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The multimillion-dollar sums that celebrities make on books — and how they actually sell

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Amy Schumer

After returning a one million-dollar book advance (with interest) to HarperCollins in 2014, Amy Schumer landed one of the biggest advance deals the publishing world has ever seen — at an astounding rumored $8-10 million

The comedian announced the pre-order for her book, out August 16, on Tuesday, and posted the book cover to her Instagram.

Though Schumer's multimillion-dollar book advance tops the deals made for Tina Fey's "Bossypants" and Lena Dunham's "Not That Kind of Girl," these giant sums for A-list books are becoming more and more common. And the actual book sales don't always end up being so impressive.

Bruce Springsteen recently announced that he has an autobiography coming out in September of this year.

The autobiography's publisher, Simon & Schuster, declined to release the amount of his advance, but Page Six reported that it was more than $10 million. 

Here's a look at six reported celebrity advances and how some of the subsequent books have sold.

SEE ALSO: Here are your favorite TV shows that are getting renewed for another season

"Bossypants" by Tiny Fey

Advance: $6 million

Sold: More than 3.5 million copies since 2011

Source: New York Times



"Boys in the Trees" by Carly Simon

Advance: More than $1 million

Sold: 74,999 copies since November 2015 

Source: Crain's New York, Publishers Weekly 



"Modern Romance" by Aziz Ansari

Advance: $3.5 million

Sold: 282,000 copies from June 2015 through September 2015 

Source: New York Times



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4 business lessons Mark Cuban taught his 16-year-old 'Mini Me'

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nohbo shark tank

The "Shark Tank" investors were charmed by baby-faced Benjamin Stern, the 16-year-old founder and CEO of bottle-less bath products company Nohbo, whose pitch involved washing his grandmother's hair.

But after the high-school junior from Florida explained how he cold-called invention headhunters at companies like Clorox and then set forth to secure patents after hearing interest, the Sharks respected him as a bona-fide entrepreneur.

Mark Cuban said he saw himself in Stern, calling Stern "Mini Me," and made a deal with him for $100,000 in exchange for 25% of the company.

Stern and Cuban closed the deal since filming the pitch last summer, and Stern said his business has been kicked up a level since his segment premiered in a season-seven episode two weeks ago.

Stern told Business Insider that Cuban and his team have already revamped Nohbo's website and secured it with a manufacturing deal, as well as given him plenty of valuable guidance. Stern shared several key lessons they've already taught him.

You have to walk before you run

When he was 14, Stern watched a documentary about the plastic-bottling industry and realized that much of the plastic that goes unrecycled came from people's bathrooms, where they're more likely to toss an empty bottle into the trash.

He decided to find a way to take the idea behind detergent pods and apply it to shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream. He and a chemist developed a prototype that looked like a Lindt chocolate ball — a dissoluble ball held in a biodegradable wrapper.

Stern has always wanted Nohbo to be a revolutionary product; one that could end up in hotels and licensed to major toiletry manufacturers. Cuban was drawn to Stern's passion but taught him to minimize risk and keep his ambitions grounded.

"They have taught me I shouldn't start something without knowing and preparing for the absolute worst outcome that could happen, even if we expect the best," Stern said.

You don't need to wait for the perfect time to seek a deal

While Cuban taught Stern to stay grounded, he's also given him the assurance that reaching out to potential licensing partners this early in the company's life "is never a bad thing," and that he was right to follow his instinct when he called Clorox a couple years ago to gauge its interest in his product.

Cuban wants Stern to hedge his bets, but not to lose his aggressive confidence.

You need to foster excitement over your brand

nohboStern has already exceeded the $10,000 goal for his Indiegogo campaign for the launch of Nohbo and has been fielding investment offers. But Cuban and his team told Stern the "Shark Tank" buzz won't last forever.

Stern said he realized that "keeping up the excitement is an inevitable and ongoing challenge." He's determined to build relationships with customers and clients, making the most of the momentum he's got.

You need to surround yourself with people better than you

"I want to run Nohbo in a way that allows flexibility and secures a sense of loyalty for all of our workers," Stern said.

"As a CEO, I'm adjusting to working with people all the time, and jumping into an area which I know little about," he said. In his journey as a founder-CEO, he's already recognized that Cuban and his team have helped him avoid mistakes he would have made on his own. He wants to bolster his team even further, and not let his ego get in the way.

