Quantcast
Channel: Business Insider
Viewing all 103365 articles
Browse latest View live

Billionaire Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel and supermodel Miranda Kerr just welcomed their first baby — here's a look inside the power couple's whirlwind romance (SNAP)

$
0
0

Evan Spiegel Miranda Kerr

It's been an exciting year for Evan Spiegel and Miranda Kerr.

Last May, the 27-year-old billionaire Snap CEO and the Australian model tied the knot, with an early morning yoga session and an intimate backyard setting.

Now, the couple has welcomed their first child together, a baby boy named Hart.

Kerr and Spiegel started dating over two years ago, and a whirlwind romance followed, which led to their engagement in 2016.

Here's how the two powerful stars met and fell in love.

Biz Carson contributed to an earlier version of this post. 

SEE ALSO: How Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian and tennis superstar Serena Williams met and fell in love

The two met at a dinner for Louis Vuitton in Los Angeles. "We were really good friends for a long time before we started dating," Kerr told The Sydney Morning Herald.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald



The first night they met, Harper's Bazaar editor-in-chief Glenda Bailey said to Kerr, "I bet you two are going to get married."

Source: Business Insider



In 2007, Kerr was the first Australian to become a Victoria's Secret Angel and was among the world's highest-paid models. Now, she's working on creative projects like her skincare line, Kora Organics.

Source: The Sydney Morning Herald



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Nintendo is releasing a $20 add-on for the Switch that addresses a major frustration with the console (NTDOY)

$
0
0

Nintendo Switch (portable dock)

  • Nintendo has a new Switch accessory that offers a major convenience for many Switch owners.
  • The portable charging stand allows you to charge the Switch while playing games in tabletop mode.
  • Currently, you can't easily charge the Nintendo Switch while the kickstand is down: The charging cable gets in the way.
  • For just $20, it's a steal.


Nintendo's making a new accessory for its wildly popular Switch console that looks tremendously useful — and it's just $20.

As you can see above, the adjustable charging stand adds the ability to play games while the Switch itself is charging.

Here's a look at the standard dock for comparison:

Nintendo Switch

The standard Nintendo Switch dock is intended as a means of charging the console while playing games on a television. It isn't intended as a means of charging the console while in use — you can plug in the Switch to charge it while being used, but the plug is on the bottom of the console. 

It's more than a little cumbersome when the console is held like a handheld, and outright impossible to use if you want to prop up the Switch on its stand and play it as a standalone console.

Like so:

Nintendo Switch

Since the plug is on the bottom of the Switch, it's literally impossible to prop it up on the stand while being charged. 

The $20 adjustable stand fixes that issue by enabling the Switch to be charged while used as a standalone game console — no TV required.

To be all the way clear: No, this isn't a stand-in for the dock your Switch came with. There's no way to use the adjustable charging stand as a means of playing the Switch on a TV, so this isn't a replacement for the dock. But if you're looking for an easy way to play games on your Switch in tabletop mode for longer than a few hours, this is the solution.

Nintendo plans to release the Switch adjustable charging stand on July 13 for just $20.

SEE ALSO: The Nintendo Switch is the hottest game system right now — here are its 18 best games

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: The top 10 games coming in 2018

Harvey Weinstein's estranged wife's fashion label took a major hit amid scandal — now it is trying to launch a comeback

$
0
0

Harvey Weinstein Georgina Chapman

  • The fashion label of Harvey Weinstein's estranged wife is in jeopardy following accusations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein.
  • Georgina Chapman is a co-founder of the fashion label Marchesa.
  • Chapman's career at Marchesa is tightly tied to her husband's success. Stars of Weinstein-backed productions, including Renée Zellweger, Cate Blanchett, and Blake Lively, have worn Marchesa designs on the red carpet.
  • Chapman and Marchesa kicked off an attempt at a comeback this week, with Scarlett Johansson wearing Marchesa to the Met Gala and Vogue publishing a sympathetic profile of the designer. 

 

Less than a year after scandals engulfed Harvey Weinstein, his wife is preparing to reenter the spotlight with her high-profile fashion label. 

Marchesa, a fashion label co-founded by Weinstein's estranged wife, Georgina Chapman, has struggled in the wake of sexual-misconduct accusations against Weinstein. According to the New York Post, Marchesa pulled out of New York Fashion Week after Chapman was too afraid to go through with the scheduled February show.

Chapman, who co-founded the fashion label Marchesa, reportedly left Weinstein in October and is set to receive $15-$20 million in a divorce settlement that has yet to be filed in court.

Chapman's career as the co-founder of Marchesa is tightly tied to her husband's success. Stars of Weinstein-backed productions, including Renée Zellweger, Cate Blanchett, and Blake Lively, have worn Marchesa on the red carpet, and rumors have floated for years that Weinstein pushed actresses to wear the fashion brand. With the allegations of sexual misconduct against Weinstein, many are wondering whether Marchesa will disappear from the red carpet altogether.

"No star is ever going to want to wear the brand again," The Hollywood Reporter quoted an unnamed New York fashion publicist as saying in October, after Weinstein was ousted from The Weinstein Company, the studio he founded.

