From a charming fairytale adaptation to Pixar’s first film to feature an African American protagonist to a love story centering on two Black leads in 1960s, Black joy on screen can be found in just some of these triumphant flicks.

In addition to checking out some of the more educational-related fare, like “13th” or “I Am Not Your Negro,” consider adding some of these joyful flicks to your streaming list.

Soul

Streaming on Disney+

“Soul,” Pixar’s first film to feature an African American protagonist, follows Joe Gardner, a middle school music teacher with dreams of becoming a jazz star. When Joe dies prematurely before receiving his big break, he gets a second chance at his fantasy when he accidentally enters the Great Before — a place that prepares unborn souls for real life. Not only does this film explore the intricacies of life and death, “Soul” features a predominantly Black voice cast, ranging from Jamie Foxx to Angela Bassett to Daveed Diggs.

Co-director and screenwriter Kemp Powers, who is also Pixar’s first Black writer-director, doesn’t view the film as a “Black” movie, but instead honors the universal story from the perspective of a Black man. “Joe could have been of any race — but if Joe was going to be a Black man it was really important that he feel authentically of that group. I didn’t want him to seem like a stereotypical character that was just painted black,” Kemp told TheWrap.

Black Is King

Streaming on Disney+

As a musical film and visual album written and directed by Beyoncé, “Black Is King” accompanies “Lion King: The Gift,” album curated by Beyoncé for the 2019 remake of “The Lion King.” The film follows Simba, represented as a young Black boy, but adds in layers of depth by drawing from traditional and contemporary elements of African culture.

Featuring numerous African and African American collaborators, including her daughter, Blue Ivy, Beyoncé weaves in Pan-African symbolism while remaining true to the plot. Although the directors had additional plans to shoot with Beyoncé in South Africa until the COVID-19 Pandemic prohibited them, “Black is King” is a triumphant masterpiece that celebrates divine Black joy.

One Night in Miami

Streaming on Prime Video

The Academy Award-nominated film tells the fictionalized account of Black icons Malcolm X, Cassius Clay (who later renamed himself Muhammad Ali), Jim Brown and Sam Cooke one night in 1964. While the dialogue and exact events are fictionalized, “One Night in Miami…” touches on pressing issues with these Black leaders debating how to move forward as the Civil Rights Movement advanced, including Malcolm’s challenges with Nation of Islam leadership, Clay’s impending conversion to Islam and Cooke’s struggle to use his platform to push the perception of the Black community forward. Directed by “Watchmen” star Regina King, “One Night in Miami…” celebrates Black leaders of the past and inspires those to come.

Barbershop

Streaming on Max

The 2002 comedy “Barbershop” was a massive hit upon release, spawning two sequels, and it holds up tremendously well. The film stars Ice Cube as a barbershop owner in Chicago who decides to sell his struggling business, only to change his mind after a day in the shop. He then works to try and reverse course as a cast of colorful characters comes in and out of the shop’s doors. The ensemble includes Anthony Anderson, Cedric the Entertainer, Michael Ealy, Sean Patrick Thomas, Eve and Keith David.

Sylvie’s Love

Streaming on Prime Video and Freevee

“Sylvie’s Love” offers a whimsical and old-fashioned love story centering on two Black leads in 1960s New York City. Writer and director Eugene Ashe’s refreshing take on this classic tale offers Black audiences the opportunity to see themselves in a time period and genre they aren’t usually reflected in. “We generally see (Black characters) only through the lens of the civil rights movement if we’re handling subject matter that deals with Black folks in the ’60s,” Ashe told theWrap. “So I just kind of wanted to do something a little different.”

Girls Trip

Streaming on Peacock

This uproarious comedy sees a group of pals reuniting for the trip of a lifetime. Hollywood veterans Regina Hall, Queen Latifah and Jada Pinkett Smith guarantee a good time, but it’s Tiffany Haddish that steals the show in her star-making performance as Dina. The women’s chemistry is off the charts and the crazy scenarios more than pay off, earning “Girls Trip” a well-deserved spot in the annals of raunchy comedy history alongside “Bridesmaids” and “The Hangover.” The movie was both a critical and commercial smash, with critics applauding how rarely films focus on Black women in their 40s are, let alone ones this funny.

Cinderella (1997)

Streaming on Disney+

Although this charming fairytale is typically best-remembered for its diverse cast, it should actually be remembered for being the best adaptation of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” Brandy, hot off the success of her sitcom “Moesha,” stars as the titular heroine with Whitney Houston in the role of her Fairy Godmother. Everything about the film is magical, from the excellent musical numbers to the vibrant costumes to a heart that far outsizes its made-for-TV budget.