"I know how many bad turns I have avoided by surrounding myself with geniuses in the business field, so if I can get them on board to back us completely, that would be amazing, and would progress Nohbo more than anything I could possibly do," Stern said.

SEE ALSO: 'Shark Tank' investor Daymond John shares 9 business books he thinks everyone should read

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NOW WATCH: 'Shark Tank' investor reveals the biggest mistake you can make in the office

'Game of Thrones' star Maisie Williams discusses getting famous at a young age

This intricate machine uses 2,000 marbles to make music

We talked to the ‘Most Interesting Man in the World’ about his retirement — here’s what he's most excited about

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Dos Equis released its final ad featuring actor Jonathan Goldsmith as "The Most Interesting Man in the World." Goldsmith began playing the role in 2006.

Business Insider talked to Goldsmith about what this means for his career after nine years of playing the iconic character.

Produced by Graham Flanagan

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Billionaire Sean Parker has a new startup that wants you to pay $50 to stream movies still in theaters

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Sean Parker Michael Buckner  Getty Images

First he disrupted the music business with Napster, then he helped Mark Zuckerberg craft Facebook, changing the way we live our lives.

Now, Sean Parker wants to make movies in theaters more easily available for home viewing.

A company called The Screening Room, founded by Parker and Prem Akkaraju (who is also CEO), is making the rounds at Hollywood studios pitching $50 rental fees for movies still in theaters. The service would use the company's secure antipiracy set-top boxes, according to Variety, which broke the story Wednesday evening.

The Screening Room would reportedly charge $150 for the set-top box and $50 a rental (available for 48 hours).

As DVD sales continue to plummet, studios will listen to any ideas that can bring them revenue. According to Variety, The Screening Room has found serious interest from Universal, Fox, and Sony. Disney, according to the story, has no interest.

And The Screening Room is trying to extend an olive branch to exhibitors by offering customers two tickets to see the movie they buy in theaters, which would soften the blow of violating the standard 90-day theatrical window for movies before they move to home-video and streaming platforms.

The Screening Room is also proposing giving theater chains a slice of the revenue, as much as $20 of the fee. Distributors who participate would take 20% of the $50 rental fee, and Screening Room would take 10% of the fee, according to Variety.

The basic idea isn't a new one in Hollywood. Back in 2011, the Ben Stiller comedy "Tower Heist" was offered as an on-demand option to 500,000 Comcast customers at a price of $59.99 for rental. The "test," as the film's studio, Universal, called it, was a bust. Most customers didn't go for it.

Though The Screening Room has come up with a plan that intrigues both distributors and exhibitors, it is unknown whether the public will dish out $50 to see the next Marvel or "Star Wars" movie at home instead of going to the theater for a significantly lower price.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every actor who's played Batman, from best to worst

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NOW WATCH: ‘If you get indicted, will you drop out?’ — watch Hillary Clinton’s response

50 Cent says the money in his Instagram photos is fake

Meet Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump's brilliant and successful daughter

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Ivanka Trump, the 34-year-old daughter of Donald Trump, is a serious career woman. A former model, Ivanka graduated cum laude from UPenn with a BS in Economics. She has a successful lifestyle collection, wrote a book for young businesswomen, and is an executive at the Trump Organization, the family's real estate firm. 

Story by Aly Weisman and editing by Ben Nigh

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Florida governor kicked off 'Morning Joe' after dodging questions about Trump's latest inflammatory statement

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Rick Scott

Gov. Rick Scott of Florida was kicked off of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Thursday after he refused to directly answer a question about GOP frontrunner Donald Trump.

After the governor said he would not endorse any candidate before Tuesday's Florida primary, host Joe Scarborough asked Scott about Trump's comment the day before that "Islam hates us."

"Do you think that Muslims in the state of Florida hate America?" Scarborough said.

Scott dodged the question.

"Well, as you know in Florida we're the best melting pot in the world," he said.

"After the Paris bombings I did ask the federal government to not allow any more Syrian refugees to come into Florida until we vetted them," he continued. "I'm still concerned that the federal government is not vetting them, but that's what my concern is."

Scarborough cut Scott off at the end of his answer.

"Just asking generally, do you think that Muslims hate Americans, that Islam hates America as Donald Trump said last night?" he asked.

Scott then went into another answer that began in a similar way as his previous one, talking about his home state. But then Scarborough and cohost Mika Brzezinski cut him off.