However, Scarlett Johansson proved the publicist wrong at this year's Met Gala. The actress wore a Marchesa gown to the event — the first time a "major celebrity" has worn Marchesa on the red carpet since the allegations against Weinstein broke. 

Here's the story of how Chapman's Marchesa became a celebrity favorite — and how the label is trying to reclaim its place on the red carpet:

SEE ALSO: Harvey Weinstein's film studio to file for bankruptcy following #MeToo allegations

Georgina Chapman founded Marchesa with Keren Craig in 2004. The same year, Chapman, then a 28-year-old former model from England, began dating Harvey Weinstein.

Source: Jezebel



A 2007 Teen Vogue article — spotted by Jezebel — says Marchesa caught on with Hollywood starlets after Renée Zellweger wore a gown from the line to the premiere of "Bridget Jones's Diary." "Bridget Jones" was distributed by Miramax, which Weinstein founded, and Zellweger thanked Weinstein during her Oscar speech in 2004.



"Maybe I helped, but just very, very little, with Renée Zellweger," Weinstein told Vogue in 2013.

Source: Vogue



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Spotify has removed R. Kelly from its playlists after abusive 'sex cult' allegations

$
0
0

R. Kelly performing

  • Spotify removed R. Kelly from all of its editorial and algorithmic playlists on Thursday, the company told Billboard.
  • Kelly, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women in the past year, is the first artist Spotify has acknowledged removing from its playlists under a recently implemented "hateful conduct" policy.
  • "When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator," the company told Billboard.

Spotify has removed the music of R&B singer R. Kelly from all of its editorial and algorithmic playlists starting Thursday, the music streaming service told Billboard

Kelly, who has been accused of sexual misconduct and running an alleged "sex cult" by multiple women in the past year, will no longer appear on Spotify playlists like Discover Weekly or New Music Friday under the company's new policy addressing "hateful conduct," Spotify told Billboard.

"We are removing R. Kelly’s music from all Spotify owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations such as Discover Weekly," Spotify told the outlet. "His music will still be available on the service, but Spotify will not actively promote it. We don't censor content because of an artist’s or creator’s behavior, but we want our editorial decisions — what we choose to program — to reflect our values. When an artist or creator does something that is especially harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways we work with or support that artist or creator."

Kelly was the first artist that Spotify acknowledged removing from its playlists under the new policy, after the singer's alleged sexual misconduct has come under increased scrutiny in recent months. Later on Thursday, a Spotify representative told The New York Times that the company's playlists had also removed the rapper XXXtentacion, who is currently facing charges in Florida that include aggravated battery of a pregnant woman.

Several women first accused Kelly of running an abusive "sex cult" in a July 2017 article with Buzzfeed. Last week, two more women came forward to Buzzfeed with similar allegations of coercion and sexual violence in an article — days after the anti-sexual harassment organization Time's Up announced a social media campaign, #MuteRKelly, urging companies like Spotify and Apple Music to cut ties with the singer.  

Kelly, who was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008, is currently not the subject of any criminal investigations. Kelly has repeatedly denied the accusations in Buzzfeed's series of articles. Following the most recent Buzzfeed report last week, Kelly issued a statement, saying that the allegations were "perpetuated by the media" in an "attempt to distort my character and to destroy my legacy that I have worked so hard to build."

"When we look at promotion, we look at issues around hateful conduct, where you have an artist or another creator who has done something off-platform that is so particularly out of line with our values, egregious, in a way that it becomes something that we don't want to associate ourselves with," Jonathan Prince, Spotify's head of content and marketplace policy told Billboard in a statement. "So we've decided that in some circumstances, we may choose to not work with that artist or their content in the same way — to not program it, to not playlist it, to not do artist marketing campaigns with that artist."

SEE ALSO: Dr. Dre lost a trademark battle to a gynecologist in Pennsylvania called Dr. Drai

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why the Saudi crown prince met with Trump, Oprah, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos

Everything we know about the 'Captain Marvel' movie, which will be a must-watch before 'Avengers 4'

$
0
0

captain marvel

This post contains spoilers for "Avengers: Infinity War":

The post-credits scene of "Avengers: Infinity War" teased a big addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Next year, Brie Larson will bring her to life.

The "Captain Marvel" movie will give us a better idea about how Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) knows the character well enough to contact her in a moment of crisis. 

The character, whose real name is Carol Danvers, gains superpowers after being exposed to alien technology in the comic books. If the post-credits scene of "Infinity War" is any indication, she'll play a pivotal role in finally defeating Thanos.

There's a lot to know about the character and you can read more at Business Insider. But how much do we know about the actual movie?

The Hollywood Reporter reported Wednesday that Annette Bening is joining the cast, so we've looked at everything else we know about it so far.

Below is everything we know about next year's "Captain Marvel" movie:

SEE ALSO: What you need to know about Captain Marvel, who will play a big role in the next 'Avengers' movie

The movie comes to theaters March 8, 2019 — two months before the "Avengers: Infinity War" sequel, which is released May 3. It will be the 21st movie in the MCU.



The official synopsis for the movie says that "the story follows Carol Danvers as she becomes one of the universe’s most powerful heroes when Earth is caught in the middle of a galactic war between two alien races."



