearance included an intimate performance at Blind Bob’s Bar in Dayton’s Oregon District, the area where the Aug. 4 shooting took place. 

Legend’s offstage remarks, however, left an even deeper impression. Before hitting the stage, the singer-songwriter held a news conference with Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (D), where he delivered an impassioned plea to area lawmakers and President Donald Trump for gun reform. 

“My direct message to legislators, to the president, to all of them, is the [National Rifle Association] doesn’t represent America,” Legend said, according to footage captured by local NBC affiliate WCMH-TV. “How many more people have to be killed for us to realize that this isn’t working? If you claim to represent the interests of the American people, then you need to be doing your job in a way that makes everyone safer.”

“We have to be able to live without the fear of being shot,” he continued. “We don’t have to live like this. We’ve heard politicians send their thoughts and prayers while failing to act. We are done with that. We’re tired of bigotry and hate turning lethal because of easy access to guns.”

On Twitter, Legend urged fans to take action by supporting gun reform advocacy groups Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, as well as by calling their senators. 

The superstar’s words came a week after the nation was rocked by two mass shootings. In addition to the Dayton massacre, which left nine people dead and dozens injured, 22 people were killed in a shooting in El Paso, Texas, just hours earlier. 

Shortly after news of the shootings broke, Legend blasted Trump’s “racist venom” as a direct cause of the violence, tweeting that the president “regularly inspires killers.”

“He is a part of the problem,” he added. 

Original article was published here.

By Jenna Amatulli

Simone Biles just can’t stop flipping herself into the record books.

On Saturday at the 2019 U.S. Gymnastics Championship in Kansas City, Missouri, the five-time Olympic medalist made history, becoming the first gymnast to land a double-twisting, double somersault dismount from the balance beam in a match.

She did herself one better on Sunday, becoming the first woman to perfect the triple-twist, double-flip move in her first pass on floor.

The 22-year-old had tried the move in preliminaries on Friday and didn’t exactly nail it. After shorting on the triple-twist, double-flip, she told ESPN: “I still get really frustrated because I know how good I am and how well I can do. So I just want to do the best routine for the audience and for myself out here.”

Biles’ nailing the tricky move on Sunday made her the first female gymnast to land two new moves in competition and her sixth title at the championships, tying Clara Schroth Lomady’s record set in 1952.

If Biles throws either one of her history-making moves at October’s world championships, it will be named after her.

Original article was published here.

By Josie Harvey

Halle Bailey gracefully demonstrated her ability to channel the gentle spirit of Ariel when she finally spoke out about the criticism of her casting in the live-action “Little Mermaid” film.

“I feel like I’m dreaming, and I’m just grateful,” she told a reporter at Tuesday night’s Variety Power of Young Hollywood event. “I don’t pay attention to the negativity. I just feel like this role was something bigger than me and greater, and it’s going to be beautiful.”

When Bailey was first cast for the role last month, critics slammed the decision, making the painfully illogical argument that the fictional cartoon mermaid was traditionally white-skinned and red-haired.

#NotMyAriel trended on Twitter as people decried the casting of a Black woman in the role and pointed out the story had Danish roots, implying the character should be pale-skinned.

Disney-owned TV channel Freeform cleverly educated the haters in a post that pointed out Danish people can be Black. And therefore, so can fictional Danish mermaids.

The original voice actress for “The Little Mermaid,” Jodi Benson, eloquently delivered her thoughts on the controversy at the Florida Supercon convention in July. 

“I think that the spirit of a character is what really matters,” Benson said. “What you bring to the table in a character as far as their heart, and their spirit, is what really counts.”

“And no matter what we look like on the outside, no matter our race, our nation, the color of our skin, our dialect, whether I’m tall or thin, whether I’m overweight or underweight, or my hair is whatever color, we really need to tell the story.”

Original article was published here.