"We're friends — I want you to answer the question," Scarborough said. "Do you personally think that Islam is a religion that hates America?"

"We have a lot of Muslims that live in our state, we have a lot of Latin Americans that live in our state, we all get along," Scott responded as Brzezinski called for the show's producer to cut the segment.

Scott then added that Trump and his fellow candidates could "talk about the things" they "want to talk about."

Brzezinski, increasingly annoyed with Scott's deflections, gave the governor one final chance to give a direct answer.

"Rick, Rick, Rick, I know you and Joe are friends, and this is kind of awkward," she said. "Can you answer the question, or should we scoot?"

Screen Shot 2016 03 10 at 11.21.05 AMScott didn't, and then the segment ended.

Scott has been rumored to be considered as a potential running mate for Trump since Scott wrote a gushing op-ed article in USA Today in January.

Trump sparked a national firestorm in December when, after the terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, he proposed that the US temporarily bar all Muslims tourists and immigrants from entering the US.

A month earlier, Trump seemed open to some kind of database for Muslim Americans, but he later distanced himself from the idea.

"We have to be very careful," he said on CNN Wednesday. "And we can't allow people coming into this country who have this hatred of the United States and of people that are not Muslim."

Watch the uncomfortable exchange below:

SEE ALSO: New polls show Donald Trump in prime position to sweep up the next 2 key states

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NOW WATCH: A global intelligence analyst explains why Clinton is sinking in the polls

Aaron Paul is determined to make you forget about Jesse from 'Breaking Bad'

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aaron paul

It's been over two years since we saw Jesse Pinkman race off into the night while both laughing and crying on the finale of "Breaking Bad." And in that time, the actor behind everyone's favorite drug pusher, Aaron Paul, has been busy trying to escape the shadow of Pinkman.

From starring in the adaptation of the video-game series "Need for Speed," to taking a supporting role in the Netflix animated comedy "BoJack Horseman," versatility hasn't been a problem for Paul. But none of his more commercial projects has caught fire like "Breaking Bad" — yet.

This weekend, he stars as a conflicted drone pilot in the indie film "Eye in the Sky." Starring opposite Helen Mirren as a colonel determined to kill a terrorist, he comes to a disagreement with her on how to engage when a young girl enters the kill zone, leading to a powerful commentary on modern warfare.

"Eye in the Sky" won't get the kind of attention to make us stop thinking of Paul as Jesse Pinkman, but that hasn't deterred him. He recently starred in the heist movie "Triple 9," and he's about to star in an intriguing new TV show from Hulu "The Path." And if you follow him on Twitter, you know he's campaigning hard to star as drug addict Eddie Dean in the screen adaptation of Stephen King's classic book series "The Dark Tower," which was greenlit with Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba attached.

Business Insider talked to Paul at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City about the challenges of making "Eye in the Sky," box-office failures, "The Dark Tower" rumors, The Rock's nickname, and shaking Pinkman. 

EITS_01595_R3Business Insider: So what can you tell us about the "Dark Tower" rumors.

Aaron Paul: Rumors are a funny thing. These rumors about "The Dark Tower" have come up a handful of times over the last couple of years. There's always a big part of me that thinks, "What don't I know?" Just wishful thinking. I'm a huge fan of that book series for many years and the idea of them turning it into a franchise is very exciting to me. As a fan.

BI: Are your people talking to the studio?

Paul: I have no idea what's going on. It was funny [tweeting] out to Stephen King last night. That's the wonder of the internet. It's the power of numbers: get enough people to retweet something, someone might see it.

BI: You're being coy with me right now. It sounds like you might know something, but there's nothing to say.

Paul: There's nothing to say.

BI: Well, let's dive into "Eye in the Sky." What did you know about the subject of drones before taking on the project?

Paul: A very scary weapon being flown over a country that the pilot of that weapon is not in. Being in the safety and comfort of their own bunker. Signing on and doing more research into this world, it's not the safety and comfort of a bunker — it's a very scary, terrifying situation that these pilots are in. Ninety-nine percent of the time, they are just the eye, surveillance. Making sure everyone is safe. Checking out where the bad people are going. Is that a bad thing? No. Dropping payloads on buildings and killing innocent civilians, is that a bad thing? It's a touchy subject.

BI: Did you talk to drone pilots for the movie?