Oscar winner Brie Larson is in the title role. Larson won the Oscar for best actress in 2016 for "Room." She is also known for "Kong: Skull Island," "Short Term 12," "Free Fire," and "The Spectacular Now."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I seriously thought this computer-generated Instagram model with 100,000 followers was real

$
0
0

Shudu Gram

  • Shudu Gram is an Instagram model, and people can't tell whether or not she's real — including myself.
  • She's not, it turns out: Shudu is a CGI fabrication created by photographer Cameron-James Wilson, who tells Business Insider that it's a "massive compliment" that people like me were taken in.
  • Not everybody seems to care.

When I first saw an image of Shudu Gram, the striking model you see above with a growing Instagram following of more than 100,000 users, I was certain that she was a real person. Turns out, I was wrong: She's computer-generated, and the work of photographer Cameron-James Wilson.

Here's how I was first taken in by Shudu Gram.

In an image posted late last summer, Shudu captioned a photo of herself with an apparent ode to the clothing brand SOULSKY, writing, "I can't describe how grateful I am to @soulskybrand for sending me this beautiful t-shirt. I hope the picture does it justice ❤"

I wasn't alone in thinking she was a real person. A trail of Shudu's followers commented on the picture, with one Instagram user asking, "Why aren't you a supermodel already?!"

"Seriously Victoria secret needs you," another user wrote. "I hope you make it big you are stunningly beautiful"

But then the thread's sentiment shifted slightly: "Are you real? No way," one person wrote. 

"Hmm sumn [sic] about this doesn't seem natural hmm," said another. More and more Instagram users commenting on the picture seemed confused. Is Shudu Gram a real model? They wondered. Is she CGI? Is she an animated character? Is she a robot?

The confused commenters were onto something: It turns out that Shudu Gram isn't a real person after all. She's a CGI character created using 3D modeling. In an interview with Business Insider, her creator Wilson described her as an "art piece" and the "world's first digital supermodel." 

Wilson wasn't always so open about Shudu Gram's existence. When Wilson first posted images of Shudu to Instagram, he was hesitant to point out that she wasn't real, hoping instead to first gauge reactions to his artwork. 

"I wanted to see if people thought she was real or not," Wilson told Business Insider. "For anyone who is getting involved in 3D or digital art, for people to not be able to tell whether or not your work is real is a massive compliment."

Wilson said that a single image of Shudu usually takes around three days to create, and that he fashioned her after his favorite Barbie doll, the Princess of South Africa.

For the most part, reception to Shudu Gram has been largely, but not universally, positive. A recent piece in the New Yorker criticized Wilson and the Shudu Gram project— specifically, the politics of Wilson, a white man, winning so much attention for a virtual black supermodel when real black women are underrepresented in the fashion industry.

@oscardelarenta #jewelry . . Amazing earrings 3D work by fellow artist @dejidigital . #daz3d #3dart #blackfrodolls

A post shared by Shudu Gram (@shudu.gram) on Feb 28, 2018 at 2:37am PST on

Not everyone sees it that way. One Instagram user who goes by the handle chynanguyen commented on one of Shudu's images: "Maybe this page is giving a message to the closed minded model agencies who's only looking for white women..."

Wilson said that he welcomes criticism of his work, and that Shudu is an exploration of beauty. 

"I have many different ideals of beauty, but it’s difficult to show them all because of time constraints," Wilson said. "In the future, I want to explore many different versions of beauty."

Shudu Gram isn't the only virtual model garnering online interest. In recent months, the CGI-inflected model has emerged as just one among a crop of virtual celebrities with hundreds of thousands of online followers wielding social influence by proxy. Just last month, the freckled, digitized Instagram star Lil Miquela's profile was "hacked" by yet another virtual taste-maker, Berumudaisbae, in what turned out to be a choreographed marketing stunt.

Wilson says that he has plans to create more CGI characters who will live out their lives virtually on Instagram. Currently, the artist is drawing up ideas for several more characters, one of whom he describes as "the world's first alien supermodel." With the collaboration of an African comic book artist, Wilson said that he hopes to create a graphic novel filled with CGI characters like Shudu with a plot that will play out on Instagram. 

"Fashion is boring and stuck in the past," said Wilson. "3D models bring a bit of fun back into it. I want to create a story and world that's a graphic novel, where rather than super heroes, you have supermodels."

 

SEE ALSO: Meet the Clear Cut, a couple who's selling thousands of dollars worth of diamonds through their Instagram DMs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: This hair salon is dominating the market with its incredible Instagram game

These photos reveal why the 26-year-old organizer of disastrous Fyre Festival concert could spend up to 10 years in prison

$
0
0

Fyre

  • Fyre Festival organizer Billy McFarland pleaded guilty to wire-fraud charges in March.
  • The 26-year-old was arrested in June 2017 after being accused of misleading investors who poured more than $1 million into Fyre Media.
  • McFarland admitted he defrauded 80 investors and a ticket broker out of more than $26 million.
  • Here's what the VIP festival was expected to be versus what it actually ended up being. 

The founder of the nightmarish Fyre Festival that left hundreds of attendees stranded in the Bahamas pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud in March.