The Watermelon Woman

Streaming on Max, The Criterion Channel and Kanopy

With an impressive 100% Rotten Tomatoes score, you can’t go wrong with “The Watermelon Woman.” Part narrative feature, part documentary, the movie follows filmmaker Cheryl Dunye as she researches an obscure Black actress from the 1930s simply credited as “The Watermelon Woman.” Written and directed by Dunye, a queer Black woman, this flick is just as much about the love of film as it is about the importance of representation in film. One review likened the film’s plot progression to “the ecstasy of newfound romance.”

Waiting to Exhale

Streaming on Hulu

This classic 1995 romantic comedy follows four Black women as they navigate the pitfalls of romance, family, career and everything in between. Directed by Forest Whitaker and starring Whitney Houston and Angela Bassett, “Waiting to Exhale” is a testament to the healing power of friendship. In addition to a highly-GIF’d scene of Bassett strutting away from a burning car, the movie also gave us a popular soundtrack written and produced by Baby Face.

Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit

Streaming on Disney+ and Tubi

Don’t listen to the critics, “Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit” is a “Joyful Joyful” gem, as the song goes. Whoopi Goldberg reprises her role of nightclub singer-turned-nun Sister Mary Clarence as she coaches a group of inner city youth to gospel choir greatness.The movie also features a young Lauryn Hill pre-Fugees and five years before her seminal album “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” The music in this film is irresistible, with one glowing review stating that it could only have been made by people who “understand on an intuitive level why we sing in the first place.”

The post 10 Movies That Celebrate Black Joy to Stream on Juneteenth appeared first on TheWrap.

The holiday, which was designated a federal holiday in 2021 and has been recognized within Black and African-American communities for far longer than that, has gained broader recognition in recent years.

Still, for many Americans there is much to learn about the new holiday. Many people of all races remain unsure of what Juneteenth is, mostly because not much is taught about the holiday in public schools.

Juneteenth, also referred to as Freedom Day or Jubilee Day, commemorates the total abolition of slavery in the U.S. that took place on June 19, 1865. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation three years earlier — making slavery illegal by Jan. 1, 1863 — many enslaved people were still not free because slave owners in the south, and particularly Texas, neglected to tell the people they enslaved for months. In fact, many slave owners relocated the enslaved and plantations to Texas because it was viewed as a “safe haven” for their operations.

It took federal troops two and a half years to arrive in Galveston, Texas and take control of the state to ensure all the enslaved people were actually freed. 

Slavery was officially outlawed in the U.S. with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865.

On that fateful June 19, Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and announced that the enslaved people were no longer legally allowed to be kept as property of their owners. See his speech below.

“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”

Back then, Juneteenth became a cause for celebration for Black Americans but was often met with opposition. Public property was often barred from being used for celebratory activities, but as blacks became landowners, property was donated in honor of the landmark date.

Freedom Day celebrations declined in the 1900s because of the Great Depression and textbooks that attributed the end of slavery to the Emancipation Proclamation rather than Juneteenth. However, the ongoing civil rights movement, coupled with recent events like the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, ignited a greater interest in the holiday.

In 2021, the day was commemorated officially, with President Joe Biden signing a bill that recognizes the day as a federal holiday. Previously, some states and employers recognized the day but it was on a case-by-case basis. In 1979, Texas became the first state to establish Juneteenth as a state holiday. 

While the Senate unanimously passed the bill, the effort to designate Juneteenth as a national holiday was met with criticism from both sides of the political spectrum and lawmakers on either side of the aisle.

14 House Republicans voted against the bill.

Other critics of the holiday pointed out that while it is well-meaning, the gesture of granting Juneteenth federal recognition is just that — a gesture. Some people of color including Rep. Cori Bush pointed to reparations as a more meaningful way of paying back the descendants of enslaved people as restitution for the trauma their ancestors endured at the hands of white slavers.

Even Bernie Sanders weighed in and said, “Juneteenth becoming a federal holiday is an important moment in understanding our country’s history, and the horrors and lasting legacy of slavery. But real justice is when all Black Americans live free of oppression. That is not the work of a single day, but of every day.”

The holiday has gained more popularity in recent years. Lately, media companies have endeavored to produce more content about Juneteenth, and increased the amount of programming that both educates about the day and uplifts Black creators.

The post Juneteenth: What to Know About the Freedom Holiday appeared first on TheWrap.

