Category: BUSINESS

Diddy lawsuit claims he sexually assaulted man with threats to career

A little over a month before Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial is set to begin, the hip-hop mogul has been accused of sexual assault in a new civil lawsuit.

An anonymous man from Southern California, filing as John Doe, alleged Combs sexually assaulted him on the set of a commercial in either 2022 or 2023, in a New York County Supreme Court complaint obtained by USA TODAY. He claims that while filming a “high-profile commercial,” Doe — describing himself as a “photographer/production assistant” — “struck up a conversation” with Combs.

Allegedly, after Combs invited Doe into his trailer, he demanded Doe perform oral sex on him and promised to “make your career take off.” Doe called the alleged incident “blatant sexual quid-pro-quo.”

“Combs framed this meeting as an opportunity for (Doe) to advance his career. (Doe), although hesitant, could not turn down what appeared to be a career-defining moment few ever receive,” the lawsuit reads. “The implication was clear, also, that if (Doe) did not perform oral sex on Combs to his satisfaction, his career would be over.”

Doe, who “does not recall” why Combs was on set but noted high-profile people aren’t always named on call sheets, accuses Combs of sexual battery and requests a jury trial in the case.

Combs’ legal team, in a statement to USA TODAY, maintained their stance on his innocence, writing: “No matter how many lawsuits are filed — especially by individuals who refuse to put their own names behind their claims — it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone — man or woman, adult or minor.”

The statement continued, “We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail in court.”

TMZ was first to report the news.

Headline-generating Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who is among the counsel representing Doe, told USA TODAY in a statement, “We have worked hard to spear head this litigation zealously and ensure that the voices of these alleged victims are heard.”

He added, “The facts set forth in this latest complaint are egregious and highly disturbing. We look forward to presenting these facts in court.”

Combs’ attorneys have maintained his innocence as he faces dozens of sexual assault lawsuits that date back to the 1990s, as well as his criminal sex crimes charges. Combs is currently in jail after being denied bond multiple times and is scheduled to head to trial for his sex trafficking and racketeering charges on May 5.

Lawyers for Diddy, John Doe are facing off in other lawsuits

This is not the first time this team − comprising Buzbee, local New York counsel Curis Law, PLLC, and the San Diego-based AVA Law Group − is heading to court with Combs’ lawyers.

Buzbee announced in a press conference last year that he is purportedly representing more than 100 alleged victims of Combs. Among his clients is a woman who alleged in her December lawsuit that Jay-Z and Combs drugged and raped her in September 2000 when she was 13 years old.

That same Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case in February; weeks later, Jay-Z sued Jane Doe, Buzbee and another attorney for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation.

Combs’ team has previously gone after Buzbee on procedural grounds, claiming he failed to seek pro hac vice admission that would allow him to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for the purposes of representing a given client.

U.S. District Court Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, in responding to Buzbee’s request — and subsequent withdrawal of his motion — to appear in court as counsel in Candice McCrary’s case against Combs, wrote in her March 21 order that “on February 13, 2025, the Committee on Grievances of this Court denied (Buzbee’s) belated application for regular admission on the basis that he had appeared in cases without seeking admission.”

In a February Instagram post, Buzbee pushed back against reports that he had been “barred” from practicing law in New York.

“Let me be clear. I’m licensed to practice law in New York. I’m in good standing with the state bar and have always been,” he wrote alongside a copy of a court clerk’s 2019 certification of his licensure to practice “as an attorney and counselor at law in all the courts of this state.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

March 27, 2025
Taylor Tomlinson leaving CBS game show

After two seasons on the air, Taylor Tomlinson’s late-night game show “After Midnight” is going dark.

The CBS talk show, which filled the network’s 12:30 a.m. slot following James Corden’s 2023 departure from “The Late Late Show,” will air its series finale in June, a year and a half after the program’s January 2024 debut.

Although “After Midnight” was renewed for a third season, Tomlinson is departing the show to focus on her stand-up comedy career.

“Hosting ‘After Midnight’ has genuinely been the experience of a lifetime, and I’ll be forever grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible journey,” Tomlinson said in a statement. “Though it was an extremely tough decision, I knew I had to return to my first passion and return to stand-up touring full-time.

“I appreciate CBS, Stephen Colbert, the producers, and the entire ‘After Midnight’ staff and crew for all the love, support, and unforgettable memories.”

Fellow late-night host Stephen Colbert, who serves as an executive producer on the show, thanked CBS in a statement for its “constant support and invaluable partnership on ‘After Midnight,’” as well as the show’s staff for its “amazing dedication.”

“While we were excited and grateful for our third season to start in the fall, we respect Taylor’s decision to return to stand-up full time,” Colbert said.