26-year-old Billy McFarland admitted to defrauding a ticket broker and 80 investors in Fyre Media, a company that he founded and that was responsible for putting on the Fyre Festival. Prosecutors have alleged that McFarland used falsified documents to trick investors in a $26 million scheme.

McFarland may face eight to 10 years in prison plus a fine of up to $300,000, according to Bloomberg.

Fyre Festival promised to offer attendees a VIP experience when they set off to Great Exuma in the Bahamas. But the reality was very different: delayed flights, half-built huts to sleep in, and cold cheese sandwiches to eat. And that doesn't even include the disastrous trip home.

The luxury festival — tickets for which started at $1,200 — was advertised as two weekends in paradise, but it turned into a nightmare.

Take a look at festivalgoers' expectations compared with the reality they encountered, which is currently being developed into a TV series for Hulu. 

And here's the full Fyre Festival promo video:

SEE ALSO: The founder of the doomed Fyre Festival could spend years in prison after pleading guilty to defrauding investors out of millions of dollars

The three-day party was supposed to be on a private beach on the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas.



It was supposed to be over two weekends: April 28-30 and May 5-7.



It was described as an "immersive music festival."



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

How the 'Game of Thrones' creators convinced HBO to make a show that had 'dragons in it'

$
0
0

Game of Thrones

  • HBO's "Game of Thrones" has become a game-changing series for the network and the TV industry, but before it aired, the show's creators had to get HBO to take a shot on a fantasy series that wasn't "typical HBO" material.
  • In an interview on Variety's "Strictly Business" podcast, HBO CEO and chairman Richard Plepler discussed how "Game of Thrones" creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss were able to convince him to back a series that had "dragons in it."

Before HBO's "Game of Thrones" could go on to become the most Emmy-winning drama series in TV history, the show's creators first had to convince HBO to take a chance on a fantasy series that was unlike anything the network had previously attempted. 

In a recent interview on Variety's podcast "Strictly Business," HBO CEO and chairman Richard Plepler discussed the origin stories behind several of the network's recent hit series, including "Westworld" and "Game of Thrones."

Plepler recounted how David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the creators of "Game of Thrones," were able to frame their pitch for the series to him, in order to make a show that had "dragons in it" sound like it was worthy of HBO's backing. 

"When Benioff and Wise came in to pitch 'Thrones,' that was a fantasy show," Plepler said, with a pseudo-dismissive emphasis on "fantasy." "David's comment to me was, 'You're nervous about this. There's dragons in it. It's fantasy. This isn't typical HBO.'"

"And the way he pitched it was he said, 'Look, this is about power, and it's about archetypes of power. And it's Shakespearean, it's Biblical. If you just forget where you are, you could be in 10th century France, it doesn't really matter.' And we believed their vision," Plepler continued.

"Game of Thrones" became an immediate hit after its debut in 2011, and its continued success through seven seasons has precipitated a wave of rival networks and streaming services seeking out the next big fantasy or sci-fi series in its wake.

While Netflix found a hit with its sci-fi series "Stranger Things," Amazon, in an expressed pursuit of its own "Game of Thrones," will be spending a reported $1 billion on series adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings," as part of a strategy overhaul. 

SEE ALSO: AT&T paying Trump's lawyer gobs of cash is a PR nightmare that raises big questions

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why the Saudi crown prince met with Trump, Oprah, Bill Gates, and Jeff Bezos


All the TV shows that have been canceled in 2018

$
0
0

brooklyn nine nine stacykeach

As the year flies by, the list of canceled TV shows is piles up.

Networks are starting to make announcements in May, including Fox which just canceled comedies "The Mick," "Brooklyn Nine Nine," and "The Last Man on Earth."

Amazon kicked off the year with a slew of cancellations, announcing the end of three quirky comedies, including the Golden Globe nominee "I Love Dick" and the comedian Tig Notaro's semi-autobiographical show, "One Mississippi." It canceled Golden Globe nominee "Mozart in the Jungle" in April, after four seasons, and recently canceled "Transparent," which will end after the upcoming fifth season.

Also in April, Netflix canceled the 90s coming-of-age comedy, "Everything Sucks," which came to the streaming service in February. 

There are many more cancellations to come, especially since networks haven't announced the fate of all their fall shows.

We'll update this list as more are announced.

Here are all the shows that have been canceled this year, including those from networks and Netflix:

SEE ALSO: The worst TV show of every year since 2000, according to critics

"The Mayor" — ABC, one season



"Chance" — Hulu, two seasons



"Lady Dynamite" — Netflix, two seasons



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Here's what time Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding will start where you live — and how to watch it

$
0
0

meghan markle prince harry engagement

  • The wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will begin at midday (UK time) at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday May 19.
  • At 1 p.m. the newly married couple will embark on a carriage procession through Windsor Town.
  • An early afternoon reception hosted by Her Majesty the Queen will follow at St George's Hall for the couple and guests from the congregation.
  • Around 200 guests have also been invited to an evening reception at Frogmore House in the evening, hosted by Prince Charles.
  • Kensington Palace has confirmed that Markle's father will walk her down the aisle.
  • Scroll down to see what time the celebrations will start where you live and how you can watch it both in the UK and from abroad.


The highly anticipated royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle is just over a week away.