“The onus is on folks like us to create programs, because we also know what we need to break in and to stay in,” Lena Waithe told TheWrap. “I think anyone that sees it as a threat — I try not to even focus attention on that, because the threat is just inclusivity. The threat is stories being told that ordinarily wouldn’t be. So anyone who has an issue with that, I don’t really have much brain space for that. My mission is to make sure people that feel invisible, or don’t feel heard, get to feel seen and get to feel like their voices are being listened to. And I think this is the way to do it, is to really make the space to find the funds, because that’s the only way you can really make sure everybody gets a fair shot.”

Rising Voices — a joint effort between Waithe’s Hillman Grad production company, job search website Indeed and film production company 271 Films — seeks to present Hollywood with its next generation of diverse storytellers. During the program, Rising Voice’s team of filmmaker mentors work with a group of 10 creatives who are given $100,000 to create a short film. The filmmakers are also paid $5,000 for writing their original script and $5,000 for directing.

While Hollywood has been a tough industry to break into across demographics, creatives of color face additional roadblocks, including structural racism, access to funding and finding a network of sponsors who can get them in boardrooms with studio executives.

“Programs like Rising Voices are crucial for filmmakers of color, because they tackle systemic barriers in the film industry,” Rising Voices Season 3 participant Miguel Angel Caballero said. Since graduating from the program, Caballero’s short film “The Ballad of Tita and the Machines” won an Imagen Award for Best Short Film in 2023. “[Rising Voices’] motto is, ‘Talent is universal, opportunity is not.’ Rising Voices provides not only opportunities, mentorship, and resources, but also champions filmmakers and our stories that Hollywood has often overlooked.”

Caballero continued, “[‘The Ballad of Tita and The Machines’] premiered at the Tribeca Festival, had a special screening at TIFF, has screened in over 20 film festivals and has garnered 10 awards to date. These milestones are not just moments of recognition, but stepping stones that continue to propel my career forward and support me in my journey to tell impactful stories.”

Cofounder of 271 Films and Rising Voices mentor Constanza Castro said the success of Rising Voices participants is rooted in the initiative’s rigorous curriculum and its community-oriented foundation. That sets filmmakers up with the tools they need to take on future obstacles and helps carve out a less bumpy path for BIPOC creatives, according to Castro.

“Filmmakers that have gone through the program have truly changed in big jumps,” Castro said. She founded 271 Flims with her sister and fellow Rising Voices mentor Doménica. “Doménica and I are filmmakers. It’s taken us many, many years to get to where we’re at, and I think the challenge is always to make it faster and easier.”

“There shouldn’t be so many barriers,” she continued. “When you have a film set in a studio system world, so it’s like, ‘OK, you’re no longer doing it alone. You are accountable in a big way, you’re not calling all the shots, we’re challenging you to make decisions, and you’re doing it quickly.’ And I think what has come next for every person that has gone through the program has been proof that there’s something unique here that’s happening. And it’s not just … There’s a lot of mentorship programs, very different ones. But here, we’re building community.”

That Rising Voices community started off with 800 filmmakers signing up and more than 650 jobs being created in the process. To date, the program boasts creating more than 2,000 jobs over the course of its existence. Over the first three seasons, 140 of the participants’ films have gone on to earn festival selections and awards. As the program grows, Rising Voices Season 4 saw a 40% jump in applications.

“I think it’s a testament to all the wonderful filmmakers and the success they’ve had in the industry,” Rishi Rajani, Rising Voices mentor and Hillman Grad president of production and development, said of the initiative’s success. “I think when you are applying to something you’re like, ‘OK, how have people from this program done, and coming out of it, is it the right program to apply to?’ I think we’ve been able to prove over the last several years that it’s a resounding ‘yes.'”

Despite some unexpected challenges — like the COVID-19 pandemic and the months-long WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike — Rising Voices has remained devoted to its goal to help end race and gender disparities in the entertainment business. Even as more anti-DEI legislation continues to sprout and industries across the country pull back on promises to center diversity, equity and inclusion, the Rising Voices team said the program is here to stay.

“As soon as news came out about [DEI bans in] schools, we were kind of like, ‘This is concerning,’ Constanza and I talked [about how] it’s going to impact a lot of jobs,” Doménica Castro explained. “So many [businesses] are going to be like, ‘Great, don’t have to do that anymore. We’ll put that money somewhere else.’ [Some DEI efforts seem] so easily replaceable because they weren’t ever foundational. They were Band-Aids to a problem. It came from, ‘Everyone’s doing it. We must do it too.’ It didn’t come from, ‘Let’s do it because it matters.’ This program, I can tell you, from everybody involved, it comes because it matters. It exists because it matters and it’s continued because it matters.”