“After Midnight,” which drew inspiration from the Comedy Central game show “@midnight,” saw Tomlinson lead a panel of comedians through a series of arbitrary games and quizzes for points.

Review: Taylor Tomlinson tries something new with ‘After Midnight.’ It’s just OK.

While the series could charm with its “occasionally chuckle-worthy and entirely inoffensive” programming, USA TODAY’s TV critic Kelly Lawler called “After Midnight” a “half-baked cable timeslot filler.”

“It’s an outright crime that CBS took its first female late-night host and gave her a crummy, cheap format,” Lawler wrote. “On the outside, it seems forward-thinking, breaking free of the desk-and-couch format that has dominated the genre for decades. But what it really does is restrict Tomlinson.”

Tomlinson is best known for her Netflix comedy specials “Quarter-Life Crisis” and “Look at You.” The comedian is currently performing on her headlining Save Me Tour, which kicked off on Jan. 30. She’s set to take the stage in San Antonio on Friday.

Contributing: Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY

March 27, 2025
'Wicked' star Marissa Bode talks about her Changemaker AwardEntertain This!

‘Wicked’ star Marissa Bode talks about her Changemaker AwardEntertain This!

March 27, 2025
The Bangles talk about the joy and frustration of fame in new book

In the pantheon of ‘80s bands, The Bangles are among the most underappreciated.

Recalled primarily for their chirpy Prince-penned ditty “Manic Monday,” the silly – albeit fun – video for “Walk Like an Egyptian” and the glossy ballad “Eternal Flame,” the MTV-era quartet of singer Susanna Hoffs, guitarist Vicki Peterson, her drummer sibling Debbi Peterson and bassist Michael Steele achieved ubiquity from 1984-89.

But, as their authorized biography “Eternal Flame” (out now from Grand Central Publishing, 416 pages, $30) unspools, it spotlights how The Bangles’ heart – their vibe of approachably cool chicks heavily influenced by ‘60s rock – was often stomped on by a misogynistic industry reluctant to accept another all-girl band not named The Go-Go’s and arrogant producers intent on crushing their confidence.

The book, written by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, a lifelong admirer of the band who also penned a biography about Velvet Underground singer/actress Nico and studied the fandom of Britney Spears, is exhaustively researched. Bickerdike says it’s the result of a five-year process that commenced when Vicki Peterson, the de facto leader of the band, agreed it was time to revisit The Bangles’ history.

Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the Petersons and Hoffs and a dive through a trough of archived articles about the band, Bickerdike delves into the quartet’s evolution from The Bangs (as they were first known with original bassist Annette Zilinskas) to musicians balancing their role as video vamps with serious artistry.

Steele, who joined the band in 1983 and was part of the limelight years, amicably declined to participate in the biography. “We do stay in touch,” Vicki says. “But she’s been able to compartmentalize and move on in her life.”

But the Peterson sisters and Bickerdike readily chatted with USA TODAY in separate interviews to share more thoughts about “Eternal Flame.”

More: The biggest reveals in new Yoko Ono biography, including John Lennon infidelity

How The Bangles retained their independence from Prince

A couple of chapters focus on the career-altering insertion of Prince into their musical lives and the foursome mandating that they record “Manic Monday” with their own sound.

In the book, Hoffs describes the scene of the The Bangles “hovered around the cassette machine” and immediately being “smitten with the song.”

Debbi Peterson tells USA TODAY that while it “was such a thrill that (Prince) was a fan of ours,” the overwhelming consensus was, “This song is good. We want to record it.”

Vicki concurs that The Bangles were adamant they would paint the song with their own flair.

“I put my foot down that we’re making our own record and when Prince came to rehearsal, he listened to me playing the keyboard riff on my guitar, gave a thumbs up and walked out,” she recalls with a smile.

The Bangles were dismissed as lightweights

While poring over old newspaper and magazine stories about the band, Bickerdike was struck by the rampant sexism applied to The Bangles, now shrugged off as a product of the era.

“The way they were treated by the music world was appalling. That was a massive revelation,” she says. “They got signed for songwriting and harmonizing and playing instruments, but from the first time their demo was brought into an A&R meeting, there is the perception that they can’t sing or play because they’re women.”

Both Petersons admit that reading, from Bickerdike’s research, what was being said about the band at the time – much of which they didn’t know – still stung decades later.

“We didn’t know what was going on behind the scenes with management,” Debbi says. “Sneaky meetings … and then there were these quotes from people I thought were my friends.”

Vicki understands that everyone has their own recollection of events, but was curious to read about “people from the label and management and how they saw our operation. I was so focused on making everything OK that I didn’t see what was going on.”