Last week, Kensington Palace revealed that both of Markle's parents will have roles in the wedding, with her mother travelling by car with her to Windsor Castle while her father will walk her down the aisle.

Harry has also asked his older brother William to be his best man.

The wedding will be held at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle on Saturday, May 19.

The day will begin at midday (UK time) with a service conducted by the Dean of Windsor, and the Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate as the couple make their vows.

Here's an outside look at the Chapel...

St George's Chapel Windsor Castle

...and here's a glimpse inside.

st george's chapel

At 1 p.m. Harry and Meghan will embark on a carriage procession from St George's Chapel through Windsor Town returning to Windsor Castle along the Long Walk, which will offer some members of the public a glimpse of the newly married couple.

They've invited over 2,000 members of the public into the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch the couple and their guests arrive, and to watch the carriage procession as it departs from the castle.

The Queen will host an early afternoon reception at St George's Hall for the couple and guests from the congregation, of which there are expected to be around 600 guests.

Here's a photo inside St George's Hall:

Around 200 guests have also been invited to an evening reception at Frogmore House in the evening, hosted by Prince Charles.

It's not yet known exactly which celebrities are invited to the wedding, although the palace announced there would not be an official list of political leaders in attendance— meaning British Prime Minister Theresa May won't be there — despite the fact that her predecessor David Cameron attended Kate and William's wedding in April 2011.

What time does it start where I am?

If you want to mark it in your diary, here's what time the royal wedding will start in major cities across different time zones on Saturday, May 19:

  • London (BST) 12 p.m.
  • Paris (CEST): 1 p.m.
  • Moscow (MSK): 2 p.m.
  • Tokyo (JST): 8 p.m.
  • Sydney (AET): 9 p.m.
  • Honolulu (HAST): 1 a.m.
  • Los Angeles (PT): 4 a.m.
  • Las Vegas (PT): 4 a.m.
  • Denver (MT): 5 a.m.
  • Chicago (CT): 6 a.m.
  • New York (ET): 7 a.m.
  • Seoul (KST): 8 p.m.

How can I watch it?

UK

BBC, ITV, and Sky News, will all be covering the big day.

US

Live coverage will be available on CBS, streamed on CBSN, The Today Show (NBC), PBS, and BBC America, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Australia

Channel Nine will air the wedding, Marie Claire reports.

South Africa

ITV Choice (DStv 123), according to Times Live.

SEE ALSO: 'Knocked Up' and 'Grey's Anatomy' star Katherine Heigl has confirmed she's joining the cast of 'Suits' as Meghan Markle departs

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Jeff Bezos reveals what it's like to build an empire and become the richest man in the world — and why he's willing to spend $1 billion a year to fund the most important mission of his life

Incredible facts about Melania Trump that show she's completely unlike any other first lady

$
0
0

melania trump

First lady Melania Trump stepped into the limelight this week to debut her anti-cyberbullying initiative, "Be Best."

Her campaign has been puzzling to some, given her husband's affinity for insulting his opponents on Twitter, and others ridiculed her for releasing an educational booklet that was virtually identical to one the Obama administration published.

But despite the criticism, the first lady is generally well-liked among the public and is far more popular than her husband, polls have found.

Though Trump is much more private than her predecessors, spending much of her time away from the spotlight, 57% of Americans say they have a favorable impression of her, according to a CNN poll released this week.

Here are incredible facts about Trump that set her apart from other first ladies.

SEE ALSO: White House slams 'opposition media' for pointing out that Melania Trump's anti-cyberbullying booklet is a recycled Obama FTC pamphlet

DON'T MISS: Trump says he was too busy to get Melania a good birthday gift, worries 'maybe I didn't get her so much'

She is only the second first lady in American history born outside of the United States, in Slovenia. The only other foreign-born first lady was Louisa Catherine Johnson, the wife of John Quincy Adams; she was born in England.

Source: Business Insider



Trump is also the only FLOTUS who grew up in a Communist country, back when Slovenia was part of Yugoslavia. Though money was tight for many people in the small town of Sevnica, people who knew Melanija Knavs back then say she was "always very fancy" and "never wore anything from the store."

Source: GQ



Trump is the only first lady to be her husband's third spouse. Donald Trump was previously married to Marla Maples until 1999, and, before that, Ivana Trump until 1992.

Source: Business Insider



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

TV shows you're watching that will probably get canceled, and the ones that will likely be renewed

$
0
0

elementary CBS

It's May! That means it's time for networks to decide what shows are staying and what shows are off the air for good.

Networks haven't announced tons of cancellations in 2018. So far, cancellations have mostly been made by streaming services including Netflix and Amazon. 

There are a lot of network shows — ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, and The CW — on the bubble right now, so we collected a list and let you know what their status could be.

A few shows, such as "Marvel's Inhumans," have been waiting for an inevitable cancellation for months. Others will obviously be renewed. Expect to find out the status of a lot of these shows shortly.

We'll update the list as more news arrives. 

Here are all the shows that haven't been renewed or canceled yet, and what their chances are:

SEE ALSO: The 16 best TV shows of 2018 so far

ABC:



"Alex, Inc"

This comedy starring Zach Braff as a podcaster is still a little early in its run to tell if it will get renewed or canceled. 