According to USC Anneberg’s study “Inclusion in the Director’s Chair: Analysis of Director Gender and Race/Ethnicity Across the 1,600 Top Films From 2007 to 2022,” in 2022, one in five (20.7%) of the top 100 films were directed by a person from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. That was a 6.6% drop from the year before. The statistics show Hollywood still has work to do in order to cement equitable change. Indeed’s LaFawn Davis, the company’s senior vice president of Environmental, Social and Governance, said that no matter how the political climate changes, Rising Voices will keep moving forward.

“Because this program did not start from a performative place, we’re going to stay the course,” Davis said. “Even though the winds might change in the direction of DEI being this negative connotation, or people saying ‘anti-woke’ and things of that nature, we are going to stay the course. We’re still investing in this program because we believe it’s important, in order for these voices to be heard, and the stories to be heard, for people to see themselves in the stories being told as well.”

Davis continued, “It also shines a light on the industry as a whole. This isn’t just about having more diversity in front of the camera, this isn’t just about having the director, as I mentioned — it’s also about expanding it to lots of different jobs. Some people just need a chance and opportunity to get into the field. And we also need more people in positions to be able to greenlight films. It’s not just one or two things that actually makes this more of a diverse experience. This is about the entire industry that we want to shift and change.”

Indeed’s CEO Chris Hyams shared his desire to make the program even more inclusive as it pushes Hollywood to change the industry’s framework.

“Our goal when we started this was not that Indeed would get credit for all this stuff and we would suddenly have this big program, be the only ones doing it,” Hyams explained. “The goal was to inspire the industry to take notice, and to change the way the industry operates.”

“We use the term ‘BIPOC,’ but I’ll say that we have not yet had an Indigenous filmmaker as a part of this program,” Hyams added, noting that they’re looking to expand the ways in which Rising Voices is diverse. “That’s something that we’re hoping to actually do additional outreach for in Season 5. We haven’t really targeted, we’ve just opened [the program] up. We’ve had an amazing set of folks who have applied, but that’s one area we would like to see some more [of], especially having seen what has happened in in the industry over the last couple of years with [shows] like ‘Reservation Dogs’ from Sterlin Harjo, and Lily Gladstone getting nominated for an Oscar. I think there’s a lot of opportunity for us to continue to expand that way.”

Indeed will debut 10 shorts from Rising Voices Season 4 at the 2024 Tribeca Festival in New York on June 10. This season’s participants included Winter Dunn, Mercedes Arturo, Kelly Yu, Anndi Jinelle Liggett, Wes Goodrich, Jean Liu, Kelly Luu & Kevin Luu, Manuel Del Valle, Omar Kamara and Robin Takao D’Oench.

Check out the impact Rising Voices has worked to make in the industry over the years in a video from Indeed below:

The post Lena Waithe’s Rising Voices Fights Racial Disparities in Filmmaking as DEI Efforts Shatter Across the US: ‘The Onus Is on Us’ appeared first on TheWrap.

The Pearl Jam frontman called Butker a “f–king p–y” during a concert Saturday night in Las Vegas. Between songs, he asked the audience to applaud for the female musicians in the band’s opening act, Deep Sea Diver.

“That’s some good men, good women, making up a great band,” he continued. “The singer, Jessica [Dobson], and the keyboard player, Patti [King], they must not have believed that ‘diabolical lie’ that women should take pride in taking a back seat to their man,” emphasizing the phrase “diabolical lie” in his trademark baritone.

The singer then waited for the audience applause to die down before adding that while homemaking is “maybe one of the hardest jobs and you should definitely take pride in it,” that “you shouldn’t not follow a dream because you think … that you’re gonna benefit by giving up your dreams. I couldn’t understand the logic.”

Vedder continued, “So, I’m questioning in public right now. It’s not a graduation speech, but it’s a full house in Las Vegas, so I want to see how you felt.”

The music icon then called out Butker for merely being a kicker for the Super Bowl Champs, noting, “You see the kicker because he doesn’t have the pads because he doesn’t tackle anybody or get tackled. But, you know, he was telling men, ‘Don’t forget to puff up your chest and be more masculine. Don’t lose your masculinity.’ The irony was that when he was saying that, he looked like such a f–king p–y.”