More: 5 books about forgotten female heroes to celebrate Women’s History Month

‘Eternal Flame’ wasn’t eternally beloved by most of The Bangles

The power ballad co-written by Hoffs slow-burned for 10 weeks to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1989. But even though it’s a signature entry in their oeuvre, the satiny song didn’t initially captivate the Peterson sisters.

“At that point, we were starting to break apart and didn’t feel like we were getting respect from each other,” Debbi says. “Don’t get me wrong – it’s a beautiful song. But to me it sounded like Susanna solo; it didn’t sound like a band song.”

Vicki, meanwhile, says she recognized the beauty and craft of the song, and knew it was a hit – just not for The Bangles.

“I can be a little bit stubborn and I sort of chafed because it felt like it wasn’t us,” she says. “Ultimately we made it us, and I’m grateful my stubbornness didn’t get in the way of it being produced.”

The end of The Bangles … or not?

As Hoffs became more of the focal point of the band and relationships disintegrated, The Bangles disbanded after their 1989 Everything Everywhere tour. The harsh band meeting – set up with Hoffs, Steele, managers and press agents – that cemented their demise is painstakingly recollected in the book as more of an ambush of the Petersons.

“I knew there was a lot of distress in the band and that last tour was quite rough. There was a storm that chased us all across the U.S. and metaphorically it was like the cloud was following us,” Vicki says.

Adds Debbi, “Maybe Vicki and I were in denial of things getting really that bad. It really was a shocker … I remember there being a big box of tissues and crying so much. It was so emotionally upsetting and devastating.”

While both Petersons take the “never say never” approach to the future of The Bangles, which has reunited several times over the years with Zilinskas back on bass, the core trio stays busy with musical projects.

Vicki and husband John Cowsill (of The Cowsills) will hit the road in June opening for The Minus 5, featuring Debbi on keyboards, along with renowned Seattle musician Scott McCaughey and R.E.M.’s Peter Buck. Hoffs has collaborated with Matthew Sweet for their “Under the Covers” series and in 2023 released the fiction book, “This Bird Has Flown.”

Vicki hopes that The Bangles’ biography will establish that they were “self-directed young women determined to succeed beyond any reasonable expectation, and also musicians who don’t have agency over what you’re doing because of constantly being on the road. It’s a fuller story than ‘Walk Like an Egyptian.’”

March 27, 2025
Graydon Carter claims Harvey Weinstein was banned from Oscars party

Magazine editor Graydon Carter spent decades steering the cover stories of other notable people. Now, he’s ready for his own tell-all.

In a new memoir, “When the Going Was Good,” the former head of Vanity Fair — who oversaw the publication for two decades and minted its signature Hollywood issues and Oscars afterparty — chronicles his life as a reporter and editor during what he calls “the golden age of magazines.”

Carter used the book to reveal the big gambles and bigger-named photographers, writers and stars at the heart of his success at Vanity Fair. Replete with name-drops, one of the biggest in the novel was Harvey Weinstein, whom Carter revealed caught the ire of his publication long before falling out of public favor.

The famed film producer, now serving prison time for a conviction on sex crimes charges, was the only person ever banned for life from the Vanity Fair Oscar Party, Carter reportedly revealed in his memoir.

Weinstein “regularly showed up with more guests than his invitation indicated and would bully the staff,” Carter wrote, per People and Page Six. Before he was permanently barred from the Oscars soiree for lashing out at event organizer Sara Marks, Carter claimed he had attempted to confront Weinstein over his treatment of the staff.

“It was both the correct thing to do and a foolish gesture, in that he was certifiably the reigning producer in Hollywood at the time and he could tell the stars in his films to give us a wide berth on Oscar night,” he added, according to People.

USA TODAY has reached out to Weinstein’s representative for comment.

How the Oscars afterparty ‘institution’ was born

In a “CBS Sunday Morning” interview that aired Sunday, Carter revealed that with the Oscar party, “It became not how to get people in, but how to keep people out.”

“We had no VIP sections,” he said. “Once you got in, everybody’s the same. And with a party, it’s about the right curation of people.”

As for how the Oscar party was born, Carter recently told “PBS News Hour” that he’d been inspired by Hollywood power agent Irving Paul “Swifty” Lazar, who worked with stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Truman Capote, Cher, Cary Grant, Ernest Hemingway, Gene Kelly, Madonna and former President Richard Nixon.

“I’d gone to Swifty Lazar’s last Oscar party, and he invented the whole notion of the Oscar party. I went to his last one. Then he died in December (1993). And I decided that we could probably take his place the next March,” Carter said. “So we scrambled to pull it together. And we had, like, 150 people for dinner and maybe 150 or 200 people from the Academy Awards afterwards.”