"American Housewife"

The ABC comedy, now is in its second season, will probably get renewed for season three. 



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

'Fortnite' players have found a mysterious new hatch and don't know where it goes

$
0
0

Fortnite (hatch)

  • In a mysterious new twist, "Fortnite" players discovered a locked hatch hidden in plain sight this week.
  • There are similarly mysterious markings on the hatch, and it's impossible to break in.
  • The hatch is reminiscent of a previous event in "Fortnite," where a meteor suddenly appeared in the skies of the in-game map. That event had transformative consequences.


With tens of millions of people playing "Fortnite," secrets are unearthed near instantly.

Such is the case with a mysterious hatch that players discovered in the Wailing Woods section of the map this week. What does the hatch do? Where does it go? No one knows!

But I can tell you how to find it, as I visited the hatch on Friday morning.

Fortnite (hatch)

To find the hatch, head to the Wailing Woods section of the "Fortnite" map — it's in the upper right corner. 

To my surprise, I didn't encounter another player in the woods. Considering it's both a great place to harvest resources and home to the mysterious hatch, I was expecting a fight. Thankfully, all I found was the usual tranquility of large trees and that sweet, loot-filled hedge maze.

Here's a look at where you'll want to go on the map — cross-section I-3:

Fortnite (hatch location)

It's relatively easy to find the hatch when you get to the general area of Wailing Woods that's in the section of map above — there's a little gully surrounded by trees, and the hatch is in the middle. It's not far from the hedge maze.

Once there, you'll find the hatch can't be broken in to; the pickaxe can't break through the door, and simply bounces off. I tried! A lot!

The hatch is also light on visual detail. There's a fan that's seemingly providing an exhaust to the chamber below, and these two holes with a handful of markings:

Fortnite (hatch)

You can get a look down into the chamber, and one intrepid Reddit user even dug into the game's virtual world to get a look at its innards— they're less exciting than you might imagine, but that's likely due to the nature of how video game code works. It's entirely possible (likely, even) that there's no way to see what's inside the hatch without "Fortnite" developer Epic Games patching in code that expands the location and/or triggers something. There may be nothing inside the hatch just yet, with Epic intentionally withholding that code from the game for now. 

Some "Fortnite" players are speculating that the hatch is part of an ongoing story that will tie into the game's next season. A similar in-game event took place during season three, where a meteor appeared over the game's sky. Just before season four began, the meteor collided with the map and fundamentally altered a variety of locations

It's unclear how the hatch could tie into the game's next season — season four just began, and runs until July 9 — but you can bet players will continue digging into the game to find out more long before mid-summer.

SEE ALSO: There's a simple, obvious reason 'Fortnite' is the biggest game in the world right now

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Gaming while black: How racist trolls are still dominating video games

The incredible rise of 'Avengers: Infinity War' star Chris Hemsworth, from Australian soap operas to playing Thor

$
0
0

Liam Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth is more popular than ever thanks to back-to-back hits as Thor with "Thor: Ragnarok" in 2017 and "Avengers: Infinity War."

But in an alternate world, there might be a different Hemsworth playing the god. The middle Hemsworth brother (all three are actors) had to compete against his brother Liam for the role of Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 

But the brothers have a fun, professional sibling rivalry that doesn't interfere with their relationship.

Chris Hemsworth got his start on Australian soap operas and was cast on "Dancing with the Stars Australia." From there, he moved to the US and was swept up in Hollywood and cast as James Kirk's father in the 2009 "Star Trek" reboot. Hemsworth quickly rose to stardom from there.

But he's not all about his career. He is also an ambassador for an Australian children's charity, and takes great pride in how many Thor hammers he owns.

Find out where Hemsworth grew up, how many Thor hammers he has in his bathroom, and more below:

SEE ALSO: 'Avengers: Infinity War' director says fans 'could be equally upset with Thor' over the movie's ending

Hemsworth was born in 1983 in Melbourne, Australia, and eventually moved to the rural Phillip Island off the southern coast of Australia. His mom is a teacher and his dad is a counselor.



Hemsworth, 34, is the middle of two brothers: Luke, 37, and Liam, 28. All three are actors.



Their mother raised them on a vegetarian diet.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

I 'Netflix-cheat' on my partner — here's how it affects our relationship

$
0
0

Netflix

  • Netflix binge watching is a common guilty pleasure, whether you watch after work, class, or a long weekend out partying.
  • Many opt to view the latest series with friends, family, or their significant other, but sometimes your Netflix partner may not have the time to binge watch an entire season on a Tuesday night like you
  • Here’s what happened when I cheated on my Netflix partner.

 

I like to consider myself a good partner. I’m attentive, supportive, and always go out of my way to show my significant other that I love and appreciate her.

I’m far from perfect, of course, but perhaps my most serious downfall in our relationship is my tendency to Netflix cheat. After all, who could blame me for wanting to power through every available episode of “Terrace House: Opening New Doors” in one sitting?

According to research from Netflix, 46% of couples who watch Netflix together have "cheated" and watched shows without their partner, as Business Insider previously reported.