Paul: Yes. I talked to this guy Chris, who had been flying drones for many years. He used to fly jets, him and his brother, and then he started flying drones. And not just one drone at a time. Sometimes he's flying four at once. Which is crazy. Again, because most of the time you're just the eye.

BI: How was it performing in a movie like this? Because I would assume you're just on set and someone is feeding you lines off-camera. Helen Mirren isn't giving them to you.

Paul: Right. We had someone reading the script for us off-camera and then for the things that we had to see on the monitor, [director] Gavin [Hood] would explain it off-camera. He would bark out orders to us, or he would explain what we're seeing, he would be like "Now you're seeing she's leaving her property, she's walking along the side of the building. Oh no, she's setting up bread, she has six loaves of bread, she has to sell those six loaves of bread!" It's an interesting way to work. I had never worked like that before.

BI: You've done great choosing indie roles, but the studio movies haven't gone so well. Do you have any regrets about some of the roles you've taken since "Breaking Bad"?

Paul: I did a big studio film straight from "Breaking Bad," it was really a business move —

BI: "Need for Speed."

Paul: Yeah. And it wasn't just a business move. I love cars, I have two classic cars of my own. Just the idea of how to really learn to drive a car like what we did in the film was a dream come true.

aaron paul need for speed
BI: But if it takes off, you get a franchise.

Paul: Yeah, it's great. And of course we wanted it to become a franchise. The fact that it didn't perform so well in the States is a bummer. But it performed well elsewhere. I had a blast doing it. No regrets. Now I'm just focusing on material — it has to be on the page.

BI: Are you surprised "Triple 9" didn't do well?

Paul: Shocked.

BI: I thought with that cast and the director, John Hillcoat, it would take off. On paper, you're thinking home run.

Paul: Easy. And I talked to John Hilcoat about this the other day. It feels like the universe is against the man. He's a brilliant filmmaker, but no one sees his films. It's so bizarre. The fact that we did $6 million in the opening weekend, well, "Deadpool" is a monster. It was the third week that movie is out, but it still did a killing.

triplenine0006
BI: Were there specific goals you wanted to accomplish after "Breaking Bad"?

Paul: That show opened up so many doors for everyone involved. Before the show, I constantly had to bang on everyone's doors, do the hustle. And I'm all about the hustle still, I don't take anything for granted, but it's a point of the career now that you can be picky. My end goal is just to do projects at the end of the day that I'm proud of.

BI: Is one of those goals to have people think of you less as Jesse Pinkman?

Paul: Oh, absolutely. And I know jumping on "Triple 9," there were similarities. I mean, my character was holding a pipe in his hand. When it got to that part of the story, it got me thinking a little bit about Jesse, because I have said no to so many drug roles since "Breaking Bad" ended.

BI: And if "The Dark Tower" happens for you, the character you're interested in playing, Eddie Dean, is an addict.

Paul: Yeah, but, c'mon, that's "Dark Tower," that's fine. That is why people think I would make a great Eddie Dean, the smartass drug addict. But it's a completely different character, it's not Jesse Pinkman. And I love that.

walt jesse breaking bad
BI: But would you go as far as, say, taking on a romantic comedy, just to flip it on people and do something incredibly different?

Paul: I don't really seem to gravitate to romantic comedies.

BI: I would pay money.

Paul: Would you?

BI: I'd put down cold hard cash to see you in a romantic comedy. I think it would be fun.

Paul: Well, who knows. But I do tend to gravitate to the more dramatic side of things. I love feeling intense emotions when I'm acting. I just love characters and stories with conflict. I love stories that put you on the edge of your seat and make you feel something. But I do have a comedy coming out.

BI: With The Rock and Kevin Hart.

Paul: Yeah, "Central Intelligence." I play DJ's CIA partner.

BI: DJ?

Paul: Dwayne Johnson.

BI: Oh, you must be good pals to get away with calling him DJ.

Paul: Yeah, DJ's a good guy.

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every actor who's played Batman, from best to worst

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NOW WATCH: The Justice Department wants to investigate 50 Cent because he keeps flaunting cash on Instagram

The one-two punch that could hurt Netflix internationally (NFLX)

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NarcosNetflix’s massive international expansion is driving subscriber growth, but there is a one-two punch that could hurt it in the short term, according to analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.

The crux of the issue is that being a Netflix subscriber in some of its newly available countries simply isn’t as good a deal as being a US subscriber, the analysts explained in a note on Thursday.

Why? Selection.

