Entertainment
Marvel star Jonathan Majors convicted of assaulting girlfriend, risks a year in jail
Jonathan Majors, the US actor known for playing Kang in the Marvel universe, was on Monday found guilty of assaulting his then-girlfriend following a trial in New York.
The 34-year-old film star was convicted by a jury of six on one count of assault and one count of harassment.
He was, however, acquitted of a different assault charge and aggravated harassment.
The verdict followed a two-week trial in state court in Manhattan.
Majors was arrested in New York City in March after he allegedly assaulted Grace Jabbari, his then-girlfriend, in the backseat of a private vehicle.
Jabbari, the British choreographer who met Majors on the set of Marvel’s ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,’ testified that she grabbed his phone after seeing a text message from another woman that read, “Wish I were kissing you right now”.
She alleged that while Majors attempted to retrieve his phone, she felt “a hard blow” across her head that resulted in bruising, swelling, and substantial pain.
Majors’ lawyers, however, fired back at Jabbari, arguing that she was the “aggressor”.
They alleged that she got jealous after reading a text message on his phone sent by another woman and spread a “fantasy” to take down the actor, who “was only trying to regain his phone and get away safely”.
The actor, who was asked to stand and face the jurors as the verdict was read, now faces up to a year in jail with a sentencing date set for February 6, 2024.
Majors rose to prominence in 2019 after starring in the film ‘The Last Black Man in San Francisco’.
Entertainment
Kanayo, Madam Saje to get 2024 BON ‘lifetime achievement’ awards
Madam Saje and Kanayo O Kanayo will receive the ‘lifetime achievement’ honours at the 2024 Best of Nollywood (BON) Awards.
Seun Oloketuyi, the founder of BON Awards, announced the honours in a statement on Friday.
The award event is scheduled to be held on November 24 at the Sugar Factory Film Studios in Ilorin, Kwara.
Speaking about the ‘Lifetime Achievement’ award, Oloketuyi said there is a need to celebrate film heroes while they are still alive.
He also expressed excitement about Kwara’s role as the host state of this year’s ceremony.
“Why must we wait till our film heroes are dead to give them awards? Posthumous awards are good, but it is better the recipient is alive to receive the awards,” he said.
Feranmi Olaoye, the executive producer of BON Awards, said Kanayo and Madam Saje, born Fausat Balogun, are “people we grew up watching and they deserve to be celebrated”.
“They inspired the generation we watch now, and they still maintained their stand in the industry. That’s why we have chosen them as this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winners,” Olaoye said.
Other actors who have won the ‘lifetime achievement’ awards include Adebayo Salami, Toyin Adegbola, and Madam Kofo.
The BON Awards ceremony was first held in December 2009, in Ikeja, Lagos.
It has since continued to be a creative strata for the Nigerian movie industry.
In February, the organisers announced their partnership with Group 8 Ltd, the media firm, for the next five editions of its awards.
Entertainment
‘Harry Potter’ actress Maggie Smith dies at 89
Maggie Smith, the Hollywood actress known for her role in ‘Harry Potter’, has passed away at the age of 89.
In a statement, Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin, her sons, disclosed the film star died “peacefully” in the hospital in the early hours of Friday.
Stephens and Larkin said Smith’s passing left them “devastated and sad” while describing her as an “extraordinary person who is intensely private”.
“It is with great sadness we have to announce the death of Dame Maggie Smith,” the statement reads.
“She passed away peacefully in hospital early this morning, Friday 27th September.
“An intensely private person, she was with friends and family at the end. She leaves two sons and five loving grandchildren who are devastated by the loss of their extraordinary mother and grandmother.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful staff at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital for their care and unstinting kindness during her final days.
“We thank you for all your kind messages and support and ask that you respect our privacy at this time.”
Born in Ilford, England on December 28, 1934, Smith delved into acting in 1952. Her career spanned over 60 years in television, film, and theater.
She featured in over 50 films and won several awards. She won two Oscar awards, eight BAFTA awards, four Emmy awards, two Academy awards, three Golden Globe awards and a Tony award.
In 1967, Smith tied the knot with Robert Stephens. However, they divorced in 1975.
She then married Alan Beverly Cross and remained with him till he died in 1998.
In 1990, Smith was made a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II for her contributions to the performing arts.
Entertainment
Actress Bukola Olatunji welcomes baby girl in US
Bukola Olatunji, the Nigerian actress, has welcomed a baby girl in the United States.
Olatunji took to Instagram to share photos from her maternity shoot on Friday. In an accompanying caption, the movie star revealed her baby’s name and gender.
“Oroayolojasi. It’s a girl,” she wrote.
Fans and fellow celebrities have taken to her comment section to celebrate the baby’s arrival.
Femi Adebayo, the actor wrote, “Aww… congratulations dear. Olorun a wo, Olorun a dasi”.
Nkechi Blessing added “Big big congratulations sis” while Yetunde Barnabas wrote, “Thank you, Jesus”.
Olatunji is a graduate of Public Administration from The Polytechnic of Ibadan. She has made a name for herself in the Yoruba movie industry.
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