Vedder, who has been publicly pro-choice since Pearl Jam hit the scene in the early ’90s, went on to say: “There’s nothing more masculine than a strong man supporting a strong woman and people of quality do not fear equality. And that woman, Jessica, she’s not fronting a band, playing in Las Vegas and being on tour because she decided, ‘Yeah, I’ll just take the back seat and support a man.’”

Meanwhile, actress Patricia Heaton defended Butker’s speech, saying, “He’s not a monster.” The former star of “The Middle” told people who were offended by Butker’s speech to “relax.”

It should be noted that Butker’s mother Elizabeth Keller Butker is not a stay-at-home mom, but a career physicist.

The post Eddie Vedder Calls Harrison Butker a ‘F–king P–y’ for Sexist Speech: ‘People of Quality Do Not Fear Equality’ | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

She began the video by thanking activists working for “the liberation and freedom of people who have been genocided” in Palestine, Sudan and the Congo, before mentioning her own recent issues.

“On a personal note,” she said, “You have activated me. I was in a deep, dark depression. I had some mental health crises and and episodes over the last nine months and I was not present.” In April, the Grammy winner shared the message, “I quit,” on Instagram. She later clarified that she was not quitting social media or the music industry, but quitting paying attention to “negative energy.“

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The singer went on to say, “between the loss I experienced in my personal life and the state of the world, I have been rendered into an emotional state where I could not process or handle anything. It was very dark.’ She did not mention the lawsuits against her or any of the plaintiffs, which were filed by former dancers and a costume designer who worked on her Emmy-winning Amazon reality series “Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.”

Lizzo added, “I’m not saying this to make excuses, nor do I want sympathy, I just haven’t been able to be transparent with y’all in a long time. And this has been weighing on my heart to share with you all. The people in my life who love and care about me, they helped me get out of this dark space and I appreciate them.”

Lizzo thanked people for “kind words on the Internet” and “the activism that I have been seeing has been extremely motivating. Y’all have really motivated me to get my ass up and get back to who I am.

Later in the video, she said, “Thank you to the people who were genuinely concerned about me. You saw my face, but nobody was home. I was not present at all… and I don’t like how that feels.

She continued, “As someone who has worked closely with activists, I know the toll it can take on your mental and your physical [health], and it can feel thankless. So, if you haven’t heard it today, ‘Thank you.’ Your work is not in vain. You have helped so many people. You have saved literal lives.”

She signed off with the message, “We ain’t free until we’re all free.”

The post Lizzo Says She’s Faced ‘Mental Health Crises and Episodes’ Since Former Dancers Sued Her | Video appeared first on TheWrap.

Here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Gala, which will be held, as usual, at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Is the Met Gala streaming?

Yes, the exclusive livestream starts at 6 p.m. ET at Vogue.com. The live feed will also be available on Vogue’s TikTok and YouTube accounts.

E! will also be livestreaming the red capet on X, TikTok, Instagram and Peacock.

The Associated Press will also livestream their coverage from the nearby Mark Hotel — where several stars get ready — beginning at 4:45 p.m. ET on YouTube and APNews.com.

Which celebrities will be at the Met Gala?

Expect to see Gala regulars Zendaya and Jennifer Lopez, who co-chaired the event along with rapper Bad Bunny and “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who has personal approval of the star-studded guest list always attends. Past guests have included Rihanna, Billie Eilish, Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively.

What is this year’s theme?

This year’s theme for the red carpet is “The Garden of Time,” inspired by the 1962 short story of the same name by British author J.G. Ballard. (Ballard’s other books include “Empire of the Sun,” “High-Rise” and “Crash,” all of which have been made into movies.)

The current exhibit is titled “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” so expect a lot of florals and princesses. Andrew Bolton, the curator-in-charge at the Costume Institute, chooses the theme each year.

Was the Gala close to be being canceled because of a strike?

Yes, just hours before the Met Gala the Condé Nast Union — which represents Vogue writers — and the magazine’s management came to a tentative agreement so that the show could go on.

“On behalf of the management bargaining committee and leaders throughout the business, we are pleased to come to tentatively agreed terms on a contract with the union,” read a statement from management shared with TheWrap on Monday.

“We are happy to have a contract that reflects and supports our core values — our content and journalism,” the statement continued. “Our commitment to diversity and professional development; our industry-leading hiring practices and our competitive wages and benefits.”

The post How to Watch the 2024 Met Gala Live Online appeared first on TheWrap.

During a press conference with her lawyer, Gloria Allred, Haley made her first comments about the New York Court of Appeals’ Thursday decision to overturn that conviction.

“We made progress of historic proportion when justice was served, and myself and the other women who trust testified were truly seen and heard by the judge and jury in this very public case,” she said, reading from a prepared statement.