The US has almost three times the number of shows and movies that other major subscriber countries (like Canada and the UK) have, and a whopping 10 times that of some recently launched markets. That’s a big difference in value for those customers.

Here’s a chart from the analysts that shows how countries with over one million Netflix households stack up against each other.

Screen Shot 2016 03 10 at 10.52.04 AM

Some Netflix fans have historically gotten around these content discrepancies by subscribing to a US account and then using VPN software — which cloaks their computer's location — to trick Netflix into thinking they were watching from the US.

Not anymore.

Netflix recently cracked down on this practice, eliminating most VPN users from its service— at least for now. This hasn’t gone down easy for those users. In a recent survey of Netflix subscribers who used VPNs, 61% said new policy would affect whether they kept their Netflix subscription. And if the option to use a VPN isn’t available, it could also hinder Netflix’s ability to grab new subscribers.

Long Term

But while the combination of a lack of content and a VPN shutdown has the potential to hurt Netflix in the short term, the analysts said they still see a long-term growth story in the company.

That’s because Netflix has invested heavily in original content, which is much easier to deal with in terms of global licensing.

Netflix executives have repeatedly said original content will drive the company’s future, and that Netflix’s eventual goal is to have the vast majority of its shows and movies available in every country Netflix operates in.

That said, the analysts see the potential for subscriber volatility in the next few quarters, and think it could miss Wall Street estimates for subscriber growth.

Another risk factor the analysts point to is the expiration of grandfathered $7.99 Netflix plans, which will increase to $9.99 in June.

SEE ALSO: Disney CEO says selling ESPN a la carte is on the table

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NOW WATCH: 50 Cent says the money in his Instagram photos is fake

'Star Wars' director J.J. Abrams explains why inclusivity is good for everybody

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"The Force Awakens," the third highest-grossing movie of all time, boasted a diverse cast led by a female hero.

Now, many people are asking whether the "Star Wars" movies will ever welcome a gay character. "The Force Awakens" director J.J. Abrams said there's no reason this couldn't happen, and explained that Hollywood, and the rest of the world, is ready to see more inclusive casting in movies.

Story by Ian Phillips and editing by Stephen Parkhurst

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Netflix has a foulmouthed new comedy show with Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson — here's the trailer

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ranch netflix trailer

"That '70s Show" stars Ashton Kutcher and Danny Masterson get to reignite their bromantic rivalry on Netflix's new comedy, "The Ranch."

This time around, the guys play brothers (with strange country accents). Kutcher plays Colt, a failed semi-pro football player who returns to live at his family's Colorado ranch. Masterson is older brother Jameson aka Rooster. They live with their father Beau ("Justified" actor Sam Elliott). But it's all very complicated, as Colt and Beau haven't spoken in 15 years.

"Dad called, said he needed some help at home. So I decided it's time to be MVP of life, and not just football," Colt explains when asked why he's back in town by Elisha Cuthbert's ("Happy Endings") character.

"Still full of s--t, huh?" she replies.

The trailer is packed with country activities like gun-shooting, driving a tractor down the street, makeouts on haystacks, and your run-of-the-mill barn on fire.

Watch the new trailer below:

Warning: Strong language.

SEE ALSO: John Stamos reads the most brutal reviews of Netflix's 'Fuller House'

SEE ALSO: Here are your favorite TV shows that are getting renewed for another season

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NOW WATCH: All the new Netflix shows you’ll be binge-watching this year

The hilarious trailer for The Lonely Island's first movie is here and loaded with cameos

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the lonely island final

The first trailer for The Lonely Island's first movie, "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping," launched today in NSFW red band form, and it looks like the comedy trio of Andy Samberg, Akiva Schaffer, and Jorma Taccone are going to have fun in the pop-music genre.

The film is a mockumentary looking at music sensation conner4real and his sensational life performing onstage with a hologram Adam Levine and an entourage that includes a roadie (Bill Hader), a publicist (Sarah Silverman), and a unicorn handler (Pink).

As Conner puts it, "It takes a village to make me look dope."

Check out the trailer (again, NSFW) below.  

SEE ALSO: The 9 most popular fan theories for what's going to happen in "Game of Thrones" next season

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NOW WATCH: Chris Rock raised $65K selling Girl Scout cookies for his daughters during the Oscars

21 celebrities who endorse Donald Trump for president

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Donald Trump

As Donald Trump's status as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination becomes more solid every day, he may still not have many political endorsements — but he's got another kind of firepower behind him.