It’s not my fault that I want to finish a full season in one night, while she prefers to space it out a bit. While our different viewing habits haven’t caused any major rifts — it’s just TV, after all — it has affected our relationship both negatively and positively.

SEE ALSO: All 65 of Netflix's notable original shows, ranked from worst to best

1. I sometimes accidentally reveal spoilers

I never mean to tell her what happens in episodes of series she hasn’t seen yet — it just slips out. If it’s a particularly important storyline, I tend to get excited and want to talk about it, so I’ll mention it to my partner without realizing that she’s five episodes behind. Oops!

While I’ve managed to keep most of the big stuff to myself, she now realizes that she needs to warn me about spoilers so I don’t inadvertently blurt them out.



2. We end up watching totally different things

While we obviously have shows in common that we want to watch together — ”Orange is the New Black,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” and “Jessica Jones” among them — my love of Netflix binge watching often leads me to browse through various categories and discover new shows, movies, or documentaries that I didn’t know existed and end up loving.

For example, she’s never seen “Dear White People,” while I watched the series at the gym every morning for 10 days and fell in love. Same goes for “Lost in Space.”

If this happens while my partner is working or not at home, I power on without her and our viewing habits end up seriously diverging. Luckily, we’re both cool with that.

That puts both of us squarely in the 32% of Netflix cheaters who don’t feel guilty about it, according the Netflix survey.



3. I get embarrassed when she sees what I’ve been watching

Netflix lets each viewer build their own profile, but my partner and I have never felt the need for that. My cheating often leads to my watching many more shows than she does.

She can see my recently viewed programs when she logs in, and it’s vaguely embarrassing when she sees that I’ve been powering through “Shut Ins: Britain’s Fattest People” all week.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

7 great movies you can watch on Netflix this weekend

$
0
0

Spotlight 2015

Netflix has a lot of movies streaming at all times, and that can make it hard to figure which ones are worth watching in your free time.

To make that easier, we comb through Netflix's selection every week to find you a handful of movies that well worth your time.

We select a few that Netflix has added recently and mix in a couple that have been available for a while that you might have missed.

From the obnoxious '90s action thriller "Face/Off" to the 2016 Oscar winner "Spotlight," these are awesome movies on Netflix you can watch over the weekend.

Here are seven movies on Netflix you should check out (along with their scores from Rotten Tomatoes).

SEE ALSO: Why Disney rarely pays movie stars huge salaries

"Spotlight" (2015)

Netflix description: A team of reporters and editors at the Boston Globe relentlessly investigate a shocking child molestation cover-up by the Catholic Church.

Critic score: 97%

Audience score: 93%

"Spotlight" does an excellent job of making investigative journalism thrilling. Like "All the President's Men," it handles the sensitive topic as well as the real journalists who broke the story. It's made even better by its many great performances from Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo, and Liev Schreiber.



"Gangs of New York" (2002)

Netflix description: Amid the Irish and Italian rivalry that dominated New York City in the mid-1800s, young Amsterdam Vallon hunts his father's hateful murderer.

Critic score: 75%

Audience score: 81%

"Gangs of New York" is a bit of a drag at times, but the dense plot is captivating thanks to the performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio. Don't let Cameron Diaz's terrible acting stop you from watching this movie — it's one of Martin Scorsese's most underrated movies and well worth a rewatch if it's been a while since you saw it.



"Bring It On" (2000)

Netflix description: Pressure mounts on the captain of a decorated cheerleading squad as she attempts to lead her crew to its sixth consecutive national title.

Critic score: 63%

Audience score: 66%

"Bring It On" is fun to watch for nostalgia's sake, and it dominated early 2000s culture. It also is a rare teen movie that's completely self-aware about what it is, making it better than the norm.



See the rest of the story at Business Insider

Fans are furious about 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine' being canceled, but it could get picked up by Hulu

$
0
0

Brooklyn Nine Nine

  • Fans and celebrities alike took to social media to mourn the cancellation of Fox cop comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" on Thursday, but the show could still see new life on another platform or network.
  • According to Deadline, Hulu is a likely home for the series, but it could otherwise end up at TBS, NBC, or Netflix.

After Fox cancelled the cop comedy "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" on Thursday, a massive outpouring of fans, including notable names from the cast and entertainment world at large, took to social media to protest and lament the show's end. 

But "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," which stars Andy Samberg, Andre Baugher, Terry Crews, and Chelsea Peretti as cops in Brooklyn, New York, could see still new life on another network or streaming service for its sixth season. 

According to Deadline, Hulu is the most likely home for the critically acclaimed comedy, as the streaming service already owns the show's syndicated streaming rights. But there's a chance the series may end up at TBS, NBC, or Netflix, the latter of which Deadline considers the longest shot, due to Hulu's leg up on the show's streaming rights.

Hulu similarly revived Fox's sitcom "The Mindy Project" for three more seasons after Fox cancelled the show in 2015, following its third season.

A solid sign for the potential next home for "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" is that the show became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter Thursday afternoon after its cancellation. Several of the show's cast members, alongside entertainment names like Lin-Manuel Miranda, Guillermo del Toro, and Mark Hamill, took to social media to express their love for the show and call for its renewal.

