Musicians join Global Citizen Live
The Weeknd, BTS and Billie Eilish will take part in Global Citizen
Live, a 24-hour event on Sept. 25 that’s intended to raise money and awareness to fight worldwide threats including COVID19, climate change and extreme poverty.
Hugh Evans, CEO of Global Citizen, is hoping the event, timed to the United Nations General Assembly, will encourage governments, corporations and philanthropists to fund a billion COVID-19 vaccine doses by September. The international advocacy group also hopes to raise $6 billion for famine relief efforts for the 41 million people worldwide who are estimated to be on the brink of starvation, as well as enough money to plant a billion trees to help counter climate change.
Global Citizen Live — which will run the gamut from pop stars H.E.R., Lizzo, Lorde and Ed Sheeran to rockers Coldplay, Green Day and Metallica, as well as international artists from Andrea Bocelli and Lang Lang to Angelique Kidjo and Femi Kuti — will take place on six continents. Live events are planned for Central Park in New York City, the Champ de Mars in Paris, and venues in London and Los Angeles. Performances and hosted segments will come from Sydney; Rio de Janeiro; Seoul, South Korea; and Lagos, Nigeria.
“It is very important to me to be a part of this historic event to spread awareness and encourage action toward helping the people of Ethiopia during this devastating humanitarian crisis they are faced with,” The Weeknd said in a statement. “It’ll be an honor to perform and help bring support to these citizens who are suffering so severely.”
Also set to participate are Adam Lambert, Burna Boy, Camila Cabello, Demi Lovato, Doja Cat, Duran Duran, Hugh Jackman & Deborra-lee Furness, Keith Urban, Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, Tiwa Savage and Usher.
Baron Cohen sues dispensary:
Actor Sacha Baron Cohen has sued a Massachusetts cannabis dispensary he says used an image of his character Borat on a billboard without his permission, according to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Boston.
The billboard for Somerset-based Solar Therapeutics Inc. showed Baron Cohen posing as Borat with two thumbs up and the words “It’s nice!”
— one of Borat’s catchphrases.
“By use of the billboard, the defendants falsely have conveyed to the public that Mr. Baron Cohen has endorsed their products
and is affiliated with their business,” according to the complaint filed Monday. “To the contrary, Mr. Baron Cohen never has used cannabis in his life. He never would participate in an advertising campaign for cannabis, for any amount of money.”
The billboard was taken down in April, three days after Baron Cohen’s attorneys sent a cease-and-desist order, according to the suit. Baron Cohen and his company Please You Can Touch LLC are seeking $9 million in damages.
July 14 birthdays: Actor Nancy Olson is 93. Actor Rosey Grier is 89. Actor Vincent Pastore is 75. Actor Eric Laneuville is
69. Comedian Kyle Gass is 61. Actor Jane Lynch is
61. Actor Matthew Fox is
55. Singer Tameka Cottle is 46. Actor Scott Porter is
42. Actor Phoebe WallerBridge is 36. Singer Dan Reynolds is 34.