Endorsements from well-known celebrities are a bonus for Trump, like his enormous media coverage, that help him speak to his audience. Once considered a long shot, the businessman and reality-TV star is leading the GOP in delegates.

In addition to the politicians and pundits — like Sarah Palin and Ann Coulter — who have endorsed Trump, here are 21 celebrities and entertainment figures who are showing their support for him:

SEE ALSO: 'Disgraceful': Donald Trump blasts Pope Francis for taking a shot at his faith

Jon Voight

In a statement to Breitbart, the actor said he is supporting Donald Trump because "he's an answer to our problems." He also called Trump "funny, playful, and colorful, but most of all, he is honest." He added, "There are many Republicans fighting to keep him from winning the Republican nomination. You know why? Because he has no bull to sell, and everyone will discover the bull most politicians spew out is for their own causes and benefits. I pray all Americans who have seen and felt the meltdown of America with the Obama years, to please fight for Donald Trump."



Kid Rock

Kid Rock showed his support for the presidential hopeful in an interview with Rolling Stone, saying that he's "digging Trump." He also added: "Let the m------------ business guy run it like a f------ business. And his campaign has been entertaining as s---."



Loretta Lynn

Country singer Loretta Lynn announced her support for Trump in December, and told a Reuters reporter in January that "he's the only one who's going to turn this country around."



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Kesha's mom opens up about alleged Dr. Luke abuse: 'It was like someone who beats you every day'

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Kesha_Support_Manfred_Pineda_STILLKesha was a "prisoner" while working with producer Dr. Luke, according to her mother, Rosemary Patricia "Pebe" Sebert.

In an emotional interview with Billboard, Sebert opened up about her daughter's alleged abuse at the hands of Dr. Luke (real name Lukasz Gottwald).

"It was like someone who beats you every day and hangs you from a chain and then comes in and gives you a piece of bread," she told Billboard of the relationship. "Luke would say, 'You look nice today,' and send her into ­hysterics of happiness because she was programmed to expect nothing but abuse."

Kesha and Dr. Luke have been embroiled in a legal battle since 2014. Kesha is contractually required to release six records under Kemosabe Records, Dr. Luke's label owned by Sony, and is seeking to leave after accusing him of sexual assault.

A New York judge denied Kesha's injunction request in February, which, if granted, would have allowed her to continue making music under another label while the case is ongoing. She hasn't released music since 2013. 

Though she is allowed to work with another producer, Dr. Luke must approve the person, Sebert said. 

Sebert described an instance of alleged abuse that happened during a party for designer Nicky Hilton on October 5, 2005.

According to Sebert, Dr. Luke drugged Kesha with what he called "sober pills" — actually a drug used in date rapes known as GHB — and raped her in his hotel room.

Sebert said she struggled to get ahold of her daughter the next day, but when she finally did, Kesha said, "Mom, I don't know where I am. I think we had sex. I'm sore and sick. I don't know where my clothes are. I think I need to go to the hospital." Sebert said Kesha's phone then died, a friend picked her up, and she never went to the hospital.

"Looking back, I don't know why we didn't go to the police," Sebert said. "Kesha told me not to do anything. She said, 'Mom, I just want to sing. I don't want to be a rape-case victim. I just want to get my music out.' I didn't follow my instincts."

Sebert remembered another incident in which Kesha called her mother after Dr. Luke allegedly forced her to snort a drug on an airplane. This incident is mentioned in Kesha's 2014 lawsuit.

"I do remember her calling me from the plane telling me that she was so drunk, and [how] Dr. Luke came over and started making out with her and was all over her," Sebert said. "She told me she felt terrible and was trying to get away from him and then vomited."

Dr. Luke allegedly becamse harsher as Kesha found success. "He saw her as a cash cow and started manipulating her all the time," Sebert said. "She thought all her dreams were finally coming true, but this was just a f---ing trip to hell." 

Sebert later added: "Luke almost destroyed us. And he has done it intentionally." 

SEE ALSO: Dr. Luke denies reports that Sony is dropping him amid backlash over Kesha sex-abuse case

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NOW WATCH: Chris Rock raised $65K selling Girl Scout cookies for his daughters during the Oscars

REVIEW: The terrifying '10 Cloverfield Lane' kicks off the next great movie franchise

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10 Cloverfield Lane BRIGHT

This looks like the start of something great.