He continued, “And my philosophy is always that if you’re going to fail, best do it with the smallest audience possible, but it was a success. And so each year it grew and grew and it became eventually an institution.”

Contributing: KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY

March 27, 2025
Joe Gatto enters treatment program after sex assault allegations

Following recent allegations of sexual abuse, Joe Gatto is canceling his stand-up comedy tour and seeking treatment for himself.

In a statement to USA TODAY, the “Impractical Jokers” star revealed on Wednesday that he is checking into an in-patient facility to address his well-being. Gatto did not specify the type of treatment he will be receiving.

“Having taken some time to reflect, I’ve decided to voluntarily enter an in-patient program to continue working on myself,” Gatto said. “I just want to thank my friends, fans and especially my family for all of their support — never more so than over the last few days.”

In the wake of his announcement, Gatto has also canceled upcoming performances on his recently launched Let’s Get Into It tour, a source close to the situation but not authorized to speak publicly confirmed to USA TODAY.

The North American trek, which opened on Feb. 13, had remaining concerts in Phoenix, Las Vegas, St. Louis and other major cities.

Gatto’s tour cancellation and health news come after the 48-year-old comic was accused of sexual assault over the weekend by a woman on social media.

A TikToker known as joozyb alleged in a series of viral videos that Gatto sexually assaulted her in 2023 when she was 19. In a 10-minute clip posted March 21, she said she met the comedian after running into him while at brunch, where she said he invited her to see his comedy show that night.

After the performance, the TikTok user alleged that she went to see Gatto at his hotel. “I don’t want to go into the details about everything,” she said, but added that she doesn’t “want any girl to feel” the way he made her feel.

The user shared multiple photos of herself with Gatto and screenshots of alleged messages with him, including one that appeared to show instructions on how to get to a hotel room. The woman also posted a photo showing her with a large bruise on her bottom, which she claimed he left “with his teeth.” A video that the user said she took after leaving the hotel room appeared to have a time stamp of 2:26 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2023.

Joe Gatto accused of sexual abuse: ‘Impractical Jokers’ star denies sexual assault allegation

In a statement to USA TODAY on Sunday, Gatto denied the assault claims but conceded he has “used poor judgment and as a result have violated the trust of the people I love most.”

“Working on myself is an ongoing process, and I am now going to take some time away from the public eye to focus my energies where I need to,” Gatto said.

Following joozyb’s allegations, a second woman came forward to accuse Gatto of sexual misconduct. The unidentified accuser, who first met Gatto when she was 15 and later worked for the comedian, told People magazine that Gatto “inappropriately grabbed her and asked for back massages,” as well as “made frequent inquiries into her sex life.”

Gatto starred on “Impractical Jokers” for nine seasons before leaving the popular hidden camera show in 2021. At the time, he said he would step away “due to some issues in my personal life” amid his separation from his wife, Bessy. The couple later reconciled, according to a September 2023 social media post from Gatto.

Contributing: Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY

March 27, 2025
'Bachelor' Grant and Juliana reveal what life is really like when the cameras are offEntertain This!

‘Bachelor’ Grant and Juliana reveal what life is really like when the cameras are offEntertain This!

March 27, 2025
Zoinks! Netflix releasing live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ series
- Netflix announced the plot for its new live-action “Scooby-Doo” series on Wednesday.
- The eight-episode series will explore the origin of the Mystery Inc. gang.
- A cast nor release date has yet to be announced.
Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? We’ve got a Netflix series to watch now.

On Wednesday, Netflix announced that it will be soon be distributing the first-ever live-action “Scooby-Doo” television series, with a story set before the Mystery Inc. gang officially got together. In over more than 50 years, the “Scooby-Doo” characters and stories have yet to be seen as a live-action series, brought to life only in animated shows and three live-action movies.

Here’s what we know about Netflix’s newly announced “Scooby Doo” series.

What is the new ‘Scooby-Doo’ series about?

The new series will serve as an origin story for the Mystery Inc. gang, all based on the original Hanna-Barbera characters. Here’s what Netflix has to say about it:

“During their final summer at Camp Ruby-Spears, old friends Shaggy and Daphne get embroiled in a haunting mystery surrounding a lonely lost Great Dane puppy that may have been a witness to a supernatural murder. Together with the pragmatic and scientific townie, Velma, and the strange, but ever-so-handsome new kid, Freddy, they set out to solve the case that is pulling each of them into a creepy nightmare that threatens to expose all of their secrets.”

Who’s acting in the new ‘Scooby-Doo’ series?

