Bieber for questioning
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — An investigative judge in Argentina is summoning Justin Bieber for questioning.
Bieber has been accused of sending bodyguards to attack a photographer outside a Buenos Aires nightclub during a South American tour last year.
Judge Facundo Cubas asked Interpol on Thursday to use all “necessary means” to notify the singer that he has 60 days to appear before the court in Argentina. The judge says that if Bieber fails to comply, an international arrest order will be issued.
Argentine photographer Diego Pesoa alleges he was chased down and beaten on November 9, 2013, by Bieber’s bodyguards outside the INK nightclub, where the singer and his entourage partied.
Bieber would face up to one year in prison if he was convicted on a charge of causing minor injuries.
Gandolfini enters Hall of Fame
ASBURY PARK, New Jersey (AP) — New Jersey inducted the late Sopranos star James Gandolfini into its Hall of Fame on Thursday.
Six cast members of the hit HBO drama were on hand as Gandolfini, who played mob boss Tony Soprano, was honoured, as much for his love of the state as for his TV fame.
“Hey, J stands for Jersey and for Jimmy,” said Vincent Pastore, who played mobster Salvatore ‘Big Pussy’ Bonpensiero. “Jimmy should be remembered for his work, for his love of his family and for his compulsion to let people know how great New Jersey is. It was beyond perfect that he played a mob boss from New Jersey.”
Gandolfini was a Westwood native. He graduated from Rutgers University and won three Emmy awards for his portrayal of the neurotic north Jersey mob boss. He died in Italy last year at age 51.
Aida Turturro, who played Tony’s sister Janice, said Gandolfini had “the biggest, most sweetest heart ever. He was a true friend. I was his sister in many ways.”
Gandolfini’s widow, Deborah Lin, said he truly loved where he was from.
“He was very proud to be from New Jersey,” she said. “His happiest moments were always in New Jersey.”
Mbatha-Raw says ‘Beyond’ film shows power of self
LOS ANGELES (AP) — British actress Gugu Mbatha-Raw has had a busy 2014.
Earlier this year, she starred in Belle, based on a true story about a mixed-race woman who was raised in British aristocracy in the 18th century. Now, the 31-year-old actress has transformed herself into a hot new pop star in Beyond the Lights, which was released yesterday.
The story exposes the dark aspects of fame and pressures of over sexualisation encountered by some female artists.
The film underscores the importance of having a strong sense of self-worth, Mbatha-Raw says.
“If you’re trading your self-worth for an image of sexuality and something that you think is going to be commercial and sell, I just don’t think those are very healthy messages for young women today and I think that people often believe the fantasy,” she said in a recent interview.
Mbatha-Raw says she doesn’t feel the same pressures as an actress because you get to play different characters.
“The great thing about something like (the character) Noni is that I was able to physically transform and to go on a journey through a different person’s eyes but then I can still come back to me,” she said. “I just think that’s important as I say to be able to touch base with yourself.”