“10 Cloverfield Lane” is a sequel to 2008’s unexpected hit “Cloverfield.” It's not a duplication, nor is it exactly a continuation. Instead, it's the moment a franchise finds out exactly what it wants to be.

It's easy enough to recommend, but much harder to explain without giving the fun stuff away. What you need to know is that the film follows Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), a woman who leaves her fiancé, gets in a car crash, and ends up in a bunker. There, she meets Howard (John Goodman), a man who has been preparing for the apocalypse his whole life. "Crazy is building your ark after the flood has already come," he tells her.

Howard promises Michelle safety from what he believes is a brewing nuclear war. She’s accompanied by another stranger, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.).

10 Cloverfield Lane

As with anything J.J. Abrams slaps his name on, there's a lot of mystery surrounding the project. What isn’t secret is its foundation. “Cloverfield,” seen from the point of view of a shaky camcorder, was a new twist on watching a monster destroy New York.

The biggest gripe about “Cloverfield” was that most of its characters couldn’t stand up to its compelling story and style. The first half hour of “Cloverfield,” pre-monster, is something of a drag.

“10 Cloverfield Lane” fixes that problem. The cast is small, and everybody is at the top of their game. Years after “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” this is the film that could make Mary Elizabeth Winstead a star. She gives off serious Ripley vibes here as someone who is pure survival instincts with a big heart.

Meanwhile, John Goodman is here to remind everyone that he is one of the best working American actors. I’ve never heard anybody sound so menacing while offering up a bowl of ice cream. And with intentions so unclear, he flawlessly plays into the central mystery.

10 Cloverfield Lane John Goodman

It’s tough to think of many other mainstream movies today that use so little to produce so much. Director Dan Trachtenberg is masterful at creating terror just from the sound of a door opening. This is a horror movie about everything we don’t see. Abrams has spent a career talking about mystery boxes. Here, acting as producer, he finally places his characters inside of one.

Without giving away too much, “10 Cloverfield Lane” exists in the same world as its predecessor, but it is still its own thing. With every major player from Marvel and DC to "Star Wars" trying to connect every single dot in their universes, it's refreshing to see a series that doesn’t care about continuity.

10 Cloverfield Lane

“10 Cloverfield Lane” is going for something more along the lines of a modern “Twilight Zone” episode. Instead of sending its characters to a new world, it emphasizes how they react to an unfamiliar situation on earth. And in the end, the slate will be wiped clean.

Let’s accept “10 Cloverfield Lane” for the intricate and intense piece of sci-fi it is. But as somebody who tries not to root for sequels all the time, I could see myself watching 10 different variations of this same story.

 

SEE ALSO: The lead singer of OK Go explains what it's like to shoot a music video in zero gravity

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The fabulous life of Ellie Goulding, who just announced she's taking a 'break' from music

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Ellie Goulding

Ellie Goulding is a successful international recording artist and one of the most popular British women on Instagram– she has 9.7 million followers to prove it.

But the 29-year-old singer and songwriter, who plays the guitar and drums, recently announced she's taking a "break" from her music career.

"I’m not writing new stuff. I’m not sure when I’ll release a new album. It might not even be next year. I need time off for my own head," Goulding told The Sun.

"I’m not in a relationship any more and that’s been hard," she said, confirming that she and boyfriend Dougie Poynter had split. "Having a break will be a good thing for me and my head.”

Goulding is currently on her "Delirium" world tour, which ends in October 2016. She plans to take a break after that for at least a year to focus on charity work and travel, according to The Sun.

"I like the idea of not really knowing what’s going to happen," she said. "If people forget about me, they do. I’ll just come back at some point."

Take a look at her enviably successful life below, from a teenager learning to play the guitar to a world-renowned pop star.

Elena Jane Goulding was born on December 30, 1986, in Hereford, Herefordshire.

Source: Ace Showbiz



She was raised in the nearby town of Lyonshall. Her parents, Arthur and Tracey Goulding, separated when she was 5. She has three siblings, an older brother Alex and two younger sisters, Isabel and Jordan, with whom she would stage Spice Girls shows. The family's background was "humble," her mother Tracey told The Daily Mail.

Sources: Ace Showbiz, Telegraph, Daily Mail

 



She learned how to play the guitar and began writing songs as a teenager. "As soon as Ellie picked up a guitar, that was it. She taught herself to play," Ellie's mother Tracey told The Daily Mail.