“The verdict undeniably had a ripple effect across the globe, which gave hope and courage to women and men everywhere and set a precedent for similar cases. Yesterday’s devastating reversal of this conviction will no doubt also have its ripple effect,” Haley said. She called the ruling “a terrible decision…that sends an extremely disheartening message to victims of sexual assault everywhere.”

When asked if she plans to testify if Weinstein is tried again, Haley said the experience was “traumatizing, exhausting and terrifying” and noted that the public might not realize that the first trial took two years of preparation.

“I will consider testifying again should there be another trial, while the Molineux witnesses would not be allowed to testify in a retrial,” Haley added. “I’m glad that they two got their day in court, which I feel provided crucial information about the predatory pattern and character of Mr. Weinstein.”

Haley shared her first reaction to Thursday’s news: “I felt sick to my stomach. And my heart sank. But you know, there’s a lot in the world that’s happening right now that’s making me feel sick to my stomach. So it was just another kind of insane-feeling day, when you can’t believe it’s real.”

When reporters pressed harder about the likelihood of her taking the stand again, Haley said, “It was a very, very lengthy process and… I don’t particularly want to. I mean, I definitely don’t actually want to go through that again.”

Weinstein’s conviction for sexual assault in California stands.

Allred has represented Haley since she first went public with her allegations against Weinstein in a 2017 press conference.

The attorney said, “I call on victims’ rights advocates and plaintiffs’ attorneys to join me in proposing a law in New York that is similar to what we have in California,” referring to the Golden State’s laws that permit “prior bad acts” into evidence.

Added Allred, “There is a bill pending in the New York State Legislature that would do just that. I have not seen that bill. I do think that that should be permitted — prior sexual abuse evidence in sexual assault prosecutions — but I would want to review the bill before I fully support and endorse it.”

The post Weinstein Victim Mimi Haley Felt ‘Sick to Her Stomach’ After New York Conviction Was Overturned appeared first on TheWrap.

Four out of seven New York State Court of Appeals judges voted on Thursday to overturn Weinstein’s 2020 convictions on the rape of an actress in 2013 and criminal sexual behavior against a production assistant in 2006, based on the inclusion of what are called Molineux witnesses — alleged victims who testified against Weinstein despite their cases not being included in his trial.

This means that future #MeToo cases are unlikely to use witnesses who establish the context of prior alleged bad acts in cases of sexual misconduct.

“If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain,” said Nicole Page, partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP. “The Court decided that their testimony about Weinstein’s prior sexual assaults was prejudicial and should not have been admitted at trial.”

The reversal doesn’t determine Weinstein’s innocence or guilt, said attorney Douglas H. Wigdor, who represented 10 alleged victims of sexual abuse by Weinstein, including two women who testified at his criminal rape trial in New York. “It really is just about whether he, in the majority opinion, had a fair trial.”

The Appeals court decision in New York probably will not affect Weinstein’s December 2022 conviction in Los Angeles because California doesn’t have the same restrictions on Molineux witnesses, he and other attorneys told TheWrap.

“New York’s a bit of an anomaly,” said Wigdor. “California and the federal rule have it right…. that testimony of other victims should be admitted at the discretion of the court because the issue of intent is one that’s so difficult to prove in a he-said/she-said situation, where there are no other witnesses.”

Still, after the New York reversal Weinstein and his attorneys are expected to make similar arguments in California about the admissibility of testimony from other alleged victims.

“They’ll have to find a judge who buys it,” said Lisa Banks, a founding partner at Katz Banks Kumin LLP who concentrates her practice on sexual harassment and whistleblower retaliation. “The dissents [in the New York case] show that there are a number of judges who totally understand the nuance and the difficulties when you’re dealing with sexual assault cases, particularly among people who know each other.”

Wigdor explained that the nuance comes down to the legal difference between “intent” and “predisposition.” The appeals court ruled that the conviction was improper because it was going to show his predisposition to commit these crimes, not show his intent.

New York State Court of Appeals Judge Madeline Singas, in a scathing dissent to the full court’s decision on Thursday, argued that it failed to understand the nuances of the sexual assault case. Ignoring Weinstein’s previous sexual assault violations “deprives juries of the context necessary to do their work… and demonstrates the majority’s utter lack of understanding of the dynamics of sexual assault,” she wrote.

“New York’s women,” Singas wrote, “deserve better.”

