Eclectic group earns Webby nods
An eclectic group of people — including LeBron James, James Corden, Jennifer Garner and Sir David Attenborough — have nabbed nominations for this year’s Webby Awards, recognizing the best internet content and creators. The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences announced the nominees Tuesday.
“Despite so much adversity this year, the creators behind our nominated work have found new and exciting ways to use their platforms and creativity to help the world stay connected,” Claire Graves, president of The Webby Awards, said in a statement.
Nominees include the viral “Savage Challenge,” John Mayer driving a Land Rover Defender in an ad, “Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical,” the animated music video for Dua Lipa’s “Hallucinate,” Attenborough’s Instagram account, Garner’s cooking series, James’ partnership with LyftUp, and the social media presence of “The Late Late Show with James Corden.”
Awards are selected by the Academy, while The Webby People’s Voice Award is voted on by fans. Voting is open until May 6.
Winners for all awards will be announced on May 18.
Nominations in social media include Stephen Colbert, “Sesame Street’s” YouTube Channel, “Beeing at Home with Samantha Bee” and “The Daily Show’s” Twitter feed.
Rudin steps back from films too:
Scott Rudin says he’s “stepping back” from film and streaming projects, along with his Broadway productions, as the fallout continued for one of the industry’s most powerful and prolific producers following renewed accusations of bullying.
In a statement Tuesday, Rudin said he would use the time to “work on personal issues I should have long ago.” Rudin didn’t otherwise specify what “stepping back” entailed.
“When I commented over the weekend, I was focused on Broadway reopening successfully and not wanting my previous behavior to detract from everyone’s efforts to return,” said Rudin. “It’s clear to me I should take the same path in film and streaming. I am profoundly sorry for the pain my behavior has caused, and I take this step with a commitment to grow and change.”
On Saturday, Rudin said his work on Broadway would for now be filled by others. His responses follow a story by The Hollywood Reporter that detailed numerous instances of alleged harsh treatment of employees of his production company.
Nugent sickened by coronavirus:
Rocker Ted Nugent is revealing he was in agony after testing positive for the coronavirus — months after he said the virus was “not a real pandemic.”
“I thought I was dying,” Nugent says in a Facebook live video posted Monday. “I literally could hardly crawl out of bed the last few days,” adding: “So I was officially tested positive for COVID-19 today.”
In the video, the singer repeatedly uses racist slurs to refer to COVID-19 and reiterates his stance that he won’t be getting the vaccine.
April 21 birthdays: Actor Elaine May is 89. Singer Iggy Pop is 74. Actor Patti LuPone is 72. Actor Tony Danza is 70. Actor Andie MacDowell is 63. Singer Robert Smith is 62. Rapper Michael Franti is 55. Comedian Nicole Sullivan is 51. Actor James McAvoy is 42. Actor Terrence J is 39. Singer Sydney Sierota is 24.