Here are a few of the reactions:

SEE ALSO: All the TV shows that have been canceled in 2018

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: What will probably happen with the North and South Korean peace treaty

The new 'Star Wars' movie about a young Han Solo is getting great buzz from people who have seen it

$
0
0

solo

  • Critics are calling "Solo: A Star Wars Story" a "non-stop adventure" with a "charming cast."
  • Some said it starts off slowly, but eventually picks up its pace.
  • Donald Glover steals the show as Lando Calrissian, but Alden Ehrenreich is also impressive in the title role. 

 

"Solo: A Star Wars Story" went through a complicated production, but based on first reactions from critics who saw the movie Thursday night, the movie exceeds expectations.

It's no surprise that Donald Glover seems to steal the show as Lando Calrissian, but Alden Ehrenreich is also being praised for his performance as a young Han Solo, a role originated by Harrison Ford. Those are big shoes to fill, and it sounds like Ehrenreich is impressive despite reports that an acting coach was hired during filming.

Veteran director Ron Howard was hired late in production to replace fired directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and it seems Howard was able to steer the movie back on course. Critics said the movie is a funny, "non-stop adventure" that is a "welcome addition to the 'Star Wars' universe."

Check out some first reactions to "Solo: A Star Wars Story" below:

"Solo" is a delightful, fun "Star Wars" movie with plenty of action:

 

It seems to start off slow, but it picks up:

 

Donald Glover steals the show as Lando Calrissian:

 

Alden Ehrenreich is impressive in the title role:

 

And the rest of the cast is great, too:

 

More on "Solo: A Star Wars Story":

SEE ALSO: Everything we know about the 'Captain Marvel' movie, which will be a must-watch before 'Avengers 4'

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: Why you should never release your pet goldfish into the wild

Deadpool apologized to David Beckham and offered him tickets to the World Cup

$
0
0

Deadpool David Beckham

  • The first "Deadpool" had a great joke at David Beckham's expense. 
  • Now, in a new ad, Deadpool tries to apologize to Beckham for the joke. 
  • Deadpool finally wins back Beckham by offering him tickets to the World Cup. 


One of the better jokes in the first "Deadpool" was when Ryan Reynolds' titular character joked, "You ever heard David Beckham speak. It's like he mouth-sexed a can of helium."

Well, in a new promotional gag from 20th Century Fox for "Deadpool 2," the merc with a mouth feels bad about the joke and has decided to apologize. After a few failed efforts (including one with Deadpool inhaling helium), he finally finds the way back into Beckham's good graces — with tickets to the World Cup, which, probably not coincidentally, is being broadcast on television by Fox. 

"I can't wait to not watch Italy play the Netherlands," Deadpool cracks, referring to two of the more prominent teams to miss this summer's World Cup.

"I can't stay mad at you," Beckham said before the two finally hug. 

You can watch the entire video below. 

 

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: NBA ref explains why the James Harden step-back jumper isn't traveling

The worst TV show of 2018 on each network — from Fox to Netflix to HBO

$
0
0

our cartoon president worst shows

The first half of 2018 has seen the release of some great television, but it's also brought several shows that are not so stellar.

From Netflix's Kathy Bates-led weed-dispensary sitcom "Disjointed" to Stephen Colbert's lackluster animated parody "Our Cartoon President," duds abound in the crop of new and returning shows that have aired so far this year.

To figure out which shows are worth avoiding, we turned to the reviews aggregator Rotten Tomatoes to select the most critically loathed scripted show that each network and service has released this year.

We excluded children's shows, talk shows, and docuseries, and we selected from only networks with multiple scripted shows that aired episodes in a 2018 season that had enough reviews to receive a "fresh" or "rotten" designation.

We also excluded several networks whose lowest-rated show was not under 70% on the critic scale, and we used audience scores to break any ties within networks.

Here is the worst TV show of 2018 on each network so far, according to critics.

SEE ALSO: The best TV show of 2018 on each network so far — from FX to Netflix to HBO

ABC: "Splitting Up Together" (season 1)

Critic score: 38%

Audience score: 86%

Summary: "Lena and Martin were once madly in love. But, like many marriages, time and circumstance eventually took their toll, and they decide that everyone's lives would be better if they got a divorce."

What critics said: "Oh, the romantic comedy series. Such a vexing format. When did this work? Does it ever?" — Newsday

Status: Pending



AMC: "McMafia" (season 1)

Critic score: 69%

Audience score: 85%

Summary: "Alex Godman, the English-raised son of Russian mafia exiles, has spent his life trying to escape the shadow of their past, building his own legitimate business and forging a life with his girlfriend, Rebecca. But when a murder unearths his family's past, Alex is drawn into the criminal underworld where he must confront his values to protect those he loves."

What critics said: "Simmering moral conflict within Alex is meant to create the hub of tension around which 'McMafia' revolves, but that pot doesn't quite boil down as the writers may have intended." — Salon

Status: Renewed



CBS: "Instinct" (season 1)

Critic score: 57%

Audience score: 60%

Summary: "Stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer."

What critics said: "For a hardened CIA operative, Cumming's Dylan is more Pee-wee Herman than 'Homeland.'" — Boston Herald

Status: Pending



See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Viewing all 103365 articles
Browse latest View live


Latest Images