Page agreed that this kind of legal hairsplitting can make or break litigation against a sexual abuser. “Women have a hard enough time being believed and juries may struggle to understand the nuances around manipulation and lack of consent that are omnipresent in these types of cases,” she told TheWrap. “If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain.”

Weinstein could be re-tried in New York

Will Weinstein get a new trial?

“We will do everything in our power to retry this case and remain steadfast in our commitment to survivors of sexual assault,” a spokesperson for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said on Thursday.

In the February 2020 New York conviction, a jury found Weinstein, now 72, guilty of third-degree rape of actress Jessica Mann in 2013 and a criminal sexual act against actress Miriam Haley in 2006. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison. Then in 2022, a Los Angeles jury found him of guilty of rape and sexual assault and he was sentenced to an additional 16 years on top of his 23-year New York sentence.

Despite Thursday’s appeals court reversal, Weinstein remains incarcerated at Mohawk Correction Facility in Rome, New York.

 If juries are not allowed to hear from other survivors who were subjected to the same patterns of conduct, convictions may be much harder to obtain.”

Nicole Page, a partner at Reavis Page Jump LLP

Wigdor considered the 2020 verdict “a great moment, frankly, where someone was held accountable for his actions.” And today’s ruling caught Banks, who represented Christine Blasey Ford in her allegations of sexual assault against Brett Kavanaugh during his Supreme Court confirmation hearings, by surprise.

However, Ann Olivarius, whose transatlantic law firm handles civil litigation as well as sexual harassment, assault and abuse, told TheWrap she had expected the conviction to be overturned. “The judge made a mistake, you go back into court, you retry, that’s life,” said Olivarius.

“[This] doesn’t mean that Harvey Weinstein is an innocent man,” added Wigdor. “To the contrary. The District Attorney can now retry the case and he’s already said that he will. So I expect that criminal trial will happen and ultimately, Harvey Weinstein will be held again accountable for his actions.”

In Thursday’s ruling, the Appeals court found that the trial judge in the original case “erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts,” allowing information to be presented that prejudiced the jury. Judge Jenny Rivera, writing the majority opinion, said that “the accused has a right to be held account only for the crime charged, and thus, allegations of prior bad acts may not be admitted against them for the sole purpose of establishing their propensity for criminality.”

The court ruled that evidence admitted into the court regarding Weinstein’s prior alleged sexual assault violations was an “abuse of judicial discretion,” which could have been used by the jurors to “impeach the accused’s credibility.” Rivera described it as “nothing more than bad behavior that destroys a defendant’s character but sheds no light on their credibility as related to the criminal charges.”

Olivarius asked if the system should be changed to make it easier for women to bring claims and for perpetrators to be found guilty. “Maybe you should put in [the accused’s] past behaviors,” she said. “We should think about changing those rules. But as it stands now, the judge was wrong, and they just have to do a retrial.”

Wigdor agreed, adding, “In New York the law is dated and ought to be changed. It was still relevant not to show propensity, but to show Weinstein’s intent. Courts routinely do admit this even in New York.”

“What happened today was obviously devastating and unfortunate, and I think wrong. But I think it’s a minor setback for now,” said Banks. “The appellate court got this one wrong, and I don’t think it’s going to result in Harvey Weinstein walking free and I don’t think it’s going to set back the #MeToo movement.”

A previous version of this story misidentified attorney Nicole Page as Lisa Page. TheWrap regrets the error.

The post Weinstein Reversal May Make It Harder for Other #MeToo Convictions, but It Won’t Affect California | Analysis appeared first on TheWrap.

“We’re saying enough is enough. We’re tired of our tuition money, our wages — in some cases — going to commit this genocide,” Vincent Doehr, a Ph.D. student in political science and a designated spokesman for the encampment told TheWrap.

He added: “I think what we see here today is a crowd of hundreds of UCLA community members. It includes students, it includes alumni, it includes faculty, it includes employees who are united from having seen six months of Israeli genocide against Palestinians as well as 75-plus years of Israel’s occupation of Palestine.”

The intense emotion was everywhere on the UCLA campus, a day after 93 students were arrested downtown at the University of Southern California after students and activists camped out on the central campus, also demanding divestment.

The tent encampment at UCLA was new, and the latest extension of nationwide protests at elite universities on behalf of Palestinians — including Columbia, Harvard, New York University, Yale, Berkeley and others — where students are demanding that their institutions get involved in the matter and, in many cases, divest from any Israeli companies in their portfolios.

Since 3 a.m, Doehr and his fellow pro-Palestine student protesters have been stationed between UCLA’s Powell Library and Royce Hall, orchestrating a “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” in response to the more than 30,000 deaths in the Gaza Strip following the Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack.