Netflix has not announced who will be playing the main lineup of characters in the new live-action series.

When does the new live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ series release?

A release date has yet to be announced for Netflix’s new “Scooby-Doo” live-action series.

Who is creating the series?

The series is being spearheaded by Midnight Radio, a Los Angeles-based production company led by Josh Appelbaum and Scott Rosenberg. Midnight Radio has recently worked on the live-action remake of “Cowboy Bebop” for Netflix, the series “High Fidelity” for Hulu and the drama series “Everything Sucks” for Netflix.

Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman of Berlanti Productions, in addition to Midnight Radio’s André Nemec and Jeff Pinkner are also working on the series.

What are fans saying?

First and foremost, fans are pleading for the return of the cast from the 2002 “Scooby-Doo” movie and the 2004 sequel “Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed”: Matthew Lillard as Shaggy, Freddie Prinze Jr. as Fred, Sarah Michelle Gellar as Daphne and Linda Cardellini as Velma.

TikTok user Jake Lubbehusen said Netflix’s description of the series, which includes mention of a “supernatural murder,” makes him think the series may be geared to an older audience.

“We might me looking at more of an adult-oriented type show, which honestly, I am here for,” Lubbehusen said in a TikTok video.

But others aren’t so sure.

TikTok user Miko said in a video that if the series centers around a “Great Dane puppy,” he expects the Mystery Inc. gang to be kids, to follow the correct timeline.

“I hope this is what they do because I feel like it’ll be kind of weird to have a puppy Scooby-Doo while the rest of Mystery Inc. are older teens,” Miko said in his video.

Some fans are concerned what Netflix means by a “modern reimagining,” fearful of HBO’s two-season series, “Velma.” The origin story of the Mystery Inc. character has been criticized by fans for skewing away from the original “Scooby-Doo” storyline.

“In a world where our most current ‘Scooby-Doo’ content is ‘Velma’ and that’s just pure trash, I’m willing to to accept a live-action ‘Scooby-Doo’ series on Netflix,” TikTok user Cris Parker, known online as C3 Films, said in a TikTok video.

Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at [email protected].
March 27, 2025
Pamela Anderson doesn't have a stylistEntertain This!

Pamela Anderson doesn’t have a stylistEntertain This!

March 27, 2025
Rita Braver to retire from CBS News after 50 years

After 50 years on CBS News, where she “grew up” as a journalist, Rita Braver is heading into retirement.

The award-winning “CBS Sunday Morning” national correspondent will retire at the end of March, per a memo that Rand Morrison, the program’s executive producer, sent to staff Wednesday.

“It’s time to share some news that most of us already know but are reluctant to accept. Our beloved, longtime Sunday Morning colleague… national correspondent Rita Braver will retire at the end of this month,” Morrison’s memo, which was obtained by USA TODAY, began.

“Those who know Rita and Sunday Morning realize how essential she’s been to our work. … To call it this end of an era barely does justice to the challenges we’ll face now that we can no longer pick up the phone and call on Rita,” the note continued.

Braver embarked on her broadcast journalism career at the New Orleans CBS affiliate WWL-TV and was hired as a news desk editor at CBS News’ Washington bureau in 1972. She worked her way up to chief White House correspondent in 1993, then was named a national correspondent in 1997

During her tenure, she worked on programs such as “48 Hours,” “Street Stories,” “Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel,” “Face the Nation” and “CBS Evening News with Dan Rather.” She contributed “Eye on America” segments for “CBS Evening News,” where she also served as chief law correspondent from 1983 to 1993.

‘God-like days’ are over: Why Norah O’Donnell, Hoda Kotb, Lester Holt and more have exited

Braver, who has interviewed big names from former Presidents Bill Clinton to Gloria Steinem, U.S. Rep John Lewis, Barbra Streisand, James Taylor and Sheryl Crow, celebrated a half century with the broadcaster in 2022.

“Over the years, I got to cover some of the biggest events of my lifetime, starting – when I was just an apprentice on the news desk – with Watergate,” she said in a “CBS Sunday Morning” segment that aired May 15, 2022. “When I started, we shot our stories on 16 millimeter film. If we needed to call in from the field, we had to find a pay phone. There were no computers, much less internet. Yet, we got our stories in every day.”

TV news exodus: All the anchors exiting their roles, including Lester Holt and Joy Reid

She concluded the segment by saying, “That first day was really the beginning of my 50-year love-affair with CBS News. Like my marriage, which started about the same time, it’s had its highs and lows, some exasperating moments, and some too magical to ever forget.

“Yet, I count myself lucky, after all these years, to have the kind of job I always dreamed about.”

March 27, 2025