Harry gives advice to grieving kids
Britain’s Prince Harry has written the foreword for a new book aimed at the children of front-line workers who died in the COVID-19 pandemic, sharing the pain he suffered as a boy after the death of his mother, Princess Diana.
Harry wrote that losing his mother at age 12 left “a huge hole inside of me,” according to excerpts of the book printed in the Times of London. Diana died in a Paris car accident in August 1997.
“Hospital by the Hill,” by Chris Connaughton, is the story of a young person whose mother worked at a hospital and died during the pandemic. It is being given to children who have experienced similar losses.
“While I wish I was able to hug you right now, I hope this story is able to provide you comfort in knowing that you’re not alone,” Harry wrote in the foreword. “When I was a young boy I lost my mum. At the time, I didn’t want to believe it or accept it, and it left a huge hole inside of me. I know how you feel, and I want to assure you that over time that hole will be filled with so much love and support.”
Harry has on several occasions reflected on the enduring pain he experienced from his mother’s sudden death. He has made mental health awareness a key part of his charitable work.
“We all cope with loss in a different way, but when a parent goes to heaven, I was told their spirit, their love and the memories of them do not,” Harry wrote. “They are always with you, and you can hold on to them forever. I find this to be true.”
Oscar details: With nominations set and just over a month until showtime, details are trickling out about the 93rd Oscars
— and neither sweatshirts nor Zoom made the cut.
“Our plan is that this year’s Oscars will look like a movie, not a television show,” show producers Jesse Collins, Stacy Sher and Steven Soderbergh said in a statement Friday. They’ve enlisted Emmy and Tony award-winning director Glenn Weiss to direct the live broadcast on April 25.
Although considerably scaled down from a normal year, the producers have said they are committed to holding an in-person event at Los Angeles’ Union Station for nominees, presenters and limited guests.
There will also be a live component at the Dolby Theatre, which has been home to the Academy Awards since 2001.
But unlike the Golden Globes, which combined in-person and Zoom elements in its bicoastal broadcast, the Oscars are not making a virtual element possible for nominees who either can’t or don’t feel comfortable attending.
The producers said they plan to treat the event like an active movie set with on-site COVID-19 safety teams and testing protocols.
And, yes, they expect attendees to dress up.
‘Proud to be Asian’:
“Killing Eve” actor Sandra Oh made a surprise appearance at a Stop Asian Hate protest in Oakland, Pennsylvania, Saturday, giving a passionate speech and encouraging others to reach out to Asian communities.
“For many of us in our community, this is the first time we are even able to voice our fear and our anger, and I really am so grateful to everyone willing to listen,” Oh said.
Her remarks were met with resounding applause, and she went on to lead the crowd in a chant, saying: “I am proud to be Asian. I belong here.”
“Many of us don’t get a chance to be able to say that, so I just wanted to give us an opportunity to be able to shout that,” Oh said.
March 22 birthdays: Actor William Shatner is 90. Singer-guitarist George Benson is 78. Actor Lena Olin is 66. Actor Matthew Modine is 62. Comedian Keegan-Michael Key is 50. Actor Reese Witherspoon is 45. Rapper Mims is 40. Actor Constance Wu is 39.