USC cancelled its main commencement ceremony on Thursday, a day after 93 people were arrested following encampment protests. When the TheWrap visited the campus on Thursday, the yard was clear, calm and silent without any chatter other than security and law enforcements checking students’ identification at entry.

As of Thursday, students at Emory University, Northwestern University, Cornell University and more have joined the list of schools with student-based protests.

“It’s really important that it’s happening on university campuses because this is a place of discussion,” Marie Salem, a doctoral student in UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health and a spokesperson for the protestors, told TheWrap. “This is a place where we talk about it in the classroom, and we really want to see it happening outside the classroom and that’s really our main ask today. If you’re going to talk about it, talk about social justice, we really want to see an action and part of that is divesting from corporations and companies that are complicit with the Israeli genocide that’s happening, or even in direct collaboration with it, such as the weapon industry.”

UCLA students explained there are several demands, but two are the most pertinent, Doehr shared: a divestment of all University of California and UCLA Foundation funding that’s connected to Israel, a call from UCLA to urge for a permanent ceasefire, a boycott by UCLA against Israeli universities as well as a suspension of study-abroad programs.

Several students approached by TheWrap declined to be interviewed and directed a reporter to Doehr and Salem.

“I’ve been a student here for three years and the entire time has been a back and forth with the administration over divesting the university’s endowment from corporations that profit off the killing of Palestinians,” Doehr said, adding that protests can end if the university meets that demand. “We’re here today, and our faculty are here today to keep that pressure up until the university does that.”

George Dutton, who is a professor in the Department of Asian Language and Culture, stood alongside students with the purpose of supporting pro-Palestine student protesters’ freedom of speech.

“I think this is a very important part of being a human being and being able to stand up and speak out on issues they feel strongly about,” Dutton said, who came to the protest after teaching his class earlier that morning.

He added that he is there just to support and is not involved in the pro-Palestine protest itself. “I think it’s important to have faculty members and staff members out there surveying as witnesses to observe what is going on and their right to freedom of speech… I’m really here to to try to encourage the UCLA administration to recognize freedom of speech.”

In a statement to TheWrap, regarding the on-campus protests, UCLA said the safety and the wellbeing of students and members are its top priorities.

“Our top priority is always the safety and wellbeing of our entire Bruin community. We’re actively monitoring this situation to support a peaceful campus environment that respects our community’s right to free expression while minimizing disruption to our teaching and learning mission,” Mary Osako, vice chancellor of UCLA Strategic Communications, said.

The post UCLA Student Pro-Palestine Protesters Demand ‘Material Action’ From Universities: ‘Enough Is Enough’ appeared first on TheWrap.

“Taylor is not important. She might be a safe space for girls, and she’s probably the Madonna of now, but she’s not interesting as an artist,” Love told The Standard in a new interview.

As for Madonna herself, there’s never been any love lost between the grunge queen and the Material Girl.

“I don’t like her and she doesn’t like me. I loved ‘Desperately Seeking Susan,’ but for the city of New York as much as her,” Love said of the 1985 Madonna film.

Love, who was married to Nirvana legend Kurt Cobain, also advised Lana Del Rey to “take seven years off” after her choice to cover a John Denver song.

“Up until ‘Take Me Home, Country Roads,’ I thought she was great,” Love said.

What female singers does the non-Swiftie approve of? Legends like Nina Simone and others who have been around for a long time, such as punk godmothers Patti Smith and Blondie’s Debbie Harry, as well as folk singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Love also likes British singer PJ Harvey, but added she only liked Harvey’s ’90s music. “The first four albums, then I’m done,” Love said.

Love has just finished her memoir, “The Girl With the Most Cake,” as well as a new solo album that the Standard interviewer called “the missing link between early Lana Del Rey and mid-period Marianne Faithful, but with the maturity of Bob Dylan.”

The London-based singer is also presenting a new eight-part series, “Courtney Love’s Women,” on BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds.

“It’s great that there are so many successful women in the music industry, but lots of them are becoming a cliché,” said Love. “Now, every successful woman is cloned, so there is just too much music. They’re all the same. If you play something on Spotify, you get bombarded with a lot of stuff that’s exactly the same.”

Oh, and she’s not really a Beyoncé fan, although she respects her Cowboy Carter album… as a concept.

“I like the idea of Beyoncé doing a country record because it’s about Black women going into spaces where previously only white women have been allowed, not that I like it much. As a concept, I love it. I just don’t like her music,” she said.

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