Sources: Ace ShowbizThe Daily Mail



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How Zac Efron got incredibly ripped for the 'Baywatch' movie

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Zac Efron is more ripped than ever.

The 28-year-old actor has been training for months to prepare for his role in the upcoming "Baywatch" movie — filming now and out summer 2017 — and it's clearly paid off.

Efron has been posting photos on his Instagram to show off his progress and share some secrets. He also wrote about his strict diet on Twitter.

Check out some of his intense regimen below:

SEE ALSO: RANKED: Every actor who's played Batman, from best to worst

First things first: lifting weights to work out his back and biceps

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There is a "Ninja Warrior"-like training course on set for Efron and his costar, "The Rock," aka Dwayne Johnson, to work out on. Efron said that he's been training for "months and months" to reach this level.

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Efron and The Rock even got into a tire-flipping race on set. The Rock won.

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7 people went undercover as inmates for 2 months, and they revealed harrowing details about an Indiana jail

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60 days in

Would you spend a night in jail if you didn't have to?

What about two months?

Seven ordinary people did exactly that on A&E's new documentary series "60 Days In," which premieres on Thursday night. The show follows the participants' experiences as undercover inmates at an Indiana jail.

The volunteers — none of whom had criminal records — were booked on fake charges and assumed false identities during their stays at Clark County Jail in Jeffersonville.

Provided with a small stipend to compensate for not working, they lived among the jail's 500-inmate population without corrections officers or other inmates knowing their secret.

The show is the brainchild of Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, who said that he needed outsiders to give him an honest look at life behind bars.

"The only way to truly understand what was going on in the jail was to implement innocent participants into the system to provide first-hand unbiased intelligence," Noel said in a statement provided by A&E. "These brave volunteers helped us identify critical issues within our system that undercover officers would not have been able to find."

Aside from pointing out systematic problems, the participants provided Noel with key details about the social dynamics that govern daily life for inmates, he told Business Insider.

For example, some of the undercover inmates informed him of a strict hierarchy that dictated when inmates could use the bathroom. New inmates were expected to fork over food or items bought in the prison commissary in exchange for bathroom privileges, according to Noel.

"Even folks in corrections for 20-plus years had never heard of that," he said.

In one disturbing scene in an episode, two participants witness a bloody fight between inmates ignited by a mealtime dispute.

"The fight had an obvious cause and effect," a participant and former Marine, Zac, said on camera. "Ricky was supposed to give his hash browns to Cody. He didn't give his hash browns to Cody. He got beat up for it."

60 days in

Another participant, a housewife named Barbara, told Business Insider that new inmates were especially vulnerable.

"When you go into jail and you're an inmate, and it's your first time, the other inmates automatically take advantage of you. They can sense it," she said. "I had things stolen from me. There were issues with taking a shower, trying to sleep, and where to sleep."

Over the course of two months, the participants said, they experienced violence and sexual harassment from fellow prisoners and witnessed drug use and deals between inmates. About 80% of the jail's population were there on drug-related charges, according to Noel.

Participants also confirmed to Noel a long-held suspicion: that some inmates had purposely gotten arrested because drugs were cheaper in jail than they were on the street.

Another participant, Maryum Ali — the eldest daughter of boxing great Muhammad Ali — said that the experience was "the most scared I've ever been in my life," People reported.

60 days in

At the end of her two months, Ali told Noel that the jail needed better drug-treatment services, which led to the establishment of a Narcotics Anonymous program for inmates, Noel said.

According to an A&E representative, multiple corrections officers were fired as a result of events witnessed by participants.

And Noel's experiment has already led to at least one arrest. Using information gained from the undercover program, investigators arrested a woman who tried to smuggle drugs into the jail last month, according to southern Indiana newspaper News and Tribune and confirmed by Noel.

He became sheriff in 2014 and said that he hopes he can help the jail shed its reputation of corruption. The previous Clark County sheriff, Danny Rodden, signed a plea deal in federal court in 2014, admitting that he lied to the FBI to cover up an affair with a prostitute. He's also part of an ongoing federal lawsuit over the jail's drug court-treatment program.

A&E paid the jail $60,000 to make the series. Noel told Business Insider that the money would go toward improved guard training, an updated camera system, and a body scanner for the jail.

The network has already picked up the show for a second season, A&E announced on Tuesday.

Watch a preview of the series here:

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